THURSDAY 28TH JANUARY 2021

Barkindo: OPEC Halted 1.3bn Barrels Supply to Raise Oil Price House promises to protect Nigeria’s interest in PIB Emmanuel Addeh and Udora Orizu in Abuja The Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr. Sanusi Barkindo, yesterday

highlighted the role played by the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC), the group’s framework for supply stability, in halting an excess crude oil volume of 1.3 billion into the market in 2020.

This comes as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, assured stakeholders that the parliament will protect Nigeria’s interest in the longawaited Petroleum Industry

Bill (PIB), which it promised to pass into law in April.

Barkindo, who spoke at the S&P Global Platts Americas Petroleum and Energy Conference, added that last year, the oil and gas industry

lost about 30 per cent of its capital expenditure in the upstream due to the global oil market crisis.

While enunciating the importance of multilateralism given the current realities

in the industry, Barkindo, a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), noted Continued on page 8

Soyinka Chides N’Assembly for Ignoring Clamour for Restructuring... Page 10 Thursday 28 January, 2021 Vol 26. No 9426. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

BREATH OF FRESH AIR...

L-R: New Chief of Naval Staff , Real Admiral Awwal Gambo; Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor; President Muhammadu Buhari; Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao, during the service chiefs’ maiden meeting with the president in Abuja...yesterday godwin omoigui

Make Nigeria Safer, Buhari Orders New Service Chiefs Military top brass await N’Assembly’s confirmation Hold new appointees accountable, NEF urges president PDP asks ICC to probe outgoing officers for crime against humanity Makinde, Akeredolu, Ooni visit Presidential Villa over insecurity

Davidson Iriekpen in Lagos, Deji Elumoye,Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met with the new service chiefs, urging them to concentrate their efforts on helping his administration to deliver on its electoral pledge to make Nigeria a safer place

for citizens to live.

A statement by the president's media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, quoted Buhari as congratulating the new appointees, and telling them that their job is well cut out for them given the insecurity wracking the nation.

The president’s maiden meeting with the new service chiefs, however, coincided

with rising criticism of the presidential appointment without a request for confirmation by the National Assembly as required by law.

But the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has urged Buhari to hold the new service chiefs accountable for the success or failure of the war against insecurity even as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called

on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the tenure of the immediate past service chiefs for alleged atrocities and crimes against humanity committed by security operatives under their command.

The president said: "We are in a state of emergency. Be patriotic, serve the country well, as your loyalty is to the

country.

"There's nothing I can tell you about the service because you are in it.

"I was also in it and I will pray for you. I also assure you that whatever I can do as Commander-in-Chief will be done, so that the people will appreciate your efforts.

“You know the stage we were in 2015, you know the

stage we are now, and the undertakings we made. We promised to secure the country, revive the economy, and fight corruption. None has been easy, but we have certainly made progress."

Buhari also charged the service chiefs to be concerned about the morale of their Continued on page 8

FEC Approves Policy to Stop Rejection of Nigerian Goods...Page 5

2

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 • T H I S D AY

3

4

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 •T H I S D AY

5

THURSDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

FEC Approves Policy to Stop Rejection of Nigerian Goods Okays N9bn for road, power projects

Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved the National Quality Policy to stop rejection of Nigerian goods exported out of the country.

The approval which was given during the 31st virtual meeting also included N9 billion approved for the construction of various roads and power projects across the country.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Chief Niyi Adebayo, said the essence of the policy is to ensure goods exported out of Nigeria are accepted in the countries they are being exported to.

According to him, “For a long time, Nigerian exporters have been suffering because of lack of quality of their goods. We felt that it was high time we actually have a policy which will create a situation whereby standard of the Nigerian goods that are exported would be raised, such that that rejection would stop.

“This policy will create a situation whereby the government and the private sector will be able to collaborate to set up quality testing centers, testing labs which we hope will have accreditation with international centers, such that any good that has been approved to have met the standard, would be of international standard.”

Adebayo said the council

also approved the Nigerian/ Hungarian Trade Agreement, and that the agreement between the two countries has now been ratified.

He further said the council also approved an N50 million variation of power contract in the Kano Free Trade Zone.

The memo, he said was on behalf of the Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority.

Adebayo explained that a contract was awarded in 2018 for underground cabling for power project within the Kano Free Trade Zone but unfortunately it was not completed before certain specification changes were made.

Also speaking, Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said the council approved the contract for the design and deployment of a contract performance and compliance for highway and road management system at the sum of N203, 845,332.50.

He said: “This is an information and communication technology device being procured by the ministry in order to improve its capacity to monitor not only contract performance but also maintenance of its roads and to empower not only its 36 controllers in each of the state of the federation but also, the six zonal directors to improve our service delivery.

“The importance of deploying the ICT now perhaps would be better appreciated when it

is understood that we have over 13,000 kilometres of road networks at different stages of construction or rehabilitation as at the close of December 2020.

And those 13,000 plus kilometres are manifest in over 700 different contracts.

“I continue to explain this that some of our roads are so long that we have five different contractors.

Like the Kano-Maiduguri road, for example, we have five different contractors there, Benin to Lokoja; we have five different contractors there and so on and so forth. So we have different contracts to manage and so we are deploying ICT there.”

He explained that upon full deployment, citizens would be expected to become an army of reporters providing the ministry with information so that it could respond more quickly to enquiries, adding that the ICT would be a web-based reporting and monitoring system.

The minister said the council also approved the ratification of the emergency roads repair done in Zamfara State in 2016 caused by heavy rainfall.

He said the rain had washed out Gumi Bridge, Dakitawa, Kebbi to Sokoto State border, and Gusau to Talata Mafara to Sokoto border.

He said: “The contract was awarded under the public procurement act in emergency situations as provisional contracts.

So we had to go through the procurement process, file reports of completion and then come to seek ratification.

“So, the work had since been completed but the paperwork has now led us here. And the ratification was granted today

by FEC for N7, 923,706,078.86.”

The Minister of State for Power, Mr. Goddy Jedi-Agba, said the council approved two months extension and the sum of N124.2 million for the variation of contract for the construction of

sub-stations projects in Lanlate in Oyo State and Abeokuta in Ogun State.

He said: “The contract was awarded because of the typography of that area. The typography is tricky and so there is a need to upgrade and make the facilities usable and accessible by the people. So, if we have those two substations fixed, the transmission of power will be stepped up in that area and the whole of Ogun State and most of the South-west will have improved power.”

The council was also notified of the progress in the metering programme in the country.

APC Warns against Theft, IN SEARCH OF SECURITY...

Hijack of Membership Registration Materials IG Vows to Arrest Arsonists Who Set Igboho’s House Ablaze

L-R: Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN); Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; and Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, during the governors visit to President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja…yesterday godwin omoigui

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned against commandeering, stealing or hijacking of registration materials during the party's membership registration and revalidation.

The Chairman of the National Registration Committee of the party and Niger State Governor, Mr. Abubakar Bello, gave the warning yesterday in Abuja at the inauguration of the State Membership Registration Committee.

He stated that the last membership registration was conducted in 2014 and since then there were members who have either died or left the party.

In addition, new members have joined the party while young ones who have turned 18 between 2014 and 2021 who are willing to join the party should be given the opportunity to register.

"We also have numerous people that have decamped from various parties to APC and overtime they have this feeling that they have not been fully accepted into the APC family.

This provides them with an opportunity to be fully accepted or to feel at home during the evaluation exercise.

"Please note, the objective of this exercise is to ensure that no

one is left behind; it is to make sure that any interested person or group is free to join APC and this is our belief that the more the people we have in the party, the more the merrier.

"We should also note that commandeering or theft or hijacking registration materials will not be tolerated. You should also note that domination of the registration process by an individual or group will also not be accepted,” Bello added.

According to him, the essence of the membership registration and revalidation is to expand the party’s base.

“We believe that when this is done, it will increase our chances in the next coming election," he said.

Bello, therefore, appealed to the chairmen and secretaries of the committees to ensure that justice and fairness prevail.

Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, told reporters after the inauguration that the exercise was being conducted to ensure that new entrants to the party have a sense of belonging.

He expressed optimism that the ruling party would have an efficient registration process.

Ganduje said with the registration, Kano will prove that it remains the largest democracy in the country.

Says every police personnel deserves decent home Chiemelie Ezeobi and Vanessa Obioha The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, yesterday vowed that the police would arrest the arsonists involved in the inferno that razed the house of Chief Sunday Adeyemi, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, in Ibadan, Oyo State last Tuesday.

He called on Nigerians with credible information about the perpetrators to avail the police with the necessary intelligence.

Adamu has also underscored the need for police personnel to have a comfortable accommodation.

The IG stated these at the inauguration of the Senior Police Officer (SPOs) Quarters, in Ikeja, Lagos.

The block of 10 luxury flats was constructed and designed by a private developer, Black Qoral Concepts Limited.

While condemning the action of the arsonists, he said it was a criminal act, thus the law would take its course on the perpetrators when arrested.

He said: “Anybody that goes to burn anybody's property it is nothing but a criminal. We have

already asked our men to fish out whoever did that and the person will be punished.

“We have laws in this country and we must respect them. If anybody runs afoul of the law, he must be punished.

“Every citizen of this country has a responsibility to this country too. Therefore, those who have information on the arsonists should come out and give it to the police to enable the police to do their job.”

The commissioned SPO’s building, which is a block of 10 flats, with a twin one still under construction, according to him, was part of the welfare package for policemen.

He said the welfare of officers and men is paramount.

According to him, “We are out for redevelopment, renovation and reconstruction of all barracks across the country.

“What you are seeing today, is one of those initiatives to redevelop our existing barracks and allow our officers to get a befitting place to stay.

“We are assuring our officers that with the federal government’s initiative of Public/Private Partnership, we will develop all our barracks in the country.

We will build and sell to our officers through mortgage at a lower price. This is in addition to their official residences.”

He said the police force has been constantly challenged by limited military provisions hence it became expedient that the force works towards guaranteeing a humane and befitting living condition for police personnel.

However, he pointed out that despite a partnership with private developers to help build housing estates for the force and elevate the standard of living, the challenge of regenerating police barracks remained.

He added that the partnership with Black Qoral offers hope of yielding desired results.

"As you know, policing is a noble profession, which is mentally and physically demanding. As such every police personnel deserve a decent home to return to after an exhaustive day of duty," he said.

He assured Nigerians that with the federal government’s public-private initiative that police barracks scattered in the country, which are mostly in a poor state will be redeveloped.

The newly commissioned block of flats is the first phase of the

redevelopment plan of the senior police officers’ living quarters in Ikeja GRA to replace those built since the 1950s which have become rundown and almost inhabitable.

Black Qoral plans to build 80 flats in the barracks for the senior officers.

Another set of 10 flats will be completed within the next two months.

Executive Director, Black Cora Concept Limited, Alhaji Abubakar Seidu, disclosed that the new building was constructed in nine months, adding that eight additional ones would be completed in 36 months.

He explained: “We have finished and completed this one for immediate occupation and it is being assigned to officers who will vacate their precious place, in houses similar to this one, which were built over 58 years ago and have virtually run down.

“Once we relocate them, we demolish their previous place and build a new one in replacement.

So, the entirety of this place is going to be fully redeveloped into more spacious, habitable three-bedroom luxury flat in blocks of 10, a total of 80.”

6

THURSDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

FG Earns N2.94tn from VAT, Tax in 2020

James Emejo in Abuja

Total revenues amounting to about N2.94 trillion were generated as both Value Added Tax (VAT) and Company Income Tax (CIT) in 2020, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

This represents an increase of N12 billion compared to N2.80 trillion realised in 2019.

While total revenue from VAT at full year increased to N1.53 trillion compared

to N1.18 trillion in 2019, CIT receipts declined to about N1.41 trillion from N1.62 trillion in the preceding year.

The figures were contained in two separate reports - Sectoral Distribution of Value Added Tax - Q4 2020 and Company Income Tax (CIT) data for Q4 2020 NBS released yesterday.

One of the reports also showed that N454.69 billion was generated from VAT in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to N424.71 billion

in the preceding quarter and N308.48 billion in Q4 2019.

This represented 7.06 per cent increase quarter-on-quarter and 47.39 per cent increase year-on-year.

According to the NBS, out of the total amount generated in the period under review, non-import VAT locally accounted for N212.52 billion while N143.35 billion was generated as non-import VAT for foreign.

The balance of N98.81 billion

was generated as NCS-import VAT. A further breakdown indicated that professional services generated the highest amount of VAT with N42.38 billion, closely followed by other manufacturing, which generated N39.45 billion, commercial and trading N21.15 billion while mining generated the least VAT of N58.88 million.

Pioneering and textile and garment industry segments

recorded N185.72 million and N353.75 million respectively in Q4.

Year-on-year, however, agriculture and plantation accounted for 140.33 per cent of total VAT while breweries, bottling and beverages accounted for 114.15 per cent as well as chemicals, paint and allied industries contributed 110.97 per cent to VAT. Similarly, Company Income Tax data for Q4 2020 declined to N295.72 billion compared to

N416.01 billion in the preceding quarter and N362.01 billion in Q3 2019.

This represents an increase of -28.91 per cent quarter-onquarter and -18.31 per cent year-on-year.

NBS said out of the total amount generated in Q4, N162.00 billion was generated as CIT locally while N63.52 billion was generated as foreign CIT payment. The balance of N70.20 billion was generated as CIT from other payments.

Buhari Signs Regulations Making Use of Face Mask Mandatory Sultan: truth will dispel conspiracy theories on COVID-19 vaccine Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the COVID-19 Disease Health Protection 2021, a regulation which makes the use of face mask mandatory.

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha, said in Abuja that the president signed the document yesterday.

He said the president signed the document, which became effective yesterday, in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 4 of the Quarantine Act, Cap. Q2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2010 and all other powers enabling him in that behalf; and in consideration of the urgent need to protect the health and wellbeing of Nigerians in the face of the widespread and rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The regulations, which are six parts, made the use of face masks in public places mandatory.

Part 1 of the regulation places a restriction on gathering, stating that a physical distance of at least two metres be maintained at all times between persons and that not more than 50 persons should stay in an enclosed space, except for religious purposes, in which case the gathering shall not exceed 50 per cent of the capacity of the space.

The second part of the regulation stipulates that no person shall be allowed within the premises of a market, mall, supermarket, shop, restaurants, hotels, event centres, gardens, leisure parks, recreation centres, motor parks, fitness centre or any other similar establishment “except he is wearing a face covering that covers the nose and mouth, he washes his hands or cleaned the hands using hand sanitiser approved by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and his body temperature has been checked.

It says any person found to have a body temperature above 38 degrees Celsius shall be denied entry and advised to immediately seek medical attention.

It says all users of places of worship must comply with the provisions of Parts 1 and 2 of the Regulations, adding that worshippers shall, where and whenever possible, avoid sharing worship items such as mats, bottles and hymnals.

All persons accessing the premises of a workplace or school shall also comply with

the provisions of Parts 1 and 2 of the regulation.

The managers of hostels, boarding houses, nursing homes, correctional centres, remand homes, holding cells, military detention facilities and such centres for care and custody of persons shall also ensure compliance with the provisions of the regulation.

The third part addresses mandatory compliance with treatment protocols. It says that the health and safety protocols and guidelines which are issued by the PTF on Covid-19 on the recommendation of the NCDC shall be binding on all persons.

The president made it mandatory for all public secondary and tertiary health facilities to designate a space or holding bay for the initial triage or assessment of suspected persons with COVID-19 in line with the approved protocol for case management while all public secondary and tertiary health facilities must establish sample collection centres, where test samples from suspected cases can be collected and transmitted to an accredited testing laboratory in the state.

The fourth part of the regulation proposes penalties for those who breach the regulation.

He said that any person who, without reasonable cause, obstructs an authorised official from enforcement of the regulation commits an offence which is punishable, on summary conviction, by a fine or a term of six months imprisonment or both in accordance with Section 5 of the Quarantine Act. The fifth part, which covers enforcement and application authorises the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, and other relevant local government, state and federal government, to enforce the regulation.

Buhari said any officer of the enforcement agencies who fails, neglects, or refuses to enforce the provisions of the regulations shall be subject to disciplinary action by the disciplinary body of his respective agency.

The sixth part deals with interpretation and citation.

The provisions of the Regulations are to apply throughout the country while the state governors may issue Regulations on further steps as may deem necessary.

While shedding light on the

DECENT HOMES FOR THE PEOPLE...

Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, during the inauguration of LagosHOMS Iponri in Lagos…yesterday Regulations, Mustapha after presenting an Ambulance at the Ministry of Health said the regulations were aimed at dealing with the pandemic He appealed to the public to cooperate with the government in the enforcement of the regulation so that it will limit government interference with their private and social life.

Sultan: Truth will Dispel Conspiracy Theories on COVID-19 Vaccine Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III, has stated that only truth and adequate knowledge will dispel the lies and half-truths on the negative conspiracy theories that have mired the emergence of COVID-19 vaccine.

The Sultan, who is also President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), stated this yesterday in Abuja at the sensitisation programme

on COVID-19 vaccine for Muslim scholars and Imams in Nigeria, organised by NSCIA in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

He also tasked Nigerians to ask questions about the COVID-19 vaccines before they are brought into the country.

"People talk of conspiracy theories such as that the COVID-19 vaccine is meant to kill us. But my take is that if a vaccine was meant to kill us, will anybody wait for the COVID-19 vaccine before killing us? We have been consuming soft drinks and other medicines that are imported into the country. If any foreigner wants to kill us, there are more than a million ways to do so.

"The vaccines are free.

You are not going to pay for it. But to take it is your choice. How? You have to find out the truth about the vaccine yourself. How do you find out the truth? By

seeking knowledge. How? By communicating with the right people," he said.

He said the interactive session was important because it would help in convincing the people of the need to take the COVID-19 vaccine or not, saying the people cannot be forced people to take vaccines.

"For us as Muslims, we know that knowledge is very important, and we know that Islam was founded on knowledge. The vaccines are not yet in Nigeria but it is an opportunity to bring up questions and fears about the vaccines so that the authorities will offer answers and solutions".

He noted that the coordination and partnership of northern traditional and religious leaders that helped to overcome polio, the terrible illness that crippled children in the region will also help in this matter.

Also speaking, the Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib assured that no COVID-19 vaccine has

been brought to Nigeria by government, adding that any COVID-19 brought into the country by the government must be certified by NAFDAC before administration.

"Vaccines are serious biological materials. Any vaccine that would be used in Nigeria must be certified safe and effective by NAFDAC even though they have been certified by the WHO. The same vaccine that is being used in the UK, US and other countries are the ones to be used in Nigeria.

"There is no vaccine specifically made for Nigeria, it is the same vaccine that is used globally that will be brought to Nigeria and I assured you that it will be thoroughly screened by NAFDAC. No Covid-19 vaccine has been brought to Nigeria by the federal government and the first batch of vaccines that will arrive Nigeria is 100,000 doses being expected by February.

What happens in Kano, Pfizer apologised for it," Shuaib explained.

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 • T H I S D AY

7

8

THURSDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

PAGE EIGHT MAKE NIGERIA SAFER, BUHARI ORDERS NEW SERVICE CHIEFS officers and men, saying they should be made to feel physically and professionally secure. He pledged that the federal government will do its best in providing equipment and logistics to make them win the war against insecurity.

The service chiefs, who were led to the meeting by the Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Magashi (rtd), are: Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, MajorGeneral I. Attahiru; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral A. Gambo and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal I. O. Amao.

Irabor told reporters after the closed-door meeting that the president challenged them to be alive to their responsibilities.

He said: “The message from the president is that knowing the current security environment, we must do everything possible to add value to the security disposition and the expectations are high and that we are quite mindful of the expectations. So, we collectively, will work to achieve that.”

According to him, the new service chiefs will work to ensure security of lives and property.

He said: “We have just seen Mr. President and we are mindful of the demands.

We can only at this stage pledge our utmost best to bring safety and security to lives and property across the country."

The CDS assured Nigerians that they will add value to their lives by battling insecurity.

“On behalf of the service chiefs, I am assuring the nation of peace and security. We believe there will be value that will be added to the security disposition of the nation.”

As the service chiefs were meeting with Buhari, videos of soldiers and naval ratings celebrating the exit of the former service chiefs went viral on the social media.

Though the videos could not be verified, it showed soldiers and naval ratings jubilating and shooting into the air.

Hold new appointees accountable, NEF tells president Northern elders yesterday urged Nigerians to moderate their expectations on the the performance of the new service chiefs, saying

that they should not to be misled into thinking that the insecurity ravaging the country will dramatically end with the change of guard.

They stated that the service chiefs can only be successful if they are inspired by Buhari.

The NEF also urged the president to hold the service chiefs and senior commanders accountable for successes and failures.

NEF Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, in a statement yesterday, noted that with the current circumstances where the nation is being swamped by old and new security challenges, a change of leadership in the armed forces should signal that the president accepts the need for major changes in his disposition to tackling the problem.

It stated that Nigerians would hope that these changes, even though belated, are intended as a response to the persistent demands for changes at leadership level as part of the requirements to improve professionalism, morale and integrity of command structures of the armed forces.

It said: "The new service chiefs will be a lot more effective if they are inspired by a Commander-In-Chief who adopts an involved and active interest in their conduct, records and performances.

"President Buhari must therefore reduce his distance from defence and security matters, and hold service chiefs and senior commanders accountable for successes and failures.

"The new service chiefs have been part of the military that has been severely challenged in the fight against a decadeold insurgency and many other threats."

According to the forum, the only way the service chiefs can retain the confidence of Nigerians is to improve on the records of their predecessors.

It called on the new service chiefs to focus on improving professional standards and morale of troops as well as fighting corruption within the armed forces.

It added that it is important for the service chiefs to lead a military with high standards of respect for rules of engagement.

Concerns over Nonscreening of Service

Chiefs The appointment of the service chiefs without first sending their names to the Senate for confirmation is causing ripples in some quarters, THISDAY learnt yesterday.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru, told THISDAY that the Senate has the statutory right to confirm the appointment of the new service chiefs.

"I know there are provisions in the Armed Forces Act prescribing confirmation of appointment of service chiefssee section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act of 1993," he said.

He, however, added that he was not sure if the names of the new service chiefs had been forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.

"I don’t know yet if the list of the service chiefs has been sent to the Senate for confirmation. Such correspondence, if any, will be read at the plenary," he stated.

However, analysts said under the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, and the provisions of the Armed Forces Act, the president, acting alone, cannot appoint new service chiefs without the prior confirmation, by the National Assembly of his nominees.

They wondered why the presidency did not indicate in its press statement announcing the appointment of the service chiefs if they were appointed in acting capacity or substantive.

They wondered why the president did not followed the process it took in 2015 when he sent the names of the outgone service chiefs to the Senate for confirmation.

Those who spoke to THISDAY expressed concern about what they perceived as attempts to circumvent the process.

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), urged the service chiefs not to consider themselves appointed until they have been confirmed by the Senate.

He called on Buhari to forward their names to the National Assembly for confirmation of their appointments, based on the judgment of the Federal High Court.

“On Tuesday, President Buhari was reported to have appointed new service chiefs

for the armed forces. Upon a critical review of the law on the subject matter the members of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) have found that the appointments remain inchoate as Buhari has not forwarded the names of the proposed service chiefs to the National Assembly for approval in strict compliance with the relevant provisions of the constitution and the Armed Forces Act,” he said in a statement.

Falana stated that the appointment of the service chiefs without the concurrence of the National Assembly is incomplete.

A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, had on July 1, 2013 ruled that any appointment of service chiefs by the president without approval of the National Assembly was unconstitutional and illegal.

Justice Adamu Bello declared the appointments of the service chiefs without National Assembly’s approval as null and void because they did not conform to Section 18 (1) and (2) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap. A20, Laws of the Federation.

The case, instituted by Lagos lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, now Minister of State for Labour and Employment, had challenged the practice of appointing military chiefs by the president without seeking the approval of the National Assembly.

Based on the judgment, which has not been appealed till date, former President Goodluck Jonathan sought and got the approval of the National Assembly in January 2014 when he appointed Alex Badeh as Chief of Defence Staff, Kenneth Minimah as Chief of Army Staff, Usman Jibrin as Chief of Naval Staff and Adesola Amosu as Chief of Air Staff.

The procedure was also followed in 2015 by Buhari when he appointed the then Major General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin as Chief of Defence Staff; Major General T.Y. Buratai as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff.

"Currently, we do not know the status of the service chiefs.

Are they in acting capacity or substantive? Why did the statement announcing their appointments not mention it

emphatically that they are in acting capacity?

“The presidency has to clear the air on this quickly before we begin to accuse them of breaking the law again,” one of the analysts told THISDAY.

It also sought a probe into reports of military invasion and mass shooting in communities in Borno, Yobe, Rivers, Abia, Anambra among other states .

While the PDP expressed confidence in the military, it said the investigation of the allegations against the military will serve as a deterrent to others.

PDP Urges ICC to Probe Outgoing Service Chiefs Over Crime Against Makinde, Akeredolu, Humanity Ooni Meet Buhari on Insecurity The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday called the International Criminal Court (ICC) to probe the tenure of the outgoing service chiefs over reported atrocities and crimes against humanity allegedly committed by security operatives under their command.

The PDP also called on the INTERPOL and other world bodies to commence processes that will lead to the prosecution and sanctioning, including travel ban and freezing of assets belonging to all those involved in killings and human right abuses by security operatives under the Buhari administration.

The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said with the exit of the accused service chiefs from office, the ICC’s Chief Prosecutor, Ms. Fatou Bensouda, should issue official warrant in line with the court’s earlier declaration that it has enough evidence to open a full probe on alleged crimes against humanity under the outgoing commanders.

The PDP urged the ICC to also probe cases of alleged extra-judicial execution of innocent Nigerians, massacre of peaceful protesters, illegal arrests and arbitrary detention of citizens, torture and rape allegedly committed by the military under the outgoing commanders, as detailed in the reports of international bodies, including the United States Department of State, Amnesty International (AI) and Transparency International (TI).

The PDP said: "The exiting service chiefs must be made to provide answers for the reported massacre of unarmed protesters by the military in the North-west and South-east states between 2015 and 2018, including the 348 civilians reportedly killed by soldiers in Kaduna State as well as the 347 bodies found in mass graves in the aftermath of the Zaria massacre."

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met separately with the Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde; his Ondo State counterpart, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, on how to improve security in the South-west.

While Akeredolu did not speak to journalists after his meeting with Buhari, Makinde said he came to brief the president on the security situation in Oyo State.

The meetings held against the backdrop of the tension generated by ultimata given renegade herdsmen to quit Oyo and Ondo States.

Makinde said: "I also used the occasion to ask for more mobile police squadrons as against the only two operating in a state that is bigger than the entire South-east zone.

“There has been a lot of fake news all around and I wanted to be sure that Mr. President clearly has first-hand information from me, which I did. We also exchanged ideas on what we need to do better, some of the programmes we have put in place to ensure that this security issue is tackled. So, that’s basically why I came here."

On the specific issues he discussed with the president, the governor said: “Well, one of the issues I discussed with Mr. President is that Oyo State land mass is quite big, Oyo State is close to 29,000 square kilometres. If you take all the states in the South-east geopolitical zone of Nigeria, they are still not as big as Oyo State. And the state right now only has two mobile police squadrons.

“So, I requested for more mobile police squadrons to be deployed in Oyo State and also ask for support for the joint security outfit because the underlying issue here also has to do with limited opportunities.

Continued on page 10

BARKINDO: OPEC HALTED 1.3BN BARRELS SUPPLY TO RAISE OIL PRICE that the DoC brought together 23 oil-producing nations to stabilise the market.

He said as an example of multilateral approach, the OPEC’s declaration helped the industry to traverse two historic downturns and ushered in a new era in global energy cooperation.

Barkindo recalled that during the 2014-16 oil industry downturn, which resulted in the loss of half a million jobs and an estimated $1 trillion in investments frozen or deferred, the diligent and coordinated response through voluntary production adjustment decisions taken by the DoC helped to rebalance the market, restore stability and revive the industry.

He said: “I am sure each and every one of us can recall the dire situation the industry was in, which was most dramatically illustrated on 20

April 2020 when the price of WTI went negative. It was a visceral day, and one often described as ‘Black Monday.’

“It was a time when the industry faced a potential crude oversupply of nearly 1.3 billion barrels. There were even deep concerns that some storage hubs could actually reach tank tops.

“Thankfully, this never came to pass, in part due to the decisive actions of the DoC. Since then the DoC has shown great courage and flexibility and has adapted as and when necessary to changing market dynamics, particularly with the post-summer advent of second and third waves of COVID-19.”

According to him, the rising number of COVID-19 cases and attendant lockdowns are more reasons not to lose focus in ensuring market stability.

“We also realise our work

is not done. We have our eyes firmly fixed on 2021.

It is clear the recovery has been fragile and uncertainties remain, particularly in terms of the pandemic.

“Vaccines offer some muchneeded light at the end of the tunnel, but the ever-increasing number of COVID-19 cases, and sadly the human loss as well as renewed lockdowns, are a harsh reminder of how delicate the situation remains,” he said.

House Promises to protect Nigeria’s interest in PIB House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday assured stakeholders that the parliament will protect the national interest in the passage of the PIB.

Gbajabiamila said at the public hearing organised by the House Ad-hoc Committee on PIB in Abuja that despite the positions of any vested interest, the parliament will ensure that it protects the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians in the PIB. The speaker said though the PIB has been in the National Assembly for decades without much success, the ninth National Assembly will ensure its passage by April.

He also bemoaned a situation where the oil industry underperforms its potential and national expectations.

Gbajabiamila said: ''This bill has been long coming. It has been upcoming in the last 20 years. Because of contending and vested interests, we have not been able to reach the desired outcome over the years. A lot of work has gone

into the preparation of this bill, but it's not strait-jacketed.

We intend to pass this bill by April. That is a commitment we have made. Some may call it a tall order, but we will do it, and we will do it with every sense of responsibility without compromising the thoroughness of the work that will be done.”

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, expressed joy that after 20 years of its introduction to the National Assembly, both the Senate and the House have shown determination to pass the bill into law.

Similarly, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari, said the passage of the bill into law will engender productivity in the petroleum industry.

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN % CHI PLC 0.04 0.44 10 GUINEAINSURE 0.02 0.22 10 FIDSON 0.50 5.55 9.9 CHAMPBREW 0.23 2.58 9.7 LASACO 0.04 0.45 9.7 TOP LOSERS NGN % SAHCOL 0.32 2.88 10 CORNERSTONE 0.07 0.65 9.7 CAVERTON 0.19 1.83 9.4 UNIVINSURE 0.02 0.21 8.7 FTNCOCOA 0.05 0.55 8.3 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,505.00 Volume: 543.5976 million shares Value: N7.322 billion Deals: 6,770 As at yesterday 27/01/2021 See details on Page 35

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 • T H I S D AY

9

10

THURSDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Soyinka Chides N’Assembly for Ignoring Clamour for Restructuring House: Nigerians should submit their proposals to the legislature Ejiofor Alike in Lagos and Udora Orizu in Abuja Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, yesterday criticised the National Assembly for not concretely taking up the clamour for the restructuring of the country.

But the House of Representatives in a response by its spokesman, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, said Soyinka’s position was inaccurate, contending that the federal legislature had in recent past sided with the people on several issues of national importance.

He said those pushing for the rearrangement of the federation should approach the constitution review committees of the National Assembly for necessary conversations.

Speaking on a live TV programme yesterday, Soyinka urged the National Assembly

to listen to the calls for the restructuring of Nigeria and take responsibility towards the effect.

He said the National Assembly has the powers and moral authority to respond to the calls if the presidency is not doing so.

He said: “The presidency is saying it’s not my responsibility.

On the other hand, the National Assembly keeps saying it wants the president to take action.

When that happens, why doesn’t the National Assembly say ‘fine, we take this as our responsibility, we are obliged to the people who elected us here, the shout is heard even by the deaf today that this nation must restructure, and if that has to be done through the constitution, we are now going to face this as one of our major tasks” and then lead the Presidency on its own?”

Soyinka argued: “If the

presidency is not responding, then the National Assembly has the powers and the moral authority to respond to the desire of the populace.”

Speaking on why the National Assembly has been reluctant to take up the leadership opportunity, Soyinka said: “Very often, they are struggling for those various committees where I think all the goodies are shared.

So, they are compromised. But when I speak about this, I’m not speaking about the entirety.

But unfortunately, there are those who are purely for their own interest and who make compromises with the Executives simply because they want to fulfill their own personal interest.”

But in a swift response, the spokesman of the House of Representatives, Kalu, insisted that the calls by Nigerians for the restructuring of the country,

as well as other issues could be addressed through constitution review currently ongoing at the National Assembly.

The House spokesman said if there are issues that Nigerians want to be discussed, it should be channelled through the constitution review that will reflect the structure of the country.

Kalu assured Nigerians that the House will not abandon the citizens in their quest for a better nation and will support them by consistently pushing for motions and resolutions that will side the executive in the consideration of their position.

The lawmaker, while calling on Nigerians to be persistent in their call expressed optimism that the executive just like they listened on the issue of the service chiefs will heed to the balance of reasons and strong opinions for a restructured

better Nigeria.

Kalu said: ''We have all been with constitution amendments; if there are issues that Nigerians want, it is through this constitution review. We are the people’s parliament; we have started the process of amending the constitution. And it is through the constitution that we will reflect the structure of the country. The people will either accept the structure as it is or say no that they want it reviewed. ''If there are suggestions that will guide us, it will be welcomed during public hearing on constitution review, and I am sure, people’s opinion will be integrated into what could inform any position that the National Assembly will take.”

He added that the lawmakers work through motions and bills, adding that the review of the constitution is one of

the pieces of legislation that they are currently working on.

He recalled that Nigerians recently were persistent on the issue of change of service chiefs, adding that the lawmakers did not abandon Nigerians in their persistence.

Kalu said: “We supported them by consistently pushing for motions and resolutions that will side the executive in the consideration of their position with regards to the security architecture of our country.

“So, now that they are persistently asking for restructuring, the House will, as expected, not abandon the citizens in their quest for a better nation through the instrumentality of our laws.

“The constitution review committee, which has started taking memoranda, will take this public yearning seriously when considering the provisions of the constitution.”

Sanwo-Olu Builds 216 Homes in Lagos Communities Names housing scheme after Fashola Segun James In line with his administration's effort to close the deficit in provision of comfortable housing scheme in Lagos State, the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday formally opened two housing projects in Surulere and Eti Osa axes, which were revived and completed by his administration.

They are: 132-unit LagosHOMS projects at Iponri in Surulere area, and 84-unit Lekki Phase II housing project in Ikota, along Ajah corridor.

The inauguration of the projects came four days after the governor commissioned another 252-unit flats in Idale, Badagry.

The Iponri and Ajah housing schemes were delivered through a joint venture between the Ministry of Housing, STB Mortgage Bank and Lekki Ultimate Company Limited.

Sanwo-Olu named the 132unit Iponri Housing Scheme after former Lagos State Governor and now Minister of Works and Housing, Mr.

Babatunde Raji Fashola, who conceived the project.

Besides, the governor also inaugurated and handed over a laboratory and new office complex which Lagos State Government built for the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI).

Sanwo-Olu said the resuscitation and completion of the two housing projects further testified to his government’s commitment to improving the lives of Lagos residents through service delivery in the area of infrastructure.

The governor observed that the quality of the projects delivered indicated that his administration’s promises to raise the bar of good governance was not a fluke, stressing that implementation of his development blueprint - Project T.H.E.M.E.S - would continue to be done in line with needs of the residents.

Sanwo-Olu said the LagosHOMS projects, being supervised by his administration, were being packaged to give citizens comfort through stress-free

ownership structure and mortgage scheme.

He said: “Today, we are gathered to mark yet another fulfillment of our promises in the housing sector. At the inception of this administration, we pledged to provide decent shelter for the people. This promise was made out of the conviction that housing is one of the basic needs of humans and a critical factor that determines quality of life.

“In the past months, a lot of efforts had gone into completing many of the housing schemes inherited from past administration.

While some of these projects are funded through budgetary allocations, others are being financed through joint venture with our development partners.

“It is with great pleasure that I perform the commissioning of LagosHOMS Iponri by which we are adding 132 homes to the housing stock in this area. Through the same joint venture, we have delivered another 84-unit Lekki Phase II Housing Scheme in Ikota, Ajah. These feats marks

successful collaborative effort geared towards bridging the housing deficit in the State.”

Sanwo-Olu further stated that his government is also generating ideas on how it would increase affordability and access for low and middle income families.

He said more convenient ownership packages would be introduced to make more people come on the home ownership ladder, regardless of socio-economic bracket.

Sanwo-Olu charged more private investors to partner the state government in addressing the housing deficit, while also reiterating his administration’s willingness to make unencumbered land available for housing development by private investors on the basis of mutually agreed terms.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Moruf AkinderuFatai, assured that the state government would leave no stone unturned in providing decent and affordable shelters to all categories of residents in the State.

The scheme delivered 44 units of single-bedroom, 44 units of two-bedroom and 44 units of three-bedroom flats in Iponri, while the Lekki Phase II scheme consists of 28 units each of single-bedroom, twobedroom and three-bedroom apartments.

The comforting features in the two schemes include water reticulation plant, central sewage treatment plant, street light, and leisure facilities, among others.

The NVRI edifice and research laboratory situated on Keffi Street, Ikoyi were built by the Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSDPC) in fulfilment of partnership agreement entered into by Lagos and the Federal Government to end a protracted dispute over land ownership.

The two-storey complex will now be the new regional headquarters of the Institute founded in 1924.

NVRI Governing Board chairman, Mr. Marlin Daniel, praised Governor Sanwo-Olu for fulfilling his pledge to make

the project becomes reality. He said the laboratory would raise the nation’s capacity to bring about cutting-edge research on controlling and providing surveillance on communicable animal borne diseases.

Sanwo-Olu assured the Institute that the State Government would immediately issue title documents on the facility to NVRI to further strengthen the agreement. The Governor also promised to raise funds for the laboratory equipment required to make the Institute functional.

He said: “The NVRI laboratory will boost our capability in the diagnostic aspect of animal health surveillance, while the block of flats is to complement the complex and serve as staff quarters for its workers. We will be supporting the Institute by raising funds to equip the complex with modern and world-class facilities, because we believe in excellence and this has to reflect in all aspects including care for our pets and animals in the State.”

that Buhari told him to assure other traditional rulers that the government must work with them now.

“It is very important for us to work very closely with the government so that we can separate the good, the bad and the ugly. It is very important for us to separate the wheat from the chaff because a lot of them are actually using the porous border that we have but to the glory of God they are doing what is called e-border now in Nigeria and it is very efficient and we all need to work with them.

“So, the objective is politics shouldn't be mixed with the

safety and the security concerns of our people. Politics should be completely taken out of it and to the glory of God, Mr. President said he is fully on board with us as traditional rulers,” he said.

The Ooni welcomed the appointment of new service chiefs, saying with new hands on board, fresh ideas will be generated in combating insecurity.

On the reported tension in South-west over conflict between herders and their host communities, the monarch said it was time to separate the good eggs from the bad eggs without politics.

“The best way forward that is critical is to separate the bad eggs from the good eggs and take politics out of it. We don't want any politics to be mingled with it. We, the traditional rulers, we know the good, the bad and the ugly in our domains. So, it is a very clear strategy. Those bad eggs we want to fish them out. Politics is different from taking out the bad eggs from the good eggs and it is the blessing of Mr. President we have come for.

So, any time we are sensing politics, we the traditional rulers we have to cry out, so that is the object why I am here,” he said.

MAKE NIGERIA SAFER, BUHARI ORDERS NEW SERVICE CHIEFS “The tension will definitely go down if a lot of our youths are gainfully employed. So, I briefed the president on what we are doing in that regard.”

When asked about his disagreement with activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, on the ultimatum for Fulani to leave Oyo State, the governor said: “Well, we have a history of living together peacefully amongst all the ethnic groups that are present in Oyo State.

“For instance, what triggered all of this was that Dr. Aborede was brutally murdered; that is criminal, but on the other hand, Seriki, Alhaji Kabir has

been staying in that same place for 40 years.”

The Ooni, after the meeting with Buhari, also called on the two main political parties, All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), not to politicise the issues of security.

On why he came to see Buhari, Oba Adeyeye said: “Well to the glory of God, I am here particularly because of all the issues of security threat here and there and to get the blessing of Mr. President. Hopefully, it won't turn out to be very political because political parties might probably want to hijack it and to the glory of God as

the Co-chairman of National Council of Traditional Rulers, it is our responsibility and our duty to make sure that everything is right, all and sundry is in good shape.”

He hailed the president for giving the assurance that the security situation will not be politicised.

“The president has assured us that it is not going to be a political thing because we all know the problem all over the country, we have a lot of bad eggs that mix across the entire country and we having that issue again in the South-west,” he stated.

He added that he was happy

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 • T H I S D AY

11

12

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 • T H I S D AY

13

14

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

COMMENT

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

BIDEN CALLS MUGABE

Okello Oculi rolls out ‘foreign policy’ agenda for Biden on Africa

C

onnor Cruise O’Brien once asserted that there is an affinity between Irish people and Africans.

While some attributed this bloodline shown in the shared letter ‘’O’’ in names, Professor Cheik Anta Diop claimed that Black African Ancient Egyptians colonised maritime areas near continental Europe. O’Brien was justifying his support for preventing Katanga from seceding from newly independent Congo.

As a nationalist aspiring for liberation from domination

by European immigrants across Southern Africa, Robert Mugabe took note of O’Brien and Irish politicians. As President of Zimbabwe he was surprised by Senator Joe Biden’s decision to be Vice-President to a younger and politically immature Barack Obama, a son of a Harvardtrained Kenyan economist. As a young Senator, Biden had passionately condemned the oppression and impoverishment of Africans under racist rule in South Africa. Like O’Brien, he had Irish blood.

When Biden’s phone call flashed across his mind as an odd possibility, Mugabe pounced on it, exploiting the African obligation on Ancestors to intervene positively in the affairs of the living. With pungent haste he rolled out an agenda for Biden’s foreign policy towards Africa.

President Biden’s passion for feeding Americans made jobless and without food by measures for combating COVID-19, should be extended to Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan where vast clouds of flying locusts measuring ‘’more than a third of a square mile’’ are reported, by experts, to ‘’eat the same amount of food in mid-day as 35,000 people’’.

The greedy insects can travel up to 90 miles a day. In June 2020, they consumed cereals, grass and leaves of trees which livestock feed on. The tragic part is that while 3.5 million Somalis had lost their food base, President Trump was only concerned about the cost of maintaining 700 American troops fighting Al Shabaab in Somalia. The Food and Agricultural Organisation, an agency of the United Nations, could not persuade the European Union to finance their capacity to eliminate locusts ravaging the region.

Diplomats in the region suspected Euro-American hostility to Kenya’s contract awarded to China to build a new railway line from Mombasa to Nairobi. With a plan to extend it to Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and Ethiopia, it may have taken pressure by former colonial exploiters of the region away from political will and funds inside FAO for eradicating ravaging locusts. This petty and sulking attitude by Euro-American billionaires must be reversed.

I heard you celebrating the power of ‘’Remembering’’.

PRESIDENT BIDEN’S PASSION FOR FEEDING AMERICANS MADE JOBLESS AND WITHOUT FOOD BY MEASURES FOR COMBATING COVID-19 SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ETHIOPIA, SOMALIA, KENYA, UGANDA, SOUTH SUDAN WHERE VAST CLOUDS OF FLYING LOCUSTS ARE REPORTED TO ’EAT THE SAME AMOUNT OF FOOD IN MID-DAY AS 35,000 PEOPLE’

Past American governments had policies on Zimbabwe that did not remember that European bandits robbed land from my people, the BA-SHONA. My policies of requiring foreign companies to give shares to local communities in ventures exploiting minerals were meant to prevent further robberies.

My demanding that tourists should pay local communities for the beauty of hills, mountains, lakes, rare flowers and animal species had similar goals. Your tourists pay vast sums of money to your ‘’tour companies’’; enjoy our climate and ecology to renew their brains for making new industrial inventions, while our people get a pittance by hawking wretched artefacts. In Nairobi, hotels market dancing Masai men and girls as exotic entertainment to tourists.

In this regard, you must push French leaders to remember killing over one million Algerians; decimating over five million people from Chad to Congo Brazzaville. Her own writers condemned French barbarism in Ubangi Shari (now Central African Republic). In 2019, an Italian cabinet minister blamed France’s seizure of foreign reserves from 14 ‘’Francophone countries’’ as the cause of the poverty which drives thousands of unemployed youths to drown in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic Ocean. Desperate migration is an entrepreneurship. France must stop being allergic to Africa’s development; abandon wearing flames for setting Africa on fire where France cannot loot our resources.

Your record of attacking racial economic inequality in South Africa should be dry-cleaned to support President Ramaphosa’s land reclamation and distribution to landless Blacks. Former intelligence officers are tempted to divert their fury into frenzied looting small shops owned

by Somalis and Congolese and Nigerians. A sustained Financial Reparation scheme by Euro-American companies (whose profits were exported out of South Africa during official ‘’crime against humanity’’), should benefit from your leadership.

A pledge to your Senate by a top military officer to drive China out of Africa fails to appreciate China’s brotherhood with Africa due to a shared humiliation under Caucasian colonial looting, and a determination that it must never be repeated.

If I was still in government, I would have accused your scientists of inventing COVID-19 as a plot to depopulate China, Africa and India in the same way that President Lyndon Johnson forced Indira Gandhi’s government to sterilise India’s men and women. President Donald Trump was too timid to say it.

EVIL FORESTS AND TERROR GANGS IN WESTERN NIGERIA urges Southwest governors to network on their security policies and rout criminals hibernating in the forests

L

iving in terror spaces seem an apt description of what Nigerians encounter daily. The leadership of Nigeria has not lived up to meeting what is contained in the National Security Strategy (NSS) released by the Muhammadu Buhari government in 2019. In this document, the federal government of Nigeria is said to be committed to the National values of “freedom, equality and Justice”. The National Interest of Nigeria is said to be “preservation of Nigeria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and welfare of her people”. It recognises that armed banditry, kidnapping, militancy, separatists’ agitations and farmers and herders’ conflict, and porous borders collectively account for 40% of Nigeria’s national security threats. However, insecurity thrives because government wants freedom and equality but denies those victimised justice, and it mouths territorial integrity but continues to open her borders to transnational organised criminal gangs and transnational herders who continue to occupy ungoverned forests and wreaks havoc on livelihoods of indigenous Nigerian peoples whom President Muhammadu Buhari swore to secure and look after their welfare.

It was due to this obvious inefficiency of federal government controlled security agencies in taming mounting national security threats coupled with the experiences of victimisation in the hands of hellish terrorists who have turned highways and ungoverned forest spaces in western Nigeria to Kidnappers Bank of Nigeria (KBN), that southwest governors harmonise their thoughts for the establishment of Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun to secure the region from external aggression. From Ondo, to Ekiti, Osun to Ogun and Oyo States, the cries of indigenous peoples whose relations have suffered victimisation due to kidnapping, and herdsmen lawlessness are thunderous. The experiences vary and cut across social status. It affects those in government like Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and those out of government like Chief Olu-Falae who has been serial victim of kidnapping and herdsmen’s farm destruc-

tion. The sad tale continues in agrarian communities of Ibarapa in Oyo State where farmers, residents and investors have been murdered allegedly by criminal gangs of Fulani extraction. The federal government asked people to diversify to agriculture but those who have embraced farming are being displaced by forests gangs, and criminal kidnappers operating under the umbrella of herdsmen. Igangan community leaders cried to their state government and security agencies but they were let down as kidnapping continued. When confronted with security dilemma with no help from state government and the police, citizens are forced to employ self-up strategy which may be illegal but safety expedient.

While Ondo State seemed proactive, the Oyo State government was reactive and allowed a non-state actor, Sunday Adeyemo also known as ‘Igboho’, who is not a stranger to top politicians in the region, in defiance to the law confront the palace of Seriki Fulani accused of mediating payment of ransoms and bailing arrested tribal criminals. Even if Igboho’s approach was crude, the opportunity for Governor Seyi Makinde and the police to arrest the situation was provided by the seven-day ultimatum he issued. Rather than moving in to douse the tension and reassuring residents of their safety and bring perpetrators to book, they looked on until Igboho with his supporters moved to Igangan, addressed the people and the aftermath triggered forced reactive state mobilisation to speak with the affected communities. The meeting revealed that no fewer than 15 women had been raped with the payment of N50million naira to kidnappers. Some prominent investors from the communities were also killed by these violent criminal Fulani gangs.

While there are many law-abiding Fulani settlers who have co-habited peacefully for decades, the incursion of transnational Fulani gangs hibernating in forests in the name of herding but who later switch to kidnapping and torture of victims to pay millions threatens such historical peaceful relations. What the law abiding Fulani settlers ought to do is to expose the criminals straining their relationship with the host

communities and not cover up for tribal criminals or mediate ransom payments. This is where profiling sets-in. Although there is sense in Governor Makinde’s approach not to label the Fulani ethnic groups as kidnappers, but the fact remains that victims of kidnapping debriefing unveiled the characteristics of their kidnappers and this data ought to have been used proactively in nipping the crime in the bud in the Ibarapa communities. Criminal profiling has been embraced as standard practice globally during which evidences from crime scene are used in identifying and predicting the personality of the offender. Criminological profiling assists in understanding the modus operandi, motivations driving crime, and offender characteristics with a view to preventing future crimes. Through it, we are able to know the geography of offending, likely victims, and time of offending and the character of victimisation.

That said, the kidnapping and banditry in the southwest region cannot be entirely successful without criminal collaboration of insiders. There are those who supply information on movement of who to kidnap, their relations, routines among others. There are also corrupt traditional rulers who compromise the security of their communities by accommodating criminals and releasing their lands in exchange for insecurity. Such traditional rulers should be deposed by government of such a state to serve as deterrent to others. Each state in the region needs to track influx of foreigners into their transport sector such as those doing Okada business. They need to be registered to work. Transnational beggars also litter most urban landscape in the region and may constitute security risks.

While playing national unity politics of reception, indigenous security must not be sacrificed. Residents must also be warned against employing undocumented live-in workers.

The nature of security dilemma confronting western Nigerian peoples stems from the politics of national security.

Western Nigerian peoples have observed overtime that offenders of farm destructions, complaints about kidnapping and banditry

do not get desired attention and response from government. They therefore read state complicity in their criminal victimisation.

Further to this, there is mutual suspicion between indigenous peoples of western Nigeria and the Fulani nation. This suspicion is fuelled by the uncertainty which they nurse about the intention of the Fulani in the region while the Fulani are suspicious of the Yoruba intention towards them. In other words, Yoruba fears the Fulani of attacking its ancestral home and displacing her people in pursuit of expansionist agenda while the Fulani also fears their evacuation from the zone. Owing to this fear, each side is accumulating power and capabilities to defend themselves and this can lead to further insecurity through avoidable wars.

Three critical elements of deterrence theory should be implemented to save the situation. One is SWIFTNESS. The response of the State (Federal and State Governments) must be swift and not allow things to degenerate to the level of destruction as witnessed in Igangan before acting. It does not show responsive and responsible governance. Second element is CERTAINTY that the offender will be arrested and punished. Resort to self-help is mostly precipitated when the victims of crime feel unprotected by those who should and see offenders being shielded by the State. How many victims of farm destruction, rape, kidnapping and murder have been served justice in the affected communities? The third is SEVERITY of punishment. It sees kidnappers, bandits, rapists among others as rational human beings who calculate the costs and benefits of kidnapping and banditry before venturing into it. This element is saying that it is not sufficient that the offender is arrested; he/she must be inflicted with punishment sufficient enough to deter future offending. Not doing this accounts for the festering of the crime.

Southwest governors must network on their security policies and collectively enforce the ban on open, night and underage grazing and rout criminals hibernating in her forests.

Dr Tade, a sociologist sent this piece via dotad2003@yahoo.com

15

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

EDITORIAL

AVOIDING SECTARIAN VIOLENCE Nigeria should be made to work for all

I

n recent years, waves of sectarian sympathy have been sweeping across the country, reinforcing decades of hate and desperate fears. They are constant reminders of Nigeria’s problems as they paint in vivid images our religious and tribal loyalties. The latest was triggered by the 2020 Christmas day homily titled, ‘Ä Nation in Search of Vindication’ delivered by the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah. Given the nature of our environment, the sermon became an open invitation to partisan religious frenzy, accompanied with hateful communiWE URGE ALL RELIGIOUS ques that are laced with dangerous AND POLITICAL LEADERS threats. The fear AND THEIR ASSOCIATES of violence was TO STEER THE COUNTRY further heightened AWAY FROM EMERGING by the State Security Service SECTARIAN RIFTS AND (SSS) which SECTIONAL CONFLICTS warned of plot by some persons and groups to plunge the country into a religious violence.

In his sermon, Bishop Kukah had accused President Muhammadu Buhari of mismanaging the diversity of the nation by his overly skewed appointments to sensitive positions. “Every honest Nigerian”, said Kukah, “knows that there is no way any non-Northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Buhari has done by his nepotism and gotten away with it.”

Kukah was accused by the federal government and supporters of the president of calling for an overthrow of the administration.

Meanwhile, Kukah’s allegations against the Buhari administration that has become notorious for sloppy partisanship are not new. However, it is unfortunate that some religious groups and politicians are muddling the waters by using divisive and hateful statements to promote nefarious agenda. Rival religious groups and major geopolitical centres across the country have also further raised the stakes by resorting to our religious and ethnic fault lines to push their

Letters to the Editor

T H I S DAY EDITOR

DEPUTY EDITOR

˜

˜ MANAGING DIRECTOR

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD

EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL

MANAGING EDITOR

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

GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ˜

˜

˜ ˜

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS

˜ ˜

DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR

SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

˜ CONTROLLERS

˜

˜

DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION

HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT

̓

TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

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.

20 YEARS LATER…SAME OLD WAHALA

Continued from Backpage

O

ne of the commanders was wearing slippers and you just can’t see any sign of the millions on them. So, those (the sponsors) are the people I fear because we live in the city with them and because they fear that we are trying to break their chain or hold on their agents.

The people I fear are those that are capitalizing on the weakness of the Fulani to indoctrinate them with their own ideology.”

The import of Gumi’s statement is that what we are dealing with is organised crime into which many of these nomads have been recruited. What then comes out clearly is the failure of intelligence for which we must hold the State Security Service (SSS) to account. If Sheikh Gumi could identify kidnappers and trace them to their abodes, why couldn’t the SSS track their movement across the country as they rape, loot and kill, causing ethnic hostilities? It is this blatant abdication of responsibility by the authorities that causes the allegation of complicity to fester. A deafening silence from the Villa worsens the situation. While being withdrawn may work at an interpersonal level, it is a huge drawback in political leadership positions, as we have seen in almost six years of Buhari’s presidency.

As I stated earlier, President Obasanjo also faced a similar challenge two decades ago. The only difference between then and now is that nobody could accuse Obasanjo of taking sides or that nepotism drove his response to public policy. We cannot say the same of the current administration.

More troubling is the penchant for running government by press statements. A president should not be hiding behind his spokesmen on serious national security challenges.

arguments. The apex Muslim group, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) dubbed the homily “a poisoned arrow fired at the heart of Islam and Muslims in Nigeria,” while the umbrella Christian organization, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) warned that nothing must happen to Kukah who they believe spoke for the majority of Nigerians.

More worrisome is that various traditional and social media platforms are now being deployed to launch scathing attacks and counter-attacks, most of which are obviously inciting and dangerously provocative. Fortunately, the presidency, after the initial foot-dragging, weighed in by calling to order the purveyors of violence. But in many ways, the recent flourish of divisive utterances is primarily as a result of politics and the mismanagement of our differences. President Buhari unwittingly prepared the grounds for them. Key federal and security appointments have followed a parochial track while the body language at the apex of power unfortunately reflects a basic reluctance to relate to Nigeria as a constitutional republic. This has to change.

We concede that failure to meet the expectations of the majority of Nigerians did not start under the watch of the present government. But things have definitely got worse in the last five years, despite all the noise to the contrary. There are plenty of things that continue to disappoint in an administration welcomed with high hopes since 2015. The insensitive and nepotistic practices have contributed largely to stoking the embers of division and fuelling the agitations in the polity.

We urge all religious and political leaders and their associates to steer the country away from emerging sectarian rifts and sectional conflicts.

They must rise above themselves by preaching peace instead of hate and respecting each other’s basic rights and dignity.

Meanwhile, it is time for President Buhari to reposition his administration for the urgent task ahead. He must put the interest of all Nigerians first and at all times. That is the reason he should listen to the raging debate on restructuring.

Nigeria should be made to work for all.

Akeredolu is a member of the ruling party and there was no reason why the president could not have invited him to the Villa for a discussion. Which is why we must commend both the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and MACBAN for their troubleshooting role in Akure on Monday and Sheikh Gumi for his risky meetings with bandits. They all demonstrated the kind of leadership that is very much needed at a time like this.

With Monday’s long overdue replacement of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai—who for years deployed ‘smiling crocodiles’ and ‘dancing pythons’ to bamboozle the president into believing regime protection is the same as national security—we hope that things will begin to change in the fight to rid our country of insurgency.

At another level, what is happening makes the case for community policing more compelling. It is the vacuum created by the absence of grassroots oriented policing system that mavericks like Igboho are stepping into as ethnic champions.

On the whole, President Buhari should be concerned about his legacy. Regardless of whatever we may see on the surface, what is fueling this crisis is not necessarily what some poor herders (who themselves are victims of Nigeria’s mismanagement) are doing in a remote forest but rather the mutual ethno-religious recriminations arising from a lack of equity in the distribution of opportunities. To compound the challenge, there is a total failure of leadership, particularly at the topmost level. Until President Buhari therefore takes direct responsibility by rallying everyone and embracing the entire nation as his constituency, it will be difficult to harness our potential for the greater good of all Nigerians.

Olusegun Adeniyi, Abuja

PUT AN END TO PERIOD POVERTY

I

n the free world, menstrual hygiene has been very difficult to practice among young girls and women, talk more of confined places like prisons and IDP camps.

In a country of over 2.6 million displaced people, with major numbers of them being females, many people have difficulties with feeding and shelter, not to mention those who can’t afford sanitary materials for their menstrual cycle.

Nigerian Prisons, now known as Correctional Services, which has 1,250 female inmates out of a total population of 65,824 inmates, isn’t left out of this mess as one of the inmates said, “less attention is given to female inmates by the public, so we get the same thing as our male counterparts. There’s a pretense as if menstruation doesn’t exist here, so we rely on our relatives, NGOs or pay exorbitant prices to get sanitary materials”.

In the outside community, menstruation was not a socially acceptable topic until lately. So, it’s understandable to see the reason why we are still discussing the topic in 2021. In United States of America, after many cries and agitations, the First Step Act Bill was signed into law in 2019, mandating that female inmates be given free sanitary materials to protect their rights to dignity.

Nigeria took its first step in putting an end to the menace called period poverty. In late 2019, a motion was passed in the House of Reps calling for the subsidization of sanitary materials. You can call it a round peg, but is it in the round hole? The subsidization of sanitary materials would make it affordable to people but it still won’t make it accessible to people who cannot afford it. These sets of people are the vulnerable and they exist in the prisons and IDP camps.

There’s an alternative means for which menstrual hygiene can be maintained in prisons and IDP camps. This alternative would reduce textile and disposable pad waste and in turn reducing climate change.

Abass Oyeyemi, oyeyemiabass@yahoo.com

16

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 • T H I S D AY

17

18

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021

POLITICS

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

‘Buying Delegates at Primary Election Robs the People of Their Preferred Choice’

Nseobong Okon-Ekong holds a conversation with Dr. Godwin Maduka, the triple professor famed for transforming his homestead, Umuchukwu in Orumba South local government area of Anambra State into an emerging city, on issues around his quest to win the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party and his ultimate ambition of governing the state

W

the politics of Anambra?

It might surprise you to know that we have deployed it already from the party hierarchy and I deployed my own. I am not going to tell you how much of it has been deployed. I can tell you that politics is about educating the people and that is what we are doing at this stage-educating the people on who and what they are voting for, because that is lacking. I don’t think we should continue this idea of pumping money to the delegates. That, to me, is going backwards. I know the PDP will make sure they put an end to that because you do not win an election by buying the delegates and by who gives the most money on the day. That should stop. That is robbing the people of their rightful voting because that is another reason that the PDP and any other party that wants to present their candidates have to make sure that they present those people who can serve.

How do you know they can serve when you haven’t seen what they have done? You have to see what people have done before they enter politics, for you to know what they are going to do after politics. In terms of AIs and ITs, I am prepared with it. I am from the country where that is being deployed, but I am not going to use it to the disadvantage of my colleagues. I will only use it in disseminating information that I want the populace to know.

hat are the likely pitfalls that you advise your party to move away from as it approaches the critical stage of selecting a governorship

candidate?

The North is about finishing its eight years.

Anambra Central was there before now. It is the turn of the South. Every party that I know in Anambra State is adhering to that zoning. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not saying yes or no. I advise them to listen to the zoning process that favours the South. If they don’t, then they might suffer the consequences at the voting booth Are from the South?

I am from the South, but that is not why I am talking. I am just saying that fairness and equity have to be observed.

Is that the only pitfall that you are advising them to move away from?

I am also advising them to stay away from having many factions. I think they are beginning to respect the integrity of the party. At some point, they had little cliques here and there, but the PDP in Anambra has to be one party under one government. I am advising them to make sure they come under one umbrella without divisions so that they can grab the governorship of the state In the unlikely event that you are muscled out of the governorship contest, what will be your reaction?

I have to be honest with you, I don’t see that happening because they promised that there will be a fair election this time. From what I am seeing and for being who I am, running for this governorship, I don’t see anybody that can take it away from me. I am from the South. I follow the rules and regulations and I meet most of the stuff they need to be a governor. I know myself. I am not saying that other aspirants are not qualified, but I brought a lot of stuff into this party and most of what Anambra people want is who can produce, not who will produce. I can produce because I have produced before by doing what I have done in this state for 20 years.

I agreed after being asked by many people to run. I believe I am not discouraging anybody not to run and I am not discouraging myself. If you know yourself and you know what is required just like when we go to school, I don’t see myself being muscled out of it. That is my belief.

Who are your likely associates, because you need to build bridges, you need to synergize with people, in this contest. Right now, the race is to get as many delegates as possible to accept that you are best man I walk directly to the delegates and stakeholders. Some people have been working for a long time with these delegates. In every town, there are some people that hold the party for their local governments or their local communities.

We recognise those people and we go present ourselves to them and the response we get is very good. We also go directly to the delegates.

Most of what I have done is that, at the beginning of this pandemic, I went and gave palliatives to the entire Anambra State towns, mostly to the needy, irrespective of the party. I came back and gave to every representative and every delegate, some palliatives and PPEs; just to reach out to them. I just rounded up what I call one of the good things I have seen in politics-a tour of the 21 local governments in Anambra. It was very rewarding that I spoke to each delegate. In every town I went, all the delegates came out, nobody was missing. They were all there waiting for what I had to say. They are not blind. They know what I have done in my community. I tell them what I have done in this community, I am going to do in Anambra. I have built my community to

Maduka look like a state. I am going to build Anambra to look like a country. I am not like some guy who is living in America that is not working with the grassroots. I did that. Before the end of the year, I brought every single delegate with the executives and the party chairman and I gave them a befitting Christmas entertainment and I gave them a tour of the projects I have done.

They came here, they saw where I live and what I have done and what I am going to do should I be elected governor of Anambra State. I was able to give them live entertainment, provide some palliatives, including umbrellas and almanacs, rice and cash, not that I am buying them. I am a proud member of the party. Everyone of them has seen me and what I can do. They might be saying the same thing to every other aspirant.

The way they were talking to me gave me a lot of encouragement. Some of them still call me and I still call them. I am in touch with the delegates. I respect all the stakeholders in Anambra irrespective of religion, denomination or party because I provided a live cow to them just to show my appreciation to the delegates and the bishops irrespective of the denomination. That is what

I am doing. I am a proud son of Anambra State and I am here to lead and to serve.

In what areas would you say the PDP has fallen behind in preparing for the governorship contest, considering that the party has been out of power for 16 years in this state?

It is looking better now. Everybody knows there were so many divisions in the PDP. You can’t win an election that way. They can’t afford not to be talking about zoning again. If they want to win the election, they should be talking about zoning, which every other party respects. They should stop the divisions within the party. It is a very strong party made up of a lot of eligible men and women in Anambra State. It is one of the most well-put-together parties, which is why I joined them. The only way they can lose is if they continue the division. I think the division is almost over and by the time we get to the general election, we will be one party and we are going to win the governorship of Anambra You are a man of the sciences, how much of IT and AI are you deploying to change

Everybody knows there were so many divisions in the PDP. You can’t win an election that way. They can’t afford not to be talking about zoning again.

If they want to win the election, they should be talking about zoning, which every other party respects. They should stop the divisions within the party. It is a very strong party made up of a lot of eligible men and women in Anambra State. It is one of the most well-put-together parties, which is why I joined them. The only way they can lose is if they continue the division. I think the division is almost over and by the time we get to the general election, we will be one party and we are going to win the governorship of Anambra

Are you trying to get other contestants to promote the overall good of the party over self? Are you willing to build alliances, because you sound like you are all by yourself?

I am not by myself. When you are running, you are running by yourself, but when you are dealing with the party, it is not by yourself. I have contributed immensely, financially to the party, so have other aspirants. This is not a war. I have my own focus on what I want to do, using the ideas of the party as well as individuals. I am not in a war with other aspirants. We are all friends, but I am very much on the point of what I want to achieve having been in this state for 61 years. I am more convinced about what I want to do because it has worked for me. I have done them all. That 10-point agenda that I put across are things I have done; from IT to women empowerment to religious tolerance. You know why they call me ‘Ecumenical Minister?’ That is because I don’t really care much about different religions. I am Catholic, but I am also helping the Anglicans and other religious bodies in my town. I derive my 10-point agenda from what I have done in the past 20 years with my own money without help from the government. Can you imagine now that I am going to get help from the government? I am going to do more.

I really would like you to mention some of those things, if you don’t mind, that you have done to uplift the party in Anambra and in Nigeria that may count in your favour as you seek the governorship ticket of the PDP I will enumerate them without sounding as if it couldn’t be done by anybody else. It is a personal choice. It is a personal choice to be persuaded to run for governor, when I have a massive philanthropy going on, but I realize that being a governor will be an expansion of my philanthropy, which can reach more people than what I have. I have constructed roads and bridges. I have provided transport. In Anambra, I said I am going to do air, land and sea. For roads, we are going to repair and build roads that will last beyond two years. We are going to have an airport on expand the one that we have now to include a commercial and international airport. We are going to do something about our ports, the nautical miles from Ihiala River to the Atlantic Ocean and the River Niger tributaries are not that high. We are going to try our best to Continued on page 19

19

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021

POLITICS

‘Buying Delegates at Primary DISSENTING VOICE...IN HIS OWN WORDS Election Robs the People of Their Politicians, Ethnic Militia and Preferred Choice’

Maduka get people to help us to dredge so that medium level vessels can get here. For education, there is no need for primary and secondary school students to pay anything. I do not think it will be a drain on our economy if we respect that. I will build 21 campuses of the existing universities in each local government of the state. We have to increase the literacy rate in Anambra. I have done that in my city. I built primary and secondary. I encourage adult education. I am also devising a means of online education for universities. Those 21 campuses will be sited in the local government headquarters or close to it so that people can trek to the universities.

The literacy rate will go up and that will bring the economy up when people are educated. We talked about IT, which is the mainstay of this world now. People doing IT, almost everything we are doing is with IT, no matter what area of endeavour you want to join, we will include it in the schools also we will be teaching vocational education and we are going to make sure people are learning their skills. We talked about religious tolerance already. Remember I have IT here too.

Everything I talked about I have done in my town.

In the case of transport, the only type I could do here is just the land transport.. In terms of women and youth empowerment, that is what I have done here. I have given a bunch of them scholarships to further their education, some of them that couldn’t further and those who don’t want to, they go for vocational education, learning a trade, not selling and buying. I told them if you want to deal on plumbing materials, you have to learn plumbing so that you will be able to give people a fair quote that they will understand. You need to understand your trade before you buy and sell anything. You want to sell any building material, you have to know how to construct a house. You have to do mason and things like that. These are part of those things that I have done in my town that I will take to the entire Anambra on a larger scale.

I will say it before anybody, my intervention in the judiciary system in Anambra State is why we ended up having three additional divisions, which is why we have Orumba South Judiciary Division, Ogbaru and Aniocha, which is Neni.

We have a high court here in Umuchukwu. In the area of judiciary, we are going to augment that state wide. We will rebuild all the courts and make sure that they have and make sure they have good living quarters so that justice can be the same. I also built a Magistrate Court here.

You can see that in the area of justice, we have done that. Then we are talking about the area of medicine. In the area of medicine, I have built a very nice and first of its kind hospital which is operating right now, called the Trinitas Hospital and Maternity in Umuchukwu. I have equipped it with materials I bought from overseas and now they do surgeries, maternities, emergencies and that is why I said that in 21 local government area of Anambra State, we are going to have 21 emergency rooms so that people who have an accident will get help first before being transferred to tertiary hospitals. In that place we will be able to save people from stroke and heart attack once we recognise the symptoms. The ambulance will be waiting to transport them as soon as they are managed initially, so that people stop dying from these cardiovascular events and

they don’t start dying from a cerebral accident which is a stroke. These are most of the things that I have put in my 10-point agenda that I am going to do. My construction of a 17-decking of the tallest African medical research which is in existence, we are remodelling it now to fit things that were there, Oncology will be there, MRI-CT Scan will be there. Most of these I have built in America, anybody can check it out and then we are going to have ICUs for specialised cases. We are going to have special areas where we train the doctors in different specific areas and we have expatriates that will be coming here and teaching them all that. We are going to have the nurses and laboratory technicians being trained. Most of these will be in that medical research. That will encourage medical tourism being reversed because most of the people will be airlifted here for serious problems. That is building ahead for possible COVID-19 crisis in Nigeria because I don’t think we have enough ventilators to handle it. We are just asking God to help us so that this does not become a serious problem and go wide into the rural areas. That is what I am doing already. I will now do it at the state level

Drums of War

Prince Osibote, President of the Oodua Peoples Congress cautions politicians againt fanning the embers of ethnic division

When you have these interactions and palliatives for delegates on what platform do you have them because campaigns have not started?

It is on the platform of Dr. Godwin Maduka Foundation, even now that is what I use I believe and some people do too that Anambra is easy to govern because you have so many wealthy men and they are already doing things in their locality, so all, an enterprising governor needs to do is to harness all the possibilities from these town unions and individuals and then the state is on autopilot I can’t agree with you anymore than this. It is true. That is why last Christmas season I paid homage to most of them that I can remember. We will call on our illustrious sons from home and abroad to join the people at home. You are right we have more multi-millionaires in this state than most states but that has not been harnessed. We are going to have a governor that will be simple enough to approach any rich man. Anambra people are very good in philanthropy. We still have the biggest philanthropist we can ever have, Prince Arthur Eze. He is from this state.

We have a lot of these rich people, Obi Jackson, Sir Emeka Offor, I can name all of them. These are the people I look up to before even joining this race. I have tried to reach out to them, one way or the other that they will be able to bring their resources together either as an investment that will yield them money or as a philanthropy, whichever way. Let us hope I get elected as a governor of this state. I will work with each one of them.

I also believe you have more than a gold mine in Onitsha and Nnewi, with the volume of trade that goes on daily in those two cities, a very creative governor of Anambra does not need to borrow because you have a huge turnover in those two cities that can spike the state’s IGR I can never say something I don’t know. I do know we have a great IGR from these places.

I am not going to tax people if it is not needed.

We are not going to be wasting money that we cannot harness. More than taxing them, I am going to make sure that the volume of trade increases because I will have in place things that will help the traders. I am going to make sure that the roads going to Nnewi and Onitsha are not congested. I will do whatever I have to do to make that easy. I will do some kind of rebuilding without loss of income inside those markets, so that it can be standardized and have a kind of uniformity. We still have Ekwulobia. We still have Umunze. We still have Obosi. There are so many cities in Anambra with the potential to grow their commerce. Anambra State are mostly people of commerce. We will take good interest in that and we will also pay attention to their unions and hold them accountable instead of making it to be all over the place, we create harmony.

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

Buhari

T

he onset of every crisis gives birth to villains and heroes. The descriotion of these dramatis personae usually follows what what side of the narrative one supports. So, one person’s hero may be another’s villain and vice versa. Since the conversation surrounding the contending issues naturally force the emergence of hardliners with deep conviction, there is no gainsaying that by the time the opposing parties come to the public space throwing odious diatriabes at each other, they have reached a point of no return, seeking only one thing the elimination of the adversary.

At different times, the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), working in league with defenders of rights of other ethnic nationalities has warned that those on the steering wheel of the ship of the Nigerian state to be more alert to the glaring perils. That was many years ago before the Founder of the OPC, the late Dr. Frederick Fasehun was forced to rise in defence of the rights of the Yorubas, a cuase to which he remained committed and unwavering till he took his last breath. Although, Fasehun suffered many tribulations including incaceration by the military government of the day, nothing was as heart-breaking as the treachery from his erstwhile compatriots who fell to the bait of huge monies offered by powerful politicians in order to break the strength and homogeneity of the OPC. Fasehun was never really able to recover from this lethal stab to his underbelly.

It is thanks to the suave and urbane nature of some genuine Yoruba leaders of different fronts, and groups of like mind for the collective welfare of the South-west, including the OPC have remained calm in the face of provocation, choosing instead to pursue lawful means of addressing injuries on her people. The trsagic death of Chief Moshood Abiola, the assumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, while in custody of the Federal Government was a big slap on the face of the Yorubas, but after the initial fury of the angst that trailed the news of Abiola’s death, Yourbas championed a tractical

resistance to military dictatorship that saw the emergence of this enduring season of democracy. Whereas similar occurences in Nothern Nigeria led to the emergence of Mohammed Yusuf as leader of the radical Islamic group Boko Haram, which has acquired notoriety as the most dangerous terrorist group in West Africa, responsible for deaths of 40,000 people and the kidnapp of more than 1,000 children in Northeastern Nigeria. In the Niger Delta, militia groups took to kidnapping, economic sabotage and killings to register their protest for a more justiciable environment and compensation for the people.

In the past couple of years, espeically since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed power, Fulanis have become a law unto themselves, wrecking havoc on different parts of Nigeria, particulary in the Middle Belt and the South West. Leading Yorubas like the former Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Olu Falae and Pa Reuben Fasoranti have suffered varying degrees of losses in the hands of alleged Fulani marauders. However, their pain was largely publicised because of their eminence.

The major tragedy, which occur on a daily basis is the waton killing, maiming, rape, payment of ransom and kidnapp of defenceless Yorubas and other tribes on their land by alleged Fulani marauders.

These wanton mayhem has continued unchecked for years, with several Yorubas elders and groups making insistent calls for intervention from the concerned security agencies. There are reports which suggest that rather than come to their aid, our security agencies shamelessly take sides with the Fulanis.

Rather than a resort to violence, Oodua People’s Congress will continue to pursue legal avenues of addressing this unwaranted challenge to peaceful existnece on their own soil.

We don’t want another civil war!

As the saying goes “Eni Sango ba toju Wole - koni bu Oba ko so,. Papa to ba gbo ago church ko ni duro” Our entire security system needs to be over haul. , and our politicians should stop their reckless style of politicking.

20

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

FEATURES

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

Echoes of a Reformer: IGP Adamu’s Two Years of Sterling Police Leadership Frank Mba

I

t was two years on the 15th January, 2021 when IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu assumed office as the 20th indigenous Inspector General of Police. Upon appointment, he hit the ground running with a myriad of activities – to, inter alia, stabilize security in the country, tackle prevailing and emerging crimes, address citizens’ concerns on human rights abuses and restore the dwindling primacy of the Nigeria Police Force within the internal security architecture of the Nation. The Force, long under pressure from an avalanche of challenges beyond its own capabilities, found a reformer in IGP Adamu.

The IGP’s vast and robust policing experience, garnered from both within and beyond the shores of Nigeria, primed him for the qualitative and awesome contributions his Administration has thus far made in the journey towards a Police Force, Nigerians can be very proud of. A highly cerebral and perceptive officer, IGP Adamu introduced audacious policies, programs and strategies and with his impeccable leadership style galvanized his management team, strategic officers and the entire workforce towards repositioning the Force on a right and focused path. It is worthy of note that not even the COVID-19 pandemic, the unfavourable economic climate affecting the country and the “ENDSARS protests”, have been able to derail the Force, under his watch, from delivering on its core mandate and improving police – citizen relations across the country.

Shortly after he came on board as the 20th indigenous Inspector General of Police, IGP Adamu promised to provide a level playing field for all political parties and their candidates during the 2019 general elections. To his credit, that promise of a hitch-free and successful policing of the electoral process was kept to the letter and the nation is still grateful for it.

A strong-willed crime fighter, IGP Adamu, on 5th April, 2019, introduced “Operation Puff Adder”, a robust security action plan with a clear mandate to enhance inter-agency collaborations and curb the excesses of criminal elements hell-bent on threatening internal security across the Federation. The successes of the action plan are evident in the arrest and ongoing prosecution of over 31,478 notorious criminal suspects for offences of kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, cultism, banditry and other violent crimes. Also, 5,526 sophisticated and locally fabricated firearms and two (2) rocket launchers were recovered from criminal elements while 159,108 large catchment of live ammunition were recovered. 2,345 kidnapped victims were also safely rescued and reunited with their families and 2,670 stolen vehicles recovered and returned to the real owners.

Under the leadership of IGP Adamu, the National Assembly was successfully galvanized for the landmark passage and assent of the Nigeria Police Force Act, 2020 and subsequently, the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Bill by Mr. President. The Nigeria Police Force Act, 2020 provides the framework for the Police Force and ensures cooperation and partnership between the Police and host communities in maintaining peace, combating crime, protecting liberties, life and property; and for related matters.

Also, the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act will substantially improve the funding regime and address the logistics and operational gaps that have over the years, been hindering the optimal service delivery of the Nigeria Police Force. Other Bills currently being facilitated by IGP Adamu are the Nigeria Police Academy Establishment Bill, Nigeria Police Colleges Bill and the National Institute of Police Studies Bill. These are critical to the enhancement of professionalism and operational capacity of the Force.

As an eloquent advocate of democratic, citizen-centred and community policing, IGP M.A Adamu, on 11th October, 2020, dissolved the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) across the 36 State Police Commands and

IG Mohammed Adamu

the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where they hitherto existed. This was part of the Force reorganization for improved service delivery and respect for the yearnings of the citizens for a Police Force that holds their rights sacred.

In his bid to further entrench community policing standards and strengthen the criminal intelligence capacity of the Force towards bringing policing closer to the people, IGP Adamu successfully got the approval of the President for the upgrade of the Force Intelligence Bureau to a full-fledged Department, headed by a Deputy Inspector General of Police. There was also, further decentralization of the Force Criminal Investigation Department with the establishment of new annex offices in Gombe and Enugu in addition to the existing ones in Lagos and kaduna.

Five new zonal commands which increased the zonal commands to seventeen were also created.

Many pundits (home and abroad) have not failed to give kudos to IGP Adamu for the many successes recorded against organized and trans-national crime syndicates, as exemplified in the recent arrest and prosecution of some suspects in a 15-man kidnap gang of Nigerian/ Nigerien extraction, led by Barte Dan Alhaji and Dan Buda and the dismantling of many international smuggling syndicates. There is no doubt that IGP Adamu’s international professional exposure and his long-standing inimitable and ennobling records at INTERPOL headquarters where he rose to a full-fledged director and later INTERPOL Vice President, were the fulcrum upon which, for the first time in our history, Nigeria hosted the West African Police Chiefs Committee (WAPCCO) and INTERPOL Week. These, inter alia, have resulted in the strengthening of intelligencesharing amongst security agencies in the ECOWAS sub-region and beyond and have been largely responsible for the successes in

combating armed trafficking, cross-border car theft, cattle rustling, terror financing, amongst others.

The acquisition and deployment of cuttingedge technology to policing functions especially in the areas of intelligence, operations and investigative activities of the Force is one of the areas IGP Adamu must be applauded.

The initiative has not only shot the Force into modern policing standards but has placed it ahead of high-profile criminals and enhanced its capacity to prevent, detect, proactively respond to major threats, in addition to undertaking well-coordinated technology guided special operations. All these are in addition to the Incident and Crime Data Centre and the Nigeria Police National Command and Control Centre (NPF-C4i) graciously commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR in December, 2019.

A proud alumnus of the University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom, where he obtained a master’s degree in International Criminal Justice System, and the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, Plateau State, IGP Adamu believes in leading a well-motivated workforce. In the past two years, IGP Adamu initiated several welfare programs for personnel of the Force, both serving and retired. His administration has among other things succeeded in securing the approval of the Federal Government for the “Police Retirees National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)”. Needless to state that until this approval was secured, all retiring police officers were delisted from the NHIS and left forlornly to address their health needs upon retirement. The IGP also restored the promotion policy that is based on the principle of merit and seniority in the Force. This, has helped to address anxiety and accompanying negative impact on productivity. A total of One Hundred and Twenty-one Thousand and Fifty-one (121,051) personnel of the Force

were promoted to their next ranks in the past two years.

A super and educationally savvy cop, IGP Adamu’s commitment to entrenching policing standards, repositioning and reforming the Force for improved service delivery is nonpareil.

The establishment of the National Institute for Police Studies in Abuja, the Public Relations School in Nasarawa State and the Institute of Finance and Administration in Otuocha, Anambra State are efforts geared towards improving capacity, promoting professionalism and bridging knowledge gap amongst officers.

The recently established Police Radio 99.1FM located at Jabi, FCT, Abuja aside from promoting the image of the Force and providing an alternative narrative, is also aimed at producing Radio programs and news that will engender a new culture of security consciousness and Education amongst citizens.

IGP Adamu has also succeeded in securing Presidential approval for the adoption and implementation of Community Policing Model as internal security strategy of the country.

The model is being rigorously pursued to return policing to the grass-roots and foster good working relationship and partnership between the Police and the citizens.

All these, amongst other feats, have indeed shown the clear leadership prowess of IGP Adamu. At last, when the roll is called, there is no doubt that IGP Adamu NPM, mni occupies a pride of place in the Pantheon of Inspectors General of Police whose monumental contributions have steered the Force to the right course in the service of the country.

Evidently, these epochal achievements have greatly endeared him not only to the police and other law enforcement community in Nigeria but also his peers in Africa and across the globe. t.CB JT B $PNNJTTJPOFS PG 1PMJDF BOE UIF 'PSDF 1VCMJD 3FMBUJPOT 0GmDFS

21

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

BUSINESSWORLD

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

Ͱ Ͱ ˜ Ͱ ͮ Ͱ ͯ MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

REPO ͯͮ ϱ ͯͮ˛ͳͮ ϱ

CALL 1-MONTH

͵ ϱ Ͷ˛ͳͮ ϱ

S & P INDEX INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY

S&P ʹͰʹ˛͵ͮ ϱ ̋ͮ˛͵ͱ ϱ

1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

EXCHANGE RATE ̋ʹ˛ͳͮ ϱ ̋ʹ˛ͳͮ ϱ

ͱ͵ͷ˹ͯ ̩ ̩

Quick Takes Microsoft, Tech4Dev Partner on Digital Skills

ÏÍÒͲ Ïà˜ Ë ØÙØ̋ÚÜÙÐÓÞ ÝÙÍÓËÖ ÏØÞÏÜÚÜÓÝÏ ÞÒËÞ ÍÜÏËÞÏÝ ËÍÍÏÝÝ ÞÙ ÏØÞÜÏÚÜÏØÏßÜÝÒÓÚ ÙÚÚÙÜÞßØÓÞÓÏÝ ËØÎ ÚÖËÞÐÙÜ×Ý ÐÙÜ ÐÜÓÍËØÝ ÓØ ÚËÜÞØÏÜÝÒÓÚ áÓÞÒ ÓÍÜÙÝÙÐÞ ËÜÏ ÔÙÓØÓØÑ ÐÙÜÍÏÝ ÞÙ ßÚÝÍËÖÏ ÞÒÏ ÓÑÏÜÓËØ Ù×ÏØ ÏÍÒÝÞÏÜÝ ØÓÞÓËÞÓàÏ˛ ÒÏ ÚÜÙÑÜË××Ï ÒËÝ ÞÜËÓØÏÎ Ͱ˜Ͳͮ​ͮ áÙ×ÏØ ËØÎ ÑÓÜÖÝ ËÍÜÙÝÝ ͯͰ ÍÙ××ßØÓÞÓÏÝ ÓØ ÓÑÏÜÓ˲ Þ ËÓ×Ý ÞÙ ÞÜËÓØ ÐÓàÏ ×ÓÖÖÓÙØ ÑÓÜÖÝ ËØÎ áÙ×ÏØ ËÍÜÙÝÝ ÐÜÓÍË ÙàÏÜ ÞÒÏ ØÏâÞ ͯͮ ãÏËÜݲ ÒÓÝ áÓÖÖ ÌÏ ÎÙØÏ Ìã ÚÜÙàÓÎÓØÑ ÝÕÓÖÖÝ ÓØ ÍÙÎÓØÑ ËØÎ ÎÏÏÚ ÞÏÍÒ ÝÕÓÖÖÝ ÞÙáËÜÎÝ ÌÜÓÎÑÓØÑ ÞÒÏ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ ËØÎ ÞÏÍÒØÙÖÙÑã ÎÓàÓÎÏ ÌÏÞáÏÏØ ×ÏØ ËØÎ áÙ×ÏØ ËÝ áÏÖÖ ËÝ ÏØÝßÜÓØÑ ÏÛßËÖ ËÍÍÏÝÝ ÞÙ ÙÚÚÙÜÞßØÓÞÓÏÝ ÐÙÜ ËÖÖ áÒÓÖÏ ÒÏÖÚÓØÑ áÙ×ÏØ ËÍÒÓÏàÏ ÏÍÙØÙ×ÓÍ Ï×ÚÙáÏÜ×ÏØÞ ËÍÜÙÝÝ ÐÜÓÍ˲ ÒÏ ÓØÓÞÓËÞÓàÏ áÓÖÖ ÌÏ ÖËßØÍÒÏÎ ËÞ Ë àÓÜÞßËÖ ÍÙØÐÏÜÏØÍϘ ÝÍÒÏÎßÖÏÎ ÞÙ ÒÙÖÎ ÞÙÎËã˛ ˫ Ý ͰͮͰͯ ÍÙØÞÓØßÏÝ ÞÙ ÒÏÏÎ ÞÒÏ ÍËÖÖ ËÑËÓØÝÞ ÞÒÏ ÚÖÓÑÒÞ ËÑËÓØÝÞ ÞÒÏ ̋ͯͷ ÚËØÎÏ×Ó͘ ÏÍÙØÙ×ÓÏÝ ËØÎ ÓØÎßÝÞÜÓÏÝ ËÜÏ ÐÙÜÍÏÎ ÞÙ ÚÖËÍÏ ËÍßÞÏ ËáËÜÏØÏÝÝ ÙØ ÓÝÝßÏÝ ÙÐ ÏÛßËÖÓÞã ̎ ÚËÜÞÓÍßÖËÜÖã áÓÞÒÓØ ÝÍÓÏØÍϘ ÞÏÍÒØÙÖÙÑ㘠ÏØÑÓØÏÏÜÓØÑ ËØÎ ×ËÞÒÏ×ËÞÓÍÝ ̙ ̚ ÐÓÏÖÎݘˬ ÓÞ ÝËÓβ

Þ ÝËÓÎ ÞÒËÞ ÓÞ áÓÖÖ ÞËÕÏ Ͱͮ​ͮ ãÏËÜÝ ÌÏÐÙÜÏ ÞÒÏÜÏ ÓÝ ÚËÜÓÞã ÌÏÞáÏÏØ ×ÏØ ËØÎ áÙ×ÏØ áÙÜÕÓØÑ ÓØ ÝÏØÓÙÜ ÜÙÖÏݲ

MTN, Facebook Begin Training for SMEs

PRODUCT LAUNCH

Managing Director, Offerservice, Mr. Tony Uzoma Emmanuel (left), and Director, Offerservice, Mr. Cletus Afeiyodion, during the launch of Offerservice business solutions app in Lagos... recently

Report: Better Payment System Will Spur Digital Transactions in Women Stories by Emma Okonji A recent report conducted by Caribou Digital, a research and delivery consultancy which was sponsored by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has stated that better payment system can create a financial system that is more accessible as well as create conditions for more women to use the system.

This research explored the context of the Level One Project (L1P) Principles for payment system design put forward by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with the primary aim to examine the concept for their potential impact on the financial inclusion gender gap through in-depth research.

The research looked at why there are many women outside the formal financial system, despite the reduction

TELECOM of financial inclusion barriers, and what barriers exclude them in greater numbers than men.

It based its studies on three complementary approaches: Qualitative focus group discussions and in- depth interviews with hundreds of women and men in Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire; Quantitative population-level data collection and analyses in five countries, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Bangladesh, Kenya, and South Africa; and Global literature review supplemented by a series of expert interviews.

“The aim is to predict the likely impact of L1P Principles on relevant gender gaps.

The research emphasises that women’s exclusion is driven by structural-cultural and socioeconomic issues. Such issues

include the fact that many societies invest less in building women’s knowledge and trust of financial products.

“Also, the fact that women are more often budget and time constrained than men and thus more sensitive to cost and time barriers, and they face more specific structural barriers, like owning lower-end phones or lacking necessary ID documents,” it added.

The report therefore concluded that better payment system design features and policies would help address such barriers.

Analysing the report, Caribou Data’s Co-founder, Bryan Pon, said: “Key areas where we believe L1P would be an improvement on the typical digital payments system and reduce the gender gap include: Interoperability, Low cost and

pricing transparency; Tiered KYC; Low-end phones and Access points.”

According to the report, interoperability lowers barriers to entry and experimentation and also incentivises merchants to join the system en masse.

“This will be especially beneficial for women because it will lead to more convenience as well as new kinds of more specialised digital financial services (DFS) products that meet women’s specific needs,” it added.

The report further stated that while lower costs benefit everyone, women appeared to be more price sensitive, both in the focus groups and in other research studies.

The quantitative data also showed that women paid more Continued on page 22

Payment Company Warns against Cyberattacks Visa, a digital payment company has stated that online transactions, despite its benefits, comes with its attendant risks, which it said must be guarded against.

Risk Manager, Visa West Africa, Aribidesi Lawal, who highlighted the online risks, said: “Consumers have fully embraced digital payments in the COVID-19 era. In fact, a staggering 78 per cent of consumers have now completely adapted their payment methods due to safety concerns and 48 per cent will no longer shop at a store which doesn’t offer contactless payment. While this new consumer behavior presents enormous opportunity for digital-first retailers, these

TELECOM new behaviors are not without risks.”

According to Lawal, with consumer’s shift online, fraudsters have sought opportunities to exploit changes in how people pay for goods and services. Global businesses reported an average of 4,000 cyberattacks on average per day since COVID-19, representing a 400 per cent increase from what was reported prepandemic. In turn, we were seeing organisations adopting new security procedures to ensure transactions remain trusted and secure.

Addressing how COVID-19 presents fraudsters with new

opportunities, Lawal said the new era of fraud was marked by more sophisticated attempts to trick people into sharing sensitive information.

“For example, across Central Europe, Middle East and Africa, we have seen an increase in social engineering attacks, including phishing, where fraudsters are exploiting the gaps which existed prepandemic and have intensified during the crisis. Phishing, specifically, has grown much more complex throughout the pandemic, and now includes a number of variants, such as spear phishing - attacks targeting a specific victim with personalised communication and vishing, which includes

voice phishing scams, as well as spoofed websites.”

In the likelihood of implementation, Lawal said: “Friendly fraud is another type of attack on the rise, where individuals’ card and passcodes are used without permission by friends, family or other close associates.

“For merchants it can be a cost of doing business because it’s difficult to track, and most of time refunds are issued without investigating the matter further.

Friendly fraud is said to reduce legitimate sales by 1 per cent and profits by 20 per cent.

He, however, said that despite this, the commerce ecosystem

ÓÑÏÜÓË ÒËÝ ÍÙ××ÏØÍÏÎ Ë ÚËÜÞØÏÜÝÒÓÚ áÓÞÒ ËÍÏÌÙÙÕ ÞÙ ÎÏÖÓàÏÜ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ ×ËÜÕÏÞÓØÑ ÞÜËÓØÓØÑ ÞÙ Ý ßØÎÏÜ ÞÒÏ ÞÏÖÍÙ˪Ý ËÍÍÏÖÏÜËÞÙÜ ÚÜÙÑÜË××Ϙ ˪ÏÖÖÙ Ͱͮ​ͮ˛ ÒÏ ÚÜÙÑÜË××Ï ÓÝ Ë ÍßÖ×ÓØËÞÓÙØ ÙÐ ÒÏ Ïàà ÜÙÑÜË××Ϙ ËØ ÓØÓÞÓËÞÓàÏ Ìã ÖËßØÍÒÏÎ ÓØ ßÑßÝÞ ÖËÝÞ ãÏËܘ ÞÙ ×ÓÞÓÑËÞÏ ÞÒÏ ÏÐÐÏÍÞÝ ÙÐ ̋ͯͷ ÙØ ×ËÖÖ ËØÎ ÏÎÓß× ØÞÏÜÚÜÓÝÏÝ ̙ Ý̚˛ ÝÓØÑ Ë ÐÙßÜ̋ÚÜÙØÑÏÎ ËÚÚÜÙËÍÒ ÞÒËÞ ÓØÍÖßÎÏÝ ×ËÝÞÏÜÍÖËÝÝÏݘ ËÍÍÏÝÝ ÞÙ ×ËÜÕÏÞ˜ ÚÜÙÎßÍÞÓàÓÞã ÞÙÙÖÝ ÝßÚÚÙÜÞ ËØÎ ËÎàÓÝÙÜã ÓØÓÞÓËÞÓàÏݘ ÒÏ Ïàà ÜÙÑÜË××Ï ÝÏÏÕÝ ÞÙ ÒÏÖÚ Ý ÜÏÖÏËÜؘ ÜÏÞÒÓØÕ ËØÎ ÜÏÞÙÙÖ ÞÒÏÓÜ ÌßÝÓØÏÝÝÏÝ ÐÙÜ ÑÜÙáÞÒ ÓØ ÞÒÏ Ï×ÏÜÑÓØÑ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ ÏÍÙØÙ×ã˛ ÏâÏÍßÞÓàÏÝ ËÖÙØÑ áÓÞÒ ÓØÎßÝÞÜã ÏâÚÏÜÞÝ ÎÏÖÓàÏÜÏÎ ÞÒÏ ×ËÝÞÏÜÍÖËÝÝÏݘ ÐÙÍßÝÓØÑ ÙØ àËÜÓÙßÝ ËÜÏËÝ ÙÐ ÌßÝÓØÏÝÝ ×ËØËÑÏ×ÏØÞ˛ ÙÖÖÙáÓØÑ ÐÓàÏ ×ÙØÞÒÝ ÙÐ ÓØÞÏØÝÓàÏ ÞÜËÓØÓØÑ ÎÏÖÓàÏÜÏÎ ÞÙ ÙàÏÜ ͰͲ˜ͮ​ͮ​ͮ ÜÏÑÓÝÞÏÜÏΠݘ Ͱͮ​ͮ Ý áÏÜÏ ÝÏÖÏÍÞÏÎ ÐÙÜ ÞÒÏ ˪ÏÖÖÙ Ͱͮ​ͮ ÍÍÏÖÏÜËÞÙÜ ÜÙÑÜË××Ï˛ ÒÏ Ͱͮ​ͮ ÞÙÚ̋ÚÏÜÐÙÜ×ÓØÑ Ý ÐÜÙ× ÞÒÏ ÝÏÝÝÓÙØÝ áÓÖÖ ÏØÔÙã ÏâÍÖßÝÓàÏ ËÍÍÏÝÝ ÞÙ Ë ÌÜÙËÎ ÜËØÑÏ ÙÐ ÞÏÍÒØÙÖÙÑã ËØÎ ÚÜÙÎßÍÞÓàÓÞã ÞÙÙÖÝ ËØÎ ÝÏÜàÓÍÏÝ ÐÜÏÏ ÐÙÜ Ë ÚÏÜÓÙÎ ÙÐ ÝÓâ ×ÙØÞÒݲ ÒÏ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ ×ËÜÕÏÞÓØÑ ÞÜËÓØÓØÑ Ìã ËÍÏÌÙÙÕ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ÓØÓÞÓËÖ ÚÒËÝÏ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ËÍÍÏÖÏÜËÞÙÜ ÚÜÙÑÜË××Ï ËØÎ áÓÖÖ ÜßØ ÐÙÜ ÝÓâ áÏÏÕݲ ÒÏ àÓÜÞßËÖ ÞÜËÓØÓØÑ ÝÏÝÝÓÙØÝ ÕÓÍÕÏÎ ÙÐÐ ÖËÝÞ ÒßÜÝÎË㘠áÓÞÒ Ë ÝÏÝÝÓÙØ ÞÓÞÖÏΘ ˫ ÏÞ ÜÏËÞÓàÏ áÓÞÒ ÙßÜ ÙÌÓÖÏ ÒÙØÏˬ˛ ßÌÝÏÛßÏØÞ ÝÏÝÝÓÙØÝ áÓÖÖ ÞÜËÓØ ÞÒÏ ÙáØÏÜÝ ÙØ ÍÜÏËÞÓàÏ áËãÝ ÞÙ ÝÍËÖÏ ÞÒÏÓÜ ÌßÝÓØÏÝÝÏÝ ËØÎ ËÞÞÜËÍÞ ÍßÝÞÙ×ÏÜÝ ßÝÓØÑ ÝÙÍÓËÖ ×ÏÎÓ˲ ÚÏËÕÓØÑ ËÞ ÞÒÏ ÍÖÙÝÓØÑ ÍÏÜÏ×ÙØã ÙÐ ÞÒÏ Ïàà ×ËÝÞÏÜÍÖËÝÝÏݘ ÒÓÏÐ ÓØËØÍÓËÖ ÐÐÓÍÏܘ ÓÑÏÜÓ˘ ÙÎßÖÏ ËÎÜÓ˜ ÙßÞÖÓØÏÎ ÝÙ×Ï ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÌÏØÏÐÓÞÝ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ˪ÏÖÖÙ Ͱͮ​ͮ ÍÍÏÖÏÜËÞÙÜ ÜÙÑÜË××Ï˛ ˫ ÒÏ ×ËÝÞÏÜÍÖËÝÝÏÝ ËÜÏ ÔßÝÞ ÞÒÏ ÐÓÜÝÞ ÚÒËÝÏ˛ Ø ÞÒÏ ØÏâÞ ÚÒËÝϘ ÙßÜ ÑÙËÖ ÓÝ ÞÙ ÏØÝßÜÏ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ ÓØÍÖßÝÓÙØ ÐÙÜ ËÖÖ ÞÒÏ ÌßÝÓØÏÝÝÏÝ ÞÒËÞ ËÜÏ ÚËÜÞ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ˪ÏÖÖÙ Ͱͮ​ͮ˛ ÒÓÝ ÏØÞËÓÖÝ ×ËÕÓØÑ ÝßÜÏ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒÏÝÏ ÌßÝÓØÏÝÝÏÝ ËÜÏ ÚÜÏÝÏØÞ ËØÎ ËÍÞÓàÏ ÙØ ËÖÖ ÞÒÏ ÜÏÖÏàËØÞ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ ÚÖËÞÐÙÜ×ݘ ×ËÕÓØÑ ÞÒÏ× àÓÝÓÌÖÏ ËØÎ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖÖã ËÍÍÏÝÝÓÌÖÏ˛ˬ

Sparkle, Network International to Drive e-Commerce

ÚËÜÕÖÏ ÒËÝ ÚËÜÞØÏÜÏÎ áÓÞÒ ÏÞáÙÜÕ ØÞÏÜØËÞÓÙØËÖ ÞÙ ÚÙáÏÜ ÓÞÝ ÜÏÍÏØÞÖã ÖËßØÍÒÏÎ ÚËã×ÏØÞ ÍËÜÎ ÙÐÐÏÜÓØÑ˛ ÚËÜÕÖÏ˪Ý ØÏá àÓÜÞßËÖ ËØÎ ÚÖËÝÞÓÍ ÎÏÌÓÞ ÍËÜÎÝ ËÜÏ ÞËÜÑÏÞÏÎ ËÞ Ý ËØÎ ßÚáËÜÎÖã ×ÙÌÓÖϘ ßØÌËØÕÏÎ ÍÙØÝß×ÏÜÝ ËÍÜÙÝÝ ÓÑÏÜÓ˘ ÌÜÓØÑÓØÑ ÞÒÏ× ÞÒÏ ÍÙØàÏØÓÏØÍϘ ÐÖÏâÓÌÓÖÓÞ㘠ÝËÐÏÞã ËØÎ ÝÏÍßÜÓÞã ÙÐ ÍËÝÒÖÏÝÝ ÚËã×ÏØÞÝ ËÍÜÙÝÝ àËÜÓÙßÝ ÍÒËØØÏÖݲ ÒÏ ÍËÜÎÝ áÓÖÖ ÏØËÌÖÏ ÓÞÝ ÍßÝÞÙ×ÏÜÝ ÞÙ ×ËÕÏ ÓØ̋ËÚÚ ÚßÜÍÒËÝÏÝ ËÝ áÏÖÖ ËÝ ÚËã ÐÙÜ Ï̋ÍÙ××ÏÜÍÏ ËØÎ ×̋ÍÙ××ÏÜÍÏ ÞÜËØÝËÍÞÓÙØݲ ÚËÜÕÖÏ áËÝ ÐÙßØÎÏÎ Ìã ÏØÞÜÏÚÜÏØÏßܘ ÞÏÍÒ ÚÓÙØÏÏÜ ËØÎ ÐÓØËØÍÓËÖ ÓØÍÖßÝÓÙØ ËÎàÙÍËÞϘ äÙ×Ë ÙäÓÏ áÓÞÒ ÞÒÏ ×ÓÝÝÓÙØ ÙÐ ÒÏÖÚÓØÑ ÓÑÏÜÓËØÝ ÐßÖÐÓÖ ÞÒÏÓÜ ÐÓØËØÍÓËÖ ËØÎ ÖÓÐÏÝÞãÖÏ ØÏÏÎݲ ÒÏ ÍÙ×ÚËØã˪Ý ÍÙÖÖËÌÙÜËÞÓÙØ áÓÞÒ ÏÞáÙÜÕ

ØÞÏÜØËÞÓÙØËÖ ÓÝ ÌËÝÏÎ ÙØ ÞÒÏÓÜ ÝÒËÜÏÎ ÍÙ××ÓÞ×ÏØÞ ÞÙ ÐßÜÞÒÏÜ ÞÒÏ ËÎÙÚÞÓÙØ ÙÐ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ ÚËã×ÏØÞÝ Ë×ÙØÑ Ï×ÏÜÑÓØÑ ×ËÜÕÏÞÝ ËÍÜÙÝÝ ÐÜÓÍË ËØÎ ÞÒÏ ÓÎÎÖÏ ËÝÞ˛ Ù××ÏØÞÓØÑ ÙØ ÞÒÏ ÚËÜÞØÏÜÝÒÓÚ˜ ÙäÓÏ ÝËÓΘ ˫ ÓÑÓÞËÖ ËÎÙÚÞÓÙØ ËØÎ ÍßÝÞÙ×ÏÜ ÏâÚÏÜÓÏØÍÏ ÓÝ ÑÙÓØÑ ÞÙ ÌÏ ÎÏÚÏØÎÏØÞ ÙØ ÞÒÏ ÚÏÙÚÖϘ ÚÖËÞÐÙÜ× ËØÎ ÚËÜÞØÏÜÝÒÓÚ˛ Ø ÞÒÏ ËÜÏË ÙÐ ÚËã×ÏØÞ ÚÜÙÍÏÝÝÓØÑ ËØÎ ÎËÞË ÓØÝÓÑÒÞݘ ÏÞáÙÜÕ

ØÞÏÜØËÞÓÙØËÖ ÌÜÓØÑÝ ÞÒËÞ ÞÙ ÙßÜ ÚÖËÞÐÙÜט ËØÎ áÏ ËÜÏ ÞÜßÖã ÏâÍÓÞÏÎ ËÌÙßÞ ÞÒÏ ÐßÞßÜÏ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÚËÜÞØÏÜÝÒÓÚ ËØÎ áÒËÞ ÓÞ ×ÏËØÝ ÐÙÜ ÞÒÏ ÏØËÌÖÏ×ÏØÞ ËØÎ ÞÜËØÝÐÙÜ×ËÞÓÙØËÖ Ó×ÚËÍÞ ÐÙÜ ÓÑÏÜÓËØÝ ËØãáÒÏÜÏ ÓØ ÞÒÏ áÙÜÖÎ áÒÙ ËÜÏ ÍÙØØÏÍÞÏÎ ÞÙ ÞÒÏ ÚËÜÕÖÏ ÚÖËÞÐÙÜײˬ ËØËÑÓØÑ ÓÜÏÍÞÙܘ ÐÜÓÍË ËÞ ÏÞáÙÜÕ ØÞÏÜØËÞÓÙØËÖ˜ ØÎÜÏá Ï㘠ÝËÓΘ ˫ Ï ËÜÏ ÎÏÖÓÑÒÞÏÎ ÞÙ ÝÞÜÏØÑÞÒÏØ ÙßÜ ÝÞÜËÞÏÑÓÍ ËÖÖÓËØÍÏ áÓÞÒ ÚËÜÕÖÏ ËÝ ÓÞ ÝÏÏÕÝ ÞÙ ÐßÜÞÒÏÜ ÎÓÝÜßÚÞ ÞÒÏ ÚËã×ÏØÞÝ ÙÐÐÏÜÓØÑ ÞÙ ÍÙØÝß×ÏÜÝ ËØÎ ÜÏÞËÓÖÏÜÝ ÓØ ÓÑÏÜÓ˲ˬ

“Out of the over 204 million telecoms subscribers, only 47.8 million have submitted their NINS, which is a clear evidence that several millions are yet to submit, while several millions are yet to enrol for NIN. So we need extension beyond February 9. Six months extension in the first instance will suffice” President of NATCOMS,

Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo Continued on page 22

22

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

BUSINESSWORLD REPORT: BETTER PAYMENT SYSTEM WILL SPUR DIGITAL TRANSACTIONS IN WOMEN in fees in Kenya, and hence would benefit from lower tariff rates.

The report also stated that population-level data from other research, as well as results from qualitative interviews, showed that women were much more likely to have limited forms of ID and thus will benefit significantly from the availability of accounts with lower KYC requirements.

In the area of low-end phones, the report stated that women were more likely to have feature phones or lowend Android devices and thus payment systems and financial services that don’t accommodate these users will disadvantage women disproportionately.

For access points, the report noted that focus groups in both Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire, showed that women often spoke about agents being their main point of contact for information and help in using financial products.

PAYMENT COMPANY WARNS AGAINST CYBERATTACKS has recognised the challenges and responded well, taking a technology-led approach to address emerging threats.

While most businesses were already investing in technology-led security systems, the pandemic kicked this into overdrive, as businesses fought to better combat fraudsters and navigate the new, digital world. As businesses accelerated the use of secure technologies, including tokenisation, contactless and EMV ‘smart card’ chips, the secure nature and performance of digital transactions also improved.

Speaking about security in the post-COVID world, Lawal said with COVID-driven uncertainty set to remain in the near future, the next 12 to 18 months may bring even more disruption and transformation.

“However, I believe that the dramatic shift we have seen towards digital payment will continue as consumers and merchants show increasing preference for eCommerce and contactless payments,” Lawal added.

NEWS

Expert Proffers Solutions to Tackling Data Privacy Challenges Stories by Emma Okonji

According to Bourne, a recommended step for a privacyfirst approach was in making sure that employees’ personal information are stored in a secure, encrypted server, adding that aside from that, other basic practices that organisations can follow to ensure secure handling of employees’ personal data include critical measures like constantly communicate and ensure that employees are always in the know, “when onboarding new employees and whenever changes are made to policies, employers should clearly spell out their data collection and monitoring

The Regional Manager, Africa, Zoho Corporation, Andrew Bourne, has listed measures organisations could adopt to address data privacy concerns in the workplace, while maximising employees’ trust.

According to him, as businesses look to overcome the challenges of 2020, they would have a number of goals in mind.

For some, it will be about survival while others will work towards rebuilding and reversing any losses they might have made in 2020, he said.

He, however, said whatever state a business would find itself this year, it cannot afford to ignore data privacy as a key priority, especially now that global and local news networks are covering online privacy quite extensively.

“If a business really cares about having a successful 2021, it needs to prioritise data privacy as its number one focus. Doing so won’t only help businesses side-step some of the issues and expenses associated with data breaches, it will also help increase brand confidence among customers, employees and other stakeholders,” Bourne added.

Bourne explained that safeguarding employee privacy was becoming critical in a world that is going all-digital, in order to cater to an increasingly mobile and highly distributed workforce.

Computers

practices. Businesses should require employees to review the policy and also consider posting a detailed ‘privacy notice’ on internal forums for quick reference.”

Bourne said if organisations’ recently instituted COVIDbased health and wellness programmes include the additional collection of new datasets like travel history and family health statuses, then the general consent proffered by the employment contract might not suffice. He advised organisations to plan beforehand and try to obtain specific consent from employees through advance

notices.

Other measures include conducting privacy impact assessments for third-party technologies, “as we become more reliant on third-party video conferencing tools and remote collaboration applications like Zoom, Slack, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams, it becomes necessary to reevaluate the vendors’ privacy policies and understand how these platforms handle your employees’ data.”

“In most cases, the longwinded privacy statements never give us a clear picture of what the tech giants do with

the collected data or if they employ safety measures such as end-to-end encryption and host-proof hosting,” he added.

Another measure, according to Bourne, would be to deploy employee monitoring tools judiciously.

“Remote working has sparked an ethical debate about whether employers should use remote monitoring software to supervise workforce productivity levels. Today, we have tools that randomly take screenshots of employees’ device screens and even monitor how much time they spend on certain websites,” Bourne said.

Group Harps on Digital Inclusion in Marginalised Communities As the world celebrates the International Day of Education, the Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is calling for digital inclusion of marginalised communities in Africa.

The day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in recognition of the importance of education as well as the need to ensure everyone has equitable quality education at all levels and access to lifelong learning opportunities that help them to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to access opportunities, participate fully in and contribute meaningfully to the sustainable development of society.

Communications Officer at Paradigm Initiative, Valery Njiaba, said: In the United Nations Policy Brief: Education during COVID-19 and beyond, the United Nations highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the largest disruption of education in history, having already had a near-universal impact on learners and teachers around the world, from pre-primary to secondary schools, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, universities, adult learning, and skills development establishments. Closures of schools and other educational institutions are hampering the provision

of essential services to children and communities.

The Policy Brief also stated that distance learning in highincome countries covers about 80 – 85 per cent, and dropped to less than 50 per cent in low-income countries, saying the shortfall could largely be attributed to the digital divide with the disadvantaged having limited access to basic household services such as electricity; a lack of technology infrastructure; and low levels of digital literacy among students, parents, and teachers.

UNESCO highlighted that many parts of the world have resorted to distance learning and leveraging the use of

information and communications technologies.

“The answer to resolving the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education includes access to the internet and technology,” it added.

PIN called for the African States to adhere to Principle 37 of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa by adopting laws, policies, and other measures to promote affordable access to the internet for children that equip them with digital literacy skills for online education and safety.

PIN further urged states to enhance access to education by removing technological barriers and investing in digital infrastructure.

According to Njiaba, “PIN reminds all African States that education is a fundamental right that enables the enjoyment of other rights such as human dignity, health, and labour. As such, ensuring access to education for all is most pertinent. As PIN commemorates this day, it continues to bridge the digital divide through its Life Skills, ICTs, Financial Literacy, and Entrepreneurship (LIFE) training program for underserved youths.”

Mastercard to Accelerate Digital Payment in Africa Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

ËÒÏÏ× ÕÓØÑÌÙÖß (Advertising) Correspondents

ÒÓØÏÎß äÏ (Aviation) ÜÙ×ÙÝÏÖÏ ÌÓÙÎßØ (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) ××ËØßÏÖ ÎÎÏÒ (Energy) Reporters

ß×Ï ÕÏÑÒÏ (Money Market) ÙÝË ÖÏÕÒßÙÑÓÏ (ICT) ÏÞÏÜ äÙÒÙ (Energy)

Mastercard, a technology payment company and its strategic partner, Network International, with focus on digital commerce, have collaborated to launch a new digital platform, which will accelerate the adoption of digital payments across the Middle East and Africa.

Having launched its new digital platform in January, Network International will help its clients to enable mobile-based payments for their consumers and merchants across various channels. Merchants will now have one simple-to-use technology interface through which they will be able to accept multiple payment types, ranging from USSD, Quick Response (QR) to

Standard POS and e-Cmmerce, with mobile money and Tap on Phone, which is a technology that allows merchants to accept contactless card payments directly on their smartphone or tablet, and it is expected to come online later in 2021.

The solution will initially be launched across 40 African countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and South Africa and extended across the rest of Middle East and Africa in the coming months.

Payment issuers and banks will be able to offer their consumers state-of-the-art and easy-to-use payment solutions including Digital Wallets, Personto-Person (P2P) Payments and

Virtual cards. Additionally, the platform lays the foundation for financial institutions to simplify access to a growing range of best-in-class Mastercard products.

Across the Middle East and Africa, governments and NGOs are publicly supporting a move to digital payments and less reliance on cash to secure the financial inclusion of more people. With limited card payment infrastructure in some markets, mobile payment solutions are ideal to help offer electronic transactions to more communities – both in-store and online.

Senior Vice President, Product Management, Digital Payments and Labs, Middle East and Africa at Mastercard, Gaurang Shah,

said: “Accelerated adoption of digital payments means more consumers and businesses are enabled to benefit from a growing digital economy and a world beyond cash. Mastercard’s trusted, secure technology will be available to more people through this digital platform and we are very proud to activate this important initiative with Network International as our long-term strategic partner.”

Shah added, “Our partnership with Mastercard is focused on rapidly growing electronic payment usage across our region and this initiative is a major foundational step in meeting that goal,” added Paul Clarke, Group Head of Product & In-

novation, Network International.

“We believe the launch of this platform is the first in a series of steps towards delivering simplified, collaborative payment solutions across the payments value chain in the Middle East and Africa. We have plans to grow the platforms’ capabilities so that we can help our joint customers, large and small, accelerate the move from cash to digital solutions.”

The companies have a longstanding partnership, including Mastercard’s strategic investment in Network International and a shared commitment to develop innovative payment solutions that will grow electronic transactions across the MEA region.

T H I S D AY ˾ JANUARY 28, 2021

23

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Addressing Service Quality in Telecoms Sector The recent increase in the deployment of Base Transceiver Stations from 30,000 to 53,460 and the fibre optic cables from 47,000km to 54,725km is a far cry from the set targets, writes Emma Okonji

L

ast week, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, gave an update on the deployment of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) as well as fibre optic deployment across the country.

According to him, the Nigerian telecoms sector has continued to experience growth in diverse areas like BTS and fibre optic deployment, including broadband penetration that has reached 45.07 per cent penetration as at November 2020, up from six per cent in 2015.

But industry analysts are of the view that the growth rates in the deployment of BTS and fibre optic cables were far cry from the existing targets.

Analysts have therefore asked NCC to maintain a steady growth rate in order to surpass the targets.

Targets for fibre optic deployment and broadband penetration as enshrined in the 2020-2025 National Broadband Plan, are 120,000km and 70 per cent respectively, while analysts have projected that Nigeria would need up to 150,000 BTS, spread across the country, that would enable telecoms service providers, offer quality service to telecoms subscribers.

BTS/Fibre deployment Nigerians have blamed the current challenges faced by telecoms subscribers on inadequate infrastructure rollout across networks. The challenges include poor call connectivity, poor call clarity and drop calls among other poor quality services rendered by telecoms operators.

But the telecoms industry regulator has said there has been improvement in service quality, especially with the recent growth rates in the deployment of telecoms infrastructure such as BTS, fibre optic cables and broadband.

The NCC last week, said the third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) BTS deployment in Nigeria has reached 53,460, up from its initial 30,000 in 2020, while fibre optic transmission cables expanded from 47,000km to 54,725km in the last five years.

Danbatta, who disclosed the information in Abuja recently, said the increase resulted in improved broadband/telecoms service delivery across networks.

He spoke further on NCC’s enabling laws, mandates of NCC, structure of NCC, implementation approach of its mandates and methodology, key focus and targets, scorecards, the new soonto-be-unveiled Strategic Management Vision (SMP), NCC’s contributions to the economy, various regulatory frameworks aimed at improving service delivery.

“The BTS, fibre optic cables and other related infrastructure are central to the provision of improved service experience for Nigerians by their respective telecoms service providers,” he said, adding that the licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) are also expected to add 38,296km to optic fibre cables when they commence full operations.

Nigeria currently has 54,725km fibre optic coverage, with a target to deploy 120,000km across the country by 2025.

Broadband penetration Broadband is a major telecoms infrastructure that determines service quality across network. It is for this reason that industry stakeholders have been clamouring for access to ubiquitous and cheap broadband service in the country.

According to Danbatta, as at November, 2020, active internet subscription was 154.9 million and broadband penetration was 45.07 per cent, with

Telecom mast

a target of 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025. Although industry stakeholders are optimistic that Nigeria would reach and surpass the 70 per cent broadband penetration target by 2025, which also confirmed Danbatta’s projection on broadband penetration, they have however called on NCC to maintain the steady growth rate in broadband penetration, given its steady rise since 2015, in order to meet and surpass the 2025 target of 70 per cent broadband penetration.

Nigeria had in the previous National Broadband Plan (2013-2018), projected a target of 30 per cent broadband penetration by December 2018, but before the target date, Nigeria met the target and few months later, broadband penetration further grew to 33 per cent and since then, the telecoms sector has maintained a steady growth rate in broadband penetration, leading to additional broadband infrastructure rollout as well as other telecoms infrastructure rollout like fibre optic cables and BTS. In recognition of the tremendous economic growth opportunities afforded by the deployment of broadband and its associated technologies, Danbatta said the commission has positioned itself in government’s drive for a digital Nigeria, as contained in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020 – 2025), the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020 – 2030) and the Strategic Management Plan (2020 – 2024) of the Commission.

“The commission will continue to put in its best in the discharge of its mandates, especially in facilitating the deployment of broadband, which is central to diversifying the Nigerian economy and national development,” Danbatta said.

Growth indices Danbatta attributed the growth rate in telecoms infrastructure rollout to various initiatives undertaken by the NCC. The initiatives according to him, include the declaration of 2017 as Year of the Telecom Consumer; introduction of the 622 Toll Free Line for lodging and resolving consumer complaints; provision of the 112 Emergency number; Activation of 19 Emergency Communications Centre (ECCs).Other such consumer-centric regulatory measures intervention, according to Danbatta, include: Isuance of various directives to mobile network operators (MNOs)

to protect the consumers from being short-changed; ensuring smooth transition of Etisalat to 9mobile; consumer outreach programmes; introduction and enforcement of mobile number portability (MNP) as well as Introduction of the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) 2442 to check cases of unsolicited text messages.

The NCC boss disclosed that the number of subscriptions to DND service has hit over 30 million as the service empowers Nigerians to be able to protect themselves from the menace of unsolicited text messages.

“It is our belief that the communications industry, under the leadership of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, will experience more quantum leaps and retain its current leadership role in the telecommunications space,” he said.

Key focus Aside growth indices, Danbatta in his presentation linked the achievements in the telecoms sector to NCC’s 8 Point Agenda, which he said, remained the key focus and driver of telecoms infrastructure rollout that has given boost to service quality in recent times.

“In order to strategically coordinate and align resources and actions to better achieve the mandate of the commission and facilitate the emergence of a knowledge based economy in Nigeria, we developed a strategic vision plan (SVP) 2015 – 2020, premised on 8 pillars referred to as the 8-Point Agenda, which include: to facilitate broadband penetration; improve quality of service; optimize usage and benefit of spectrum; promote ICT innovation and investment opportunities; facilitate strategic collaboration; protect and empower consumers; promote fair competition and inclusive growth; and regulatory excellence and operational efficiency.

While listing the performance results of each of the 8 Point Agenda, Danbatta said in the area of broadband penetration, NCC was able to deploy Long Term Evolution (LTE) tehnology, and embarked on the re-planning of 800MHz CDMA, re-farming part of 1800MHz, and carried out administrative assignment of 700MHz and 2.6GHz, where it auctioned 14 Slots to MTN, Airtel and Open Sky. In the area of Improve Quality of Service (QoS), Danbatta said NCC was able to acquire new QoS monitoring

tools; Assessment of likely QoS impact on Adverts and Promotions; Reduced Access Gap Clusters from 217 to 114 enabling 15 million Nigerians to have access Communications; Developed and commenced monitoring of 3G, 4G on Key Performance Indices (KPIs), and maintained collaboration with government on Right of Way (RoW) issues.

In the area of optimize usage and benefit of spectrum, Danbatta said NCC was able to remit spectrum fees amounting to N144.312 billion to government from 2015 to date; development of licensing framework for emerging technologies; permission for MTN to utilize Visaphone spectrum for LTE; approval of National Roaming draft guidelines and trials; ensuring that 26GHz, 38GHz and 42GHz are unencumbered, in preparation for 5G rollout; and deployment of spectrum monitoring tools, like spectrum analysers, among others.

In the area of ICT innovation and investment opportunities, Danbatta said NCC was able to use the mandatory Corporate Code of Governance in the Telecom Industry, and raked in over $2 billion in foreign direct investments (FDI) and over N800 billion in domestic investment between 2015 till date. He said telecoms contributions to GDP grew from 8.5 per cent in Q4 2015 to 14.3 per cent in Q2 2020.

In the area of strategic collaboration, Danbatta said NCC engaged with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) that resulted in reduced RoW charges for telecoms operators, as well as engaged in dispute resolution that resulted in the unsealing of 47 BTSs that were initially sealed in Ogun State. More 15 BTSs unsealed in Kogi State and N221 million RoW charges waved for MTN in Kano.

Major challenges In spite of the achievements of its initiatives, NCC, also faced major challenges that affected telecoms services delivery, which include: multiple taxation and regulation; RoW issues; power supply; damage to telecommunications infrastructure like during road construction; vandalism and insecurity.

In addressing the challenges, the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, said NCC applied the relevant sections of the Quality of Service Regulations 2013, and that regular monitoring exercises were carried out to ensure operators stay within approved threshold.

“Multiple taxation and regulation have been major challenges bedeviling the industry. It has affected the deployment of infrastructure and the expansion of telecommunication services. However, the Commission is engaging with relevant authorities to harmonize these taxes and regulations,” Danbatta said.

In the area of inadequate power supply, as one of its challenges, Danbatta said the improvement of power supply to the sites of telecommunications services providers will have the dual effect of reducing operating costs and improving service quality delivery.

He said the engagement of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, led to the adoption of a maximum of N145/m RoW fees in Kaduna, Katsina, Imo, Ekiti, Kwara and Plateau States.

“The high RoW charges across different states of the federation have negatively impacted the required expansion and rollout of fiber optic across the country. Harmonization of RoW charges will increase investment and expansion of critical transmission infrastructure,” Danbatta said.

24

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Emefiele: Why Nigeria Commodity Exchange Must Be Repositioned The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, in this post Monetary Policy Committee meeting interview fielded questions from journalists on a wide range of issues, especially on efforts by the banking sector regulator to achieve price stability.

Obinna Chima and James Emejo bring the excerpts:

Y

ou would have seen newspaper reports about Fitch’s statement concerning the CBN’s Ways and Means to the federal government, which according to them raises macro-stability and public finance challenges, thereby weakening the central bank’s balance sheet. Fitch also said the central bank’s government financing pre-dated the pandemic. What is your take about that?

I think it’s important for me to present it this way: It is unfair and I would say very unfortunate that Fitch which is known to be first class company and a first class rating agency would hold such views on what we are doing and therefore, pass judgment regarding the size of credit that the CBN had granted to the federal government of Nigeria. Let it be known, first and foremost that the CBN is banker to government. Second, let it be known that the CBN is the lender of last resort, not just to government but also to our banks, when they run into short term liquidity problems. And I go back - because Fitch said yes it predated COVID-19 - It is true. In 2015/2016, you would all recall that there was a global crisis which resulted in massive drop in the price of crude oil. Like you all know, unfortunately, Nigeria is a country that would celebrate when crude oil price is high, but will sneeze when the price of crude goes down. In this case, the price of crude went down and we sneezed because revenue came down. When revenue came down, the government became incapable of financing all its obligations. And if government cannot finance all its obligations, I think it would be irresponsible on the part of the CBN as a lender of last resort not to support the federal government.

Now, COVID-19 started. Again, we not only had a global crisis but it’s a crisis of monumental proportion never seen in our lifetime. A health crisis that has rendered every economy, ‘very useless;’ a health crisis that had caught every global leader pants down without resolution.

Today as we speak, even the vaccines that have been provided or researches to be workable, they are not 100 per cent efficacious. People have doubt about the efficacy - whether with the second variants in different countries, whether the vaccines will effective. Not talking about that fact that the health crisis resulted in terrible fatalities, same health crisis has dovetailed to global economic crisis where the price of crude came down in February/March 2020 to as low as $17 per barrel, whereby even our cost of production became even higher than our revenue. And then Fitch says that the CBN is lending to the federal government. Let me say that these crises are of a global dimension and as a result the CBN is not alone in providing support to the government, and I will give a few examples: Advanced and emerging market economies have implemented both conventional and unconventional monetary measures aimed at curtailing the spread of the virus and stimulating greater economic recovery. In the US for instance, over $7 trillion of funds is projected to have been spent in 2020 alone. The total balance sheet of the US Fed has increased from $4.1 trillion to $7.4 trillion over the past year as part of its asset purchase programme.

A few more examples and I will relate them to the GDP. In the United Kingdom, there was a time the Chairman of the Bank of England came out and said the Bank of England will not be giving support to the governor and the following day he reversed himself because he saw the consequences of the statement that he

Emefiele

made. Today, the Bank of England and the Treasury have granted support that is equal to about 56 per cent of its GDP to help stimulate the UK economy and this amounts to about $1.57 trillion. Like I said, in the US, 35 per cent of its GDP amounting to $7.4 trillion has already been extended. The new administration in the United States are already thinking about granting additional, just to give stimulus or what can be said to be free money to people who had been impacted by the pandemic. In the Euro area, 15 per cent of the GDP has been granted by the various central banks and treasuries to support and this amounts to about $2.3 trillion.

India has done 15 per cent of its GDP to support the recovery and that is to the tune of about $400 billion. South Africa has provided close to 10 per cent of its GDP, which amounts to close to $26 billion to support recovery. And in Nigeria, just 4.5 per cent of GDP amounting to about $18 billion has been done. So, when Fitch, an institution as recognised and reputable as they are, comes out and makes such sweeping remarks passing judgment and supported by some newspapers unfortunately, all I can say is that this is very unfair because those statements are totally misplaced. Some of these support

measures have been included outright purchase of government debts by central banks in order to improve the ability of fiscal authorities to fund recovery efforts.

We have also seen in the case of the United States, like I said, asset programmes as part of the Fed efforts to stimulate the economy. So, the efforts of the CBN are not different, that’s the only thing I can say, from what is being witnessed in other climes all over the world as we all share the same objectives of considering both conventional and unconventional measures that would support faster economic recovery in the light of reduced revenue receipts being faced by these fiscal authorities.

What will be the focus of MPC this year?

Like you know, the core mandate of monetary policy is price and monetary stability as well as exchange rate stability.

But given the stagflationary environment we find ourselves today, where inflation is accelerating very fast and output growth is decelerating and contracting, monetary policy said yes, we will continue our price and monetary stability mandate but that they must be conducive to growth because you need to see positive growth in an economy as well as inflation - they must

Advanced and emerging market economies have implemented both conventional and unconventional monetary measures aimed at curtailing the spread of the virus and stimulating greater economic recovery

come together. So we will be looking more at growth and what are some of the targeted policies we will be looking at. We said we will be looking aggressively at what we can do to put in place measures that will stimulate consumer spending and ultimately also lead to more facilities for manufacturing companies, to agricultural companies, so that these would help to create employment, stimulate manufacturing output and positively impact on our GDP. For instance, like I said on our Targeted Covid-19 Facility, we have already disbursed N192 billion to 426,016 beneficiaries, out of the N300 billion that was earmarked.

That means there is still room and we are willing to do more of this. For the AGSMEIS facility, so far we have disbursed N206.960 billion to 27,946 beneficiaries and we are willing to do more. Of course, under our Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, we have cumulatively disbursed about N500 billion and we have close to three million smallholder farmers that have benefitted from our various initiatives under our Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, where we have 21 agricultural crops in the country, providing seeds, fertilizers and other implements to improve the yield of agricultural output in Nigeria, so that prices can be low. We have also done healthcare, where so far, N72 billion has been disbursed to 73 projects and we are willing to do more. Our initial target is N100 billion, but as we see more optimism from companies, I believe we would do more. We also set aside about N1 trillion to support some agricultural and manufacturing companies. All we can say is that manufacturing companies that want to expand their plants should Continued on page 25

25

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Emefiele: Why the Nigeria Commodity Exchange Must Be Repositioned I think it is important for me to say this. We have found in the market that the activities of private commodity exchanges have not helped our country, and I am going to say so boldly. It is time for the Nigerian Commodity Exchange to be repositioned and restructured to perform the role, which by law it has been empowered to perform. We have written to Mr. President and luckily we have received Mr. President’s approval to restructure and reposition the Nigerian Commodity Exchange. It would operate like standard commodity exchanges that you can find in any part of the world, which includes the stabilisation of prices generally. We would be coming up with the agenda and framework for the restructuring and repositioning of the Nigerian Commodity Exchange and we would do so in a manner that prices must be stable in Nigeria. What we are saying is that we would not allow some self-seeking private commodity exchanges to be hoarding agric products and creating problems.

This is because price stability is the core mandate of the CBN and we cannot shy away from the responsibility. Luckily, the CBN owns 60 per cent of the Nigerian Commodity Exchange; we would take control of it, we would run it and make it operate the way commodity exchanges operate in any part of the world.

take advantage of this low interest facility to expand their plants, grow their manufacturing output and create jobs for Nigerians. We have talked about what we are doing in mass metering, to ensure that all homes are properly metered so that people can enjoy electricity. We have also done for the creative industry where we predominantly have the youths, be it in music, theatre arts, fashion design, IT, we have done some work and we would do more.

We have seen several circulars from the CBN on diaspora remittances as well as plan to bar customers in the export business. Why the emphasis on Diaspora remittances and export sector support?

You all recall that Nigeria currently depending on the kind of priority it places has four sources through which we can raise revenue to support our obligations.

One is the revenue from crude; secondly is support from our foreign investors, whether they are portfolio of direct investors; thirdly, diaspora remittances and fourthly, exports sector support. Before now, what we’ve seen was that we have always given a lot of prioritisation to price of crude oil. When crude price goes up, we jubilate, when it comes down we worry.

And secondly, anytime there’s need for money we look at what is the direction of foreign direct investment and the rest of them; whereas, we pay less attention to diaspora remittances as well as export sector support. What we are saying is that going forward, we will give a lot more support to export sector financing at concessionary rates so that these people and companies can generate export proceeds that would come to fund our obligation in the investors and exporters’ window. That’s what we are saying. And that we are going to ensure that if you are an exporter, you must complete the NXP form. That is because if you want to import into Nigeria today, tangible items, you fill Form M and if you want to pay for intangible items, you fill Form A. By our regulation, I did not make that regulation, if you want to export, you must fill NXP. We will no longer tolerate any situation where people to want conduct export activities without filling NXPs. We have held several engagements with the Nigeria Customs, we have held several engagements with the shipping lines and they have committed that no exports will be done without completing NXPs. That is because, NXPs is the only way we can regulate the volume of export activities taking place in the country. Through NXPs, we will know those who have repatriated or those who have not repatriated their proceeds into the country. And we have been begging through moral suasion, telling those who have exported to repatriate their export proceeds. The CBN will not tolerate that you conduct an export activity and you keep dollars abroad. It is by law and mandatory that you must repatriate those proceeds to Nigeria. If you refuse to, the CBN has the powers by law to prevent you from conducting banking activities in the Nigerian banking industry and we will do so. We have the target of January 31, for everybody to comply. Because we cannot all be calling on the CBN for dollars to conduct import operations and at the same time, there is a law that says if you conduct an export activity, you must repatriate the dollar home for others who want to import to conduct their import activity. And once you choose to keep your dollars abroad, we will not allow that. Now, on diaspora remittance, since I became the Governor I have been hearing about the size of diaspora remittance. Some say it is $20 billion, in fact, at a point, some said it is $30 billion. Honestly, I have been looking for the $30 billion or $20 billion, and I have not seen it. But, this time, I have decided that I will focus on it, to see that inflow. You know what, I am not even expecting $20 billion, if we get up to $15 billion, it will help the Nigerian economy. Today, Pakistan generates an average of $2 billion monthly in Diaspora

Emefiele

remittance and this has helped to reduce the impact of Covid-19 on their economy.

We deserve it. If statistics shows that the size of Nigeria’s diaspora remittance is $20 billion, then Nigerians deserve to know how and when that amount is utilised and we would provide the records. That is why we are insisting that if you are a licensed International Money Transfer Operator (IMTO), the proceeds of remittance must come into the country as foreign currency through only our deposit money banks, not through mortgage institutions or fintechs. If you use any of those, we find it, we would ask the banks to close the accounts of those fintechs or those mortgage institutions. We would block your BVN and you would not be able to conduct banking business in Nigeria again.

It is important that people understand this.

We would not allow people to continue to game the system. We should not allow this to continue in Nigeria again.

The interest rate for CBN’s intervention facility which was reduced to five per cent up to March this year, the deadline will expand in few weeks.

What is the plan of the CBN? As long as we see that there’s a second wave even in Nigeria, and while we are trying to convince government not to adopt a wholesome lockdown because that is catastrophic on everybody and the economy, we would extend by 12 months again the interest rate of five per cent for CBN interventions. It will result in losses for us particularly if we see yields going up, but we think this should be CBN’s contribution to ensure that interest rates particularly for our interventions which

are targeted to either households, SMEs, agriculture, health sector, pharmaceuticals - that will stimulate consumer spending or and increase manufacturing output that we need to support it. We will continue to do so.

The CBN released over N400 billion in special bills to the banks, can you shed more light about this policy?

From our CRR policy, we found out that a lot of money had been kept as CRR at the CBN and this was beginning to impact on the liquidity ratio of the banks. So, we felt that one way we would help was to release the special bills. Those special bills have been released to the banks and their liquidity ratio have improved. But, whether we like it or not, CRR, the special bills, OMO and various other instruments are our own instruments of monetary policy, which are used to control money supply. We have our numbers that tells us the optimal level of liquidity that is needed at every point in time for the economy to be stable and for us to be able to do our work. We would insist on that optimal level of liquidity. If we find any amount above that liquidity, we would suck it up because that is our job and we do not have any apology for doing our work.

With your aggressive intervention in the agric sector, what other initiatives would the central bank consider to stabilise food prices in the country.

You said the CBN will be collaborating with CACOVID to support government in the purchase of vaccine, I will like you to speak more about this?

The CBN will not tolerate that you conduct an export activity and you keep dollars abroad. It is by law and mandatory that you must repatriate those proceeds to Nigeria.

If you refuse to, the CBN has the powers by law to prevent you from conducting banking activities

You said the CBN will be collaborating with CACOVID to support government in the purchase of vaccine, what type of collaboration are we expecting?

I am one of the members of CACOVID. You all know that CACOVID in 2020 provided a lot of support. It is no news that CACOVID was able to raise close to N40 billion to build isolation centres in the 36 states of the federation and Abuja. It is no news that CACOVID spent a lot of money in buying food and palliatives that was distributed all over the country. This was through contributions that can through responsible private sector companies and we do appreciate them. But now that there are vaccines, CACOVID has said it will still try as much as possible to see how we can task ourselves again to provide vaccines and we are working with various international agencies to provide vaccines. We are going to work with the relevant government agencies because we understand it is going to be government-to-government negotiation for those vaccines. CACOVID would within its limit make available financial resources to procure vaccines. I have to say that when we purchase it, CACOVID members who are private sector would retain some of the vaccines for their staff and family members and the rest would be passed on to government. So, we are ready to support as we did in 2020.

What is the CBN doing to ensure stability in the forex market?

I have talked about it. There four forex sources and we want to see how we can diversify. We have already adjusted our currency and I think we cannot continue a spiral adjustment of our exchange rate because it has very serious, dire and devastating consequences on our economy. That, at this time will be the last option for us. We want to explore other options where we can achieve more forex revenue.

What is delaying the take-off of the infraco that was announced last year?

Yes, Mr. President last year gave approval for the infraco, which we think will help support infrastructure financing in the country. What we have done since July last year when we got the approval is to try to put the structure in place and I do think that in 2021, infraco would play an active role in funding major infrastructure projects in the country. That will ease government the stress of looking for money to fund major infrastructure like roads and rail.

With that, the government can now focus on its job. Same goes to the National Arts Theatre. We are hoping that in the coming days the contract would be awarded and that facility will wear a new look.

26

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JANUARY 21, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

In Ogun, It’s Seamless Season for Agriculture Yekini Alli

I

n December last year, Ogun State helmsman, Prince Dapo Abiodun, breezed into the conference room of Sheraton Hotels, Abuja, in a blaze of glory. And local and international stakeholders in agriculture stood still as he was decorated with the Best Governor of the year award in Agriculture, a fitting tribute to months of endless toils and triumphs in a pandemic year. The innovations in farming, farming techniques and technologies and agribusiness deriving from Governor Abiodun’s (ISEYA) mantra of infrastructure, social welfare and wellbeing, youth empowerment, culture and religion had not gone unnoticed. The year had been rough but as the old saying goes, a golden fish has no hiding place…

As is well known, the state is very competitive in arable crops like cassava, yam, maize, sweet potato, and cash crops like cocoa, oil palm, timbre, kolanut, cashew and rubber. In actualizing its objective, the government embraced an integrated approach to production, processing and marketing through land provisions/inputs distribution, processing and marketing with individuals and corporate organizations.

There is of course the African Development Bank, World Bank/Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) for 40,000 farmers in nine priority value chains cassava, maize, rice, soybean, tomatoes and pepper, sesame, fishery and poultry), among many others.

During the 2020 planting season, 40,000 smallholder farmers were supported with inputs such as seeds, cassava cutting, insecticide and herbicide, just as 10,000 farmers were given fertilizers palliatives and continued support across the state. The administration supported young farmers with over 900 hectares of land preparations in 17 locations, with some 2,500 unemployed youths and farmers engaging in cassava production. In addition, it set up strategic partnerships with international development partners and farmers in large-scale cultivation of rice and cassava in 36 locations in 11 local government areas.

It cannot be a moot point that the broiler scheme of the state empowered 54 pilot youths who had successfully completed three cycles of broiler production with each

Abiodun

making profit of N150.000 per cycle for three cycles. If the administration achieved success with the linkage of 4,462 participants to inputs and credit to the tune of N700 million in the cassava value chain, and 1,065 participants to inputs and credit to the tune of N300 million in the rice value chain through the CBN/Ogun State Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP), the linkage of 800 participants to inputs and credit to the tune of N360 million under the Ogun State Government/Federal Government/IFAD Assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) took things to another level entirely.

But that was not all: 394 maize farmers, 54 rice farmers and 21 poultry farmers benefitted from the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) through the CBN. To be sure, the construction of 20km access roads in Obafemi-Owode, Yewa North and Ijebu North East, 14 solar-powered water schemes in Ijebu North East, ObafemiOwode, Yewa North, Ifo, Ijebu East, Odeda and Odogbolu LGAs, four cassava processing centres at Baara, Alapako-Oni, OkeIyemi and Ayetoro, not to mention the rice processing centre in Eggua, is all part of the scheme to make farming great again in Ogun State.

What is more, innovations such as the

CBN Cassava 5-Star Programme, Cocoa Development Initiative and Oil Palm Expansion Programme) and the Federal Government/ Ogun State Government/IFAD Assisted Value Chain Development Programme for over 3,000 farmers in 11 local government areas in the state are gradually turning the fortunes of farmers and farming around in the state. This, of course, is in addition to the World Bank COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES) Project; World Bank-Assisted Agro-Processing, Agricultural Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement (APPEALS) Project; EU/GIZ/ Federal Government/Lagos State/Ogun State Nigeria Competitiveness Project (NICOP) for 3,000 farmers including youths, in tomato and chilli pepper value chains; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)’s technological innovations and support to farming and related activities, including technical backstopping, demonstration farms and enterprise development in Ogun State.

The list is virtually endless.

But here’s the real deal: the glory season is in fact only just beginning. For one, irrigation farming and weather-smart agricultural practices are in the pipeline.

The Ogun State Economic Transformation Programme (OGSTEP) targeted at empowering over 40,000 farmers is scheduled to take off even as the administration has concluded plans to link farmers with tractors, planting material palliatives and help them reduce the cost of production. An Ogun-Kebbi Joint Commision on Rice Production is set to be unfolded to meet the increasing demand for the staple food across the country.

That is not all: rice farmers in the state are set to experience a marvel as the government deploys drone technology to scare away predatory birds, and will be linked with mechanical rice harvesters at the mere payment of a pay a token.

Given the foregoing, it did not come as a surprise that a delegation from the Federal Capital Territory Agricultural Development Programme (FCT-ADP) and the Agric and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) recently visited Ogun State on a sharelearning mission.

According to the leader of the delegation who doubles as the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, ARDS, Yahaya Hussaini, the seamless land acquisition process,

land management, farm settlement and farm estate operations of the state informed the choice of Ogun.

His words: “We are here because of the various success stories of Ogun State in terms of agriculture. It was indeed a fruitful visit, we have been to other states but what we saw in Ogun State is a wide margin, and we came to the conclusion that agriculture is the way out of our challenges.” Yahaya added that the Ogun Broiler Project and fisheries production would be replicated in the FCT-ADP. The Ogun State government is in fact working with the Federal Government and the private sector to promote the consumption of the Vitamin A and biofortified food. As noted by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina, “We are privileged to be in charge of food security, industrial linkage and land administration, among others, accounting for the influx of investors into our dear state.”

Given the innovations highlighted above, you would be forgiven for thinking that nothing further is in the offing. But you would be wrong: this month, Prince Dapo Abiodun disclosed plans by his administration to have an agro-allied based airport—yes, airport-- to aid the development of the state as a destination of choice for agriculture in Nigeria.

Speaking during the inauguration of Agbeloba Aquaculture Hub in Owiwi, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state, Abiodun said the agricultural sector remained a sure way out of poverty and the unemployment ravaging the country.

As he pointed out, this year, at least 5,000 young people in the state would receive mentoring, support, and linkage to profitable agro-investment firms, as a prelude to setting them up in their respective businesses. In his view, “We now need another Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) more than ever before.

This time, it has to be urgent and with home-grown initiatives.” Nothing could be more apt at this time when the nation faces threats to food security in form of bandits and terrorists exterminating farming communities in the North-East and cutting down farmers in cold blood across the country.

-Alli sent this piece from yekini_alli@ yahoo.com

Lenovo Dominates Firm Introduces Internet Cars45, Gokada Form PC Market as Global Solutions for Homes Alliance to Enhance Shipments Hit 71.4m Units Zeta-Web Nigeria Limited, that acts as a best-fit to the Consumer Experience Stories by Emma Okonji Global Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Lenovo has continued to dominate worldwide PC shipments on the back of a rise in demand.

The demand is fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen more schools and students embracing online learning. Also, with more companies and corporate organisations the world over still asking their employees to work remotely, the demand for personal computers (PCs) has soared in recent months.

Preliminary data by research firm Gartner reveals that worldwide PC shipments totaled 71.4 million units in Q3 2020, a 3.6 per cent increase from the third quarter of 2019. According to Gartner, the huge leap in demand can be attributed to a rise in consumer demand for PCs due to home entertainment and distance learning needs during the coronavirus pandemic, aided by arguably the strongest growth in the US PC market in over 10 years.

China-based Lenovo continues to dominate the PC market, with its quarterly shipments rising to over 18 million units for the first time ever, according

to data from Gartner. Lenovo is closely followed by HP and Dell. Also ranked among the top sellers are Apple, Acer Group, and ASUS. Although Lenovo experienced a slight decline in desktop shipments, Gartner explains that demand for Lenovo desktops still fared better than those of HP and Dell, aided by solid growth in China.

Lenovo witnessed a 90 per cent year-on-year increase in Chromebooks shipment in Q3 2020. However, the firm does not include the device in its traditional PC results. However, if it includes Chromebooks in its calculations, the total worldwide PC market can be said to have grown around 9 per cent year over year, with Chromebooks representing about 11 per cent of the combined PC/Chromebook market.

“The quarter (Q3’20) had the strongest consumer PC demand that Gartner has seen in five years,” Research Director at Gartner, Mikako Kitagawa, said.

Meanwhile, data shows that the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) PC market remained relatively flat in the third quarter of 2020, with just 0.4 per cent year over year growth to 19.5 million units.

an indigenous information technology (IT) firm in Lagos, has reiterated its commitment to bring robust broadband and internet solutions that would ease productivity for Nigerians in the post Covid 19 work place.

The company introduced Z-Force, a super-fast internet service designed for Nigerians working from home and other notable services for other market segments lately.

Speaking to the media on importance of the Z-Force to the current work place, the Managing Director of Zeta–Web Nigeria Limited, Chris Obasi, said: “Our ZForce service is unique in its design as it came out at a point where users wanted internet services with both speed and data that they can use while working remotely, void of the frequent intermittencies and high-cost associated with such requests.

As you would agree with me, the global pandemic brought with it, different challenges and an uncharted path that a lot of businesses where ill-prepared for; but we saw it as an opportunity to change the way we think and operate, and this meant that we had to look at a product

need of our clients as well as meet the current demand and market trend.”

According to him, “Our unique selling point is one product that meets the unique need of every user, Fast installation, high quality of service, fair pricing and Excellent Customer Turnaround Response Time to mention a few. Z-Force is a hybrid product that serves both the SME market (Home office) and selective mass market like home users, online schooling, entertainment, among others.”

With a collection of worldclass services and solutions, the company has repositioned itself as a one-stop centre for IT needs. In line with the global best practices, Zeta-Web Nigeria Limited has demonstrated a high level of commitment to customer support over the years which has brought accolades and recognition to them.

Obasi further said: “Our unique selling point is that we listen to our customers before designing the desired product that meets their specific needs; as we know that the world is evolving and it is no more one product fits all.”

Cars45, a tech-enabled automotive trading platform, and last mile delivery service provider, Gokada, have announced a partnership to provide Lagos residents with more options to get their parcels delivered across the state at a cheaper price within the same day.

The partnership was announced at a signing ceremony which took place at the Cars45 headquarters, Alausa, Lagos, recently.

The new relationship will allow Cars45 to further improve its customer experience by enabling select retail outlets to serve as delivery or collections hubs for Gokada. Gokada customers will, in turn, be able to access and enjoy a rich bouquet of Cars45’s services at select retail outlets.

The current spread of COVID-19 virus in Nigeria and the rest of the world necessitated more purposeful and deliberate movement, and delivery of products and services across the country, both companies said in a joint statement.

National Head, Centre Operations, Cars45, Precious Adesina-Ola, said: “As a value-driven business, Cars45

has become synonymous with creating opportunities for stimulating economic development as well as delightful consumer experiences within the nation’s auto industry.

“This partnership reinforces the premium we place on continuously providing value and convenience to our customers.

Our retail touch points provide a range of excellent products and services that we believe Gokada customers will take advantage of when delivering their parcels.”

Cars45 is present in over 50 locations across 11 states in Nigeria in addition to its operations in Kenya and Ghana.

Giving reasons for the partnership, Head of Special Projects at Gokada, Sanya Chawla, said: “We want to be closer to our customers and make our deliveries faster and accessible. At Gokada, we think about the convenience of our customers first and are constantly experimenting with new ideas to ensure maximum satisfaction. We are proud to partner with Cars45 and welcome them to the Gokada family. We hope to expand to other Cars45 centres across Lagos soon.”

27

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Lagos Business School’s MBA Ranked Top 100 in World The Full-time MBA programme of Lagos Business School has been ranked among the top 100 in the world according to The Economist’s WhichMBA? 2021 ranking.

Released recently, The Economist 2021 ranking evaluated full-time MBA programmes from 90 business schools across the world based on four broad criteria, including open new career opportunities, Personal development and educational experience, Salary, and Potential to network.

According to a statement, the Economist collated data from eligible schools on areas such as the percentage of graduates who receive a job offer after 3 months of graduation, ratio of faculty to students, average GMAT score, student and faculty gender diversity, among others.

Current MBA students and recent alumni were also contacted to rate their school on areas such as faculty quality, post MBA salary, salary increase, etc, it added.

According to Lagos Business School’s MBA Impact Report, its Full-time

MBA graduates record an 87 per cent increase in their salary upon completing the programme; 83 per cent were promoted after the programme; 50 per cent got jobs three months after the programme, and 73 per cent got their first postprogramme jobs through the School’s Career Office.

“Lagos Business School’s Full-time MBA is the only programme and business school in Africa to be ranked on the 2021 list and was well rated in categories such as number of overseas alumni chapters, diversity of recruiters, and student-faculty diversity,” a statement from the institution added.

The Dean, Prof. Chris Ogbechie said, “This ranking is a fantastic way to begin the year at Lagos Business School. We are happy to be recognised for maintaining the quality of our MBA programmes despite the challenges of the previous year. This recognition challenges us to intensify our efforts towards developing responsible business leaders who will solve Africa’s business, economic, social and institutional

challenges.”

“I congratulate every member of the LBS community who has worked arduously to ensure that we have, yet again, gained another international recognition. We, at the MBA department, are intent on creating and delivering transformational experiences to our participants and this ranking is fuel to our fire,” MBA Director, Dr Henrietta Onwuegbuzie added.

“This is the first time the Lagos Business School Full-time MBA programme would be ranked by The Economist. However, its Executive MBA has been ranked for two years in a row and emerged among the top 50 in 2019.

“Other top business schools on the list include IESE Business School, which was ranked number one.

Lagos Business School’s range of MBA programmes equip students with a thorough knowledge of the main business disciplines, analytical competencies and problem-solving capabilities in addition to strong industry engagement,” the statement added.

Echostone Delivers Affordable Homes in Lagos Echostone Development Nigeria said it has delivered a 252 WorldBank EDGE Certified affordable homes in Idale, Badagry.

Lagos State, which has over three million housing deficit had partnered Echostone in a PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) aimed at providing 100,000 affordable homes in 10 years with modern-day technology, starting with the construction of 2,000 housing units in three Local Government Areas (LGA) of the state, Idale in Badagry; Ayobo in Alimosho LGA and Imota in Ikorodu Local Government Area.

Speaking at the official inauguration of the housing project, Managing Director of EchoStone Development Nigeria, Mr Sammy Adigun, explained that the housing scheme named, ‘Peridot Parkland Estate’, was the first-ever green-certified affordable housing community in Nigeria, and the first to be certified by International Finance Corporation.

According to him, the project was one of only three in Africa to meet the advanced certification level for its significant carbon, energy and water savings.

He pointed out that the estate was confirmed to a 53 per cent energy savings home, 42 per cent water savings and 35 per cent carbon savings.

On the importance of the aforementioned figures for Lagos State and the

Badagry community, he said: “The EDGE recognition puts Nigeria among leading nations in the world committed to meeting the highest standards of sustainability that supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG11, Sustainable Cities.”

The director therefore explained that the energy savings could equate to the amount of a mortgage payment, each year significantly supporting affordability in the long term for owners, while Water savings can equate to approximately 20,000 gallons of water per the unit, per year.

“Not only is the environment considered, but more importantly, the people who live here will benefit greatly from a higher quality living standard for their families while having the opportunities of lowered utility costs.

“As we all know, housing is at the heart of communities and EchoStone and the State of Lagos can be proud to deliver a community that is not just affordable, but healthy and resilient and is the foundation for education, health and more.

“This housing community is proof that homeowners do not have to choose between affordable housing and quality homes while producing communities with the EchoStone system allows your investment goes further, your water

and fixtures to last longer, and your electricity to be optimised - while maintaining cooler and more comfortable indoor temperatures,” he added.

Adigun, said the houses represent the first step toward the future of Nigeria’s 21st Century economy, and the state government’s commitment to the health and the prosperity of all Nigerians.

In his address, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the project was part of efforts at reducing the housing deficit in the state.

“The state government will continue to provide a conducive environment for investment in the housing sector”, Sanwo-Olu assured.

Earlier, the Lagos state Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Moruf AkinderuFatai, explained that a unit is a two-bedroom bungalow, which is affordable for the low-income earners, adding that the innovation used by Echostone Development Nigeria in building the homes is commendable.

“We are leveraging on this technology, and we want to take this technology to the next level. For instance, the entire estate was constructed within one year. So, if we leverage on that, we would be able to provide more affordable housing units for Lagosians as fast as possible”, he said.

28

IMAGES

L-R: Representative of Minister of Works and Housing/ Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Kayode Popoola and the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat at the flag off of the Extended Special Public Works Programme, in Lagos...recently

:L-R: Vice President/ Chairman Public Affairs and Advocacy committee,Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Gbenga Ismail; Director General, LCCI, Dr. Muda Yusuf; President,LCCI, Mrs. Toki Mabogunje; and Deputy President,LCCI, Dr. Michael Olawalecole, at the LccI 1st press briefing on the state of the Nigeria Economy in 2021 In Lagos...recently

L-R:;Group General Manager, Renewable Energy Division of the NNPC, Dr. David Balarabe; Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau and Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya,, , during a meeting in Gombe State....recently

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

L-R: Director of the FCT Health Insurance Scheme, Dr Danfulani Mohammed; Representative of the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, FCT, Mr Aje Ottu; Director of Administration and Finance, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Mr Haruna Malam; and Acting Secretary of the Secretariat, Dr Mohammed Kawu, during the Secretary’s advocacy visit to NAN headquarters over the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, in Abuja....recentlyGeofidel Institute for Leadership and Management London, UK, Prof. Festus Ojehkekpen in Abuja...recently

L-R: Board Chair, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), Dr. Abiola Akiyiode; Country Director, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Mr. Sarley Jah; Executive Director, KDI, Mr. Bukola Idowu; Assistant Inspector Generalof Police in charge of Interpol, Umar Garba and Director Voter Education INEC, Nick Gazan, during the public presentation of the final report for 2020 Edo and Ondo State governorship election in Abuja...recently ENOCK REUBEN

Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi (left)and SSA to President, Mallam Abba Sariki during a virtual meeting of the members of Governing Board of National Agency for Science and Engineering (NSENI) held at Presidential Villa , Abuja...recently . state house

L-R: Gov.ernor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde; Governor.of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola; Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru; Gov.ernor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu and Gov.ernor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu during a meeting between the South West Governors, the National Leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and Heads of Security Agencies, in Akure...recently

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

29

L-R Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr Edet Akpan; Minister of State for Science and Technology, Alhaji Mohammed Abdullah; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; President, Materials Science and Technology Society of Nigeria (MSTSN), Prof. Esther Ikhuori; Vice President of MSTSN, Prof. Baba Alofara and a member of the Association, Dr Olawale Oluyemi, during the association’s visit to the Minister’s office in Abuja...recently

R-L; Chairman, Nigeria Governors’Forum and Ekiti state Governor, Dr.Kayode Fayemi presenting a cheque of 50 million to the Sokoto State, Governor Aminu Tambuwal over the fire incident that engulfed sokoto central market in Sokoto....recently

L-R: Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Federal Capital Territory, Ayuba Wobin; Director of Search and Rescue, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Air Commodore Edward Adedokun; Assistant Corps Marshal of FRSC, Hyginus Omeje; and Mr Abdurrahman Mohammed of the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency, during an “After Action Review Meeting of NEMA’s 2020 Operation Eagle Eye”, in Abuja...recently

L-R: Former Operations Manager, Chevron Nigeria Ltd, MrAdeyemiAdetoba; Assistant General Manager, Transmission, Lagos Transmission Company of Nigeria, Engr.Adeonipekun Adeshina;CEO, BTS Systems Ltd and celebrant, Engr.Ayoola Abraham Ebigbola; and Head, Leadway Assurance company limited, Osogbo office,Osun State,Mr.Abayomi Aderibigbe, all 81/86 set alumni of Moremi High School, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, during the 50th birthday celebration of Engr.Ayo Ebigbola in Lagos … recently

R-L: Director, Inspectorate and Compliance, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Engr. Obiora Manafa ; Director General, SON, Mallam Farouk Salim and Special Adviser to DG on special duties, SON, Chief Emeka Duru during the destruction of massive substandard tyres and gas cylinder products by SON, DG at SON’s warehouse in Lagos...recently

L-R: Provost of Zamfara State College of Education, Maru, Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi; Special Adviser to Gov.ernor on Higher Education, Alhaji Abdullahi Gurbinbore; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Fa’ika Ahmad, presenting relief materials to some victims of the fire outbreak that took place at the College... recently

L-R: Manager, Landlord Relations, IHS Nigeria, Abbas Ahmed; Director, Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations, IHS Nigeria, Oluwabankole Falade; Chairman, Nigerian Army Polo Association, Major General Muhammad Sani Aliyu; and Associate Director, Government Relations, IHS Nigeria, Bond Abbe; during a presentation of the sponsor award to IHS Nigeria at the Nigerian Army Polo Association Exhibition Tournament in Abuja...recently.

30

T H I S D AY ˾ , JANUARY 28, 2021

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Tackling Neglected Tropical Diseases Ayodeji Ake writes that due to inadequate awareness and lack of commensurate funding to mitigate the 20 Neglected Tropical Diseases, 122 million Nigerians are at risk, which poses a threat to the health security of the nation

F

rom a glance she could win a beauty pageant and make a good plus-size model. Akindele Abimbola was an audio-visual expert who enjoyed telling memorable stories of events in photographs and videos.

In fact, she was living her dream until 2012 when she was struck by one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD)- elephantiasis (a condition in which a limb or other part of the body becomes grossly enlarged) on her right leg.

In severe pain, breathing heavily as she narrated how she has been battling elephantiasis for eight years, the audio-visual expert said: “I’m above 40 years old, I am a photographer and a videographer. I am from Ibadan North-west but I reside at South-east Local Government. In 2012, I discovered my right leg was hot and it became reddish. I was actually in the office because I was working in a communication centre. I took an excuse because I was feeling feverish but when I got to my doorstep, I slumped and was rushed down to University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan.

“I was told it’s an ulcer in the leg so it was treated and I was also given some antibiotics and I was fine. In 2014, it came back again and it was with little lumps and rashes and it also got swollen. After awhile I discovered it started bring out a lot of water. I kept visiting the hospital and I was given antibiotics. Later it started bringing out mucus from those places that have sore. It got to a stage when some places burst in like two places and became an open wound. I kept taking treatments and it later developed to me not being able to work on my own.

“UCH was taking care of me but in 2018 I got tired of the antibiotics because I was already getting tired and couldn’t do anything anymore.

I couldn’t work to feed myself and children so I relied on my siblings and mother. Recently, I was advised to visit the Ministry of Health for some drugs which I did. I have to take the drugs twice a year and I have taken the first dose and will take the second dose by February. Most times the leg comes very hot with rashes and swollen, it weakens me. I can’t work and I really need help” she wept uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, for 50-year-old Sunday Solomon, a popular farmer in Onipe Community, Ibadan, Oyo State, for seven years, he has been living with onchocerciasis ( river blindness ), which consequently affected his farming business.

“I felt my eyes was itching seriously seven years ago. After the itching, it appears like it’s night already and I will feel like I’m going blind.

It sometimes feels like there is a worm in my eyes. I don’t work like I used to. When I go in the morning I leave the farm before sunrise and I return to the farm in the evening after sunset.

This has reduced my output in a way because I can’t work full day like I used to. I’m feeling better than before. I no long fall in the middle of the road since I started benefiting from the government drug,” he said.

These are true stories of Nigerians suffering from some of the Neglected Tropical Diseases millions of Nigerians are either unaware of, or ignorant about.

What are NTDs? Neglected Tropical Diseases are a group of 20 disease conditions that are common in tropical or sub-tropical regions, and are closely associated with poverty, poor sanitation, and lack of safe water sources, substandard housing conditions and deficient healthcare access.

The diseases are called ‘neglected’ because they tend to affect the world’s poorest, and received less attention than other diseases.Essentially, Neglected tropical diseases are a group of preventable and treatable diseases that could be caused by viruses, bacteria, protozoa that affect 1.5 billion people worldwide, 40 per cent of whom live in Africa.

These diseases affects the poorest, most vulnerable people who live in hard to reach parts of Africa.

They disfigure, disable, keep children out of school and parents out of work, thus limiting their

Akindeke Abimbola’s Elephantiasis condition

potentials and leave communities stuck in poverty.

Some of the NTDs targeted for control, elimination and eradication in Nigeria includes: Onchocerciasis (river blindness), Lymphatic Filariasis (caused by microscopic, thread-like worms), Schistosomiasis (caused by flatworms), Soil-transmitted Helminthiasis (intestinal worms infecting humans that are transmitted through contaminated soil), Trachoma (contagious bacterial infection of the eye), and Snakebite Envenoming (a disease that typically results from the injection of different toxins from bite of a venomous snake). \Others include Rabies (a contagious and vital viral disease of dogs and other mammals, transmissible through the saliva of humans and causing madness and convulsions), Buruli Ulcer (an infectious disease characterised by the development of painless open wounds), Leprosy, Yaws (a contagious disease that affects the skin), Leishmaniasis (a tropical and subtropical disease transmitted by the bite of sandflies), Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) (also known as sleeping sickness, a vector-borne parasitic disease), Guineaworm Disease( an infection caused by drinking water containing immature forms of worm).

Impact of NTDs The Neglected Tropical Diseases Elimination Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, report has estimated that 122 million persons, two out of every three Nigerians are at risk of one or more of these NTDs. Of this number, 20 per cent are pre-school age children, five to 14 years ; and 52 per cent are adults, 15 years and above .

For some of these diseases: 119.8 million people for lymphatic filariasis, 51.4 million people for onchocerciasis, 28.8 million schoolage children and 20.5 million pre-school age children for soil-transmitted helminths, 26.8 million people for trachoma, 23.8million school age children for schistosomiasis.

NTDs causes end-organ damages due to chronic infections, significant impact on maternal, newborn, and child health: Poor health among women, from anaemia due to STH infection .

NTDs causes poor nutritional status, especially in children, poor educational outcomes: Reduced physical and cognitive development; children cannot attend school, absorb lessons; low productivity, adults may stay home to care for infected family members.

It promotes poverty, pose a devastating obstacle to attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), disrupts economic growth, social development and poverty reduction initiatives, and sustained economic development cannot occur without addressing NTDs.

Sunday Solomon, a farmer suffering from Onchocerciasis

Expert Opinion The Director and National Cordinator, Neglected Tropical Diseases Elimination Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, has confirmed all the 36 states keep record of one or more NTDs. Speaking during the two-day media dialogue on Neglected Tropical diseases Control in Nigeria, organised by the Child rights information bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and culture in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in Ibadan Oyo State, last year, Anyaike noted that NTDs also exists in slum areas in the urban settlements.

He said the NTDs are neglected diseases because they are mostly found among the poor, adding that “the diseases are neglected because they affect people at the lowest level of their lives. People that are poor, lives in the rural communities, people with poor hygiene, poor supply of water and sanitation. Even in the urban areas they are within the slum areas.

“And by our data we have about 122 million at the risk of having the infection. It’s a very big problem because most of the times, attention is not given to them simply because the disease doesn’t kill instantly but it leaves with a lot of disability.

“It’s documented that NTDs caused the highest level of disability worldwide and because they don’t kill instantly, attention is shifted from these diseases. Because it runs a chain of disability and people not being able to work and children not able to go to work, it kills people and families in the chain of poverty.

“There is no state that is free of NTDs. Every state of this country either has one or more than one but the burden in each state differs. The country has a lot of water in it surroundings. And for instance, river blindness affect those that goes fishing and when they are bitten by black flies, after sometimes it comes with manifestations of too much of scratching, it eventually gets to the eyes and people get blind.

“How it affects the family and community is simply because someone who is a breadwinner suddenly gets blind. When you accumulated all the diseases under the NTDs, you will see that it’s gradually affecting the society and the economic impact is huge. Now that the federal government is making plans to lift a certain percent of the population out of poverty, NTDs should be looked into”.

Speaking further he noted the national focus of the media dialogue is to ensure that the menace of NTDs reduce to the nearest minimum if not total elimination “Nigeria can eliminate NTDs if we put hand deeper in our pockets. To out more domestic funding supporting the foreign

donors, there is a need for strong leadership and ownership on battling NTDs and also creating more awareness on the existence of these diseases.

“Apart from media engagement, we are on our part having dialogues with major policymakers and key players to combat NTDs because the government can’t do everything” he added.

Prevention through WASH initiative As a preventive measure, experts have urged Nigerians on frequent hand washing routine against NTDs. Also speaking at the media dialogue, Director, Health Environment Advocacy Learning (HEAL) Foundation, Mrs. Chioma Mong, noted that washing of our hands regularly and maintaining good hygiene are good preventive measures against the diseases.

She said the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) integration has been designed to take hand washing campaign and education to the grassroot for disease prevention.

“NTDs are parasitic and bacterial infections linked to poverty, poor sanitation, inadequate or unsafe water sources and substandard living condition. WASH is the collective term for water, sanitation and hygiene. Safe WASH practices are critical elements in the prevention of infections” she said.

Call for Intervention Meanwhile, NTDs Programme National Cordinator , Dr. Anyaike , during his presentation called for swift intervention across all three tiers of government for elimination programmes and funding against NTDS. “Government at all level should release a proportion 0.05 per cent of the total budget annually to implement critical activities to fast track NTD elimination in Nigeria.

“NTD interventions should be mainstreamed with the following and covered with funds allocated for the projects: the Northeast development and rehabilitation programme, Niger Delta and Ogoni Clean Up Project, Sustainable Development Goals Project in Nigeria, Home Grown School Feeding Project, mandate the office of the Sustainable Development Goals, programme to include funding for NTD activities on an annual basis.

“Use NTD endemicity to prioritise provision of safe water sources nationwide, as was the case when Nigeria had Guinea worm endemic; approve prioritisation of safe water supply; sources of the location of potable water sources by the Ministry of Water Resources in all NTD endemic communities in Nigeria, and give NTDs same priority and visibility that are given to HIV and AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis” he said.

T H I S D AY ˾ , JANUARY 28, 2021

31

NEWS

NAFDAC Warns against Dubious Elements Engaging in Forgery at Ports

FERTILITY

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

DEPRESSION AND INFERTILITY (Part 2)

S

NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Christianah Mojisola Adeyeye

Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted the general public of the unprofessional behaviour of some unscrupulous agents operating at the ports who indulge in forgery and doctoring of its documents.

The agency also reacted to an allegation by the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) that its officials were engaging in indiscriminate collection of product samples at the ports, describing it as false.

In a statement issued by the Director of Ports Inspection, Prof. Samson Adebayo, on behalf of the Director General, the agency said it is important to inform the general public of the “unprofessional behavior of some unscrupulous agents operating at the Ports (Air & Sea) and Land who indulge in forgery and doctoring of documents”.

He explained that all NAFDAC processes are now carried out as online transactions, adding that upon completion, a release notice’ that is verifiable is issued for every transaction.

He said: “All importers are admonished to always initiate the clearance processes by themselves (rather than asking their agents to do that) because even when they have genuine and complete documents, for whatever reasons some clearing agents still submit forged documents.

“It should be noted that offenders would be prosecuted when caught. Clearing agents are therefore warned that where such occurs, the names of such erring clearing agents would be compiled and sent to the office of the Comptroller General, Nigeria.

“We encourage all importers of NAFDAC regulated products to monitor the transactions of their clearing agents in order to avoid any embarrassment that may be caused as a result of unprofessionalism of the agents”.

Adebayo said that NAFDAC as a responsible regulatory agency is determined to facilitate trade and comply with the Federal Government’s reform agenda for the various ports.

According to him, the current NAFDAC’s drive is to encourage compliance, be customer-focused and improve the ease of doing business.

“This is why the portal for the clearance of NAFDAC regulated products is made very simple and easy to use. In the coming quarters of the year, the agency will embark on rigorous but friendly sensitisation of various stakeholders on the automated port clearance of NAFDAC regulated products.

“It is therefore important that all importers and the general public be better informed than the one - sided information provided by the Compliance Team Coordinator of NAGAFF. “NAFDAC as a responsible organisation is willing to collaborate with any stakeholder to facilitate trade within the ambit of law – both at various Ports and in all the formations and departments of the agency,” he said.

The agency said the allegation by the Team Coordinator, NAGAFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko is especially disturbing as the issue of the dynamics of sampling of products for laboratory evaluation has been severally explained to stakeholders.

NAFDAC said that it had over the years in various stakeholders’ meetings, workshops and seminar re-emphasised the need for importers to

request for NAFDAC sample receipt for products sampled and collected by NAFDAC officers.

It said that it is within the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for inspection and sampling to issue NAFDAC sample receipts to clients after products sampling.

“The challenge we have observed is that clearing agents collect these Sampling Receipts and do not present them to importers because they know that excess samples have been collected and taken away by these clearing agents.

“NAFDAC samples are collected based on international best practices and standards for laboratory testing. Samples drawn are collected and tested and samples kept as retention samples in case of retesting where there is unsatisfactory laboratory results (this means the products failed laboratory testing).

“Where there is a need to return some quantities (especially bulk sampling), the importer is notified via the sampling receipt to visit the laboratory for the returned sample.

“This is done especially in cases of bulk raw materials for products packed in bulk bags. It is important to collect a whole bag because of the need to ensure that the samples are drawn in an environment free from contamination at the laboratory and not at the ports.

“Alhaji Tanko should informed and enlightened that products drawn according to NAFDAC sampling guide cannot be returned because they are the exact quantity required to conduct laboratory analysis. Where there is an exemption to this, especially with products in bulk bags, importers are always informed via the sampling receipt to request for the excess quantity.”

igns and Symptoms of Infertility related depression and anxiety are very real, continuing from our last week’s discussion, as you flip through the list below, you can jot down signs you have identified you experienced and discuss about the solutions with your doctor/specialist.

When coping with infertility it may be 100% normal to want to avoid pregnant women, baby showers, naming ceremony or avoiding women with young children but if you notice you are overly r 'FFMJOH FYUSB MPOFMZ NPTU PG UIF UJNF r "WPJEJOH GSJFOET BOE GBNJMZ JO NPTU JOTUBODFT r 4UBZJOH IPNF BOE BXBZ GSPN TPDJBM HFU together that you once enjoyed r 'FFMJOH BMPOF FWFO XIFO ZPV BSF XJUI PUIFST This may be signs that you are suffering from the feelings of isolation and may be due to shame.

You Can No Longer Enjoy Activities You Once Did You may discover that some activities you previously found pleasure in, no more seem interesting, your past hobbies, friends, places that you once loved, you just cannot get yourself anymore to enjoy them. Sadness over infertility may be coloring your perception of life.

challenge while some drift further apart. The financial burdens of fertility treatment can also come between couple this may be evidenced as we see below: r $PVQMFT BSHVF PWFS GFSUJMJUZ USFBUNFOU EFDJTJPO r 5IF XPNBO XPSSZ UIBU IFS QBSUOFS NBZ leave her over infertility r $PVQMFT NBZ IBWF GPSHPUUFO IPX UP IBWF fun together Couples facing similar situation should seek counselling together Sexual Dysfunction Most couple trying for baby in a bid to ensure timed intercourse during ovulation may end up limiting sex to mean a baby seeking exercise and thus lose the fun of sex. You may forget that sex is much more than for making babies.

This can seriously impact your sex life and may result in: r %FDSFBTFE TFYVBM EFTJSF r 1FSGPSNBODF BOYJFUZ PS FSFDUJMF EZTGVODUJPO r %FDSFBTFE FOKPZNFOU PG TFY Sexual dysfunction further reduces the chances of conception, hence couples experiencing this need to seek counselling and also discusses it with their Fertility Specialist

How Does Depression affect Fertility?

Studies have shown that depression may Frequent Feeling of Panic or Anxiety lead to a lowered sex drive, increased drinking, Worrying about upcoming fertility test, un- smoking, poor nutrition all of which can inhibit known outcome of test, side effect of treatments, pregnancy. unknown outcome of treatment are all normal On the relationship between anxiety / dein women coming with infertility. However if pressive disorders and infertility, it has been you find out that reported that hormonal levels in depressed r 8PSSZJOH HFUT JOUP UIF XBZ PG ZPVS EBJMZ MJGF people fluctuate greatly. In Depression there r /FSWPVTOFTT EPFT OPU TFFN UP MFU VQ BGUFS is elevation of Hormones like Cortisol and period of tension Adrenaline which have negative impact on r "OYJFUZ PWFS OPUIJOH XJUI SFDVSSFOU QBOJD the reproductive system. attacks While infertility causes depression and You are sure not dealing with mere anxiety. anxiety, depression and anxiety also have It is infertility related and seeking counseling negative impact on infertility. may help you return to resolve such internal conflict.

Management of Depression in Infertility Infertility can be heart breaking, going Getting Easily Frustrated or Angry through testing and treatment can be time Depression due to infertility may also manifest consuming and tiring. It is certainly normal as getting more readily frustrated and impatience to experience sadness and even anger at towards others. You may find yourself snapping times, but infertility does not have to take at co-workers or family members over small your life, although it is common for those things. You are getting angry at the slightest with infertility to have depression, it does provocation because of the deep feeling of anger not mean that it is inevitable. It really hurts and frustration from within. Such feelings should to die in silence, you may benefit from an not be taken for granted. appointment to talk to your Gynecologist/ Fertility Specialist and also attempt the Trouble Concentrating or Remembering under listed: r 'JOE B DPVOTFMMPS NPTU 'FSUJMJUZ $FOUFST Things You may experience concentration problem offer free counseling. r $BMM B USVTUFE GSJFOE UP UBML BCPVU ZPVS due to side effects of medications used in the management of infertility, however poor struggle r 'PDVT PO TFMG DBSF BOE CF QPTJUJWF concentration may also be a sign of one’s mind r +PJO B 'BJUI CBTFE HSPVQ 'FSUJMJUZ being clouded with the thought of infertility.

Spending all day thinking infertility so as not support group r *OUFSBDUJOH XJUI TVQQPSU HSPVQ XJUI PUIFS to be able to concentrate on other aspect of life are signs of depression and seeking help early women/couples who have been through what you are going through, triumphed and experiencing with help is required. the joy of parenthood can be encouraging and may help pull you out of a depressive state.

Your Relationship Is Suffering Some couple gets closer as a result of infertility Remember life is worth living.

32

T H I S D AY ˾ , JANUARY 28, 2021

HEALTH

A Cry for Help Francis Sardauna writes on the need for the Katsina State government and philanthropists to assist 11-year-old Hamza Salisu to undergo his fourth surgery. Salisu is suffering from imperforate anus, a birth defect of improperly developed anus and needs N800,000 for the surgery

Hamza

A

n imperforate anus is a birth defect that happens while a baby is still growing in the womb. This defect means that baby has an improperly developed anus, and therefore can’t pass stool normally from the rectum out of their body.

The condition, according to medical experts, develops in the womb during the fifth to seventh weeks of pregnancy. The cause is unknown. Many times, babies with such condition also have other defects of the rectum.

Sadly, this is the condition of Hamza Salisu, the fifth child of Salisu Dahiru, an indigene of Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Hamza’s condition requires immediate treatment.

The 11-year-old Hamza was born on June 6, 2009 at Kwabdaya community within Matazu metropolis without posterior opening of the digestive tract often referred to as anus but his mother, Bilkisu Salisu, could not identify the problem till after three hours.

When the parents of Hamza later discovered that he was born without anus, they rushed him to General Hospital Matazu to ascertain the situation but the doctors in the hospital referred them to Turai Yar’adua Hospital in Katsina, the state capital.

At Turai Yar’adua hospital, the young Hamza underwent three different surgeries to enable him have an anus but all the operations conducted could not yield any positive result as the patient is still defecating and urinating through a rectum stationed outside his stomach.

The alarming phase of Hamza’s health began after his second surgery at 11 months. He was in and out of the emergency room or hospital nine times for issues like dehydration, vomiting and low temperatures, as well as an infection of the surgical site after the surgery.

Hamza, a primary 2 pupil with Bako Matazu Primary School, is currently facing stigmatisation from his schoolmates as a result of his frequent urination and defecation through the rectum which often force the teachers to send him home because of what they termed endless smells.

Despite the discrimination, Hamza continued to pursue his elementary education until recently that his health condition apparently turned to unbearable stage. Consequently, he is in urgent

Hamza’s Mother, Bilkisu Salisu

need of over N800,000 to undergo a fourth surgery and other necessary medications.

Speaking in an interview with THISDAY in Matazu, Hamza appealed to the state government and philanthropists to come to his aid by assisting his parents with finances that will enable them to return him to the hospital for further examination and treatment.

Hamza who wept uncontrollably during the interview, said: “My mates are in secondary school now but I am still in primary 2 because of my situation. Anytime I go to school, my classmates and teachers will be saying I am smelling and sometimes they send me away from the class.

“I don’t know why my mother gave birth to me with this bad condition. I don’t have anus so I am urinating and defecating through this rectum outside here. I want to be like other children of my age. Government should assist me if not I am dying; my situation is worsening everyday”.

Narrating Hamza’s ordeal, his mother (Bilkisu) said: “When I held my sweet newborn moments after his birth, he was already swaddled. It was only three hours later, after a nurse offered to change his first diaper, that I received the shock of my life.

“My child had no anal opening. Instead, his pale behind was completely smooth. There was no hole. There were no cheeks. With this gory condition, Hamza continue to cry with frequent vomiting throughout that night and his stomach swollen up.

“My life-partner and I took him to Turai Yar’adua Hospital in Katsina where he had two surgeries to enable him to have bowel movements out of a newly created anal opening. But three months after, the newly created anal opening blocked”.

She stressed that: “By the time he reached 9 months old, he woke screaming up to 11 times per night. I got up each time and cared for him. There were many days I would sob from exhaustion”.

The 35-year-old Bilkisu, who could not control her emotions, added that: “So we returned him to the hospital for the third surgery where they removed his rectum and stationed outside his stomach. And for the past 11 years that is where my son is defecating and urinating without control”.

Bilkisu, a mother of nine children, reiterated that monitoring Hamza’s fluid intake so his bladder wouldn’t grow to be too full and managing his care while traveling miles for his doctor appointments

and next surgery is a serious challenge that is militating against the growth and development of the family.

“Our child’s condition came with many daily challenges. One of the biggest ones that we puzzled over was how he would scream and cry throughout the night even though during the day he was largely a very happy. But at night he seemed to be in frequent pain.

“Then, a really alarming phase in his health began after his second surgery at 11 months.

Soon he was in and out of the emergency room nine times for issues like dehydration, vomiting and low temperatures and many health related issues occasioned by the surgical operation”, Bilkisu said while crying.

She explained that they sold all their properties, including farmlands to raised N1,000,000 to cater for Hamza’s health condition but the situation seems to be deteriorating everyday, adding that the family is in need of another N800,000 to enable Hamza undergo the fourth surgery at Turai Yar’adua hospital.

According to her, “We have sold all our properties, including my bed and some of my clothes for Hamza’s treatment. As we speak, myself, Hamza and his siblings are sleeping on mats and we hardly eat three square meals because the farmland that his father normally farm on to feed us has also been sold”.

On his part, Hamza’s father, Salisu Dahiru, said he sold three of his farmlands and part of his residence for the treatment of his son, lamenting that he no longer has food to eat with the family.

According to Dahiru, “I sold all my farmlands and part of my residence for Hamza’s treatment.

In fact, I spent over N1,000,000 for the three surgeries that Hamza has undergone including drugs and injections.

“And the doctors said Hamza will undergo another surgery to return the rectum which is outside his stomach to its normal position. The fourth surgery will also enable them to another opening for him to be defecating and urinating.

“I have no where to seek help again, government should please assist my son before he die.

I know Governor Masari is a listening governor, he should come to our rescue because we have exhausted what we had. We are all sleeping on mats and rags”.

Explaining Hamza’s condition, a paediatric

surgeon, Dr. Aliyu Sati, said when a baby’s urinary system and the ano-rectal passage fails to separate, it can result in a condition whereby the baby is born without an anus.

Sati, who termed Hamza’s condition Ano-rectal Malformation (ARM), said the condition refers to an abnormality in the formation of the rectum or anus of a newborn.

He said: “Babies are often present with no opening to their bottom end at birth. The urinary system and the ano-rectal passage is separated and functions independently. Failure of this separation process before the child is born results in ARM in babies.

“Hence, the poo and wee pipes remain abnormally connected in these kids. The most common abnormality in a girl child with ARM is when the rectum opens into the entrance of the vagina, with no other opening on the bottom.

“In a male child, the commonest form is when the rectum opens into the urethra (urinary tube connecting the bladder to the tip of the penis), close to the prostate gland and again with no other discernible opening on the bottom”.

He noted that the connection between the rectum and the structures he enumerated are often small, and hence, the baby will not be able to open his or her bowels, which will subsequently be obstructed.

When asked on what should be done, Sati said it is imperative that a paediatric surgeon create a stoma (bowel opening into a bag on the abdomen) to prevent bowel obstruction.

He added, “In a child with ARM, the sphincter muscles surround the anal canal and are usually still present in the correct place despite the rectum connecting to other structures. The definitive surgery would involve disconnecting the rectum from whatever it’s attached to, and re-plumb it through the sphincter muscle.

“Once a stoma is formed, the child can feed and grow until definitive surgery can be planned to construct a new opening for the anus, usually after a few months. So, once the reconstructive work is done, the stoma can then be closed, so that the new bottom can then be used”.

The family can be reached through Hamza’s cousin 08144404901 and account details are as follows 5331234864 Hannatu Mani Habu (Fidelity Bank).

33

T H I S D AY ˾ , JANUARY 28, 2021

HEALTH

EvaluatingImpactofCOVID-19onAdolescents Adeola Akinyele evaluates the life of the Nigerian adolescent in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its resultant impact on their academics, sexual and reproductive health

N

igeria has a population of about 178 million, with 22.5 per cent of the population between 10 and 19 years old. COVID-19 came and met the world unprepared, Nigeria just like other countries of the world had to lockdown and ceased physical and socioeconomic activities for a while, jobs were lost, the business closed, religious gathering stopped, and schools were shut down in many parts of the countries for almost seven months leaving adolescents at home.

Although adolescents are not vulnerable to the virus itself; however, the impact of different actions taken due to the virus on adolescents have not been considered.

Academically, many adolescents were cut off from their friends and peers in their school, having to stay at home to do house chores all day with little or no academic activity. Privileged adolescents with access to technological tools such as phones and laptops continued learning via E-learning platforms (google classroom, zoom, television) having to make necessary adjustments, underprivileged Adolescent with no access to technological tools were encouraged to learn vocational skills and trade, some eventually drop out of school to focus on these trades. After the lockdown was lifted and school resumed, classes and examinations were rushed to make up for the lost time and to meet up with the academic session. This made it difficult for slow learning adolescents to catch up with classes.

During the lockdown, there was a sharp increase in the numbers of reported cases of rape, child molestation and sexual violence all

Adolescents

over the country. This is because adolescents and sexual predators were kept within a confined space for a prolonged period of time. Some of these victims were unable to voice out because their predators are mostly familiar people and not strangers, our culture of blaming victims instead of predators and the limited access to get help from the outside because of movement restrictions.

This lead to the declaration of a “state of

emergency” on rape and sexual violence nationwide.

Similarly, there was an increase in the rate of teenage pregnancyand Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) in Nigeria. Despite limited data, some states recorded more teenage pregnancy than usual. This is due to several factors that include lack of comprehensive sexuality education, idleness and wanting to explore, pornography, lack of access to contraceptives, rape and sexual

violence to mention but a few.

Since Nigeria is going through another wave of COVID-19 infections with so many uncertainties, steps need to be taken tomitigate the impact of COVID-19 on adolescents. In case of further lockdown or school closure, alternative learning methodsshould be made available for underprivileged adolescents such as E-learning platforms so that learning can continue. In rural communities, small classroom activities in complete compliance with the COVID-19 measures should be made available instead of complete school closure.

There should be an increased awareness and access of adolescents to basic sexual and reproductive health services such as comprehensive sexuality education, contraception services,psychotherapy and menstrual hygiene products using telemedicine and other digital tools, while reaching out to them using social and mass media. In the same manner, there should be an increased awareness on rape and child molestation, reporting channels should be made available, and justice should be gotten for victims.

Parents and guardians should see the prolonged school closure as bonding time between them and their children, make use the opportunity educate their children (both male and female) on sex, life skill and help them make better decisions about their future. Provisions should be made for pregnant teenagers during their pregnancy, and they should be encouraged to go back to school or equipped to learn a vocational trade.

Akinyele wrote in from Global Girls Hub Initiative, Osogbo in Osun State.

DataisLife:HowTechisReformingourRelationshipwithHealth Mirabel “Emma” Aleladia When we think of data, we think big, our minds instantly go to all the wordy techy news we’ve ever come across that involves the “D” word- data. Hardly do we ever think of the generic information we have access to daily as data. Technology has disrupted almost everything we can think of and our health is no exception.

Technology is constantly evolving our lives by simplifying everything, when it comes to our health and fitness it’s no different. Technology is providing people with access to their primary health information that would otherwise be unknown to them (unless they visit a hospital).

In 2014, Apple announced the release of the first Apple Watch, the general reaction was “why on earth do I need an apple watch when I have got an iPhone (or a fit bit)?”. It all seemed so bizarre at the time, right? Following Apple’s launch of its new product in 2014, the Apple watch landed Times Best 25 inventions of 2014.

In no time competitors like Samsung, Huawei, etc. began to follow and the wearables market will be worth about $22 billion globally by 2022.

In 2020 the fitness wearable market was one of the few that was not affected by the pandemic.

They’ve shown a healthy 20% global year on year according to Counterpoint Research, “why?”, you

may ask, these products are widely demanded because of the value they create in the lives of consumers. Smartwatches/ fitness watches provide people with data that can be used to track heart rate, sleep quality, time, blood pressure, activity, and overall fitness level. Robin Berzin MD, Founder, and CEO of Parsley Health says she’s seen more

of her patients using wearable devices to track personal health. “When patients see data that illustrates how destructive behaviors impact them physically, it can provide additional motivation to more proactively manage their health- such as incorporating appropriate physical activity, getting to bed earlier, being more open to stress- reduc-

tion techniques such as meditation”. Thanks to wearables, people are making practical changes in their lives that can bring about big rewards.

People are choosing to incorporate walking into their daily commute, choosing healthier food; in a nutshell, wearables are increasing intentionality about healthy living.

Another valid impact of data derived from wearables is that it can be used to troubleshoot health-related issues. A Stanford University study used the data from wearables to detect diseases like influenza, Lyme diseases, and other diseases that cause an inflammatory response. More interestingly, a fall detection feature has been integrated with some smartwatches. The fall detection feature is capable of detecting a fall and even placing an emergency call if you are unresponsive, this feature can save a life by providing information to a third party (emergency contact).

We often hear people say that data is life, this is no doubt the case. Thanks to technology you can now have your health information at your fingertips better still on your wrist to improve the quality of your life. With easy access to information about your health, you can make better decisions that help you lead a healthy and fulfilling life. t"MFMBEJB B )FBMUI BOE -JGFTUZMF $PMVNOJTU XSPUF JO GSPN -BHPT

AvonHMOPartnersShecludedtoImproveHealthcareAccessforWomen To improve healthcare inclusion for women, leading health maintenance organisation, Avon HMO and Shecluded, a female-focused financial services provider have formed a strategic partnership to create two unique healthcare plans –Nova and Thrive.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Avon HMO, Adesimbo Ukiri, these new plans are targeted at bridging the gap impeding women from accessing healthcare services.

“Women are at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing healthcare. The results of this ranges from women being cut off from being active stakeholders in their health to sad occurrences

of maternal mortality, which in Nigeria, is one of the highest globally at 14 per cent,” she said.

Atinuke Kolade, the Head of Sales, Retention and Growth at Avon HMO, echoed these sentiments by adding that, “most women-owned SMEs are at the risk of seeing their businesses go under due to unexpected medical bills and these new plans provide an option that directly addresses their needs. Thanks to this new partnership, fewer women will be left behind.”

For Shecluded, the partnership is an opportunity to provide access to health insurance for members of the Shecluded community while accessing financial education as well.

According to Ifeoma Uddoh, CEO of Shecluded, this is because women are more likely than men to require health care services throughout their lives even though they are less likely to have health insurance.

“As a mother, who has seen first-hand the benefit of having health insurance while pregnant, and in my role as the CEO of Shecluded, I am committed to increasing the number of women who have access to adequate health insurance by providing flexible payment options and educating women on its benefits.

“The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that access to quality healthcare is the

first step to financial security, and I am excited to continue improving communities by helping to increase healthcare access with Avon HMO.” Nigeria is home to an estimated population of 200 million, with women approximated to be around 99 million. However, less than five per cent of the female population are subscribed to health insurance plans due to factors such as awareness, accessibility,and affordability.

The collaboration between Avon HMO and Shecluded aims to reduce the gap between healthcare access and affordability, bring the country closer to achieving universal healthcare coverage.

34

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

MTN Supports African Union’s COVID-19 Vaccines Programme with $25m Oluchi Chibuzor MTN has announced a donation of $25 million to support the African Union’s COVID-19 vaccination programme.

The donation will help secure up to seven million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for health workers across the continent, which will contribute to the vaccination initiative of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

“The devastating impact of COVID-19has been unprecedented and profound. Public and private partnerships are needed if we are to succeed in the fight against the pandemic and restore social and economic norms for our continent and our communities,” a statement from the telco quoted the President/

Chief Executive Officer of MTN Group, Ralph Mupita, to have said.

Chairperson of the African Union, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced recently that the African Union had secured a provisional 270 million COVID-19 vaccine doses on behalf of its member states, through advance procurement commitment guarantees of up to $2 billion to the manufacturers by the African Export-Import Bank.

“This was an important milestone in efforts to ensure equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine for Africa’s people.

However, with a population of about 1.3 billion, Africa requires many more doses to achieve at least 60 percent herd immunity. Contributions

by private organisations, like MTN, are therefore essential to help the continent reach its target.

“Our goal is to ensure that all those who need the COVID-19 vaccine have access to it very quickly, but the biggest hurdle in Africa has been financing of the vaccines, and the logistics of vaccinating at scale. We therefore welcome the right partnerships, like the one with MTN, to achieve our minimum 60 percent vaccination target,” Director of Africa CDC, Dr. John Nkengasong said.

According to the statement, since the beginning of the pandemic, MTN has made significant contributions to help limit the spread of the disease and save lives and livelihoods within its African market.

Ecobank Targets MSMEs with N50bn Subordinated Funding The Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan has said the bank’s newly sourced N50 billion credit will be deployed to support micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.

He pointed out that the bank recognises MSMEs as the drivers of post COVID-19 economic recovery for Nigeria, stressing that additional funding support from the bank would further generate and bolster activities in the sector thereby driving the much-needed growth in the country, provide jobs and support wealth creation.

A statement from the bank quoted Akinwuntan to have said: “The proceeds of the financing will support MSMEs in the country and is particularly useful for this segment where access to

bank loans is considered as the biggest impediment to growth.

“As MSMEs currently account for about half of the country’s gross domestic product and circa 96 per cent of the total number of businesses, this support will definitely make a positive impact.”

He noted that, “As an MSMEfriendly bank, we have been helping them with capacity building; providing simple and easy access to loans in various sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, creative industry, healthcare, general commerce and services. “Our robust digital platforms help facilitate transaction convenience for our clients particularly during this Covid-19 pandemic and helped with the ease of doing business.

“Our award winning Omnilite

digital banking platform helps businesses with a wide array of payment services electronically, while our POS machines and Ecobankpay solutions are widely deployed to assist with collections.”

On her part, Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Ecobank, Mrs. Carol Oyedeji affirmed that Ecobank Nigeria has been in the forefront in supporting small businesses.

She stated that, “The bank has entered strategic partnerships with various development institutions to support both funding and risk sharing for MSME lending across various sectors of the economy.

“Small business owners can therefore avail themselves of this opportunity presented to grow and further expand.”

Experts Harps on Entrepreneurial Devt Support Economic Growth Management experts have stressed that for Nigeria to boost its dwindling economy its citizens must embrace entrepreneurial skills relevant in the 21st century world.

This, according to them, was necessary considering the abundant opportunities available in the country.

Speaking at a virtual meeting held recently, the President, Institute of Entrepreneurial Excellence Innovation and Sustainability (IEEIS), Mrs. Ngozi Ogoke, said the nation must integrate entrepreneurship into its curriculum in order to

equip the young generation with necessary skills to face the 21st century.

She said: “Nigerian entrepreneurs need to develop the mindset that will enable them thrive in the midst of adversity.

“They need to learn how to develop entrepreneurial mindset, identify opportunities and set a goal.

“The Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative (ELI) program offered by IEEIS will enable them to achieve that. The institute in collaboration with our American partners is offering entrepreneurs the necessary skills and knowledge

to succeed.

“To the young people of Nigeria, your possibilities are endless.

As citizens, we cannot sit around and wait for the government to come to the rescue and solve all of the problems around us.

“It is up to us to turn those problems into opportunities for our own growth and well-being.

“Therefore, IEEIS/ELI is encouraging the Nigerian education sector to integrate entrepreneurship into their curriculum which is necessary to equip the young generation with the necessary skills to face the 21st century skills.

NOVA Merchant Bank Promotes Staff NOVA Merchant Bank, one of the leading merchant banks in Nigeria said it began 2021 on a high note as it announced promotions for its employees who excelled in the performance of their responsibilities.

The bank announced in a statement that the promotions were in line with its goal of building a high performance culture, adding that they cut across most grade levels including General Manager, which however is subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, Mr. Nath Ude, explained that

the bank set out to reward its deserving staff who had in the last few years put in a lot of effort to ensure it achieved its goals of providing premium services to its growing clientele at every opportunity.

“These promotions, given the current operating context, represent a strong commitment by the Bank to put the right incentives in place to drive performance across the organisation,” he stated.

On his part, the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, pointed out that the management of the bank was involved in continuous training and retraining to ensure its highly qualified staff are

equipped with the needed tools to surpass customer expectations.

“The board remains committed to ensure the bank has a deep talent pool aligned to the achievement of its strategic objectives. We will continue to support the management team to ensure this is realised,” Oduoza explained.

“As a fast-growing new business with the resultant need for expansion in all frontiers, the bank has painstakingly ensured that key positions are occupied by well-grounded professionals through a combination of internal promotion and careful recruitment of good talents.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020 Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

19,521,851.08

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ Ͱʹ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $54.87 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $54.85 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations..

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

35

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Q3: Flour Mills of Nigeria Grows Profit by 90% to N16bn Goddy Egene Nigeria’s integrated food business and agro-allied group, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, has continued its strong performance, growing its profit after tax (PAT) for the third quarter ended December 2020/21 by 91 per cent.

The Group posted a revenue of N555.342 billion in Q3, up from N423.479 billion in the corresponding period of 2019/20.

Gross profit rose from N47.829

billion to N72.446 billion, while profit after tax jumped from N8.160 billion to N15.582 billion.

Commenting on the result, the Group Managing Director, FMN, Boye Olusanya, said: “Our ability to stay resilient, while growing organically in a rapidly changing environment, validates our investment strategy, and the strength of our diversified portfolio.

“We are keeping in stride with the government’s vision

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

to ensure food sufficiency and have delivered another truly remarkable result this year. Our priorities remain the same - feeding growth and productivity in Nigeria’s food and agro-allied sector, feeding communities with empowerment, and feeding Nigeria’s future with significant backward integration projects.“ According to him, they are strongly committed to their culture of building value for their customers and Nigeria

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

as a whole, while their growth demonstrates their dedication to meet the country’s need and drive towards sustainable economic growth. “The Q3 2020/21 results show significant improvements across all key segments and reiterates our commitment to meeting the growing needs of our consumers, as we continue to deliver sustainable value for investors. Our businesses in the agro-allied segment continues to show impressive growth in line

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

with projections across the oils and fats, protein and starch value chains. In the food segment, our volume-driven growth strategy remained underpinned by the resilience of our portfolio and the agility of our teams to adapt to the changing market dynamics.

To broaden our reach, we have continued to invest in innovation by developing new products and strengthening our route to market,” the company added.

FMN recently completed the

O F

issuance of our N29.9 billion bond (Series 4, Tranches A and B) in December 2020, which was oversubscribed by 405 per cent within the price guidance.

“Management remains focused on increasing operational efficiency with accelerated plans for cost optimisations across all business segments in the group to ensure competitive product offerings and profitability in the new operating environment,” the company stated.

2 7 / 0 1 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

36

˾ THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021

Thursday, January 28, 2021 Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Rose 1.0% dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ϵϴďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

1,881.11 points. This was on the back of buying interest in AIRTELAF (+1.1%), GUARANTY (+0.2%), and ZENITH

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

;нϬ͘ϲйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϰϳ͘ϴй ŽĨ the index.

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

1,881.11

0.98%

28.2%

88.1%

19.1%

3.6%

5.6x

930.00

1.1%

32.1%

9.2%

9.2%

7.7%

2.8%

16.3x

79.00

0.0%

10.7%

2.1%

2.1%

33.20

0.2%

9.0%

2.6%

2.6%

ƵůůŝƐŚ ^ƚƌĞĂŬ ŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ͙ ASI up 0.8% dŚĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŵŽŵĞŶƚƵŵ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĂƐ

3 Guaranty Trust Bank PLC 4 Zenith Bank PLC

ϰϭ͕ϵϯϬ͘ϳϯ points. This was on the back of sustained gains in AIRTELAF (+1.1%), MTNN (+2.4%) and WAPCO ;нϳ͘ϯйͿ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ƚŽ ϰ͘ϭй

Price Change Index to Date

Current Price

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 BUA Cement Plc

ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ϴϯďƉƐ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ

Price Previous Current Change Price Weightin YTD Change g

Ticker

5 Dangote Cement PLC 6 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC

ROE

ROA

27.9%

4.7%

P/E

P/BV

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

0.6x

4.9%

7.5%

1.2%

6.1%

44.1x

7.4x

2.3%

2.3%

4.8x

1.3x

8.4%

20.8% 26.2%

26.40

0.6%

6.7%

6.5%

6.5%

22.8%

3.1%

3.8x

0.8x

10.6%

236.00

0.0%

5.4%

-3.6%

-3.6%

30.8%

14.6%

15.8x

5.0x

6.8%

6.3%

175.00

2.4%

4.7%

3.0%

3.0%

189.4%

11.9%

18.1x

30.3x

4.0%

5.5%

1,505.00

0.0%

3.7%

0.0%

0.0%

83.0%

20.5%

29.3x

28.5x

4.7%

3.4%

29.50

7.3%

4.4%

40.1%

40.1%

6.5%

4.6%

20.5x

1.3x

3.6%

4.9%

9.35

1.1%

2.9%

10.7%

10.7%

16.8%

1.5%

3.0x

0.5x

7.0%

33.0%

8 Lafarge Africa PLC 9 Access Bank PLC 10 United Bank for Africa PLC 11 FBN Holdings Plc 12 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

9.00

2.3%

2.6%

4.0%

4.0%

13.9%

1.3%

3.8x

0.5x

10.8%

26.2%

7.60

2.7%

2.4%

6.3%

6.3%

13.5%

1.3%

3.7x

0.4x

5.1%

27.0%

61.00

0.0%

2.1%

8.9%

8.9%

6.6%

2.5%

45.2x

3.0x

2.9%

2.2%

44.00

0.0%

1.9%

-0.1%

-0.1%

25.8%

3.8%

5.6x

1.4x

5.5%

17.7%

to ƐĞƩůĞ at േ21.9tn. ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ

13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 14 International Brew eries PLC

6.05

-1.8%

1.5%

1.7%

1.7%

1.1x

34.00

0.0%

ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ϭϲ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϱϰϯ͘ϲŵ units and

15 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 16 SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

1.3%

30.8%

30.8%

0.9x

േϳ͘ϯďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ

17 11 PLC 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

ǁŚŝůĞ

ŵĂƌŬĞƚ

ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ

ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ

േ180.9bn

were TRANSCORP ;ϱϳ͘Ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ZENITH ;ϰϳ͘Ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ and FBNH ;ϯϴ͘ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ AIRTELAF (േ1.8bn), ZENITH (േ1.2bn) and GUARANTY (േϵϬϭ͘ϬŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

Bullish Sector Performance Performance across sectors under our coverage was posiƟǀĞ ĂƐ ŽŶůLJ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ůŽƐƚ Ϭ͘ϭй͕ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƐĞůůŽīƐ ŝŶ ARDOVA (-2.4%). The AFR-/ d ŝŶĚĞdž ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϳй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ĨŽƌ AIRTELAF (+1.1%) and MTNN (+2.4%). ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ AIICO (+6.3%) and WAPCO ;нϳ͘ϯйͿ drove the /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Ecobank Transnational Inc 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc 23 Sterling Bank PLC 24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 26 Presco PLC 27 Unilever Nigeria PLC 28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC 29 United Capital PLC 30 Guinness Nigeria PLC 31 Custodian and Allied Insurance 32 AIICO Insurance PLC 33 Total Nigeria PLC 34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 35 Wema Bank PLC

Goods indices higher by ϭ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϱй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ &ŝŶĂůͲ

38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 39 Beta Glass PLC

ůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƌŽƐĞ Ϭ͘ϯй

40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĂƐ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŽĨ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ FBNH ;нϮ͘ϳйͿ͕ UBA (+2.3%), DANGSUGAR ;нϮ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ CHAMPION (+9.8%).

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĞĂŬĞŶƐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ǁĂŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϳdž ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϴdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůLJ

ĂƐ

ϯϰ

stocks

advanced

against

STONE (-ϵ͘ϳйͿ͕ CAVERTON (-9.4%) and UNIVINSURE (ϴ͘ϳйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ tĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ƐƚƌĞĂŬ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ŝŶ ƐƵďƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ͘

1.2%

21.8%

21.8%

-0.3%

-0.2%

0.4x

7.8%

0.8%

9.4%

9.4%

16.4%

7.6%

13.6x

2.1x

3.4%

93.00

0.0%

0.8%

2.2%

2.2%

24.6%

16.0%

11.3x

2.6x

2.74

0.4%

0.7%

8.7%

8.7%

10.7%

1.1%

3.0x

0.3x

6.40

-2.3%

0.7%

6.7%

6.7%

0.5%

0.0%

63.9x

0.3x

20.60

2.5%

0.6%

17.0%

17.0%

30.8%

15.6%

7.3x

-2.8% 7.4% 8.9%

7.3%

32.8%

2.0x

5.4%

13.7%

1.6%

3.34

2.8%

0.5%

0.3%

0.3%

10.3%

1.2%

3.2x

0.1x

4.2%

31.5%

1.97

1.0%

0.4%

-3.4%

-3.4%

8.8%

0.8%

5.5x

0.4x

1.5%

18.2%

16.20

0.0%

0.4%

11.7%

11.7%

18.4%

5.8%

10.6x

3.5x

2.3%

9.5%

1.05

-3.7%

0.4%

16.7%

16.7%

-3.5%

-0.8%

0.7x

1.0%

-5.5%

74.50

0.0%

0.3%

5.0%

5.0%

18.5%

7.7%

2.4x

2.7%

13.50

0.0%

0.2%

-2.9%

-2.9%

-2.4%

-1.6%

5.60

0.0%

0.2%

5.7%

5.7%

-12.2%

-5.6%

5.90

7.3%

0.2%

25.3%

25.3%

85.7%

8.7%

18.50

0.0%

0.2%

-2.6%

-2.6%

-16.2%

-8.4%

14.2x

1.2x

2.3x

7.0% -2.1%

0.7x

1.8%

1.8x

8.5%

0.6x

-157.8% 44.4% -32.2%

6.00

0.0%

0.2%

2.6%

2.6%

13.9%

4.8%

5.6x

0.8x

1.30

9.2%

0.2%

15.0%

15.0%

25.0%

3.3%

2.8x

0.6x

143.00

0.0%

0.2%

10.0%

10.0%

10.7%

2.1%

17.3x

1.8x

4.7%

5.8%

20.60

5.6%

0.1%

15.7%

15.7%

3.2%

0.4%

7.7x

0.7x

8.1%

13.1%

2.9%

0.1%

1.4%

1.4%

6.8%

0.5%

4.1x

0.5x

-3.4%

0.0%

-100.0%

7.5%

6.7x

3.20

0.0%

0.1%

-13.5%

-13.5%

14.5%

2.6%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-21.3%

-6.4%

55.40

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

10.3%

7.2%

3.60

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

-10.4%

-5.0%

1.4x

7.8x

17.9% 35.9%

5.7%

24.6%

4.4%

15.0%

0.2x

72.6%

1.8x

-13.3%

0.8x

3.1%

12.8%

0.5x

1.9%

-20.8%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

C H IP LC

0.44

10.0%

T R A N SC OR P

57.2

-3.7%

GUIN EA IN S

0.22

10.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

47.2

0.6%

F ID SON

5.55

9.9%

FB NH

38.1

2.7% 2.3%

T ic k er

T ic k er

C H A M P ION

2.58

9.8%

UB A

32.5

LA SA C O

0.45

9.8%

M B EN EF IT

27.5

6.8%

27.2

0.2%

M ULT IVER SE

0.23

9.5%

GUA R A N T Y

A IIC O

1.30

9.2%

UA C -P R OP

25.6

-2.6%

R EGA LIN S

0.38

8.6%

M A N SA R D

22.5

0.0%

A F R IN SUR E

0.26

8.3%

UC A P

18.5

7.3%

C UT IX

2.26

7.6%

A C C ESS

15.1

1.1%

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 T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

1776.9

1.1%

1242.8

0.6%

0.65

-9.7%

A IR T ELA F R I

C A VER T ON

1.83

-9.4%

Z EN IT H B A N K

UN IVIN SUR E

0.21

-8.7%

GUA R A N T Y

901.0

0.2%

F T N C OC OA

0.55

-8.3%

M TNN

482.0

2.4%

C OR N ER ST

N IGER IN S

0.23

-8.0%

WA P C O

403.3

7.3%

VER IT A SKA P

0.24

-7.7%

NB

293.9

0.0%

A B CTRA NS

0.35

-5.4%

UB A

291.7

2.3%

284.7

2.7%

UN IT YB N K

0.69

-4.2%

FB NH

CHA M S

0.25

-3.8%

F LOUR M ILL

219.5

0.0%

-3.7%

D A N GC EM

219.1

0.0%

T R A N SC OR P

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

0.0% 0.0%

T o p 10 G a i n e r s

20 ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐ͘ CHIPLC (+10.0%), GUINEAINS (+10.0%) and FIDSON (+9.9%) were the top advancers ǁŚŝůĞ CORNER-

490.00 249.50

0.70

36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 37 Oando PLC

-28.7% 4.1%

1.05

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Adedayo Bakare | abakare@afrinvest.com

37

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company Lists N10bn Bond on FMDQ Exchange Goddy Egene

FMDQ Securities Exchange

Limited has approved the listing of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company Plc Series 3

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

N10.00 billion Fixed Rate Bond under its N440.00 billion Bond Issuance Programme on its

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 26Jan-2021, unless otherwise stated.

platform. The listing joins a host of other corporate securities issued on the FMDQ Exchange

Platform to kick off the year 2021 in addition to Total Nigeria PLC, Valency Agro

Nigeria Limited,, Mixta Real Estate PLC and Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 1.07 1.09 19.70% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 -12.96% 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 0.78% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.56 3.71 0.00% 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 N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.00% Paramount Equity Fund 16.76 17.08 4.83% Women's Investment Fund 136.68 138.28 2.71% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.23% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 132.92 133.84 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 109.14 109.14 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 N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Balanced Fund 189.49 190.91 0.96% FBN Halal Fund 110.92 110.95 -0.55% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.09% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 123.08 123.38 1.23% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 123.20 123.51 1.20% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 156.80 159.07 3.72% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,901.46 3,953.59 3.89% Coral Income Fund 3,320.59 3,320.59 1.67% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 2.92% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.81% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 129.65 130.18 19.96%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.19% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.87 2.94 -0.77% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 155.66 156.19 -1.00% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.45 1.47 0.69% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,129.31 1,129.31 0.58% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.65 1.68 7.11% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.32 12.43 9.66% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 1.50% PACAM Equity Fund 1.65 1.67 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.73 111.25 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 136.56 139.42 11.23% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 0.48% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 1.44% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.26% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 2.54% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 0.31% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 0.73% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.28% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -0.15% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.23 1.23 0.38% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 111.36 111.36 0.25% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.50 12.63 5.41% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.87 13.99 13.53% Zenith Income Fund 24.11 24.11 0.57% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.93%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

120.97

0.19%

52.50

0.19%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.35 127.14 100.70

13.45 127.14 102.60

0.99% 4.44% 1.35%

Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.24

4.28

11.78%

Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund

5.98

6.06

4.98%

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

18.05 1.00 20.53

18.15 1.00 20.73

10.19% 0.97% 0.04%

192.37

194.37

-13.51%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.05

13.11%

Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund

Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

38

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 •T H I S D AY

38

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

UN Seeks $100 Million to Aid Europe-bound African Migrants The United Nations appealed Wednesday for $100 million to help it boost support for refugees fleeing escalating conflicts and crises in Africa who embark on risky migration routes to Europe.

The UN refugee agency voiced deep concern over swelling displacement from conflicts in Africa’s Sahel region, as well as in the continent’s east.

This, it said, was driving more people to attempt deadly crossings of the Mediterranean Sea towards Europe, resulting in at least 1,064 deaths along the central and western crossing routes last year alone.

“UNHCR is seeking just over $100 million to enhance refugee protection in African countries en route to the Mediterranean,” the agency said in a statement.

“Offering safe and viable alternatives to the perilous journeys marred by abuse and deaths is the critical priority.”

Violence across the Sahel region, which stretches from Senegal through Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger,

Nigeria, Chad and Sudan, has forced around 2.9 million people to flee their homes, according to UN figures.

“With no prospects for peace and stability in the region, further displacement is highly likely,” it warned, stressing that “many continue to attempt risky sea journeys to Europe.”

Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR’s special envoy for the situation in the central Mediterranean, said the insecurity had already contributed to rising numbers of people trying to reach Europe.

“We would like to work more effectively on the alternatives to those dangerous journeys,” he told reporters.

Departures from Algeria, Tunisia and Libya soared by 141 percent last year, as nearly 71,000 people tried to cross the central Mediterranean route.

Only 36,000 made it across though — nearly all of them, more than 34,000, arriving in Italy, which saw arrivals balloon threefold from 2019.

At the same time, more than 23,000 people took the western route to the Canary

Islands last year — up 753 percent from a year earlier.

UNHCR pointed to factors driving many to try to make their way towards the Mediterranean, including dire conditions in neighbouring countries where many had already attempted to seek shelter and the economic impact of the Covid-19

pandemic.

The sea crossing itself is not the only dangerous part of the journey for many of the refugees and migrants trying to make their way to Europe.

“We hear harrowing firsthand accounts of brutality and abuses that refugees and migrants suffer along the routes towards the

Mediterranean,” Cochetel said.

“Many fall prey to traffickers and smugglers and are abused, extorted, raped, and sometimes killed or left to die.”

UNHCR said that the money it was seeking was part of an updated strategy aimed at increasing outreach, identification and assistance to

refugees along the migration routes.

“It is almost too late for us to intervene when people arrive in Libya or in the Western Sahara,” Cochetel said, insisting that investment in life-saving protection and support was needed “along the route, not only in coastal states.”

100 Jihadists Killed in French-Malian Offensive UK to Impose Hotel Quarantine for Returning Britons

L-R: Second Secretary Political, British High Commission, Abuja, Mr. Sarabjit Singh; Delta Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; Deputy Head of Mission, British High Commission, Lagos, Mr. Peter Thomas; and Secretary to Delta State Government, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, during a courtesy call on the governor in Asaba....recently

A hundred jihadists were killed this month in a joint Franco-Malian offensive in the West African country’s lawless centre, the Malian army said Tuesday.

“One hundred terrorists were neutralised, about 20 captured and several motorbikes and war equipment were seized” during the operation with France’s Barkhane force, which aims to eradicate jihadists in the Sahel region, the Malian army said on its website.

Mali has been struggling with a jihadist insurgency that broke out in the north of the country in 2012 before

spreading to the centre and then to Burkina Faso and Niger, often inflaming ethnic rivalries.

France, Mali’s former colonial ruler, first intervened in the country in 2013 to help drive back jihadist forces advancing on Bamako.

It now has 5,100 troops deployed across Africa’s arid Sahel region, as part of its Barkhane operation.

Earlier this month the French military said it had killed 15 jihadists near Mali’s border with Burkina Faso, where an al-Qaeda-linked group is active.

British citizens returning home from roughly 30 countries deemed at “high risk” from new coronavirus variants could soon have to quarantine in hotels, reports said on Wednesday.

Beefed-up rules will require the travellers to stay in hotels near airports for 10 days, according to the Times and BBC. Non-UK arrivals from the targeted destinations — which include South America, Portugal, Cape Verde and South Africa — are already barred following the discovery of two virus variants in Brazil and South Africa.

The 10-day quarantine will cost returning Britons £1,500 ($2,060, 1,697 euros), with meals served at the bedroom door

and security guards supervising stays.

Interior minister Priti Patel is due to make a statement in parliament later on Wednesday on the borders policy after a meeting of the government’s Covid-19 operations committee.

Housing minister Robert Jenrick told Sky News the government would be taking “further steps… to ensure that there is less flow of individuals” returning but gave no further details.

The Times reported ministers were divided between those backing the limited quarantine regime and those favouring a blanket policy requiring arrivals from all destinations

to self-isolate in hotels.

The main opposition Labour Party’s health spokesman Jonathan Ashworth said stricter border measures were long overdue and urged the government to consider a more comprehensive policy.

“There will be areas or countries across the world where there are mutations which haven’t been identified yet because they don’t have the same level of scientific ability,” he told the BBC. Britain has been the hardest hit in Europe from the pandemic, becoming only the fifth country in the world to surpass 100,000 deaths after recording another 1,631 fatalities on Tuesday.

With a more contagious virus variant sweeping the country since December, some health experts have warned it could register as many as 50,000 further deaths in the coming months.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed a third national lockdown in early January, shutting schools and nonessential shops, but critics have said the UK’s borders remain a soft spot.

The government earlier this month scrapped its “travel corridors” from countries with lower caseloads, and now asks all arrivals to show negative Covid-19 tests and then selfisolate.

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has announced that it will be facilitating a controlled, compassionate access programme for the use of the anti-parasitic drug, Ivermectin.

The drug which before now, was not approved for

human use in South Africa, has gained popularity recently for its supposed benefits for the treatment of COVID-19.

SAHPRA Chief Executive Officer, Doctor Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela, however, emphasized that there was not enough scientific evidence to

enable a regulator to make a decision on the drug’s use but the programme would be open to all patients, with the healthcare professional being responsible for the application and monitoring of the patient.

She also said there is anecdotal evidence of the current, illegal use

of the drug on the black market.

Meanwhile, the country is bracing up for the roll-out of a nationwide vaccination programme as the first batch, meant for healthcare workers is expected to leave the Serum Institute in India for South Africa on January 31.

Gambia Threatens to Name and Shame COVID-19 Rule-breakers South Africa Approves Controlled Use of Ivermectin for COVID-19 The Gambia’s health willing to cooperate with ministry has threatened to publicly name COVID-19 cases that flout health rules, warning of “drastic consequences” for virus miscreants.

Between January 20 and 25, 40 people who had tested positive for coronavirus either absconded from treatment centres or refused to go into isolation, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Travellers arriving in the West African state have also evaded health controls.

The ministry urged the rule-breakers to report to the country’s health services, warning that it would publish their identities otherwise.

“Anyone found not

COVID-19 regulations will have their names and identifying information published on the media and thereafter, drastic measures will be taken against anyone that is noncompliant,” the ministry said.

A former British colony of some two million people, The Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa.

Health officials in the nation have officially recorded 4,102 coronavirus cases to date, with over 125 fatalities.

The Gambia has struggled to enforce Covid rules before. In March, 14 travellers escaped from a hotel in the capital Banjul, where they had been quarantined as a precaution.

EU Regulator Clears Boeing 737 MAX for Flights The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said Wednesday that it had cleared the Boeing 737 MAX to fly again in European skies, 22 months after the plane was grounded following two fatal crashes.

“Following extensive analysis by EASA, we have determined that the 737 MAX can safely return to service,” EASA director Patrick Ky said

in a statement.

“This assessment was carried out in full independence of Boeing or the (American) Federal Aviation Administration and without any economic or political pressure,” the agency added.

The MAX was grounded in March 2019 after two crashes that together killed 346 people — the 2018 Lion

Air disaster in Indonesia and an Ethiopian Airlines crash the following year.

Investigators said a main cause of both crashes was a faulty flight handling system known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS. Meant to keep the plane from stalling as it ascends, the automated system instead forced the nose of the plane

downward.

The findings plunged Boeing into crisis, with more than 650 orders for the 737 MAX cancelled since last year.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered Boeing to revamp the jet and implement new pilot training protocols, before finally approving the plane for a return to service in November.

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 • T H I S D AY

39

40

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Nasarawa Counters Lai Mohammed, Says Boko Haram Regrouping in the State Repatriates foreign Fulani herdsmen

Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Comrade Dogo Shammah, yesterday countered a statement credited to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, claiming that Governor Abdullahi Sule was misquoted in some sections of the media that Boko Haram were regrouping in the state.

The state government has also disclosed that it had repatriated some foreign Fulani herdsmen alleged to have entered into the communities of Wamba Local Government Area of the state from Katsina and Zamfara states, respectively The Nasarawa State governor had last Friday while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the

Presidential Villa, Abuja said the dislodged Boko Haram insurgents were regrouping in his state, particularly on the Benue/Nasarawa border.

However, Mohammed was quoted as saying that Governor Sule refuted the report while speaking with him over the issue.

Mohammed, who was briefing the media last Monday in Abuja on the progress made by the federal government in the war against terrorism and banditry, said the governor claimed he was quoted out of context.

“I was also concerned over this and I called the governor and asked him. But he said it was a case of being quoted out of context,” Mohammed said.

But the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Dogo Shammah, when interacting with journalists in Lafia yesterday affirmed that the governor was quoted verbatim.

Ortom Tests Positive to COVID-19, Commences Treatment George Okoh in Makurdi

Benue State Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom has revealed that the latest result of his COVID-19 test has returned positive.

This followed results of the tests carried on most of the governor’s close aides which also returned positive in the last few weeks.

This was disclosed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, in a statement issued yesterday.

Though the governor said he had not shown any symptoms of the disease, he has already commenced treatment as prescribed by medical personnel.

He advised those who came in contact with him in the last couple of days to go for test.

The governor also stated it is equally important that those who came in contact with other persons who have tested positive for the virus should go for test to ascertain their COVID-19 status.

Ortom urged Benue people to continue to observe the protocol

for the prevention of the virus such as wearing of face masks, use of sanitizers, regular hand washing and physical distancing.

He encourage the people not to be afraid of going for COVID-19 test as only doing so would help in containing the spread of the disease.

For the second time since the pandemic broke out, the Ortom had gone into isolation, earlier this month.

This, according to his deputy, Mr. Benson Abounu, was due to contact with persons who tested positive to the virus, including an unnamed permanent secretary and his relatives.

Ortom had in July 2020 gone into isolation after his wife, son, and some aides tested positive to the virus.

Abounu had disclosed recently that the governor’s decision to go into second isolation, followed the medical report indicating that a certain permanent secretary and his family members tested positive.

802 Nigerian Returnees to Arrive from Saudi Arabia Michael Olugbode in Abuja

A total of 802 Nigerian returnees from Saudi Arabia would be received after the conclusion of arrangements by the federal government.

They are expected to land in batches, one, today and the other Friday (tomorrow).

A signed press statement issued yesterday by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda read: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that 802 Nigerian nationals returning from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Thursday 28, and Friday, January 29, 2021. The returnees will be conveyed via

two Saudi Arabian Airlines.

“The first batch will arrive on the January 28, at 11:50hrs, while the second will arrive January 29, at 10:35hrs.”

Aduda said the returnees will be received on arrival by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and other relevant MDAs. He revealed that on arrival, they will be quarantined at the FCT Hajj camp for a period of 14 days in line with established COVID-19 protocols.

Aduda promised that thereafter the Ministry will facilitate their movement to their respective home destinations.

The statement did not however reveal the reason for their return.

Shammah said: “The governor was quoted verbatim that this is what is happening in Nasarawa State. “Please, I am appealing for support from the federal might, and we stand by it.”

“That was exactly what he said.

But if for any reason the minister has anything contrary, we don’t know. “But as a government that was the position we took so that we can safeguard our lives and

property. If there is a different meaning to it, we don’t know.”

The commissioner recalled that that was what took the governor to the presidency soliciting for assistance to get rid of the insecurity facing the state in recent times.

“We are afraid because we have boundaries with a large landmass surrounded by forests where the incidents of banditry

are on the increase in our state on a daily basis,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the information commissioner also disclosed that the state government has repatriated some foreign Fulani herdsmen alleged to have entered into the communities of Wamba Local Government Area of the state from katsina and Zamfara States, respectively.

He narrated that the herdsmen

arrived the area at midnight.

According to him, investigation revealed that they were Fulanis from Zamfara and Katsina states, respectively.

He however said Governor Sule had provided logistics and security where the foreign Fulani herdsmen and their cows were forcefully loaded on trucks and taken back to where they came from.

COLLABORATING AGAINST INSECURITY...

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II (left), and President Muhammadu Buhari, during a visit of the monarch to the Presidential Villa, Abuja…yesterday

Ondo Amotekun Reads Riot Act to Herders The Commander of the Ondo State Security Agency (Amotekun Corps), Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, has said that herdsmen in government forest reserves who failed to register within the stipulated time will face the consequences.

Adeleye promised that herdsmen who do not have a genuine business in the state would not be registered This is coming as the herders have trooped out to register as directed by the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

Adeleye said the registration will assist the government to know and separate genuine

herders with genuine motive of doing business in the state from criminal elements.

After the registration exercise, those cleared will be issued licences to operate in the state and must abide by the rules of engagement as stipulated by the law of the land.

“As for those who want to register, we will profile the person, know his background, what he wants to do, and make sure it is legitimate, pays necessary fees to the government and he will be issued the necessary licence.

“Anybody who failed to

register within the stipulated time will face the wrought of the law.”

Also reacting, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Adegboyega Adefarati, said some of the illegal herders were already leaving the forest.

Adefatati added that the registration would be biometric.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the governor on Security Matters, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo, said the herdsmen had been moving out of the forest reserves in compliance with the order of the governor.

Dojumo said that many herders had indicated interest

in the exercise.

“We have just started, I am sure more would come.

The herders don’t have any alternative but to register and anyone who fails to register will not be allowed to operate in the state.

According to him, “The registration has to be total.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of MACBAN in the state, Alhaji Garuba Bello said the herders have started registering. Garuba asked government officials to visit the government forest reserves to see how herdsmen have been obeying the governors order.

NSCDC Arrests 29 Suspects in Kwara over Illegal Migration Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kwara State has arrested 29 Hausa youths who allegedly migrated from other Northern states to Kwara State for farming without any known address.

Also, Oodua Peoples Congress, New Era has raised alarm over suspicious movement of cattle herders into some Yoruba-speaking areas of the state, stressing that they have eventually out-numbered the inhabitants.

The migration of the youths from the other parts of the north who reportedly came for farming was particularly suspicious because this is not farming season and they don’t have any known place they were going.

The NSCDC however urged residents to be vigilant and report any strange and suspicious persons in the state to the appropriate authorities.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Spokesperson of NSCDC, Mr. Olasunkanmi Ayen last night in Ilorin and made

available to journalists.

Ayeni said that some cutlasses were recovered from the suspects, adding that they were being interrogated by the officers of the Command.

NSCDC said, “Today, officers of Nigeria Security and civil defence corps Kwara State Command picked some persons suspected to have migrated to the state from the northern part of the country.

“They were all picked around Amoyo town in Kwara State. As at the time of writing this report, none of these suspects has any known

resident here in kwara.

“The suspects claimed that they came into the state for farming but their claim is in doubt because this is not a farming season.

Some cutlasses were found on them but they claimed that those cutlasses are meant for farming.

“While the investigation is still going on, the state Commandant Ayinla Iskil Makinde urges the people to be more vigilant and report any strange movement or persons around them to the security agents”, the statement said.

EFCC Arrests Three Dubai-based Suspected Fraudsters, 14 Others in Lagos Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Office yesterday arrested three Dubai-based suspected internet fraudsters and 14 others in Lagos.

An EFCC statement said they were arrested on Tuesday,

January 26 and Wednesday 27, 2021 at different locations following series of intelligence detailing their alleged involvement in internet fraud and other related offences in Nigeria and abroad.

The Dubai-based suspects, who were arrested at Victory Nest Estate, Jakande, Lekki, Lagos are: Samuel Oluwasegun

Olayinka, Afeez Fajumobi and Olamide Olamilekan Olaofe while their accomplice caught with them includes Amao Oluwatobi, Amao Joshua, Adeyemo Olatunde, Solomon Emelike, Lawrence Nwodu and Philip Olamilekan.

Others suspects who were arrested at 41c, Muritala Eletu Osapa London, Lekki area of

Lagos on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 include Ogbenusi Ibrahim, Kelechi Collins Ndubuka, Sadiq Adewale, John Okafor Eze, Adewale Lateef, Hassan Mohammed, Tunde Lawal and Hussaini Adebayo.

The statement said the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are concluded.

41

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Negotiations on Sale of OMLs 86, 88 Still Ongoing, Says Chevron Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) yesterday disclosed that negotiations on the planned sale of its stake in Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 86 and 88, were still ongoing.

Those with knowledge of the transaction, however noted that the deal had been in the works for a while, with Conoil Producing Limited, emerging the preferred bidder for the 40 per cent equity held by Chevron Corporation.

However, it was gathered that part of the payment for the purchase of the assets located in the Niger Delta basin, having been acquired by Chevron following its deal with Texaco 22 years ago, had already been executed.

While OML 86 comprises the Apoi, Funiwa, Sengana and Okubie fields, and the most recent discovery, Buko, OML 88 contains the Pennington and Middleton fields as well as Chioma field.

Chevron had been trying to dispose the shallow water acreages with plans by the oil

giant to successfully divest of all the legacy shallow water assets it acquired when it purchased Texaco in 1999.

It had earlier between 2013 and 2015, sold its stakes in OMLs 83 and 85.

Chevron then re-launched sale of the 6,200 barrels of oil equivalent per day OMLs 86 and 88 last year, with the fields reported to have untapped potential of 55 million oil barrels and 2.8 trillion cubic feet of undeveloped gas reserves.

In an e-mailed response to THISDAY’s enquiries, the oil company confirmed that there were plans to dispose of the assets, but noted that the process was still ongoing.

General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Esimaje Brikinn, also confirmed the 40 per cent stake was what was being negotiated.

He said: “The divestment process for the sale of CNL’s 40 per cent interest in the Oil Mining Lease 86 (“OML 86”) and Oil Mining Lease 88 (“OML 88”) is still ongoing.”

Aside Chevron, other

DSS Probes Alleged Killing of Policeman By Operatives in Osun The Department of State Services (DSS) has begun a probe into the alleged killing of a policeman, Mr. Rauf Fawale in Osun State.

Corporate Fawale was alleged to have died at a private hospital in Osogbo, following a head injury sustained after being attacked by three DSS men around Oke Fia. The Osun State Police Command had said an operative of the DSS, David Olowoporoku, and two others were perpetrators of the alleged attack on the cop.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wale Olokode, had asked the Department of Security Services, Osun Command, to produce the DSS officers allegedly involved in the police officer’s killing.

In a statement titled, ‘Alleged attack on police corporal by DSS personnel in Osun State, DSS’ spokesperson, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said the agency would not condone any acts of indiscipline.

Part of the statement read, “The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to the incident that led to the death of a Police Corporal in Osun State. Consequently, the Service and the Police are jointly investigating the matter.

“The public should rest assured that it will not condone any acts of indiscipline or injustice. It, therefore, calls on the media and other stakeholders to exercise patience and await the outcome of the investigations.”

Banditry: Army Deploy 300 Female Soldiers to Kaduna-Abuja Highway John Shiklam in Kaduna The Nigerian Army has deployed 300 female combatant soldiers along the KadunaAbuja highway to check the incessant killings and kidnappings by bandits.

The Kaduna state Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, yesterday received the first batch of 100 of the female soldiers, known as Nigeria Army Women Corps (NAWC).

The female soldiers are to complement the existing operations along the highways and the environs.

Speaking while receiving the female soldiers along the Kaduna- Abuja road, El-Rufai, expressed the hope that with the deployment of the female soldiers, the insecurity along the highways will soon be a thing of the past.

He commended the military for deploying the troops and

assured of the continued support of the Kaduna State government.

El-Rufai said: “The problem of Abuja-Kaduna road will be over with these female soldiers because what a man can do a woman can do better. We believe in the capability of women in this state.

“I am confident the road will be the safest in Nigeria. We will do everything possible to make this operation comfortable.

“We are very happy to have you. Your presence will inspire others girls to join the military.

That is why we have female deputy governor to inspire other women”.

Earlier, in his remarks, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Kaduna, Major General Usman Mohammed, commended the Kaduna State government for support the military in its internal security operations.

multinational oil companies like Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Exxon Mobil had also been divesting from some of their assets, especially their onshore and

shallow-water oil facilities to local companies in Nigeria.

Last week three international oil companies operating in Nigeria sold their combined 45 per cent interest in Oil Mining

Lease 17 and related assets in the Eastern Niger Delta to TNOG Oil and Gas Limited, an integrated energy company founded by Mr. Tony Elumelu.

SPDC, Total E&P Nigeria

Limited and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited assigned their interests of 30 per cent, 10 per cent, and five per cent respectively in the lease to TNOG Oil and Gas.

MEMBERSHIP MOBILISATION...

L-R: Member, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Registration Committee, Senator Osita Izunasor; former Senate President, Dr. Ken Nnamani; and Secretary, APC Caretaker Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, during the inauguration of APC states registration chairmen, in Abuja … yesterday ENOCK REUBEN

Benue Raises the Alarm over Influx of Herdsmen Impounds 376 cows Benue State Government has raised the alarm of massive deployment of cows into the state.

The Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu who disclosed this to journalists in Makurdi said that 376 cows have been impounded for flouting the state anti-open grazing law.

Abounu said that state livestock guards apprehended the cows between January, 23 and 26, 2021, at Kasima in Guma Local Government Area of the state.

While stating that six

herdsmen have also been arrested and handed over to police, the Deputy Governor said that there is an influx of herdsmen on the bank of River Benue in Agatu and Gwer West axis of the state.

Abounu said that the state security council members, who deliberated on the presence of Boko Haram as declared by the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, swung into action and discovered the massive deployment of herdsmen who he said were fully armed.

According to the deputy governor, “While we were still investigating the declaration made by Nasarawa State Governor of the presence of Boko Haram at Benue/ Nasarawa border, we noticed massive deployment of herdsmen on the brink of River Benue.

“We also observed that a good number of these people are heavily armed, many of them with AK-47 riffle. We have been able to apprehend a good number of them in a village called Kasima in

Guma Local Government Area.

“On January 23, 156 cows belonging to these herdsmen were apprehended, and on the 26 of this month, another 220 cows were apprehended from the same vicinity.

“It was observed that the herdsmen were not ordinary herdsmen because they were heavily armed”.

Abounu who said that the anti-open grazing law has come to stay insisted that there is no way the state would abrogate the law.

Amnesty International Accuses FG of Cover-up in Lekki Shooting Amnesty International has accused the federal government of failing to bring to justice security forces suspected to be responsible for the crackdown on peaceful #EndSARS protesters at Lekki toll gate and Alausa in Lagos in October 2020.

The international human rights body said the government was trying to cover up the attack.

In a statement issued yesterday marking the 100 days of the attacks, the organisation said since the assault by security forces, the federal government has continued to target supporters of the protests,

adding that some have had their bank accounts frozen.

“The bloody events of October 20, 2020, when Nigerian security forces killed at least 12 people during the violent dispersal of peaceful #EndSARS protesters at Lekki and Alausa, have cast a shadow over Nigerian society that lingers to this day.

“Instead of bringing suspected perpetrators to justice and prioritising genuine police reforms, Nigerian authorities have been abusing their powers by subjecting those who supported the protests to intimidation, harassment and

smear campaigns,” said Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said Osai Ojigho.

She added that reports from across Nigeria indicate that the police violence is still widespread despite government promises of change.

“Amnesty International is concerned that the Nigerian authorities will continue their current ban on protests and reminds the government of its obligations under the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and international human rights treaties to - which the country is a state party -

to allow those who gather peacefully to express their views without fear of arrest or intimidation.,” she stated.

Amnesty International argued that international human rights law requires the Nigerian authorities to carry out prompt, thorough, independent, impartial and effective investigations into violations of human rights of the protesters, including the right to life, such as those committed at Lekki and Alausa, as well as in other parts of the country, and to identify and bring suspected perpetrators to justice in fair trials.

Ozekhome: Former Service Chiefs Failed Massively A constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has said the outgoing service chiefs failed massively.

The president on Tuesday appointed new service chiefs.

In a press statement issued yesterday, Ozekhome described the tenure of the former service chiefs as a “massive failure”.

He said the statement that the service chiefs “resigned” from service is a “soft landing window-dressing” done by the presidency.

“In more civilised countries, it would be announced that they had been outrightly sacked.

Yes, summarily dismissed, for abysmally failing to live up to expectations,” Ozekhome said.

“Had that been done in

Nigeria, they probably would have mobilised their gullible and naive kinsmen, kinswomen and the ubiquitous ready to be hired activists, mercenaries and emergency NGOs of sheer mercantilism, to protest and demonstrate on the streets of Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu, Uyo, Kaduna, Yola, Maiduguri, Benin, Asaba, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Oshogbo, Calabar and Owerri, denouncing the injustice and unfairness.

“Many Nigerians now suffer from the “Stockholm Syndrome”- a syndrome where an inexplicable, incongruous and unnatural love bond develops between a captive and a captor, between a victim and a tormentor, between a

slave and a slave master.

“But, Buhari’s more shocking aspect of the removal of the service chiefs from office, which has so far shocked Nigerians, is where he said he was congratulating them for their “overwhelming achievements” in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country.

“Enduring peace?

Is this genuine peace, or peace of cemetery or the graveyards? My dictionary tells me that peace means tranquillity, calm, calmness, law and order, harmony, placidity, rest, armistice, friendship, brotherhood, serenity, contentment, amity, reconciliation.

“Can any Nigerian hold the Holy Bible, Holy Quran, or piece of iron (depending on your faith), and swear, that we have any of the above? I think not. I believe not.

“If Mr. president meant “overwhelming achievements” in a massive failure, I would concur. But, if he meant overwhelming achievements in securing our country, I would not only disagree, I would say that is the unkindest oxymoron and irony, of all. I beg to differ, sir, Mr president.

The senior advocate said “the new service chiefs appear younger and lower in rank than their pot-bellied predecessors.

That is all we can say for now”.

42

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS XTRA

Herders’ Invasion: Ekiti is Safe for Business, Say Govt, Police Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The Ekiti State Government and the state Police Command have expressed commitment to step up security in every part

of the state to ward off any alleged invasion of the state by herdsmen.

They, however, urged the residents of the state not to panic over the rumours that

Ohakim: Defendant Asks Court to Vacate Arrest Order, Challenges Jurisdiction Alex Enumah in Abuja A defendant, Miss Chinyere Amuchienwa has asked a district of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Abuja Magisterial District in Jiwa, Abuja to vacate an earlier order of court for her arrest in respect of alleged threat to life of former Imo State Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim.

The defendant/applicant in a motion on notice marked: Motion 12/164/2020 is also challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain a case of Direct Criminal Complaint filed against her by Ohakim.

In the motion dated December 28 and filed December 29, 2020 by her lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Obasi-Nweze, the defendant, which anchored her request on five grounds, stated that Ohakim misrepresented facts in the matter so as to obtain the arrest order against her.

She also noted that the process through which the order was obtained was manifestly incompetent because it was headed in the district court, which according to her counsel was inappropriate, adding that it contained more than one offence contrary to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

She further argued that the defendant was not put on notice neither was there any motion exparte before the arrest order was made.

Amuchienwa therefore prayed the court for an order “setting aside the earlier order

of this court, obtained by fraud and misrepresentation, directing that the defendant be arrested by the Police and brought to court for arraignment”.

She also prayed for another order of the court declining jurisdiction to hear the matter as presently constituted and referred Ohakim’s lawyer to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee for appropriate sanction.

In a nine paragraph affidavit in support of the motion on notice the defendant/applicant claimed that Ohakim’s lawyer was aware of a suit filed against the complainant and yet went ahead to initiate legal action against the police and the defendant in a high Court of Imo State, an act she described as professional misconduct.

The Nigeria Police Force had in November last year arraigned Ohakim before a high court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama for giving false information against Amuchienwa, claiming that she threatened him with a gun.

“That you Ikedi Ohakim on or about the 23rd day of May, 2019 at Asokoro, did unlawfully give false information against one Chinyere Amuchienwa, that she threatened you with gun knowing it to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 140 of the Penal Code Law of the Northern Nigeria, 1968”, part of the charge read.

Man Runs Amok, Kills Wife, Child in Anambra David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka A 28-year-old man identified as Mr. Chukwuemeka Obijofa last Tuesday allegedly killed his wife and only child with a shovel.

Meanwhile, no reason has been given for his action, but it was gathered that he suddenly attacked the woman and his child with a shovel, killing both of them.

A local vigilance operative, whose name was not given, who tried to rescue the victims was also injured by the man, and said to be responding to treatment in the hospital.

The spokesperson for Anambra State Police Command, CSP Haruna Mohammed, who disclosed this, said the incident happened last Tuesday at Ofufe Nza village in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the state, and that the suspect has been arrested.

According to him, “On January 26, 2021, at about 7:45p.m., police operatives attached to Ozubulu Police Station arrested one Chukwuemeka Obijofa, 28, of Ofufe Nza village in Ekwusigo

LGA of the state.

“The suspect allegedly ran amok in circumstances yet to be ascertained, and attacked his wife, Mrs. Chisom Chukwuemeka, 26, and own child, Amanda Chukwuemeka, 4, both of same address, with a shovel.

“The suspect equally used same object and wounded a vigilante agent who tried to rescue the victims.”

Mohammed said police detectives visited the scene and rushed the victims to the joint hospital, Ozubulu, for medical attention where the two victims were certified dead by a medical doctor on arrival.

“The wounded vigilante is responding to treatment, while the corpses of the victims were deposited at the hospital’s morgue for autopsy,” he said.

The police spokesman said the state Commissioner of Police, John B. Abang, has directed the DPO of the station to transfer the case to the state CID in Awka for discreet investigation to unravel the actual cause of the incident

herders evicted from Ondo State’s forest reserves are allegedly invading the state in droves, which might spark tension.

The state government and the police restated that Ekiti State is safe for smooth running of businesses, as the government and security agencies are monitoring the situation as well as rejigging the security architecture to tame any criminal act.

A statement issued in Ado Ekiti yesterday by the state Police Commissioner, Mr.

Tunde Mobayo, urged the public to discountenance the rumours flying around alleging that herdsmen have relocated to the forests in the state following the eviction order from Ondo State forest reserves by the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

The statement said: “The command wishes to inform the public, particularly the people of Ekiti State, that it has neither sighted nor received any report of herders migrating or relocating to the state or its forest reserves.

“We assure the people of Ekiti State of adequate security, and we call on everyone to be calm, vigilant and report any strange or suspicious persons found in their area to the nearest police station.

“We are building up security at the borders, and we are also ensuring that no criminal enters Ekiti State, but only those with legitimate business.

“The police therefore appeal to the people to go about their businesses without fear. We are alive to our responsibility, and we will do everything possible

to make all our residents and their property safe.”

Also, in a statement made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti, the state Commissioner for Information, Hon. Akin Omole, described Ekiti as one of the safest states in the country in spite of the present security situation in the country.

Omole assured residents in the state of security of their lives and property, adding that relevant security agencies, including the state Amotekun Corps, are monitoring the state boundaries round the clock.

WORK IN PROGRESS...

L-R: Enugu State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Greg Nnaji; Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Enugu State, Mr. Femi Oyekanmi; Manager, Airspace Manager, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Mr. Iliya Yohana; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and Chairman of Enugu State Urban Renewal Committee; Mr. Chris Offor, during the inspection of the site for the construction of iconic Roundabout and Tower, at Opi Junction, in Nsukka Local Government Area …yesterday

Inclusive Governance Panacea for Agitations, Says Okowa

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has advocated for true democratic practice of all-inclusive governance in order to curb persistent agitations rocking the country as well as threatening Nigeria’s democracy.

Okowa made the remarks yesterday when he played host to the Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Dr. Muheeba Dankaka, who lead a team, including commissioners, on a courtesy call on him at the Government House in Asaba.

“In political appointments, projects allocation and employment into the civil service, there should be fairness and equity if the loyalty of the

people will be guaranteed,” the governor said.

He noted that the rest of the country must understand the challenging environmental peculiarities of compatriots living in the creeks and coastal communities in the Delta State.

According to Okowa, “Once there is equity and fairness in political appointments, civil service, social amenities and the development of our country, Nigerians would show loyalty to their country. The value of all-inclusive governance cannot be overstressed, but once there is a distortion in equity and fairness, you begin to see all manners of agitations.

“Nigeria is a multi-ethnic nation and there are lots of agitations, but we believe

that with your office and the people who represent various zones in the Federal Character Commission, it is actually a well thought-out plan to ensure that there is inclusive governance in our country.

“I believe that that is why the commission was set up to ensure inclusive governance in the areas of appointment into the civil service, the political class and equity and fairness in the distribution of social amenities in the development of our country.

“An implementation of these strategies will cause Nigerians to show loyalty to the country, and if at any point in time there is a distortion in the process of ensuring equity and fairness you begin to see

people agitating.”

The governor said: “Agitations at one point in time tend to weaken us as a country, and it creates an environment that will not encourage development.

“As a state rich in oil resources, there is the view of the people that we ought to have more than we have today beyond our 13 percent oil derivation.

“If you have an opportunity of going into the creeks, you will see that 40 percent of Delta State is actually in the creeks, and if you have the opportunity of ever going there, you will see that there is a different Nigeria in them because where they live, they have no means of transportation.

NCDC Confirms 200 Cases of Cholera in Benue

George Okoh in Makurdi

About 200 cases of cholera have been confirmed in four local government areas of Guma, Agatu, Gwer West and Makurdi in Benue State.

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) National Rapid Response team

leader working in the state, Dr. Ikechukwu Oradu, disclosed this when he visited the state Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu, at the Government House in Makurdi, where he informed him that findings revealed that the affected communities lack portable water, as the people were drinking directly from

the river.

Oradu appealed for boreholes and public toilets for the communities in order to stop open defecation as well as the provision of rapid diagnostic kits for testing of cholera in the state.

Abounu said the state Ministry of Health and Human Services

has treated those affected since the outbreak, which has stopped the mortality rate from escalating.

The deputy governor, however, said approval has been made for the construction of a world-standard testing laboratory for Lassa fever, COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in the state.

FG Announces Induction Course for New Ambassadors-designate Michael Olugbode in Abuja The induction course for the newly posted Nigerian ambassadors and their spouses has been scheduled for February 8 and 10, 2021.

A statement issued and signed by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gabriel Aduda, yesterday said the induction would prepare

them for the task ahead.

The statement stated in part: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the public that the induction course for career and non-career ambassadorsdesignate and their spouses has been scheduled for February 8 and 10, 2021.

“Following the approval of the posting of ambassadorsdesignate by President

Muhammadu Buhari, the ministry has designed an induction course tailored to prepare the appointed envoys for effective representation in their respective Missions and countries of accreditation.”

It explained that: “The aim of the programme is to acquaint the ambassadors-designate with the proper understanding of their roles and duties in the

implementation of Nigeria’s foreign policy agenda in line with the priorities of the federal government as well as promote and protect the national interests of Nigeria.

“The induction course is preparatory to the final departure to their various Missions, subject to the receipt of agreement from the prospective host countries.”

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

43

NEWSEXTRA

Zulum, Bello, Ngige Hail Appointment of New Service Chiefs Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri and Laleye Dipo in Minna Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum; his Niger State counterpart, Abubakar Sani Bello, and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, have welcomed the appointment of the new service chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Zulum promised to continue to support them in the ongoing fight against insurgency in the country.

The governor, who also expressed gratitude to the outgoing service chiefs, particularly the chiefs of army and air staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai and Air Marshall Abubakar Sadique, whom he said his government worked

more closely with in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists.

Zulum made the comment last Tuesday night in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, when some journalists sought his reaction to the president’s action.

According to him, “The outgoing service chiefs have been with us in the last six years, and during these eventful and challenging years, they immensely contributed to the ongoing peace building efforts through the fight against Boko Haram, as well as helped gratefully in other developmental efforts.

“Our rebuilding and resettlement efforts are only possible because of the combined efforts of Lt General Buratai as the chief of army staff and Air Marshall Sadique as the chief of air staff, and of course with

so much contributions from other service chiefs, intelligence bodies, police, paramilitary and volunteers.”

Meanwhile, the Niger State Governor, Bello, also lauded the appointments of new service chiefs, describing the action taken by Buhari as “a noble decision.”

In a congratulatory message to the new service chiefs, Bello challenged them to “evolve new

strategies that will adequately address the security challenges that have bedeviled the northern region and the country in general.

“Niger, a boundary state to the North Western region of the country, is suffering from banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling among other criminal activities with many lives already lost and many people displaced from their ancestral homes.

“The situation, if not curtailed, will breed an unimaginable humanitarian concern which will not be favourable to the society.”

Ngige, on his own, commended Buhari for the appointment of the new service chiefs, describing it as “a promise kept.”

A statement issued by the Ngige Media Office in Abuja said the appointment

is “a befitting new year gift to Nigerians,” thanking the president for harkening to calls by well-meaning Nigerians.

“Unknown to many, the president confided in few Nigerians that he would bring in new service chiefs by the turn of the new year. He has kept that promise, and leaves no doubt that he is a listening president,” the statement noted.

Dickson: Excellent Statesman at 55, Says Iworiso-Markson A former Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Bayelsa State, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, has felicitated with the Senator representing Bayelsa West, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson on his 55th birthday.

The former commissioner in a goodwill message, described Dickson as a man loved by God, going by the many battles he had fought and won.

He said Dickson’s meteoric rise to stardom from a very humble background could only be attributed to an unusual divine arrangement.

Iworiso-Markson stressed that Dickson is an excellent statesman who has distinguished himself at different levels of leadership,

noting that his tenure as governor of Bayelsa State was outstanding.

He praised him for the massive development Bayelsa witnessed during his tenure and for courageously standing as a strong voice for the Izon nation.

The former commissioner noted that at 55, the lawmaker representing Bayelsa West has achieved so much in life, including being the first to serve eight unbroken years as governor since the creation of Bayelsa State.

He prayed God to continue to keep him strong and healthy, to serve the country and that his visionary leadership continues to bring enduring peace and prosperity to Bayelsa State and the nation at large

Police Raid Anambra Baby Factory, Arrest Pregnant Women, Rescue Newborns

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Police in Anambra State have raided the home of one Melvina Uju Uba in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state, whose home was said to have been turned into a baby factory for the breeding and sales of babies.

THISDAY gathered that 10 ladies, including fives pregnant women, were among those arrested by the police, while five new born babies and three children were rescued from the home.

It was learnt that the home was use by haboured ladies to produce babies, who are later sold to those in need of children at various prices, depending on their gender.

The Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, Mr. Haruna Mohammed, disclosed the news of the arrest to journalists yesterday.

According to him, “On January 26, 2021 at about 7 a.m., following an intelligence report, police operatives attached to the SIB and Area Command in Oraifite, coordinated by the Area Commander, ACP Afolabi

Wilfred, raided the house of one Mrs. Melvina Uju Uba, located opposite the Nnamdi Azikiwe Orthopedic Teaching Hospital in Oba, Idemili South LGA of the state.

“The place was raided following credible information that teenage girls were being impregnated, given birth and the babies sold out by human traffickers. During the operation, five new born babies and three other children were rescued, while 10 women, including pregnant ones, were arrested.

“Meanwhile, the rescued children will be handed over to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Children’s and Women’s Affairs for proper care, while effort is being intensified to apprehend other accomplices in order to bring them to justice.”

Mohammed gave the names of the arrested women as Edna Nnadi, 37; Ujunwa Nweke, 25; Izuchukwu Uba, 24; Chinaza Ibeh, 19, and Peace Okon Effiong, 25.

Others are Gift Collins, 20; Chimkaso Kingsley, 25; Happiness Monday, 18; Chioma Okonkwo, 25, and Uchechukwu Nwankwo, 18.

PROVIDING INTERNET ACCESS...

Executive Chairman, Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA, Hon. Fuad Atanda-Lawal (right), and Founder/CEO, Fiam Wifi, Mr. Akin Marinho, at the official launch of free internet service in Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA, Lagos...recently

NUT Directs Teachers to Shun Edo Govt’s Directive on School Resumption Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Edo State yesterday directed all primary school teachers in the state to shun the February 1, 2021, resumption date proposed by the state government.

The leadership of the union gave the order in a statement issued in Benin-city by the state Chairman, Pius Okhueleigbe, and the Assistant SecretaryGeneral of the union, Moni

Mike Modesty Itua.

The NUT had on January 12, 2021, directed all primary school teachers and school heads to embark on an indefinite strike with effect from January 18 over the inability of the state government to pay them.

The union in reaction to the state government’s request to suspend the strike, noted that the state government has not demonstrated any reasonable commitment to resolve the issues presented to it.

The statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Establishments for Edo State, D.O. Enakhimion, and the Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, appealed to the union to suspend the ongoing strike and give considerable time to create opportunity for the government to dialogue with the union with a view to resolving the issues.

In its response, the NUT State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) in an enlarged meeting, resolved

that the indefinite strike which commenced on January 18, 2021, must continue.

The statement said the decision to continue with the strike was because the union was convinced that it had earlier allowed the state government eight weeks to have its demands resolved before the commencement of the strike.

It added that it was no longer disposed to request for additional days from the state government.

Nigerians in Italy Bemoan Shortage of Passports

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city

The National Union of Nigerian Association in Italy (NUNAI) has decried the inability and difficulty experienced by Nigerians in Italy in procuring international passports at consular office in Rome.

The association ascribed this to the heightened tension and strained relationship between the Nigeria Consular office and its citizens in Italy over the shortage of Nigerian passports The association, therefore, appealed for the urgent

intervention by the leadership of the National Assembly over the shortages so that relevant authorities in charge of issuance of passport can come to their aid.

The call was contained in a letter captioned: ‘NUNAI Passionate Appeal to Your Exalted Office’, which was signed by its National President and National Secretary of the body, Mr. Samson Hodge Iriakannu and, Deacon Nosa Osawaru respectively.

The letter, which was addressed to the leadership of the Senate, House of

Representatives and the Controller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), and made available to journalists in Benin-city, appealed for increase in the quantity of passports allocation to Italy in addition to the establishment of another consular office to ease congestion in Rome.

It lamented that large numbers of Nigerian citizens seeking to renew their passport have been ignored by the authorities which has led to daunting pressure and frustration among Nigerians seeking to regularise their stay

in Italy.

The association also added that it was playing a significant role with the Embassy on the campaign against human trafficking, drug peddling and other vices capable of tarnishing the image of Nigeria.

Part of the letter read: “The official record of Nigerians seeking greener pastures in Italy is over 180, 000 with a sizable number of professionals, and their contributions to the economic growth of Italy and Nigeria can’t be over emphasised.

My Abductors Sold Me to Herdsmen, Says Edo Immigration PRO Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The kidnapped Public Relations Officer of Edo State Command of Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs. Bridget Esene, who was released on Tuesday after spending two days with her kidnappers, said she was sold to suspected Fulani herdsmen after she was kidnapped on

Sunday in her church.

Esene, however, expressed happiness over her release but said she suffered in the hands of her abductors and that she was freed by police and vigilante groups.

She stated: “The armed men numbering five trailed me to my church at Ikhueniro near Benin City where I was kidnapped.

“I was forced into their car and driven out of the church premises by my abductors who later sold me to another set of kidnappers who are suspected herdsmen.

“I saw hell and I don’t wish my enemy such”.

She said that upon sighting the kidnapper, she had attempted to escape but was

intercepted at gunpoint by the hoodlums.

Esene stated that the armed men later took her into the forest and some other hardened kidnappers were on ground to receive her.

She added: “I was later sold to another set of gunmen who then took me deep into the forest.”

44

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

MDCN Act: Radiography Lecturers Condemn Bill before the Senate Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Radiography Lecturers Association of Nigeria has condemned what it described as attempt by some Nigerians to disrupt the existing harmony among healthcare professionals in Nigeria, by their misguided demand to have the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) Act amended in order to allow certain non-professionals to intrude into other professions outside their scope of study, specialisation and training.

National Publicity Secretary of the association, Prof. Anthony Ugwu alleged in a statement issued to journalists in Abuja that the these medical professionals have illegally been encroaching into the profession of Medical Laboratory Scientists, who had on several occasions defeated them in court, and deprived them of such illicit right of inordinate intrusion.

He described as crude and insulting, the presentation of a bill for the amendment to the National Assembly to allow medical doctors the legal rights to do the jobs of radiographers and medical laboratory scientists.

“Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN), established and empowered as a statutory regulatory body for Radiography and Medical imaging science practice in Nigeria as contained in December 17, 1987 Act. Similar sundry extant laws exist for all healthcare professions including physicians and dentists.

“It is therefore worrisome that greed, lust and stark unprofessionalism are propelling some Nigerians into making professional encroachments their stock in trade via some unwarranted amendments contained in the bill served to the parliament.

“As patriotic Nigerians, we have resolved to stand by our representatives and defend the integrity of our constitution and Acts governing our professional regulatory bodies to ensure that the carnal cravings by some doctors to usurp our powers and rights illegally does not see the light of the day,” he explained.

Ugwu noted that it will amount to legislative incongruity if the amended version of MDCN Act is allowed to stand, describing it as an overlap and

Olawepo-Hashim Seeks Compromise over Restructuring Ugo Aliogo Businessman and presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, Mr. Gbenga OlawepoHashim, has suggested the need for compromise and consensusbuilding as solutions in the raging debate on restructuring in the overarching interest of unity, peace, security and development of the country.

Olawepo-Hashim, a known voice in the nation’s political and economic discourse, premised his prayers on the fact that while the federal government cannot continue to do nothing about devolution of power especially on clear items, that are practicable and achievable, the voices on the other sides too cannot continue to insist that every item on their shopping list must be

disposed off before the next election.

According to him, a compromise and consensus driven by the federal executive, leadership via constitutional amendment bill, on particularly sections dealing with the concurrent, exclusive and residual legislative lists is immediately possible, especially in such areas where there already exists a clear national consensus.

Olawepo-Hashim went further: “It is time for us to agree on things that are agreeable and continue to discuss things that are not clear but may become clearer in the future. Compromise is never a sign of weakness but a noble act that springs from the depth of wisdom, honour and kindness.”

NANS Backs NDLEAs Proposed Drug Test for Students The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has applauded the policy proposal by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for students to undergo drug integrity test before admission into the university.

The President of NANS, Sunday Asefon, expressed the support for the initiative during a solidarity visit to the new Chairman and Chief Executive of the agency, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (rtd) yesterday in Abuja.

According to Asefon, “We support the drug test policy,” stating that drug has done more harm than good to the Nigerian students.

Asefon, who gave instances of students who undermine danger under the influence of

drugs, noted that the initiative was not only preventive but would encourage others to stop the habit knowing that the authorities would detect it.

He said: “We do not want Nigerian students to continue to die of drugs.

“We are here therefore to congratulate you and declare our support for your nascent administration. From your antecedents, we can now go to sleep with our two eyes closed with the assurance that Nigeria is in safe hands on drug control issues.”

The president of NANS added that most of the drug problems affecting the students take place when they might have left their homes and started schooling.

wanton scandal on the national concourse.

According to him, such undue politics is against the overall welfare of, and care for, patients, who are the universal beneficiary of all judicious medical and health practice.

“The Radiographers Registration Act empowers the Radiographers Board to

regulate radiography practice in Nigeria and this is what Article 9 of Part ll of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria bill is trying to usurp. The mention of Associations in the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria Act and the prenatal death bill also contravene the Nigerian Constitution, which gives us right to freedom of association

as contained in Section 40.

Someone can be a qualified nurse, radiographer or physician but may not want to join the professional association. This should not deny the person any statutory benefit or opportunity to serve our country. Individuals should be appointed by either the minister or the council to represent their professions and

not the associations,” Ugwu explained.

According to him, “these actions are geared towards professional profiling, humiliation, subjugation, violation of the radiographers’ constitutional and professional right, and would impugn patient care which is the main focus of healthcare worldwide” .

OBSERVING PROTOCOL...

Former President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (left), and former Governor of Kano State, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, during Saraki’s condolence visit to the former governor over the recent passing of his father, in Kano…yesterday

Ndume Seeks Time Frame to End Insurgency

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Chairman of the Senate committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to give the newly appointed service chiefs a time frame to address the insurgency and other security challenges facing the nation.

Ndume who spoke with journalists stated that as an individual he believed that the war against the terrorists being fought by the military can be

concluded within the next six months.

He also canvassed for proper coordination of the activities of the new crop of service chiefs for better results.

“The President should give the service Chiefs a timeline since they now have everything they need. If they don’t perform as expected, government should not waste time to sack them. I believe that if the new set are given what they need, to execute the war, they would tackle

insurgency, banditry and all forms of criminality. The National Security Adviser (NSA) should monitor and coordinate their activities. He should report to the President on daily or weekly basis so that there would be a timeline.

“I believe that the insecurity war could be brought to an end within six months if the current crop of service chiefs is given what they needed. There must be a timeline. “There must be a work plan for insurgency and

work plan for the banditry.

The President should ask the Service chiefs to give him the time within which they would end the insurgency and the time provided will determine their tenure. If they don’t perform, government should not waste time in replacing them. The war could be brought to an end before the raining season start.

“Therefore, the beginning of the raining season should be the target for the issue of insurgency especially in the North East”.

Igbo Group Demands Appointment of New Police IG from South-east Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo General Assembly Worldwide has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a successor to the outgoing Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu, from any of the five states of the South-east geopolitical zone.

The Igbo group was reacting to the appointment of military service chiefs with none of them from the South-east zone.

It argued that since the police IG, Adamu, is due to retire in February, it would

be appropriate to choose his successor from the zone.

President Muhammadu Buhari had last Tuesday appointed new service chiefs after the former ones resigned their appointments.

The new service chiefs are Leo Irabor, chief of defence staff; Ibrahim Attahiru, chief of army staff; Awwal Gambo, chief of naval staff, and Isiaka Amao, chief of air staff.

According to the PresidentGeneral of the Igbo group, Onuorah Onyeachonam, in a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday since

President Buhari did not appoint any one from the South-east region as service chief, he should use the appointment of the new police chief as a compensation to the zone.

“The appointment of Adamu’s successor should come from senior police officers from the zone,” adding that if there is none qualified, there should be a promotion to enable a southeastern become the police chief.

“There is no Igbo man among the newly appointed service chiefs. Those who claim

that the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen. Leo Irabor, is an Igbo man should tell us if Irabor is an Igbo name,” he said.

Accordingly, Onyeachonam said: “As the Inspector General of Police is due for retirement, we call on the All Progressives Congress (APC)- led federal government to consider an Igbo man for the position of the IG of police.

“If there is no Igbo man or woman qualified for the job of the IG, promote the Igbo officers next in line in the Police Force to fit in.”

Jonathan Tasks Mothers on Better Society

Onungwe Obe in Yenagoa

Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has reminded mothers of the sacred duty to bring up children that will reform the society.

The former president stated this yesterday at AnyamaOgbia, Bayelsa State, where he paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Madam Molly Ogoun.

He said he was appreciative of the crucial role of women in

child upbringing, and would like mothers to pay adequate attention to their parenting roles.

The former Nigerian leader said the foundation of a good society is laid from the home.

The late Ogoun, a community leader, died in November 2020.

Two of her children, Christian priests, are friends of Jonathan.

He praised the late matriarch of Ogoun family for living an exemplary life.

Jonathan called on the children to emulate their late

mother, who he described as a devoted Christian that dedicated her life to the service of God and humanity.

In his condolence message to the family, he said: “I commiserate with the Ogoun and Egirani families on the demise of your dear mother, who passed away at the age of 82 years.

“Mama was a devoted Christian who dedicated her time to serving God and humanity. Her honesty, kindness

and dedication to good causes endeared her to many in her family and community.”

Also, Chief Benson Agadaga, an ally of Jonathan, who accompanied him on the visit, described the late Ogoun as an epitome of peace and a disciplinarian.

Agadaga, who is the Chief of Staff to Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, noted that mothers all over the world have been support bases to their children and families.

45

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Lagos CP Cautions Traditionalists against Fortifying Cultists The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has warned traditionalists in the Ikorodu Local Government Area of the state to stop fortifying cultists and criminals in the area.

Odumosu gave the warning yesterday at the 2021 Ikorodu Town Hall Meeting on Security.

Odumosu said the security situation in Lagos has been commendable except in some areas particularly in the Ikorodu axis where the situation has become worrisome due to a spike in cases of cultism, gangsterism, traffic robbery, ritual killings, amongst others.

He said 242 armed robbers

and cultists were arrested in the local government area within the last six months while 28 arms and 120 ammunition were recovered.

The police boss said 192 cultism cases and 18 murder cases were also recorded in the period under review while 25 robbery incidents were foiled.

On the way forward, Odumosu said, “The Local Government Councils in Ikorodu must occupy the frontline in combating crimes in the area. Their constitutional responsibilities cannot be jettisoned in the fight against cultism and crimes in general.

“The traditional institution in the division must be up and doing in condemning

Appeal Court Dismisses Suit Filed By Olujimi-backed PDP Faction against Fayose’s Group Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Appeal Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, yesterday dismissed the suit filed by the caucus loyal to the Senator representing Ekiti South senatorial district, Biodun Olujimi over the congress that produced the present Ward Executive Committee members of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) in Ekiti State.

After the violent Congress in Ekiti, the Chief Uche Secondusled National Working Committee had recognised the ward and local government executives loyal to Governor Ayodele Fayose , from where Hon. Kolawole had emerged as the State Chairman.

Miffed by the outcome, those loyal to Senator Olujimi had approached the court to seek redress.

One Oladimeji Samson Olalekan and others, had filed a motion ex-parte, seeking an order of the court, restraining

the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) from announcing, publishing, and recognising any list as result of election of Ward Executives and three ad-hoc delegates held on March 7, 2020.

They also sought an order restraining the party from acting on, or making use of the names of winners of the Congresses for the purpose of the Local Government, State and Zonal Congresses.

At the lower court, Justice Uche N. Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, had on Friday, July 17, 2020 dismissed the suit, describing it as undoubtedly not justiceable as same is within an internal affairs of the PDP, citing UKUT vs. APC. Delivering judgment in the Appeal Number CA/ EK/57/2020, the Appellate court upheld the decision of the trial Court and resolved all issues against the Appellant, Oladimeji Samson Olalekan.

the activities of the bad boys (cultists), instead of supporting and celebrating them and their criminal acts.

“The members of the public, especially landlords must key into this fight against insecurity in Ikorodu by screening those to be

accommodated or harboured in their houses.

“The traditionalists and traditional worshippers in this area must stop promoting and protecting the criminals in Ikorodu axis and Lagos State in general. The ideas of fortifying the bad boys and

providing native charms for them are counterproductive to our security architecture in this area. Their powers must be used to assist us not to jeopardise our efforts.

“The religious bodies must use all their platforms, links and ideological perspectives

to promote peace and security in the state and Nigeria at large. The idea of preaching prosperity at the detriment of salvation is counterproductive to security of lives and properties in our contemporary society.”

DEEPENING DEMOCRACY...

L-R: Director, Kukah Centre, Mr. Atta Barkindo; Board Chairman, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), Dr. Abiola Akiyiode; Country Director, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), Mr. Saray Jah; Executive Director, KDI, Mr. Bukola Idowu; and Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Interpol, AIG Umar Garba, during the public presentation of the final report for 2020 Edo and Ondo ENOCK REUBEN states governorship elections in Abuja … yesterday

Adams: 1999 Constitution is Satanic, Wicked The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has called for the correction of the 1999 Constitution for peace to reign in Nigeria, describing the document as wicked and satanic.

Speaking yesterday on a live TV programme, Adams insisted that the constitution

is a wrong structure which Nigeria is running on.

“The major problem now is that Nigeria is being run on the basis of a wrong structure and on the basis of a wrong constitution,” he said.

“The constitution of 1999 is wicked, it is satanic. If we don’t correct it, I can’t guarantee that

peace will be in this country.”

Speaking on the notice issued by the Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, which required herdsmen to vacate the forest reserves in the state, Adams said: “If the Governor did not give the ultimatum, would the federal government had agreed to call

the governors’ forum to hold a meeting? So, as a leader, as a chief security officer, you must take the bull by the horn.

“If he did not give that notice, they won’t have allowed the Governor to ban open grazing.

They won’t even know the authority he has as a state governor,” he said.

Court Admits More Evidence in Naira Marley’s Fraud Trial A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has admitted more exhibits in evidence in the ongoing trial of hip-hop singer Azeez Fashola, popularly known as ‘Naira Marley.’

Justice Nicolas Oweibo in his ruling yesterday admitted the Compact Disk containing the

phone analysis of the singer, tendered in evidence by the second prosecution witness, Mr. Anosike Augustine on the ground that the iPhone which was analysed has been admitted in evidence before.

The judge overruled the objection of Naira Marley’s

counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN) and admitted the CD in evidence marked exhibit ‘F.’ “l have considered the agreement of both parties as well as the ground for the objection, I consider the CD to be admissible in view of the nature of this case and the evidence of other

prosecution witness,” Oweibo said.

The trial of the case could not proceed because the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, was not in court and sought an adjournment.

The adjournment was not opposed by the EFCC’s counsel, Bilkisu Buhari.

Adeyemo, popularly known as Igboho for his his efforts towards liberating the community and the Ibarapa people from the insecurity created by criminal herdsmen.

The community also lauded Governor Seyi Makinde; Inspector General of Police,

The Chairman of Igangan Community Council, Mr. Segun Okedeji and President, Igangan Development Advocates, Mr. Wale Oladokun, said in a statement yesterday that the heroic struggle led by Igboho had brought respite to the people.

The statement read, “We,

Authority, in conjunction with the chiefs and the entire youths of Igangan under the umbrella of the Igangan Development Advocates wish to express our unalloyed appreciation to Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Igboho for his historic and heroic action towards restoring peace

Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, who was ably represented by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mrs Ngozi Onadeko, at the recently concluded security meeting in Igangan, which was aimed at engendering peace in the much troubled Ibarapa zone.”

Two Fraudsters Arrested Herdsmen Menace: Igangan Community Hails Makinde, Sunday Igboho in Akwa Ibom over The Igangan community in Oyo Abubakar Adamu; and the the entire people of Igangan in Igangan and Ibarapa land Fake Bank Alert State has expressed gratitude to Commissioner of Police in Oyo community in the Ibarapa North“We equally want to express Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday State, Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko.

West Local Council Development our hearty gratitude to the

Okon Bassey in Uyo

The police in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, have arrested two fraudsters over fake bank alert and a stolen vehicle.

The police in a statement issued yesterday, signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Odiko MacDon, said the two fraudsters were nabbed in different operations carried out by the state police command.

He explained that the police command on January 18, 2021, relying on credible information that a Lexus 330 car was bought with fake bank alert at Festac Town in Lagos State, trailed the car to Uyo through Abia State.

MacDon said in a coordinated operation, and utilising the instruments of intelligence-driven policing

by the Anti- Cultism Unit of the police command, arrested one Emeka John Akuma of Abia State.

The fraudster, Akuma, the police said, was arrested on IBB Road by Ibom Hall in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

The state police revealed that Akuma was arrested while driving the car with a fake number plate: Lagos AKD 230 GQ, and the vehicle was recovered.

Also, the PPRO said on January 17, 2021, operatives of the same unit apprehended a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator, Moses James Asuquo, 26.

He said Asuquo was arrested for fraudulently using fake alert to defraud Markson Mark Wisdom and Edidiong Samuel Robert of the sum of N200,000 at his POS stand at Udoudoma Avenue in Uyo.

MACBAN Can’t Represent Fulani in Nigeria, Says Group Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Gan Allah Fulani Development Association (GAFDAN) has faulted the agreement reached between the South West Governors and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Akure, Ondo State.

The Fulani group clearly said that the Miyetti Allah cannot represent the interest of the entire Fulani in Nigeria.

In a press statement signed by its National President, Alhaji Sale

Bayari, the group disassociated itself from the agreement, saying it amounts to “shaving one’s head in his absence”.

According to the Fulani group, “As a law-abiding association, we shall not go into any unlawful, unconstitutional, and repressive agreement with any governor, president, or government, without reference to the ground norm law of our country, which is the constitution”.

The group contended that it was the same law that “established the GAFDAN as well

as the MACBAN as voluntary, independent bodies that can sue and be sued as corporate entities”.

GAFDAN said that Miyetti Allah lacks the locus standi and every moral authorisation to speak for it or enter into any agreement with anybody or group on its behalf.

Thy described the agreement entered into by Miyetti Allah with the South West Governors as disturbing, and a betrayal, saying the resultant emergency national executive meeting of GAFDAN held in Jos resolved, among

other issues , that membership of Miyetti Allah is voluntary just as the body is an ordinary corporate citizen registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

The group stressed that “both the governors and MACBAN did not have the consent, authority, or the approval of our own association or its members as herders to go into any such contract or agreement, on issues bordering on our members’ lives and means of livelihood as Nigerians”.

46

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

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

Super Falcons, Two Other African Teams for Turkish Women’s Cup Nigeria’s Super Falcons, and two other African women’s teams of Equatorial Guinea and Zambia are expected to feature in the 2021 Turkish Women’s Cup scheduled to Hold next month in Antalya, Turkey.

The three African teams, including Olympic-bound Copper Queens of Zambia will be part of the eight nations to vie for glory in the fifth edition of the

invitational tournament to be held between February 15 and 24.

In 2020, Ghana and Kenya competed for the first time at the event also known as the Alanya Gold City Cup, with the Black Queens finishing third behind second Hungary and winners Chile.

Besides the three African sides, other potential participating countries are Ukraine, Serbia, India,

Bulgaria, Uzbekistan, barring late withdrawals and postponement due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

While the 10-day tournament will serve as a pre-Olympic test for Bruce Mwape’s side, the Super Falcons and the Nzalang Nacional will be gearing up for 2022 Africa Women’s Cup

of Nations.

The African trio are also appearing for the first time and will aim to become the first African nation to win the tournament after Poland in 2017, France B twice (2018 and 2019) and recently Chile.

Goal.com reported that Nigeria, Zambia and Equatorial Guinea along

with Uzbekistan are zoned in the same group for this year’s event.

This means the competition will set the African queens up against two of their group stage foes - Zambia and Equatorial Guinea at the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Ghana.

The Copper Queens and

Nzalang Nacional will be hoping to avenge 4-0 and 6-0 defeats respectively at the hands of the Super Falcons.

The Super Falcons will launch their campaign against the Copper Queens, while Nzalang Nacional will face off with Uzbekistan in their respective opening matches at Gold City Sports Complex.

NPFL: Kano Pillars Secure Maximum Points Against Rivers Utd Okagbue targets top-six finish for FC IfeanyiUbah Duro Ikhazuagbe Nyima Nwagua’s 19th minute goal earned Kano Pillars maximum points in their rescheduled midweek clash with Rivers United FC at the Ahmadu Ballo Stadium in Kaduna.

The win lifts the Sai Masu Gida to the fifth spot of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) while Rivers United who were hoping for a win to return to the top of the log remain at second spot two points behind leaders Nasarawa United.

Meanwhile, FC Ifeanyiubah who have had their worst ever start to the NPFL season with just one win after six matches remain desperate to finish the 2020-21 season in the top six.

Head Coach of the Anambra Warriors, Uche Okagbue, believes FC IfeanyiUbah are still capable of finishing the season in the top six as long as they improve on their away results.

The Nnewi-based club currently sit 18th on the league standings, two points from safety after six rounds of matches.

The team have lost in all their last 15 away matches - a run currently bettered only by Adamawa United’s 24-games losing streak on the road.

Speaking after Sunday’s1-0 defeat at Kwara United, Okagbue acknowledged the team’s need to improve their away performance, “this is a matter of picking points away and we will do it,” he said.

“We are going to end the season amongst the top six.

When you have players, you have to give them confidence to play and make them believe they can do it and they will do it before the season ends,” he concluded.

FC Ifeanyiubah will next host Wikki Tourists for one of Matchday 7 fixturea in the 2020/21 NPFL season this weekend.

‘Sportsville Awards: Covid-19 Protocols Will be Observed’ One of the organisers of praises on all the recipients the forthcoming Sportsville Awards, Tony Ubani, has assured stakeholders that the full protocols of Covid-19 will be duly observed at the event.

The maiden Sportsville award is scheduled to take place at Ibis Royale Hotel, Ikeja on Saturday with the red carpet expected to kick off at 4pm.

Ubani stated that the venue of the event was “big enough to accommodate about 500 guests but the arrangements has been made for only about 40 guests expected to wear their nose masks and will apply the hand sanitizer before they enter the hall.

“We are aware of the situation all over the world and we will fully comply.

We have told the recipients to come with only two or three persons.”

Ubani however showered

for their various roles in lifting sports in the country.

“These are deserving awardees we are truly proud of. All of them have worked so hard to lift sports to where we are currently in the country, he added.

The some awardees to be honored include; Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Philip Shaibu, President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, NBBF boss, Engr Musa Kida and NOC President, Engr Habu Gumel Others are; NWFL Chairperson, Aisha Falode, Enyimba Chairman, Felix Anyansi Agwu, the CEO of Monimichelle Group, Mr Ebi Egbe, veteran sports journalist cum media icon, Dr Larry Izamoje of Brilla FM and Super Eagles number one supporter, Dr Rafiu Ladipo.

Super Falcons are primed to feature in the Turkish Women’s Cup next month

Peter Obi Mourns Former Eagles’ Goalkeeper, Joe Erico The Vice Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019 elections, Mr Peter Obi, has expressed how pained he is to hear of the death of former Green Eagles Goalkeeper, Joe Erico.

Erico was part of the coaching crew that led Nigeria to qualify for the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Mali as well as the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan.

He reportedly died in Lagos, at the age of 72 years after a brief illness.

In his condolence message to the widow of the former Julius Berger FC gaffer,

Obi described Erico as a committed sportsman who served the nation well, both as a player and as a coach.

The former governor of Anambra State noted that Erico’s football exploits that earned him the nickname “Jogo Bonito” will never be forgotten.

Obi condoled with the family, friends and well wishers of Erico, urging them to accept Erico’s death as the “Will of the Almighty, which cannot be questioned”. He further expressed his sincere condolences to the Nigeria Football Federation and football lovers in Nigeria, praying God to give them

Late Joe Erico

the fortitude to bear Erico’s death.

“May God who has called

Joe Erico home, grant him eternal rest in heaven”, Obi concluded in supplications.

Top Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A Games Live on GOtv Max Top clashes of the English Premier League, La Liga and Serie A games scheduled for the weekend of 29 January to 1 February 2021 are expected to be broadcast live on SuperSport GOtv subscribers have been assured that this weekend’s meeting of Manchester City and Sheffielld United at 4pm on Saturday, will be shown live on SS Select 2.

Manchester City will back themselves for another three-point haul when they host Sheffield United. At 9pm, Southhampton vs Aston Villa will also air live on SS Football (channel 31).

“SuperSport is the only place to get English commentary from the legendary La Liga, where the pick of matches for this round sees Barcelona host Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou on Sunday

31 January at 9pm live on SS La Liga (channel 32),” observed a statement from the broadcast outfit.

Elsewhere in the Spanish top flight this Satuday, champions Real Madrid will back themselves in a home clash with Levante, airing live on SS La Liga (channel 32) at 4:15pm, while title favourites Atletico Madrid will feel similarly confident for

Sheffield Utd Stun United at Old Trafford Bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United caused a stunning upset last night with a 2-1 Premier League victory over title-chasing Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side needed three points to regain top spot from rivals Manchester City but were lacklustre for

large periods of the contest as the away side picked up only their second win of the season.

The Blades took a shock firsthalf lead through Kean Bryan’s flicked header, which went in off the far post following John Fleck’s corner.

Anthony Martial had a goal

ruled out for offside as Harry Maguire was adjudged to have fouled Aaron Ramsdale, but the United skipper headed in the leveller just past the hour mark.

The visitors responded with 16 minutes remaining as Manchester United failed to clear and substitute Oliver

their trip to Estadio Ramon de Carranza, to tackle Cadiz. This clash will air live at 4:15pm on SS La Liga (channel 32).

The round also has a potential thriller between Villarreal and Real at Estadio de la Ceramica on Saturday night by 9pm. As ever, the ‘Yellow Submarine’ will look to Nigerian star Samuel Chukwueze to spark their attack into life.

Burke side-footed in via a deflection off Axel Tuanzebe for their first win over the home side since the opening day of the newly formed Premier League in 1992.

Chris Wilder’s side remain bottom, 10 points off safety, while Manchester United remain second.

47

THURSDAY JANUARY 28 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

ThursdaySports

UEFA Insists European Championship to Hold in 12 Cities as Planned UEFA President, Aleksander Ceferin, yesterday reiterated the ruling body’s commitment to holding the rescheduled

European Championship this year in 12 cities across the continent as originally planned.

The 24-nation event,

Tuchel Begins Era at Chelsea with Draw Against Wolves Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea reign got off to a frustrating start as Wolves secured a point in a drab stalemate at Stamford Bridge.

Tuchel, appointed boss on Tuesday following the sacking of Frank Lampard,took his place in the dugout after conducting one training session with his new team.

But the German was given an indication of the huge challenge facing him as his new team struggled to carve out chances against a Wolves side short of confidence and

which was due to take place in June-July last year, was postponed by 12 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.The tournament, scheduled to start on 11 June, is to be played in 12 cities across Europe and Ceferin is also optimistic that fans will be allowed inside stadiums again.

“I’m optimistic that things are highly likely to be very different with regard to the virus as we move closer to the tournament,” Ceferin said in a statement.

“It’s important that we give the host cities and governments as much time as we can to formulate an

accurate picture of what will be possible come June and July.

“Fans are such a big part of what makes football special... We must allow ourselves the maximum space to allow their return to the stadiums.”

UEFA said the deadline for the submission of plans

to accommodate fans inside the stadiums was moved to early April.

Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said last week that Ceferin was weighing up whether to stage this year’s tournament in one country due to coronavirus concerns.

without a top-flight win since 15 December.

Rui Patricio produced good saves to keep out Antonio Rudiger’s header and Callum Hudson-Odoi’s deflected attempt, while Chelsea’s 433 successful passes were the most by a Tuchel team in the first half of a top-flight game since May 2016.

Ben Chilwell sent a rare chance over the bar but Wolves, who hit the bar through Pedro Neto and gave a debut to striker Willian Jose, were good value for their

SERIE A

Ibrahimovic Riles Lukaku with ‘Voodoo’ Rant Zlatan Ibrahimovic spoke out against racism on Wednesday after a heated exchange with former Manchester United teammate Romelu Lukaku during the Italian Cup quarterfinal in which he evoked voodooism.

The AC Milan striker squared up to his Inter Milan counterpart in Tuesday’s match, accusing the Belgian international of using voodoo, according to Italian media reports.

On Wednesday the Swede took to Twitter, writing; “In ZLATAN’s world there is no place for RACISM. “We are all the same race - we are all equal!! We are all PLAYERS some better than others.”

The heated altercation between the pair began at the half-time whistle in the San Siro.

Ibrahimovic taunted Lukaku and infuriated the Belgian by laughing in his face before the pair went head-to-head.

They continued to trade insults as they headed towards the tunnel with a furious Lukaku being restrained by his teammates.

Both players were booked over the incident and Ibrahimovic was subsequently sent off after picking up a second yellow card 15 minutes

into the second half for bringing down Aleksandar Kolarov.

Christian Eriksen scored a last-gasp winner to send Inter into the semifinals with a 2-1 victory after goals by both Lukaku and Ibrahimovic.

In 2018 Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri suggested Lukaku had declined a new contract with the Premier League club after heeding a “voodoo” message.

Lukaku, who in 2017 had joined Manchester United, rejected outright any notion of voodooism influencing his decision to leave Everton.

In an interview with the BBC in January 2018, a representative of the player raised the possibility of taking legal action against Moshiri, pointing out Lukaku was in fact Catholic.

Milan manager Stefano Pioli and Inter boss Antonio Conte played down the row after the match, saying they had not heard the players’ arguing and blamed any tension on the fact the match was a Milan derby.

But Italian daily La Repubblicasaid the clash was “a poor spectacle that spoilt a great game” while Corriere della Serasaid it was a case of “one goal each, (but) a bad scenario for everyone”. Corriere dello Sport called it a “shameful” episode.

Romelu Lukaku (left) during the heated face off with Zlatan Ibrahimovic...on Tuesday night

Mesut Ozil at his unveiling at Fenerbache...yesterday

Ozil Looks Forward to Playing Again, Shuts Doors on Germany New Fenerbahce signing Mesut Ozil said on Wednesday he was at the club he loved but reiterated his commitment to not be available for the German national team, which he quit two years ago.

Ozil was a key member of Germany’s World Cupwinning side in 2014. He retired from the squad in 2018 amid a political debate in Germany about an influx of migrants and after backlash over a photograph taken with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, saying he faced “racism and disrespect” over his Turkish ancestry.

The 32-year-old signed a three-and-a-half-year deal

with Turkish Super Lig club Fenerbahce on Wednesday, finalising his move to what he has called his boyhood club, after falling out of favour at his former club Arsenal.

“When I go down a path, I never turn back. I wish the German national team success, but I will never again play there,” Ozil told reporters at his signing ceremony for Fenerbahce in Istanbul.

The playmaker was among the highest-paid players at Arsenal, but had not featured since last March, despite having played a key role in ending the club’s trophy drought, winning the FA Cup in his first season under

Arsene Wenger.

He was later marginalised under Wenger’s replacement Unai Emery and his successor Mikel Arteta, who said Ozil’s omission from the squad was for “football reasons”.

Ozil was not included in Arsenal’s Premier League or Europa League squads this season.

Ozil had long been linked with a move to Fenerbahce, and his eventual move was lauded by Turkish media as one of the most significant transfers by a Super Lig club in recent years.

Fenerbahce sit second in the league after 20 games, two points off leaders and rivals Besiktas and Ozil said

he was certain the club will be in contention to win the championship.

“I’ve played at big clubs before of course, but Fenerbahce is different for me. It’s a club I love,” Ozil said. “I was a Fenerbahce fan before and always will be,” he added.

Fenerbahce Chairman Ali Koc, who was also in attendance, said the club managed to sign Ozil despite the financial woes it has experienced recently, adding the player’s flexibility over payments - including a heavy cut in salary - helped the transfer process.

“The honeymoon is over, now the real work begins,” Koc said.

Aubameyang Attributes Arsenal ‘No Show’ to Mother’s Illness Arsenal Captain, PierreEmerick Aubameyang, has said that his recent absence from the Gunners is because his mother has been in ill health.

The 31-year-old Gabon international has missed the Gunners’ past two matches.

“My mother is going through some health issues and I had to be there for her,” said Aubameyang in a social media post explaining why he had not played.

The Gunners striker said his mother “was already much better” and thanked

Aubameyang...back from nursing mother back to health

medical staff for their work.

“I’m more than grateful

to the doctors and nurses helping her get through

this,” he said.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta dedicated his side’s Premier League win over Southampton on Tuesday to Aubameyang, while team-mate Alexandre Lacazette sent a message of support after scoring in the 3-1 victory.

“Thanks to my Arsenal fam for all the love,” added Aubameyang, who also missed Saturday’s FA Cup game against the Saints.

“I really am beyond blessed to have this level of support and love from you all.”

Thursday, January 28, 2021

COVID-19 Tests & Vaccinations

‘COVID’

TO

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE Sunday Igboho to Arsonists

Book Your TEXT

TR

58123

This service is provided in association with accredited service providers

“When they knew they could fight, fire gunshots and set a house ablaze, isn’t it where I stay that they are supposed to come? If they had come to the house where I stay, I would have had evidence for you people (journalists). It’s either you meet their bodies or meet them with broken legs. I thank God that they applied wisdom by going to a house where they know that I don’t live” – Yoruba activist, on his burnt house in Ibadan.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

20 Years Later…Same Old Wahala T

he session started with a powerful prayer offered by President Olusegun Obasanjo on the benevolence of God for sparing our lives. This was 8th February 2001 when the THISDAY Board of Editors and top management were at the Villa to thank the president for his intervention following our survival in a plane crash in Maiduguri two weeks earlier. It was particularly gratifying that Obasanjo had sent a Presidential Jet to convey us back to Lagos at a time when THISDAY columnists had been labelled ‘enemies’ of the administration. But Obasanjo would also never let such an occasion go without claiming his pound of flesh.

After our Chairman, Mr Nduka Obaigbena, concluded his remarks, the then president responded. “You say you and your team are rededicating your lives and newspaper to working for the greater good of Nigeria...”

He paused, executed the familiar clearing of throat and then added, “I hope you mean that.” This drew laughter but Obasanjo was not done. “In most cases, I take what Nigerian newspapers report with a pinch of salt. In your own case, I take it with a bag of salt”. It was as if we had taken our ‘Meet the Nation’ engagement to the Villa: “THISDAY, according to you people, stands for the cardinal principles of democracy, free enterprise and social justice. If indeed you stand for democracy and social justice, we should be standing together. I don’t know how often we stand together. But from now, maybe we shall be standing together. Because we should be standing together.”

There is really no reason why the media and government cannot stand together. The point of departure most often occurs when government begins to act in a manner that does not advance the public good. After a long lecture, Obasanjo came back to the crash that could have claimed our lives. Waxing ecclesiastical, he said: “Those of you who have been saved from the jaws of death, I congratulate you. I congratulate myself too.

Because if you people had died in the crash while going round the country (I don’t even know what for) they will say it was during Obasanjo’s time that 14 journalists perished…”

I recall the foregoing against the background of what is happening in Nigeria today – not much different from the situation we faced 20 years ago. By the turn of the century, the declaration of Sharia in Zamfara and many other Northern states fractured the polity and divided the country along ethno-religious lines. The period coincided with members of the Ganiyu Adams-led faction of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and a number of northern communities in Lagos embroiled in a war of attrition. It was under this acrimonious situation that Obaigbena proposed that THISDAY editors should tour the country to meet critical stakeholders, engage them on their fears while seeking common ground as to how we might strengthen our union to ensure it works for all citizens. Obaigbena told us how Henry Robinson Luce took editors of TIME magazine on such a tour of America.

Perhaps then, and maybe even now, there is a bit of Luce in Obaigbena. In a letter to his then girlfriend (later wife) at age 23 when he was planning to establish TIME magazine (along with Briton Hadden, his colleague

Akeredolu at The Baltimore News), Luce wrote: “[The] two of us are showing signs of pernicious insanity and will probably undertake a new publishing venture in a few months.”

We experienced quite a few such ‘insanity’ moments at THISDAY in those days so travelling around the country to ‘Meet The Nation’ was a perfect fit. Quite naturally, we decided to begin the dialogue sessions in the North. From Kaduna to Kano and Jos, we were received by huge turnouts of political and business elites and interactions were insightful.

Then from Jos on the night of 22 January 2001 we were heading to Maiduguri when our journey terminated with a plane crash.

Sadly, 20 years after those engagements on the state of our nation, nothing seems to have changed.

On Monday last week, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu asked all herdsmen to vacate forest reserves in Ondo State within seven days. “Today we have taken major steps at addressing the root cause of kidnapping, in particular, and other nefarious activities detailed and documented in security reports, the press and debriefings from victims of kidnap cases in Ondo State,” the governor stated. “These unfortunate incidents are traceable to the activities of some bad elements masquerading as herdsmen. These felons have turned our forest reserves into hideouts for keeping victims of kidnapping, negotiating for ransom and carrying out other criminal activities,” declared Akeredolu who banned night-grazing and prohibited movement of cattle within cities and highways in the state.

Barely 24 hours after Akeredolu’s statement, Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho,

also gave an ultimatum to Fulani herders in Ibarapa North local government area of Oyo State to leave on account of the same problems. While both the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, cautioned that such an ultimatum was capable of fanning the embers of disunity and were looking for ways to diffuse tension, the presidency put itself in the middle of the crisis by issuing an unhelpful statement.

In my July 2019 intervention on the failed ‘Ruga Settlement’ proposition, Akeredolu was one of the leading voices in rejecting the idea.

And his position could not be attributed to opposition politics, as he is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). In the past few years, rural dwellers in Ondo State and other parts of the Southwest have been at the mercy of daredevil kidnappers who use the forests as their operational base.

They kill, maim and rape—sometimes after collecting hefty ransoms from the families of victims. It therefore came as no surprise that Akeredolu would fire a salvo at the ‘bad elements masquerading as herdsmen’. That the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) leadership could reason with Akeredolu, as they did on Monday, implies that the presidency rushed to judgement over an issue it knows nothing about, raising questions about motive.

Following a visit to Katsina State last June, I interrogated the encroachment of grazing reserves in Kankara, Malumfashi, Bakori and other local governments resulting in many herders feeling short-changed. “The moment they realised that more money could be made from demanding ransom than rearing animals, the ‘diversification’ led to the violence that has become almost a daily staple in the state,” I wrote in the column titled, ‘Katsina: A State Under the Gun’. Following similar visits to Sokoto and Kebbi States at different times, I have also written on how these bandits practically hold Zamfara State by the jugular.

That many of these criminal elements have found their way to the southern parts of the country where they have set up ‘shops’ in some of the forests is not in doubt. The fact that security agencies (disproportionately headed by one section of the country) seem incapable of dealing with the problem has led to an accusation of complicity. But can we criminalise all Fulani people because of the action of a few? How do we classify the ritualists, the ‘One-chancers’, the armed robbers etc. who are not Fulani but equally constitute a menace to the people not only

More troubling is the penchant for running government by press statements. A president should not be hiding behind his spokesmen on serious national security challenges.

Akeredolu is a member of the ruling party and there was no reason why the president could not have invited him to the Villa for a discussion

in the Southwest but across the country?

What we are dealing with is a collapse of security, across the board. It is not limited to any region. In fact, it is more widespread in the North; with the Abuja-Kaduna road now almost impassable. Kidnapping has become a business, especially when the state has shown that it lacks the capacity to secure people or take justice to the criminals. There are also many ungoverned spaces that make it easy for them to thrive. True, herdsmen have been implicated in most places, especially in the Northwest and Southwest, but the exploding criminal enterprise is peopled not exclusively by herdsmen.

The challenge at hand is insecurity, not ethnicity, but when the two are allowed to comingle, it is always combustible. The dilemma of asking the Fulani—including those who have lived in Yorubaland for centuries—to leave the Southwest was most eloquently summed up in a tweet last Sunday by my friend, Akin Adesokan, an associate professor of comparative literature at Indiana University, Bloomington, United States: “Sunday Ìgbòho and Seriki Fulani speak in the same Òkè-Ògùn accent, though the Seriki’s expression for illegal mining (“won nwa kùsà”) is hardcore Yorùbá. Bigotry and violence feed on rich African resources, material and human.”

With the inferno of insecurity raging across Nigeria, stereotyping people on the basis of their ethnicity or religion can only energize certain subliminal impulses that constitute a serious threat to peace. In a pluralistic society such as ours, profiling not only creates and perpetuates a poisonous social environment, it also makes peaceful co-existence very difficult.

But in an environment where those who should resolve crisis apply double standards in dealing with security challenges, that precisely is what you get. With all that has been going on in the Southwest, there has been no visible engagement beyond one partisan press statement and a feeble threat from the Inspector General of Police against Sunday Igboho. Was any threat of arrest made when some other territorial entrepreneurs were also seizing the space on behalf of ‘their people’?

Following a risky peace mission to Fulani settlements along Abuja-Kaduna routes that have become notorious for banditry and kidnapping, respected Islamic cleric, Dr Ahmad Gumi, has made shocking revelations. Sharing his experience in Daily Trust newspaper at the weekend, the Sheikh said the bandits and kidnappers who carry out the nefarious activities are mere foot soldiers and that the real kingpins live in the cities. Asked whether he was not afraid for his life engaging such characters, this is Gumi’s response: “I am not afraid of the bandits. I am more afraid of those people who capitalize and exploit them. When we asked some of the bandits why they kidnap people, they said they don’t know the rich people, they don’t go to towns but there are people in the cities who ask them to attack certain rich people. So, the bandits are only agents. When the ransom is paid, it belongs to those people in the town, the bandits are only paid an operational fee. If you see them, they are tattered.

NOTE: Piece concluded on page 15

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085, 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com