TUESDAY 22TH FEBRUARY 2022

Return Nigeria’s Artefacts in Your Possession, Buhari Pleads with Nations, Institutions Says 1,130 Benin bronzes due back from Germany this year

Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has

appealed to countries, institutions, and bodies, both private and public, to return Nigeria’s artefacts in their

possession. Buhari also disclosed that 1,130 Benin bronzes would be returned to Nigeria by the

German government before the end of this year.

Reacting to the recent return of

two important Nigerian artefacts from Britain, the president, in a statement yesterday by his spokesman,

Mallam Garba Shehu, welcomed Continued on page 10

Demand for African Tech Developers on the Rise, Google Reveals… Page 6 Tuesday 22 February, 2022 Vol 27. No 9814. Price: N250

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UK Injects £10m into Nigeria’s Energy Sector Returns £210,000 illegal payment Michael Olugbode in Abuja

THE FUTURE IS NOW! - AYADE STANDS FIRMLY WITH YOUTHS OF CROSS RIVER...

L-R: Oden Ewa, Chairman LOC Cross River State Youth Summit; Barrister Ismaeel Ahmed, APC National Youth Leader; Asuquo Ekpenyong, Honorable Commissioner of Finance CRS; Barrister Alphonsus Ogar, APC State Chairman; Prof. Ivara Esu, Deputy Governor and Sen. Prof Ben Ayade, Governor Cross River State, at the Cross River state youth summit held 19/02/22 at the UJ Esuene stadium Calabar...

The United Kingdom has injected £10 million into Nigeria’s low carbon energy project. The concessional aid is aimed at reducing the risks, for pension and insurance funds’ to invest in energy access projects, and support Nigeria’s COP26 Continued on page 10

Again, APC Moves Convention, Now to Hold March 26 See story on page 10

NYSC -EFCC MOU...

A NEW ERA BIRTHS AT NPA...

The Director General, NYSC, Maj Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim and the Chairman, EFCC Abdulrasheed Bawa after signing an MoU of Collaboration in Abuja …yesterday

The new Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Muhammed Bello-Koko, ( R) receiving his confirmation letter from the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Ajani, Magdalene Nwanwuche, in Abuja … yesterday

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

NEWS

AT THE 6TH GECF SUMMIT IN DOHA...

L-R: Minister of State Petroleum Resources Chief Timipre Sylva; Iranian Minister of Petroleum Jawad Owji; Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El-Molla; Algerian Minister of Energy & Mines, Mohamed Arkab; Secretary General of Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), Engr. Mohammed Hamel; Minister of Energy of Qatar/President & CEO of Qatar Energy, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, at the Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting of the 6th GECF Summit, in Doha, Qatar... yesterday

Drama as Hameed Ali Flays House Reopening of e-Customs Project Probe Court cases delaying take-off of project, says FG Lawmakers say Nigeria to generate $8bn annually from implementation Udora Orizu in Abuja A mild drama played out yesterday at the public hearing of the Joint Committees on Customs and Excise, Finance and Banking and Currency of the House of Representatives investigating the delay in the takeoff of the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) e-Customs modernisation project.

The hearing was titled, "Need to Resolve the Debacle Between Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)/ Technical Committee on Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) and Adani Mega System Ltd Hindering the Take Off of Nigeria Customs Services E-Customs Modernisation Project."

The Comptroller General (CG) of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (retd), while addressing lawmakers at the hearing said the matter had been previously heard and dispensed with by the House.

Represented by the Assistant Comptroller General (ICT), Galadima Saidu, the CG wondered why the lawmakers were reopening the probe. He said the contractor, Adani Mega System Limited, who was supposed to execute the contract, had been relieved of it.

Recalling the previous probe, Ali said, "Adani Mega System Limited to ‘Build, Operate and Own’

scanning services infrastructure at designated ports across Nigeria, without consultation or knowledge of the Federal Ministry of Finance or Nigeria Customs Service. This information was leaked to the Service by a whistle blower who was introduced to the NCS by the House Committee on Customs, backed with relevant documents.

“Investigations carried out by the service revealed that Messrs Adani Mega Systems Limited outsourced the agreement to an unauthorised third party, Adani International Limited (UK), registered four months after the agreement was signed and the company has since been dissolved (Copy of the search result is hereby enclosed as Annex A).

"It is worthy of note also that the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Finance, Customs and Public Petition passed a resolution suspending the Concession Agreement on e-Customs, pending the outcome of an Investigative Hearing.”

Speaking further, Ali said, “The hearing was conducted and the committee vide a second letter NAS S/9/CHR/2019/JOINT/002 dated 20th December, 2019 (Copy of the letter is hereby attached as Annex C) stated that after due consideration of the process towards the award

has found no breach in the award of the contract for the e-Customs project.

“The findings of the then joint committee also showed that there was strict compliance to the Procurement Act 2007 and that the consortium that was selected exhibited high technical expertise and financial capability to execute the project. After due consideration of the process of award, the joint committee found no breach since none of the extant laws was subverted. Hence, the committee recommended that the agreement be finalised and the consortium awarded the contract (Copy of the House Committee’s report is attached as Annex D). It is, therefore, curious that the same House is raising the issue over again."

His statement angered the lawmakers, prompting a member of the committee, Hon. Uko Nkole, to ask the CGC to withdraw his remarks and tender an apology.

Ukole said the use of the word “curious” by Ali was derogatory and unacceptable.

Corroborating, Ukole's observation, the joint committee xhairman, Hon. Leke Abejide, said, "Your observation is noted. I think the co-chair spoke on it earlier but let us hear from the CG himself."

Responding, the CG veered off

and started speaking about the importance of the project.

However, another lawmaker, Hon. Bamidele Salem, interjected, insisting that the CGC must apologise.

Salem said, "Excuse me, please.

We know about the importance of this project and programme.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday struck out a suit challenging the Nigerian citizenship of presidential aspirant and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Justice Ekwo struck out the suit brought by the Incorporated Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa, on the grounds that the plaintiff being a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has no legal right to commence such proceedings against Atiku.

According to the court, the NGO

February 11, 2019, had Atiku, PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as well as the Attorney General of Adamawa State as defendants.

Specifically, the plaintiff had approached the court for an interpretation of Sections 25(1) & (2) and 131(a) of the 1999 Constitution.

By the suit, the plaintiff had prayed for, “A declaration that by the combined interpretation of Sections 25(l) & (2) and 131(a) of the Constitution and given the circumstances surrounding Atiku’s

Continued on page 34

Slams N500m suit against FG Alex Enumah in Abuja Detained Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari has appealed to a Federal High Court Abuja, to order his release from the custody of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), pending the hearing and determination of his fundamental human rights suit before the court.

Kyari's request was contained in an exparte application argued in court yesterday, by his lawyer, Mrs. Cynthia Ikena.

The police had last week arrested and handed Kyari to the NDLEA for further investigation

Says NGO lacks powers to institute case having been registered under Company and Allied Matters Act with special functions cannot jump into public interest litigation that was not part of its objective.

Justice Ekwo held that NGO's should refrain from filing frivolous applications targeted at harassing politically-exposed Nigerians.

In the suit, the group had asked the court to disqualify Atiku as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and to restrain him from contesting the February 16, 2019, presidential election over alleged circumstances surrounding his citizenship.

The suit which was filed on

unfortunately you came very late which should have been the first point of your comment here."

However, in his response, the CG said, "But I apologised."

At this point, co-chairman of the joint committee, Hon. Victor

Citing Failing Health, Detained DCP Abba Kyari Begs Court for his Release

Court Strikes Out Suit Challenging Atiku's Nigerian Citizenship Chuks Okocha and Alex Enumah in Abuja

This remark that you made, you said it is curious that the house is raising this matter. What's curious about it? That's the issue. It is not about whether this is a very needful project.

“We know and you can see that even from the speech of the chairman, Customs, earlier on,

birth, he cannot be cleared by PDP and INEC to contest for post of president.”

However, the former vice president yesterday reacted to the court ruling, stating that right from the onset, it was politically motivated.

In his reaction, Atiku in a statement by his Media Aide, Paul Ibe, stated: "It was clear from the onset that this was a politically orchestrated agenda to stop His Excellency Atiku Abubakar from enjoying the rights and privileges that have been confirmed by the constitution, the grundnorm of the land.

and prosecution over drug related offences.

The agency had released a video to confirm Kyari's alleged involvement with an international drug syndicate and attempt to compromise officials of the NDLEA. He has been in custody of the NDLEA since his arrest last week.

However, in an exparte application, the applicant, who sought an order of the court for his immediate release from custody urged the court to in the alternative admit him to bail in liberal conditions.

Kyari, who claimed to have served the country dutifully, added that he has a surety already, who would guarantee his bail if the court was mindful to admit him to bail.

He added that he had already filed a suit challenging the alleged encroachment of his fundamental rights as well as false accusations levied against him by the federal government.

He claimed that the charge in which he was being detained were not only trumped up charges but one that the agency cannot be able to prove in court.

However, in a short ruling, Justice Inyang Ekwo, declined to grant the exparte application and rather ordered that the applicant put the respondents on notice and adjourned till February 24, 2022, for hearing of the substantive suit.

According to Justice Ekwo, the averments made by the applicant were such that would warrant the respondents to appear in court and

answer to the allegations.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the proceedings, Kyari's lawyer, said the application was filed to enable the applicant attend to his failing health that got deteriorated in custody.

According to her, Kyari was suffering from diabetes and hypertension and as such in need of urgent medical attention.

In the main suit, Kyari wants the court to declare his current detention by the NDLEA as illegal, unlawful and an infringement on his fundamental human right.

He is also seeking another declaration that the agency's refusal to grant him administrative bail on alleged bailable offence was unlawful and infringement of his rights.

He therefore prayed the court for an Order restraining the respondent, its agents, servants, privies, police or anyone acting on their behalf from further harassing, detaining, intimidating, arresting the applicant unlawfully.

"An Order of this Honourable Court directing the respondent to tender written apology to the applicant in two National Daily Newspapers.

"An Order of this court directing the respondent to pay the sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) to the applicant, for unlawful violation of the applicant's constitutional right provided for in Sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution,” he added.

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NEWS

DURING DISCUSSION ON DEPLOYING SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIAL ECOSYSTEM...

L-R: Beninese Senior Minister for the Economy and Finance, Romuald Wagani; Serial entrepreneur and co-founder, ARISE IIP, ARISE IS and ARISE P & L in Gabon, Togo and the Benin Republic, Gagan Gupta, and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, at the discussion on deploying sustainable industrial ecosystem to the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone earmarked for Ogun State during the State's pan-African investment drive...recently

Demand for African Tech Developers on the Rise, Google Reveals Emma Okonji Technology startups in the software development ecosystem in Nigeria and other African countries have continued to attract international investment and support, just as the over 700,000 software developers across Africa continued to break new grounds, according to statistics from Google’s Africa Developer Ecosystem Report 2021.

According to the report, Nigeria has remained a striking example of the symbiotic relationship between digital transformation and developer growth in Africa, adding that the developer ecosystem in Nigeria was thriving thanks to strong demand for developer talent, significant support from big tech, and startups raising the largest total amount of funding on the continent in 2021.

As countries like Nigeria continued to transform, they would unlock more opportunities for developers who, in turn, grow the economy, it stated.

The report, which was launched yesterday during a webinar organised by Google, showed that despite challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, Africa’s developer ecosystem was on the rise.

This was according to findings of a study conducted across 16 sub-Saharan African countries

through fielded and analysed surveys as well as interviews with local experts.

According to the report, demand for African developers reached a record high in 2021, against the backdrop of a global economic crisis and the impact of the pandemic.

With increased use of the internet among small and medium businesses (SMBs) on the continent, which the report puts at over 22 per cent, the need for web development services also increased alongside higher demand for remote development work, indicating that 38 per cent of African developers work for at least one company based outside of the continent.

This was evidenced by the magnitude of growth in Nigeria’s professional developer population, which added an estimated 5,000 new professional developers to its pool in 2021, the report stated.

Analysing the report, Google’s Managing Director in Africa, Nitin Gajria, said: “While Africa’s tech innovation sector is making great strides, global tech companies, educators and governments can do more to ensure that the industry becomes a strategic economic pillar.

“At Google, we are intent on further igniting training and support for this community by bridging the existing developer skills gap and concentrating our efforts in

up-skilling female developers who face pointed challenges.”

Google aims to train 100,000 developers across the continent by 2022.

“To date, the African continent is home to more than 150 active Google Developer Groups and 100 Developer Student Clubs in Africa. Combined, these groups reach over 200,000 community members in 40 of the 48 countries in the sub-Saharan African region,” Gajria said.

The Africa Developer Ecosystem Report 2021 is the second in a series of studies on the state of the continent’s Internet economy.

The first, published in conjunction with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), found that Africa’s Internet economy had the potential to reach 5.2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025, contributing nearly $180 billion to Africa’s economy. The projected potential contribution could reach $712 billion by 2050.

“In order to reach this potential, we have to provide better access to high-quality, world-class skilling on mobile technologies platforms coupled with increasing connectivity in Africa. Our effort to increase connectivity is focused on infrastructure, devices, tools and product localisation,” Gajria added.

Other key observations as

highlighted by the report included: Growth of Africa’s developer population across the African continent; increase in Venture Capitalists investments in African startups; Support for women’s startups in Africa, among others.

The report noted that despite a contracting economy, the pool of professional developers increased by 3.8 per cent to make up 0.4 per cent of the continent’s nonagricultural workforce. Salaries and compensation also rose, and more developers secured full-time jobs.

Few days after it announced that it raised $250 million for business expansion, Flutterwave has unveiled its new brand identity, backed with the introduction of new products that would enhance customers’ experience.

The rebranding showcases Flutterwave as a technology company enabling growth and creating endless possibilities for all.

The new brand identity and products were introduced at Flutterwave 3.0 virtual event, which held recently.

Following the announcement of a $250 million Series D funding last week, Flutterwave decided to roll out its new and reimagined identity, to affirm its commitment to creating endless possibilities for all, through technology, as well as introducing new products and services that take the technology leader beyond payments.

During the event, streamed

across Youtube, the brand launched a series of products, including: A Fintech as a Service (FaaS) solution which helps startups of all sizes quickly become Fintech companies using Flutterwave’s pre-built API and solutions; Capital, a technology platform for businesses and consumers to access Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) as well as Merchant lending from regulated and certified credit providers; Grow, a B2B product that helps entrepreneurs easily incorporate their businesses globally; and Checkout, a new checkout experience that is 5x faster, reducing drop-off by 60 per cent.

Other products introduced include: Card issuing, a technology platform to enable businesses to issue both Mastercard virtual and physical debit/prepaid cards to their customers in partnership with Mastercard.

Flutterwave, however said the products were still subject to regulatory approval.

Additional improvements to existing products included: a new powerful dashboard, Barter v4, and an AI-powered compliance process.

The Flutterwave visual rebrand came with six new primary colours which depict creativity, motivation, passion, ease, robustness and eagerness.

Speaking about the new initiative, the Founder and CEO of Flutterwave, Olugbenga Agboola, said: “We are growing and for us, payments have become a means to an end. Every part of our lives includes some form of transaction.

Beyond powering those transactions, we want to also create those transactions.

“We want to help event organisers seamlessly register and sell out their events, we want to help artists receive money for their craft, we want to help entrepreneurs incorporate their businesses. Our new identity is a system that recognises how far we have come in our mission.”

access to in-person education, or affordable, reliable internet access and at-home equipment, educators struggled to make gains last year. This could be seen in how the gender gap between men developers and women developers widened, as there are 2.5 per cent fewer women developers in the workforce than there were in 2020.

The report called on educators, tech companies and governments, to help developers succeed by improving internet access, education and business support.

Months after Delisting, Trump Launches ‘Truth Social’ to Rival Twitter Emma Okonji

Former US President, Donald Trump, has launched his own social media platform, Truth social, to compete with Twitter and Facebook.

Truth Social is a social media platform which was created by Trump Media & Technology Group.

Trump, just like President Muhammadu Buhari, had severed his relationship with the social media platform in June 2021, when Twitter permanently delisted his handle from its social media platform, citing concerns over the ‘risk of further incitement of violence’ and Trump’s previous transgressions.

In the same year, Twitter also

Flutterwave Re-brands, Introduces New Products for Customers Emma Okonji

In the area of fund raiser, the report noted that African startups raised over $4 billion in 2021, which was 2.5 times more than in 2020, with Fintech startups making up over half of this funding. The shift to remote work also created more employment opportunities across time zones and continents for African developers while lifting the pay for senior talent. As a result, international companies are now recruiting African developers at record rates.

It however stated that without

Head of Branding and Storytelling, at Flutterwave, Yewande Akomolafe-Kalu said, “We always wanted to simplify payments for endless possibilities for our customers. Over time, we’ve come to see that the story of our impact goes well beyond payments.

We understand how important it is to embrace the full story of our journey and make it a part of our identity. We’re excited to create endless possibilities through technology.”

The Vice President of Design at Flutterwave, Ted Oladele said: “During our first ever rebrand meeting, we asked ourselves; how much does our brand communicate who we are? We discovered we were confining ourselves to a single story of our brand when we were much bigger than that. This new brand is freedom. It enables us to create solutions that help people, whether payments or not. It recognises our growth and actively asks us to do more.”

removed a post by President Muhammadu Buhari for violating its rules.

Riding on the back of his surprisingly large fan base in the US, Trump decided to set up his own social media App and try to capture some of Twitter’s market share.

Trump’s new social media venture, Truth Social, was launched on Apple’s App Store yesterday, according to Reuters, potentially marking the return of the former president to social media.

The launch would restore Trump’s presence on social media, after he was banned from Twitter Inc, Facebook and Alphabet Inc’s

YouTube.

Trump’s eldest son Donald Jr. posted on Twitter a screenshot of his father’s verified @realDonaldTrump Truth Social account with one post.

Apple’s App Store listing indicates that Truth Social is expected to be released in February but anything can still happen. Reuters also reported that even as details of the app begin trickling out, Trump’s Truth and TMTG company remain mostly shrouded in secrecy and is regarded with skepticism by some in tech and media circles.

The new Truth platform by Donald Trump sets out to compete against Twitter and provide an alternative voice to certain audience.

Auchi Polytechnic Gets New Rector Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The federal government has approved the appointment of Dr. Salisu Umar as the substantive Rector for the Auchi Polytechnic.

The appointment was contained in a statement by the polytechnic spokesman, Mr. Mustapha Oshiobugie and made available to newsmen in Benin City, yesterday.

Umar's appointment followed the demise of Mr. Sanusi Jimah in October 2020, while the institution has had two others in acting capacity between October 2020 and February 2022 when Umar was announced as the substantive rector.

Prior to his appointment, Umar was a Chief Lecturer and holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Statistics of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

He began his academic career with the Auchi Polytechnic in 1994 and rose steadily to become a Chief lecturer when he joined the

Services of Kaduna Polytechnic as a Chief Lecturer in 2018, a position from which he got his new appointment.

A professional Statistician, Umar is a member of several professional bodies amongst which are membership of Nigeria Statistical Association; Nigeria Statistical Society; International Research and Development Institute.

Other professional body he belongs to are Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria; International Association of Engineers and Computer Scientists and the Institute of Management Consultants.

He is a Fellow of the Centre for Public Service Productivity and Development and Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants.

Umar has at various times served as moderator and external examiner to the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, and the Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

OUR CONVENTION DATE IS MARCH 26...

L-R: Director Organization, All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Usuji Medena; Secretary, Caretaker/Extra-ordinary National Convention Planning Committee(CENCPC), Sen. James Akpanudoedehe; North East representative CENCPC, Photo: ENOCK REUBEN Prof. Tahir Maman and Director Publicity, APC, Na’inna Danbata, during the press conference on schedule of activities for zonal congresses at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja...yesterday

Nigeria’s Nuclear Authority Says Over 60% of X-ray Machines Obsolete Sylva wants radiation safety standards enforced Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), the agency responsible for nuclear safety and radiological protection regulation in the country, yesterday stated that over 60 per cent of all the x-ray equipment in Nigeria was obsolete.

Director General of the organisation, Dr. Yau Idris, posited that most of the x-ray machines in Nigeria were therefore non-functional and are aged between 10 to 60 years.

Idris spoke in Abuja during

a national workshop themed: “Radiation Protection of Patients and the Public Medical Application of Nuclear Technology for Senior Managers of Hospitals, Medical Centres and Launching of the NNRA Safe X-Ray Platform.”

Stressing that even the equipment that are functional are operated under sub- optimal conditions, the DG explained that inadequate number of qualified professionals for medical purpose in the country, also remains a major challenge.

"Several investigations by NNRA show that there is an

alarming high number of over 60 of different brands of x-ray equipment in the country, with six brand responsible for 70 per cent of all x-ray machines.

"Most of the x-ray equipment in the country are obsolete: Their ages range from 10 to 60 years.

And these equipment are operated under sub-optimal conditions," he lamented.

According to him, even the second-hand x-ray equipment are imported into the country without a view of the age and the availability of the spare parts. According to

him , there’s also a high level of disrepair of the facilities.

"Investigation also shows high level of disrepairs. Over 60 per cent of x-ray machines in the country are not functioning," he posited, adding that there is also inadequate number of application of iodising radiation service providers.

This, he said, has culminated in poor personnel radiation monitoring in all radio-diagnostic centres, with the number of reported cases of radiological incidents and accidents in Nigerian hospitals being on the rise.

FG: NDDC Board Inauguration, Audit Report Implementation, Work in Progress Commission denies disbursement of N20bn to ghost contractors Ndubuisi Francis, Wale Ajimotokan and Alex Enumah in Abuja The federal government has declared that the much-clamoured inauguration of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as well as the implementation of the forensic audit report are work in progress.

But the government has stated that in whatever it was doing, the public interest remains its watchword.

In separate reactions to THISDAY inquiries yesterday, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, said the inauguration of the NDDC board and forensic audit report would be carried out.

Responding to THISDAY's enquiry, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, stated that the issue of inaugurating the board of the NDDC was a work in progress which involves input from relevant stakeholders in the country.

Malami, who spoke through his media aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu, stated that concerned individuals and organisations were working hard to ensure that the board that would be put in place not only meets the expectations of stakeholders, but would serve

the overall interest of the society.

He said: "The issues in contention, that is the composition, formation and inauguration of the NDDC Board as well as application of the recommendations and/or implications of the report of forensic audit on NDDC are work in progress.

"Relevant government agencies, departments and ministries are providing inputs that are of great significance to bear in consideration of ideas that will further shape the decisions to be taken into account in the overall interest of justice and in the spirit of obedience to the provisions of extant laws.

"The component of public interest in relation to the development of the region remain the watchword of the federal government in this regards."

Also reacting to the delay in implementing the NDDC audit report and the inauguration of the board of the Commission, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) stated the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF) was still waiting on the federal government to inaugurate the board.

It is not clear who the federal government is referring to since the OSGF is part of the federal government as well as part of the Presidency.

Responding to THISDAY's inquiry on the delay in implement-

ing the NDDC audit report and the inauguration of the board, the Director Information, OSGF, Willie Bassey said the SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha was still awaiting "the order from the federal government to inaugurate the NDDC Board."

Bassey said the inauguration would be carried out at the right time considering the fact that it was the government that asked them to submit for forensic audit.

He said: "Government is working on it and at the right time it will be released."

However, reaction from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA), the supervising ministry of the NDDC was not forthcoming.

The Director, Press and Public Relations, Patricia Deworitshe turned down entreaties to react.

But a top official of the ministry who volunteered information on the delay in inaugurating the NDDC board and implementing the report of the forensic audit, said the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio was not the issue.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, said Akpabio was not the issue, but refused to elaborate.

There has been increasing agitation from stakeholders, especially from the Niger Delta region for inauguration of the NDDC board.

Since the dissolution of the board of the Commission in 2019, the NDDC has been operating with

an Interim Management Committee set up by Akpabio which is unknown to law.

Both Akpabio and President Muhammadu Buhari had repeatedly assured that a substantive board of the Commission would be inaugurated as soon as the forensic audit report was submitted.

After several delays, the audit report was finally submitted on September 2, 2021, but neither the board be inaugurated nor the report implementation.

According to him, radiological nuclear medicines in Nigerian hospitals are underfunded. " In fact they have reported two cases of radiation incidents involving radiation workers in a tertiary institution in the country.

One personnel died and the other remains critical," he noted.

Idris added that there have also been reported cases of maladministration radiation in one of the radiological facilities in the country, insisting that "These unfolding events require the enforcement of regulatory requirements for better radio-diagnostic and radiotherapy practice in the country."

He added that plans were underway to approach about six manufacturers of the x-ray machines to establish their service centres in Nigeria, explaining that bad cases mostly happen in public hospitals where half of the machines are not working.

Idris noted that government bureaucracy delays the implementation of repair of such faulty machines, insisting that more manpower was needed to ensure effectiveness and efficiency.

He stated that the essence of the workshop was to sensitise attendees on the need to ensure safety measures in the use of ionising radiation as well as bring together senior managers to talk about the administration of the application.

Also speaking, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources,

Mr Timipre Sylva, said medical practices involving the use of ionising radiation remain the largest contributor to human exposure from man-made sources of radiation.

Sylva, who was represented by the Director, Human Resources Management at the ministry, Dr. Famous Eseduwo, stated that there was the need to enforce the rules.

"Today in Nigeria, about 50 million diagnostic x-ray examinations are being carried out and about 3,000 radiation therapy patients treated annually.

"In fact, nearly everyone in our urban areas shall undergo exposure to x-ray for medical diagnostic purpose in his or her lifetime.

"Therefore, it is important radiation safety standards are adhered to in order to optimise doses to the patients, workers and the public," he advised.

According to him, in the health sector, the agency is the only regulatory body saddled with the responsibility of regulating and licensing activities and facilities such as radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and x-ray.

In his comments, the Minister of Health, Mr Osagie Ehanire, who was represented by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr Adebimpe Adebiyi, said that the increasing incidences of various conditions that require x-ray service have made it imperative for the federal government and other stakeholders to upgrade existing service delivery points.

Oduwole Highlights FG’s Efforts to Enhance Ease of Doing Business Ibrahim Shuaibu in Dutse The Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Jumoke Oduwole has disclosed that $750 million had been made available to enhance Ease of Doing Business in all states across the country.

She said this while speaking at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the presidential enabling business environment council in Dutse yesterday.

Oduwole said the aim of the gathering was to engage with stakeholders and share ideas and views about the ease of doing business, stating that the project

was yielding positive results across the country.

“Today we are in Jigawa State lituation for the North West region that includes Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states to listen to the challenges of entrepreneurs, small and large scale business owners and how to improve them.

“Our ease of doing business reform efforts demonstrates in clear terms our readiness to support our ambitions with all the political will available.

“This tour, therefore, is aimed at ensuring that the business climate reforms being implemented align

with specific and pressing needs of the entrepreneurs and business owners.”

According to her, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) was working with states in the north-west and other partners to create a favourable business climate for the ease of doing business.

He disclosed that PEBEC had implemented over 160 reforms which had led to Nigeria being listed twice among the top most improved economies in a space of three years by the World Bank, noting however that the council would not rest on its oars.

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Again, APC Moves Convention, Now to Hold March 26

Keeps mum on zoning of party offices Lukman: Buni, Bello, Uzodinma, two other govs frustrating convention Says Akpanudoedehe active in 'ponzi scheme' Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has resolved to hold its national convention on March 26, a month away from the February 26 it initially proposed for the convention. This was contained in a leaked letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), referenced APC/ NHDQ/INEC/019/22/21, which the ruling party said superseded its earlier national convention notice.

The latest notice also replaced an earlier letter to INEC informing it of APC’s decision to hold its zonal congresses on March 26.

But the party was silent on the zoning of offices, a major concern for stakeholders, which was believed to have contributed to the seeming dithering over the convention.

A former Director General of Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman, alleged that the chairman of APC’s Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni; his Kogi State counterpart, Yahaya Bello; Governor of Imo State Hope Uzodinma; and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State were the ones frustrating the national convention plan.

APC had in an earlier letter, with reference number APC/NHDQ/ INEC/019/22/14, notified INEC of its decision to hold its national convention on February 26. But the party said its latest notice followed an evaluation of its constitution.

It stated in the leaked letter, “In furtherance to Article 85 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and compliance with Section 12:6 of our party constitution, we hereby write to notify the commission that our great party, the All Progressives

Congress (APC), has scheduled to hold its zonal congresses on Saturday, 26th March, 2022.

“Kindly arrange for your officials to monitor the exercise accordingly.

While hoping to receive your cooperation, please accept the assurances of our highest esteem.”

National Secretary of APC, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, told journalists yesterday at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja that the publication of national convention sub-committees would take on Monday, February 28.

Akpanudoedehe, who spoke at the end of a four-hour meeting of the caretaker committee, said, "We have agreed and approved that activities for the party's national convention will commence from February 24 and terminate on March 26 at Eagle Square with the national convention.

In between the convention, we have agreed to have zonal congresses, and all the activities are hereby given as approved by the CECPC." The schedule of activities released by the party showed that the sale of forms would take place between March 9 and 11, while the screening of aspirants would happen between March 15 and 17. The screening appeal would hold on March 19, while the adoption of the appeal report would be held on Monday, March 21, according to the schedule.

The party said accreditation for the national convention would be held between March 24 and 25, while the convention would be on Saturday, March 26, and convention appeal would take place on Tuesday, March 29.

The adoption of appeal report would take place on Wednesday, March 30, while the inauguration of the party executive would hold on Thursday, March 31.

RETURN NIGERIA’S ARTEFACTS IN YOUR POSSESSION, BUHARI PLEADS WITH NATIONS, INSTITUTIONS the official handover, on Saturday, of the Okwukor and the Head of an Oba of Benin Bronzes, to the Oba of Benin, His Royal Highness, Oba Ewuare II. The artefacts were repatriated from the University of Cambridge and University of Aberdeen, respectively, in the United Kingdom, after 125 years of their leaving the territory of present day Nigeria.

In a passionate plea for return of the objects, which form a significant part of the country’s rich cultural heritage, Buhari recalled that the artefacts, now returned to the Oba of Benin, were taken away

by British soldiers in 1897, when they attacked the ancient Benin Kingdom and took thousands of items away.

According to the president, “These artefacts are part of the records of the history of the Benin people. My directive to return these artefacts to the Oba of Benin marks the beginning of another aspect in the highly valued relationship between the federal government of Nigeria and our traditional institutions who are, indeed, the true custodians of our history, customs, and traditions.

“This directive is also significant because it will introduce a working relationship between the federal government, as represented by the NCMM, and the traditional institutions whereby this commission negotiates the release of antiquities from foreign museums and institutions on behalf of Nigeria and the traditional institutions that lost the antiquities and jointly they all take steps to ensure the valourisation of Nigerian and Nigerian people through these great arts and cultural emblems.”

While urging other countries to take a cue from the institutions, the president vowed that the federal

government would pursue the repatriation of Nigerian artefacts vigorously. He pledged that government would ensure that they were put to good and proper use on their return in museums and other facilities in conjunction with the royal families and kingdoms that lost these artefacts.

The president noted that in line with international law and practice, export, import, and control over antiquities were matters within the purview of national governments, to be exercised on behalf of subnational authorities, institutions and bodies. He thanked the government of the United Kingdom that facilitated the return of the artefacts by issuing the prerequisite Export Permits to Nigeria at no cost, as well as the University of Cambridge and the University of Aberdeen who agreed to return these artefacts to Nigeria.

“These are unprecedented moves worth emulating by others,” he said, adding that the federal government hopes to work hand in hand with the British authorities in the future to encourage the return of more Nigerian artefacts from the United Kingdom.

Buhari also appreciated the Federal Republic of Germany, which was planning the process of repatriating 1,130 Benin bronzes to Nigeria this year from many of Germany’s public museums.

He also commended the High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Ishola, and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) for their collaborative works that led to the repatriation of the artefacts. According to him, it is noteworthy that several others are currently in the process of being returned while discussions are on-going to repatriate many more.

According to the schedule of activities for the zonal congresses, the publication of zonal committees would take place on February 24, while a meeting of zonal stakeholders is scheduled for February 26.

The party added that the sale of forms for zonal positions would commence on February 28 and end on March 3. It scheduled the screening of zonal aspirants for March 5, and screening appeal for March 6.

The adoption of the screening report is slated for March 8, while zonal congresses would be held on Saturday, March 12, and the zonal congresses appeal would take place on March 14.

The adoption of appeal report is scheduled for March 16.

However, Lukman, in a statement yesterday, titled, "APC Convention: Mutiny by Yahoo Yahoo Politicians," alleged that the party was held captive by a small group of dishonest politicians whose only interest was to impose themselves as either presidential or vice-presidential candidates for the 2023 elections.

The former APC governors’ forum director-general said the caretaker committee saddled mainly with the responsibility of organising the national convention to elect new leaders of the party had reduced the majority of its members to mere

observers. He said even PGF was being disrespected, as the decisions and leadership of the governor’s body were being snubbed.

Lukman said in the statement, "His Excellency Mai Mala Buni, in flagrant disregard to every known procedure of managing affairs of the party, relate only with His Excellency, Yahaya Bello of Kogi State; His Excellency, Hope Uzodinma of Imo State; and His Excellency, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, based on the plot to retain His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni as Chairman of the party up to the time of conducting the primary that will produce candidates for 2023 elections.

"The other person, who is also active in this political ponzi scheme, is the CECPC Secretary, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, who is also aspiring to emerge as the Akwa Ibom governorship candidate of the APC for 2023 elections."

Lukman alleged that Abiodun, Buni, Bello, and Uzodinma were all aspiring to become either presidential or vice-presidential candidates.

He added, "Although His Excellency Mai Mala Buni is not open about his ambition, some of the speculation promoted by people very close to him is that once he is the one to organise the primary to produce candidates for 2023 elections, he stands a good chance to emerge

as the vice-presidential candidate, or even the presidential candidate, if the North is to produce the presidential candidate."

In the case of Uzodinma, Lukman claimed the governor was alleged to be aspiring to emerge as vice-presidential candidate to a northern candidate, saying Bello has declared his aspiration to emerge as the 2023 presidential candidate of the party.

He explained that Abiodun was being guaranteed a second term ticket to emerge the Ogun State governorship candidate for the 2023 election, which was to block any potential contestant, given the strong opposition he faced from former Governor Ibikunle Amosun in 2019.

Lukman stressed that beyond guaranteeing Abiodun second term ticket, Buni had attempted to make similar offers to all first term governors of APC, adding that some of the stories flying around are true scripts being acted by Buni and his associates.

He stated, "It is clear that Mai Mala Buni is opposed to organising the APC national convention on February 26, 2022 or any time soon.

Consequently, he is working with other dishonest leaders, notably, Yahaya Bello, Hope Uzodinma, Dapo Abiodun, and a few others.

"It is a mutiny against the author-

ity of the party and all its designated leaders, especially, President Buhari, being carried by very dishonest people, who can best be described as Yahoo Yahoo politicians. They are busy recruiting more dishonest and questionable leaders, such as Uzor Kalu, and they are moving to recruit some state party leaders into their fold.

"As a party, APC is now in a state of emergency. Any slip will destroy the party. This is not the period to allow dishonest political leaders gamble with the survival of the party and by extension weaken the nation’s democracy. Everything must be done to restore some minimum standards of conducts by leaders at all levels.

"Everything must be done to rescue APC from the hands of these Yahoo Yahoo politicians represented

by Mai Mala Buni, Yahaya Bello, Hope Uzodinma, Dapo Abiodun, Uzor Kalu, and their associates."

Reacting to the developments, a chairmanship aspirant of the party, Mr. Sunny Monidafe, said he had no choice but to accept the decision of the party. Monidafe said, "So long as the party leadership carries all the critical stakeholders along, I don't have any objections."

But a group in the party, APC Continued on page 35

UK INJECTS £10 MILLION INTO NIGERIA’S ENERGY SECTOR commitments.

UK also signed an agreement with the Nigerian government that would enable a compensation of £210,610 to the country following a successful investigation by the British Serious Fraud Office on the use of corrupt agents in the oil and gas sector.

The governments of Nigeria, United Kingdom of Great Britain, and Northern Ireland, yesterday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in a joint commitment to continue the fight against corruption.

The MoU was signed between UK’s Minister for Africa, Vicky Ford, and the Attorney General of the Federal and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who was represented by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Umar. It sets out the terms and understanding between the governments of the United Kingdom and Nigeria to make the compensation payment.

During the signing of the MoU, Ford said, “The Security and Defence Dialogue held in February 2022 between our two countries reaffirmed both the UK and Nigeria’s commitment to work together to tackle illicit financial flows, bribery, and corruption.

“The UK has a zero tolerance policy to corruption and we hope that today’s signing sends a clear statement about our commitment to this.”

She noted that in a global economy where international trade was vital, it was more important than ever that companies operate with integrity and transparency.

Illicit financial flows, bribery, and corruption have been identified as major hindrances to economic growth, trade, stable governance, and the security of both countries.

The compensation payment from the UK to Nigeria was secured after a four-year corruption investigation led by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in the UK. The money was obtained through a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA), which meant the prosecutor agreed to defer prosecution in exchange for the defendant agreeing to fulfil certain requirements, such as accepting criminal liability for offences and paying the appropriate compensation.

In this case, the DPA was agreed with Amec Foster Wheeler (AFWEL), in relation to the use of corrupt agents in the oil and gas sector.

The compensation payment demonstrated that when such crimes were identified, the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) would investigate the companies and, where evidence was found, ensure that they faced appropriate sanctions.

In March 2021, the UK government returned £4.2 million to Nigeria from funds recovered from associates of former Delta State Governor James Ibori.

However, in this case, “The Government of the United Kingdom will transfer the compensation amount in the sum of £210,610 (118.4 million Naira) within twenty-eight (28) days from the date of signing this MOU. “In both instances, the MoU’s confirm that the Nigerian government has pledged to use the returned funds for projects that will benefit and improve the country.

“The UK will remain committed to returning all illegal assets, no matter the amount, as per the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).”

UK’s Director of the Serious Fraud Office, Lisa Osofsky said, “We have a zero tolerance approach to companies who think they can bribe their way to financial success.

Bribery and corruption not only stifle real economic growth and free trade, they also damage democracy and, therefore, risk the security of all our countries.

“I am, of course, delighted that the tenacity of my SFO colleagues has resulted in the people of Nigeria being compensated in a way that will truly benefit them.”

Malami, while thanking the UK for the gesture, promised that the repatriated fund would be expended on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Abuja to Kano road, and the Second Niger Bridge.

On UK’s injection of £10 million of concessional financing alongside InfraCredit to mobilise pension and insurance investments, the statement noted that it would help to reduce the risk for pension and insurance funds to invest in energy access projects, and support Nigeria’s COP26 commitments.

The financing would also help Nigerian investors focus on low carbon energy, and support offgrid, low-carbon energy projects.

Additionally, the £10 million would be blended to de-risk transactions and, therefore, mobilise domestic institutional investment from local pension funds, insurance firms and other local institutional investors.

This would help scale up domestic financing for eligible off-grid clean energy infrastructure, such as solar mini-grid and home systems, clean cooking infrastructure and SME cold storage infrastructure in Nigeria.

UK Minister for Africa, Vicky Ford, speaking on the investment, said, “The UK is committed to increasing both renewable energy and energy access in Nigeria, driving clean, sustainable and resilient growth.

“As the world looks to transition to clean growth, we are witnessing an era-defining opportunity for the private sector. This transaction is particularly exciting as it brings together UK government support with the institutional capital, which is essential to grow the sector at scale.

“This innovative blended finance initiative will provide affordable long-term financing from local investors for the low carbon energy sector to support scaling up of off-grid low carbon energy projects in unserved and underserved communities.

“This initiative will support the implementation of Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions plan, which Nigeria submitted to the UNFCCC before COP26, its Energy Transition Plan, which was presented by the Nigerian government at COP26, and Nigeria’s plans to increase energy access, including the Solar Naija programme.”

On his part, the MD/CEO, Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), and Chairman of InfraCredit, Uche Orji said: “InfraCredit is pleased to be working with FCDO to mobilise private investment from domestic pension funds and other institutional investors into such an important developmental area as low carbon energy access.

“This programme is aligned with NSIA’s other clean energy initiatives which aims to deliver up to 250-500MW of renewable

energy capacity in Nigeria that will reduce annual CO2 emissions, alleviate poverty, create jobs and support local economic growth.”

Speaking at the announcement, the Minister of State for Power, Mr. Godwin Jedy-Agba, said with the support from the UK Government’s Energy Transition Council showed the pathway to an energised economy and carbon neutrality by 2060. The assistance also highlighted the need for additional investments of $410 billion above business as usual over the next 40 years.

Jedy-Agba stated, “Whereas all efforts have been geared towards unlocking private sector activity in the clean energy transition, one major challenge continues to be private sector access to local currency financing. This is where local institutions such as pension and insurance funds have a key role to play, as only these institutions possess the scale of local currency liquidity required to accelerate the transition.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, at a meeting with Ford said the federal government looked forward to cooperate with the United Kingdom (UK) in the security of the West African sub-region.

Onyeama received, in audience, the United Kingdom Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. He expressed gratitude to the government of the United Kingdom for its extensive and significant support in diverse areas, stating that the West African sub-region is facing huge security challenges, including governance challenges.

He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had a big hit on the economies of the world and also expressed gratitude to the United Kingdom for support during the period, particularly with vaccines and other support in the area of health.

Onyeama added that the United Kingdom had been involved in the security of the West African sub-region, saying a lot is going on in the sub-region, particularly in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso with the support of the United Nations.

The minister said, “So, we look forward to continue to cooperate with you in this area because we feel that it is not something that we can do alone in the sub-region.

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L-R: Minister of State for Power Mr Godwin Jedy-Agba; Minister for Africa United Kingdom, Mrs Vicky Ford; British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mrs Catriona Laing; CEO InterCredit Mr Chinua Azubike and Director General Securities and Exchange PHOTO: KINGSLEY ADEBOYE Commission Mr Lamido Yuguda, during the signing of MoU on Rural Electrification between Nigeria and United Kingdom in Abuja...yesterday

EKO Disco Seals Deal with NDPHC to Improve Power Supply by 200mw Peter Uzoho The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has signed an agreement with the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Limited to improve electricity supply to its customers in Lagos and Ogun States by 200 megawatts.

The company said the move would specifically enable it to improve power supply to Agbara in Ogun State, Lekki and tertiary institutions in Lagos State as well as many other areas within its operational network.

General Manager, Corporate Communications, EKEDC, Mr. Godwin Idemudia, announced this in a statement yesterday, disclosed that the agreement was signed last week in Abuja between the power firms when the Chairman of EKEDC, Mr. Oritsedere Otubu, visited the NDPHC and other key stakeholders in the power industry.

The project agreement, according to the statement, would ensure the improvement and upgrade of certain distribution infrastructure within

EKEDC’s franchise area.

The Disco stated that the agreement had ultimately set the foundation to assure the availability of reliable and quality power supply of up to 200MW to customers within Eko Disco’s network, including tertiary institutions.

THISDAY learnt that the agreement was in furtherance to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between EKEDC and NDPHC last year, in Lagos in the presence of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with the aim of identifying opportunities for the enhancement of power supply within EKEDC’s Network.

At the meeting with industry stakeholders in Abuja, Otubu pointed out that the growth of industrial and commercial activities within the company’s franchise area had resulted in an increased demand for power supply.

He said EKEDC currently receives between 400 to 450mw from the national grid via the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) but that the amount was no longer meeting the present demand of

FG, ASUU Meet Today over Lingering Dispute Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government team and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) would hold talks today to iron out their differences.

A statement signed by the Deputy Director Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. Charles Akpan, disclosed that the Minister, Dr. Chris Ngige would be meeting with the Executive of ASUU and relevant government agencies today.

Akpan said the meeting with ASUU would take place at the Minister’s Conference room by 1 pm.

ASUU had declared a four-week warning strike which commenced on February 14, to express their grievances over non-fulfillment of the agreement with government.

ASUU's demands included federal government's approval of its University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) payroll software. Other demands included the endorsement of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, which it said was

concluded in May 2021; release of the reports of visitation panels to federal universities, and distortions in salary payment challenges.

ASUU is also demanding funding for the revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowances, improved funding of state universities and payment of promotion arrears.

its customers.

Otubu said, "We currently receive between 400-450MW from the national grid, and this can no longer meet the present demand of our customers.

"Further, the current drop in load generation has placed us in a tough situation in which we have to carry out load shedding in some parts of our network.

“Hence, we have embarked on this agreement with NDPHC to source for an alternative means of improving power supply to our customers."

The EKEDC chairman also noted that with this agreement, the company would supply more

power to the tertiary institutions within its network such as the University of Lagos (UNILAG), College of Medicine at Idi-Araba, and Lagos State University (LASU) to boost academic activities in the schools.

Also speaking at the event, Managing Director of NDPHC, Mr. Chiedu Ugbo, commended EKEDC for its efforts towards finalising the agreement which sets the pace to enable the delivery of the agreed MW via one of its subsidiaries, Alaoji Generation Company Limited.

According to Ugbo, this would further enhance NDPHC’s mission of bridging the gap in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI)

particularly around generation.

He said NDPHC currently has about 4,000MW installed but is unable to dispatch it effectively due to constraints from the TCN's infrastructure, hence the extension of its direct relations with the Discos.

He lauded the initiative of the agreement, particularly the supply of adequate electricity to academic institutions.

Representing UNILAG at the event, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management Services, Prof. Lucian Chukwu, expressed his excitement about the agreement and attested to the cordial relations between EKEDC and the university.

He, however pointed out that the

House Summons BPE, NOGFZA, Others over Loss of Revenue in Oil, Gas Free Zone Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The House of Representatives' Public Accounts Committee has summoned the heads of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), the Nigeria Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (NOGFZA), as well as the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) over the loss of billions of naira in revenue from companies operating in the oil free zones as contained in audit queries issued by the office of the Auditor General for the Federation.

It also directed its clerk to publish the said audit queries from the office against defaulting agencies in three national dailies for the public, as well as for the president to see.

The committee rulings was sequel to the reports of the Auditor

General for the Federation detailing several infractions by government Ministries, Departments and Agencies submitted to it for legislative action.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Oluwole Oke (PDP, Osun) at the resumed investigation of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) yesterday lamented the attitude of relevant government agencies who he said abdicated their statutory responsibilities of generating revenue for government whilst Nigeria goes cap-in-hand looking for loans from foreign countries and creditors to finance the nation's annual budgets He said the purpose of the publication was to enable Nigerians and President Muhammadu Buhari see and know those agencies sabotaging government's efforts

to make life better for the citizenry.

He lamented that a situation where the country keeps suffering the loss of revenue through non issuance of receipts for payments made to oil and gas free zone authority, fraudulent practices on issuance of certificates of acceptance on capital allowances by the Inspectorate Division of the Ministry of Trade and Industry was unfortunate and unacceptable.

"We have invited all the regulators, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, Onne, Standard Organisation of Nigerian and they are supposed to appear today. “But they are not here. All the companies listed by the regulators, some of them are here, but the regulators are not here. From the evidences presented by these companies, we

Africa Magic Appoints Okhai Head Judge for Eighth AMVCAs Africa Magic, one of the continent’s leading providers of local entertainment content, has announced the appointment of Nigerian filmmaker, Victor Okhai, as Head Judge of the eighth Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs), billed to hold later this year in Lagos, Nigeria.

Okhai is a seasoned producer, scriptwriter, cinematographer, director and film consultant.

He is the current National President of the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria (DGN), founder and Director of IN-Short Film Festival, the biggest short film festival in

institution started having challenges with the Disco on payment of bills due to the implementation of the Service Reflective Tariffs in 2020.

With this agreement, Chukwu assured the two companies that the institution would make its own contributions towards making the project a success.

Meanwhile, the EKEDC spokesman informed the customers that the company would continue to explore innovative ways to enhance and deliver reliable power supply.

He appreciated the support from the customers which he said has been significant to the company in its mission to empower the quality of its esteemed customers’ lives.

Sub Saharan Africa, and a member of The Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee (NOSC).

According to a statement, he has sat on and headed the jury of several local and international film festivals including The Audio Visual Awards (2009 - 2012), Cairo International Film festival (2009), shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival (2012), The Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (2013) and Ecrans Noir (2018) in Yaounde.

Speaking on Okhai’s appointment, Executive Head, Content and West Africa Channels, MultiChoice

Nigeria, Dr. Busola Tejumola said, “We are delighted to have Mr. Okhai head the nomination and judging process for the eighth edition of the AMVCAs. He brings decades worth of knowledge and experience in the local and international film and TV industry to this critical role.

“We are certain his involvement in this edition will further reaffirm the AMVCAs’ commitment to professionalism in recognizing and showcasing exceptional works on the continent.”

In 2013, Okhai was nominated as Africa’s foremost film promoter

by Tanzania based Africa Film Development Association. He is a board member of the African Film Consortium (AFC) and the Mokolo project, an Africa film database supported by the German foreign Ministry and a member of the National Advisory Committee on film development in Nigeria to the Nigeria Film Corporation.

Commenting on his appointment as Head Judge, Okhai said: “I am delighted to be appointed Head Judge of the AMVCA for 2022. It is in my view, the most credible and the most glamorous award ceremony on the continent today.

discovered that a company’s capital allowances rose from N4 billion to N33 billion within a year and they brought the certificate here for us to see.

“We called the Ministry of Industry to come and confirm whether they issued the certificate or not. If you issued a certificate for a foreign asset, an asset acquired outside the country, at least, there will be import duty, there will be receipt. Ministry of Industry, did you inspect the asset before you issued certificate of N33 billion?

“Those are the questions we are asking ministry of industry to come and answer. They have refused to come.

"Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority collected money in dollars from licenses and refused to issue receipt to them. All the licenses that have appeared before this panel said they were not issued receipts.

“Oil and gas free zone, come and tell Nigerians why you did not issue them receipts and where is our money? The Minister of Finance has said severally that we will continue to borrow money to finance our budget because we have revenue gaps and because we are unable to collect the revenue we should have collected.

“The parliament cannot fold its hands. The difference between tax evasion and tax avoidance is very narrow. So, our ruling is that I want us to publish all the queries in three national dailies and all the regulators concerned and licensees who made allegations that they paid XYZ," the chairman ruled.

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COMMENT

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

A TRUE NIGERIAN DREAM

Ray Umukoro pays tribute to Leo Stan Ekeh, businessman and chairman of Zinox Group

I

n the late 80s when it was fashionable for young graduates and youths of his age to jet out of Nigeria to pursue the American or European dream, one man was returning from Europe to Nigeria to pursue the Nigerian dream. Leo Stan Ekeh is that man. At that time, even up till this day, the fad was for young Nigerians to travel out of Nigeria. Destination has always been North America, Europe, and now Asia. His story is a profile in self-belief, patriotism, derring-do and spunky chutzpah.

Irreverent and restless, some of these Nigerian youths have made good their dreams, translating their lofty expectations to reality.

Some never did. Not so, young Ekeh. He had a dream. To build Africa’s largest digital enterprise; to imprint Africa on the global digital map. For an iconoclastic young Nigerian at that time, the idea of building a large computer enterprise sounded abnormal, if not unthinkable. But Ekeh was never a regular, predictable guy. He brims with unconventional ideas, sometimes wild ideas. A highly disruptive thinker and problem-solver. He’s futuristic and possesses the uncanny capacity not only to see the future but also to create it.

Indeed, he lives in the future.

The Holy Writ, the Bible, says that God rules in the affairs of men. Ekeh typifies this truism. Early enough, his life took a trajectory from Africa to Asia to Europe and back to Africa. On this tripodal coursing through three continents is hinged the storied life of a typical African child. His first stop from Nigeria was Punjab University, India where he earned a B.Sc. in Economics. His journey to India was fortuitous. Having missed the resumption date for entry application into his preferred Nigerian university on account of a ghastly automobile accident that restricted his feisty being to a hospitable bed, India became the next option.

However, by hindsight, it’s easy to discern God’s hand in what appeared a disappointment. It worked out for his good because India, famed for the entrepreneurial skills of her citizens, birthed the DNA of entrepreneurship in young Ekeh. By September 1983, he proceeded to Republic of Ireland having successfully completed his first degree in India. Often life throws up challenges, not to bring us down but to serve as spring boards to launch us to higher ground.

Ekeh had wanted to study Computer Science, specializing in User Interface at Cork City University, Ireland. But strangely, his lecturers advised otherwise fearing he might end up a frustrated man if he returned to Africa and finding there was no place for him to practice his informatics knowledge. They did not reckon that Africa had a place for computers in her workplace ecosystem. They thought Africa had no need for computers either then or in future. But they were wrong. They did not know that Ekeh was the future of computers in Africa they thought never existed.

He would later settle for a shared postgraduate course in Risk Management between Nottingham University and City University, London. Upon graduation, he opted to pursue a Master’s degree in Business Law which he reckoned would expose him to the dynamics of the laws guiding international business. But after spending eleven months in the London Guildhall University, he was faced with the dilemma of paying his school fees just to be allowed to sit for exams and earn a Master Degree in Law (LLM) or investing the school fees in his dream to build the largest computer group in Africa. Again, Providence showed up at the gate of decision-making. He chose the latter. He returned to Nigeria to pioneer a tech startup with bias for

EKEH’S STORY BUCKED THE TREND. IT’S A STORY OF A YOUNG MAN WHO MOVED AGAINST THE TIDE; WHO YIELDED TO HIS INNER SELF AND A QUESTING FOR SUCCESS RATHER THAN SUBMIT TO THE BANDWAGON OF HIS GENERATION. HISTORY, THEY SAY, BELONGS TO DREAMERS. EKEH WAS, AND STILL IS, A DREAMER

desktop publishing.

Leo Stan Ekeh’s story bucked the trend. It’s a story of a young man who moved against the tide; who yielded to his inner self and a questing for success rather than submit to the bandwagon of his generation. History, they say, belongs to dreamers. Ekeh was, and still is, a dreamer. Every dream has its own zeal, a burning desire to birth it to reality. It was zeal that turned what was meant for school fees into a seed money for investment. It was zeal that transformed an enterprise which started in a rented flat (which also served as his home) into a conglomerate spanning computers, telecoms, property, entertainment and e-commerce, all across three continents.

Today, Ekeh remains one of the most cited examples of role models for African youths. He is a living proof that hard work pays.

He typifies the Nigerian dream. He reminds Nigerians, young and old, that just as Americans have their American dream, Nigerians also have their Nigerian dream. There’s a Nigerian dream, nay African dream. It’s a dream that crowns hard work with success.

It does not promote indolence, neither indulges in shadowy, sleazy stunts. The Nigerian dream sees opportunity in adversity.

Nigeria has a reputation of being a difficult place to do business.

No electricity, no reliable public transport system, bad roads, a culture of public sector red-tape and graft that put a sludge on private businesses, multiple taxation, a general life style that patronizes foreign products and services over indigenous ones, and many more. Ekeh knew all this, yet he took the risk to return to Nigeria to sow in what many considered a hard ground. Proof of this is writ large: Many computer firms that set out in the 80s and 90s have closed shop. Their promoters could no no longer bear the burden of entrepreneurship. They left the country to chase dreams in America and Europe. Ekeh did the opposite: Left a well-appointed life and comfort in Europe to chase a Nigerian dream and he has made a success of it.

Ekeh’s sojourn in Europe and Asia exposed him to how Africa was never in the reckoning of the world in terms of ICT penetration and development. His chance meeting with the now deceased Steve Jobs, Founder of Apple, further indexed how lowly ranked in ICT Africa was. Jobs, just like Ekeh’s lecturers in the United Kingdom, did not envisage a bright future for African tech industry. Little did they know that the future they couldn’t see was in their midst. And that future has already happened. It happened when Ekeh, may years later, all by himself, became the rallying point for all the major brands (Original Equipment Manufacturers) from Apple, Microsoft to Acer, Dell and HP among others. But far beyond this, he has brought the future to reality in the brand Zinox, the only Nigerian OEM recognized by Microsoft to have met international standard.

Today, February 22, 2022, he turns 66. Bouquets of flower are not enough to salute the courage of a man who gave hope to many African youths. On this special day for a consistent job and wealth creator, a man who has been honoured and recognized by all Nigerian Presidents since 1999 including being honoured as Icon of Hope, a merit garland of Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by President Olusegun Obasanjo; National Productivity Order of Merit Award by President Muhammadu Buhari, a Global Advisor by Microsoft and Africa’s Leading Tech Icon award by Forbes, one can only mutter the words: Thank God for grace!

Umukoro, a blogger, writes from Lagos

GOMBE AND POLITICS OF PARTY DEFECTION Party defections are driven by those who want power at all costs, contends Adamu Abubakar Kumo

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s the 2023 general elections draw nearer, the transfer season has now commenced in earnest as some party members from both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are cross-carpeting.

Of course, no one can really stop the tendency to move from one party to another, and no matter the rationale defining such decision. As a matter of fact, as true democrats, we have to acknowledge the constitutional rights of these defectors to associate with any party or political organisation of their choice in tandem with the ideals and principles of democracy.

While it’s difficult to tag defection as good or bad, it is quite possible to use morals, principles, antecedents, history of political defeats and inconsistency to scale-weigh any defection - the reason for defection always defines it. For instance, defection can be undertaken due to lack of ideology, political interest, pursuit of political ambition, poor performance, etc.

However, it is worth noting that among those who have defected from the ruling party in Gombe State, the APC, no one has formally or informally, openly or secretly cited poor performance of the present administration as his or her reason for defection. This is a clear testimony that the incumbent governor is doing well by living up to the expectations of the people.

Issuing from the above position is the need for

the general public to note that the defection from the ruling party has no bearing with the welfare of the people other than political indulgence.

With this understanding, therefore, such action, irrespective of the lowly nature, should not give any misleading impression other than the usual politicking and the attendant propaganda even in an uncharted territory as history informs us.

Thus, the recent development as it was in the past can best be described as a case of desperation for power, where direction in politics is determined and driven by ambition to lead at all costs. This is the truth otherwise no sane member of the ruling APC in Gombe State would ever think of leaving the party on account of the tremendous transformations that have taken place under the leadership of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya with a lot of benefits to the people.

We have to understand though that during their stay in the APC, some of the defectors were perpetually rabble-rousing and would only live by their own set of rules and regulations which centred on their political ambition, the habit that cost the party a lot. There’s nothing wrong with political ambition but when such is pursued without any modicum of decency and realism, it is bound to end up in chaos and unbridled shenanigans as we’ve now seen in the state.

Now, you may ask: what’s the quality and influence of these power mongers? They neither command any major followership nor did they add critical value while their stay lasted in the

party. Being mostly those who came from the PDP to join APC on account of the popularity of Governor Inuwa, they later realised they do not fit into the orderly scheme of things in the APC and have accordingly returned to their nest where they originally belonged. It has to be emphasized that these people have for so long lost ground and influence in the party and have disassociated themselves with it. The defection is therefore a good riddance to bad rubbish. And here lie the fictitious defections and lies being paraded by the opposition PDP which is a mirage.

In what can be described as a win-win scenario, the APC on the other hand, is receiving bigwigs and party stalwarts who have electoral value and political influence into its fold from the PDP. It is really an interesting development in Gombe State informed by altruistic reason and excellence as they want to be in the winning team for the common good.

The recent defections of Arch. Habu Mohammed Shinga, Barrister Ya’u Kwadon and Hajiya Hadiza Kwali together with their thousands of supporters are a big blow to the opposition, a shock that sent due signals vis-a-vis the dynamics shaping political calculations in the state. Come to think of it, these people are not common party members; they are grassroots politicians with strong support and influence.

Arch. Habu Shinga was a former Head of Housing/ Acting Director, Housing since our era in Bauchi State, Special Assistant during Goje

regime, former Caretaker Chairman Yamaltu Deba LGA, full time member SUBEB, Talba Campaign Co-ordinator, Yamaltu-Deba LGA 2015 and former contestant, State House of Assembly under PDP. Another stakeholder that defected from the PDP is Barrister Ya’u Kwadon who was Acting Deputy National Legal Adviser, former member PDP Interim NWC, former House of Representatives contestant under PDP and many more. Hajiya Zainab Zakari Kwali, was a former Councillor, former National Women Leader (PDM), National Women Leader, Women for Jonathan and a former board member. Now, can we compare these grassroots politicians with one Abigail Peter whose name is not known to even some people in her ward? So how does this feeble move help her and her own people?

This tendency contrasts sharply with the names above who have joined the APC out of convictions.

These are the people with relevance in their former party. But since development is what they yearn for and they obviously have seen it in the good governance of the APC under Governor Inuwa Yahaya, they decided to join the winning team for the interest of their people and future generations to come. These are the issues.

A good and sincere reminder to those defecting to quench thirst for power and their hosts is that their brand of politics which harps on selfishness, sectionalism, ethnicity and religious discrimination, a pattern that is alien to our state, did not work in 2019 and will definitely not work in 2023.

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

EDITORIAL ZULUM AND THE MERCENARIES’ OPTION Every option should be considered in order to rid the country of terrorists

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overnor Babagana Zulum of Borno State recently called for the hiring of mercenaries to assist in the fight against the insurgents that have for more than a decade troubled the peace of the Northeast. His position underscores growing public frustration and a burgeoning sense of helplessness by millions of Nigerians in the region. Ordinarily, the governor is not saying anything new since mercenaries have been hired and deployed not only by the armies of western countries, including the United States, but also by Mali and other countries within the continent. However, we do not believe that Zulum’s approach is helpful.

We understand that the military has made tremendous gains across the Northeast theatre in the past three months. Aided by the Air Force with close air support capability, the army THE GOVERNMENT MUST is now making CONTINUE TO PROVIDE forays into the dreaded Timbuktu NECESSARY SUPPORT TO Triangle in a fashion THE MILITARY THROUGH reminiscent of the PROMPT ACQUISITION mercenary’s support OF BATTLE CHANGING in 2014. It is on this PLATFORMS, WEAPONS AND score that Zulum EQUIPMENT, RECRUITMENT, ought to have AND TRAINING TO BEEF UP tempered his words on matters that THE CURRENT STRENGTH are clearly beyond his purview. As a politician, he is not a war commander, hence does not have the tools to identify gaps in military operations.

Even where he has any strong feelings concerning the operations, Zulum should direct such observations to the president or the national security council. Because his outburst can only cast doubt on the capability of the military with consequent effect on the morale of the fighting troops. Incidentally, the same Zulum in a dramatic turn-around expressed optimism that the war against the insurgents could be over by 2023, after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the Villa, just a few

Letters to the Editor

days after his call for hiring mercenaries. We respect that Borno State which Zulum governs is on the frontline, and he feels the pinch. But we believe there are channels for passing information and raising concerns without eyes on the gallery.

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

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

owever, the fact that a governor is saying what Zulum said about the danger of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) which displaced Boko Haram gives it more gravity. It is thus important to use the opportunity to reiterate our earlier stand that no option should be off the table in the quest to rid our country of terrorists.

The federal government must continue to provide necessary support to the military through prompt acquisition of battle changing platforms, weapons and equipment, recruitment, and training to beef up the current strength. Massive recruitment is required in addition to deployment of technology to dominate vast ungoverned space in the Northeast. We must also continue to deploy diplomacy to cut all financial support to ISWAP and Boko Haram fighters using the relevant financial intelligence, sustain the relationship, cooperation, and collaboration with the countries around the Lake Chad basin (Chad, Niger, and Cameroon) and strengthen Operation Safe Corridor, which is a programme dedicated to the Disengagement, Dissociation, De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DDDRR) of surrendered and repentant Boko Haram fighters.

On its part, the military must sustain the synergy and intensity in the conduct of its operations. It must take advantage of the current weather and ground conditions before the outset of the rains mid-year with its consequence on mobility. Beyond this, Nigerians must understand that it is not the military alone that is at war in the Northeast, it is the entire nation, hence the military deserves our total support. Thankfully, Zulum has demonstrated so much support to the military since his assumption of office.

As President Buhari winds down his administration, he must ensure that insecurity is drastically reduced across the country as a matter of obligation, and legacy.

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.

BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU’S SHOT IN THE DARK

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ith less than a year to the 2023 general elections, the race to Aso Rock is gaining steam as different candidates continue to throw their hats into the ring, and boldly declare their intentions to govern Nigeria.

As fingers have gone up in affirmation and identification, and territories marked, those interested are already dusting up the best robes to wear as they hold up their best credentials in the presidential parade before Nigerians. The problem that many have already predicted is that many of those robes would be found dirty, or full of holes, or simply full of oversize pockets that would panic Nigerians about the fate of the public purse.

To govern a giant country, common sense dictates that only men with giant credentials and intellect should put themselves out or be nominated by others for the arduous task. Alas, in a country overrun by little men, a good number of aberrations already convulse a nascent presidential race that is poised to prove so pivotal for the future of the country.

If there is today in Nigeria any politician who previously served in any public office in Nigeria, and who remains credible and creditable because they did not stoke the fire eating up the country today while in office, that politician is arguably of very rare stock because it is with unanimity that Nigerians agree that practically all those who have been saddled with public power in the past contrived in one way or the other to render a once towering country toothless.

Experience has shown that in many Nigerian elections, aggression trumps comprehension such that many participating candidates rather

than channel their energies into convincing Nigerians on how they would expend energy in getting it right once they enter office, prefer to exploit any and every route to power.

Between 1999 and 2007, Lagos State, Nigeria`s Center of Excellence, successfully remained an opposition State under Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was governor for eight years. Under Mr. Tinubu, the state, Nigeria`s wealthiest, showed remarkable resilience when former president, Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo took the operations of the federal might to dangerously odious levels.

The state continued to be the bastion of opposition politics in the country until 2015 when a party it largely helped to create and shape won historic elections at the federal level to change the dynamics of power in the country.

All through the years during which Lagos State played a pivotal role in the power politics of the country leading to the seismic shift experienced in the Nigerian power circle in 2015, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu always stood out as larger than life, projecting all along an uncanny political sense, and boasting of the patronage of many politicians spread across the entire southwest and the country. He has continued be very visible in the life of the APC in the country.

There is then an overwhelming feeling in many quarters that to get Mr. Tinubu onside is to get the entire Southwest onside just as to antagonize him is to risk losing an entire region. Such is perceived to be his power and pull. The 2015 general elections and many governorship elections in the Southwest have gone a long way to confirm this.

For many of Mr. Tinubu`s legion of followers, it is great news that he has long thrown his hat into the ring. One of his most ardent

supporters and the current executive governor of Lagos State Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu recently drummed up support for Mr. Tinubu`s ambition.

The governor who spoke at the opening session of the 17th Executive and Legislative Parley organized for all elected public office holders in Lagos State waxed lyrical about the qualities of Mr. Tinubu, declaring him the best man for the job.

While no one can begrudge Mr. Sanwo - Olu whose loyalty to Mr. Tinubu saw him unseat the unassuming Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as governor of Lagos in 2019 his freedom of speech and association, there is no doubt that there is no magic wand to fix Nigeria, not to talk of such a magic wand resting in the hands of a man who divides opinion as sharply as he creates them.

Also, as a cautionary tale, Nigerians have been here before and must avoid falling into the same trap twice. Questions have already been asked about Mr. Tinubu`s age and competence, as have been of other candidates, just as they were asked of the incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. Regrettably, where answers to those questions should have drawn coherent responses, they have instead drawn belligerent ones which is an indication that some people are really prepared to fight dirty to govern Nigeria in 2023 just as they have stated.

Nigerians are in the best stead to decide for themselves what the last seven years have been like. As they do that, history and posterity will judge them for actions they would take in 2023, especially for the choice of those they will elect to lead the country going forward.

Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

US: Russia Has Lists of Ukrainians ‘to Be Killed’ The United States has warned the United Nations it has information that Russia has lists of Ukrainians “to be killed or sent to camps” in the event of an invasion, according to a letter sent to the UN rights chief and obtained by AFP Sunday.

The letter, which came as Washington warned of an imminent invasion by Russian troops massed near the Ukrainian border, says the United States is “deeply concerned” and warns of a potential “human rights catastrophe.”

The United States has “credible information that indicates Russian forces are creating lists of identified Ukrainians to be killed or sent to camps following a military occupation,” the letter says.

“We also have credible information that Russian forces will likely use lethal measures to disperse peaceful protests or otherwise counter peaceful exercises of perceived resistance from civilian populations,” says the message, addressed to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.

Iranian Fighter Jet Crashes, Three Killed An Iranian fighter jet crashed Monday in a residential area of the northwestern city of Tabriz, killing three people, including two crew, state television reported.

The head of the local Red Crescent organization said the plane smashed into a school and that one of the dead was a resident of the neighbourhood.

Local official Mohammad-Bagher Honarvar told state television that the school was closed at the time due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He identified the plane as an F-5 fighter aircraft and said it went down at around 9:00 a.m. (0530 GMT) in the central Tabriz neighbourhood of Monajem.

An investigation is underway, the state broadcaster said.

The official news agency IRNA posted on its website video footage showing firefighters putting out a blaze at the crash site.

Pakistan Toughens Law against Fake News Pakistan is under fire for toughening its controversial cybercrime law to allow anyone to file a complaint against posting so-called fake news on Twitter and Facebook and for increasing the prison term from three to five years for those found guilty.

The changes to what is known as the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, introduced on Sunday through a presidential ordinance or decree, have made spreading fake news or defaming any person or state institution online an offence for which there is no bail.

“It was important to bring this ordinance to curb fake news. Spreading fake news will now become an unbailable offence with up to five years imprisonment,” said Farogh Naseem, federal minister of law and justice.

Political opponents and free speech advocates have denounced the move as an attempt by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government to stifle freedom of expression.

The criminal defamation law was originally enacted in 2016 by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government and harshly criticized back then as an assault on dissent and political rivals.

Marriyum Aurangzeb, a spokesperson for the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N Party headed by Sharif, criticized the government Monday for what she said were “draconian and

black” amendments to the law. She told reporters in Islamabad that the amendments give sweeping powers to federal authorities to detain anyone on allegations of spreading fake news.

In a statement, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists said the government action was “unwarranted and deplorable” and undermined media freedoms.

The undemocratic act “will inevitably be used to clamp down on dissenters and critics of the government and state institutions,” said the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, an independent rights defender.

Reema Omer, a South Asia legal adviser for the International Commission of Jurists, said the amendments have made the existing law “more oppressive.”

“This has happened at a time when there is a global movement against criminal defamation laws, with such laws being considered incompatible with freedom of speech,” Omer said on Twitter.

While defending the ordinance at a news conference on Sunday, Naseem acknowledged that recent misinformation through social media posts about an alleged rift between Khan and the first lady, as well as the use of abusive language against the recently retired chief justice of Pakistan, prompted the government to toughen the measure.

“This law will put an end to such news reports,” he said.

Australia Reopens Borders to International Tourists Australia Monday reopened its borders to double vaccinated international tourists. They have been shut out since March 2020 under some of the world’s toughest COVID-19 measures.

Nine million foreign visitors used to head to Australia each year, but now

the tourism industry is hoping that two years of disruption are coming to an end.

More than 50 international flights were scheduled to land in Australia on Monday as its borders reopened.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the country was “going from COVID cautious to COVID confident when it comes to travel.” While many tourism businesses share his enthusiasm, some believe the recovery will be slow and take time for overseas visitors to return in large numbers.

Margy Osmond, the chief executive of the Tourism and Transport Forum, an industry body, says as Australia tries to attract overseas visitors, it will face competition from other countries.

“Rebuilding confidence is critical whether it is here domestically or whether it is that global travel,” she said. “We are going to have to do considerable work to make people feel comfortable about coming here again. But what complicates it [is an] even more massively competitive global marketplace now. Everybody wants that leisure tourist back.”

Myanmar Junta Urges ASEAN Envoy not to Engage with ‘Terrorist’ Groups Myanmar’s military government has criticized calls for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ special envoy to the conflict-torn country to meet bodies that oppose last year’s coup, which the junta has declared as “terrorist” groups.

With little sign of the junta implementing a five-point peace plan agreed upon with ASEAN last year, which included an immediate end to hostilities and letting a special envoy facilitate dialogue, growing divisions have emerged in the 10-member bloc over how to restore stability.

After last Thursday’s ASEAN foreign ministers meeting, Indonesia said the

envoy needed to meet all parties in the conflict, with Malaysia calling for talks with the National Unity Government, a group made up of members of the ousted administration and other junta opponents.

“The ministry notes that while some deliberations were constructive on the implementation of the five-point consensus, two members have suggested special envoy engage with unlawful associations and terrorist groups,” Myanmar’s ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement.

17 Pre-Columbian Artifacts Returned to Mexico Two Dutch citizens have returned 17 Mexican archaeological artifacts after three decades in their possession, the foreign ministry said in a statement Sunday.

The return of the artifacts comes as Mexico works to recover thousands of archeological pieces that had been illegally removed from the country — 6,000 have come back so far, according to official figures.

Hubert De Boer and Liesebeth Mellis, who had been in possession of the items for 30 years, handed over the clay pieces during a ceremony at the Mexican embassy in the Netherlands.

It’s not clear how the two came into possession of the objects, which include a few small human figurines and which were made between the years 400 and 1521.

They were previously certified as authentic by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History and came from multiple regions throughout the country, including along the Gulf coast, the central plains and the southeast.

“The pieces were made using the modelling, smoothing, incision and pastillage application technique,” the foreign ministry said, referring to craft styles.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2022

POLITICS

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

How Anyim’s 61st Birthday Became a Political Jamboree Chuks Okocha who monitored the 61st birthday of the former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim who was a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation reports on the significance of the occasion

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ast Saturday marked the 61st birthday of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim was significant in many ways than one. The presence of the President, Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by no less a person than the engine room of government, Boss Mustapha was another significant milestone, for Anyim, who has moved from a ruling party to a member of an opposition party.

Closely related to this, was the presence of former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and his deputy, Architect Namadi Sambo.

This is the first time since 2015 that both former first citizen and the second citizens will attend an event together From another dimension, the presence of the governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike at the event amidst the call for a southern presidential candidate of the PDP is also significant. His presence attracted a thunderous welcome from the audience. This could be interpreted as a welcome development.

One significant thing from the gathering last Saturday is that it was an impetus to the presidential aspiration of Anyim who is also aspiring to become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by 2023.

The gathering was momentous as well as the role call. The presidential aspiration of former senate president, Anyim Pius Anyim received a boost as the duo of President Muhammadu Buhari and ex-President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, tacitly commended the leadership qualities of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Both leaders said that Anyim has all it takes to be entrusted with higher responsibilities in the future.

President Buhari, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, noted that at various times while serving in different capacities, Anyim rose to the challenge of leadership by putting the nation first. That’s a testimonial of courage and that of a detribalized Nigerian According to President Buhari, “Senator Pius Anyim is a patriotic Nigerian who always puts his nation first and he is one of stabilizing voices we have today in the politics of our country. This he has demonstrated in a number of times, but the one that stands out and still echoes with me was his insistence that elected officers should always stay a single term and he kept to his word by not seeking for re-election to the Senate, after the expiration of his first term as Senator and Senate President in 2003.

“That many Nigerians cutting across various political divides are gathered here today to celebrate you is a glowing testimony of your contributions to the growth of our nation and its political development,” Buhari stated.

In what would count as tacit endorsement of Anyim’s 2023 presidential aspiration, Buhari added that the experiences garnered over the years by the former Senate President place him at a vantage position to seek higher political calling.

He stated further : “Let me say on a personal note, as the current and 19th SGF that I have drawn a lot from the wealth of wisdom that has been the source of strength and the endowment that Senator Anyim has brought to the fore of governance in this country. We don’t often meet but whenever we meet, we share knowledge about the responsibilities of the office and the enormity of the act of balancing contending forces and interests, that is always vested on any occupant of that office.

“And I want to thank you (Anyim), for the wealth of experience and the depth of knowledge that we have. I made bold to say whoever had occupied the Office of the Secretary to the government for four years In an evolving democracy like Nigeria, with diverse contentious issues, is capable and able to occupy any office,” he added.

Like Buhari, former president Jonathan

L-R: Secretary to the Federation, Boss Mustapha representing President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, former President Goodluck Jonathon and former Vice President, Namadi Sambo

described Anyim as a unique leader who never allowed the trappings of office to get into his head.

According to Jonathan, “the sheer number of people gathered at the International Conference Centre to honour Anyim was an indication of the trust Nigerians reposed in him years after leaving the office as Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

“Some people are very busy and in most Saturdays, some people don’t like to wake up early. For you to have gathered this number as early as this time today means a lot.

“We thank God for you today, your wife, your children, all your friends, with all of us, otherwise, we wouldn’t have been here to celebrate you today. .

“You were the Senate President when I was the governor of Bayelsa state and I remember you visited me in the house one day and of course by divine providence, you became the engine room of my government as my Secretary to government of the Federation”, former President Jonathan said. .

Jonathan who related his first encounter with Anyim said, “The first day I became President, Anyim Pius Anyim wanted to be chairman of PDP and he came to me with a lot of dreams and we spoke. I may not bother you with details but he was never the chairman of PDP. “When he became the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, he did not even come to me with a biscuit but we found him worthy as a Nigerian that had experience in managing systems, managing issues

and also somebody who had friends across the country and when we were looking at the person we wanted to be the Secretary to the Government, of course we wanted somebody from the South-east because PDP then normally made sure that every geo-political zone had one key office. Now, we don’t have enough people, so we don’t have that.

“Up to the time I was the President, something somehow happened in a way that we never expected. The PDP philosophy then was that the President will come from one geo-political zone, the Vice President from one geo-political zone, Secretary to Government from one-geo political zone, the Chairman of the party from one geo-political, the Senate President from one geo-political zone and the Speaker from one geopolitical zone but that was when PDP had a lot of spread across the country.

“Now it is difficult to package that because even the All Progressives Congress, APC don’t have that kind of spread. So, it is difficult to get that package. That was very unique and it was a good way of accommodating every sections of the country.

“And so we zoned the Secretary to the Government to the South-east. We looked at our brothers and sisters, the characters, and they were very nice people. They had many competent people but let me say that it’s like a lot it fell on Anyim Pius Anyim and we made him the Secretary to the Government.

And I don’t regret committing him. He is a very hard working young man, committed to serving this nation and I believe if he has the opportunity to serve more, he can do better,” Jonathan said.

Like Buhari, former President Jonathan described Anyim as a unique leader who never allowed the trappings of office to get into his head. According to Jonathan, “the sheer number of people gathered at the International Conference Centre to honour Anyim was an indication of the trust Nigerians reposed in him years after leaving the office as Secretary to the Government of the Federation

At 61, the former president described Anyim is a bridge between the old and the young and that fact was not lost on Jonathan when he said: “Today, we are celebrating a young man but you are getting old now.

At 61 years, you are no longer very young but you are willing to serve and as somebody who has served at the parliament as a Senate President, at the executive level as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, it is quite tasking.

“Having served in that position (SGF) for the period, I know he is fully baked and I didn’t received too many complaints. You know as a President, everyday you receive complains from those who work for you- the ministers, your aides, advisers, assistants and so on. I didn’t receive too many complains about Anyim Pius Anyim,” he added.

Former Vice President, Namadi Sambo who came with Jonathan also took to the podium to pour encomiums on the celebrant, saying, “his leadership stabilized the Senate and we must be grateful for that. He was a team player who worked towards a prosperous nation. He can be trusteed with higher political responsibility in the future.”

Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Bello Adoke in his good will message described Anyim as ‘a team player, humble leader that is always ready yo take on any task for the good of his country.”

Also speaking, former governor of Abia state, Sen. Theodore Orji said at 61, Anyim has a lot still to give to his fatherland. “If you look at the age he started, you will know that God has not finished with him,” he stated.

One thing that could be gleaned from the outpour of encomiums was that good products always sell itself. The comments of Jonathan at the event may be read that he is not going to contest the 2023 presidential elections, whether in the PDP or the APC. For no politicians freely showered praises on anyone where he will eventually be a contestant Also, for a President from a ruling party commending a politician from opposition in the manner President Buhari did, shows that the President may not mind a successor to him in the person of Anyim.

Amidst clamour for the PDP to chose it’s presidential ticket holder from the south and the presence of the Rivers state governor, Nysom Wike means a lot that the main opposition party is gradually reaching a consensus for a presidential candidate.

21

T H I S D AY ˾TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2022

POLITICS

Giving Nigerian Youths a New Voice for Participation and Development Nseobong Okon-Ekong writes that the voters education campaign, GoNigeria, initiated by philanthropist and investment banker of repute, Mr. Atedo Peterside on his ANAP Foundation platform is targeted at firing the political ambition of Nigerian youths

Yakubu

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espite Nigeria’s diverse culture and people, one thing is certain – the strength of its youth population which makes up citizens between ages 18 – 29. According to the 2019 National Youth Policy, Nigerian youths were classified as people between 15 – 29 years. With a youth population of 27 percent, as reported by statista.com, Nigeria is more youthful than each of the top three global economic powers – the US, China, and Japan. However, this has not been reflected significantly in the country’s political stability, economic prosperity, and even social unity. Policies made by successive administrations have not put the youth in perspective which has made youths nonchalant in developmental issues thereby seeing the youths exhibit a lack of trust in the country’s political process.

We are now bedeviled by a youthful population struggling to make their voices heard due to a lack of consideration and future thinking leaders, which has led to consistent failure to deliver on youth-centered policies that reflect the progress and prosperity of the people. A country full of energy with a greater percentage of its population being youths should have a future built on strength, hard work, innovation, and creativity. When evidence-based youth policies are made, they help to accelerate youthrelated objectives in the country which reduces vices in society as its advantages are obvious - job creation, socio-economic development, human empowerment, etc.

Globally, there are over 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 years, accounting for 16 percent of the global population. The active engagement of youth in sustainable development in all spheres of life is central to achieving sustainable, inclusive, and stable societies, and to averting the worst threats and challenges to societal development, including the impacts of climate change, unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, conflict, and migration.

While all the mentioned factors are critical to youth development, concerted efforts and education is crucial to making the youths key players in countries’ leadership processes in general, and Nigeria in particular.

However sordid the circumstances have been, the last decade has seen a shift in orientation and a new re-awakening among the youths across the globe and in Nigeria. There is more clamor for justice among nations as well as peace, security, healthcare, etc.

We cannot over-emphasize the fact that there is a growing consciousness in today’s youth in Nigeria, with an increased understanding and care about development which is inspired by the chance to drive meaningful change, peace, and prosperity, having seen the rot and ineptitude of successive political leadership.

It is a new world era, consciousness is on the rise and the youths are more than eager to use their skills to better their communities and help those in greatest need. The 2020 EndSARS protest demonstrated the youth’s

Peterside

restiveness to a large extent - from a clamor to end police brutality, they became more expressive with demands from the current political leadership. More youths are getting aware that their decisions to participate in the political process and inclusiveness will determine the future they desire. Even though the government responded by proscribing SARS and compensating victims through state-inaugurated panels, the impact of that exercise birthed a new level of consciousness among Nigerians, especially the youths.

Now, the youths believe that if they use their voices collectively in the electoral process, their impact will be felt. To do this, however, requires a point of convergence and re-orientation of what needs to be done. This is exactly what Anap Foundation, founded by Nigeria’s philanthropist and investment banker of repute, Mr. Atedo Peterside, is now addressing.

The Anap Foundation has kicked started an enlightenment campaign themed GoNigeria, a campaign to sensitize Nigerian youths to participate actively in the electoral processes leading to the election of visionary leaders come 2023.

Anap Foundation is partnering with the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] and other advocates, celebrity ambassadors, corporate bodies as well as volunteers in ensuring a huge success is attained in encouraging the youths in understanding that their votes is a transformative power in enthroning the right leaders at the country’s helm of affairs and the campaign has no doubt received some boost judging by the support

Chukwumerije

of these prominent Nigerians collaborators from all walks of life.

The initial advocates are Aisha Yesufu, Active Nigerian Citizen; Nuruddeen Lemu, Director, Research & Training, the Da’wah Institute, Islamic Education Trust; Dike Chukwumerije, Poet; Folarin Falana (Falz), Musician, Actor, and Entertainer; Atedo Peterside, Founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank + President & Founder, Anap Foundation; Bishop Matthew Kukah, Catholic Church, Sokoto; Arunma Oteh, Chairperson, Royal African Society and Scholar, University of Oxford; Hamzat Lawal, Founder, Connected Development (CODE); Tomiwa Aladekomo, National Chair, Youth Party; Osita Chidoka, Founder UnlockNaija, Former Minister, Aviation & Corps Marshal FRSC; and Dr. Tony Rapu, Medical Doctor and Pastor.

Others include ‘Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director, EiE Nigeria; Muhammad Ali Pate, Professor of Public Health Leadership at Harvard, Former Minister and former World Bank Global Director for Health; HH Muhammad Sanusi II, 14th Emir of Kano & Grand Khalifa of Tijjaniya Order; Dr. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, Former Minister, Former Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, Chairman, Tertiary Education Trust Fund [TETFUND] and President, King’s College Old Boys Association; Ayisha Osori, Author; and Ibrahim Dahiru Waziri, Former DMD NLNG/GED of NNPC + House of Rep. member in 1983 at age 25.

Thanks to the transformative power of such a foundation using new technologies and education to inspire young people and the youths to participate in the electoral process by registering to vote, collecting their permanent voters’ cards (PVCs), and putting their talents to use in the field of development that will drive real change in order to achieve a country of their dreams.

Given the numbers of the youth population in Nigeria, if they participate in the electoral process, they can achieve their dream of Nigeria.

It is on this premise that the President and Founder of Anap Foundation, Atedo Peterside,

The youths believe that if they use their voices collectively in the electoral process, their impact will be felt. To do this, however, requires a point of convergence and reorientation of what needs to be done. This is exactly what Anap Foundation, founded by Nigeria’s philanthropist and investment banker of repute, Mr. Atedo Peterside, is now addressing. The Anap Foundation has kicked started an enlightenment campaign themed GoNigeria, a campaign to sensitize Nigerian youths to participate actively in the electoral processes leading to the election of visionary leaders come 2023

urged the youths which consist over 60 percent of the Nigerian voting populace to endeavor to register and collect their Personal Voter’s Card (PVC) before June 2022 ahead of next year’s elections, as stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to the philanthropist, participating in the electoral process is a call to all youths instead of being instigated by the old and discontented old people in the society. He, therefore, asserted that “a situation whereby the youths do not show interest in the country’s electoral process would mean conceding their birthrights to politicians, whose policies may not reflect the collective objective of the populace, especially young Nigerians.’’

Perhaps, what is most fascinating about the GoNigeria initiative is the caliber of personalities driving it. The foundation is unique, and exclusively driven by credible Nigerians mentioned earlier. This confers credibility on the foundation and is therefore supported by all, especially in a year preceding general elections. One of such personalities is HH Muhammad Sanusi II, 14th Emir of Kano & Grand Khalifa of Tijjaniya Order, who admonished educated young Nigerians to choose leaders with integrity and capacity to govern them in the upcoming 2023 general elections. He asserted that it is through active youth presence in the nation’s electoral process, that the desired change in the political system being clamored for, can be realized.

According to him, ‘It is not always easy to have a leader who has both integrity and capacity to govern – which are two important qualities of a leader. If a leader does not have both integrity and capacity to govern, choose the one that can govern because his capacity to govern will benefit the people while his lack of integrity will be his harm. If you choose a man who has integrity without the capacity to govern, his lack of capacity to govern will harm the people while his integrity will only benefit himself,” he avowed.

Similarly, Folarin Falana (Falz), Musician, Actor, and Entertainer reiterated the need for the teeming youths to be involved in their future by actively participating in the electoral process.

“Votes don’t count is the big lie politicians sell to those whose votes cannot be bought so that only those whose votes can be bought will come to the polling units”, he noted. Besides, this poses another question to be answered, if votes don’t count, then why are the politicians buying your votes? Votes does count. So go register and collect your Permanent Voter’s Card [PVC] because your vote count!

The GoNigeria is a not for profit, non-party movement dedicated to building a new voice for the young people in Nigeria. The initiative is in full gear with the initial advocates of Anap Foundation, who have intensified efforts at encouraging young Nigerians to register and collect their PVC to vote in 2023 general elections towards ensuring good governance and accessing the true dividends of democracy.

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TUESDAY, ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

Buhari’s Tribalism Responsible For Abba Kyari Frankenstein

T

he unravelling of Abba Kyari was bound to happen. It was cower if you paid attention to the happenings in the Buhari administration. And DCP Abba Kyari is only a beginning. There will be more unravellings. How do I mean?

First of all, there is no ethnic or religious balance in Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies, and that is why someone like DCP Abba Kyari could become a super-cop. His ethnicity blinded his superiors to obvious tells that would have exposed his double life.

By this I mean his houses, the houses of his siblings, the cars he owns, the wealth and connections that he flaunts on social media. It all does not gel with the image of a supercop. And they would have been obvious if Abba Kyari had a name like Abel Aakachukwu.

But because he is from where he is from, and has the right ethno/religious balance, these red flags were overlooked.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, the Inspector General of Police, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Chairman, are all Northern Muslim males.

Where is the balance? How is that possible in a multi-ethnic nation?

Again, I maintain that nepotism and tribalism made Kyari a supercop! And do not be deceived.

There are other undiscovered Kyari’s in the system.

We were all made to believe that Abba Kyari was being punished and that he was under suspension, while being investigated. But that was a lie. And that lie was only possible because of the old boy network in Nigeria’s law enforcement system, which is even more imbalanced than our military.

Exactly two weeks to the day he was declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Abba Kyari was a guest of the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba, during his son’s wedding. This is a man that was meant to be under suspension. It is not only Abba Kyari that should be answering questions. Even the IGP has very serious questions to answer.

If Buhari had any shame, by now the IGP would have been out of the job. I released a photo of Obasanjo’s then Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun, in handcuffs, and in court to face charges of corruption. That is how to fight corruption. Not hosting a known criminal cop at the wedding of

DCP Abba Kyari your IGP! Kyari and Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba, are like Siamese twins. If one is dirty, then the other should be subject to a very thorough review.

At the risk of repeating myself, I remind my readers that as of January 30, when DCP Abba Kyari attended IGP Alkali Baba’s son’s wedding, Kyari was already a known criminal. Consorting with known criminals is already a breach of the IGP’s oath of office. If Buhari knows his own job, IGP Baba should not have a job by now!

But you and I know that that is not going to happen under Buhari. In fact, the IGP is more likely to be rewarded for giving a member of the favoured 97% (remember Buhari’s boast at the United States Institute for Peace?) a soft landing.

The same soft landing that was given to Babachir Lawal, Nasir Danu, Danjuma Goje, Aisha Buhari’s

ADC, and the true owners of the Ikoyi Apartment Billions.

In fact, I hope this current arrest of DCP Abba Kyari and this whole NDLEA thing is not an attempt to prevent him from being extradited to the United States to face his crimes there. I call on journalists to confirm this arrest, and make sure Kyari is not having fun with the big boys! After all, he was doing just that two weeks ago at the IGP’s son’s wedding.

Why the secrecy over this arrest? Nigerian Police Force should parade Abba Kyari the way they parade others who have committed lesser crimes. We all saw how the Buhari government paraded a political prisoner like Nnamdi Kanu in handcuffs. Let us see the criminal, Abba Kyari, like that too. And since Abba Kyari is a fashion consultant, they must force him to wear designers as they did to Kanu!

Yes, I call Kyari a criminal. But how much better is the government? A Buhari government that imports and sells adulterated fuel to its own people. A supercop in cahoots with drug dealers and fraudsters. An army that kills unarmed, peaceful, patriotic #EndSARS protesters. A President that surrounds himself with only people of his own tribe and religion. A First Lady involved in a shootout at Aso Rock, with the President’s nephew.

What I have described above is not a Netflix or Zee world movie. This is Nigeria since 2015.

Buhari is not running a government. He is running a corrupt criminal enterprise!

After saying fuel subsidy under former President Goodluck Jonathan was a scam, Buhari is now paying six times the subsidy President Jonathan paid. Have the cars in Nigeria multiplied by seven? N2.7 trillion for subsidy in one year? Buhari should apologise to Jonathan and accept that he is a munafiq and 419er who deceived Nigerians.

And after eight disastrous locust years of Buhari, they want to bring a Tinubu, who mocked those patriotic #EndSARS protesters that Buhari killed during the #LekkiMassacre, as President, and you as a true Nigerian will accept it? Tufiakwa! If you will, I will NEVER accept it!

And that is why Nigerians must think twice before making the same mistake of 2015 in 2023.

That Buhari wannabe named Bola Tinubu is waiting in the wings to continue the underdevelopment of Nigeria that the president started. Do we want another President that has to run to London every three weeks to be patched by London doctors so he does not urinate in public?

The only reason Buhari has not dared return to London for treatment is because of #HarassTinubuOutofLondon. But if Nigeria should make the mistake of electing a to le, Bola Tinubu, as President in 2023, I will just focus on my beautiful wife and leave Nigerians to endure him.

Let us face facts. Look at the state of Tinubu’s teeth. Look at the state of his urine-soaked agbada.

How can a man with such poor personal hygiene be entrusted with the fate of 200 million Nigerians?

An a to le will be our President? Nitori kini? She won sh’epe fu wa?

Reno’s Nuggets Abortion is a sin, according to Scripture. It is the taking of human life. Exodus 21:22-23 plainly describes an unborn foetus as a human life and that any man who causes a pregnant woman to lose her foetus is guilty of murder.

Ordinarily, I would not want to comment on this, but I have been bombarded by people whose faiths are being undermined. The only time I ever publicly disagree with a pastor is when people’s faith is undermined.

Abortion is not compatible with Christ following. That is why I teach against premarital and extramarital sex.

But if you have done it and get pregnant, don’t turn one weakness into two wickednesses!

Abortion is even worse than murder. Because most murderers murder someone who they feel has wronged them. While that is not exculpatory, we can see how that can be a human weakness. But why kill an unborn foetus that has not offended you or anyone?

Premarital and extramarital sex is sinful and wrong.

However, if you want to have premarital sex, or even marital sex, without getting pregnant, using protection is better than abortion later. But that protection must not be for the purpose of avoiding your responsibilityGenesis 38:9-10.

Even rape should not lead to abortion. At worst, have the child and have him or her adopted. But abortion and Christ following are Parallel lines that will NEVER intersect!

Being a Christ follower is not easy. You must commit to adjusting your life to suit Scripture, even Scripture that you do not like (yes, there are Scriptures I do not like). That is better than adjusting Scripture to suit your lifestyle. #TableShaker

Group Rescinds Call for Sack of NNPC Management NANS pass vote of confidence on Mele Kyari The Concerned Northern Forum has withdrawn its call for the sack of the entire management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

The group made their position known in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Mallam Ibrahim Bature, obtained yesterday.

It noted that since its call for the removal of the management of the NNPC and the prosecution of importers involved in the contaminated fuel, “there have been misgivings and misreading of our demands especially by those who profiteer from crisis situations.”

It explained: “It has become inevitable to put the records straight that our position has no political affiliation or influence nor been sponsored by any individual or groups. Our call was borne out of patriotism over the hardship occasioned by the scarcity of premium motor spirit and the huge economic impact of the bad fuel at a time government is battling with dwindling revenue.

“In view of new information at our disposal and the attempts by certain special interests to hijack our demand and use our position to blackmail the present NNPC management over the current artificial PMS scarcity occasioned by marketers dispensing fewer pumps at a time, we hereby state that following the operational error

of methanol in PMS above our national specification, which remains an unforeseen problem, we back the call for thorough investigation as ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari and urge security agencies to conclude the probe in good time and sanction all those responsible.”

In addition, it commended the management of the NNPC for taking prompt action by alerting the nation on the bad fuel and for taking measured steps to recall the bad product and injecting over 700 million litres and the promise of additional 2.1billion litres to address the shortfall.

“We demand that regulatory and security agencies ensure that fuel stations sell at the maximum installed capacity and in the event any station is found to be sabotaging government’s effort, the product be dispensed free to motorists and such station sealed.

We withdraw our notice for the sack of the NNPC management and nationwide protest but remain committed to the sanctioning of the importing companies and their officials,” it added.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has passed a vote of confidence on the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr Mele Kyari, for, “his swift response and approach to the unfortunate incident of adulterated fuel im-

portation into the country which could have ordinarily caused more economic woe for Nigerians.”

NANS stated this in a communique at the end of its non-elective national congress held at Sokoto State University between February 18th and 20th, 2022, a copy of which was obtained yesterday.

The congress demanded that those responsible for the importation of bad PMS into the country as named by NNPC should be brought to book and made to pay

for the cost of fixing the sabotage they orchestrated.

It charged NNPC to sustain its remedial actions including 24 hours loading, “offloading and distribution at all her deports and sales outlets respectively including other major marketers’ sales points in delivering on their promise to make queues in filling stations in Nigeria a thing of the past not later than the end of February 2022.”

Commenting on the incessant strike by the Academic Staff Union

of Universities (ASUU), it noted that the industrial action had rendered many Nigerian graduates jobless since they spend six years or more for programmes scheduled for four academic sessions, hence they graduate at a date much later than expected and face ageism in the labour market .

“ASUU and federal government should as a matter of necessity resolve their differences and establish a long lasting solution

to industrial disharmony in public universities not later than the 26th of February 2022.

“That a warning national mass action against the menace called ASUU strike will hold on Monday 28th February, 2022 simultaneously in the 36 states and the federal capital territory where major roads and choice federal and state governments common utility services including highways and airports will be totally shut down,” the association added.

Ex-Delta Poly Rector Bags 25-month Jail Term over Refusal to Appear Before ICPC Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) has secured the conviction of a former Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Dr. Edna Mogekwu.

She was sentenced to 25 months imprisonment for refusing to honour invitations on allegations of corruption levelled against her by the ICPC. Mogekwu, was sentenced to a two-year, one-month jail term.

Three principal officers of the institution, who were also convicted, were charged before Justice Marshal

Umukoro of the Delta State High Court, Asaba, by ICPC over their failure to appear before investigators to clear themselves of allegations of corruption.

The principal officers convicted alongside the rector by the court to one-month prison term each were a former Registrar, Collins Onyenwenu; a former Bursar, Andy Ughusuena, and a former Director of Works of the Polytechnic, Joseph Idabor.

ICPC had earlier filed a 5-count charge against the convicts before Justice Umukoro, in which it accused them of repeatedly refusing to honour invitations from the

commission.

ICPC Counsel, Ogochukwu Iwoba, had told the court that the rector and her accomplices, who were under investigation for acts of corruption by the commission failed to appear for interrogations when they were required.

A statement by the ICPC said the offences, allegedly committed in 2015, also consists of their refusal to honour an order to produce documents required by investigators of the commission, contrary to Section 28 (1) (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 28 (10)

of the same Act. Justice Umukoro, at the conclusion of trial, found them guilty on four out of five counts and therefore sentenced the trio of the Registrar, Bursar and Director of Works to one-month imprisonment accordingly.

The rector was found guilty on counts one, two and three out of the five counts by the court.

Justice Umukoro ruled that she would, therefore, serve one year imprisonment for counts two and three and one month’s jail term for count one.

The sentences will run concurrently, the court ruled.

LAWYER TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

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BANKOLE OLUMIDE ALUKO, SAN

Bankole Olumide Aluko, SAN: An Irreplaceable Icon

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022 • T H I S D AY

IN THIS EDITION

Whether Retracted Confessional Statement Requires Corroboration to Ground a Conviction Page IV

QUOTABLES ‘It is stunning that appointment of Judges, has the least screening/evaluation process. In the UK, there are 17 stages to go through to become a Judge.’- Professor Yemi Osinbajo, GCON, SAN, Professor of Law; Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Punuka Foundation Celebrates Valentine with Less Privileged Page V

‘It is unfortunate that the image of the Nigeria Police is so battered and so terrible, that one cannot effectively defend such an organisation…..What we have is a rogue organisation, that is not only going into conspiracy with criminals, but is even perpetuating such crimes in grosser dimensions.’

- Kunle Adegoke, SAN

LAWYER

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE: EDITOR, JUDE IGBANOI: DEPUTY EDITOR, PETER TAIWO, STEVE AYA: REPORTERS

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

Kyari: Beyond the Conspiracy Theories A Convenient Set Up? t is sad and disheartening that with each successive administration, the hope and belief of Nigerians in their Governments' sincerity declines. Today, it seems as if confidence in Government is at an all-time low. Is it because, at most given opportunities, Government has always shown a lack of will to do the right thing when it comes to many of their officials, apart from making an example of a few dispensable scape goats? If not, why would the conspiracy theory that the arrest of DCP Abba Kyari on allegations of drug trafficking and being a member of an international drug ring/cartel being a ploy to prevent his extradition to the US, be gaining ground? The theory finds support in Section 3(6)(a) of the Extradition Act 2004 (EA) which provides that “a fugitive criminal who has been charged with an offence under the law of Nigeria or any part thereof, not being the offence for which his surrender is sought; shall not be surrendered until such a time as he has been discharged whether by acquittal or on the expiration of his sentence, or otherwise”. This means that if DCP Kyari is brought up on drug charges, he cannot be extradited to the US until the case is over. He can only be extradited after he is either acquitted, or if convicted, he finishes serving his sentence in a Nigerian prison.

Additionally, by virtue of Article 4 of the Extradition Treaty between Nigeria and the US (and Section 3(5) of the EA), Kyari can also not be extradited if he is facing trial in Nigeria, for the same offence for which he is wanted in the US. See the case of Udeozor v FRN 2007 15 N.W.L.R. Part 1058 Page 409 on Extradition.

A pertinent question to ask at this juncture, is why this money laundering/extradition process has been so slow? If the wheels of justice had moved as swiftly as they should, possibly Kyari would already have been extradited to the US to face his ‘Cop Puppi’ charges; and this new debate as to which should come first, prosecution for drugs in Nigeria or extradition to the US would not even arise. Though, again, in the case of U.S.A. v Kayode Lawrence Criminal No. 4:03-cr-436-1, it took nine years to extradite the Defendant who was detained by the Nigerian authorities in 2004.

Those in support of Government, dismiss the conspiracy theory as fiction, insisting that it is impossible that Government will portray itself in such a bad light, setting up a charade based on an illicit drug trade, simply to protect DCP Kyari from the American Government, and keep him from being extradited.

However, so far, DCP Kyari hasn’t been charged for any offence here in Nigeria, be it drugs or money laundering. And, though there has been exchange of correspondence between the Nigerian and American Governments, it is unclear as to whether the US Government through its mission in Nigeria, has actually made a formal request for the extradition of Kyari to the US to officially start the ball rolling in the extradition process. The Special Investigation Panel launched by the Inspector General of Police (IG) to investigate Kyari’s money laundering matter, which is neither here nor there, as the punishment meted out by the Panel which was unsurprisingly and expectedly nothing more than a slap on Kyari’s wrist (demotion from Deputy to Assistant Commissioner of Police for inter alia, fraternising with fraudsters), was however, rejected by the Police Service Commission, which has ordered the conduct of another investigation. By virtue of Section 153(1)(m) and Part 1 Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) Paragraph 30(a) & (b), the Police Service Commission is established as a Federal Executive Body to appoint, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over all Police

I

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive.com onikepob@yahoo.com Twitter: @TheAdvocate

The

Advocate “……a valid reason for prosecuting DCP Kyari in Nigeria taking precedence over the US, may be the issue of a nation’s sovereignty. That as a sovereign nation, the alleged infringement of your own country’s laws, especially on serious drug-related matters, should take priority over charges to be faced in any other country” Officers, except the IG. Cynicism and Scepticism Nigerians have become quite cynical and sceptical about Government actions regarding its staff, and rightfully so too. In 2017, after the initial hullabaloo about the discovery of $43 million cash found in Flat 7B, Osborne Towers, 16, Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, what came out of it? What happened to the former Secretary to the Federal Government and the grass cutting scandal? Abdulrasheed Maina, who was fingered in a pension scam fraud worth billions of Naira, and fled from Nigeria to avoid prosecution, initially returned, was shockingly re-absorbed into the Nigerian Civil Service, resumed work and was even promoted for good measure. His son and co-accused who was convicted, is at large, while his own case will probably drag on to eternity.

When the story of the NDDC Probe broke last year, Nigerians thought heads would roll with the kind of criminal revelations of contracts worth billions of Naira which were awarded and not executed, reckless expenditure etc, that emerged. Alas! Nothing happened. Many of the suspects are still walking the streets freely, facing no real consequences, apart from losing their jobs in some cases, and the little public embarrassment they faced as a result of their fainting spells, “off the mic" etc. Everything simply went quiet, and people soon forgot.

Today, the NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) brought in

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari

bad/sub-standard fuel, through its nominees. Apart from the damage it caused to the vehicles of many who were unfortunate enough to purchase this bad product, and the costs that will be incurred in discharging the bad fuel from the storage tanks of the fuel stations that were unlucky enough to take delivery of same, and the cleaning out of those tanks to be able to render them fit for use again, Nigerians have been plunged into suffering with the long persisting fuel queues caused by this misadventure which has lasted for about two weeks or more.

In a civilised country where Government and public officials are held accountable for their actions, those at the helm of affairs at NNPC would have voluntarily resigned or been sacked.

In a place like Japan or China, they may even have committed suicide as a result of their failure to perform their duties properly, and the sheer shame of it all.

But, in Nigeria, where there’s little or no accountability, having unsuccessfully tried to shamelessly shift the blame on the marketers, NNPC issued an apology! Of course, all Nigerian Governments have a penchant for setting up panels of inquiry to investigate the obvious, simply as a window dressing I might add, to be seen to be up and doing; and nothing usually comes out of them. Yet, another one has been called for by the President in this bad fuel matter. Before the Panel issues it’s report, the matter would have been forgotten. What has become of the

#EndSARS Reports of the Panels of Inquiry set up across the country, to investigate the unfortunate incident where precious lives were lost, especially that of Lagos State? They are most probably, on their way to being consigned to the dustbin of history.

So, why should DCP Kyari’s case be any different? When the case of DCP Kyari broke in August, 2021, in my editorial of August 10, 2021, “Kyari: The Trial of Nigeria Police”, I had written that the way Government handles this case would be a litmus test for Nigeria. I said: “this time it is not just Abba Kyari that is on trial, but also the executive arm of Government (including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF)) and the Nigerian legal system that will be facing the court of global opinion”.

Conclusion Sadly, not much has happened since then.

Six months later, no orderly room trial has been commenced in Kyari’s matter, which would result in his dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force should he be found culpable. In the light of the drug allegations and video evidence etc against him (whether contrived or not), on the face of it, they make a strong case for his dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force.

Again, if the Buhari administration/APC was really serious about the so-called fight against corruption, it would have been doing more to cooperate with the US Government, especially with the conviction of Hushpuppi (Ramon Abass) and the issue of a warrant of arrest for DCP Kyari in Case No. 2:21-cr-00203 USA v Abba Kyari.

Many have complained that the Buhari administration’s fight against corruption is selective. Can this be true in Kyari’s case? My dear Readers, what is your opinion on this matter? Can one really perceive a reluctance on the part of Government to send Kyari to the US, or is it that the wheels of justice in Nigeria are just slow? Because, in December 2000, with the connivance of the Nigerian Government at the time, an abductee was forcibly kidnapped and taken to the US to answer to money laundering charges (extraordinary rendition). If our two Governments, that is, Nigeria and US could join hands together and use unethical means to take a suspect to America to answer to criminal charges, why didn’t they cooperate to do so lawfully in Kyari’s case? Why the delay?

Only time will tell. Hopefully, a little time, not eternity.

Technically, Section 3 of the EA preventing his extradition if Kyari is charged in Nigeria for the crime that the American Government wants him for or for drug charges, has not taken effect yet, because at the time of writing this editorial, no formal charges had actually been laid against DCP Kyari in Nigeria. While the naysayers will gladly believe the fact that if Kyari is subsequently charged in Nigeria with the full knowledge that the issue of his warrant of arrest in USA is first in time, it will be an indication that the Nigerian Government seeks to protect Kyari and prevent/frustrate his extradition to the US; a valid reason for prosecuting DCP Kyari in Nigeria taking precedence over the US, may be the issue of a nation’s sovereignty. That as a sovereign nation, the alleged infringement of your own country’s laws, especially on serious drug-related matters, should take priority over charges to be faced in any other country. Either way, one thing is for certain, DCP Kyari has fallen hard from grace to grass. Government ensuring that justice is duly served in this matter, may improve its image in the eyes of the people.

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022 • T H I S D AY

Whether Retracted Confessional Statement Requires Corroboration to Ground a Conviction Facts The Appellant was jointly charged with two others and arraigned at the High Court of Kwara State, on charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery. The Prosecution’s case was that the Appellant, together with two others, while armed with a gun, robbed the Complainant of her Honda CRV car at the gate of her house. The Prosecution also alleged that the armed robbers drove the car to Ibadan, sold it for the sum of N300,000.00 and shared the proceeds amongst themselves.

Sometime in August 2013, the Complainant was called to the station where she was informed that the accused persons had been arrested, and they were subsequently charged to court. In proof of its case, the Prosecution called three witnesses and tendered seven Exhibits - Exhibit P1 - P7.

The Appellant denied the case of the Prosecution, and alleged that he was arrested while on his way to Lagos on 15th April, 2013 at Odo-Oba, Oyo State. He posited that because he had an appointment in Lagos at 3pm on the day he was arrested, he was forced to seek alternative means of transportation where he walked to the highway and flagged down an oncoming Sienna vehicle.

As he made to enter the Sienna, two men in mufti alighted from the Sienna vehicle, pointing guns at him, and ushered him into the Sienna, where he met two other persons who had also been arrested, and they were taken to the Special Armed Robbery Squad Office, Ilorin. It was also his case that, he did not make or sign any confessional statement. The Appellant and the other accused persons, testified in their defence.

At the end of the trial, the court convicted and sentenced the Appellant and others to death by hanging. Dissatisfied with his conviction and sentence, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal, which court dismissed the appeal.

Still dissatisfied, the Appellant further appealed to the Supreme Court.

The Respondent, in its Brief of Argument, raised a Preliminary Objection challenging an issue formulated by the Appellant, on ground that the issue was a fresh issue for which no leave of court was sought and obtained.

Honourable Samuel Chukwudumebi Oseji, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 11th day of June, 2021 Before Their Lordships Amina Adamu Augie Uwani Musa Abba Aji Mohammed Lawal Garba Samuel Chukwudumebi Oseji Emmanuel Akomaye Agim Justices, Supreme Court

Issues for Determination In the substantive appeal, the following sole issue was considered by the court: “Whether the offences the Appellant was convicted for were proved beyond reasonable doubt by the Respondent (as Prosecution), having regard to the evidence adduced at the trial.”

Arguments Arguing the Preliminary Objection, counsel for the Respondent submitted that where a party seeks to argue before the court any fresh issue not canvassed at the lower court(s), whether the issue pertains to law or otherwise, leave to file and argue the issue must be first be sought and obtained pursuant to Order 6(5) of the Supreme Court Rules, 2008. Responding to the submission above, counsel for the Appellant submitted that the Appellant gave notice of his intention to seek leave of court, to raise and argue the ground of appeal complained of before or at the hearing of this appeal. Counsel urged the court to countenance the Ground of Appeal in question (Ground 5), to avoid a serious miscarriage of justice from being occasioned to the Appellant who may likely be prejudiced by the pieces of evidence of character admitted by the trial court, when the Appellant did not put his character in issue in line with the provisions of the Section 82 of the Evidence Act, 2011. Counsel reasoned that the question of bad character is one of exceptional public importance, which the court below could have raised suo motu to prevent an obvious miscarriage of justice.

He relied on CHUKWUEKE v THE STATE (1991) 7 NWLR (Pt. 205) 604 at 619d-620h.

Regarding the sole issue in the substantive appeal, counsel for the Appellant submitted that in a criminal charge, the onus is on the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt by virtue of Section 138 of the Evidence Act. And, to succeed in proving the commission of the offence of conspiracy under Section 6(a)of the Robbery and Firearms Act, the Prosecution has a burden to establish the existence of an agreement between two or more persons to do

SC. 1149C/2018 Between Akeem Afolabi

Appellant And

he State

Respondent

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Samuel Chukwudumebi Oseji, JSC)

an illegal act, or an act which is not illegal by illegal means; that the illegal act was done in furtherance of the agreement; and that each of the accused persons participated in the illegality. Counsel added that the basic requirements of an offence of armed robbery which the Prosecution is obliged to prove before the conviction of the Appellant, is the identity of the Appellant and the participation of the Appellant in the act of robbery, beyond reasonable doubt. Counsel maintained that, the Prosecution woefully failed to prove that the Appellant was one of the armed robbers who robbed the Complainant. He relied on ALABI v THE STATE (1993) 7 NWLR (Pt. 307) 511. Counsel argued that the Appellant’s confessional statement (Exhibit P4), being a photocopy of a public document, is inadmissible in law; the only form of secondary evidence of a public document that is admissible is the certified true copy of the original; and where a piece of evidence that is inadmissible in any event is admitted, it is the duty of the court to expunge it from the record - AROMOLARAN v AGORO (2014) LPELR-24037, SC. On the need

“…. a confessional statement is the best evidence to ground a conviction, and it can be relied upon solely where voluntary, and does not become inadmissible even if the accused person denied having made it”

to corroborate Exhibit P4, counsel contented that before a conviction can be based on such retracted confessional statement, there should be some corroborative evidence outside the confession which will make it probable that the confession is true.

In reaction, counsel for the Respondent submitted that where an accused person, as in this case, admits to the commission of a crime, narrates where and to whom he sold the stolen items obtained from the robbery, and goes further to plead with the victim to forgive him for the heinous crime committed, then a formal identification parade is not only irrelevant, but waste of precious time. Counsel relied on the case of OKASHETU v THE STATE (2016) All FWLR (Pt. 861) 1262.

On the issue of admissibility of a photocopy of Exhibit P4, counsel submitted that the grouse of the Appellant is totally misconceived; the issue was never raised before the trial court and that Exhibit P4 was a statement made in the handwriting of the Appellant which was admitted by the learned trial Judge after an extensive trial-within-trial. On the need for corroboration of Exhibit P4, counsel to the Respondent argued that an accused person can be convicted on his own confession alone, whether retracted or not, provided that the confession is free, voluntary, direct, and positive.

Once these attributes are present, a confessional statement must rank amongst the highest, if not the highest method by which the commission of a crime is proved- ABIRIFON v THE STATE (2013) All FWLR (Pt. 707) 665.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale In line with its practice, the Apex Court

considered first, the Preliminary Objection. The court however, noted that any objection to a ground or some grounds of appeal, where the other grounds are in order, should be by way of Motion on Notice to strike out the incompetent ground; and this could be argued in the brief and not by way of Preliminary Objection. A perusal of Ground 5 together with its particulars would reveal that the issue canvassed therein was raised in this court for the first time; it is a fresh issue and nowhere on record can it be found that leave was granted to the Appellant, to raise and argue a fresh issue. Mere indication of intention to seek leave, without more, does not obviate the need for the Appellant to seek and obtain the leave of court. In effect, the new ground is incompetent and hereby struck out.

Deciding the sole issue, the Supreme Court held by way of general restatement of the law that, the standard of proof required, and burden placed on the Prosecution, is one beyond reasonable doubt.

It is elementary that to secure a conviction of armed robbery, under Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, the Prosecution must prove the following ingredients of the offence: that there was a robbery or series of robberies, that robbery or each of the robberies was committed by a person or persons who was or were armed, and that the accused person was either the robber or one of the persons that took part in the robbery- DONDOS v THE STATE (2021) LPELR-53380.

The court held that it is only the testimony of PW2 (the Complainant/Victim) that will be relevant, in determining whether or not there was a robbery at her residence and whether the robbers were armed with offensive weapons. The evidence of PW2 in this instance with regard to the robbery incident, is not only explicit and unequivocal, it was not discredited under cross-examination.

Thus, by virtue of the evidence of PW2, the first ingredient of the offence of armed robbery has been established by the Prosecution beyond reasonable doubt. On the second ingredient, the Supreme Court held that, going by the evidence given by PW1 (the Exhibit keeper), PW2 (the Complainant/Victim) and PW3 (the Investigating Police Officer), the Prosecution has also established beyond reasonable doubt that the robbery incident at the house of PW2 was an armed robbery. On the third ingredient, the Apex Court held that there is no law requiring that an accused person must be seen at the scene of the crime, before he can be fixed with commission of the crime. Where the Prosecution adduces cogent, sufficient and acceptable evidence, fixing the accused person at the scene of the crime at the material time, the fact that he was not arrested at the scene of the crime pales into insignificance – STATE v SAIDU (2019) LPELR-47397(SC). Indeed, case law has devised three ways of establishing commission of a crime, which are: confessional statement of the accused, evidence of an eyewitness or circumstantial evidence. These three ways are not conjunctive, but disjunctive; however, a confessional statement is the best evidence to ground a conviction, and it can be relied upon solely where voluntary, and does not become inadmissible even if the accused person denied having made it - IDOWU v THE STATE (2000) 7 SC. The Supreme Court held that, Exhibit P4 was rightly admitted as an admission of the guilt of the Appellant by the courts below, and that the evidence fixed the Appellant at the scene of the crime; therefore, the third ingredient of the offence of armed robbery was established by the Prosecutor.

On the contention that Exhibit P4 was a photocopy and inadmissible, the Supreme Court held that Exhibit P4 is not a secondary copy of the original, and therefore, admissible.

On the offence of conspiracy, the court relied on the case of AKINLOLU v THE STATE (2017) LPELR-42670 for the definition of conspiracy, and held that all the evidence adduced at the trial inferentially showed that there was a conspiracy concert on when, how and where to carry out the robbery operations. The court therefore, upheld the concurrent decisions of the trial court and Court of Appeal, which held that the offence of conspiracy was proved beyond reasonable doubt.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation M.I. Hanafi with O.A Omolase and Y.A Yusuf for the Appellant.

J.A. Mumini, SAN (D.P.P. MOJ Kwara State) with K.U. Abimbola (ACSC for the Respondent).

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

V

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

NEWS

L-R: DG, Office of the Public Defender, Abdullahi Zakari; DG, Legal Aid Council Nigeria, Aliyu Bagudu; Prof David Blake; Court of Appeal Justice, Sierra Leone, Hon. Justice Reginald Fynn; Ebelechukwu Enedah and Chief Deputy Attorney-General, District of Columbia, Jason Downs

The Vice Principal, Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home School, Yaba, Mrs. Omowunmi Cole (left) of Punuka Attorneys presenting portrait photo of the Managing Partner of Punuka Attorneys to Mrs Angela Ezenweani to be given to Mrs Idigbe, during the visits to Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home School, Yaba, to mark the Punuka Annual Charity visits last Monday

Experts Make Case for Proper Funding of Judiciary Alex Enumah in Abuja A two-day workshop on achieving effectiveness in the quest for equal access to justice has ended in Abuja, with a call for proper funding of the Judiciary for effective justice delivery.

The workshop, organised by the Attorney-General Alliance - Africa, in collaboration with the Office of Public Defender and Citizens’ Rights Commission of Kogi State was to train Lawyers providing free legal assistance to the vulnerable

and indigents in the society.

In his paper, titled, “Funding and Administrative Issues - Effective Global Trends”, the Chief Deputy Attorney- General, Office of the Attorney-General for District of Columbia, Jason Downs, said when there is proper funding for Public Defenders, violation of rights by the Police and the State against the indigents and the poor, will be checked.

He said, it is expensive to incarcerate someone, considering the cost of movement from detention centres to the

Two Church Workers Arraigned for Fraud Steve Ayah The Special Fraud Unit, SFU, of the Nigeria Police has arraigned two church workers of Mountain of Liberation and Miracles Ministry (a.k.a. Grace Nation International or Liberation City) over an alleged N13 million fraud.

The two church workers, Ms Success Ibilibor Udoka and Ms Prosper Chinonso Iheukwumere, were arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja for stealing church funds.

Arraigning the suspects on four count charges, the Police, through their Head of Legal Department, Mr Emmanuel Jackson, told the court that the Police were ready for trial, while he urged the court to take their plea.

Both church workers pleaded not guilty, to all the charges levelled against them. Subsequently, their counsel, Mr Nicholas Akahabue, orally pleaded with the court to grant them bail on self-recognition and liberal terms.

Mr Akahabue told the court that he was willing to stand surety for the Defendants if his prayer was granted, and ensure that the suspects refund the church before the trial ended.

In his reaction, the Police Counsel, Mr Jackson, who didn't oppose the request, urged the court to grant them bail on condition that he would ensure they appeared for trial.

After hearing both counsels, Justice Oshodi granted the Defendants bail on selfrecognition, and ordered that the defendants deposit the sum of N5 million with the court registrar within thirty days.

Similarly, the Judge ordered the defence counsel to deposit his certificate of Call to Bar within thirty days with the court registrar, as a guarantee to always present the Defendants for trial.

However, Justice Hakeem Oshodi ruled that if they could not meet the bail conditions within the stipulated time, the Defendants should forfeit the bail. The matter was subsequently adjourned till May 19 for trial.

court, feeding and medical expenses of detainees.

“When funds are adequately provided for Public Defenders, it will increase efficiency of the country’s judicial system” he said, and also called for total independence of the Judiciary.

The Director-General, Office of the Public Defender and Citizens' Rights Commission, Mr Abdullahi Zakari, in his remarks said,

his Commission was set up in 2019 to provide free legal services to those who could not afford the services of Lawyers.

Apart from promoting and enforcement of the fundamental human rights of citizens of Kogi State, he said the Commission collaborates with other organisations to train Lawyers who provide legal services to poor citizens of the country.

Also speaking, the coordi-

nator of AGA-Africa project, Ebelechukwu Enedah, said the essence of the workshop is the reinforcement of the rule of law, through equal access to justice.

“What we are doing with the Commission is to ensure that the less privileged, the poor masses have access to justice.

“We are training people who provide free legal services, like human rights activists, Lawyers from Legal

Aid Council, who are the vanguard of ensuring equal access to justice”, Enedah, who is also a Partner in the law firm of Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors stated.

AGA-Africa is a nonpartisan organisation that works with governments of nine African countries and civil society organisations, to provide legal training and strengthen the rule of law specific to the need of each country.

Punuka Foundation Celebrates Valentine with Less Privileged Steve Ayah

The Punuka Foundation on St. Valentine’s day celebrated the day which also happened to be the birthday of one of its Founders and Managing Partner of Punuka Attorneys & Solicitors, Mrs Elizabeth Idigbe, by visiting children in orphanages and special needs homes.

This is an annual event, and this year’s visitation was no exception, as it was a fulfilling outing for both the Punuka Foundation team and the children visited.

At Ereko Methodist Special School, Obalende, the Foundation team was welcome by

the ever appreciative School Administrator, Mrs Adeniyi Samuel, who expressed the School’s gratitude to Punuka Foundation for remembering them yearly.

Responding, the leader of the team and a Partner in Punuka, Mr Nnamdi Oragwu, thanked the School for the wonderful reception given to the team.

He further stated that both the Foundation and Mrs Idigbe, will continue to support the School.

The highlight of the visit, was the presentation to Master Adeyemi Ayomide who emerged as the best pupil in Lagos State in the year 2021. The team then presented food items.

At the National Orthopaedic

Special Vocational Centre, Igbobi, some of the special children joined in cutting the Valentine Cake before the presentation of gifts to the School by Punuka’s Director, Law Practice, Mrs Angela Ezenweani.

The Head Teacher, Mr Dosunmu Taiwo supported by the Assistant Head Teacher, Oladimeji Abiodun and Senior Teacher, B.R. Azeez, all thanked Mrs Idigbe for her kind donation to them.

The delegation proceeded to Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home School, Yaba, where they were received by the Vice Principal of the Child Care and Home School, Mrs Omowunmi Cole,

on behalf of the Principal. She then received the gifts from the Punuka delegation, thanked Mrs Elizabeth Idigbe for always being there for the home.

The Foundation members also visited the Friends of Jesus Orphanage, in Badore, Ajah, where the head of the Orphanage, Sister Regina welcomes the Punuka team.

Responding Mr Nnamdi thanked the children for the wonderful reception, while commending the staff of the Orphanage for doing a wonderful job with the children. Items donated to the Orphanage, apart from food items, include one flat screen television, a gas cooker and a deep freezer.

Lagos State Government to Prosecute Attackers of Government Officials on Lawful Duties Steve Ayah The Lagos State Government said it would prosecute anyone found assaulting or attacking any Government officials, in the course of their lawful duties.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, expressed the readiness of the State Government to prosecute anyone found assaulting or attacking any Government officials in the course of their lawful duties in a press release on Wednesday.

This is coming after an attack on one LASTMA official around Berger on the 12th

February, 2022. The attacker, one Ibrahim Yusuf, a native of Osun State, was the driver of a Suzuki mini‐van with Reg. No. KJA 953 YE. Yusuf was seen on Saturday, 12th of February, 2022, by LASTMA officials on routine check wilfully breaking the traffic rules by obstructing traffic and parking to pick passengers at different spots not designated as Bus Stop.

The LASTMA official approached the attacker at Berger area, in the bid to arrest the vehicle, but the said Ibrahim Yusuf ran into the market and took a meat seller’s knife and stabbed one Awotola Victor Olatunde, the team leader of LASTMA on his head and also slashed his throat. The

attacker threatened to kill the official and leave Lagos State afterwards.

All efforts to arrest the violent attacker at that time proved abortive as he was enraged, threatening to kill the official. His vehicle was however, taken to the LASTMA office at Ojodu Berger.

The said Ibrahim Yusuf was later picked up and taken to the Police station by the Chairman of the Berger Park, and was charged to Court on the Tuesday, 15th February, 2022. He was charged before Magistrate Mrs Kubeinje of Court 4, Ogba for the offences of Attempted Murder and Assault Occasioning Harm contrary to Sections 230 and

173 respectively of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015. The attacker was remanded at the KIrikiri Correctional Centre, and the matter adjourned to March 30, 2022 for DPP’s Advice.

Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, further reiterated that Lagos State Government will not tolerate any form of attack or assaults on its official performing their lawful duties. He also assures the general public that the Office of the DPP will issue the Legal Advice expeditiously and prosecute the case diligently at the High Court, to serve as deterrent to would be offenders and attackers.

#upjudicialsalaries The Technical Committee on Judicial Remuneration & Conditions of Service (TCJR,) has recommended a salary increase for all Judicial Officers. We observed that between May 1999 and March 2011, the Federal Government of Nigeria reviewed the salaries and allowances of Public Servants and Political office holders on four occasions, specifically in 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2011. However, the salaries of judicial officers were only reviewed twice during the same period. As a result, judicial officers have been on the same salary structure for more than 10 years.” ” -Report of the Technical Committee on Judicial Remuneration & Conditions of Service (TCJR) June, 2018

VI

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022 • T H I S D AY

INSIGHT ABUBAKAR D. SANI

XL4sure@yahoo.com

08034533892

Does the Criminal Code Act Apply in the FCT?

T

his poser is prompted by the continuing application of the Criminal Code Act as a federal law across the country, in spite of what I believe to be its clearly anomalous status vis-à-vis relevant constitutional provisions. In other words, the question is: why is the Criminal Code Act still extant? Haven’t virtually all the 17 States of Southern Nigeria (where it was originally applicable) enacted their own Criminal Code laws? Why does the original Act retain its place in current Laws of the Federation (which contain all statutes enacted or deemed to be enacted by the National Assembly)?. Does the Code still possess the force/status of an Act of the National Assembly? Is it’s subject matter within the legislative competence of that body?.

Beyond these, however, the question is equally pertinent because of increasing number of defendants who have prosecuted (and who may be prosecuted) in the FCT, at the behest of the Attorney-General of the Federation, allegedly for contravening provisions of the Act. This is worrisome because of its constitutional implications.

The legal status of the Criminal Code Act within the FCT should, therefore, be closely scrutinised in the interest of fair hearing and constitutional supremacy. This is because, any conviction which is based on an unconstitutional law, is ultra vires, invalid, null and void. We shall attempt to do that anon, but, first first, a quick . . .

History of the Criminal Code Act The Criminal Code has had a long and chequered history. Its commencement date is the 1st day of June, 1916 - no less! - when Nigeria was very much a British Colony. From that time, till shortly before independence, it was applied across the country – until the 26th day of September, 1959, when it was replaced in the old Northern Region, by the Penal Code Law. Since then, the Criminal Code has survived (in its various local and State-wide iterations) as the primary criminal law applicable across Southern Nigeria.

Virtually all the Southern States have their own locally-enacted Criminal Code Laws or Criminal Laws simpliciter.

The Position Under the 1999 Constitution.

Given the peculiar history of the Criminal Code Act and Laws as aforesaid, the current Constitution has made copious provisions which impinge on its validity - as well as those of similar laws.

Those provisions are set out in Section 315 of the Constitution which describes statutes which ante-date the Constitution as “existing laws”. Section 315(4)(b) of the Constitution defines them as “any law and includes any rule of law or any enactment or instrument whatsoever which is in force immediately before the date when this section comes into force or which, having been passed or made before that date, comes into force after that date”.

Section 315(1) of the Constitution sets out he litmus test for determining the validity of any existing law. It provides thus: “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, an existing law shall have effect with such modifications as may be necessary to bring it into conformity with the provisions of this Constitution and shall be deemed to be:(a) An Act of the National Assembly to the extent that it is a law with respect to any matter on which the National Assembly is empowered by this Constitution to make laws, and (b) A Law made by a House of Assembly to the extent that it is a law with respect to any matter on which a House of Assembly is empowered by this Constitution to make laws”.

The Constitution divides legislative power between the National and State Houses of Assembly – vide Section 4 thereof. The respective remits of both Legislatures are specifically expressed and defined in the Exclusive Legislative and the Concurrent Legislative Lists. Whilst the former is the sole preserve of the National Assembly,

both Assemblies share legislative power in respective of the latter. There is however, a notional third list – the Residual Legislative List – in respect of which only State Houses of Assembly are competent to legislate upon: MINISTER OF JUSTICE & ATT-GEN. OF THE FED. v ATT-GEN. OF LAGOS (2013) All FWLR pt.704 pg.1@40. It is settled that, beyond criminal offences which might arise incidentally from a law enacted by the National Assembly pursuant to a specific subject matter contained in the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution, that Assembly is incompetent to enact a general criminal law applicable across Nigeria; See Item 68 of the Exclusive Legislative List and Paragraph 2(b) of Part III of the 2nd Schedule to the Constitution and BODE GEORGE v FRN (2014) All FWLR pt.

718, pg. 879.

The question, therefore, is: in which of these Lists is the subject matter of the Criminal Code Act contained? Is it in the Exclusive List, the Concurrent List or the Residual List of the Constitution? To this question, there does not appear to be a simple and straightforward answer. This because, the Criminal Code Act is a hybrid statute of sorts, consisting, as it does, of matters in both Exclusive and Residual Legislative Lists of the Constitution. The former pertain to Federal offences or Offences against the State , whist the latter are non-federal. I humbly submit that – apart from those provisions of the Code which deal with offences arising from matters contained in the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution, (i.e., Sections 37, 41, 44, 45, 48, 78, 79, 86, 161-189, 190A, 396, 491-493, 500-504, 449, 451, 453, 459, 459A, 459B, 460) – the rest of its provisions (which, by far, are the vast majority) make general prescriptions pertaining to criminal malfeasance. To that extent, I believe that the latter are beyond the remit of the National Assembly under the current Constitution. In other words, the non-federal subject matter of the Criminal

"It is obvious that, if the Criminal Code Act is inapplicable in Abuja, it would be a travesty for the Attorney-General of the Federation to prosecute a person at the Federal High Court, Abuja, allegedly for violating a provision of the Act"

Code Act is in the Residual Legislative List of the Constitution, in respect of which only State Houses of Assembly are competent to legislate as aforesaid; See TOGUN v OPUTA (No.2) (2001) 16 NWLR pt. 740 pg. 597.

So, what is the Status - and Fate - of the CCA? To the extent that the non-federal provisions of the Criminal Code Act cannot take effect as an Act of the National Assembly, but, rather, as a law made by a State House of Assembly, they do not apply in any of the 36 States of the Federation. In other words, subject to the existence of any other statute which might impinge on its validity, the Criminal Code Act, in the form in which it appears in the Laws of the Federation 2004 and 2010 would ordinarily be applicable only in the FCT, Abuja.

This is by virtue of the provisions of Section 299 of the Constitution which invests the National Assembly with the status of the Legislature of the FCT. The aforesaid qualification is, however, all-important, given the provisions of Section 13 and the 2nd Schedule to the Federal Capital Territory Act, 1984, which lists the Laws applicable in the FCT, Abuja. Given the importance of this provision, in my view, it is essential to set it out, verbatim, as follows: “In addition to any law having effect, or made applicable throughout the Federation, the laws set out in the Second Schedule to this Act shall, as from 9th May, 1984, apply in the Federal Capital Territory”. Crucially, the Criminal Code Act is not contained in that List; it is completely omitted. This is hardly surprising, as the Criminal Code Act has – at least, from the time of Nigeria’s political independence in 1960 till date always been a regional law. This factor obviously rules it out for consideration as one of the laws applicable across Nigeria within the contemplation of Section 13 of the FCT Act. By contrast, the Penal Code Law is specifically listed therein (it is Item 22 in the 2nd Schedule to the Act) as the general criminal law applicable in Abuja and enforceable in its courts. It is obvious that the implication of this exclusion of the Criminal Code Act from the list of the laws applicable in the FCT is that it is deliberate; in other words, expressio unius est exclusio alterius (the express mention of one thing in a statute, implies the exclusion of others which, otherwise, would have been included).

Accordingly, the only possible conclusion is that the Criminal Code Act is no longer ap-

plicable in the FCT. I believe this is all the more so, because the Constitution – which would have been decisive on the issue – does not expressly provide for the applicability of the Criminal Code by any court except the National Industrial Court.

See Section 254F(2) of the Constitution. The only other instance where the Constitution recognises (albeit tangentially or by inference) the provisions of the Code is in relation to the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court over treason, treasonable felony and similar offences - in Section 251(2) thereof. This is because, those offences (tagged “Offences Against the State”) are provided for

by Sections 37, 41, 44, 45 and 48 of the Criminal Code Act. However, of even greater concern, in my view, are other provisions - such as those of Section 7(3) of the Federal High Court Act, 1973 - which stipulate that the jurisdiction conferred by that Act on the Federal High Court in respect criminal causes and matters “shall include original jurisdiction in respect of the offences under the provisions of the Criminal Code Act being offences in relation to which proceedings may be initiated at the instance of the Attorney-General of the Federation”. It is obvious that, if the Criminal Code Act is inapplicable in Abuja, it would be a travesty for the Attorney-General of the Federation to prosecute a person at the Federal High Court, Abuja allegedly for violating a provision of the Criminal Code Act. Conclusion The status of the Criminal Code Act within the FCT is yet another instance of the niggling anomalies which continue to dog our laws. This one is particularly galling, in my view, because of its implications on fair trials under our constitutional order. Needless to say, the earlier it is corrected the better, because the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation - as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation - can ill-afford to be seen as subverting the Constitution by exercising a power which he lacks vis-à-vis criminal offences within the FCT. To the extent that it is the Penal Code Law - rather than the Criminal Code Act - which is applicable in Abuja, I believe the AGF ought not to prosecute any person in the FCT for allegedly contravening the Criminal Code Act in any part of Nigeria. Rather, such a person should be tried in any of the States where the Criminal Code is applicable. Suffice it to say that, except pursuant to the Penal Code (Northern Region) Federal Provisions Act, 1960 (which are but Sections 410 – 477 of the Penal Code Law), no person should be tried in the FCT for allegedly conduct which would constitute an offence or offences under the Criminal Code Act.

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Bankole Olumide Aluko, SAN

Bankole Olumide Aluko, SAN: An Irreplaceable Icon 20 years ago, the Nigeria legal community lost one of its most brilliant icons, Mr Bankole Olumide Aluko, SAN. His colleagues at the law firm he co-founded, Aluko & Oyebode, pay him a special tribute to commemorate the two decades of his passing. As they say, legacies never die. May he continue to rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord. Amen “There are some who death does not diminish” - Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN Early Life Bankole Olumide Aluko, SAN (“BOA”) was born on August 2,1956, at Massey Street Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria to the family of Mrs Janet Adebisi and Dr Timothy Mofolorunso Aluko. He was their fourth child.

BOA’s early education, was at Maryhill Convent School in Ibadan. When his Common Entrance (as it was then called) results were released, he was one of the sixty students nationwide that were admitted into King’s College, Lagos in 1968.

At King’s College, his brilliance, leadership qualities and literary capabilities were revealed. He quickly became a leading member of the Literary and Debating Society, as well as the Drama Club. He was House Captain of Hyde-Johnson’s House (the biggest and the best!) and Secretary of the School Students Union (which was an elective post akin to today’s Speaker of the House). Not surprisingly, in the West African School Certificate Examinations 1972, BOA obtained a Grade 1.

His love for Sports and indeed, his sporting abilities, were unparalleled. He was a member of the School’s football team (KC Lions) and held down the No. 3 shirt as left full back during his time at King’s College. He was also a member of the School’s Hockey team. In 1974, BOA left King’s College, after having completed his A Levels.

He gained admission to the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (a.k.a. “The Faculty”), where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in law – LL.B. As was to be expected, he excelled in all areas of endeavour during his time at the University.

This is evidenced by the various awards he received including the Federal Government of Nigeria Merit Award for overall best performance, University of Lagos (1975), and the 1977 final round of the Phillip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition, San Francisco, USA. He graduated from the University of Lagos in 1977 with a Second Class (Upper Division) degree in law.

While pursuing these academic exploits, BOA was also very active in Sports. Again, he wore the No. 3 shirt in the University of Lagos football team and soared at various National University Games (NUGA) and West African University Games (WAUG) competitions.

In 1978, BOA was called to the Nigerian Bar after excelling in his examinations at the Nigerian Law School. As usual, he did not just pass through the institution, he also left his mark.

He won the Chief Rotimi Williams Award for the best performance in Conveyancing and Legal Drafting. Thereafter, BOA attended the London School of Economics (LSE) for further studies and obtained a Master’s degree in law - LL.M. B0A’s Professional Career

“He was the consummate gentleman, the epitome of perfection, a stickler for detail…..His oratorical skills were second to none, and he regularly held audiences spellbound whenever he was in court or engaged in public speaking”

BOA started his professional career as an Associate at the Law Firm of J. B. Majiyagbe & Co. in 1978 during his National Youth Service year in Kano. After his LL.M in 1981, he joined the law firm of Messrs. Kehinde Sofola & Co. and worked there till 1983 when he joined Chief Rotimi Williams’ Chambers and was Leading Counsel at the “Black Table” up till 1990, when he was invited to join the partnership of Ajumogobia, Okeke & Oyebode which, upon his acceptance, became Ajumogobia, Okeke, Oyebode & Aluko.

In 1993, the partnership of Aluko & Oyebode was formed by him and his old friend Gbenga Oyebode.

During the course of his professional career, BOA became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and was a member of the International Bar Association. He was a stickler for perfection as has been attested to by all who had the privilege of associating with him. He successfully handled diverse high-profile cases at many courts in various parts of Nigeria and in several arbitral fora.

These cases ranged from simple contractual disputes to complex multi-faceted commercial disputes and criminal matters. If one could use the term “a full blooded and seasoned litigator”, BOA was one and it was no surprise when, in 1997, he was bestowed with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) at the relatively young age of 41.

Family Life On the family front, BOA married Ehimwenma Abiodun Aluko (nee Eke) in 1988, and they were blessed with children. BOA’s love and concern for his wife and children was limitless.

The Epitome of Perfection He was the consummate gentleman, the epitome of perfection, a stickler for detail. Anything he

laid his hands upon, had to be done perfectly and had to be neat. These traits were evidenced in his work and in his person.

BOA was well known for his meticulous dress sense. He took great pride in his appearance, and was always dressed with immaculate perfection.

He also took particular pride in his spotless, well starched, and perfectly ironed winged collars for court.

Extracurricular Activities His love for Sports in general (from Football, Basketball, Cricket, Hockey to Tennis), was well known. His love for the Super Eagles was sometimes incomprehensible, as he would attend any match played by the team no matter the distance, be it in Africa, USA or Europe. He was also an avid fan of Arsenal FC. Bankole loved music, ranging from Jazz to Sunny Ade to Fela. He played the flute, and was known to have played at different sessions at the then Museum Kitchen and Jazz 38.

He spoke French fluently, his command of the English language was a joy to listen to or read, as has been attested to by Lawyers and Judges, who had the privilege of knowing him. His oratorical skills were second to none, and he regularly held audiences spellbound whenever he was in court or engaged in public speaking.

BOA’s Character Traits Generosity, Loyalty and Empathy - BOA exhibited all these traits to a fault. Being an all-rounder, he was different things to different people, but the consistent thread was that he lived by the injunction that anything worth doing was worth doing well.

Two decades after his death, his legacy continues to resonate and everyone who knew him attests to the fact that we lost in him, one of the most brilliant of our generation.

On February 18, 2002, BOA went to be with his maker. He had run his last race.

Aluko & Oyebode

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he20thMemorialAnniversarySymposiuminhonouroflate Bankole Olumide Aluko, SAN, co-foundingPartnerofAluko & Oyebode themed, “Administration of Justice: The Ideal Standard, The Nigerian Reality and Our Potential” held on Friday, February 18, 2022 at Harbour Point,Victoria Island, Lagos. The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo GCON, SAN gave the Keynote Speech.

Herearesomeofthepersonalities,whoattendedtheevent Partners of Aluko & Oyebode with Mrs Aisha Oyebode, MFR (in Pink); Co-Founding Partner, Aluko & Oyebode, Mr Gbenga Oyebode MFR; Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN; Wife of Late Bankole Aluko, SAN, Dr Mrs Abiodun Aluko; Hon. Justice Amina Augie, JSC; Partner & Chairman of the Management Board, Aluko & Oyebode, Mrs Kofo Dosekun

Partners, Aluko & Oyebode, L-R: Tonye Krukrubo; Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN; Mark Mordi, SAN; Olubunmi Fayokun and Gbenga Oyebode, MFR Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN giving the Keynote Speech

Mr Gbenga Oyebode MFR

Dr Mrs Abiodun Aluko L-R: Mrs Aisha Oyebode; Mr Gbenga Oyebode MFR; Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN; Dr Mrs Abiodun Aluko; Mrs Kofo Dosekun and Partner, Aluko & Oyebode, Mr Tunde Fagbohunlu, SAN

Partner, Aluko & Oyebode, Mr Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN Partner, Aluko & Oyebode, Joke Aliu

L-R: Mr Gbenga Oyebode; Chairman, ICPC, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN; Mrs Aisha Oyebode; Hon. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour (Rtd JSC); Mrs Doyin Rhodes-Vivour, SAN; and the Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo

L-R: Ray Mgboekwere; Gbenga Oyebode MFR and Uche Valentine Obi, SAN

Mrs Kofo Dosekun

L-R: Partner, Aluko & Oyebode and Panel Moderator, Tunde Fagbohunlu, SAN; Panelists: Dr Babatunde Ajibade, SAN; Hon. Justice H.A. Abiru JCA; Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN; Prof Fabian Ajogwu, SAN and former NBA President, A.B. Mahmoud, SAN

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The Panel Discussants sharing their views

Associates of Aluko & Oyebode with 6th-9th from the left: Partner, Aluko & Oyebode, Ajibola Asolo; General Counsel, Rand Merchant Bank, Jennifer Martins-Okundia; Partners, Aluko & Oyebode, Olubunmi Fayokun and Ayodeji Oyetunde

L-R: (front) Kofo Dosekun; Dr Mrs Abiodun Aluko; 2nd Row: Mr Asue Ighodalo, Mrs Ifeyinwa Ighodalo (white headgear) and Mrs Fatima Wali Abdurrahman; 3rd Row: Mrs Yewande Zacheaus and Editor of This Day Lawyer, Onikepo Braithwate (black mask, behind Mrs Ighodalo) L-R: Robert Imowo; Fatai Oladipo; two Guests; Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN and Defolu Olufon

Dr Mrs Abiodun Aluko presenting the BOA Scholarship Award to Ebube Akpamgbo, Best Graduating Law Student of the University of Nigeria

L-R: Adesina Salawu; Mutiu Ganiyu; Mrs Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya; Tonye Krukrubo; Chuba Ekwealor; Adeolu Idowu; Rotimi Odusola; Abimbola Akeredolu, SAN; Uche Wigwe; Uyi Uhunmwangho and Tunde Fagbohunlu, SAN

L-R: Ken Etim; Gbenga Oyebode MFR; Aniekan Ukpanah and Dan Agbor Aluko & Oyebode Alumni with some of the Partners

L-R Front Row: Former Governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke; Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo; Hon. Justice Amina Augie JSC; Former NBA President and Vice Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Wòle Olanipekun, SAN; Mrs Kofo Dosekun; Dr Mrs Abiodun Aluko and a cross-section of Guests A cross-section of Guests

Some of BOA Scholars for 2021 & 2022: L -R: Olorunseun Braimoh (University of Lagos); Ebube Akpamgbo (University of Nigeria) and Kalu Deborah Mayowa (University of Nigeria)

Chairman, NBA-SBL, Ayuli Jemide (left) and Olasupo Shasore, SAN

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022 • T H I S D AY

TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN

0809 889 8888 SMS ONLY

Managing Complex Litigation: A Personal Experience (Part 2) Introduction ecently, we examined the meaning of the word litigation; the role of the Judiciary and counsel in complex litigation; complex commercial litigation; factors to be considered in commercial litigation and jurisdiction of courts in commercial litigation.

Generally, complex commercial litigation is the most common dispute resolution process in Nigeria for resolving high-value disputes, and is also resolved through commercial arbitration.

It is evident that, commercial arbitration is fast becoming the preferred method of resolving such disputes in Nigeria. Today, we shall conclude our discourse on this germane issue.

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Application of Nigerian Law In deciding cases of complex litigation before them, the courts are duty bound to apply Nigerian law. The courts will not apply a foreign law to determine issues litigated before them, except in instances where the contract between the parties contains a valid choice of law clause in favour of the laws of a foreign jurisdiction. It must be noted, however, that such law would only be applicable where it is not inconsistent with Nigerian law or against public morality, equity and good conscience. Where there is no settled Nigerian law position on an issue or matter, a settled foreign law position regarding the issue or matter may have a persuasive effect on the Nigerian court.

ADR to the Rescue Parties are encouraged to resolve their dispute by utilising Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms. Where parties fail to utilise these available mechanisms, the court can refer or subject parties to ADR centres created by the courts, for example, the Lagos State Multi-Door Court House. Usually, the court refers parties to ADR at the commencement of proceedings and before trial. In the event that the parties are referred to ADR and are unable to resolve their dispute amicably, they will be referred back to court for trial.

Conclusion In general, complex commercial litigation enjoys little or no difference from standard litigation.

The major difference arises in the multiplicity of complex litigation, and the expertise needed to handle either. While many Lawyers can handle standard litigation, very few Lawyers have the expertise of handling complex litigation. There are three major points that every Lawyer should engage, when planning and managing lengthy complex litigations. These are: - Form and empower a team Building a solid bench of experienced Lawyers for these types of cases is imperative, and starts with the identification of a “Vice”, “Deputy” or “Second-in-Command”, who can share in the global view of the case, and assist with its management. Other team members must be experienced with the roles, functions and responsibilities meted out to them. Nonetheless, these other team members should be accorded the opportunity to share in the “big picture” planning, as their ideas or opinions could make the difference between winning and losing.

- Always document your case

Create a timeline, and update it as frequently as possible. Each team member can, and should contribute to the case timeline. The practice is invaluable for many reasons, including that it memorialises events and developments (big and small); provides a quick history of the case for new (or forgetful) team members; useful for the summaries included with most motions; and, allows you to constantly validate activity against the case strategy. Such a timeline is also useful for updating clients, and mapping out strategies.

- Communicate with your Client regularly Update your client regularly, and without prompting. This is the most important practice pointer for any type of matter, but it is especially true with complex actions. Like the practitioner, your client is also susceptible to the same fatigue, loss of focus and internal transition. Anticipate this concern (as it is potentially impactful on your Lawyer–client relationship) with regular updates, and consider providing them access to your litigation timeline (or create and update an abbreviated version for them). This provides ready answers to most client questions, and will indirectly address the time-to-time perception of a lack of progress common to year-long cases. Providing regular updates and showing empathy to the situation, will go a long way to keeping your client committed to working with you.

A Lawyer’s Duty Goes Beyond Achieving Success in Complex Litigation A Lawyer’s role should go beyond achieving success, in complex litigation. Yes, it should involve participating in the social milieu, finding answers and solutions to complex problems of the society; problems that are at once centripetal and centrifugal. A Lawyer must look at the immortal works of the first Nigerian Lawyer, Sapara Williams (1855-1915), when he said, “the legal practitioner lives for the direction of his people and the advancement of the cause of his country”. A Lawyer must situate his societal role in one or more of the schools of thought in jurisprudence, with a view to helping societal growth. Let us therefore, first

“While many Lawyers can handle standard litigation, very few Lawyers have the expertise of handling complex litigation”

briefly look at the various jurisprudential schools of thought.

Reflections on the Meaning of Law The term “Law” has been defined in different ways, by several scholars. The definitions proffered by these scholars are reflections of their environments, their rationale for law and its relationship to justice. These divergent views on the meaning of law culminated into varying schools of thought on the subject, which in turn, crystallised into what has become generally known as the schools of jurisprudence.

One of the earliest schools of thought on law is the Natural Law School. St. Thomas Aquinas, Socrates, Aristotle, Cicero, John Finn, St. Augustine, etc., are some of the proponents of this school of thought. They believed that there is a universal law from a supernatural being, which is discovered by reason or rationalisation. The Italian philosopher, St Thomas Aquinas, defined law as: “… nothing else than an ordinance of reason for the common good, made by him who has care of the community, and promulgated”.

The Positivists School of thought on the other hand, believe that law is made by a sovereign, who serves as the only source of its validity, who imposes both the law and it’s sanctions on the people, while himself is exempted from the law.

John Austin, one of the proponents of this school of thought, stated in his Lectures on Jurisprudence (1885) that: “Law is a command from the sovereign person or body in the political society to a member or members of society and supported by sanctions”.

The proponents of the Realist School of thought on the other hand, postulated or argued that law should be seen as it is or as it is done in the law court, not as it ought to be or anything else. They argue that what transpires in the law court, or what the Judges do to arrive at their judgements and those judgements are the law. The American Judge, Oliver Wendell Holmes “The Path of the Law” in “Collected Papers, 1920” noted that: “The prophecies of what the courts will do … are what I mean by the law”.

Benjamin N. Cardozo, who succeeded Oliver Wendell Homes as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, noted in the Growth of the Law (1924) that: “When there is such a degree of probability as to lead to a reasonable assurance that a given conclusion ought to be and will be embodied in a judgement, we speak of that conclusion as the law”.

The Sociological School of jurisprudence,

considers law or legal development from the perspective of the people in the society. Perceiving law as a social phenomenon, the proponents posit the harmonisation of law with the wishes and aspirations of the people. According to Rosco Pound (one of the proponents of this school of thought): “… For the purpose of understanding the law of today, I am content to think of law as a social institution to satisfy social wants – the claims and demands involved in the existence of civilised society – by giving effect to as much as we need with the least sacrifice, so far as such wants may be satisfied or such claims given effect by an ordering of human conduct through politically organised society. For present purposes, I am content to see in legal history the record of a continually wider recognising and satisfying of human wants or claims or desires through social control; a more embracing and more effective securing of social interests; a continually more complete and effective elimination of waste and precluding of friction in human enjoyment of the goods of existence – in short, a continually more efficacious social engineering”.

As stated above, the sociological school is concerned with satisfying the interest of individuals and social institutions. These interests are claims or want or desires which men assert de facto, about which the law must do something if organised societies are to endure. The English philosopher, Thomas Hobbes defined “Law as the formal glue that holds fundamentally disorganised societies together.”

While Oliver Wendell Holmes and Cardozo approached law on the basis of what the Court eventually does, Rosco Pound considers the concept “law” as a social institution to satisfy social want. His view of the law, accords with the democratic principle of government. In a democracy, law is the reflection of the will and wish of the society. It is said that if you want to study any society, you have to study the laws enacted by that society. Law, though a product of the society, is the tool for the transformation of a society. Law does not only set the path for change, it is the catalyst for change in any progressive democratic society.

Lastly, the proponents of the Historical School of Thought believe that law is a product of the people’s historical advancement. According to Von Savigny, law is: “… a result of moments the germ of which, like the germ of the State, remains in the nature of people as being produced for culture and which grows different types from this germ, depending on the environment of the factors that perform on it”.

For Savigny, law is a reflection of the spirit of the people (Volksgeist) that grows with the growth of the people, and dies as the nation loses its nationality.

The perspectives of the various schools of thought on the meaning of law, are germane to our understanding of law as a tool for social change in Nigeria. Notwithstanding their perspectives, one outstanding feature in the various schools of thought is the need to ensure orderliness in the society through law. We, as Lawyers, are the engineers that drive the legal process.

So, permit me therefore henceforth, to speak to these above vexed issues which I raised earlier ex tempore. I believe that your automatic recording of same, will enrich your communique that will emanate from this beautiful retreat exercise.

Consequently, allow me to speak on Nigeria; where we were; where we are; where we ought to be and how to get there. That is my ex tempore talk henceforth. (The End).

Serious and Trivial “If you don’t stop lying, you will grow up to be a presidential spokeperson” – Anonymous.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “Litigation is the pursuit of practical ends, not a game of chess”. (Frankfurter)

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

Tackling Humanitarian Crisis through Developmental Approach Either caused by war, natural disasters, famine, and outbreak of disease, Humanitarian crises often threaten the health, safety or wellbeing of any nation. Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that for Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, her intrepidness and resort to developmental approach will ameliorate the Nigerian situation

Hon. Sulaiman-Ibrahim

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s an emerging politician, administrator and a strategist, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), is faced with the daunting task of catering for the millions of internally displaced persons across the nation.

The NCFRMI is the front-line humanitarian federal government agency saddled with the responsibilities to provide protection and support for Persons of Concern (IDPs, migrants, Refugees, Stateless Persons and Returnees).

Her dignified calmness and composure, as well as intrepidness at which she gets tasks done has placed her at a vantage position and has justified the premium

Federal Commissioner NCFRMI carrying out humanitarian acts

placed on her by President Muham- istries and agencies have demonstrated capacities and have shone like stars madu Buhari. in the firmament. Sulaiman-Ibrahim is no exception as she has emerged Demonstrating Capacity Under the administration of President as an administrator and strategist in Buhari, women appointed to head min- public service and in the political space.

"As the front-line humanitarian federal government agency saddled with the responsibilities to provide protection and support for Persons of Concern (IDPs, migrants, Refugees, Stateless Persons and Returnees), the Commission has made progress and strengthened its national response in many areas"

The faith and trust placed on her by President Muhammadu Buhari and few others who believed in her capacity to deliver on any national assignments assigned to her is becoming manifestly justifiable with her growing records, first as the Director-General of National Agency for the Prohibition Of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) and currently as the Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI. It is also worth mentioning the vibrant role she played in the just concluded two-day progressive women national conference of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Contacts and Mobilisation Chairperson that saw the coming together of over 5,000 women from across the 36 states and the FCT alongside her team, an event which has been rated as first of its kind women

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Federal Commissioner meeting and making sure people are adequately catered for

political gathering in recent times.

Perhaps Nigeria’s Vice President; Professor Yemi Osinbajo had her and other of her kind in mind when he stated that “ensuring the education of women and empowering them is an existential issue for Nigeria and the rest of Africa”, otherwise holding women down means holding their societies down.

At the age of 21, Hon Imaan bagged two master's degrees from Webster University in the United Kingdom and has relentlessly continued in her quest for excellence and self-development in different sectors as entrepreneur and an administrator, but would modestly not talk about her achievements or brag about them.

Achievements as DG NAPTIP Hon. Imaan was appointed DG OF NAPTIP between December 2020 and June 2021 but the successes she recorded within the six months are a testimony to the fact that she was prepared for the tasks as proven by statistics from the agency.

Cases investigated in NAPTIP include 383. A breakdown of those figures revealed that the number of suspects arrested were 264; victims rescued, 429; victims reunited, 462; number of convictions, 21; number of cases pending in court, 181; number of high-profile cases at the headquarters under investigation, six; and about 2,422 Nigerians repatriated from countries like Libya, Ghana, UAE, Mali, Niger, Saudi, Iraq and many others.

The agency also secured over 120 slots for Basic Intelligence and Law Enforcement Training on pro-bono basis for staff from Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), among others.

Prior to her assumption of office as DG, the agency operated three regional directorates in North, South-west and South-south.

Under her leadership, for better efficiency, the agency expanded its coverage to six regional directorates, with each headed by a regional director and an assistant regional director. The list of her exploits at NAPTIP are immeasurable.

Structure at Refugees/Migrant Commission As the front-line humanitarian federal government agency saddled with the responsibilities to provide protection and support for Persons of Concern (IDPs, migrants, Refugees, Stateless Persons and Returnees), the Commission has made progress and strengthened its national response in many areas.

In strengthening internal structure upon her resumption on June 4, 2021, she worked towards ensuring a well-structured organisation, a motivated and empowered workforce.

This, she has achieved and still achieving

through training of staff: first batch capacity development for over 70 staff, with second batch of 70 staff which will commence soon.

Also, there are other professional trainings conducted for officers of the Commission such as IPPIS for account staff as well as National Data Expo conference and NITDA, e-Governance training for ICT staff, which was the first of its kind.

In order to motivate the workforce for optimum commitments, Hon Imaan has looked into an upward salary review for staff. The commission is currently advocating for adequate remunerations and allowances for staff, considering the challenging nature of NCFRMI humanitarian mandate in order to meet up world standards and has also appointed and elevated core NCFRMI staff into key leadership position on acting capacity to give room for growth.

In the few months of her assumption of office, she has developed stronger organogram and organisational structure that addresses operational gaps at the commission, coupled with the development of a strategic framework for the commission.

Project Zero Hunger This is an initiative aimed at bringing immediate relief to vulnerable Persons of Concern and their families facing food insecurity. It incorporates a whole of society approach to providing assistance and support to PoCs. The project is also developed to help streamline and enhance the accessibility, distribution and availability of mainly food and non-food items thereby eliminating waste and duplication of efforts. The Pilot phase is in collaboration with DEPOWA and Nigerian Army.

The Commission has launched and piloted the initiative in Abuja, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Wase in Plateau, Ikorodu in Lagos and Borno States. Currently, there are plans for Kano and other states in the New Year.

IDPs Birth Registration Exercise In order to prevent and reduce the risk of statelessness among the displaced population, the Commission has also partnered the National Identity Management Agency and the National Population Agency in the capturing and profiling of Persons of Concern in order to provide them with identification that will allow them access necessary services such as health and financial services.

Project Resettlement City The NCFRMI has committed to the rehabilitation, reintegration and resettlement of all Persons of Concern.

The Commission has commenced the pilot phase of the Resettlement City Project which entails building resettlement cities that targeted an initial four states of Borno, Katsina, Edo and Zamfara, each city with 400 houses, a primary healthcare centre, educational learning centre, skills acquisition centre, recreational area and a solar powered borehole.

Project Reliance This is a comprehensive empowerment programme geared towards making refugees, migrants and displaced persons sustainably self-reliant by helping them with startup capitals and starter packs in various trades and businesses of their choice. The Commission is partnering the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to re-launch and expand this project to capture more Persons of Concern.

The commission has also conducted needs assessments and Food & NonFood Items distribution: Needs assessment were conducted in Kebbi, Lagos, Ebonyi, Imo, Enugu, Niger, Kwara, Nasarawa, Cross River, Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, Bauchi and Rivers states. The assessment activities of other states are currently ongoing.

And towards ensuring good health for these vulnerable ones, Hon Imaan Sulaiman has partnered the National Primary Health Care Development

"Project Reliance is a comprehensive empowerment programme geared towards making refugees, migrants and displaced persons sustainably selfreliant by helping them with startup capitals and starter packs in various trades and businesses of their choice"

Agency (NPHCDA) to roll out COVID-19 Vaccines to all Persons of Concern.

The Honourable Federal Commissioner also took over as Chairperson, Technical Working Group (TWG) for the voluntary repatriation of Nigerians from Chad, Niger and Cameroon from the Honourable Minister, Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development.

The TWG was convened in compliance with the presidential directive and was setup for the voluntary repatriation of Nigerians from Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republics.

It has also begun the development and review of draft standard operating procedure for the identification of combatants among Cameroonian refugees and asylum seekers in Nigeria.

Review of Migrants Policy For the Commissioner, the country’s migration policy is at the verge of being reviewed.

Underscoring the importance of the review, she stated that migrants are a remarkable engine for growth as they account for more than 250 million around the world, which make up three per cent of global population and contribute 10 per cent of global gross domestic product.

According to her, Nigeria remains a country of origin, a country of transit and a country of destination, hence, the country is not against migration but posited that Nigeria is in dire need of a migration policy that works for everybody.

To this end, she added that the team from her agency and that of the Foreign Affairs would be in South Africa, to meet with other global stakeholders aimed at discussing how to strengthen labour migration policies.

She added that the last review was done in 2015 and NCFRMI being the lead agency for migration for government, “we are the custodians of the migration policy. It is about to undergo a review.

“The first joint Migration Dialogue with the Civil Society Day was conducted in collaboration with the CSONetMADE and IOM. "This is in recognition of the role being played by the civil society organisation as key stakeholders in migration management at an event that was well-attended with discussion centered on areas to strengthen the migration policy which has an Implementation plan and a work plan.”

Given that there are no singular solution to any one humanitarian crisis as its primary causes are intertwined with several other factors, Hon. Sulaiman-Ibrahim is not resting on her oars in ensuring that Persons of Concern are adequately catered for despite their extenuating circumstances.

XVI

T H I S D AY ˾TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2022

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT UNILAG VC Ogundipe Charges Students on Manufacture of Glass Products Bennett Oghifo

T

he Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe has charged students to learn and understand the processes of manufacturing products with the use of glass, a very malleable material.

Prof. Ogundipe gave the advice at the university, during an awareness symposium, one of the activities slated to mark the declaration of 2022 as The Year of Glass by the United Nations.

Glass has been identified as a resource efficient material. It is a sustainable, fully recyclable material, which can be recycled in close loop over and over again. It may define the truly circular product, according to the UN. Glass is also highly appreciated in many applications for its inert nature and its contributions to safeguarding people’s health and wellbeing. It provides great environmental benefits such as contributing to mitigating climate change and saving precious natural resources.

According to Ogundipe, “The future of

glass could translate into unlimited opportunities. So for our students, this is a very good opportunity for you to start thinking about what you can produce in this country in the next 10 to 30 years. With new ideas there are new opportunities. We are bringing innovation and so many other things. So let our students look to glass, like the things we are seeing here (glass products on display at the symposium) are works of art that someone developed, if we ask how much these cost it would be so much that it would be out of reach of some people.”

On the planned collaboration of Arcline Beehive Design Foundation (ABDF) with the university on the use of glass, Ogundipe said, “I want us to know that this is a very good opportunity for the university and we must not allow it to slip away from us.

“I like grabbing opportunities...I want us to grab this opportunity, so that the foundation interested in funding the projects will not regret bringing it to the University of Lagos.

“The University is ready to do everything that is needed to implement the projects and we are ready to give all the necessary assistance needed for us to be sure that we

Nigerians Must Wake Up, Toe Path of Decency, Says Larinde Laoye Bennett Oghifo Nigerians are suffering and the society is stagnated because of corruption, worsening economy, and lack of social values, among others.

This was the verdict of Brig-Gen (rtd) Larinde Laoye, who was Guest Lecturer at the 17th annual Adekunle Kukoyi Memorial Lecture, organised by the Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, recently.

Gen. Laoye gave clinical details of what he believes ails Nigeria, in his well-articulated presentation ‘Why Are Nigerians Hurting and Lamenting: 61 Years After Independence?’

According to him, “The issues that are hurting Nigerians, which Nigerians are lamenting about, are gross indiscipline, corruption, demise of social values, general insecurity, economic weakness despite availability of God-given natural and human resources.

“Others are injustice and flagrant abuse of human rights, leadership, drug Issues, poor health-care delivery system, impatience and professional negligence, nepotism and selfishness in all facets of Nigeria’s life.

“We must wake up as Nigerians to toe the path of decency and honour. Looking at our National Anthem it commands Arise, O Compatriots, Nigeria’s Call Obey. First line second stanza also states; O God of Creation, direct our Noble Cause. Then the National Pledge says; I pledge to Nigeria my Country, To be faithful, loyal and honest, to serve Nigeria with all my strength, To defend her Unity, and Uphold her Honour and Glory, so help me God. “Our weakness should be prized, as making room for divine strength. We might never have known the power of grace, if we had not felt the weakness of nature. Our heavenly

Father seeks our instruction not our destruction.

We think the Lord is long in his chastisements, but that is because we are short in our patience. Today, most Nigerians living are hurting and lamenting on several issues briefly enumerated and many others I must have failed to mention. Presently many may be disappointed with Nigeria! Remember the foolish ways Nigeria has taken so far, remind us of the need to work as one, to compass what we desire. The Holy Bible in the Book of Acts, chapter 3, verse 19, says All must repent, so that our sins may be blotted out, thus allowing times of refreshing (of our land) from the Almighty God to come. The Blame game must stop, let all Nigerians rise as Nigerians. Nigerians must yaw, stall or collide in our resolve to imbibe the dreams of our founding fathers in the growth, and unity of our equity nation. Then we would all have succeeded in preserving the memory and legacies of Pa Surveyor Adekunle Kukoyi.

Our youths remain our tomorrow, the elite of today, the powers that be today, the wealthy that we have, our living legends that Nigeria has done so much for, should rally to stop the hurting and lamentation, that ought not to be our portion for a greater commonwealth nation called Nigeria.”

Welcoming members of the Institution and guests earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors Lagos Branch, Surv.

Olukolade Kassim said, “We continue to celebrate Surv. Adekunle Kukoyi as he remains a beacon for the surveying profession and the larger society. His professional and public life achievements remain a source of pride to us all. He was a boardroom guru, sports administrator and participated actively in community service engagements organised by the Rotary Club.”

L-R: President, Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Surveyor (Dr) Olukayode Oluwatomi; Widow of Surveyor Adekunle Kukoyi, Mama Essie Ibijoke Kukoyi; Chairman NIS Lagos State Branch, Surv. Olukolade Kassim; Guest Lecturer, Brigadier Gen. (Rtd) Larinde Laoye and his wife, at the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors Lagos State Branch Annual Adekunle Kukoyi Memorial Lecture held in Lagos… recently

use this opportunity to the benefit of the nation. Because, If you go to China and all other places around the world you can see what they do with glass. You will not believe that what we are made to believe is very weak; they are using it to perform wonders.”

According to the Chairman, Board of Trustees Arcline Beehive Design Foundation, Mr. Adeolu Okulaja, “The United Nations has declared 2022 the International Year of Glass. We have organised a series of events in conjunction with the United Nations Information Center Lagos, the University of Lagos and the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.”

The group’s recent kickoff event called ‘A Walk for Glass’, other scheduled events are to be done in conjunction with the fashion industry, food industry and the arts. “I would like everyone to join us in this one in a lifetime celebration. And I hope that we can all benefit from the events for a more sustainable future.”

He said other events scheduled for the celebration are: UN 2022 IYOG information booth at NUGA games at UNILAG sports center (awareness campaign) in March; National

Ogundipe

glass day seminar on recycling and advancement in glass technology for businesses and professionals on April 28, 2022; Glassunlimited workshop on glass-bim innovation and design on June 29, 2022, among others.

Landwey Unveils Project Experience Center to Address Home Buying Challenges A real estate firm, Landwey Investment Limited, has initiated Nigeria’s first interstate real estate development model called ‘WeyFlex’ to provide homes for Nigerians across the country.

The firm also launched a Project Experience Center, a state-of-the-art facility, to showcase components and designs required for housing development.

This was disclosed at the official launch of the new project model at the weekend, and the firm said the project model, WeyFlex, is set to offer Nigerians the opportunity to own FlexVilla homes in over 20 locations nationwide, with

a variety of design options to choose from, providing an instant modification to taste and standard whether for residential or investment purposes.

According to the firm, ”Owing to several factors, many Nigerians, at home and in the Diaspora struggle to find a home in their preferred locations.” These factors often range from the rising cost of land purchase in metropolitan areas like Lagos, demand for quality countryside homes that meet all regulatory standards, ease of construction for those in the diaspora amongst others.

Speaking on the benefits of WeyFlex and the LandWey

Project Experience Center, the Chief Executive Officer, LandWey, Olawale Ayilara, said, “WeyFlex was designed for ease and convenience, affording Nigerians, both home and abroad, control over where they want their next home to be, how they want it to look and when they want it to be delivered.”

He noted, “The LandWey Project Experience Center transcends boundaries and limitations to showcase the different structural designs, building types, e-brochures, interactive 3-D designs and other virtual experiences to ease the home buying process.

Cyberthreats in Nigeria are Rising, But Businesses Still Lack Strong Identity Protection Mohamed El Nemr Microsoft’s threat and data research shows just 22 percent of Cloud Identity Solution and Azure Active Directory users have implemented strong identity authentication protection.

What would you imagine your username and password are worth to a hacker? According to Microsoft’s latest threat and data research, the average price for 1,000 stolen username password pairs is around $0.97. What’s more, securing 400 million username and password combinations in bulk will earn a cybercriminal around $150.

There can be little doubt, cybercriminals have our passwords in their sights. This is particularly the case in Africa where businesses are often more prone to cyberattacks than companies anywhere else in the world. According to one report, Nigeria ranked third in Africa, experiencing 16.7 million cyberattacks. South Africa ranked first with 32 million attacks, followed by Kenya at 28.3 million.

With weak passwords, password spraying, and phishing the entry point for

most attacks, identity is the new battle ground of cyberthreats. And for organisations looking to protect themselves, preventing an identity from being misused or stolen, is now the highest priority. As part of the first edition of, Cyber Signals, Microsoft’s new quarterly cyberthreat intelligence brief, we take a closer look at the dangers of the rising mismatch in scale of identity-focused attacks in relation to levels of organisational preparedness.

The brief, which offers an expert perspective into the current threat landscape, aims to be a valuable resource to Chief Information Security Officers in Nigeria, as they navigate the constantly changing threat landscape.

Cyber Signals aggregates insights we see from our research and security teams on the frontlines, including analysis from our 24 trillion security signals combined with intelligence we track by monitoring more than 40 nation-state groups and 140 threat groups.

The newly released research shows that though threats have been rising fast over the past two years, there has

been low adoption of strong identity authentication, such as multifactor authentication and passwordless solutions. In fact, just 22 percent of Microsoft’s Cloud Identity Solution, Azure Active Directory, users had implemented strong identity authentication protection as of December 2021.

However, the consequences of a data breach are now front of mind for 64 percent of companies in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) according to current Microsoft-IDC research. In fact risk experts across MEA rank cyber incidents as the second highest risk facing the region, largely because of the increase in both size and expense of data breaches.

This is helping push organisations in Nigeria to pay closer attention to digital identities. As it stands, confirming user identities with an additional layer of security is a key priority over the next six to 18 months for 60 percent of businesses in MEA. Mohamed El Nemr is Modern Workplace and Security Business Group Lead for Microsoft Middle East and Africa Emerging Markets

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

23

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

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

08056356325

F E B R U A R Y

S & P INDEX

2 1 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OBB

9.00%

CALL

4%

INDEX LEVEL

564.02%

1/4 TO DATE

5.82%

N413.03/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

10.75%

1-MONTH

6%

1-DAY

–0.17%

YEAR TO DATE

– 15.85%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.19%

Amid Sustainability Concerns, Nigeria’s Oil Production Begins Upward Swing Onshore drilling rises by 12% Deep, shallow water up 5%, 7% respectively

Source: NUPRC, Renaissance Capital

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Nigeria recorded a substantial growth in its oil drilling activities in January 2022, compared to the last quarter of 2021, with onshore production rising 12 per cent, while deepwater and shallow water activities increased by 5 per cent and 7 per cent respectively.

It was a marked improvement when put side by side the last quarter of 2021 when onshore production

was down 36 per cent, deepwater 28 per cent and shallow water 20 per cent.

But in contrast, in January, according to a report by Renaissance Capital, a frontiers market investment bank, onshore production was only down 24 per cent, deepwater 23 per cent and shallow water 13 per cent.

However, there are still issues of sustainability of the new-found rhythm by the Nigerian National

Petroleum Company (NNPC) and its partners which have lagged behind for months in terms of meeting its allocated quota. “It is too early to say if these levels can be sustained,” the RenCap analysts noted.

In January 2022, most major terminals experienced a sharp recovery in output, the report said, with Forcados in particular reaching pre-COVID levels, but with Bonny still lagging due to downtime at the

Trans-Niger pipeline (TNP).

Nigeria’s ageing infrastructure, downtime and crude theft are chronic challenges for the onshore sector as it has been unable to meet its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cut.

Last week, a THISDAY analysis showed that although Nigeria undershot the 1.701 million bpd OPEC cut in January 2022, it was able to ramp up production to the

tune of 202,000 bpd for the month.

According to the OPEC’s Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) for the month, the country managed to pump 1.399 million bpd out of the total allocation, quoting primary sources.

This was in contrast to December 2021, when it pumped 1.197 million barrels per day and November when it was only able to produce 1.275 million bpd.

Before now, in December, with a daily underperformance figure of 78,000 barrels per day in, THISDAY reported that Nigeria lost as much as 2.418 million barrels of crude.

Promises by the Minister of State, Mr. Timipre Sylva and the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, that the country would hit between 1.7 million bpd and Continued on page 26

Africa’s Food Import Bill to Reach $100bn by 2025 as Global Food Insecure People Hits 283m Gilbert Ekugbe The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has stated that Africa’s food import bill is expected to hit over $100 billion

by 2025.

The president, IFAD, Mr. Gilbert Houngbo, explained that continent currently imports about $70 billion of its food needs annually.

Houngbo stated this at the African

Union and European Union summit in Brussels, Belgium over the weekend.

This is as the World Food Programme (WFP) has revealed that the number of food insecure

FOOD NAME OF COMMODITY

MAIZE

COMMODITIES

LOCATION

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

100KG JIGAWA

N9000

SORGHUM

100KG ENUGU

N24000

100KG DELTA

N15000

SIZE

100KG

ABIA

N14000

50KG

LAGOS

N13500

people has increased from 135 million to 283 million across the globe, warning that the number could spike even further.

The UN food body in a statement made available on its website, added

SIZE

PRICE

STATE

100KG JIGAWA

that a total of 45 million people in 43 countries are teetering on the edge of famine with overall global needs for humanitarian assistance on a clear upward trend and are now higher than ever.

According to WFP, every region in the world is faced with the prospect of millions waking each day to empty plates, soaring food Continued on page 25

T O D AY

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

N9,000

TOMATOES

40KG

BENUE

N15,000

40KG

KADUNA

N5,000

40KG

ABIA

N18,000

25KG

LAGOS

N9,500

40KG

DELTA

N17000

100KG

BENUE

N8,500

100KG

KADUNA

N8,500

50KG

ENUGU

N23,000

50KG

LAGOS

N17,000

100KG

DELTA

N23,000

PRICE

24

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS FOOD

NAME OF COMMODITY

PALM OIL

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N25000 25CL

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

N21,000-24,000

PH

COMMODITIES SIZE

25CL

N21,000–N24,500

IMO

PRICE

100KG ABUJA N23,000–N25,000 50KG 50KG

25CL IBADAN N18,000-N22,000

STATE

OYO

LAGOS N23,000–N26,500

50KG RIVERS N23,000–N26,500

25CL

N17,000–N20,000

EDO

COCOA

T O D AY PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

1 TON ONDO

N740,000 – N760,000

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N25,000

100KG

KANO

N10,000

1 TON OSUN

N730,000 – N750,000

100KG

BENUE

N27,000

100KG GOMBE

N12,000

100KG DELTA

N21,000

100KG LAGOS

N25,000

100KG ENUGU

N15,000

100KG

N29,000

SIZE

1 TON

N19500- N25000

50KG

EDO

N17,000–N20,000

N720,000 – N740,000

EDO

CROSS 1 TON RIVER

50KG SOKOTO N11,500–N13,000

25CL ABUJA

STATE

N22,000-N25,000

PLATEAU N23,500-N25,000 (JOS)

50KG KWARA N24,000–N27,000 50KG

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

1 TON

AKURE SOUTH, ONDO

N700,000 – N720,000 N730,000 — N755,000

ABIA

Ernst & Young Urges Insurers to Digitalise Core Processes, Embrace Flexible Sourcing Models Eromosele Abiodun Ernst & Young Global Limited has called on insurers to continue to address their technology by digitizing core processes, migrating to the cloud and embracing flexible sourcing models to remain in business.

In its 2022 Global Insurance Outlook, which highlights trends shaping the Insurance Industry, Ernst & Young said after the dramatic developments of the last few years, insurers have shown they can undertake large-scale change at a faster pace than many

industry veterans thought possible and can deal with unexpected developments.

“The current landscape is also notable for its fragmentation; convergence and intense competition, including from a mix of non-traditional players; and widespread collaboration.

Carriers will look to partner with or acquire the most promising InsurTechs, and banks and asset managers will offer more protection products and seek to differentiate on holistic financial wellness value propositions, forcing insurers to choose between collaboration and competition, “it said.

The report also stated that the insurance industry must seek to lead with purpose and live up to its highest aspirations, “particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Insurers had to be there for customers and undertook large-scale change quickly to make sure they could serve people in need – and they must continue to do so, particularly if they are to help the world prepare for increasing climate risk.”

For Rotimi Okpaise, EY Insurance Leader for West Africa, “our Global Market report aligns with expectations

in West Africa. Ecosystems (Banks, Telecoms, Insuretecs) are gradually developing in our region, aimed at expanding the Insurance customer base and increase our low insurance penetration levels. Efforts are being made to engage customers better, know their needs, segment the customer base and, develop, market, and sell affordable relevant products and in the process, increase the sectors Revenue base. There are data-sharing regulatory hurdles to scale, but these are broadly deemed surmountable.”

On COVID-19 and its multifaceted disruptions, Okpaise

said: “The Covid 19 triggered new Workforce needs. The Industry adapted reasonably well through investing in technology and adjusting terms of employment. Needs are however continuously changing and the dearth of skills across many industries has led to a war-on-talent and more flexible employment terms.”

The Report further noted that the rise of open finance, along with the ecosystems of financial solutions that it enables, has emerged as one of the defining financial services trends of the 2020s, primarily in response to changing customer needs

and expectations.

On the promise of a humancentered, tech-enabled enterprise, it stated, “Not that long ago, the conventional wisdom in insurance held that workers would lose their jobs as insurers adopted more technology and automated more processes.”

Climate change and sustainability, the report stated, have re-emerged atop board and C-suite agendas as the direct impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have receded. Previous discussions about sustainability were largely theoretical and centered on making public pledges of support.

IEA Wants OPEC+ to Fix its Million-barrel Supply Deficit Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The International Energy Agency (IEA) has called on the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies to address a widening shortfall in their oil production, as oil price pushes toward $100 a barrel.

While fuel consumption is bouncing back from the pandemic, the 23-nation

alliance led by Saudi Arabia is struggling to restore output it halted.

But IEA Executive Director, Fatih Birol, has told members of the cartel to fix the issue as the supply gap versus their target spirals toward 1 million barrels a day.

“There is a significant difference between the targets that OPEC+ countries set in terms of their production

levels and what is produced today,” Birol told the meeting hosted by the International Energy Forum (IEF).

“Therefore it is important that OPEC+ countries narrow this gap” and “hopefully provide more volumes to the market in order to reduce volatility,” he added.

Plagued by underinvestment and disruptions, many OPEC+ members are

not able to bring back the barrels they’ve pledged. The resulting surge in oil prices is feeding an inflationary spike that threatens to derail the global economic recovery, and inflicting a cost-of-living crisis on millions.

The 10 active OPEC members that are subject to quotas pumped 23.9 million barrels a day in January, according to IEA

data, compared with a target of 24.6 million.

But according to Birol, high oil prices are hurting many households and could become a drag on economic growth.

The situation could become more critical if the standoff between Russia and the West over Ukraine escalates.

Meanwhile, the IEA has said that although global oil

supply rose by 560 kb/d to 98.7 mb/d in January, but the uptrend was slowed by a chronic OPEC+ underperformance.

If OPEC+ cuts are fully unwound, world oil output could rise by 6.3 mb/d in 2022, it said, adding that it would erode effective spare capacity, which could fall from 5.1 mb/d to 2.5 mb/d by year-end.

NLNG Pushes Back on Allegation of $1bn Illegal Oil Export to America Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, has said that

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

there’s no truth in an online report linking the company’s officials with the illegal shipment of at least $1 billion worth of oil to the Americas.

The online medium had captioned the story: “Exclusive: How Top Officials In Nigerian Corporations, NLNG, NNPC Operate International Cartels, Illegally Ship Over $1 billion Oil To US, South American Countries.”

But in a statement, General Manager, External

Relations and Sustainable Development, Andy Odeh, described the report as false and malicious.

He added that it was calculated to cast the company and its leadership in bad light, as no opportunity was ever offered to the company to react or respond to the allegations prior to the publication.

“Clearly, the report is at best a figment of the writer’s imagination. Either the author of the report was simply being mischievous,

or is totally deficient in knowledge of the dynamics of the global LNG industry,” NLNG stated.

To set the records straight, NLNG stated that deliveries of LNG from its Bonny Terminal complies with all regulatory requirements for the export of its products and are made under various term and spot sales contracts.

According to the company, these deliveries are made to destinations such as Europe, the Far East, Greater Middle East, North America and

South America, thus ensuring NLNG’s position as a significant competitive global LNG supplier.

The statement stressed that NLNG remains a responsible corporate citizen, operating its business according to strong business principles and ethics in accordance with requirements of relevant Nigerian and global laws and regulations.

“From the commencement of its operations in October 1999, NLNG has never, and does not, engage in illegal

or backdoor exportation of LNG or any of its products, nor is NLNG involved in any international cartel, as alleged.

“It is simply not true that ‘the illegal exportation is still ongoing with the backing of some players in NLNG”.

Accordingly, the company stated that the LNG trade undertaken by the company is bound by strict protocols and controls, hence not amenable to the kind of illegitimate schemes alleged in the report.

Flour Milling Association to Establish Procurement Centres in 15 States Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN) has said it would establish procurement centers across 15 northern states to take wheat grains from up to 150,000 farmers under the CBN Anchor Borrowers’ Program (ABP).

Speaking during the an-

nual green field day event at Gawon-Bature in Dambatta Local Government Area of Kano State, National Programme Manager, Wheat Development Project, Dr. Aliyu Samaila, said the programme was being implemented through the APB initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to him, the coun-

try requires a strong vision backed by clear roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders, added that FMAN would organise state-wide field days in all their major areas of operations to bring together key stakeholders in order to address challenges and learn from each other.

“The programme adopted

proactive farmer support services to sustainably encourage wheat production and yields per hectre, to enable it to compete with rice and other dry season crops in the 2021-22 dry season activities.

“The programme has resulted in cultivation of 504 demonstration farms each on 0.5 ha across the 15 states to

provide training on Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) to 250,000 farmers under the CBN ABP,” he explained.

In his remark, Alhaji Salim Muhammad, National President, Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria, commended FMAN and the CBN for the wheat farmers’ support programme.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

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Paper Industry: A Sector in Death Throes The paper manufacturing segment of the Nigerian economy is fizzling out by the day as the country has become a net importer of paper products and sliding towards a potential paper crisis, writes Dike Onwuamaeze

N

igeria is faced with a dire paper crisis. This crisis is largely caused by two reasons. One is the comatose state of the three integrated pulp and paper mills that were established in the country in the 1960s and 1970s. These paper mills are the Nigerian Paper Mill in Jebba; the Nigeria Newsprint Manufacturing Company, Oku Iboku; and the Iwopin Pulp and Paper Company. Only the Jebba mill still has a show of breath of life. The number two factor is that virtually no new investments were made in establishing new once.

This parlous state has led experts that participated in a recent workshop on the paper industry, which was organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in collaboration with the Raw Material Research Council of Nigeria (RMRCN) to warn that a national paper crisis is looming. They claimed that the crisis, if left untamed, could metamorphous into a national problem that might put the price of papers beyond the reach of many Nigerians due to total reliance on imported paper products to meet the country’s domestic needs.

They, however, posited that the country could earn more revenue from paper production and export if all hands would be on deck to find lasting solutions to the already visible impending paper crisis by harnessing proven domestic sources of raw materials that abound within the country.

A Professor at the Department of Forest Production and Products, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources at the University of Ibadan, Professor Abiodun Oluwafemi Oluwadare, in a paper he presented during the workshop with the theme “Challenges Prospects and Raw Materials Demand in the Printing, Packaging and Publishing Industry,” observed that the crisis in the paper industry has persisted in spite of the initial advances made by the government to meet the country’s domestic need through the establishment of the three paper mills that are now moribund.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Oluwadare pointed out that among the many industries that sprang up in the 1960 following the country’s independence was the pulp and paper milling industry. He said that the first integrated pulp and paper mill, the Nigerian Paper Mill, Jebba, was established in 1969 for the production of kraft paper and liner board. After initial modifications, its capacity was brought up to 65,000 metric tons per annum.

Subsequently, additional two mills were added, namely, the Nigerian Newsprint Manufacturing Company (NNMC) with 100,000 metric tons capacity for the production of newsprint and the National Paper Manufacturing Company (NMPC), which later became the Iwopin Pulp and Paper Company (IPPC) with capacity to produce 100,000 metric tons of bond paper.

He noted that the pulp and paper industry, as a forestry and chemical based industry, was one of the most effective industries in Nigeria between 1970 and 1990. The early high performance of these mills, especially the NNMC, brought about drastic reduction in the proportion of imported newsprint in Nigeria to 17.5 per cent in 1986, 12.5 per cent in 1987 and by 1990, newsprints importation completely faded out.

But this initial success story was not sustained. The three paper mills that were established by federal government eventually closed down by 1996 and are yet to be revived despite their privatisation in 2006. Today, Nigeria is virtually a net importer of paper products, which is estimated to be over 380 million metric tons annually.

Oluwadare estimated that the three paper mills in Nigeria had a combined capacity of 265,000 metric tons per annum compared to Ghana rated mill capacity of 1.5 million metric tons of paper per annum.

He stated that the possibility of meeting the increasing need in this sector dwindles every day since the paper mills in Nigeria are not in operation, adding that importation of paper and paper products “will be more expensive in the next five years.

“Several years down the line, the paper mills have at various times received different forms of interventions involving huge resources from government and its agencies, including a celebrated privatisation exercise, yet they have remained moribund; a shadow of the promise they held when they were established and launched with fanfare. Nigeria with growing and viable newspaper industry, vibrant book and publishing industry, a multifarious printing industry and the litany of allied paper products segment, Nigeria, rather than source from local mills, now depend heavily on foreign manufacturers for her paper needs, spending huge foreign exchange in the process,” he said.

In recent times, it was reported that the National Assembly has set up a committee to review the privatisation exercise and to look into the issues surrounding the moribund paper mills. The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, was reported to have the opinion that the sector has suffered a great deal and there is need for urgent attention. However, “the committee set up by the National Assembly is yet to do anything tangible to this national problem,” Oluwadare said.

The Director General of the RMRDC, Professor Hussaini D. Ibrahim, stated that the effect of these deficiencies is reflected in import trade figures for paper, paperboard and art paper. Ibrahim said that the import figure for these types of papers from 2010 to 2015 was N658.1 billion while the net amount build higher to N798.9 billion when aggregated together with values for printed books, newspaper, pictures, and other miscellaneous paper products. According to the COMTRADE database on international trade, Nigeria’s import of paper in 2020 alone was $696 million.

He said: “In exact terms, importation of paper and paper products in Nigeria has compromised over 300,000 jobs that would have been available for Nigeria.

“Hope is still far from the horizon as the remnant of surviving local paper manufacturers are still contending with issues of obsolete and vandalised equipment, inability to access funds and monumentally dilapidated public infrastructure.”

The director general of the RMRDC observed that from economic point of view, the paper industry has the lowest figures for production and consumption

for local products among all the industrial divisions in Nigeria, placing the sector on the rank of likely lowest capital investment and output.

“This may likely be as a result of the deplorable performance of the existing paper mills. It may also be due to the unwillingness of investors to invest in the paper business due to the long perceptions hinging on the absence of raw materials resources.

This is so because the situation though changing was a result of decreasing availability of the wood due to rapid forestation globally,’ Ibrahim said.

THE CHALLENGES

The basic challenges of the paper industry, as articulated by Oluwadare, included inadequate raw materials supply and unready state of the industries to make use of the locally produced materials; lack of basic facilities and equipment for paper testing even in institution of higher learning; bad government policies and lack of interest to revitalise the paper mills; lack of support from the industrial sector for research in pulp and paper as well as low human capacity building in terms of curriculum development.

In spite of the challenges, the Deputy Director and Head, Pulp and Paper Technology, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, (FIIRO), Dr. F.A.T. Owolabi, believed that the future of paper making in Nigeria is bright, as long as the hampering issues which center on raw material sources, availability of energy and water supplies, and environmental pollution are adequately tackled.

Notwithstanding, Owolabi stated that “in Nigeria, however, challenges associated with paper production, consumption, and economic prospects have not been adequately tackled.

“Huge volume of paper products imported annually reflects negatively on the Nigeria’s paper industry and spread indirectly to the entire country’s economy in terms of high capital freight spent on importation, volatile product price, and loss of employment opportunities.

“The use of agricultural residues in pulping and papermaking in Nigeria is expected to bring down the cost of printing and packaging paper and also

solve the problem of disposal, which currently increases farming costs and causes environmental deterioration through pollution, fires, and pests.”

He suggested the use of environmental friendly chemical on lignocellulose residue with the aim of maximising the use in pulping activities should be considered.

“Sustainable paper production in Nigeria is achievable by solving the over emphasised problems of unavailability of primary fiber material and also by making effort towards secondary fiber recovery,” Owolabi said.

But no matter how deplorable the condition of paper industry might be currently, experts still believed that the sector could be salvaged because the uses and applications of paper worldwide remained inexhaustible and would continue to increase despite digitalisation.

Oluwaadare said that more people use paper and paper products than crude oil and its refined products and that globally, pulp price is relatively stable $875 while crude oil price is highly unstable.

“Nigeria is blessed with abundance of flora species for pulp and paper production and yet, there is crisis in this sector. In comparison to global oil prices, paper is more expensive than crude oil. A barrel of crude oil is equivalent to 139 kg by weight and a metric tonne of paper is 1000 kg. On the average, 1 kg of crude oil is $0.53 while 1 kg of paper is $0.85.”

ROLE OF RESEARCH

The university don stated that there are major roles research could play in the development and complete revitalisation of the sector. He observed that this role was missed shortly after the collapse of the pulp and paper research laboratory in the FIIRO because there were no equipment and facilities to work with.

‘In the early 1960’s, many tree species were characterised for their suitability for papermaking and the breakthrough of the research was the exotic species in the name of Gmelina arborea.

In the current stance, to carry out any meaningful characterisation of any fibrous raw material will require foreign intervention to secure a good laboratory. This is a form of capital flight in form of academic tourism.

Thus, the need for a well-equipped laboratory is a step forward towards solving the present paper crisis,” Oluwadare said.

AFRICA’S FOOD IMPORT BILL TO REACH $100BN BY 2025 AS GLOBAL FOOD INSECURE PEOPLE HITS 283M prices, economic downturn, ruined crops, and violent conflict knocking on their door.

The Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), David Beasley, said there is a ring of fire stretching around the world where conflict and climate shocks compounded by COVID and rising costs are driving millions of people to the brink of starvation threatening to increase migration and instability globally.

Stressing that agriculture is at the nexus of so many of the Sustainable Development Goals. (SDGs), IFAD said the sector has not yet reached its potential to drive sustainable development in Africa.

According to him, agriculture accounts for 16 per cent of Africa’s GDP, and even 27 per cent and 24 per cent in East and West Africa respectively.

He added that in Africa, twothirds of population lives in rural areas where 80 per cent of poor are concentrated, saying that every year 10 to 12 million young people enter the African labour market He pointed out that agriculture accounts for 70 per cent of global freshwater withdrawals, with women representing more than 50 per cent of the agricultural work force, but women receive less than 10 per cent of credit granted to smallholder farmers.

He said, “Economic growth in agriculture is two to three times more effective at reducing poverty and food insecurity than growth generated in other sectors. My point is that in Africa, Agriculture is a huge opportunity, not only for food security and nutrition but also for economic growth, wealth creation, addressing inequalities and

social justice, while protecting the environment.”

He highlighted key factors vital to tapping into the opportunities agriculture offers such as advocating for the increased need to deploy technology and innovation to create modern value chains that drive progress, reduce risk, and connect smallholders to markets.

He also stated the need for key stakeholders and governments across the continent to invest in technology that would support decent jobs and the stability of incomes and food production, while also making the sector more appealing to young people.

“For example, mobile phone services already provide real-time weather information and market data; satellites measure soil moisture; solar panels power irrigation systems.

This is how small farms can change,

adapt and succeed,” he said.

He added: “The COVID-19 crisis, and today’s rising energy prices, have shown why it is essential for Africa to bridge the production gap and reduce the food import bill.”

He further stated the need to promote plant-based protein, saying that is key for nutrition sake as well as for reduction in CO2 emission and nature conservation.

“This area is clearly conducive for sustaining the greening effort of the Great Green Wall initiative, as well as a great opportunity to support agribusiness initiative led

by African youth and rural Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs),” he said.

Meanwhile, the WFP in a statement added that its assistance which is a lifeline for families in emergencies has to grow together with an increased stress on changing

lives through building resilience so that more poor people on the brink of hunger are not pushed over the edge.

Such work stabilizes communities in particularly precarious places and helps them better to survive sudden shocks without losing all their assets.

“We have a ring of fire circling the earth now from the Sahel to South Sudan to Yemen, to Afghanistan, all the way around to Haiti and Central America. “If we do not address the situation immediately over the next 9 months we will see famine, we will see destabilisation of nations and we will see mass migration. If we don’t do something we are going to pay a mighty big price,”it said.

“In the next few weeks there is a risk of further cuts. These come at the worst possible time as Yemenis deal with the consequences of a serious escalation in fighting and

continued economic deterioration,” WFP said.

“We averted famine and catastrophe in 2021 and 2022 because nations stepped up. We thought COVID would be behind us by 2022, but it only recycled again, exacerbating, and creating economic catastrophes among the poorest countries around the world,” Beasley said. WFP has the solutions and we have got the programmes to stop this crisis, we just need the money, otherwise nations around the world will pay for it a thousand-fold,” WFP warned.

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

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AGRICULTURE

Addressing Challenges in Nigeria’s Agricultural Value Chain Nigeria’s population is expected to hit 264 million people in 2030 even as food inflation continues to rise and food prices skyrocketing. Gilbert Ekugbe writes on the need to address the challenges hindering the free flow of healthy food from farm to table.

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part from climate change and the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic that have ravaged the global economy, Nigeria’s agricultural value chain is currently hindered to meet the nation’s food needs. Poor farming conditions, lack of technical know-how, poor seedlings, insecurity, and absence of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), are among the multiple factors that should be addressed if Nigeria would be liberated from food importation.

Apart from being adjudged the poverty capital of the world even in the midst of abundant natural and human resources, the nation is still wallowing in darkness as its food importation bill continue to surge astronomically. Just recently, the World Food Programme (WFP) tagged Nigeria and 22 other countries as “hunger hotspots,” a position that leaves much to be desired by any nation seeking an all-inclusive economic growth and development.

However, these challenges are not insurmountable, but would require deliberate and urgent efforts by the federal government and stakeholders in the agricultural sector to make the value chain work again as it did before the advent of oil boom.

CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ACTIONS

Stakeholders in the agricultural sector held their peace and resisted the urge to access the performance of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, who assumed office six months ago. But the more they hold their peace, the more things looked like as they were during the tenure of his predecessor.

For instance, the ministry is yet to give a clear cut roadmap on how it would revolutionise the nation’s agricultural sector. Food inflation is high and galloping to the sky while more Nigerians

are being pushed below poverty levels.

Reports have shown that the number of people below poverty line is expected to increase to 90 million, representing 45 per cent of the population in 2022 using the World Bank’s income poverty threshold of $3.20 per day putting Nigeria’s poverty rate at 71 per cent.

AGRICULTURE PROMOTION POLICY

The APP (2016-2020) deliberately designed to end decades of failed policies and create a sustainable plan for the advancement of the agriculture sector has long expired. And with less than 18 months to be in office, the Minister of Agriculture needs to act swiftly to develop a new APP or have a consolidated APP for (2021-2024) as recommended by the National President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr. Kabir Ibrahim. Ibrahim expressed doubts if a new APP would be developed due to the limited time the present administration has in office.

Although the federal government announced that it is in the process of developing another policy, which it termed as the National Agricultural Technology Innovation Policy (NATIP) to cover the 2021-2025 periods. It is expected with hope that NATIP would provide an integrated approach to agricultural development in terms of access and application of improved inputs; improve the linkage between agricultural research and training institutions. The policy, according to the government, would also enhance the provision of input to farmers, improve agricultural mechanisation, extension services, provide rural Infrastructure and increase access to

SENSITISATION OF FARMERS

affordable funding.

PUBLIC, PRIVATE FINANCING

Over the years the federal government has facilitated several financing schemes to take the sector out of the woods, but sustaining these financial intervention agricultural programmes seem to be unsustainable as accessing these loans by farmers has proved abortive over the years making expansion of these credit schemes to the agriculture sector a Herculean task.

According to the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the apex bank has cumulatively disbursed a total of N864 billion to 4.1 million farmers across the country, stressing that under its Agribusiness Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AgSMEIS) over N43.19 billion had been disbursed to support the cultivation of over 250,000 hectares of maize, sorghum, soya beans and rice during the 2021 dry season in October 2021 under its Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP).

The African Development Bank (AfDB) emphasised the importance of reducing risk in financing agriculture to bridge the $30-billion funding gap and transform African agriculture, citing that the poor level of financing from the private sector was hindering agricultural transformation in Africa. The multilateral agency also added that the issue of risk and lack of capacity for the private sector to offer innovative financing solutions to the agriculture sector were the main factors obstructing growth of the sector.

It said: “Agriculture is less than four per cent of private-sector financing although it contributes to 20 per cent of the economy across the continent.”

Farmers are the main actors in agricultural value chain, but majority of these farmers still depend on old methods of farming because they are yet to be exposed to modern techniques and GMP. A large number of Nigerian farmers still depend on harmful and poisonous substances to preserve their produce.

Experts have therefore called on the federal government and the organised private sector to act urgently to conduct nationwide sensitisation programmes to create awareness on the negative effects of preserving farm produce with harmful chemicals. Reports gathered have shown that the poor handling of farm produce from farm to export market is the major reason why Nigerian produce are subjected to a high level of rejection at the international market.

“The Nigerian Administration for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and other regulatory agencies must function to ensure that there are standards for the production and exports of food and agricultural products and ensure compliance with set standards, said an expert who do not want his name in print.

Agricultural produce are mostly contaminated with Aflatoxins, which are poisonous chemicals produced by certain mold fungi (Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus). These fungi resides in the soil and prevalent in the environment. Aflatoxins’ cause diseases such as cancer, hepatitis, and suppression of human immunity, low productivity and high mortality rates in livestock and poultry.

To address the situation, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), has developed crop protection and treatment product, AFLASAFE, which had gone commercial following the successes recorded on full field trials nationwide.

AMID SUSTAINABILITY CONCERNS, NIGERIA’S OIL PRODUCTION BEGINS UPWARD SWING 1.8 million bpd by the end of 2021 remained largely unrealised.

But for the month, the biggest increases in crude oil production came from Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Kuwait, while output declined in OPEC’s second-largest producer Iraq, as well as in Venezuela and Libya.

For months, Nigeria has been unable meet its required share of the OPEC quota, being 1.683 million bpd in December, 1.701 million bpd in February and now 1.718 in March.

Poor upstream infrastructure, sabotage, oil theft as well as lack of investment have been blamed for the ongoing default as the country’s oil sector is facing an unprecedented level of under-investment, with declines reflecting a near halt of upstream investment across all terrains since the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak.

Chronicling the level of underinvestment in the sector, the RenCap report tagged “The Stakes Are High”, stated that for instance, since the start-up of the Egina (200kbopd capacity) in late 2018, only one or

two new oil projects have come onstream.

“The near-term project pipeline screens thin, with Total’s Ikike (40kbopd), Amni’s Tubu (30kbopd) and Shell/Seplat’s ANOH (30-40kbopd of condensates) some of the scheduled 2022 start-ups,” it added.

Quoting Rystad, an oil and gas consultancy, the report stated that it is estimated that Nigeria’s project pipelines would add up to 100kbopd of production by the mid-2020s, which is not enough to offset current declines.

It explained that the underinvestment and chronic infrastructure issues plaguing Nigeria’s oil sector manifested in a multi-decade production low in December 2021.

“The recovery in January offers some optimism, we think, but the outlook remains uncertain,” Renaissance Capital said.

It stated that Shell and Exxon’s announcement of divestment plans in Nigeria, if completed, would transfer most of Nigeria’s oil production from the onshore and shallow water terrains (65 per

cent of total production in 2021) to indigenous control.

At a time that global oil and gas financing is drying up, the firm stated that this change of ownership could sway production either way, depending on the financial and technical power of the new buyers.

“Whether or not the operatorship succession, if it happens, will result in a Nigerian oil sector renaissance remains to be seen, but we believe the stakes are high for Nigeria’s oil sector,” it said.

It added that Nigeria’s production outlook has not appeared as uncertain as it does now, as most of the production operatorship control is set to change hands in onshore and shallow terrains, creating uncertainty with regard to future investment.

“We believe securing financing for the small/mid-sized indigenous players to complete the transactions will be challenging, let alone investing further for production growth in ageing assets of undetermined asset integrity.

“Add integration and operational risks to the mix and one can see why any of these deals might

potentially be ‘too big to chew’ for any indigenous E&P. We expect 2022 production to be within the 1.601.75mmbopd range and our longer-term outlook is dependent on the level of investment.

“However, in the absence of major project start-up visibility, even with moderate investments, we expect declines to take their toll on production. With the likely start-up of new deepwater projects post 2025, we believe that Nigeria’s production could average <1.5mmbopd by the second half of this decade,” the report pointed out.

It singled out Seplat as better positioned among its peers to complete a transaction with either Shell or Exxon, saying it is the best way for investors to gain exposure.

RenCap analysts noted that Nigeria’s oil sector challenges are exacerbated by a challenging operating environment, with issues such as local opposition, oil spills, militant activity, crude evacuation constraints and logistical bottlenecks.

In addition, it mentioned unattractive fiscal terms as one of the negative factors, stressing that

Nigeria’s onshore fiscal terms are some of the least attractive globally.

Although the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has improved fiscal terms across all terrains, the report pointed out that “its implementation is slow and we have not seen yet a positive response from the sector.”

Other major risk factors for the oil and gas industry, it said, include: Limited major project pre-Final Investment Decision (FID) pipeline and divestment, which may disrupt development.

“The majors’ exodus from Nigeria, in particular Exxon’s from shallow water and Shell’s (from SPDC) are disrupting upstream activity, with current operators limiting upstream investment as this transition is ongoing and production suffering as a result.

“As international investors, in particular the majors, are divesting their exposure from Nigeria’s upstream sector, the onus now is on the indigenous companies and NNPC to inherit operatorship, invest and grow production, ” it posited.

It said that although the majors’ divestment theme is not new in

Nigeria and has been ongoing for over a decade now, these current disposals round will not be like the last one.

“A decade ago, before the ‘energy transition’ and when peak oil supply theory still had proponents, the offering of assets and blocks in one of the world’s most prolific hydrocarbon provinces was too attractive for investors to pass up.

“Financing from investors and banks was abundant – Seplat raised $500 million from its IPO in 2014, the biggest in Africa at the time, valuing it at $1.9 billion. A decade later, the majors are selling much larger assets when financing availability is much more restricted in what is a buyer’s market globally.

“The first round was an opportunity for indigenous players and investors to develop peripheral non-core assets neglected by the majors. This round is about transferring control in most of Nigeria’s oil production from the majors to indigenous players. The stakes are high for Nigeria’s oil sector, ”it noted.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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BUSINESSWORLD

ENERGY

Examining FG’s Solar Power Naija Scheme Emmanuel Addeh writes on the impact of the Solar Power Naija project, which was launched by the federal government to reach unserved and underserved Nigerians who are not connected to the national electricity grid

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t is no longer news that Nigeria has serious electricity supply challenges. Aside the fact that millions of Nigerians have no access to reliable supply, power cuts, sometimes, very lengthy, have become a recurring decimal in the everyday life of the ordinary and not so ordinary Nigerian.

Indeed, as recently as October last year, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, speaking at the Energy Sustainability Conference (ESC) hosted by the Energy Institute, Nigeria, in partnership with Department for International Trade, UK, said 85 million Nigerians still do not have access to electricity.

Describing the energy poverty level as devastating, in terms of energy consumption, he stated that Nigeria is still below 1kilowat per capita of electricity, which is very low, stressing that accessibility remains key.

Experts believe that if irregular power supply is taken away from business, indeed as much as 80 per cent of Nigerian businesses would have solved their second biggest challenge after lack of access to finance.

Nigeria’s national grid power generation capacity, which consists of gas-fired and hydro-powered stations, is about 13,000 megawatts, but the electricity transmitted remains less than 4,000MW/hour, an abysmally low figure.

In fact, it is estimated that Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, loses as much as $29 billion a year due to this, which is about 6 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Interestingly, Nigeria’s location in the tropics offers the country an abundance of sunshine, a veritable source of solar power, all year round.

With over 2,600 hours of sunlight per year, about seven hours of sunlight daily, on the average, it is believed that the environmental conditions to tap into renewable energy power sources are just right for the country.

When fully harnessed, aside being far quicker to build than traditional power plants, solar energy has proven capability to plug the gaps in Nigeria’s energy requirements and remains a desirable alternative to generating sets that emit harmful greenhouse gases and other air pollutants into the environment.

L-R: Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Mr. Ahmad Salihijo; Governor, Jigawa State, Mohammed Badaru; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and MD, ASOLAR, Abubakar Twumasi at the launch of the deployment of 100,000 Solar Homes Systems in Jigawa State bottlenecks identified in the first year of the programme’s implementation, increasing the number of disbursements to approved developers and increasing the number of deployments and connections on the program.

The REA said that it will continue working with InfraCredit to finalise on the terms to provide guarantee and funding for mini grid developers to be considered under the SPN programme.

The REA, it was learnt will also be working with the NSIA and SHS companies to enable developers access the board approved $20 million revolving fund and NNPC to ensure developers can access the NGN 22 billion investment.

In addition, the agency said that it continues to provide support to applicants on the programme to enable them to qualify and access all financing options available to them through the programme and its partnerships.

A BRIEF BACKGROUND

In response to the devastating impacts of the covid-19 pandemic, the Nigerian government developed an Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP).

As part of the plan, the government launched the Solar Power Naija Programme (SPN) to achieve the rollout of 5 million new solar-based connections in communities that are not connected to the national grid.

This, it stated, is expected to impact the lives of about 25 million Nigerians through the provision of affordable, sustainable clean energy solutions to households and businesses in rural communities across the country. It is also expected to catalyse the creation of 250,000 new jobs in the renewable energy sector.

The initiative is a N140-billion long-term and low-interest credit facility to private sector developers in the business of deploying Solar Home Systems (SHS) and mini-grids in order to rapidly scale up deployments and make energy access more affordable. Raising debt financing has been a major stumbling block for private developers.

Put succinctly, the programme seeks to support companies raising the required upfront capital for investment in off-grid electrification.

Additionally, the programme also supports the financing of upstream companies in the business of manufacturing and assembly of off-grid value chain components, such as solar panels, inverters, batteries, and other balance of system components.

This, the government says, is to increase the local content value chain and reduce the overreliance on fully assembled solar systems in Nigeria. The SPN is funded by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

TO WHAT END

The main objectives of the programme are to: expand energy access to 25 million individuals (5 million new connections) through the provision of solar home systems or a mini grid.

Added to that, it is meant to improve the local content in the off-grid solar value chain and further the local manufacturing industry in the country.

Furthermore, the programme is expected to create 250,000 new jobs in the energy sector, thereby reducing the unemployment rate in the country.

FOLLOWING THE MONEY

According to the forces behind it, the programme has disbursed a total of N7 billion to an approved

STAKEHOLDERS VIEW

beneficiary company - Asolar for a total connection of 100,000 systems.

This transaction, it explained, was made possible through a credit enhancement mechanism in a form of a guarantee provided by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).

Currently about 20,000 units are being deployed across all 36 states of the country as 4,750 Fan SHS units have been assembled in the country with the rest expected to be completed by March 2022.

An additional 15,000 local assembly kits have been shipped for further deployments, while another 60,000 units are expected to be deployed by the third quarter of 2022.

Additionally, the REA and SPN teams have been in discussions with potential investors interested in partnering or investing with off grid developers to provide energy access to the unserved and underserved.

So far, partnerships have been formed with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) whose board recently approved the investment of a $20 million revolving fund for the deployment of 260,000 SHS units.

There’s also the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) supporting three SPN initiatives to connect under-served Nigerians.

This transaction seeks to facilitate investments worth about N22 billion for a total connection of 215,000 households across the country through the provision of an estimated 30MW solar power to Maiduguri in order to

help solve the current electricity crisis and 125,000 Solar Home Systems.

Also involved in the process is the Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company Limited (InfraCredit), which seeks to act as a third-party guarantor for approved developers under the SPN programme. The guarantees provided by Infracredit will help to unlock additional capital for mini-grid companies, either through Bank of Industry (BOI) or commercial banks.

IMPACT

At least 20,000 SHS units are being deployed across 20 states in the country, including Abuja, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.

Since its launch, the programme has worked diligently with developers and other stakeholders in the off-grid sector to make the sector more viable and attractive for new investments.

These efforts have yielded results with several new investment channels opening for the sector via NDPHC, NNPC, NSIA and InfraCredit so far with commitments for both additional funding and deployments of units which will result in increased connections for both the unserved and underserved communities in the country.

IMPLEMENTATION

The programme’s implementation plan for 2022 is focused on addressing the

The Solar Power Naija is also expected to create 250,000 new jobs in the energy sector in addition to the solar equipment manufacturers who will have the incentive to set up facilities in Nigeria thereby offering more job opportunities to Nigerians.

Some major actors within the system that have expressed excitement about the programme are the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the REA helmsman, Ahmad Salihijo.

“The Nigerian government is committed to resolving the challenges and delivering the president’s objective to deliver efficient, stable, and reliable power to Nigerians and put Nigeria on the path to economic recovery,” said the vice-president, at the launch of the programme.

Also, the REA managing director expressed optimism over the determination of the federal government to transform the power sector in accordance with its “Next Level agenda”.

“This is a testament to our dedication and commitment to scaling the off-grid solar market through provision of long term low interest credit facilities to the Nigeria Electrification Project pre-qualified home solar value chain players that include manufacturers and assemblers of solar components and off-grid energy developers and retailers in the country,” he stated.

WHAT NEXT?

For now, the scheme is open to all potential off-grid developers to provide energy access to the unserved and underserved peri-urban and rural communities in Nigeria.

To participate, developers are asked to visit the REA/NEP website on how to apply as only companies registered under NEP are eligible to participate in the SPN scheme.

If well implemented, it is believed that the programme has the capacity to markedly change the power supply dynamics in the country.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

ENERGY

Need for Cleaner Electrical Switchgears Peter Uzoho urges the Nigerian government and players in the country’s electricity value chain to promote the shift towards vacuum technology, an environmentally friendly, cost effective and durable insulation device

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enultimate week, multinational power management company, Eaton Corporation, held a webinar where experts in the electricity value chain from different parts of the world engaged in a conversation on the need for a joint action against the sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas switchgears still largely in use. The world is currently pushing to save the environment from the harmful effects of carbon emission and anything that poses danger to the climate and humanity, hence the global crusade for a shift to cleaner and sustainable energy, popularly known as energy transition. In the energy transition movement, oil and gas has been fingered as a major area of concern, leading to the clamour for a reduction in oil and gas investment and ultimately, to discourage oil exploration and production and to eliminate fossil fuel’s use.

At the webinar which focused on the topic: “The Debate on the Challenge of Going SF6-Free”, the stakeholders identified SF6 gas switchgear as a dangerous power technology due to its ability to warm the earth much more than carbon emission.

As a result, they called for a shift toward vacuum technology, a modern switchgear that emits no gas, guarantees more environmental safety and more cost-efficient and durable.

WHAT IS SF6 GAS SWITCHGEAR?

Cheap and non-flammable, Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) is a man-made gas comprising one sulphur and six fluoride atoms. SF6 gas is chemically stable and highly electronegative, with a dielectric property of approximately 2.5 times more than air. Colourless, odourless and synthetic, SF6 gas is commonly used in medium and high-voltage electrical installations like power plants and electrical substations as an electrical insulation, arc quenching and cooling medium.

In Nigeria, just like many other countries of the world, it is used across the electricity industry, from large power stations to wind turbines to electrical sub-stations in towns and cities. Its purpose is basically to prevent electrical accidents and fires. All the power generating plants, transmission substations as well as power distribution substations such as transformers in the country are all insulated with SF6 gas switchgears for the protection of equipment and personnel against fire outbreak.

However, despite the excellent functions of the SF6 gas to electrical installations, experts believe that the significant downside to using the gas is that it has the highest global warming potential of any known substance, as it warms the earth 23,500 times more than carbon emissions.

According to them, just one kilogramme of SF6 warms the earth to the same extent as 24 people flying London to New York return, adding that it persists in the atmosphere for a long time, warming the earth for at least 1,000 years.

They posited that the leaks of the little-known SF6 gas in the United Kingdom and the rest of the European Union in 2017 were estimated to be the equivalent of putting an extra 1.3 million

cars on the road.

The leak levels, according to them, are rising as an unintended consequence of the green energy boom.

“It’s the most powerful greenhouse gas known to humanity, and emissions have risen rapidly in recent years”, the BBC once stated.

In a post-webinar interaction with THISDAY, Marketing Manager, English-speaking West African Countries, Eaton, Mr. Kunmi Oduoku, stressed the need for electrical equipment manufacturers to stop manufacturing SF6 gas switchgears and focus on vacuum technology.

“The standard all over the world is that, manufacturers of switchgear should stop using that gas because of the fact that you can’t dispose it off easily and it’s not something that you recycle and it’s creating problems in the environment,” Oduoku said.

He added, “When some of them are dumped into an open sea, they find their way into public areas, public amenities and stuffs like that. So, that’s why there is an industry acknowledgement that SF6 gas is not the way forward.

“So, there are other ways you can make a switchgear safe. And that’s why for us at Eaton, we have moved to vacuum technology.

In vacuum technology, you don’t need to use the FS6 gas. What we use is a technology called vacuum. That’s the ability to suck out air from a container.”

ABOUT VACUUM TECHNOLOGY

First invented in Germany, vacuum technology is a special SF6-free switchgear that is sealed for life and has no risk of gas leakage and potential environmental hazards.

The advent of vacuum technology is believed to be a major boost to energy transition as the world is now faced with the fierce urgency of moving to energy that is cleaner, sustainable and recyclable.

“We feel that if we continue to use a switchgear that the components are not recyclable or cannot be converted to another energy, obviously, the energy transition thing is being defeated. You are not actually achieving that because the whole essence of energy transition is to move to cleaner energy”, Oduoku pointed out.

Owing to its durability, cost effectiveness and sustainability, many manufacturers of electrical equipment are delving into it and the device its gradually gaining traction in many advanced countries that are passionate about protecting the environment.

In Nigeria, however, the deployment of vacuum technology has been slow, largely because there is no legislation yet to promote its adoption and application, which is one of the many factors militating against its full adoption in the country.

Acknowledging that the shift away from SF6 gas switchgear is not going to happen

over night, the proponents of vacuum technology believe that now is the time for all the stakeholders to start planning towards a gradual transition.

CHALLENGE OF ADOPTION

To discourage the use of the harmful SF6 gas switchgear in Nigeria while promoting its alternative- vacuum technology, experts believe that regulatory agencies in the power and environment sectors have a lot to do in terms of ensuring that policies and measures were put in place.

Such agencies such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and the Standard of Organization of Nigeria (SON) and others were challenged to drive the transition to vacuum technology in the country.

This is because, according to Oduoku, “they are the ones in charge of the country’s industry standards, they are the ones that come up with requirements for distribution companies.”

He further said, “So, till now, we still see that in terms of acceptance, Nigeria still accepts manufacturers of switchgear that contains SF6 gas. There is no regulation today that says a manufacturer cannot use SF6 gas.

“And we are saying that it’s time for Nigeria to join the global community to understand that there is a price to pay in the future for using SF6 switchgear. So, we don’t have to wait till when it becomes a catastrophe or becomes too much of a burden.

“This is the time for us to start planning toward phasing out this kind of switchgear.

So, if you go to all substations that you have around in the country, they still have lots of switchgear that use SF6 gas technology for quenching of arc.

“And we are saying that, let’s move away from this, let’s sensitise the stakeholders like the regulators and even end-users as well.

We need to let them know that there is a danger ahead if we continue to use this SF6 gas in our switchgear. And that’s what the webinar was really trying to emphasise.”

Apart from the absence of legislation or regulatory policy to discourage the use of SF6 gas, Oduoku pointed out that the cheapness of the dangerous SF6 gas switchgear is a major factor behind its continuous manufacturing and use.

Admitting that the market’s law of demand and supply is favouring the manufacturing and use of SF6 gas switchgear, the Eaton marketing manager insisted that manufacturers are prioritising profit more than their responsibility to the environment.

According to him: “A lot of manufacturers don’t bother. But we are saying that we should not collude to endanger the environment because of profit. That people are asking for it does not mean you should give it to them because

you know the danger it is doing the society.

“The truth is that in European countries, Asian countries, there are heavy regulations around SF6 gas. So, the manufacturers are not selling that much in those markets. But then, they come to Africa because there are no regulations, there are no enforcement of regulations, and then, they want to sell more of those switchgears in those kind of environment.

“So we want a switch over. Eaton has switched over. We have a lot of that vacuum technology in the market. But we want a full industry switch over for safety reasons.”

INCENTIVISING SWITCH

To boost the willingness and capacity of the users of the SF6 gas switchgears to switch to vacuum technology, Oduoku suggested the introduction of incentives for power firms.

He said, “There has to be an incentive for the users of SF6 gas switchgear like power plants, transmission companies and distribution companies to switch over.

“The incentive has to come from a higher authority, the government. If you think about the move towards battling climate change, you could see that it is the government that is spearheading it. The switch will not come at no cost. There should be an incentive in terms of operating expenditure (OPEX) for them to switch over to vacuum technology.”

EATON’S INTERVENTION

On the company side, Eaton has embarked on several projects and programmes aimed at drawing the attention of the Nigerian Government and industry players to the dangers around SF6 and the need to embrace a better alternative.

Last year, the company had a safety roundtable where it brought together officials from NEMSA, NERC, SON, Lagos State Safety Commission, Lagos State Power Service, Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronics, Association of Consulting Engineers, and other stakeholders to discuss the way forward.

The idea, basically, was to raise the bar in terms of education and awareness creation on the imperative of going SF6 gas-free.

Eaton has been pioneering SF6-free medium voltage switchgear systems for 60 years, providing green power management technologies that are safe, reliable, efficient and sustainable.

The company pioneered SF6-free medium voltage switchgear production in 1960 with Magnefix, a compact solution for distribution system operators.

Magnefix used cast resin insulation, enabling the construction of safe and compact green switchgear.

Production lines were set up in Spain, South Africa and Australia.

By developing SF6-free switchgear, Eaton offers green solutions to modern-day and future energy challenges.

It has combined smart design and technological excellence, developing over 200-patented inventions to protect the planet and people.

Eaton SF6-free switchgear is being sold in over 60 countries on more than 3,000 reference sites across multiple applications and segments.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

29

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Fashola Excited as Nigeria’s Mechanical Engineers Get Female Chair Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has expressed delight over the emergence of Dr Olufunmilade Akingbabohun, as the national chairman of the Nigerian Institution Of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE).

Speaking at the investiture of Akingbabohun in Abuja, the minister who lauded the role of engineers in the society, noted that it is even more exciting when the group is being led by a woman in the country.

Fashola, who was represented by the Minister of State, Works

and Housing, Mu’azu Sambo, said that the job of the mechanical is so critical that everywhere a tool is seen, from machines to computers, to vehicles and aircraft, bulldozers, cranes, caterpillars and so on, the profession should be applauded.

He explained that without their input, along with those of other engineering and science disciplines, the human civilisation will be in some era like the Stone Age, arguing that the mechanical engineer was critical to nation building.

“Of course, while other engineers such as the civil, structural, electrical and those of

other specialties have their equally important and complementary roles to play, it is a life without machines that I ask you to think about.

“Imagine if all the work now done by machines were still done by hand. Imagine if all the rocks now hauled by cranes have to be carried by men. Imagine if all the construction machines materials transported by trucks were still

being carried on human heads or horseback.

“Indeed, life was once like that until mechanical engineering blazed the trail of the world of machines. This is how far the mechanical engineers and their other colleagues have brought us but it is not the end of innovation for the human civilization.

“This is also why the inauguration of Olufunmilade

Akingbagbohun must represent the start of a new dawn for the practice of mechanical engineering in Nigeria.

“Not only do we have infrastructure to deliver for which we need machines, we have a large and growing population that needs to be fed and nourished on a large scale. Therefore, I can only say that this is a challenging time to lead, and a fantastically opportune time

to forge an unforgettable legacy,” he stated.

Earlier, at the maiden edition of the NIMechE roundtable tagged: “Agenda Towards A More Competitive Mechanical Practice”, several speakers had underscored the need for training and education of engineers, innovation and entrepreneurship in the field, as well as the need for public/private sectors collaboration.

Experts Seek Solutions to Risks Affecting Electricity Metering Peter Uzoho Some experts in the Nigerian power sector have called for the review of the pricing of prepaid meters and resolution of issues around port congestion as well as political and other risks that may affect the deployment of meters under the Phase 1 of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).

The experts specifically highlighted the logistics in moving meters from one place to another and the political risk associated with the coming 2023 general elections, saying those concerns should be addressed as they are critical to the success of the programme.

The power experts made the call at the Power Dialogue held in Abuja, with the theme: “Assessing the Progress of the National Mass Metering Programme”.

Speaking at the forum, Chief Executive Officer, New Hampshire Capital Limited, Mr. Odion Omonfoman, stated that NMMP had been the most successful mass metering intervention introduced so far in terms of the number of meters installed for Nigerians.

Omonfoman said: “The NMMP is directly responsible for a rapid increase in local capacity in metering, particularly local meter manufacturing and assembly capacity and meter installation capacity.

“I would score the NMMP phase zero high. The NMMP is not the first

metering intervention by the federal government. In fact, there were several mass metering interventions under the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

“There were also others under the former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan’s governments, but none of them was able to make so much positive impact. Let me recognise and commend the team that managed the implementation.”

He also said that although phase zero was adjudged successful, it recorded some issues, including the incorrect declaration of meter quantities in-country by a few meter vendors and the difficulty associated with the logistics of clearing meters at the ports.

He insisted that potential risk, including foreign exchange for the procurement of meter components, port congestion, litigations with local meter manufacturers that could arise in the future, and the risk of bad behaviour by local meter manufacturers and Discos should be looked into before the next phase of the NMMP begins.

Similarly, Special Assistant to the President on Power Regulation, Office of the Vice President, Dr. Ali Yusuf, highlighted the gains and achievements of the NMMP, as well as some of the challenges in phase zero, adding that it would serve as learning points in the implementation of Phase 1.

Firm Connects 2,000 Niger Delta Households to Mini-grid Solar Power Peter Uzoho Renewvia Solar Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Renewvia Energy Corporation, has successfully connected about 2,000 new households and over 6,000 residents in five Niger Delta communities to solar hybrid mini-grid power electricity.

With the new installations, Renewvia Solar now serves over 10,000 individuals and businesses through thousands of metered connections in eight communities in the Niger Delta, THISDAY learnt.

The feat was in advancing the renewable energy company’s mission to improve quality of lives in sub-Saharan Africa through the delivery of clean, reliable and affordable energy to people and communities.

The new communities are Balep, Bendeghe-Afi, Ekong Anaku, Opu, and Emeroke, located in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States; Oloibiri and Akipelia in Bayelsa State, and Obokwu Ozuzu in Rivers State.

Oloibiri is particularly interesting as it is the location where oil was first discovered in Nigeria, and

yet had no reliable and affordable power until Renewvia’s minigrid enabled access to electricity.

Commenting on the latest installations, Renewvia’s Chief Executive Officer, Trey Jarrad, said in a statement that the company was constantly driven to improve lives, contribute to building a more sustainable environment and advance social impact opportunities in their places of operation.

“Thus, we are deliberate at helping individuals and small businesses thrive and impact their immediate community. We are optimistic that the installed solar hybrid system will continue to positively impact on safety and wellbeing, productivity, gender equality, health and enterprise across these communities.

“Our impact extends beyond providing access to cleaner, reliable, and affordable energy, but also in helping Nigeria actualise her global energy transition mandate of cutting carbon emissions towards net-zero by 2060 as declared at the recently concluded Climate Change Conference (COP 26),” Jarrad added.

MARKETING HALL OF FAME…

L-R; Chairman STB McCann/Marketing Edge Inductee, Sir Steve Omojafor; Group Chairman, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi; His wife Adedotun Ogunbiyi; and Chairman of the Occasion, Dr. Biodun Shobanjo during the inducting of Ogunbiyi PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA into the Marketing Edge Hall of Fame at the maiden induction ceremony, held in Lagos… weekend

IITA, Mastercard Foundation Partner to Drive Youth Participation in Agriculture Gilbert Ekugbe The Innovative Youth in Agriculture (I-Youth) project implemented by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) IITA in partnership with Mastercard Foundation Young Africa Works is expected to drive youth’s active participation for agricultural development, IITA has said.

The project according to IITA and MasterCard Foundation is extending agribusiness training to secondary school students in Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos State In a statement made available on

IITA’s website, the I-Youth, through the Start Them Early Program (STEP) component of the project, over the last 18 months, devised several approaches towards attracting students to participate in various activities organised for them to learn modern agriculture in schools and identify career opportunities in the sector.

The statement stated that STEP in I-Youth adopted the hybrid model, which focuses on using the younger youth as agents of agricultural transformation within the school system and in the communities in which they live.

“The approach is all-encompassing,

with students, parents, schools, and the communities benefitting from the opportunities offered by STEP,” the statement gathered.

According to the report, this approach incorporates e-learning using audiovisual materials for foundational agriculture training and practical learning by establishing pilot enterprises at the schools and community levels.

STEP also integrates extracurricular school clubs and youth outreach services through visits to successful agribusiness enterprises and firms, student competitions and debates, school farm open

days and the likes.

The student competition tagged, “STEP Agri-competition,” is the first of its kind in Lagos State and has become popular as I-Youth prepares to hold the competition’s final stage in March 2022.

I-Youth Executive Manager, Aline Mugisho, stated that the competition would propel the students into channeling deliberate efforts into identifying a career in agriculture, acquiring knowledge, and developing the right attitude towards agriculture.

It will build resilience and determination to develop a mindset focused on agriculture research and development.

Stakeholders to Brainstorm on PIA Implementation at Abuja Energy Summit Peter Uzoho Stakeholders in the oil and gas industry from within and outside Nigeria will converge on Abuja later this month for the third edition of the Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES) to brainstorm on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA)’s implementation and the future of the industry.

The theme of the energy summit slated for February 27 to March 3, 2022, is, “Revitalising the Industry: Future Fuels and Energy Transition.”

The event producer, Brevity Anderson, said the session on the PIA would witness an intense and heated debate by industry professionals, policy makers and stakeholders in attendance.

Managing Director of Brevity

Anderson, Mr. James Shindi, said the biggest issue in Nigeria’s energy sector over the last 20 years is the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that metamorphosed into the PIA. Shindi said industry stakeholders are now saddled with the implementation of the PIA, adding that the NIES platform would provide that stage for thorough scrutiny of the Act and the journey so far with

the implementation. He said, “There is no doubt that the biggest issue in Nigeria’s energy sector over the last 20 years was the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). Several unsuccessful attempts were made to push it past the finish line until last year that it became an Act. “It is a major feat by the Buhari presidency. It is a landmark.

It is a historic development and it is a phenomenon.

‘Prevalence of Unqualified Responsible for Incessant Building Collapses’ Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Minister of State for Works and Housing, Mu’azu Sambo, has emphasised the need for competent artisans in the real estate sector as one of the ways of preventing building collapses in the country.

Sambo was speaking to members of the Construction Skills Training and Empowerment Project (C- STEMP) led by a former Minister of state for Health, Gabriel Aduku, who paid a visit to his Office.

“We all know that one of the reasons for building collapses in this country is attributable to the prevalence of the use of unskilled artisans,” he said.

He praised the effort of C-STEMP in coming up with an initiative to fill what he described as a huge gap in the built environment and promised to support them.

“It has been a huge gap in

our industry, the construction industry like we all know requires skilled workers. I want to assure the delegation today that they should see us as their partner,” he said.

On the request by the delegation for the reconstitution of the Board of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), the minister expressed confidence that it would be treated with priority attention.

Earlier, the Director General of the organisation, Anthony Okwa, told the minister that C- STEMP was spurred by the Construction Ideas Fund (CIF) initiated in 2013 to address the challenge of severe shortage of skilled manpower in the real estate sector.

He explained that C-STEMP has the objective of ending high unemployment and poverty in the midst of severe shortage of skilled manpower in the construction industry.

Okwa further said that the organisation had embarked on

several training programmes at home and abroad to boost the

supply of competent artisans and craftsmen.

30

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͰ, 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Mining Clusters to Enhance Job Opportunities, Says Adegbite Kasim Sumaina ÓØ ÌßÔË The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite has re-emphasised that the establishment of mining clusters in the six (6) geopolitical zones will boost the productivity of Artisanal and Small Scale Miners (ASM), generate wealth and create employment opportunities for Nigerians.

The Clusters, according to the minister, are federal government intervention projects to cushion the adverse effects of Covid-19 and jumpstart the economy.

Adegbite made this known in Ugaga, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State during the inspection of the ongoing work at Barite Cluster Processing Plant.

The Minister in a statement in

Abuja by the Director Press of the ministry, Mrs. Etore Thomas, explained that the establishment of Barite Cluster in Ugaga was necessitated by the abundance of Barite in the area.

He noted that the Barite processing plant is sited in Ugaga because of abundance of Barite in this location and the need to reduce logistics for the processing, as localisation of industries at the sources of raw materials minimises logistics overload.

He said: “when completed, Barite would be processed in Ugaga and shipped to Port Harcourt selling point where buyers and exporters could buy them.”

The Minister, however assured that the plant when completed, would not be run by government but by experienced and

knowledgeable experts who have wherewithal to run it on behalf of the federal government.

Adegbite who carried out the inspection alongside the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade and the Director, ASM, Mr Patrick Ojeka, said the factory when operationalised, would increase the sector’s contribution to the Nation’s GDP. Earlier in her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Akinlade called on Barite miners to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by this huge investment, to enhance and improve productivity of Barite in the country.

This, according to her, would save Nigeria foreign exchange currently being spent on Barite importation.

NASIDA Attracts over $500m Investment to Nasarawa, Says MD Igbawase Ukumba ÓØ ËʨË The Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA) has said it has attracted over $500 million investment, both domestic and foreign, into key sectors of Nasarawa State.

The Managing Director of NASIDA, Ibrahim Abdullahi who disclosed this at a news briefing in Lafia added that the feat was achieved over the past three years of the coming to office of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

He added that, during the period, the state had closed significantly at 13 Public Private Partnership (PPP) and as well implemented eight business

environment initiatives.

He said: “We have welcome a pictorial of investors and investments in the state.

And notably Flour Mills of Nigeria has signed an agreement to acquire and do a development of 20,000 hectres sugarcane plantation and sugar industrial estate in Nasarawa around Toto. That has an investment initially at a minimum of $300 million.

“We also have a pipeline of different investors coming to invest generally in agriculture sector from rice production to sugar production and cassava production. We have signed a PPP agreement for the Nasarawa State Transport Company and the consension

of the bus terminus. Thereafter, in the second phase of the Auta Balefi Recycling Plant project, we hoped to create a waste to energy project. That is a project that has attracted about $33 million in funding, both from domestic and foreign investment.

“We also signed the Peninsula Joint Venture agreement with the private sector which is government’s efforts to build sustainable housing clusters in the corridors of Abuja,” he explained.

NASIDA has signed an agreement to develop the Nasarawa Technology Village to help build and position the state as an emerging centre for digital economy.”

9PSB Calls forTargeted Content to Accelerate Nigeria’s Financial Inclusion Emma Okonji

Payment Service Bank, 9PSB, has emphasised the need to pay close attention to content creation as an important factor in driving and accelerating financial inclusion in the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of 9PSB, Branka Mracajac, made the assertion recently, while presenting a keynote address, themed “Content Creation and Financial Inclusion; The Future of Digital Banking” at the Tech Summit Ogun 2022, which held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Mracajac stated that such move would enhance the future of digital banking in the long-term.

According to her, while there are ongoing efforts to support the country’s financial inclusion drive, a lot more rest on formulating tailored strategies that address specific needs.

“Providing access to the banking agents and touch points, across the country is happening as we speak;payment service banks, microfinance banks, and FinTech companies are all working on this.

But will this be enough? Will the access to digital banks change the mindset of Nigerians in rural areas of the country and be enough to drive the transition from cash to cashless society” she questioned.

She added that, developing content that speaks only to the already banked and mirroring the digital financial habits of those who are fully included and heavily banked, will not help to keep the newly on-boarded in the system long-term.

She stated: “While creating and delivering the content for financial inclusion, we need to have in mind the needs of its beneficiaries, the targeted endusers of the financial services who are currently underserved and the only sustainable way is that

we join our forces and create the content - apps and services that will address the specific needs of a farmer in Benue, market women in Onitsha, trader in Kano, fisherman in Delta, and the woman selling ofada rice in Ogun State.”

In his keynote address, titled “Disruptive Innovation: Production and Distribution of Creative Content, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Ali Ibrahim Pantami, who was represented by the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Dr. Abimbola Alale, remarked that the quality of creatives and startups that Nigeria has produced is a testament to the potential of the ecosystem, and as such the ministry will continue to support the tech and creative entrepreneurs to play their part in developing Nigeria’s digital economy.

LG Electronics Provides Hoteliers, Drycleaners with Energy Saving Appliances Dike Onwuamaeze The LG Electronics has provided hoteliers and professional drycleaners with new cutting-edge technological and energy saving appliances.

The General Manager, Home Appliances Division, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Brian Kang, said that the appliances which are now available in the Nigerian market belonged to the best technological innovative commercial washing machines,

dryers, dishwashers and stylers.

Kang stated this during the LG Electronics’ conference for real estate developers, consultants, hoteliers and professional drycleaners last weekend.

He said that the conference was organised to introduce its key stakeholders to the world of possibilities and creativity that its products could provide and enable them to learn more about LG’s business solutions.

Kang said: “LG business offers tailor-made solutions for hotels,

restaurants, offices, and more, keeping them comfortable, secure and stylish. We offer a wide range of products, including commercial washing machines, dryers, stylers and other tailored solutions for different vertical markets.

“We are developing key partnerships across industries to ensure our products provide their ever-changing business needs.

Our products are all backed by excellent warranty and service plans because your business is as important to us as it is to you.”

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͵

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

31

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

Stock Market Begin Week on Positive Note, Gains 0.20% Kayode Tokede The stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) commenced the week on a positive note following investors’ demand for mid-small capitalised stocks on the bourse.

Specifically, the NGX AllShare Index rose by 0.2per cent to 47,233.91 basis points yesterday from 47,233.91 basis points it opened for trading this week, while the overall market

capitalization added N50.35billion to close at N25.457 from N25.406 trillion it opened for trading.

Accordingly, the Month-to-Date and Year-to-Date returns increased to 1.3per cent and 10.6per cent, respectively. Performance across the stock market indices was broadly positive, as the NGX Banking gained 0.7per cent to close at 453.08basis points, NGX Consumer Goods rose by 0.4 per cent to close at 594.78 basis points, and NGX Insurance grew by

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

0.2 per cent to close at .188.22 basis points. Notably, the NGX Industrial Goods and the NGX Oil & Gas indices closed flat at 2,131.48 basis points and 409.32 basis points. In yesterday’s trade, stock market breadth index was positive with 31 gainers against 17 losers. RT Briscoe leads the gainers’ table yesterday, gaining 10 per cent to close at N0.66.

It was followed by UCAP Plc that grew by 10 per cent also to N13.20, while Africa Prudential

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

added 9.56 per cent to close at N7.45.

In addition to the top five gainers, Academy Press added 9.50 per cent to close at N1.96, while Champion gained 8.78per cent to close at N2.23.

Juli Plc depreciated by 9.76 per cent to close at N0.74, leading others as top losers on the stock market yesterday.

Other losers are Multiverse that dropped by eight per cent close at N0.23, while Mutual

T R A D E D

VALUE TRADED ( N )

MAIN BOARD

A S

Benefit down by 7.14 per cent to close at N0.26. Flourmill also dropped by 4.56 per cent to close at N33.50 as Honeywell flour decreased by 4.23 per cent to close at N3.85. The total volume traded declined by 0.8per cent to 421.46 million units, valued at N4.22 billion, and exchanged in 5,961 deals. Transcorp was the most traded stock by volume at 99.26 million units, while Zenith Bank was the most traded stock by value at N1.25 billion.

O F

1 8

According to analysts at InvestmentOne Research: “The equities market closed in green today due to the gains recorded across major sectors.

“Going forward, we expect investors’ sentiments to be swayed by the search for real positive returns and developments in the interest rate space.

“We reiterate that this may be a great period to pick up some quality names with a medium to long-term investment horizon.”

/ 0 2 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

32

TUESDAY, ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ Ϭ͘ϯй dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϯй ƚŽ ϮϬϯϯ͘Ϯϱ ŝŶĚĞdž dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ŽŶ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ŝŶ DdEE ;нϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϲϳϰ͘ϴϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͕ 'd K ;нϭ͘ϬйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ E/d, ;нϬ͘ϲйͿ͘ dŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ t W K ;Ͳϭ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h ;ͲϬ͘ϳйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂͲ

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϮϬ͘Ϭй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘ Ticker

Current Price

^/ ƵƉ ϭϭďƉƐ ĂƐ E' D 'ĂŝŶƐ ϯ͘ϯй

ŽŵĞƐƟĐ ŽƵƌƐĞ KƉĞŶƐ ƚŚĞ tĞĞŬ WŽƐŝƟǀĞ͘​͘​͘ ^/ ƵƉ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ ,KEz&>KhZ Ϭ͘Ϯй ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, ;нϬ͘ϳйͿ ďŽůͲ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ĞƋƵŝƟĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĞƌĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůůͲ ǁĞĞŬ ŽŶ Ă ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŶŽƚĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ ^ŚĂƌĞ

ŝŶĚĞdž

ƌŽƐĞ

Ϭ͘Ϯй ƚŽ ϰϳ͕ϮϮϯ͘ϵϭ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͕ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ

ďLJ

ϭϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ϯϵ͕ϱϱϬ͘ϯϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ

/Ed Z t ;нϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ 'h/EE ^^ ;нϱ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K

ƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ Ͳϭ͘ϴй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ

;нϭ͘ϬйͿ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ƚŽ ϭϬ͘ϲй

േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ

;ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůLJ͗ ϭϬ͘ϰйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

5 Zenith Bank PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC

ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

ƵůůŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

ƉƌŝĐĞ

ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ

ƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘

ƵŶĐŚĂŶŐĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ƉƌŝŽƌ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ Ăƚ Ϭ͘Ϯdž ĂƐ ϯϭ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚͲ

ǀĂŶĐĞĚ͕ ϭϳ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϲϵ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽŵŽƌƌŽǁ͕ ǁĞ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ƚŽ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶ ŝƚƐ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌͲ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ŵĂŶĐĞ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ͘ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϲdž ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ DZ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ D zͲ

^dK < ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝdžĞĚ͕ ĂƐ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůLJ ǁŝŶĚƐ ƵƉ͘

14.1%

13.6x

21.0x

19.1%

11.2%

34.0x

6.4x

26.45

1.0%

6.2%

1.7%

1.7%

24.8%

3.9%

4.0x

5.2%

7.3%

1.0x

11.4%

25.0% 27.4%

2.9%

0.7x

11.2%

5.3x

5.9%

7.4%

1,435.00

0.0%

3.1%

-7.8%

-7.8%

106.8%

15.6%

27.8x

32.8x

4.2%

3.6%

8 FBN Holdings Plc 9 Lafarge Africa PLC

11.35

-0.4%

3.2%

-0.4%

-0.4%

8.4%

0.8%

6.7x

0.5x

3.9%

14.9%

26.40

0.0%

3.4%

10.2%

10.2%

11.6%

8.4%

9.9x

1.1x

3.8%

10.1%

10 Access Bank PLC 11 United Bank for Africa PLC 12 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

10.40

0.5%

2.8%

11.8%

11.8%

17.0%

1.4%

2.9x

0.5x

8.2%

34.3%

8.65

1.2%

2.2%

7.5%

7.5%

19.5%

1.8%

2.2x

0.4x

6.4%

46.0%

17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC 18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

35.00

1.0%

1.5%

-2.8%

-2.8%

15.1%

2.1%

7.9x

1.2x

11.7%

12.7%

48.00

0.0%

1.4%

-4.0%

-4.0%

7.6%

2.7%

30.1x

2.2x

3.3%

3.3%

800.00

0.0%

1.8%

23.1%

23.1%

3.4%

1.9%

18.3x

0.7x

5.1%

11.95

-0.4%

1.8%

37.4%

37.4%

2.7x

5.5% 36.4%

5.60

6.7%

1.2%

13.1%

13.1%

-10.3%

-3.9%

127.80

0.0%

0.9%

-10.0%

-10.0%

36.5%

23.3%

8.7x

2.9x

33.50

-4.6%

1.1%

18.2%

18.2%

15.9%

4.5%

5.1x

0.8x

1.1x

-10.2% 11.5% 5.0%

19.5%

3.07

1.7%

0.7%

20.4%

20.4%

13.3%

1.3%

2.3x

0.3x

7.2%

42.8%

2.35

0.0%

0.5%

1.3%

1.3%

9.3%

3.0%

7.2x

0.7x

9.3%

13.8%

18.00

-1.6%

0.5%

3.4%

3.4%

15.3%

6.3%

11.8x

8.5%

3.01

0.3%

0.4%

0.7%

0.7%

10.3%

1.1%

1.8x

8.3%

0.2x

5.0%

2.9x

11.4%

13.20

10.0%

0.5%

33.3%

33.3%

74.00

5.7%

0.6%

89.7%

89.7%

13.3%

6.0%

15.6x

1.9x

0.6%

6.4%

1.22

4.3%

0.4%

27.1%

27.1%

11.1%

2.3%

6.5x

0.7x

0.8%

15.4%

35.6%

18.5%

6.2x

1.0x

4.5%

16.0%

2.2x

1.0% 2.8%

4.00

-0.2%

0.3%

-11.1%

-11.1%

104.00

0.0%

0.3%

18.5%

18.5%

28 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 29 AIICO Insurance PLC

14.50

0.0%

0.3%

9.8%

9.8%

21.3%

6.9%

13.6x

2.7x

0.69

0.0%

0.2%

-1.4%

-1.4%

7.2%

1.1%

383.3x

0.7x

30 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 31 Custodian and Allied Insurance

264.90

0.0%

0.3%

19.4%

19.4%

48.0%

9.5%

5.4x

2.2x

1.6%

18.6%

7.25

-2.7%

0.2%

-8.2%

-8.2%

19.5%

5.5%

4.3x

0.8x

7.4%

23.5%

32 Vitafoam Nigeria PLC 33 Unilever Nigeria PLC

22.95

0.0%

0.2%

2.0%

2.0%

38.7%

16.0%

5.9x

2.1x

6.5%

17.0%

13.95

0.0%

0.2%

-3.8%

-3.8%

7.8%

4.9%

30.9x

1.2x

34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 35 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

26.50

0.0%

0.2%

18.6%

18.6%

18.9%

2.4%

4.0x

0.8x

1.5%

25.0%

3.9%

36 Oando PLC 37 Wema Bank PLC

6.40

1.6%

0.1%

8.5%

8.5%

7.1%

0.8%

7.2x

0.7x

4.90

0.0%

0.0%

10.9%

10.9%

14.5%

2.6%

2.1x

0.3x

7.3% 0.3%

3.2%

13.9% 47.4%

0.87

1.2%

0.1%

20.8%

20.8%

14.1%

0.8%

3.8x

0.5x

4.6%

26.4%

1.65

1.2%

0.1%

9.3%

9.3%

9.4%

0.9%

2.2x

0.3x

3.0%

46.4%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-28.3%

-6.1%

5.38

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

2.4x

-13.8%

0.9x T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a in e r s

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

A C C ESS

41.9

-0.5%

UC A P

39.2

9.6%

9.8%

SOVR EN IN S

23.3

4.2%

1.79

9.8%

T R A N SC OR P

21.9

1.7%

SC OA

2.35

9.8%

R T B R ISC OE

21.9

9.1%

NNFM

10.85

9.6%

F ID ELIT YB K

21.7

0.7%

UC A P

12.00

9.6%

NB

21.4

1.1%

CHA M S

0.23

9.5%

GT C O

18.8

-0.4%

CHA M S

18.3

9.5%

M ULT IVER SE

17.4

4.2%

T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

LEA R N A F R C A

2.20

10.0%

NCR

3.99

9.9%

H ON YF LOUR

4.02

A C A D EM Y

R T B R ISC OE GUIN N ESS

0.60

9.1%

70.00

7.7%

T ic k er

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s

< Z ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ,KEz&>KhZ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ǁŚŝůĞ dZ E^ ;Ͳϴ͘ϯйͿ͕ > ^ K ;Ͳϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ >/s Ͳ

134.7%

5.5%

3.7x

ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ ďLJ

1.4%

5.5%

13.6x

KƵƚůŽŽŬ

ĚƌŝǀĞŶ

1.4%

6.8%

2.8%

ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘

ϭ͘ϴй

7.8%

0.0%

16.7%

40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

ƵƉ

0.2%

70.75

20.9%

ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ

Ğƌ͕

199.80

40.4%

38 Sterling Bank PLC 39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ͕ ǁĂƐ

16.5%

1.5%

7.2%

ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ͕ ƵƉ Ϭ͘ϳй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϰй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d

5.4%

6.4%

26 NEM Insurance PLC 27 Presco PLC

;нϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ hd/y ;нϰ͘ϬйͿ͘

0.8x

7.2%

ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ

ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ ĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ s Z/d ^< W ;нϰ͘ϮйͿ͕ t W/ ;нϰ͘ϮйͿ͕ DdEE

5.5x

6.4%

ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž

ϵ͘ϭйͿ͕ hE/> s Z ;Ͳϯ͘ϱйͿ͕ >/E< ^^hZ ;Ͳϲ͘ϰйͿ͕ Ϭ͘Ϯй͕ Ϭ͘ϭй ĂŶĚ ϭďƉ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝͲ

3.5%

6.0%

24 Guinness Nigeria PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ͕ &ZͲ/ d ĂŶĚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƌŽƐĞ

15.0%

31.9%

4.4%

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŽƵƌ ƉƵƌǀŝĞǁ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ

Ğƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϰ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ /Ed Z t ;нϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'h/EE ^^ ;нϱ͘ϳйͿ͘ >ŝŬĞǁŝƐĞ͕

31.9%

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

P/BV

0.6%

22 FCMB Group Plc 23 United Capital PLC

ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ E/d, ;нϬ͘ϲйͿ͕ ^d E / ;нϭ͘ϬйͿ͕

9.6% 103.3% 38.0%

P/E

0.0%

15 Ecobank Transnational Inc 16 International Brew eries PLC

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ϰ͘Ϯй ƚŽ േϰ͘ϮďŶ͘

0.0%

ROA

26.95

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, ;ϭϭ͘ϭŵ

0.29%

ROE

273.50

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ

ƵŵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ϮϮ͘ϳй ƚŽ ϰϮϭ͘ϱŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ

1,260.00

3 BUA Cement Plc 4 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC

13 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 14 SEPLAT Energy PLC

േϱϬ͘ϯďŶ ƚŽ േϮϱ͘ϱƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůͲ

2033.25

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

Price Previous Price Current Change Price Change Weighting Index to Change YTD Date

T ic k er P H A R M D EKO

P ric e 1.79

P ric e C hg % -8.7%

F T N C OC OA

0.35

-5.4%

M A YB A KER

4.21

-5.4%

C OR N ER ST

0.60

-4.8%

ST ER LN B A N K

1.63

-4.1%

N EM

4.01

-3.4%

ET ER N A OA N D O N GXGR OUP C A VER T ON

5.40

-2.7%

4.90

-2.0%

24.25

-1.8%

1.48

-1.3%

T ic k er

Value

NB

1028.3

1.1%

702.4

-0.2%

GT C O

492.1

-0.4%

UC A P

467.4

9.6%

A C C ESS

433.5

-0.5%

Z EN IT H B A N K

285.1

0.0%

GUIN N ESS

95.2

7.7%

N EST LE

91.2

0.0%

M TNN

P ric e C hg %

T OT A L

76.7

0.0%

UB A

73.4

0.6%

33

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 18Feb-2022, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 175.58 176.73 5.21% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 9.03% Nigeria International Debt Fund 308.72 308.72 -0.12% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 95.02 96.17 -3.45% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.71% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.52 3.58 -0.65% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 7.89% Anchoria Equity Fund 146.13 147.97 5.04% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.19 1.19 3.80% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com info@anchoriaam.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 21.00 21.63 3.54% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 474.31 488.61 5.13% ARM Ethical Fund 39.91 41.11 2.44% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.07 1.08 -0.55% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.02 1.02 0.73% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.01% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 108.82 108.82 6.99% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,079.99 1,079.99 8.00% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.23% Paramount Equity Fund 18.44 18.77 9.57% Women's Investment Fund 146.02 147.58 4.97% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.25% Cordros Milestone Fund 138.30 139.20 4.62% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 111.18 111.18 0.67% CORONATION ASSETS 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 100.00 100.00 6.40% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 6.58% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,146.29 1,150.49 -1.94% EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.50% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.01 1.01 5.10% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.05 1.05 15.29% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 101.34 101.34 3.28% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,416.08 1,416.08 10.88% FBN Balanced Fund 182.23 183.59 3.98% FBN Halal Fund 117.08 117.08 8.86% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.65% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund FSDH Dollar Fund

122.77 154.05

122.77 3.91% 156.05 2.30% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price 1.00 3.98 1.81 1.21

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 7.57% 3.98 -0.57% 1.85 4.42% 1.21 0.56% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price 4,008.17 3,497.96 N/A

Offer Price 4,065.36 3,497.96 N/A

1.0894

1.0894

Yield / T-Rtn 6.90% 6.72% 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 N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A 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 1.55 1.58 3.14% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,150.74 1,150.74 1.23% 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 12.46 12.55 5.67% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 8.47% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) N/A N/A N/A Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.63 1.66 1.62% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.60 11.58 3.56% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.38% PACAM Equity Fund 1.52 1.54 5.29% PACAM EuroBond Fund 115.07 117.49 -0.15% 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 131.12 132.74 8.50% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.08 1.08 10.03% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,519.94 3,557.03 2.21% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 236.57 236.57 0.36% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.33 1.35 3.08% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 315.59 315.59 0.72% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 246.22 249.84 1.69% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.48% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,340.57 11,495.96 2.07% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.30 1.30 0.60% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 117.48 117.48 0.44% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 107.64 107.64 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 0.97 0.99 4.30% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.41 1.43 3.70% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.14 1.15 4.63% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.08 1.08 1.03% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.98 1.98 0.96% United Capital Eurobond Fund 123.21 123.21 0.71% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.76% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.41 13.53 1.69% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 15.32 15.49 4.89% Zenith Income Fund 22.27 22.27 1.29% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.55%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.98 54.65

10.62% 8.10%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.11 135.29 106.70 19.60 23.12

14.21 138.68 109.06 19.70 23.22

1.00% 2.80% 2.98% 0.00% 0.00%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.45 5.88 18.52 1.00 21.21 163.45

4.55 5.98 18.72 1.00 21.41 165.45

18.13% 15.29% 7.77% 9.09% 9.36% 3.58%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.28

10.80%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

34

TUESDAY, ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

TALKING TRADE...

L-R: General Manager, Glovoapp, Lorenzo Mayol; Co-founder Glovoapp, Sacha Michaud and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo during a meeting in the Minister's office in Abuja... yesterday

Terrorists Return to Galadima Kogo Community, Kill Many Laleye Dipo in Minna Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists have returned to Galadimakogo and surrounding communities in Shiroro local government area of Niger State killing tens of people, abducting several others and setting houses and food bans on fire.

Multiple sources that confirmed this to THISDAY, claimed the sophistication of weapons being used and the fact that for the first time the terrorists planted explosives in the community reinforced the

claim that they were Boko Haram elements.

The latest attack by the gunmen which came three weeks after the invasion of Galadima kogo town where not less than 50 persons, 11 of them being members of the Joint Security Task Force JSTF took place early Monday morning.

The gunmen said to be about 50 in number road on motorcycles with each carrying sophisticated guns, some AK47 rifles.

According witnesses they first set the three buildings housing the Joint Security Taskforce men which

was under renovation on fire before also burning other buildings in the community.

The attack reportedly lasted several hours before the invaders left the community with sacks loaded with food items stolen from the village, the eyewitnesses said.

A Toyota Hillux Van said to belong to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) was bombed killing unspecified number of the operatives.

The driver of the van, according to the report was said to have driven on the planted explosive

leading to the explosion.

The terrorists went on rampage in the whole Lakpma axis of Shiroro local government wreaking havoc particularly at Makuba Bassa/ Kukoki Wards where they killed one person and kidnapped 15 others.

At Guyi, Alai and Kushaku Villages, 13 villagers were murdered, some of them beheaded and others butchered by the blood thirsty gunmen.

These latest attacks were confirmed by the Chairman of Shiroro Local Government Mr. Sulaiman Chikuba and the co-convener of

FG to Launch National Campaign against Ritual Killings Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The federal government has said would launch a national campaign against ritualists and murders in the coming days.

The Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this yesterday, in Abuja, during a media visit to Daily Trust Newspaper.

He said the federal government was alarmed by the escalating incidents of ritual murders across the country among young persons, driven by the urge to get rich at all cost.

He said the National Orientation Agency (NOA) was already collaborating with religious and

traditional organisations as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to forge behavioural change, especially among the youth, some of whom are afflicted by the get-rich-quick syndrome.

The minister said he had also directed the National Film and Video Censors Board to take the issue of regulation of Nollywood movies featuring money rituals in some of its movies into consideration while performing its role of censoring and classifying films and videos.

He said the mandate was because many have blamed Nollywood for depicting money rituals in some of its movies that have negatively influenced the vulnerable youth.

He also beckoned on the media to lend its voice to efforts to stamp out the scourge.

He said the ritual killings have assumed a worrisome dimension in recent years in many parts of the country. Citing an NGO, Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), the minister said 150 women and girls were killed for ritual purposes between January 2018 and December 2021.

“The NGO said the prevailing situation is driven by a growing demand for human body parts for money-making. It added that the trend endangers the safety and security of women and girls.

Recently, in Ogun State, four young men, one of whom is 18

years old, murdered their 20-yearold female friend for money rituals.

“One of them said they learnt about using human parts for money rituals from social media.

Of course, you are also aware of a case involving a female student of the University of Jos who was allegedly killed by her boyfriend for ritual purposes. These killings have been widely reported by the media,” Mohammed said.

He stressed that the mere fact that some of the ritualists said they learnt the money-making tricks from some social media platforms had strengthened the need by government to embark on a campaign to rid social media of unwholesome content.

DRAMA AS ALI FLAYS HOUSE REOPENING OF E-CUSTOMS PROJECT PROBE Nwokolo, intervened, calling for the postponement of the hearing.

Nwokolo said, "Off your Mic, Hon colleagues, if I had him well, he apologised. We rest for today. It boils down to the same thing I have said that from the submissions, the matter is still in court. That's one.

Two, Adani, you said you have something to say. What we are saying is that as at this moment, you are not ready. Whatever that caused it whether human, you are not ready. Both agencies have given you examples. They came with hard and soft copies and if you have given us soft copy by Friday, we would have gone through them.

“Now, you are bringing us soft copy after we are sitting, it is difficult for us to peruse the soft copy. Now, you go and tidy up your documents. That's what I suggest. Go and put your papers in order. The matter is in court.

It's been said here repeatedly. You have three suits. In fact, we are even urging you to go and do a consolidation of suits because they are all related."

Meanwhile, in her presentation, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, told the lawmakers that pending court cases were delaying the commencement of the e-Customs mordenisation project.

The minister, who was represented by Director, Home Finance, Stephen Okon, said the federal government found out the company awarded the contract in 2017 lacked the technical capacity to execute the project while also breaching some provisions of the contract.

According to her, Messr Adani Nigeria Limited, who was awarded the contract by the Technical Committee on Comprehensive Import

Supervision Scheme, leased the contract to another company Adani International Limited based in the UK and registered four months after the contract was signed.

She said after the cancellation of the contract, Adani Nigeria Limited filed three different suits against the federal government, alleging breach of contract, adding that the lawsuits which were yet to be decided by the Court were holding back commencement of the project.

Earlier, in his remarks, Chairman of the Customs Committee, Hon. Leke Abejide, noted that there had been back and forth on the issue of e-Customs modernisation project whose objectives was to completely automate every aspect of Customs administration.

He said that about $8.810 billion would be generated yearly from the implementation of the project,

hence the lawmakers wanted to ensure the obstacles were done away with to allow the project commence in earnest so as to reduce to the barest minimum the issue of borrowing money to fund national budget yearly.

Abejide said, "The cost of concession implementation over a 20-year period is $3.1 billion and the project is projected to generate about $176.2 billion within the 20-year concession period. We equally understood the SPV is to recover their investment based on negotiated and staggered recovery strong ratio from the Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) and Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme (NESS).

"If you juxtapose the benefits that will accrue to the nation for the good of Nigerians with not doing the e-Customs at all, if it is crystal clear we are sitting on gold, but mistaking it to be wood.”

the Concerned Shiroro Youths, Comrade Abubakar Yussuf Kokki in separate interviews.

Chikuba said: "Only two out of the NSCDC operatives in the vehicle survived the explosion and are in critical conditions, receiving treatment at a government facility in Minna, the state capital.

"As I speak to you now, no single building is standing in the community, everything was set ablaze and the entire community is deserted. Right now we cannot ascertain the total number of people that have been killed, the situation is quite serious."

Kokki also confirmed the incident, saying: "To say that we

are hopeless, hapless and helpless is a huge understatement as our collective survival have since been placed on life support!

"Our vulnerability has reached the highest boiling point to the extent of now living at the mercy of dreaded criminals. They are the ones deciding who to live and who not to live! This current reality is quite unfortunate, disheartening, saddening and frightening."

The State Commissioner for Local Government and Internal Security, Mr. Emmanuel Umar and the State Police Command Public Relations Officer DSP Wasiu Abiodun did not respond to calls made to their cell phones.

Soludo: My Decision to Wear 'Akwete' Clothes Has Shot Up its Demand Says only locally made beers, palm wine would be served at govt functions David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Anambra State Governor-elect, Prof.

Chukwuma Soludo has said his decision to be wearing Akwete dresses has shot up the demand for the locally made fabric.

He also added that as part of efforts to promote local brands, he would serve only locally made beer and palm wine in the government house, and at government functions.

Soludo's media assistant, Mr. Joe Anatune stated this in a piece he sent to THISDAY in Awka, yesterday.

Anatune said the media team of the former central bank governor sent one of its reporters to Akwete in Abia State, where the fabric is mostly made, and it was discovered that the demand for the material has risen since Soludo announced that he would be wearing the locally made material.

Anatune said: "Akwete today is being popularised as a metaphor

by Anambra State Governor - Elect, Soludo for the purchase and consumption of made in Anambra products and services.

"Already, the women of Akwete are smiling to the bank due to the association of their products with an iconic figure who many look up to as a role model. Our reporter, Chimeziri Franklin visited the Akwete community recently

and said the women can't thank Soludo enough for igniting a spike in demand for their product.”

Anatune quoted the reporter as saying: "They have heard of what Cee Cee Soludo is doing for Akwete weavers which no state actor has done for them earlier."

Anatune also said beyond Akwete dresses, Soludo would also market other local brands, including local shoes, Innoson Vehicles, saying only drinks made in Anambra would be served at government functions, including palm wine.

"Beyond Akwete, Soludo will model other brands and commodities produced in Anambra in all industries and categories.

He has not hidden his decision to use Innoson vehicle as his official car or enforce that the only drinks that will be taken in Government House or at government functions will be beers produced in Anambra or the organic palm wine from Awa/ Awgbu axis.

"The list is long as he will not wear any shoes that are not made in Anambra. Soludo is aware that most of these products may not be the best in their classes globally but is of the well-considered opinion that our patronage will help upscale their quality standards and make them competitive beyond our shores.

35

TUESDAY, ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

GRAND FINALE OF THE PDP LG CAMPAIGN...

L-R: Enugu State Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Augustine Nnamani; Chairmanship Candidate, Enugu North Local Government Area, Emeka Onunze; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, PDP Deputy Chairmanship Candidate, Christopher Ani and Deputy Governor, Enugu State, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, during the grand finale of the PDP LG campaign tours, held at Enugu North LGA…yesterday

Obasanjo: Nigeria Can’t Defeat B’Haram, Banditry by Repeating Same Mistakes Says some persons profiteering from general insecurity Fayemi advocates national response to challenge Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, contended that until Nigeria began to be intentional about dealing with the root causes of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping and other crimes, solving them in the coming years would remain an uphill task.

The ex-Nigerian leader stated that Nigeria currently has about 15 million out-of-school children, explaining that this would remain a reservoir for the recruitment of new members into organised crimes in the coming years.

Obasanjo spoke at the 2022 Murtala Muhammed Foundation Memorial Lecture at the Yar’adua Centre, in Abuja, themed: “Beyond Boko Haram: Addressing Insurgency, Banditry and Kidnapping Across Nigeria.”

Also speaking at the event, the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, however, advocated "a comprehensive national response" to win the battle against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and all forms of security afflicting the country.

Obasanjo, who is the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the foundation, traced the origin of the proliferation of arms and rise in crimes in Nigeria to the aftermath of the civil war, and noted that insecurity was becoming a big industry for certain individuals.

“There are people, who have turned the whole matter into an industry so that they can supply equipment and materials, some of them useless equipment, some of them old.

“They have turned it into an industry. Even the equipment we buy legitimately, the countries will give conditions that you have to take permission from us before you can use this equipment for internal operation. Those are some of the inhibitions,” he stated.

He argued that until Nigeria devoted attention to educating the millions of out-of-school children, provided employment and dealt with social inequality, the challenge of insecurity would continue to rear its ugly head.

The elder statesman pointed out that in 2011, when he began to look at the activities of Boko Haram, his fear was that it should never have any foreign collaboration, but unfortunately, the fear has been confirmed, he stressed.

“What I feared at that time, because in 2011, when I was looking at the issue of Boko Haram, they did not have that much of external reach, in fact, maybe 10 to 11 per cent was the external connection they had at that time, and that would be Nigerians, who had some resources available, who were helping them.

“And we were trying to keep them away from al-Qaida and other

Stop Playing Cheap Politics With Electoral Bill, Presidency Warns Interest Groups Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The Presidency, yesterday, formally reacted to the reported pressure being mounted on President Muhammadu Buhari by interest groups to assent to the reworked Electoral Act Amendment Bill, saying cheap politics should not be played with the issue.

In a statement titled "Assent to Electoral Bill: No Need For Saber Rattling" and signed by Femi Adesina, the Presidency said Buhari constitutionally has up till March 1, 2022, to sign or decline assent to the bill, which was forwarded by the National Assembly to the President on January 31, this year.

It also justified the need for President Buhari to properly scrutinise the legislation before doing the rightful thing within the permissible time.

The statement read: "Some interest groups are cashing in on

what they consider a delay in the signing of the Electoral Bill into law by the President to foment civil disorder and muddy the waters.

"One can just pity their ignorance of Constitutional requirements, as the president has a window of 30 days within which to sign the Bill, or decline assent, after it had been transmitted to him by the National Assembly.

"It is on record that the amended Bill was sent to the Presidency on January 31, 2022, which means that the Executive could do due diligence on it till March 1, as prescribed by the Constitution.

"A proposed legislation that has to do with the electoral fortunes of the country needs to be thoroughly scrutinised, and be made as nearperfect as possible.

"Those playing cheap politics with it are, therefore, encouraged to hold their peace, knowing that the right thing will be done within the lawful time".

terrorist organisations. We have seen that we have not been able to do that and today we have seen outsiders come to join them. Kidnapping, Banditry and abduction are separate aspects, but whatever they are, we need to deal with them,” he said.

Maintaining that the current security challenges did not start overnight, the former Nigerian leader argued that Nigeria must now begin to take the right steps and walk away from the mistakes of the past.

“But they didn’t just start overnight, it’s a question of many things, including unemployment, social disparity and I believe that the kind of emphasis that should have been placed on education was not placed on it.

“With the population of Nigeria today standing at 215 million, and 15 million children that should be in school, but are not in school, it doesn’t matter how we deal with Boko Haram, kidnapping, banditry.

“It doesn’t matter whether by stick or by carrot or by stick and carrot, when you have 15 million children that should be in school

that are not in school, that will be potential Boko Haram 15 years from now.

“And I believe that it is not too late to start, even while we still have Boko Haram and the rest of them, to say that we do not want Boko Haram by the year 2030, 2035 and if we don’t do anything about the 15 million children that are out of school, you are already nurturing the Boko Haram of tomorrow,” he stated.

On his part, Fayemi, also called for massive investment in public health, nutrition, education, promotion of partnerships for affordable housing, food security, potable water and creation of enabling environment to put opportunities for skills acquisition and gainful employment for the youth to reduce violent crimes in the land.

Fayemi, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), said concerted and collective efforts must be put into the fight against security challenges, which has extended its tentacles to all nooks and crannies of the country.

While sounding the battle cry against the the challenges at hand, the Ekiti governor regretted that, "The boundaries of contemporary national insecurity have been further enlarged by the emergence and expansion of an industry in kidnapping that has overwhelmed an important swathe of northwestern Nigeria and graduated into the status of a national pandemic."

Extolling the virtues of the late Gen. Mohammed, Fayemi noted that although the former Nigerian leader was in office for a very short time, he made a lasting impact and embodied the lesson, which all public office holders must always be reminded of.

"For my generation of Nigerians, the late General Mohammad, was not only a charismatic leader, whose decisive, no-nonsense, business unusual style captured our youthful imagination, he has also over the years remained an uncommon example of public service through the uncompromising commitment he displayed to the pursuit of the common good.

"As with most other Nigerians,

the deep regret, which we felt was that he did not rule long enough to personally complete the task of national rebirth, which he and his colleagues had defined for themselves at the time he came to power. Still, he earned his place in our hearts and in the pantheon of our national heroes.

"Murtala Muhammed successfully re-ignited hope in a post-civil war Nigeria that we can as a people aspire to new and greater heights to occupy our rightful place in dignity as a leader in the comity of nations. Such was the impact he had in so short a period of time that memory of his time with us remains so fresh and evergreen.

May his soul continue to Rest In Peace, Amen," he said.

Dissecting the issue of the day, Fayemi noted that Nigeria had grappled with various forms of security problems and criminalities including armed robbery, militancy, vandalism of oil pipelines and hostage taking, ethno-religious killings but had recently exacerbated with insurgency, kidnapping and banditry.

Kwankwaso Floats New Political Group, National Movement Goddy Egene As part of the surprises that might shape the 2023 elections, a former governor of Kano State, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has floated a new political group, The National Movement (TNM), to be formally presented to the public today at the Ladi Kwali Hall of the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja.

A former Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Professor Rufia Ahmed Alkali, is the Protem National Secretary of group.

According to a letter of invitation to the official launch of the movement, Alkali said the event would be historic.

“During the launch, the TNM will be formally presented to the

general public and the convener of the movement will outline its aims and objectives and its principal purpose as well as inviting all patriotic Nigerians at home and abroad to join the TNM in the overall interest of saving our country and redirecting her onto the path of safety and security, peace and prosperity, equity and opportunity, in addition to qualita-

AGAIN, APC MOVES CONVENTION, NOW TO HOLD MARCH 26 Rebirth group, faulted the decision to conduct the zonal congresses, saying it is alien to the party’s constitution.

The group, led Aliyu Audu, said the decision was part of a calculated attempt by the Buni-led caretaker committee to elongate its tenure in office, adding, "It is a clear case of abuse of power and blatant reign of impunity. Buni will stop at nothing until he ruins the party."

Convention: We’re Not Talking Till After Meeting With Buhari, Say APC Governors

The Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), has said that it would not comment on the timetable for the national convention and zonal congresses released by the Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) until it had

met with President Muhammadu Buhari today.

Chairman of the Forum and the Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, stated this while addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja.

“Until we finish with Mr. President, we would rather not comment on any time table or any logistics," said Bagudu, when asked about the time-table for the convention and zonal congresses.

According to him, the Forum met to discuss developments in the states and review the election that took place in the FCT, Osun primary, the court judgment that dissolved the Kano Congress and the preparation for the national convention, where it received briefing from the Caretaker Chairman, Mai Mala Buni.

speaking on the allegation that the APC governors were the ones frustrating the convention from holding, the Kebbi governor said, "We appreciate that Nigerians are interested in what the APC is doing, because Nigerians gave us their mandate by electing us into offices and holding us to a high standard and we are very conscious of that.

His words: "All the APC governors have met and as always, appreciated the need to work together with other stakeholders.

We have always been humble to acknowledge that we are not only stakeholders of the party. To work with other stakeholders and to ensure we deliver transparent, honest national executives that will have the confidence of all party members."

tive and competent leadership that will engender rapid and sustainable development as well as being fair and just to all.”

Although the name of the convener was not mentioned in the invitation letter, sources told THISDAY that Kwankwaso was the force behind the idea.

Nevertheless, key northern politicians, including serving and former governors, and lawmakers are members of the group and all waiting for the former launch before they would declare their membership.

Aside, some southern politicians and professionals have equally been invited to join the movement.

Some of the prominent names linked to the group are former governors, Murtala Nyako, Lukcy Igbinedion and Achike Udenwa.

Others are Professor Pat Utomi, former Executive Secretary of TetFund, Dr. Bappa Bichi, Buba Galadima, Tahir Saad, Solomon Dalung, Rufai Hanga, Senator Grace Bent, and Professor Attahiru Jega, who is expected to fuse his Rescue Movement into the group. It was gathered that TNM has strong backing of former military leaders as well.

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NEWS

‘Over 108 Communities Displaced

by Terrorists in Southern Kaduna’ John Shiklam in Kaduna President of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Hon. Jonathan Asake, has disclosed that over 108 communities have been displaced by terrorists in Chikun, Kajuru, Kaura, Zangon Kataf, Jama’a and Kauru Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.

Asake also disclosed this at the flagging of distribution of foodstuffs worth N20 million that was donated by Agrolog Limited, a Kaduna based agribusiness company.

He said the victims in the affected communities are now homeless and facing serious challenges at various camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The president of SOKAPU warned of serious humanitarian crisis in the affected areas unless urgent steps are taken to assist the victims.

He commended Agrolog for its kind gesture and appealed to other corporate bodies, groups, and public spirited individuals to come to the aid of thousands of victims who were sacked by terrorists that unleashed mayhem on communities in the state, almost on a daily basis.

According to him, some of the victims were living in uncompleted buildings without any assistance from anybody.

“Some of these people just find uncompleted buildings to live. Nobody is taking care of them. Only groups and public spirited individuals are helping them,” Asake lamented.

He said those who sustained injuries during the attacks could not afford to go for medical treatment “because they don’t have the resources.”

He lamented further that children in the affected communities had been out of school for a long time.

“We have a very serious humanitarian crisis in Southern Kaduna where these attacks took place,” Asake said.

He called on government and the security agencies to come to the rescue of the people.

Speaking during the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Agrolog Limited, Dr. Manzo Maigari, said that the donations were part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.

Maigari, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in Kaduna State, said the foodstuffs, which included

maize flour, rice, beans, palm oil, soap, toothpaste, pomade and sanitiry pads among others, were targeted at 10,000 families affected by

the deadly attacks by bandits.

He added that N2 million had also been set aside for medical treatment for those wounded during the attacks

and could not afford to go to the hospital for treatment.

He said that the company, which deals in the ginger value change, has been working with

communities as partners.

He said: “Our company, Agrolog Limited, is basically an agribusiness with focus on ginger value change.

EMPOWERING WOMEN AND YOUTH…

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf; Founder, Crystal International School of Skin Aesthetics, Dr. (Mrs) Oluwakemi Ajiboye, and the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Dr. Ezra Yakusak, at the grand opening of Crystal International School of Skin Aesthetics, a one-stop place for women and youth empowerment in

Ebonyi Assembly Elects Renewed Cult War Claims Five in Bayelsa father of four, who is a A source informed our some unknown persons at a New Deputy Speaker Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa the suspected drug peddler, was correspondent that the killing of popular bar in Amarata area Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki Ebonyi State House of Assembly yesterday elected a new Deputy Speaker, Hon. Kingsley Ikoro, following the alleged resignation of the embattled Deputy Speaker, Hon. Obasi Odefa, as a member of the Assembly.

Fifteen out of the 24 members of the Assembly elected the member representing Afikpo North West constituency elected the new Deputy Speaker after Odefa’s seat was declared vacant.

The Speaker, Hon. Francis Nwifuru, read the letter of Odefa’s resignation on the floor of the Assembly during plenary.

Odefa’s ordeal is not unconnected to his reaffirmation as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Meanwhile, Odefa said he did not author any letter of

resignation as a member of the state House of Assembly and vowed to sue the Speaker for what he described as a forgery.

He maintained that he is still the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, describing his removal as a waste of time and null and void.

“You don’t place something on nothing; it does not exist.

They lack the powers to purport and forge letters and read on my behalf for my colleagues purportedly written by me.

That’s a serious crime if they don’t know.

“One thing they don’t know is that no member of the House of Assembly has immunity. In the constitution of this country, only the president, vice president, governor, and deputy governor has immunity. No other person has immunity,” he said.

A renewed war among rival cult groups in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, has so far claimed five persons, including a father of four who was butchered on Sunday, at his home.

Reason for the resumed hostilities among the cult groups cannot be ascertained, but sources said it might have been caused by territorial control.

The five persons including

killed in the early hours of yesterday while scores injured in a the renewed cult war between the notorious members of the Bobos and Iceland cult groups.

It was gathered that the killings, which started in the early hours of yesterday at OMPADEC area of the state capital, spread to other part of the suburb known as Amarata with residents scurrying for safety.

the suspected father of four who was a bricklayer at OMPADEC area at about 3.am by suspected Bobos cult members may have triggered the anger of the Iceland boys who controls the area in Amarata.

The deceased, who is also a suspected drug peddler, who some persons claimed was a new recruit to one of the cult gangs, was reported to have had a verbal altercation with

during a birthday party.

He was said to have been trailed to his house and shot twice before he was dealt several machete cuts until his assailants make sure he was dead before escaping into the night.

A neighbor , who witnessed the bloody scene in the morning said, we heard two shot fired at about 3am. And we heard voices shouting.”

‘Osun APC Primary Election Marred with Irregularities’ Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Coalition for Civil Society Organisation in Nigeria, accredited to observe the recent governorship primary election of All Progressives Congress (APC) last Saturday alleged that the election fell short of acceptable international standard as it was grossly marred with irregularities.

The leader of the coalition, Mr.

Patrick Usman, from Centre for Development Democracy and Good Governance Nigerians, who spoke at a press Conference yesterday in Osogbo, said observers were at the 23 local government areas of the state where lack of sensitive materials, like result sheets, electoral violence, operational and logistical challenges were recorded.

He said that the election was biased because party primaries are expected to be free ,fair and credible but it was not so which should be the basis for good governance.

He pointed out that the primary election held last Saturday was a mockery of democracy and suppression of people’s will.

He said the primary held

cannot stand a scrutiny of parameters for a free and fair election.

According to him, the observers’ findings during the primary election include: no accreditation in most wards where election was held; violence; over voting, refusal of committee to make party registers available before the election.

aspirant.

YTI’s National Coordinator, Mr. Ajibola Afolayan, stated this while addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, saying the group was convinced that Tinubu’s network across the geo-political zones would deliver him the presidential ticket of APC. Against this background, the group has ordered its members

across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to commence campaign massive mobilisation in support of Tinubu’s presidential ambition.

It also urged its members to begin senistatisation and awareness campaign for Permanent Voter Card registeration.

The group also called on all

the aggrieved members of APC to sheath their swords because of the masses oriented presidential candidate that is coming out.

Afolayan said: “Bola Ahmed Tinubu was one of the founders of the APC. In fact, his resilience despite all odds ensured the success of the merger of the defunct parties that we now call Legacy Parties.

INEC, FCT Residents Commended on Peaceful Polls 2023: Tinubu Won’t Leave APC for Any and councilors, certain political Folalumi Alaran in Abuja parties and candidates won. It is Presidential Aspirant, Says Support Group The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candido, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and residents of the council for their peaceful conduct during the chairmanship and councillorship elections held last Saturday.

While briefing journalists recently in Abuja, Candido lauded the residents of AMAC for conducting themselves in a non-violence manner throughout the process of the polls.

He also acknowledged all the candidates who participated in the chairmanship election, especially for their show of maturity, adding that they must at all time work for the council to succeed.

He said: “During the last Saturday election for chairman

the responsibility of the council to appreciate the residents for conducting themselves peacefully before, during and after the elections, irrespective of their political parties.

“I also commend the INEC for its unbiased umpire by demonstrating neutrality and efficiency. Residents may have come across some issues that have to do with the system generally, but I believe it is still a learning process. I believe with time INEC will get it right.

“For me, I feel this institution called AMAC is greater than any other interest and personality. So, whosoever won, I wish him the best, because the person would continue with the governance.

We will continue to pray for them to succeed. Their success will have direct impact on the entire AMAC,” he said.

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Ahead of the 2023 elections, a support group, Youth for Tinubu Initiative (YTI) has assured stakeholders that the former Governor of Lagos state and an All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, Senator Bola Tinubu, will not leave the ruling party for any

Court Ruling is Victory for All in Ogun PDP, Says Party Chieftain A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olumide Aderinokun has described Friday’s court ruling over the leadership of the party in Ogun State as a victory for all.

The Ogun Central Senatorial District aspirant called on all aggrieved members of the party to come together and make PDP

one in Ogun State.

The court, in a judgement passed by Justice J.O Abdulmaliq, upheld Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele as the duly elected chairman of the PDP in the state.

“I commend the judiciary for the judgement which signifies the constitution of the party. It is pertinent to note the efforts

the party leadership is making for reconciliation in Ogun State,” Chie Aderinokun said.

“The judgement is victory for all members and also an extension of olive branch to members who are trying to create factions in the party to come under one umbrella of our chairman, Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele.

“Definitely with a united PDP, we will emerge stronger than before and rescue Ogun State and Nigeria in 2023.”

A Federal High Court in Abeokuta on Friday, dismissed a suit to uplift Samson Bamgbose’s suspension by the party’s Working Committee in the state.

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NEWSXTRA

FG Audits Detention Facility to Safeguard Detainees’ Rights Michael Olugbode in Abuja The federal government has commenced the Police Visitors Week (PSVW) to ensure that detention facilities in the country conform to human rights standards in line with international best practices.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony yesterday at Life Camp Police station, in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu, explained that the programme was aimed at ensuring the rights of detainees in furtherance of the commission’s mandate to carry out a periodic audit of places of detention across the country toward ensuring that the practice in the detention facilities conforms to human rights standards.

Ojukwu added that: “Monitors have been sent to one station per geographical zone, to carry out the audit in some police stations in those states.”

He revealed that in carrying out the assignment the trained visitors are tasked to collect and document information regarding the police stations, suspects, condition of the detention

facility among others.

Ojukwu said data gathered during the audit will be analysed and published as report, which will be shared

with all stakeholders.

He noted: “The aim is to enhance police accountability, identify good practice and document challenges that

may exist, with a view to making action-oriented recommendations to the appropriate authorities, as well as carrying out advocacy

for improvement of detention facilities.” The project, which is part of a larger project on strengthening police reform in Nigeria is supported by the

MacArthur Foundation, CLEEN foundation , Network For Police Reform (NOPRIN) and Rule of Law and accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC).

MARKETING EDGE HALL OF FAME…

L-R: Chairman, STB McCann/Marketing Edge Inductee, Sir Steve Omojafor; Wife of Group Chairman of Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mrs. Adedotun Ogunbiyi; Group Chairman, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi; Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Biodun Shobanjo; Special Guest, Prof. Pat Utomi; Chief Executive Officer, Entod Marketing Ltd, Mrs Iquo Ukoh, and Publisher’s Wife, Mrs. Modupe Ajayi, during Marketing Edge maiden Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Lagos....recently ABIODUN AJALA

Oyo Restates Commitment to Akeredolu Signed Executive Order to Cover Delivery of Quality Infrastructure Son’s Illegality, Ondo PDP Alleges Oyo State’s Commissioner for Works, Public Infrastructure and Transport, Prof. Daud Sangodoyin, yesterday restated that the administration of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde is determined and committed to deliver quality infrastructure projects that will stand the test of time.

The Commissioner made this disclosure when he embarked on an inspection tour of the Ajia-Airport Road with spur to Amuloko with the Quality Assurance Team of the Ministry and site engineers of the Peculiar

Ultimate Concerns.

According to a statement by the Special Assistant (Print Media) to Governor Makinde, Moses Alao, the commissioner and his team inspected a spot of the road on OdeyaleAmuloko axis of the road, to which a resident had called the government’s attention.

He declared that the state government and the contractors had noticed the challenge on the spot along the 2.9 kilometre Ajia-Amuloko axis since October 2021, and had since instructed the contractors to address it.

Benue to Treat Illegal Revenue Collectors as Criminals GeorgeOkohinMakurdi Benue State Government has announced that henceforth, all operators of illegal revenue collection checkpoints in the state will be treated like armed robbers when apprehended.

The state Governor, Samuel Ortom, said those indulging in such acts should steer clear of revenue collection in the state. The governor gave the warning yesterday at the Benue Peoples House in Makurdi while signing into law the amended Internal Revenue Administration Law of the state.

He explained that revenue collection in the state had been contracted to consultants, and urged interested persons to work with them, stressing that anyone caught operating illegally will be treated like a criminal.

Ortom admitted the decline in revenue generation and the need to improve on all areas to be able to cater for the needs of the state.

The governor thanked members of the state House of Assembly for the speedy passage of the amendment, and pledged sustained cordial working relationship between the executive and the legislature.

Fidelis David in Akure The Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State has alleged that the state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has signed an Executive Order to provide legal cover for the ‘illegal appointment of his biological son, Babajide, as the director-general of Performance and Project Implementation

Monitoring Unit (PPIMU) of the state.

According to the party, the Executive Order, among other provisions, states that: “All ministries, department and agencies (MDAs) of the state government shall process approvals for projects through the Impact Assurance Process of PPIMU as constituted by

this order.”

In a statement made available to journalists in Akure yesterday by the state PDP Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, it alleged that the order was secretly signed because of the implications for the government.

The statement read: “It is an order that has finally reduced the state commissioners, some

of them accomplished in their various fields, to submit projects from their ministries for approval to the governor’s son, who will in turn depend on ‘professional corps of officers’ to give such approvals before the almighty governor appends his signature with the red pen. Governance has never been reduced to such a laughable extent in the history of the state.

Nigeria, Ghana Urged to Explore AFCFTA Opportunities Ugo Aliogo The President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Michael OlawaleCole, has stated there is need for Nigeria and Ghana to explore opportunities coming as a result of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA).

Olawale-Cole, who disclosed

this recently at the Ghana Nigeria Business Council CEO Forum, said for more than five decades, Nigeria and Ghana have established bilateral relationship in line with mutual interest of both countries for their individual economic development agenda and shared prosperity for the West African region.

He also noted that the

relationship between the two largest economies in the West Africa subregion has metamorphosed from merchandise trade into international trade in goods and services.

The LCCI president hinted that Nigeria has the second largest business portfolio in Ghana, only second to China.

Olawale-Cole further

explained that recently, the relationship between the two countries have suffered series of setbacks occasioned by episodes of trade attacks and disputes, noting that the use of discriminatory trade policies, high tariffs, border closures, “and harsh business environment have impacted negatively on our trade volumes.”

Oromoni: Interim DPP Advice Indicted Dowen College Staff, Say Police

Wale Igbintade

A Chief Superintendent of Police,( CSP) Bamidele Olusegun yesterday told a Coroner inquest into the controversial death of a 12-year-old student of the Dowen College student, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr that some staff of Dowen College were indicted in the first legal

advice issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lagos State.

CSP Olusegun informed the court presided by Magistrate Mikhail Kadiri that he received a report from the DPP dated December 30, 2021, which was called interim legal advice recommended that the staff and they should be prosecuted

for alleged negligence.

CSP Olusegun, who said he was serving with the homicide section of the Lagos State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti section in 2021 disclosed this while being cross-examined

by Mr. Femi Falana, SAN. Reading part of the interim report dated December

30, 2021, the witness said: “There are sufficient facts to establish this offense against Mrs. Celina Uduak, Valentine Igboekweze, Hammed Ayomo Bariyu, Adesanya Olusegun, and Mr. Adeyemi and Dowen College.

The witness further affirmed that he conducted a thorough investigation on the matter.

has stated its commitment to the completion of road projects in Onna Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State.

The assurance was given by the Group Human Resources Manager, VKS Nigeria Construction Limited, Mr. Ndiana Isong while interacting with newsmen yesterday.

This is against the backdrop of public outcries over the non-

Ikwe, Odio, Ndoneyo, and Ikot Akpatek roads in the local government area.

But Isong noted that since the construction company berthed the state in 2015, it has not only delivered quality and high profile jobs in line with specifications, but it has been working in line with timelines and sometimes delivering before deadlines.

He explained that what

the road was strictly technical issues which, he said, have been resolved.

“We want to state emphatically that we have never failed the government of Akwa Ibom State in terms of delivery on roads.

We had a little technical issue on that particular road, hence it delayed the work. But now, it has been resolved.”

He noted that having resolved

poised on completing the project and handing it over to the State Governor before the completion of his tenure.

Isong added: “Work is ongoing, we have mobilized to the site. Our offices are located at the site to show seriousness. The people of the community are fully assured of the completion. In less than no time, we will complete the road with quality.

DSS Defies Court Order, Denies VKS Promises Timely Completion of Akwa Ibom Road Project Family, Lawyer Access to Kanu VKS Nigeria Construction Limited completion of the 15.3 kilometres delayed the completion of the technical issue, the company is

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The Department of State Services (DSS) has yet again defied court order by preventing the family of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from seeing him yesterday.

Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, told journalists on

phone from the Abuja headquarters of the DSS that he was worried that he came to see his brother but was not allowed to see him, contrary to a subsisting court order.

He said what happened yesterday was a repeat of the same act the DSS did last Thursday, making it the second time within the past five days that he made efforts to see the IPOB leader at his place of detention, but was denied access.

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TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

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FIFA Moves Super Eagles, Black Stars Matches to March 25, 29

Duro Ikhazuagbe

World football governing body, FIFA, has moved the World Cup playoffs between Nigeria and Ghana to new dates for both legs to be played in Cape Coast and Abuja respectively.

Ghana’s Black Stars were scheduled to play the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the opening leg on Thursday March 24 in Cape Coast with the return match between both fierce African rivals on March 27 at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

But yesterday, FIFA through the Confederation of African Football (CAF) informed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that the World Cup

W O R L D C U P 2 0 2 2 P L AYO F F S

play-off matches between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Black Stars of Ghana will now take place on new dates.

It said the opening leg at the Cape Coast Stadium will now take place on Friday, March 25, starting from 7.30pmGhana time, which will be 8.30pmin Nigeria.

The crucial return leg fixture in Abuja is to now hold on Tuesday, March 29 starting from 6pmNigeria time.

Both countries have been calling up players to shore up their respective teams ahead of the playoffs.

Apart from the 2006 edition

hosted by Germany, Nigeria has not missed any of the Mundial since 1994 with sacked German

Coach, Gernot Rohr leading the three-time African champions to the last edition in Russia where the team failed to match the usual second round finish.

Ghana’s Black Stars were not

in Russia and may miss the 2022 edition first time out in the Middle East with Qatar as host in November/December.

Both countries gave poor showing at the AFCON hosted

Injury Knocks out Oshoala from Crucial Clash with Côte d’Ivoire Barcelona's Asisat Oshoala has been ruled out of Nigeria's crucial 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifying play-off in Côte d’Ivoire after suffering another injury blow.

AWCON QUALIFIER The four-time African Women's Footballer of the Year, 27, injured her left thigh while training with

Members of Nigeria’s oldest club, the Sapele Athletic Club 1897(Golf Section) will on February 26organise the Captain’s Day Golf Tournament in honour of Okakuro Peter Asagba, whose tenure as Captain will come to an end.

The one-day tournament is being put together by the club in appreciation of the 75-year- old Asagba for introducing series of reforms that repositioned the club in Delta State in the past three years.

Asagba is credited with fencing the palm tree lined layout that measures 2,647 metres in length and improving the club’s revenue profile through sponsorship and new membership drive.

The Captain’s Day tournament is open for members and invited golfers from every part of the country. A field of between 200 to 250 golfers is expected to grace the tournament.

With the end of his tenure, Gilbert Aghogho, who will be officially elected as the new Captain to spearhead a new Committee in the running of Sapele Athletic Club.

The Sapele Athletic Club is located in the Okpe Community in Government Reservation Area of the town.

It is legacy bequeathed by British traders from Elder Dempster and Company Limited and those from African Timbre and Plywood Company (AT&P) in 1897 before the amalgamation of Nigeria.

24 Schools to Compete for N5m at Int’l Athletics Championship Mary Nnah No fewer than 24 schools will be competing in the inaugural International School Sports competition organised by the Sports Business Network (SBN) in collaboration with Lagos State Athletics Association.

Scheduled to take place between March 14th and 19th in Lagos, the Director of the competition and Olympic medalist, Enefiok Udo-Ubong, said the platform will provide an opportunity for young talented Nigerians to be discovered and nurtured by clubs and universities.

He said further that, registration for private schools is N100, 000, primary schools N50, 000 and individual athletes N10, 000.

The event is open to students of between six and 17 years and the person must be in school because it is a school competition.

Besides winning the Deji Tinubu trophy, the overall school in the SBN International Athletics Championship will get some development programmes and prize money not less than N5 million. The winning school will also get international recognition, instant scholarships, sports career management amongst others.

Sponsored by Mango Net, the competition which is meant to give school children a platform to build their athletics career, Udo-Obong stressed, is also to enable young athletes, particularly, those in private schools, to compete and feel the experience their counterparts in

other countries enjoy.

He confirmed that the track and field competition for students of between six and 17 years has attracted schools from two neighbouring West African countries like Ghana and Togo, as well as private schools in Lagos, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Niger states.

The young athletes would come together to showcase their God-given talents and compete so they could be discovered Udo-Ubong, Vice President of the Lagos State Athletics Association, who expressed confidence that the event will be a success, added that it would help young people with a platform to reach their potential.

Udo-Obong, the only Nigerian to win two Olympic medals, gold at Sydney 2000 Olympics and a bronze at Athens 2004, revealed further that the aim is to organise a competition that is close to Olympics standard.

Chairman of Lagos State Athletics Association and Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Dr. Solomon Alao said the competition is being organised in accordance with the Lagos State government’s publicprivate partnership policy, adding, “We are partnering the private sector to carry out what we believe will be the largest gathering of schools.”

“In Lagos State, we build stars for the future and give them hope.

Together, we can build a solid foundation for Nigerian athletes,” he noted.

with 19 goals in 16 appearances, Oshoala only recently returned from a two-month lay-off with a knee injury.

The forward missed Falcons’ 2-0 win over the Lady Elephants on Friday and will not feature in second leg of the play-off tie, which is scheduled for Abidjan on Wednesday.

Oshoala, the first African player to win the European Women's Champions League, is not expected to return before the end of April, which means missing both legs of the sold-out Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madridnext month.

Her country's captain and the continent's most decorated female footballer,Oshoala was expected to play a key role for the faltering Super Falcons against the Ivorians.

The Lady Elephants had stopped Nigeria, who are ninetime African champions, from reaching the 2020 Olympics.

Coach Randy Waldrum has come under huge criticism for his results, which include only edging bitter rivals Ghana 2-1 to reach the second round of qualifying.

Oshoala, the maiden BBC Women's Footballer of the Year winner in 2015,scored at the 2019 Women's World Cup to help Nigeria reach the last 16 in France.

She joined Spanish outfit Barcelona from Chinese champions Dalian Quanjian in January 2019, initially on loan before signing a permanent deal five months later.

The former FC Robo and Rivers Angels star moved to Quanjian in February 2017 from English side Arsenal, with whom she won the Women's FA Cup at PHOTO: Getty Images Wembley in 2016.

Nigeria and will be sidelined for an estimated 10 weeks, her Spanish club announcedyesterday.

Barcelona's leading scorer this season and the top scorer in the Spanish top flight, with

Sapele Athletic Club Plans Captain’s Day Golf Tourney Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

by Cameroon last month.

Eagles exited in the Round of 16 first time in nearly 40 years while the Black Stars failed to progress from the group stage.

Asisat Oshoala...ruled out of Super Falcons clash with Lady Elephants in Abidjan tomorrow evening

Chelsea’s Tuchel Defends Lukaku’s Poor Form as Lille Visit Tonight Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said "it is not the time to laugh about" Romelu Lukaku after the £97.5m striker's recent struggles.

Lukaku only touched the ball seven times in Saturday's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, the lowest number any player has managed in a 90-minute Premier League appearance since at least 2003, when that data was first recorded.

"He's in the spotlight and we'll protect him. Romelu will always be part of the solution," Tuchel said.

"Sometimes it's like this with strikers if they struggle a little bit with self-confidence and to find the space to get involved with a good defensive side.

"Of course it's not what we want and what Romelu wants but it's also not the time to laugh about him and make jokes about him."

Belgium striker Lukaku, 28, has only managed five Premier League goals in 17 appearances

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE since rejoining Champions League holders Chelsea this summer, scoring another five in other competitions.

He has yet to score a league goal in 2022 since being dropped for a game following an interviewthat appeared critical of the club.

He netted twice in the recent FIFA Club World Cup, including the final win over Palmeiras.

Other big-money strikers to struggle for goals at Chelsea compared to their strike-rate elsewhere include Andriy Shevchenko, Fernando Torres and Lukaku's current team-mate Timo Werner.

"There is a history of strikers struggling at Chelsea so it may not be the easiest place in the world for strikers," Tuchel said.

"In my opinion, Chelsea are a team considered a strong defensive team, a physical team, that has a certain attitude

when in competitive football.

We demand a lot of our strikers in terms of defending."

Tuchel was speaking before

Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg tie with Lille.

Juventus are visiting Villarreal in the second game of the night.

Chelsea Boss, Thomas Tuchel (right) psyching up Romelu Lukaku Ahead of the Champions League clash with France’s Lille at Stamford Bridge

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TUESDAY, ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

SPORTS

Osimhen’s Equaliser against Cagliari Not Enough to Take Napoli to the Summit Napoli missed out on the chance to move top of Italian Serie A on Monday evening after Victor Osimhen snatched a barely deserved 1-1 draw at rejuvenated Cagliari.

The Nigeria forward saved a point for Napoli when he crashed in a powerful header with three minutes remaining but it was not enough for the away side to take first place from AC Milan.

Luciano Spalletti's outfit would have taken top spot ahead of Milan on goal difference had they won in Sardinia but instead are two points back in third.

They were outplayed by a Cagliari team who took the lead through Gaston Pereiro in the 58th minute and were disappointed with the draw after having more than enough chances to seal the win before Osimhen struck.

"It was a difficult match for us. Maybe we didn't deserve what we got here, or rather Cagliari deserved more," Spalletti

ITALIAN SERIE A told DAZN. "We never had the game under control, so it's probably a good result for us. We didn't do enough."

Cagliari would have moved out of the relegation zone with a win but stay 18th, level on 22 points with Venezia who are one place outside the bottom three due to Osimhen's late leveller.

Walter Mazzarri's side looked doomed to Serie B after losing at Juventus just before the winter break but have won three of their seven league matches since the turn of the year – losing just once.

"We played really well, it's a shame that we didn't get the win but we need to continue playing like this, with the same spirit," Pereiro told DAZN. "Then the three points which we deserved today will come the next time."

It was another reprieve for Milan following their 2-2 draw

at bottom side Salernitana on Saturday, as second-placed Inter, who are level on 54 points with Napoli, were beaten 2-0 by Sassuolo on Sunday.

Napoli were missing a host of players to injury including captain Lorenzo Insigne and key midfielders Stanislav Lobotka and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, and the performance at a windy Unipol Domus stadium will have caused concern ahead of Thursday's Europa League showdown with Barcelona.

Pereiro was handed what looked like being the winning goal by David Ospina shortly before the hour mark, when the Napoli goalkeeper let a week shot squirm through his fingers and into his net.

However Ospina then redeemed himself with some important saves which kept the deficit to one goal and allowed substitute Osimhen to earn Napoli a draw when he thumped home Mario Rui's deep cross.

Madrid, Barcelona, Juve Set to ‘Activate’ Super League in USA Victor Osimhen grabbed the equaliser as Napoli shared points with Cagliari in the Italian Serie A...last night

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus are reportedly planning to compete in a pre-season tournament in the United States this summer.

The three clubs were part of and are still continuing to push for the failed European Super

Alli Applauds Amusan/ Onakoya Athletics Meet The recently appointed Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Yussuf Alli, has commended the efforts of Tobi Amusan and Abiola Onakoya to give back their community by developing the youths in Ijebu-land through athletics.

Alli urged other privileged athletes with contacts and financial muscle to emulate Amusan and Onakoya and help develop the sport at the grassroots so as to give opportunities to younger ones.

The first edition of the Amusan/ Onakoya Athletics Meet will hold

on Thursday, February 24, 2022, at the Ijebu-Ode International Stadium, Ijebu-Ode. Said Alli in an interactive section with journalists over the weekend.

“I am really impressed with the efforts of Amusan and Onakoya, they have not made billions of Naira from athletics and they have shown that you don’t really have to make billions of Naira to give back to your community. They are not only organising a meet for all the secondary schools in Ijebu land, there will also be an open meet

where runners from different parts of the country will win prizes, this is really commendable”.

Alli appealed to Amusan and Onakoya to take the meet to the next level in the second edition by organising it for all the secondary schools in Ogun State, “They should look for sponsors that will partner them and make it Ogun State Secondary School Athletics Championship. There are lots of talents in Ogun State and all hands must be on the deck to discover and nurture them to

become world champion.”

Alli also urged other athletes especially those with resources to emulate Amusan and Onakoya, “Nigeria is blessed in athletics like America and the Caribbean Islands, all we need is developmental programmes and athletes who through divine intervention has been able to make it despite all the obstacles on athletes way here should remember the younger ones and assist like Amusan and Onakoya are doing in Ogun State,” he concluded.

League project.

While the other nine teams involved in the original proposals pulled out due to public backlash, the three European heavyweights believe that a revamp is still needed at the top level of the game.

ESPN reported that the three teams have come together over the possibility of holding a pre-season tournament on the West Coast of the United States.

Several cities would be keen to host the competition which would include high-profile games including the El Clasico.

The three clubs have also approached Serie A giants AC Milan about the possibility of being the fourth team in the tournament.

It's said that Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus are looking at how to maximise profit from the fixtures, as they look to offset the massive losses they have experienced since the pandemic

Kano Lintex Wins First Majekodunmi Cup Lagos Leighton Kings quest for four major titles in the ongoing 2022 Lagos International Polo Tournament was brutally cut short by surprise winners, Kano Lintex in the explosive seven chukkas Majekodunmi Cup final over the weekend.

Before this upset, Leighton had won three major cups, the Oba of Lagos Cup, the Open Cup and the Lagos Heritage Cup respectively in their quest for a repeat of their 2020 sterling achievement.

They were leading 11-9 till the final chukka of the intense thriller, when two quick-fire equalisers from Lintex Patron, Bashir Dantata and Chris Mackenzie sent the grueling match to the wire.

Hope by the Leighton Kings quartet of Abdulrahaman Mohammed, Juan Gris Zavaleta, Guillermo Toreira and team patron, Bowale Jolaosho to rescue their fading fortunes in the sudden death chukka faded in the sun when Lintex received a 60 yard penalty with seconds

2022 GTCO LAGOS POLO left on the clock.

Visiting Lintex team, boasting Zadik Dantata, Bashir Dantata, Chris Mackenzie and Silvestre Donovan who had earlier defeated Lagos Caverton to win the Italian Ambassadors Cup a day earlier, were in the cloud when Mackenzie sent Lagos to sleep with a superb golden gold winner.

Visiting Murtala Laushi powered Jos Malcomines and Bode Makanjuola’s Caverton teams were the other top finishers of the second stage of the international polo festival reputed as the biggest in Africa. They both earned Italian Ambassador’s Cup and Heritage Cup runners-up prizes.

The prestigious Eko Polo Festival that galloped off with fanfare February 8, 2022 enters its final stages this week with 17 ambitious teams expected to display their horsemanship and playing skills on the mallets as the month-long polo

extravaganza winds down to its grand finale.

Lagos Polo Captain, Rotimi Makanjuola confirmed that the final stage will run from today, February 22and climax on Sunday February 27, 2022, with nine Lagos’ teams and eight visiting teams gunning for two major prizes, the Silver Cup and the Lagos Low Cup respectively.

It was also learnt that the Lagos-based teams that would be vying for the Low Cup include Golden Ranch, Polo Punks, A Plus, former champions, STL and Caverton teams., just as tough and determined visiting oppositions are expected from Port Harcourt, Abuja and Ibadan.

Four teams, Elektron Aragorn, Aragorn Saopolo, Hyde Energy Aragorn and Lagos Vipers are the Lagos flag bearers jostling for the glittering Silver Cup at the famous Ribadu Road Polo Ground in Ikoyi starting from today.

Makanjuola also disclosed that Ibadan Durante Foods, Kano Novo team, Sidafeco Group from Port Harcourt and debuting Nigerian

Navy team would mount strong oppositions to the home teams in the race for the winner-takes-all Silver Cup.

hit in 2020.

Back in August 2021, Barcelona President Joan Laporta said the club were £1.1billion in debt though insisted this was not all down to the pandemic.

Before the pandemic, all three sides regularly toured the United States, with the two Spanish sides last visiting in 2019 and Juventus in 2018.

The first ever El Clasico played outside of Spain took place in Miami in 2017, with Barcelona defeating Madrid 3-2 in Neymar's last game before his move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Twelve teams were initially part of the breakaway European Super League, which would have seen those involved drop out of the Champions League.

Among the 12 were six Premier League sides in Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, both Manchester clubs and Tottenham.

Massive protests among supporters though led to the English teams dropping out of the project less than 48 hours after it was launched.

UEFA confirmed in September they will not be imposing any sanctions on Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus while fines for the nine teams that withdrew were suspended.

MOMENT OF GLORY...

Kano Lintex Captain and Patron, Bashir Dantata lifts high the Majekodunmi Cup during the Presentation Ceremony of the second week of the prestigious Lagos Polo Festival at the 2022 Lagos International Polo Tournament in Ikoyi ....last Sunday

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

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Price: N250

MISSILE

ASUU to Federal Government

“The strike can be called off any day, it is in the government’s hand if they want it to last for a week, two weeks, one month, a year, or more. It is the government that will decide when they want the strike to end. Our position is that they should agree and implement what they signed with us. If they are responsive, it doesn’t need to last for weeks”--- ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, expecting the government to end the universities’ strike, ASAP.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI 2023 Elections And Electoral Bill 2022 H abati1990@gmail.com

opefully, by the time this commentary is in print, on February 22, 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari should have given his assent to the re-amended Electoral Act Amendment Bill which was transmitted to him on January 31, 2022. If so, the President would have laid to rest all speculations and conspiracy theories as to why he does not want to sign the Bill or the possibility of what happened ahead of the 2019 elections repeating itself. If the President does not sign the Bill into law, however, he would raise concerns about his commitment to leaving a legacy of credible elections behind and would deepen tension and uncertainties within the polity. The President does not need the stress. It is in everyone’s best interest for him to grant his assent.

He can subsequently send further amendments to the National Assembly as he did with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the Appropriation Act 2022.

In 2018, President Buhari rejected the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act 2010, four times, citing as justification - all kinds of irregularities, including drafting issues, sequence of elections, and even the phrasing of words in parts of the then proposed Bill.

In the end, no amendments took place and Nigerians went into the 2019 general election with the same old electoral framework that stakeholders wanted the legislature to amend. The final excuse given by the government in 2019 was that there would be no time to effect the amendments before the general elections whereas it was the back-and-forth over the granting of assent that was the problem. After the 2019 elections, the process of amending the Electoral Act began afresh under the 9th National Assembly.

In November last year, an amended Electoral Act Bill was forwarded to the President for his assent.

Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution provides for a window of 30 days within which the President can grant assent or withhold it, and in the event of the latter he can be vetoed by the National Assembly.

The President exhausted the entire 30-day window only to object to the National Assembly’s restriction of political parties to direct primary as the mode of selecting candidates for elections by political parties. He cited insecurity, the cost of conducting direct primaries and infringement on the rights of Nigerians to participate in governance as reasons. He promised that if this could be reviewed to allow for both direct and indirect primaries, he would grant his assent. The National Assembly threatened to veto the President, but it did no such thing. Instead the National Assembly reviewed the contentious Clause 84 of the Electoral Bill (originally Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010), and replaced direct primaries, with an option of direct primaries, indirect primaries and consensus candidacy with a strict definition of what constitutes consensus and the other two options. The Committee of the Whole of the National Assembly then decided to insert in Clause 84, a provision that any one holding a political office - Ministers, Commissioners, Special Advisers and others - must relinquish such a position before he or she can be eligible to participate in the Electoral process either as a candidate or as a delegate. Previously, government appointees and political office holders could serve as delegates, go into elections, lose and then return to their jobs. In other words, the National Assembly modified and went beyond the President’s request.

The newspapers reported yesterday that the President wants this Clause removed before he can grant his assent. He reportedly met with the leadership of the National Assembly over the weekend. Some APC Governors are also said to be uncomfortable with this, as well as the definition of consensus by the national legislature and they are purportedly putting pressure on the President not to grant his assent. This is the main source of agitation and concern among Nigerians who think that an old, familiar script is about to be played out again. If the

President Muhammadu Buhari President does not grant assent, the Bill goes back to the National Assembly, the lawmakers would huff and puff, then they would re-amend the law again and add new things for effect, transmit the new twice re-amended Bill to the President, he or the Governors would again pick issues with some Clauses, wait till the last minute to register objections and then the process would begin again until time and resources would have been wasted.

This is the mischief that concerned Nigerians do not want. The objection to Clause 84 as phrased is that it automatically infringes upon the fundamental rights of political office holders to participate in the electoral process and it is to that extent illegal. What has not been pointed out is that the same Clause 84 allows any aggrieved person under that Section to approach the Federal High Courts to seek redress.

Whereas Clause 84 may not derive directly from the public hearings conducted ahead of the Electoral Act Amendment process, it stands to reason that the express objective is to create a level playing field for everyone who takes part in the party nomination or candidate selection process. Hitherto, political office holders use government resources and access to state privileges to dominate party primaries within the ruling party. They are also ready tools in the hands of their principals, especially the Governors.

They are expected to do the masters’ bidding since in any case they need the opportunity to return to where they came from if they fail in their bid.

I see no problem with Clause 84, as it provides a recourse to the courts, and ensures a level playing field for all parties involved.

The other issue is the fear that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be left with no option than to change the dates for the 2023 elections if the President does not sign the Electoral Bill as proposed by February 22, 2022. For now, INEC is yet to issue guidelines for the conduct of the 2023 general elections on the grounds that it is waiting for a new Electoral Act. According to Section 28(1) of the proposed Electoral Act 2022, INEC is required to issue a notice of election not later than 360 days before the appointed date for an election. INEC has since scheduled the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly Elections for February 18, 2023. To meet up with that provision and date, the deadline is February 22, 2022. So, whereas the President still has up till March 2, by virtue of Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution

to sign the Electoral Amendment Bill, if he fails to do so, by today, February 22, INEC would be forced to reschedule the 2023 elections, or at best, use the extant law, which is the Electoral Act 2010.

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) object to such a possibility. It is not only the 2023 general elections that would be affected. Off-cycle elections in Ekiti and Osun states too. The investment in coming up with an Electoral Act Amendment Bill would have been wasted and all the more positive sides of the Bill would have been discarded needlessly.

Hence, about 26 civil society organizations have threatened to embark on a protest today. They insist that President Buhari must sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022 as a “matter of urgent national importance.” I can’t immediately think of any other piece of legislation that has generated this level of intentionality in recent memory. Civil Society Partners on Electoral Reform, the umbrella group of the CSOs argue that Clause 84 is not a problem, it can be amended at any time but there are more important provisions in the Bill that must not be thrown away. Enough is Enough (EiE) one of the CSOs, identified these critical provisions in an advertorial titled “Top Provisions in the Electoral Bill, 2022” at page 53 of ThisDay newspaper on Sunday, February 20, 2022. EiE argues that “Granting Presidential assent to the Electoral Bill 2022 on or before February 22, 2022 is in the best interest of our electoral democracy. Any amendments can be sent to the National Assembly later.”

According to Enough is Enough (EiE), we should not throw away the baby with the bath water, for the following reason that we need to be reminded of: 1.

Clause 3(3) – early release of election funds to INEC. Indeed if all funds required for a general election are released a year ahead, INEC would be more financially independent. 2. Clause 50: Electronic transmission of results. This again is in order. Nigerians have always asked for electronic transmission of results to prevent fraud and manipulation. 3. Clause 65: Power to Review Election Results Declared Under Duress. This particular clause truly empowers the INEC. There are persons who became Governors in this country simply because there was no clause such as this in the extant Electoral Act, thus subjecting the electorate to the excruciating impact of a stolen mandate. 4. Clause 8(5): Political Neutrality of INEC Personnel. Here, it is proposed that any INEC official who is affiliated to a political party if caught, is liable on conviction to a fine of N5m or imprisonment for two years or both. This is a very essential provision.

Too many electoral officials, including INEC, security personnel and ad hoc staff are embedded partisan gladiators. They help to thumb-print ballot papers.

For a fee, they switch results. This particular provision puts them on notice that there are consequences for bad conduct. For far too long they have been getting away with sheer impunity. 5. Clause 47: Legalizing Electronic Accreditation of Voters. Nigerians have been clamouring for this: how technology can be used to upgrade the Nigerian electoral system. INEC may have introduced some technology in form of Smart Card Readers and Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in previous elections but because these are not provided for in the extant Electoral Act, they have been declared inadmissible by the courts in a number of cases.

Otherwise, Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) would have been Governor of Abia State in 2015. He won at the Court of Appeal when he challenged the 2015 Abia State Gubernatorial election victory awarded to Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ikpeazu was removed. But Alex Otti later lost at the Supreme Court in part, because there was no provision for electronic accreditation or the use of smart card readers in the enabling law. The ruling of the Court of Appeal was accordingly set aside on technical grounds. Clause 47 in the proposed Bill would make electronic accreditation admissible as evidence, and

help check fraud and manipulation. 6. Clause 54 (2) - Inclusion of Persons with Disability. If nothing else moves President Buhari to sign the Electoral Bill 2022, into law, this should. This is about the rights of persons living with Disability and it is a matter of public record that it was President Buhari that signed the Prohibition of Discrimination Against Persons Living With Disabilities into Law in 2019. He should be seen to be more interested in their inclusion, not the rights of political office holders pursuing selfish interests and their own stomachs. 7. Clause 51: Redefined Over-voting – Great provision. Only the total number of accredited voters at a polling unit will determine the validity of the voters. Hitherto, nobody paid enough attention to this. Nigeria is a country where ghosts show up on election day, including ghosts from other countries as far away as Brazil and they vote and their votes are made to count. 8. Clause 29 (1): early conduct of party primaries and submission of list of candidates. The thing speaks for itself here and it is better to quote the EiE statement: “Every political party shall, not later than 180 days (-6 months) prior to election day, submit the list of its candidates, who must have emerged from valid primaries conducted by the political party, to INEC”.

Nigeria must be one of those strange countries where the electorate doesn’t even have the opportunity to know the candidates in an election. Some political parties boast that if they put up a goat as candidate, Nigerians would vote for that goat without knowing, because the extant law weighs more heavily on the mandate of political parties. It is important that Nigerians begin to know the candidates well in advance. 9: Clause 94 – Early Commencement of Campaigns. In this section, political parties now have more time for campaigns, from 90 days to 150 days before polling day and 24 hours before election day. This is likely to increase the cost of campaigns but on a positive note, it provides the electorate a better opportunity to know the aspirant or candidate. Finally, 10: Clause 34 – Substitution of Candidate in the event of Death in an election.

This is to correct the debacle in Kogi State about succession under such circumstances, following the death of Alhaji Abubakar Audu of the APC, in 2015.

It may be argued that all things taken together, the amendment of the Electoral Act 2010 is the most comprehensive and pragmatic effort that the National Assembly of Nigeria has embarked upon since it was resolved that having a credible electoral framework is crucial for the integrity of elections and the leadership recruitment process. The issues identified by EiE are practical responses to the realities of the Nigerian electoral experience, as distilled by stakeholders, processed by the legislature, and codified into legislation to raise the quality of Nigeria’s democracy. Whatever anyone may have said to President Buhari about Clause 84, relevant as it is to the interest of a self-seeking, alimental minority, the feelings of the larger majority, and the future of Nigeria’s democracy, should be more important to him. President Buhari should be more interested in keeping his promise that he intends to leave Nigeria’s electoral framework better than he met it. He has nothing to lose for doing so. He would be remembered for moving the needle forward in the direction of public good. The dilly-dallying notwithstanding, INEC also cannot give the excuse that it is waiting on the President. Irrespective of the extant law, arrangements should be made for the next elections. When the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022 is eventually passed, necessary adjustments can be made. INEC, by conduct or inaction, passive or otherwise, must not give credence to the speculation that it may be part of a hidden agenda to compromise the democratic process. The President must be encouraged to leave a legacy of just and credible elections that he himself can be proud of. Mr. President, sign the Bill. History should not repeat itself.

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