THURSDAY 10TH MARCH 2022

Umahi, Deputy Appeal Judgement as INEC Awaits Certified True Copy Governor engages 18 senior advocates NBA condemns Umahi’s attack on judge, demands apology Chuks Okocha, Alex Enumah in Abuja and Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki In an effort to reverse a ruling by the Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered their removal from

office, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, yesterday engaged 18 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) to represent them in an appeal against the judgement. Umahi disclosed

this during a solidarity rally held in Abakaliki, the state capital, by supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said

it was awaiting the certified true copy of the court judgement.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), yesterday, rose with indignation against Umahi for making unpleasant comments

about a judge of the Federal High Court.

Umahi said he had confidence in the judiciary, but he accused the legal team of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of misleading the judge

of the Federal High Court, who ordered his removal from office.

The governor said, "I want to thank Nigerians; I want to thank Continued on page 47

FG Blames Waning Investment, Insecurity for Declining Low Crude Oil Production… Page 6 Thursday 10 March, 2022 Vol 27. No 9830. Price: N250

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APC Finally Edges Out Buni, Akpanudoedehe; Reorganises Convention Sub-c’ttees How ex-CECPC chair bungled soft-landing option Four major decisions Bello took in four days Party discovers secret court order obtained to stop convention NEC meets next Thursday Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, technically confirmed the sack of the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni and Senator James Akpanudoedehe as chairman and national secretary of the Caretaker/

Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) respectively, after excluding them from the central planning committee of the party.

With the new list of the convention committees, the names of Buni and Akpanudoedehe,were conspicuously missing as the ruling

party continued its preparation for the March 26 national convention.

Although there had been plans to offer Buni and Akpanudoedehe a soft-landing, so that it would not seem as though the party embarrassed them, the fact that Buni was foot-dragging and Akpanudoedehe

continued to live in self-denial, coupled with the fact that the party needed to move as fast as possible to catch up with the proposed date for its national convention, took the offer off the table.

From all indications, therefore, the acting Caretaker Chairman and

Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, has taken over as the head of the Central Planning Committee, the main group meant to be headed

by Buni if he was still in charge.

In the same stroke, the name of Akpanudoedehe did not feature in any of the committees, not even as

the secretary of the central planning committee, an office he held till events took a different turn in the party this week.

This, nonetheless, many APC members were excited about the Continued on page 47

First Time in 22 Years of Democracy, Senate Goes against Agreement Reached with Sitting President As lawmakers throw out Buhari's request to amend contentious clause 84 which abridges constitutional right of appointees to vote and be voted for Sunday Aborisade For the first time since the country returned to democracy in 1999, the Senate yesterday reneged on an agreement it reached with a sitting president as the lawmakers overwhelmingly threw out a bill seeking to amend the new Electoral Act 2022.

According to analysts, that was the first time the National Assembly would reach an agreement with a sitting president and go against it.

The Executive request was made

by President Muhammadu Buhari to amend the Electoral Act signed into law on February, 25 2022.

Buhari had requested that the National Assembly should delete Section 84 (12) which mandates government appointees to resign their positions three months ahead of primary elections of political parties in the newly signed Electoral Act 2022 Continued on page 47

HONOURING EMEKA ANYAOKU AT A PUBLIC SYMPOSIUM...

L-R: Former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi; Governor-elect, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and incumbent Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, at a lecture organised in honour of the former Secretary General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka... recently

Court to Hear FG’s Extradition Suit against Abba Kyari March 23... Page 48

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

NEWS

CELEBRATING LEADING WOMEN...

L-R; Vice Chair, Famfa Oil, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija; Nigerian Entrepreneur and Socialite, Chief Opral Benson; MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank, Mrs Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe and Founder/CEO, Bolmus Group International, Mrs Bola Shagaya, during the International Women's Day 2022 celebration by Fidelity Bank and HerFidelity launch in Lagos... Tuesday night PHOTO: Abiodun Ajala

Aviation Fuel Scarcity: House to Meet with NNPC GMD, DG NCAA, Jet A1 Marketers Today Direct oil marketers to make product available to airlines Airlines form alliance to improve service to passengers Chinedu Eze in Lagos and Udora Orizu in Abuja Worried about the present challenge being faced by airline operators following the hike in the price of aviation fuel, the House of Representatives will today meet with the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr. Mele Kyari; the Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Musa Shuaibu Nuhu; Chairmen of Committees on Aviation, Petroleum Downstream and Upstream, Jet A1 marketers and Airline Operators.

Also yesterday, a major development occurred in the aviation industry as Nigerian airlines namely: Air Peace, Azman Air, United Nigeria Airline, Arik Air, Aero Contractors and Max Air

announced an alliance called the 'Spring Alliance', to mutually support one another’s operations in order to provide better service to passengers.

The House of Representatives also directed oil marketers to make Jet AI fuel immediately available to airlines and discontinue the policy of upfront cash payment by airlines.

The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion, 'on the need to investigate the sudden scarcity and high cost of aviation fuel,' sponsored by the Chairman House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji at plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, Nnaji noted that the current crisis in Eastern Europe has created so much global tension and has raised the cost of crude oil to over $125 per barrel at the international market, spiking the prices of all petroleum products.

He further noted that Nigeria imports 100 per cent of Jet A1 (Aviation fuel) used by airlines in its flight operations and its astronomical increase could impede airlines’ services.

The lawmaker while expressing concerns that the local oil marketers were demanding upfront cash payment before fueling aircraft, warned that if urgent steps were not taken to ameliorate these challenges, airlines and passengers would continue to suffer several consequential economic and travel crises that might lead to total shutdown of air transport services.

He said: "This unprecedented increase in the prices of all petroleum products was not taken into consideration in view of the fact that about a year ago, Jet Al was selling for N 190 per litre. Further acknowledges that as at yesterday,

REDAN: Money Launderers Blocking Bill to Sanitise Real Estate Business Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), has accused unnamed “big men” involved in money laundering and terrorism funding of blocking the bill meant to sanitise the sector in the country.

Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja, REDAN President, Dr. Aliyu Wammako, noted that the rejection of the bill by an ad-hoc committee of the House of Representatives after it was passed by the Senate , was suspicious.

The organisation is the umbrella body of the organised real estate sector, private and public, saddled with the responsibility of providing affordable housing for Nigerians.

While appreciating the efforts made so far by the ad-hoc committee in finding a lasting solution to the lingering land issues in Abuja and by extension in the entire country, Wammako, however stressed that some of the comments by the committee were contradictory.

The group acknowledged the committee over its comment that there is no clear regulatory legal framework for estate developers, hence the proliferation of “incompetent, inefficient and fraudulent developers” with the tendency to mislead the public.

REDAN, however, stated that it was taken aback by the committee’s

description of the bill as " unrealistic and therefore should be jettisoned”, stressing that the resolution was in clear contradiction of earlier observations which will spell disaster for the real estate sector.

“We are particularly very concerned about such a ‘hasty’ recommendation when indeed REDAN as well as other wellmeaning institutions like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), scholars from many universities of learning international bodies, put in efforts in drafting the bill,” it stated.

Wammako noted that the objectives of the bill include among others, to standardise the business of real estate development in Nigeria by regulating the conduct of transactions in the real estate sector and provide enabling environment and transparency in the business of real estate development in Nigeria.

In addition the organisation said that the proposed law will make the business of real estate development in Nigeria conform to international best practices and safeguard the ultimate interest of all stakeholders in the business.

Furthermore, REDAN said that the bill will curb fraudulent practices in real estate development in Nigeria and ensure that it conforms with the national building code in Nigeria

as well as align with the money laundering prohibition Act. While stressing that the bill is in the overall interest of professionals, practitioners and all players in the built industry, the body noted that there was the need to regulate the industry, like it is done in other climes.

“We are not unaware of some developers, who are seriously averse to this bill and who have vowed to ensure that the bill does not pass at the Lower House.

“May we say that the only known reason for these developers not to want this bill to be passed is simply because they are likely the ones neck-deep in the money laundering business and financing of terrorism.

“They are obviously economic saboteurs and are ready to tarnish the image of Nigeria. They are working to perpetually stain Nigeria in the eyes of the world.

If the business is regulated, the law enforcement agents and regulators will catch up with them and they will not only be exposed but their businesses will crumble.

“We say with no regrets that any developer seeking to jettison the bill in its entirety without making amendments, recommendations or inputs that could make the bill better is a perpetrator of money laundering and the authorities' searchlight be beamed on such developers and their sponsors,” Wammako said.

08 March, 2022, Jet Al was selling for above N600 per litre and it is not readily available.

"Concerned that the local oil marketers are demanding upfront cash payment before fueling aircraft; observes that if urgent and immediate steps are not taken to ameliorate these challenges mentioned above, airlines and passengers will continue to suffer several consequential economic and travel crises that might lead to total shutdown of air transport services."

Nigerian Airlines Form Alliance to Improve Their Service to Passengers Air Peace, Azman Air, United Nigeria Airline, Arik Air, Aero Contractors and Max Air announced the alliance called the 'Spring Alliance', to mutually support one another’s operations in order to provide better service to passengers.

The airlines signed the alliance in Lagos on Tuesday and vowed to work together by engaging in interline collaboration to protect their operations and improve service delivery to passengers.

The objective of the alliance is curb flight delays among the six partners, give one another technical support and also ensure that passengers are airlifted by any of the members, no matter, which airline’s ticket the passengers have.

For example, if Arik Air flight operating from Port Harcourt to Lagos suffered bird strike, instead of waiting for the airline to deploy another aircraft, any of the airlines that is a member of the alliance would airlift Arik Air passengers to Lagos.

The operators said such cooperation had sustained many airlines in the world, stressing that they needed to key into it to ensure their survival.

Speaking on the alliance, the Chairman of Air Peace and Vicepresident of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Allen Onyema, said the Spring Alliance was for the benefit of the passengers who fly with the six airlines.

He said globally there are many of such alliances, which airlines key into, listing such to include the Star Alliance, One World and many others.

According to him, airlines key into such alliance for the benefit of both the passengers and the airlines.

"So, today, in Nigeria, the 8th day of March 2022, some Nigerian airlines, notably, Air Peace, Azman Air, Arik Air, Aero Contractors, Max Air & United Nigeria have decided to come together to form what we call the Spring Alliance.

“The name of this alliance is Spring Alliance. We decided to come together to do this for the benefit of the flying public that use the opportunities provided by these airlines to fly.

"By this alliance our passengers are protected whenever there is a problem with one airline. It is our response to the complaints of the flying public, so this alliance will enable us to satisfy them. With this alliance and what we are going to be doing henceforth, the flying public will reap the benefit.

“For example if Air Peace has a tech issue on any of its aircraft, the passengers of Air Peace need not to be delayed, if any member of this alliance is going to the same destination, all we need to do is move the passengers to other airline, a member of the alliance, at no further cost to the passenger."

Onyema described the initiative as noble and a revolutionary one in Nigeria’s aviation sector. He urged other airlines to tap into the benefits

offered by the alliance by joining.

He said the Spring Alliance was not limited to Nigerian airlines alone, as other African airlines may wish to join, adding that the alliance originated from Nigeria, but is open to the world.

"This will help aviation, it will help the sustainability of our operations, it will help the cause of the flying public to experience seamless commuting whenever they choose to. So we are hereby putting our signatories to these papers today, launching this idea that will revolutionise Nigeria’s scheduled flight operations for the better", Onyema said.

To the Managing Director, Aero Contractors, Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood, the formation of the Spring Alliance was a historic move, adding that it prioritises the satisfaction of passengers.

"History has been made here today in Nigeria, and this is the first time something like this is happening in Nigeria's aviation industry. You can see that the airline operators are fully committed to making sure that our passengers are satisfied.

“As we say, for every challenge, you see an opportunity and probably this is the time that we have seen an opportunity whereby the airlines can come together, work together and have a healthy competition; whereby at the end of the day, we make our passengers happy and safe.

"Safety is the number one priority and this is what we stand for and coming together, like my colleagues rightly said, you find out that all these delays are caused by problems that passengers do not know and we just carry them from one point to another on time and make sure that everything goes smoothly.

Obasanjo Laid Enduring Foundation for Fourth Republic, Says ADP Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja The Action Democratic Party (ADP) has applauded former President Olusegun Obasanjo for laying the foundation for the Fourth Republic, which has endured the test of time.

"To his eternal credit, as an elected president in 1999, he exerted all at his disposal to erect the solid foundation on which democracy has endured and prospered in the past 23 years of the ongoing 4th

Republic," said Yabagi Sani, the National Chairman of the ADP. Sani said this in a statement to congratulate Obasanjo on his 85th birthday.

"The unique odyssey of Chief Obasanjo tells of a great nationalist and an inspired visionary who, in his youth, chose a life in the noble career of soldering and in the course of which, he displayed extraordinary heroism and gallantry in the war to keep the country united," the statement added.

While rejoicing with Obasanjo "for adding one more year to a life of an enchanting tapestry of garlands and variegated landmarks," the statement said the ADP believed that the occasion should be regarded as a moment of introspection and stock-taking.

The ADP reminded Nigerians of the forthcoming 2023 general elections, noting that this year's anniversary of Obasanjo's birth came precisely one year to the 2023 general elections.

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NEWS

STRONGER TOGETHER; CONTENT AND PLATFORM...

L-R: CEO MultiChoice Nigeria and Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) Chairman, John Ugbe, CEO DStv Media Sales, Fahmeeda Cassim-Surtee; APCON Registrar, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo; Head of Sales Africa, DStv Media Sales, Kholeka Maringa and MIPAN President, Femi Adelusi, during the DMS-MIPAN Workshop held in Lagos...yesterday

FG Blames Waning Investment, Insecurity for Declining Low Crude Oil Production

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The federal government yesterday said that absence of long-term investment in the oil and gas sector as well as insecurity should be blamed for Nigeria’s current low crude oil production.

A statement by the Senior Adviser, Media and Communications, Horatius Egua, quoted the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, as having made the comment while speaking at a ministerial plenary, at the ongoing Ceraweek, in Houston, Texas.

Specifically, Sylva stated that this development was responsible for the inability of Nigeria to meet the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota in recent times.

Although Nigeria’s OPEC production quota is pegged at 1.8 million bpd, but in the last few years, the country has struggled between 1.3 and 1.4 million bpd.

Sylva insisted that the speed with which International Oil Companies (IOCs) and other investors were withdrawing investments in hydrocarbon exploitation had further contributed significantly to Nigeria’s underperformance.

“The rate at which investments was taken away was too fast. Lack of investment in the oil and gas sector contributed to Nigeria’s inability to meet OPEC quota. We are not able to get the needed investments to develop the sector and that affected us,” he stated.

He also cited security challenges as another major factor that contributed to the lack of significant growth of the sector in the country and added that the drive towards renewable energy by climate enthusiasts had discouraged funding for the sector.

Sylva, however called for a change of attitude, stressing that in decades to come hydrocarbon will continue to play a central role in meeting the energy needs of the world.

The minister said that although Nigeria was in full support of the energy transition, however the country and the African continent should be allowed to develop at its own pace to be able to meet the energy needs of the over 600 million people who have no access to any form of power in Africa.

He added: “There are about 600 million people in Africa without access to power and of that number the majority live in Nigeria. And of the over 900 million people without access to power in the world, the majority live in Africa.

“So how do we provide access to power for these people if you say we should not produce gas? We believe that gas is the way to go.

“We believe that gas is the way forward and the one access to power.

For the energy transition programme to be taken seriously we need to have an inclusive energy transition programme,” he argued.

According to him, while Africa believes in the energy transition, it

has its peculiar problems.

“We are saying that our energy transition should be focused on gas to bridge the energy gap. This is what we have been saying. We need a just and equitable energy transition

programme,” Sylva further stated.

He maintained that Nigeria was also not in any way against the energy transition programme, but urged promoters of renewable energy as the only path to energy

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday stated that there was no death in the convoy that went on an inspection visit to the Second Niger Bridge on Tuesday.

In statement by his Special Adviser, Communications, Mr Hakeem Bello, the minister, however stressed that the attendees discovered much later that a vehicle belonging to the police had been involved in an accident.

But he noted that two policemen injured in the process had been treated and released by the hospital, pointing that the statement was necessary after he was inundated with calls

as to the safety of the federal government’s team.

“No fatal crash occurred during Tuesday’s inspection of the Second Niger Bridge by a federal government team led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari,” the statement affirmed.

Other members of the delegation included Fashola, his Labour and Productivity counterpart, Dr. Chris Ngige and the Managing Director of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Mr Uche Orji.

While decrying “ the sensational report making the rounds on the social media” the minister said that on arrival at the Asaba airport in Delta state, the team had visited the interchange along Owerri-Onitsha road and the east

through gas. We cannot achieve one energy base load through renewable alone. The rest of the world must listen to us. We are happy that our point of view is being taken,” he stressed.

Barkindo: No Shortage of Oil Despite Surging Prices Rystad predicts $240 oil if Russia/Ukraine crisis escalates Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Sanusi Barkindo, has said despite the surging crude oil prices, there’s no shortage of the commodity in the market.

Although oil prices in the futures markets have risen more than 30 per cent since Russia invaded Ukraine, Barkindo insisted that there's "no physical shortage of oil.”

Barkindo stated that OPEC had decided last year to release the 5.8 million bpd, being the last tranche of the quantum of oil withdrawn from the market in the heat of the Covid-19 pandemic, reason it is gradually feeding the market with 400,000 barrels every month.

But he added that not all member countries are currently able to fulfil their obligations because of capacity constraints.

“Again, we go back to the issue of under-investment and it’s not only in the US or Europe. It’s globally and it requires a global

solution,” he stated.

Stressing that OPEC remains friendly and apolitical, Barkindo said the organisation would continue to assist the market in maintaining stability.

On Monday, crude oil prices rose to $139 per barrel on the back of the conflict between the two countries.

Barkindo argued that the oil producers’ group has no control over current global events, explaining that geopolitics was dictating the pace of the market.

“We are facing what is likely to be a global game changer in terms of the energy transition,” he maintained.

The Secretary General added: “It is important to keep communication lines open, especially in times of crisis like the one the world is facing today. All we can do is to stay the course “I have heard from several speakers here at CERAweek that current tightness in the market condition might be creating some demand destruction.

Fashola: No Death in Second Niger Bridge Convoy Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

transition to give the poorer countries of the world the opportunity to achieve energy sufficiency before doing away with fossil fuel.

“As Africans we are saying that we must be allowed to transit

approach to the bridge in Onitsha from where they walked across to the west approach.

He added that after a media briefing by members of the team, the chief of staff was conducted to the west approach at Asaba and the toll plaza of the bridge before returning to Abuja.

“It was discovered much later that one of the vehicles in the team of the commissioner of police from Anambra state had a mishap during which two policemen sustained injuries. “ It was confirmed from the Nigeria Police, Anambra state command that they were treated at the Federal Medical Centre Asaba and had since been discharged.

“The minister, following anxious calls from well-meaning members

of the public about the safety of the members of the federal government delegation, expresses deep sympathies over the injured two men of the Anambra police command.

“However, no lives were lost at all, as claimed in the false report by the online platform of a national daily,” it stated.

Earlier, there were reports that four policemen attached to the convoy of the minister had died in the accident in Asaba.

It stated that one of the drivers lost control of his vehicle conveying security operatives and crashed into a deep ditch, stressing that the police vehicle was speeding to meet up with the ministers’ vehicles when it veered off the road and crashed.

“Even as that might be the case, the other side of the equation is probably more critical at the moment, which is supply is increasingly lagging behind.”

Meanwhile, Brent crude futures could surge to $240 a barrel this summer if Western countries continue to sanction Russian oil exports, industry consultants, Rystad Energy has predicted.

Wider sanctions on Russian oil would create a 4.3 million barrel a day hole that “cannot simply be replaced by other sources of supply,” Rystad Energy’s head of

oil markets, Bjornar Tonhaugen, wrote in a note.

“The supply collapse would be the largest potential oil supply shortage since the 1990 Gulf War, when oil prices doubled, he said.

The higher prices rise, the higher the “chances of the global economy entering a recession” in the fourth quarter, according to Tonhaugen, quoted by Bloomberg.

“Oil at $240 per barrel would trigger a global recession and selfdestruct the price level within just a few months, after which prices would fall sharply,” the firm said.

FRCN Commences Online Submission of Code of Corporate Governance Report Dike Onwuamaeze The Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) has announced that the submission of Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance (NCCG) reports would henceforth be done virtually via the council’s online web portal from April 1, 2022.

The council stressed that it would neither accept physical hard copies nor emails for the NCCG 2018 compliance report from April 1.

This was announced yesterday by the management of the FRCN, which stated that this would affect all public companies and their holding companies, concessioned and privatised companies as well as regulated private companies as defined in the regulation to NCCG 2018 “entities.”

It said, “the web portal is developed to further enhance Ease of Doing Business, reduction of cost, time, and effort taken to comply with NCCG 2018, and serve as a repository for investors, researchers, and other stakeholders to gather and generate corporate governance information on Nigerian entities in both the private and public sectors.”

The council also issued additional guidance that would assist the affected entities to onboard

the portal for a seamless user experience.

The guidance revealed that the go-live date for the portal would be April 1, 2022.

It declared that, “with effect from this date, the NCCG 2018 Compliance Reporting Web Portal can be accessed at the council’s website: www.financialreportingcouncil. gov.ng It added that, “with effect from this date, the council will neither accept physical hard copies nor emails for the NCCG 2018 compliance report.

“The deadline for NCCG 2018 compliance reporting for entities with year-end December 31, 2021, is hereby extended by 1 month to April 30, 2022.

“Apart from (entities with December 31, 2021, year-end), deadline for reporting on compliance with NCCG 2018 remains three months after year end of the company.”

The management of the FRCN also said that a webinar meant to sensitise stakeholders on the new reporting regime would be held on March 17, 2022.

It said that “intending participants are hereby requested to register for this webinar through the following link: https://bit.ly/frcnccg.”

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NEWS

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR ALL...

L-R: Ivorian Minister of Energy Mr. Thomas Camara; Minister of Mine, Industry and Energy of Equatorial Guinea, Mr. Gabriel Obiang Lima; Nigeria’s Minister of State Petroleum Resources Chief Timipre Sylva; Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El-Molla, and Minister of Mines and Energy Namibia, Mr. Tom Alweendo, during a meeting of Africa energy ministers, on the sideline of the ongoing Ceraweek, in Houston, Texas, United States of America...recently

Deep Blue Project: Armed Forces, CBN, NPA Distance Selves from $195m Contract Udora Orizu in Abuja Nigerian Armed Forces have distanced themselves from the $195,300 million Deep Blue Contract Agreement currently being investigated by members of the House of Representatives Committee on Navy.

In July 27, 2017, the Federal Ministry of Transportation on behalf of the federal government entered into a contract (the Deep Blue Contract) of $195,300,000 (N59,839,930,000) with a foreign private company, HLS International Limited, for the supply of certain

security and surveillance equipment and systems, and also for establishing the Integrated National Coastal Surveillance and Waterways Protection Solutions with command and control of infrastructure in the country’s territorial waters.

In addition to the contract sum of $195,300,000, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) agreed to pay the sum of $19,530,000 to HLSI as Management Training Consideration and according to Appendix 4 of the agreement, both sums would be paid in monthly instalments, over a period of 36 months from July

2017 until June 2020, as further payments were also made as at July 2017 to date.

The lawmakers on December, 2021, while adopting a motion sponsored by Hon. Benjamin Kalu, had mandated the Committee on Navy to investigate the legality of the Contract agreement to know whether it was in line with extant laws and regulations.

The Committee was then also mandated to ascertain the standards of all platforms purchased to the Nigerian Navy and determine whether they are according to the actual amount of money spent by

the government on the contract and any other matter relating to it.

But addressing the lawmakers at the commencement of the investigative hearing yesterday, the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo said members of the Armed Forces, right from when the project was initiated were not part of it, rather they were given the project schedule timeline on how it would be executed, to monitor and ensure that the project is delivered within the specified period.

Gambo who was represented by the Chief of Navy Engineering, Rear Admiral SD El-ladan said:

NNPC: There Is Enough Petrol to Last One Month Says 1.9 billion litres of fuel in stock FG: We are waiting for ASUU to upgrade UTAS Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) yesterday assured Nigerians that it has enough petrol in stock that can serve consumers for the next one month.

It also said it currently has a total of 1.9 billion litres of fuel in storage while its retail outlets are now selling petrol to consumers round the clock.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Media Aide to Vice President, Laolu Akande, said the Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Mele Kyari, briefed the FEC meeting about the issue of fuel queues in filling stations across the country.

According to him, the NNPC boss gave an assurance that there was enough fuel to last over one month in stock while also assuring that the fuel queues will soon become a thing of the past.

His words: "The NNPC GMD informed the council that there is enough stock. Talking of about 1.9 billion litres that is available to last for 32 days. He also said that the agency is working 24 hours. There's a 24-hour loading that is going on at all depots across the country working with DSS, MOWAN, IPMAN to ensure that this situation improves significantly."

Meanwhile, the end appears not to be in sight in the ongoing face-off between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) as government said it was still

waiting on the university lecturers to upgrade and return to it the Universities Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) payment platform which was said to have failed integrity test.

ASUU had on February 14 commenced a one-month warning strike over a face-off with the federal government which included the non-acceptance of UTAS as the payment platform to replace the Integrated Personnel and Payment Information System (IPPIS).

The federal government had insisted that UTAS had failed the necessary tests that should qualify it to be used as a payment platform, but ASUU on its own had accused the government of not being ready to accept its alternative platform to IPPIS. But addressing newsmen after the weekly virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja, yesterday, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, while commenting on the position of UTAS which is one of the contentious issues that led to the ongoing industrial action by ASUU, explained that when he received a letter from the Minister of Labor and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige requesting a review of the submission and the technical ability of the software of the system, he forwarded the request to the National Information Technology Development Agency.

According to him, “They (NITDA) conducted their own analysis, their own testing and sent same back to me, and I drafted a

cover letter I forwarded to the Minister of Labour and Employment and I copied the two Ministers of Education, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and also office of the Accountant General of the Federation and even NUC (National University Commission).”

The minister however directed the DG of NITDA, who sat beside him to give the situation report on the matter.

Shedding more light on the issue of UTAS, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, said: “When we received the request to review, UTAS, you know, building complex system like UTAS that involves employees’ personal data, and also payment system, we have to subject it to do best practice tests before approving.

Normally, when we are reviewing that kind of system, we perform three tests.

“Firstly, because when you're building system, it's not just about the technology, you need to consider the people that will use this system and the process.

If you don't align people, process and technology, you will never get result. No matter how good the technology is, if the people don't understand how to use it, they won't use it. And if the process is different from the way the people work, also, they won't use it. So that is a process of building technology.

"You need to get the business requirement. What do you want to achieve? So it's not the technology that will come first, it is the business requirement, what do you want to achieve, then you need to identify the capabilities

you need to achieve that is your business objective.

“Part of the capability is the technology you need to bring in and the people that will operate the technology before you start thinking of the technology, because technology is always a tool that will help you to achieve an objective or to do your work. If you bring the tool before knowing what to do with it, it will be useless.

“So when they came, we said okay, fine, we will do user acceptance test, ASUU you’ve built this system, but you are not the one that will use the system. There are people in Bursary, and all the finance that will use this system.

"The concept right from when the project was initiated, members of the Armed Forces were not part of it. However, I think based on resistance and complains, a steering committee was created comprising of Defense Minister, Transport, DG NIMASA, Chief of Defense Staff, and the three service chiefs.

Thereafter, the steering committee also created a committee called project monitoring team of the deep blue project.

"Shortly after the inauguration we were given the project schedule timeline on how the project would be executed and our task was to monitor and ensure that the project is delivered within the specified period.

“Along the line we have been getting reports from the contractor from NIMASA, until we arrived at the present stage where I said the services have issued some number of platforms and so on.

The contract to the best of my knowledge is still ongoing, it has not been completed."

Corroborating Navy's position, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, said the Air Force were also not part of conceptualization of the project.

Amao, who was represented by Air Vice Marshal N.N. Ananaba, however said they had member in the steering committee which came into being during the execution phase of the project.

On his part, Deputy Director Special Forces OPS, Colonel KO Bukoye representing Chief of Operations Army said the Nigerian

army are only operators just like the Navy.

On platforms received so far, the Navy representative, El-ladan said they have two special mission vessels, 16 armored vehicles, 17 interceptor bus, 4 UAS and two UAS as well as three special mission helicopters and two special mission aircraft.

On its part, the representative of the Nigerian Army explained that the project was supposed to provide 16 armored buffalo vehicles, but up till date they have received only six.

When the armed Forces were asked if the company, HSL was still within the time limit, they responded that based on schedule they were out of time limit.

Thereafter the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi read letters sent to the lawmakers by other stakeholders denying involvement in the contract agreement.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its letter said they don’t have any information relating to the transaction in their custody, advising the lawmakers channel the request to respective ministries for action.

Also, the Office of the Accountant General in its letter wrote information regarding the transaction should be obtained from other relevant agencies as they are not part of it.

Similarly, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) informed the lawmakers that the authority wasn’t in anyway involved in the contract of deep blue.

Nigeria Seals Oil, Gas Local Content Development Deal with Senegal Peter Uzoho The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Senegalese Petroleum Industry have agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Nigeria’s support for the development of local content in Senegal's oil and gas industry.

The agreement was reached during a strategy bilateral meeting in Lagos, between the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote, and key officials of the Senegalese Petroleum Industry.

The deal was part of Nigeria’s strategic support to the development of local content across the African continent, which had already been extended to Ghana,

Niger Republic, Uganda, Kenya, Gabon, Ugandan, and Congo Brazzaville.

THISDAY learnt that the deal was one of the yields from the maiden edition of the African Local Content Investment Forum (ALCIF) held Monday in Lagos, which was targeted at addressing funding and other challenges inhibiting the maximisation of huge hydrocarbon resources in Africa.

Speaking after the meeting, Wabote stated that the MoU would provide the pathway for the details of the collaboration, stressing the need for cooperation amongst African countries for the sustainable development of the oil and gas industry in the continent.

He added that Nigeria had

acquired a lot of experience in local content development and was well-positioned to support other African nations that had discovered hydrocarbon resources recently.

The Leader of the Senegalese team and Technical Secretary, National Committee for Local Content in Senegal, Mor Ndiaye Mbaye, stated that their country was a new entrant into the oil and gas industry, adding that the MOU with Nigeria was to build local capacities and domesticate key operations in the sector, in-country.

He added that they decided to learn best practices in local content from Nigeria to make the implementation in their jurisdiction a reality.

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COMMENT

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

NIGERIA, THE BRIDGE AND 2023

Nigeria needs a leader who symbolises the bridge across all divides, writes Yusuph Olaniyonu

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ach time I drive on the Mabushi bridge in Abuja on my way to the office, the trip usually set me thinking. The thought of how difficult it would have been getting across to the other side of the expansive road without the bridge would always occupy my mind. From there, I would appreciate the benefits and importance of consistent development in the road construction world.

Though it is obvious that modern civil engineering has continuously made our lives better and more qualitative, a lot of credit should still be given to those who devised and invented the construction of bridges or what some call fly-over, overpass viaduct or aqueduct. They have not only shortened travel time, but they have also provided real-time links and strong contacts between hitherto disparate groups, individuals, and places. The bridges have served as social unifiers and enablers of commercial activities.

The bridges in some situations have been lifesavers, by reducing vehicular accidents and needless loss of lives. The bridge is therefore a strong social and economic concrete, cementing ties, uniting, and keeping people close to each other.

In a nation with over 200 million black people, making it the seventh most populous nation in the world, scattered around 923,768 square kilometres, more than four times the size of the United Kingdom, with the people, also speaking about 250 different languages, and worshipping God in different ways, the concept of the bridge have more meanings. It is a necessity to link the disparate parts together.

There is the need for a symbolic bridge in Nigeria to connect all the dots, create unity, provide focus, chart a clear direction, and band all and sundry together like a united army seeking to conquer all odds, bring down the obstacles, and achieve national development. A bridge is needed to ensure there is the unity of purpose and that the societal goals that seek to promote the interest of the majority and create good for the minority are needed.

Perhaps, there is no time that Nigeria needs a ‘bridge-man’ to lead her more than now. This is the era when the people have continuously lost faith in their leadership. Patriotism is at the lowest level. The people have receded from their embrace of a united Nigeria and rather ran back to their different ethnic nationalities.

Threats of secession and promotion of ethnic identity over national unity are very rife. There is also the use of religion to perpetrate criminality. Hiding under the guise of religion, some citizens have since waged war against the country. They are threatening to take over parts of the nation using insurgent tactics.

The economy is at its lowest level and the resultant youths unemployment has turned over 62 percent of the population which should be the most productive demographics to the most prolific criminals. Against the background of lack of gainful employment, Nigerian youths have found solace in cultism, ritual killing, advance fee fraud, kidnapping, armed robbery, and drug abuse. Now, we have an army of youths capable of destroying the nation in vengeance for the ill-treatment the country has meted to them.

And then 2023 is around the corner. It is our next magic year. It is the year we have to elect new leaders in the executive and legislative arms

THERE IS THE NEED FOR A SYMBOLIC BRIDGE IN NIGERIA TO CONNECT ALL THE DOTS, CREATE UNITY, PROVIDE FOCUS, CHART A CLEAR DIRECTION, AND BAND ALL AND SUNDRY TOGETHER LIKE A UNITED ARMY SEEKING TO CONQUER ALL ODDS

of government at the federal and state levels (at least in 30 of the 36 states). The year allows us to choose a President who will lead the new efforts to unite the country, rebuild the economy, tackle more vigorously the security issues, mobilize all Nigerians behind the new set of goals, create the belief that new ways of doing things are possible and that a new Nigeria can be imagined because the old ways are not working and give the realistic hope of new possibilities.

2023 gives Nigerians the opportunity to elect a President who represents fresh leadership, real solutions, energy, zeal, and optimism, all of which represent the new Nigeria for all Nigerians.

With all these daunting tasks, you can see why Nigeria needs a leader who symbolises the bridge across all her divides. We need a leader who is neither North nor South. The one who by disposition and choice has reasons to respect the right of all Nigerians to worship God in legal and just ways that elevate the essence of our common creator.

We need a leader who can be at home with the youths that represents a predominant section of our populace but can also earn the respect and support of the older generation.

We need a leader who knows how to motivate the private sector to grow the economy and attract foreign investors into Nigeria. The next President should have the capacity to create unity of purpose between the two political arms of government - legislature and executive - as well as restore the judiciary to the level where it naturally serves as an impartial arbitrator, the institution that delivers justice, equity, and equality to all Nigerians, irrespective of their stations in life.

The next Nigerian President should naturally command national and international respect. He should be one who can immediately rise above the PDP, APC, SDP, APGA, Accord, etc., divide. He must work to improve efficient service delivery to all Nigerians, irrespective of how they voted and who they voted for.

I do have an aspirant in mind. He has all the qualities of the ‘Nigerian bridge’ which no other contestant can boast of. He has a father with Fulani ancestry and a mother and wife who are both from the South. He had a grandfather from the north and grandmothers from the South.

He is therefore at home both in the North and South of the country.

His friends, associates, and employees are from across all the states in the country. He is a devout Muslim with a Christian mother and wife.

He is from a state which straddles the North and South and whose people speak languages and has cultures from both the north and south of Nigeria.

The candidate I have in mind represents the aspiration of both the young and the old for a greater Nigeria where things work and where global best practices obtain. He is 59 years old. He came into politics from the private sector and has had a successful career in both the private and public sectors.

He has served in distinguished manners in both the executive and legislature at the state and federal levels. He has a follower-ship and a large support base in all the leading political parties. He is a man with a much-needed international network that has been used for the benefit of Nigerians at different levels in the past. His name is Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

Olaniyonu writes from Abuja

THE MDAS AND THE UKRAINE MISSION Chido Nwakanma commends the MDAs on their life-saving mission in Ukraine

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ne thousand and seventy-six compatriots hitherto based in Ukraine returned to Nigeria on 4 - 5 March 2022 courtesy of a coordinated effort by Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government.

Max Air and Air Peace were the carriers.

Nigeria airlifted them from Romania, Poland, and Hungary, where they ran to on the outbreak of war in Ukraine. Abuja registered their relief.

Nigeria brought her citizens back through four flights in two days. Max Air carried 415 persons who arrived at 7.14 am on 4 March from Romania. The first set of 181 returnees came from Poland at 6.30 pm same 4 March on Air Peace. Those from Hungary came in two batches of 174 on 4 March and 306 on 5 March, all courtesy of Air Peace.

Russia attacked its neighbouring Ukraine on 24 February 2022 following a period of hostility. The Russian action, though forewarned, surprised many people in Ukraine and outside. The surprise was because of previous threats that the Russians did not carry out.

As the war broke, “the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development approached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the modalities for evacuating Nigerians living in Ukraine”, a note by the Minister Saddiya Umar Farouk stated.

She stated that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management is “responsible for the human dignity and protection of all Nigerians irrespective of their places of abode”. With that mandate, Humanitarian Affairs “led the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in a multi-Agency coordination effort to evacuate more than 5000 Nigerians from the crisis. The other MDAs in the evacuation committee include MFA, NIDCOM, NIA, ONSA and Nigerian Missions/Embassies in Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia (Austria), Germany and Belarus”.

Mrs Saddiya Farouk said that “the Ministry sought and secured Presidential approval to commence the immediate evacuation of the 5000 Nigerians that have escaped from Ukraine into any of the other countries that have a contiguous land border with Ukraine”.

The rescue efforts flowed from presidential approval of the request and consequent release of US$8.5m. Nigeria gave each returnee an honorarium of US$100 for transportation to their bases.

The rescue effort will continue. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs “is in continuous discussion with eight countries (through their ambassadors here and the Nigerian

Mission in the respective countries) towards the safe passage of Nigerians. The countries involved are Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia (Austria), Germany and Belarus”.

Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry will meet with the European Union and G7 Ambassadors.

MFA is also discussing with various organisations, including the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

According to Saddiya Farouq Umar, Nigeria will arrange with host countries on the continuous stay/study of Nigerians who are unwilling to come back home.

The collaboration of the MDAs ensured the issuance of emergency travel certificates to all Nigerians who crossed from Ukraine.

Umar added, “Let me assure you that the ministry will draw on appropriate lessons and frameworks from migration exercises and work towards updating and or developing evacuation provisions, plans and protocols to cater to emergencies with new contexts and dynamics. This is essential as over 15 million Nigerians live abroad, and geopolitical situations can dramatically change within a relatively short period.”

The evacuation staved off attacks of delay against the federal government. However, Nigeria was not alone as many countries only airlifted their citizens after the war.

Ghana and India airlifted one or two days

ahead of Nigeria. The refusal of Nigerians to board the available flight caused a further delay by at least 24 hours.

Daily Trust reported an official stating, “The reluctance of some evacuees to return home made the trip impossible. The airline got only half of the passengers that could fill the entire plane. There was an arrangement to bring back those who agreed to return, but the airline refused to fly a half-filled plane.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Geoffrey Onyeama earlier informed the House of Representatives of the reluctance of some citizens to return as the MDAs planned the operation. Citizens who declined preferred to face the rough roads in Ukraine and other countries to which they ran instead of returning home. Some sold their properties to go abroad and do not fancy staying afresh here.

Treasure Chinenye Bellgam, a medical student in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, explained the situation.

“Most Nigerians here on hustle are not willing to leave. They prefer to die here. It’s like after God has lifted you one step higher, you want to go two steps backwards. It’s like being demoted. But you need a lot of humility to go back to Nigeria because some people sold lands, cars, and the rest to come here, and they have amazing stories”.

The MDAs earn commendations for eventually delivering on this life-saving mission and doing it competently and effectively. We have not heard the usual complaints about such activities. Well done to the ministers Saddiyya Farouk Umar and Geoffrey Onyeama, Abike Dabiri, who leads the Nigerian Diaspora Commission and other agency heads.

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EDITORIAL THE HIGHWAY CONCESSION PLAN The decision to leverage private sector funds in the development of infrastructure is laudable

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he federal government’s decision to concession 12 major highways across the nation follows its realisation that budgetary allocation, which had been the practice over the years, will never be enough for road development and maintenance. These roads being considered for the pilot Public-Private Partnership (PPP) are Benin-Asaba, Abuja-Lokoja, Kano–Katsina, OnitshaOwerri-Aba, Shagamu-Benin, Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga, Kano-Shuari, Potiskum-Damaturu, Lokoja-Benin, EnuguPort Harcourt, Ilorin-Jebba, Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta, and Lagos-Badagry-Seme.

While we support the idea of PPP in the development of our road infrastructure, there are several issues that need to be highlighted. Perhaps the most important is that federal roads are too many because some that belonged to state governments were taken over by the federal government during the military APART FROM era because of INFRASTRUCTURE AND politics. We believe ASSETS DEVELOPMENT, some of these roads THOUSANDS OF JOBS ARE can be given back EXPECTED TO BE CREATED to the states for their construction and FOR NIGERIANS, AS THE INITIATIVE WILL OPEN THE maintenance as a HIGHWAY ECONOMY WITH development strategy.

OPPORTUNITIES IN VARIOUS Incidentally, as Lagos State Governor, ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES current Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola advocated this strategy, and we wonder why he is not implementing same now that he is in charge. It is also important to learn lessons from the past because there is nothing new in this arrangement.

The late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration had started concession by establishing the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) as a regulatory body. The ICRC is charged with the responsibility of developing guidelines for monitoring contract compliance during construction, operation, and termination and supporting government in achieving such compliance. In January last year the ICRC gave a certificate of compliance

Letters to the Editor

to the Works Ministry to enable it to begin the procurement process for the 12 roads under its Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI). But the failure of the PPP concession of the 105-kilometre Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to Bi-Courtney consortium remains a sore issue.

T 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

he government believes that the HDMI would facilitate further development of Nigeria’s federal highway network by bringing in investment to improve efficiency, accountability, and profitable entrepreneurship to the operation, management, and maintenance of all assets. It even projects that the initiative would attract investments to the tune of over N1.134 trillion.

We endorse the commitment to leverage private sector funds in the development of critical infrastructure such as the major highways. Currently, the federal government is using the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme (RIDRITCS) Order of 2018 to reconstruct the Apapa-Oworonsoki concrete road; Obajana road in Kogi; Ota-Idiroko road in Ogun State; and the 21 roads for which the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) will advance its tax credit of N621 billion.

There are other roads being funded with the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) that are managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and the SUKUK Fund. The HDMI is expected to be implemented in two parts comprising Value Added Concession (VAC) and Unbundled Assets Approval (UAA). Apart from infrastructure and assets development, thousands of jobs are expected to be created for Nigerians, as the initiative will open the highway economy with opportunities in various economic activities, including fabrication of gantries, directional signages, towing van operations, auto repair stations, rest areas and emergency services, etc.

However, while the federal government is employing several funding arrangements to salvage the highways, it is imperative that these ideas be properly monitored. A crucial issue that needs to be addressed at this stage is what it will cost commuters to use these roads. It is important to involve Nigerians through their representatives in arriving at this cost. Also to be included in the agreement is the issue of alternative routes, where available, for people who may not wish to pay toll at any time.

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.

RUSSIA AND THE RUSH OF RASHES

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ith Vladimir Putin, one can never be so sure. But with each day that goes by, with Russia inexplicably remaining in Ukraine, and the world responding with an unprecedented cyclone of condemnation and sanctions, it would appear that the Kremlin did not avert its mind to just how forcefully the global response would be to its invasion of its smaller Eastern European neighbour. Already, the images break the heart: hundreds of civilians including children have been killed with many more critically injured. Many Ukrainian public and residential buildings have been shelled by the Russians. The toll on the Ukrainian military has been similarly heavy even as the country has ridden a wave of global support to dig out a defiance long thought to be lost in ancient battle fields.

The casualties are mounting and there is every reason to believe that at the end of the day, the toll will be monumental. However, one suspects that at the end of the day, a momentous message would have been sent that war mongers like Vladimir Putin would be left in no doubt that when war becomes so blatant, so baleful, the response will be bitter and biting.

Apart from the global show of support and solidarity for Ukraine, countries, institutions and individuals have taken measures that resound in Russia with dire consequences. Many suspect that although Russia has kept a straight face, it must be secretly counting the cost of its invasion of its neighbor with many more sanctions yet to come.

Football governing bodies, FIFA and UEFA, have banned the Russian national team and Russian clubs from all their competitions until further notice. Some sporting organizations have scrambled to disassociate themselves from Moscow while some individual athletes have had some of the strongest words possible for Vladimir Putin and his horde of Russian attackers. It is before their own eyes that Russia long suspected to be the last vestige of the Soviet Union is swiftly becoming a pariah.

The economic sanctions have been similarly harsh. The United States has cut off Russia`s Central Bank from dollar transactions. The value of the ruble, Russia`s currency, has fallen to historic lows. With many countries poised to pile the sanctions, there is no doubt that pretty soon, Russia will find itself knee deep in alligators. Save for a modicum of sympathy for the Russians who oppose the war, that is what it should be.

As the global order moves towards guaranteeing peace and prosperity for every citizen of the world from Burundi to Burma, all those who foment trouble and create conflicts must be met with the harshest sanctions possible.

To serve as a deterrent, they and others of their ilk must be treated like lepers.

In this, there can be no compromise.

War creates chaos and pain, subjecting the most vulnerable populations to unspeakable horrors. While the invasion of Ukraine has whipped up global sentiments, the response to similar situations the world over must be universal and ubiquitous. There can be no compromise whatsoever.

For the world to come to relative safety, it is imperative that all those who fan the flames of war are made to account for their startling stupidity. They must be forced to reckon with their actions or at least live under the certainty that all that they do which bring pain to innocent people the world over will be met with the stiffest punishments possible.

Admittedly, this is a tall order for an international order which continues to blow hot and cold at will. But there is encouragement to be drawn from the way in which Russia despite its vast energy riches and nuclear weapons has faced a wave of sanction after sanction since the monumental folly of its leaders sent the first armoured tank over its border with Ukraine.

Perhaps, those dictators who hide under supposed democracies to treat other sovereign countries with a lash of scorpions will themselves be dissuaded by a rush of rashes.

Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

OBASANJO’S GRAVE ALLEGATIONS

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ecently at his 85th Birthday celebrations, after a star performance on the football field, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, said most of the people running for office in Nigeria should be in Jail. I was shocked when I heard that and it is even more baffling that none of the security establishments acted on the statement.

Some might accuse the former president that he is also part of the corrupt system but he has made grave allegations that should be investigated. President Obasanjo has led Nigeria twice and he has ample information more than the average Nigerian, so when he makes references like that we must take it seriously.

I believe Baba’s statement is a clarion call on the security agencies to investigate every candidate running in this election. I believe if we are to have good governance, we must have good leaders and the first step is in understanding what we are dealing with. We can’t have a country led by characters hitherto questioned by the past president and we all keep quiet like nothing happened.

We all remember that investigations carried out during the Presidential campaign between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. We must build a country with strong institutions to build a strong democracy.

Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail.com

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POLITICS

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

Ayom: The APC Has Done So Much, I Want to Promote it’ Moses Ayom, a successful businessman and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress from Benue State holds a conversation with Nseobong Okon-Ekong on his resolve to make a bold bid for Nigeria’s presidency, which he believes should be zoned to the Middle-belt in 2023

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our state, Benue, is a major victim of President Buhari’s administration just like the South-east where most people are disenchanted with the central and state governments. If you become the president, how are you going to achieve national cohesion?

It all boils down to injustice, inequality and unfairness. When you stop the issue of injustice, everybody would be very happy to come back to the same table. It was not like this before. In terms of bringing Nigeria together, it is extremely easy. First and foremost, the South-east has been so left out just like the people of the Middle-belt.

Remember the day the Igbo elders came to ask for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the old former minister, Mbazulike Amaechi was sitting down and Buhari was standing up; the president said that in his lifetime, he has never imagined that he would take that kind of decision but he is doing it because of him. You see how easy it was to get the Igbo people. I would do more than that. When I become the president, the South-east particularly Aba would be a priority.

I was the first person to say that if I become president, I would ride Innoson. Not only that, once I am riding Innoson, the official vehicle of every parastatal would be Innoson vehicle.

As I am doing that, private companies that patronize Innoson would have the best. What it means is that Innoson cannot meet up with demand. When that happens, the Free Trade Zones that we have across Nigeria, Toyota, Suzuki and those other companies would come and start fabricating for Innoson. That is just one. When I become president, the South-east would become the Guandong and Aba would become the Guanzhou of Nigeria.

What makes you think you are qualified to take up this huge responsibility?

I have been lucky to be in the private sector all my life. I have never worked for any person since I was born. So, I understand the rudiments of getting things done at different levels as a business man. You want to build a house, you start with the foundation all the way to roofing and all of that. Now, having served myself and the community over the years, I want to serve humanity. I am saying this not as a politician but as a professional. I recently spoke before the Vice President; we had what we called the APC Professionals Forum chaired by Yuguda. The excitement I got from that day was the understanding that day that a politician is not a professional. Any person can jump into politics. At this moment in Nigeria’s history, this is the right time for professionals to join politics and take over the reins of power. What spurred me more that day was that ab initio, I joined the race of helping humanity as a result of what God has done for me. He has given me good health, sound education, good family and enough resources that you cannot put a value on. I want this to be crystal clear. Above everything that God has done, this government of APC has opened the way for me to see endless opportunities and I want to use these opportunities now to invest in humanity and give back to the society.

If you go to the Heritage Africa which is also my property, you will see that I am branding the APC. Nobody has ever done it. The ruling party should be an equivalent of the African National Congress(ANC) in South Africa.

The APC should be an equivalent of Labour Party in the United Kingdom. APC should be an equivalent of the Communist Party in China. They have not branded the APC because a business man is not there; a professional is not there who is consciously thinking of these.

I, Moses Ayom, an international business man, I know what is called branding. If you look at my phone, just that logo Apple is a million naira but if you turn any other one that does the same thing but does not have the same thing, it is N40,000. Why is it so? It is not technology but the promotion of that brand. Therefore, I want to promote the APC because the party has done so much for me. What have they done for

a private person.

Ayom

me? People are saying that the APC government is not good, so much insecurity, unemployment and so on but for Moses Ayom, the APC has done so much. Let me come out and support this government by giving back to the society and vying for the Number One position. I have good reasons to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. What did this government do for me? In 2015 when the Buhari administration came, the biggest problem that time was to divert the economy from the oil to the non-oil sector. And what happened; on April 12, 2016 to be precise, the President embarked on one of his biggest trips ever.

He went to China with the richest African, Aliko Dangote and iconic agreements were signed. As a Christian, I call them a trinity. How is it a trinity? The Nigerian government signed an MOU of $6 billion. They called it currency swap. What that means is that you put less pressure on our foreign reserve by trading directly with China. Ninety per cent of products round the world come from China; so why can’t we as well do currency swap between Nigeria and China so it makes it easy for us to trade; that was the first agreement

that was signed. The second agreement that was signed was $2.6 billion which was to build the biggest refinery and fertilizer plant in Epe, Lagos which is being done by Dangote. The third agreement was signed by myself. The president was there. I signed a contract with SBN, the biggest manufacturers of mining equipment in the world. The contract I signed was to bring the SBN, those components to be assembling them. I also have one of the biggest quarries in Abuja here under the name Granite and Marble. It was on the basis of that that I went to China. I went to China with the President because of the pedigree that I have.

I understand China more than any Nigerian and that is where the world is going. So, I have an advantage. When I was going to China 20 years ago, there were more bicycles in Beijing than vehicles. Then the Igbo boys in Guangzhou were very few. Then I was not even going to Guangzhou, I was going to Shenzhen, one of the most modern city in the world. So, I would dash into Guangzhou once in a while; I started doing international business over 30 years ago negotiating big transactions. I understand how it is done. As a professional joining the race, the agreement that I signed alone if well ignited, if the $6 billion is ignited, you will see a massive impact in the nation’s economy. So, talking about people coming to do consolidation on what the government has done, you cannot get a better person than me that was actively involved not as a government person but as

Anything that has a North and South must have middle.

Because of geography, a Tiv or Idoma man cannot be? And we are accepting it? They think we are a minority....Why are you deceiving yourself? We must correct what is wrong. Nigerians must collectively with the help of the media ask questions to correct all these mistakes that have kept us down as a nation.

The wrong is becoming the right in Nigeria. I am saying that we still have a chance to correct the mistakes we have been making for the past decades. It is time for a Middle Belter to be considered. It is very bad when they discriminate against you....What happens to the region that has not produced a president of Nigeria? I do not want to be seen as a regional person, bigot or clannish person. I have the qualities to do it better than any of them

What kind of president should succeed Buhari in 2023?

What this country needs now is a private sector person. They have tried all the politicians and like I told you, they are not professionals.

I am not bringing a manifesto to the table. Any person bringing a manifesto, tell the person that he does not have a space this time around.

Manifestos have been coming from candidates and they are just a repetition in every circle of election; I don’t know why people listen to them. Moses Ayom is bringing a feasibility and business plan because I am a business man. A business man goes into business knowing at which point in time he is going to exit with a particular dividend. It is only on the basis of feasibility and business plan that any bank in the world can give you money. It is part of the collateral. Nigeria cannot develop unless they have a blueprint or a tested business plan. What is a manifesto? It can fail but if I come out with my business plan, I can take it and go to any bank. I have the energy, contacts and exposure to turn Nigeria around. They are talking about infrastructure; it is very easy because I have been doing it as a private person. It is only a business man that can develop a business plan and raise money to carry out a project.

It may interest you to know that Nigeria is a project and I can make her viable. There are places we can borrow money for projects. If I was involved in this government, the railway project alone can take care of 15 or 20 per cent of unemployment in the country. But they did not get it right because they did not understand it. You cannot sign a contract of billions of dollars and then you go to the site and you would not see Nigerian workers. They did not just understand it. When they went to sign the agreement, they were more interested in trivial things. If I was involved in the signing, I would have been more interested in how I can get 20,000 to 100,000 unemployed youths into the project. Africa has become the only place on earth where projects are still going on.

You cannot go to London or America now and be doing railway. Before, it was a struggle for the partition of colony but now, it is scramble for the partition of business projects in Africa.

Therefore, if you are giving a Chinese company a contract to come and do railway, he would not get it elsewhere apart from here. They are happy to do what you want if only you ask them. So, I am in a position to get this country back on its feet again. One of the things that you need from a leader is not so much about education, experience or knowledge. No, what you need from a leader to get it right is, are you patriotic. How passionate are you? Do you have the will? Those are the things you need.

Nigeria is not bereft of professionals. You can get them hired anywhere in the world to help you get things right. If and when I buy a form, I will ask Nigerians to identify a Nigerian and vote for him. I am being very serious with this.

The voters should ask, who is a Nigerian among those who are contesting for the presidential position? My answer is that we do not have Nigerians there. How do I mean? A Nigerian is that person who drives or enters a car from Abuja to Kaduna. He must be that person who would say let us go to Lokoja in the morning.

Let us go to Jalingo, Benue etc. While you are going, if you see anybody flagging you down, you would ask, are they kidnappers. If your tyre bursts, you would be afraid of stopping because you do not know what is going to happen. That is a Nigerian. Who is that Nigerian who has entered potholes and saw accidents and dead bodies on the road? Who is that Nigerian that when there is power outage, he cannot sleep because of mosquitoes? Who is that Nigerian that still goes to general hospitals? Who is that Nigerian that goes to roadside restaurants? If you don’t get a candidate who understands the plight of an ordinary Nigerian, he does not genuinely know what you are talking about. We Continued on page 21

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY MARCH 10, 2022

POLITICS

Odi-Okojie: ‘I’ll Be One of the New Faces in Abuja Come 2023” Prince Odi-Okojie husband of famous Nollywood personality, Mercy Johnson has joined the race for the All Progressives Congress ticket to represent Esan North East/ Esan South East Federal Constituency, promising an outstanding season. Nseobong Okon-Ekong reports

Y

ou are known as a businessman, why the decision to go into politics?

Politics is a serious business, and successful business people must take the business of politics very seriously.

Businesses are operated based on policies and politics. A single policy can adversely affect your business and this will, in turn, affect your responsibility to society. You will agree with me that politics must not be left in the hands of professional politicians who have nothing at stake business-wise. Men of proven integrity who have performed excellently in the private sector must be encouraged to foray into Nigeria’s political firmament for the advancement of the economy.

As a private businessman, we have achieved a lot . But when I think and realize that much can still be done not only in the business arena but in humanitarian and charitable services to society, politics becomes the noblest alternative to lifting more people out of poverty and empowering our people, thereby achieving more. This stimulated my interest to go into politics. With more resources, one can deliver more to the people.

not because we were not worthy, but because the party leadership was not comfortable with our growing influence as at that time.

Odi-Okojie

It was when that position was zoned to our place that my supporters who were mainly young people went overboard and printed posters with my pictures for Deputy Governorship based on what I’ve been able to do. I am are still grateful to those young people because they found me worthy.

You will agree with me that at that particular point in time, there were misgivings about accepting people like us especially among some certain elements in the system because they felt i was a neophyte despite the ability to bring on board new ideas. They didn’t want me as a younger generation to be so nominated to that particular position,

Your poster was out sometimes back that you wanted to vie for Deputy Governorship of Edo state, knowing fully well that it’s an appointed position, why did this happen?

I should be aware that our laws do not permit any Nigerian to print poster sole for the purpose of contesting for the office of Deputy Governor or the Vice President. Those positions are usually filled through nomination by the Candidate in conjunction with the Political Party and Party Leaders.

Why the decision to drop that now and settle for the House of Reps?

I am out to serve my people. I love to help the less privileged. I know what it means not to have. I feel the pain of those in need. And my interest is to serve. I may have dropped the deputy governorship bid, but we have not dropped the interest, willingness and readiness to serve humanity.

At this moment, fate has thrust in on us to run for the seat of Esan North East/ Esan South East Federal Constituency in the National Assembly and we are all out to get things done for a seamless victory. The desire to serve is intact, I am passionate about it and by the Grace of God, we will serve the good people of my Federal Constituency from 2023.

Then, you were a member of the PDP, are you still contesting on that platform?

Certainly not. I am contesting on the platform of the APC. Why the decision to pitch tent with APC? Politics is dynamic. A lot has happened between then and now that time will not permit me to dwell on.

One fundamental issue that consistently resonates with me is the issue of young people and of course, our sisters and mothers -the women.

By the grace of God, we have a large number of devotees of young people and President Buhari’s-led administration has presented to Nigerians the “Not Too Young to Run” Act. Naturally, with the gesture, I and the numerous

young people were drawn away from where we used to be. Then, because the ruling party in my state and the National Assembly collaborators in my Senatorial District are still lagging behind in developmental strides for the people. These and many more informed my change of decision to run on the platform of the All Progressive Congress.

What are the qualities you want to bring on board as a voice for your people if elected?

As a leader, there are intrinsically fundamental qualities that are necessary if one must succeed as a generationally accepted efficient leader.

First, you must be abreast of the challenges and wants of your people. You must know them and they must know you. That is accessibility.

On our part, we have a comprehensive comprehension of the numerous issues affecting our people. We are very much accessible.

We are very much accessible to the members of my party at the grassroots, and in a larger perspective, to my constituents. Because of the philanthropic works we have been doing, they know us and we know them. And when elected, we won’t stop.

We will continue in our drive to substantially eradicate poverty through various empowerment programmes.

I do come along with a vivid understanding of what the people need and what they want, to achieve as a society that is fit for all, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or gender considerations.

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

Ayom: The APC Has Done So Much, I Want to Promote it’ know all these and I don’t know why we keep deceiving ourselves. I don’t want to mention names but those ones who say they want to go for the presidency, when last did they sleep in a room and the public power supply went out? Since 20 years ago, they have never seen blackout. If you say there is no light, they do not know what you are talking about. They have never driven from Lagos to Akure in the past 30 years. They have never entered any general hospital with their wife or their children and so on. So, they are not Nigerians. That is why I am saying that if I get there, they will have reason to rejoice and they would find out that a true Nigerian has become their president.

But when you vote for all these people I am talking about, it is the same story.

How do you feel about the problem of banditry, kidnapping and all manner of criminalities in the country?

There is the problem of inequality and injustice meted to a region in this country and forgetting that people of this region are also the children of the Almighty. God does not know tribe. People feel that if you are not South-west or North, you are not a Nigerian. We unfortunately do not have a conscience in this country. Since democracy, it has become a ping pong game.

The first president Zik came from the South; the second president, Shagari came from the North; the third president, Obasanjo came from the South; the fourth president, Yar’Adua came from the North,; the fifth president, Jonathan, came from the South and the sixth president, Buhari came from the North. That is a ping pong game. Anything that has a North and South must have middle. Because of geography, a Tiv or Idoma man cannot be? And we are accepting it?

They think we are a minority but these days, we are talking about the world as a global village.

We are always going to borrow money and by the time you as an Igbo man, Yoruba or Fulani man goes to the World Bank to borrow money, you are the minority of the minorities. Why are you deceiving yourself? We must correct what is wrong. Nigerians must collectively with the help of the media ask questions to correct all these mistakes that have kept us down as a nation. The wrong is becoming the right in Nigeria. I am saying that we still have

sitting on a time bomb.

Ayom

a chance to correct the mistakes we have been making for the past decades. It is time for a Middle Belter to be considered. It is very bad when they discriminate against you because of your geography. Some years ago, a Yoruba man ran for the presidency and the world agreed that it was the fairest election ever.

I like what they did. They made sure that the world supported them and not just supporting them but giving it back to a person from the same state. They went back again and got a Vice President from the same state. Today, I hear again that some of them are still asking that they should be considered for presidency in 2023. I wonder because these are people who propose the doctrine of fairness, equity and justice. Everyday, that

is what they preach; the land of fairness, equity and justice. They should not talk about the presidency but if they do, I would be surprised and know that there is something wrong with us. Ask them what happens to the region that has not produced a president of Nigeria. I do not want to be seen as a regional person, bigot or clannish person. I have the qualities to do it more than any of them. You can fool the people sometimes but you can fool them all the time.

If they have been doing that successfully, there would be a revolt one day. The beauty about the Middle-belt is that we are never going to be involved in anything violent. But I also want to say that when it comes to holding this country together, they come to the Middle-belt. During the civil war, it was the Middle-belt people they sent to get it sorted out. Benue is the food basket of the nation but when it comes to sharing of power, we are never part of it. God is watching.

If you have money, you can keep on cheating people but you cannot cheat God. Nigeria is

All your life, you have been a private sector person; are you sure you understand the dynamics of politics in the country?

I am conscious of the fact that I am a professional and private sector person but I know I am going into the field of politics. I am an entrepreneur and I am a go getter. But the people to do it would not be me; it is going to be a team work. I will still swim with 90 percent of politicians but I will do things that would be different. If I become the president, the first thing I would do is to create a Quantity Surveying Ministry that would work next door to me. Most of all the contracts signed in Nigeria, there are people who collect certain percentages and the man who sits at the helm of affairs does not know. If I become the president, the corruption from contracts would drop to zero percent because I am a business man. If I want to do it right, the first two, three ministers that compromise contracts, I will get them out of the cabinet and nobody would try it again. We see all these things where a contract is about N40 billion and they inflate it to N200 billion. I don’t think that as a president, they come to give you kickback. The way I would get government streamlined to the real costs would surprise you. The roads, railway infrastructure that we are talking about, it would shock you that if you bring in professionals, KPMG, Arthur Anderson and sit with them for two weeks, they will give you a document, you would not be able to sleep at night. These things happen every day in Nigeria. I don’t want to go into oil subsidy scams going into trillions of naira. As a president, at the shortest possible time, we will never import any refined product. There is something wrong with us; Aliko Dangote, an individual, a trader, we are all clapping hands that he is building the biggest refinery in the world; today, the CBN and Ministry of Finance go there to supervise and we are so proud that an individual is building a refinery.

Are we saying that an individual is more than a government? Do we have intelligence quotient at all? Can’t I go to Russia and say come let us do modular refinery as a business man? We should ask questions and the media should help us.

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FEATURES

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

The Pandemic Undid the Global Strides Made Towards Gender Equality Joanna Baidu

O

ver the past decades, the movement to dismantle organised bias against women in workplaces, politics, academia, fast-tracking of economic opportunities and access to healthcare has been gaining ground.

While society remains unequal, these gains were unequivocally meritorious and resulted from the tenacity of women driving it. However, in just over two years, Covid-19 undid the gains and exposed existing social inequalities.

If not addressed, discrimination against women and girls will stay on as a side effect of the pandemic. The gender-skewed labour shortages in the workplace need to be ironed out on priority to create an even playing field for women who are in and will be entering the job market. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” is timely and rooted in human and not just women’s rights.

Project Management Institute (PMI) identified several megatrends such as civil, civic and equality movements, demographics shifts etc in their 2022 Global Megatrends report.

The report paints as an ongoing concern the rising inequality intensified by the pandemic as a contributor to social unrest.

According to the Wits University School of Economics and Finance, while women accounted for less than half (47%) of those employed in February 2021, they accounted for two million, or two-thirds (67%), of the three million net job losses recorded between February and April of the same year.

Although women suffered 67% of job losses, men received two-thirds of Covid-19 grants (65%). As the economy started opening again in September 2021 women’s employment levels were still down 20%, while men were down 13%. The fact that, Covid-19 forced more women than men out of work speaks to both the real and perceived value of women in the workplace.

The reality remains that women have had to find a balance under extreme conditions that the pandemic has presented or needed to drop out of the workforce to focus on their caregiver duties which further diluted their contributions in the workplace or presents challenges they’ll face in re-entering the job market.

Despite studies showing the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for business growth, women and ethnic minorities remain underrepresented and underpaid at all corporate levels. As such from a project management perspective, it has never been more important to get women back to work as well as more women into work. As the COVID-19 pandemic subsides and companies once again actively seek employees, many women are, however, having trouble resuming or starting new careers.

With 25 million new project professionals needed by 2030, according to PMI’s 2021 Talent Gap report, current labour shortages will only intensify the challenges of delivering projects that are on time, on a budget that meets customer expectations.

Available statistics from PMI show that women only constitute an estimated 20% - 30% of the project management staff worldwide.

For women to directly benefit, diversity must be at the heart of sustainability and a preamble to driving solutions and opportunities for

Baidu

"We also need to recognise the imperative to include more women in leadership so that we can guide more gender-diverse and accommodating cultures" women in the project management space.

Overall, the trends we have been witnessing and monitoring combine to present the sector opportunities to build a better, more inclusive, and efficient working environment.

Despite current setbacks, in the longer term, we expect the trend of female participation in the workforce to increase.

Equality of access from a gender perspective

can hopefully be understood on a more level playing field, one that acknowledges and correctly values and rewards the full contribution of women to economies, beyond the workplace. We also need to recognise the imperative to include more women in leadership so that we can guide more gender-diverse and accommodating cultures.

We believe a lot of the changes that

have taken place recently, and observed in the 2022 Global Megatrends report, can be used to achieve greater gender equality.

Remote work, for example, provides flexibility and should over time see more women enter the workforce and stay. Remote work has also been a great leveler for people subject to bias in the workplace.

Many women of colour are reluctant to return to the office, according to a recent New York Times article. In the United States, remote work has also eased the stress of working in predominantly white workspaces and reduced exposure to microaggressions and discrimination. As far as gender equality goes for a sustainable tomorrow, it will require buy-in from everyone including men. t#BJEV JT :PVUI -FBE 1.*

WFP: Climate Crisis Threatens Good Security for Women and Girls Rebecca Ejifoma In recognition of this year's International Women's Day (IWD), the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that women and girls, especially in rural communities, continue to face the brunt of the climate crisis that exacerbates pre-existing inequalities, jeopardises their food security and feeds instability and migration.

And for WFP, this year's IWD focuses on “Gender equality today

for a sustainable tomorrow” recognising the contribution of women and girls around the world who play a crucial role in climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Women and girls are said to often lack appropriate access to disaster information, financial services and participation in community decision-making and resource allocation.

Such inequalities undermine the ability of women to prepare for, cope with and recover from climate shocks and stresses.

WFP's Assistant Executive Director, Valerie Guarnieri, described women as the bedrock of food security and yet the hardest hit by climate shocks and food insecurity.

“A sustainable future is only possible when women and girls have what they need to adapt to the changing climate," she emphasised.

In Nigeria, WFP worked with UN Women and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to implement a resilience development and livelihoods project funded by the

European Union (EU).

The project supported some 140,000 conflict-affected households in Borno State, including over 53,000 femaleheaded households, with the skills and inputs to restart their agriculture-based livelihoods activities and enhance food security.

The key aims of the initiative are to boost food security and to empower the benefitting households with various inputs to restart agricultural production in the state.

Under the project, WFP

provided cash transfers to the supported households to safeguard investments in agriculture and sustain the food consumption levels of the families.

Some of the cash was provided through bank accounts, thereby contributing to financial inclusion among the vulnerable populations.

Equally, the fresh food vouchers component of the project helped to link the local farmers to the consumers who are vulnerable to food and nutrition insecurity.

In a year when

humanitarian needs are on an upward trend and aid agencies are stretched thin, supporting communities vulnerable to the harsh realities of the climate crisis is the need of the hour.

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, 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.

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#THISISNIGERIA #IWD 2022: Before We Get Overtaken By Faux Platitudes

–Chioma Agwuegbo

I

woke up angry this morning; perhaps more tired than angry. No, not because we’re in the middle of the worst electricity situation we’ve experienced in a while, not because this is the fifth week of an utterly debilitating fuel scarcity; not even because the value of the naira continues to be diminished daily. No. It is March 8th, International Women’s Day, the day set aside to celebrate the advancements and progress women have made and continue to make globally. The entire month is known as Women’s Month, dedicated to all things women.

UNESCO says, “International Women’s Day is an occasion to celebrate the progress made towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment but also to critically reflect on those accomplishments and strive for a greater momentum towards gender equality worldwide.”

And how did the world come across this particular day? First came the 15, 000 women who marched in New York in 1908 demanding voting rights, better pay, and shorter working hours, culminating in a National Women’s Day in 1909. Then came Clara Zetkin, a German socialist and fervent campaigner for universal suffrage, who came up with the idea of an international day for women. Clara suggested this at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen in 1910 – “and the 100 women there, from 17 countries, agreed to it unanimously,” says WEF. The United Nations first celebrated International Women’s Day in 1975, and in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations

Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States. Every year, there is a theme, and we celebrate. End of story.

So, a day of celebration, yes? Today no. Why? For as long as I can remember, March 8th is the date women in Nigeria are force-fed platitudes about how we are half the population, mothers of the nation, integral to nation-building, and without us, there would be no Nigeria.

This spiel is spewed from all corners, from Mr President who (in)famously said, in response to a question about his wife’s criticism of his government, that “my wife belongs in my kitchen, in my living room, and in the other room,” to Senator Abaribe, who, speaking of his colleagues’ rejection of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill in 2016 said, “Some lawmakers started expressing deep worries about some parts of the bill that they think could give women too much freedom and lead them to prostitution, lesbianism and other social vices.”

It gets worse. Senator Ali Ndume is known for, on International Women’s Day in the same year, making a formal request to the Senate for Nigerian men to marry more women as a form of care. He said, “Men should take care of women by not just befriending them, but by going further to marry them. I know there is nowhere in the Bible that prohibits marrying more than one wife.

Starting with the Senate President I ask him to consider marrying more than one wife. As a sign of respect for women,

let’s urge men to marry more than one wife.” His counterpart in the House of Representatives, Majority Leader Alhassan Ado Doguwa, in January 2020, marched his four wives to the chambers to prove to his colleagues that he was powerful. “I have asked them to rise to respect the house on behalf of my family. And one other reason is to let you know that when members call me a powerful man, I am not only powerful on the floor of the house, I am also powerful at home because I deal with four wives. These four wives have produced 27 children for me and I’m still counting,” he said.

There are not enough words for Senator Yerima, a staunch opponent of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill, whose marriage to a child in 2009 made global headlines. Senator Yerima had divorced one of his wives, a 17-year-old, to make room for the 13-year-old. Or of Elisha Abbo, a recently elected Senator, now known for beating up a woman in a sex shop, in the presence of his security attaché. Abdullahi Ilelah, a male magistrate, despite video evidence, upheld the no-case submission filed by the lawmaker and dismissed the assault charge against him.

This National Assembly, on the 1st of March 2022, rejected all the gender bills before them as part of the Constitutional Amendment Review process.

The bills would have allowed women to confer citizenship on their foreignborn husbands, provided for diaspora voting, 35% appointed positions, and another 35% affirmative action for

women in political party leadership, provide specific seats for women in the National Assembly (there are currently 29 women out of 496), and allow women claim indigenship of their husband’s states.

All of these received a resounding ‘no’ from both the Upper and Lower chambers of the National Assembly. This, despite several promises at the highest levels to correct the anomalies in our constitution that subjugate women.

So, today, the 8th of March 2022, before you listen to any platitudes parroting the #BreakTheBias theme for this year, think carefully about the circumstances within which Nigerian women have to exist. Think about how the game is currently rigged against women and girls at all levels. Think of the quality of representation Nigerian women have today. Think about the fact that women are out on the streets today across several cities in Nigeria demanding that we be recognised as full citizens of Nigeria. Think, and I hope it makes you angry too.

EiE Postscript: Today, March 8th, the House of Representatives rescinded their decisions on three women-related bills for reconsideration. They are the bills on citizenship, indigeneship and 35% affirmative action for women. We will continue to lobby to add diaspora voting to the bills being reconsidered. Please lend your voice by signing our petition: www. change.org/RecognizeDiasporansandWomen t$IJPNB "HXVFHCP JT UIF &YFDVUJWF %JSFDUPS BU 5FDI)FS/( BOE $POWFOFS PG UIF 4UBUF PG &NFSHFODZ (#7 .PWFNFOU 4IF XSJUFT GSPN "CVKB /JHFSJB

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THURSDAY MARCH 10, 2022 •T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

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

08056356325

M A R C H

S & P INDEX

9 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OBB

14.00%

CALL

4%

INDEX LEVEL

565.29%

1/4 TO DATE

6.06%

N412.08/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

14.50%

1-MONTH

6%

1-DAY

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YEAR TO DATE

– 15.66%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

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Develop Digital Policies that Offer Employment Opportunities for Women, AFF Urges African Govt

Emma Okonji As the world celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD) this week to recognise the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, the Africa Fintech Foundry (AFF) has urged governments across African countries, Nigeria inclusive, to develop digital policies that can offer better employment opportunities for women and enhance the liberation of all women in Africa.

Head, Africa Fintech Foundry, Mr. Daniel Awe, who made the call, told THISDAY that government policies must be structured around providing more employment opportunities for women, and encouraging their equal participation in decision-making, especially in the non-agricultural sector of the African economy.

Giving a critical comparison of the percentage share of women in Africa and Europe, in the non-

agricultural sector, Awe said the gap between employed women in Africa and Europe in the non-agricultural sector had grown wide over the years, insisting that only digital policies will bridge the gap and liberate the women folk.

AFF, which is an Access Bank initiative that seeks to nurture and accelerate the growth of Fintech startups in Africa, stressed the need for women empowerment, just as the International Women’s Day

celebrates women’s achievements and raises awareness about women’s equality and lobbies for accelerated gender parity.

To buttress the need for women empowerment, Awe cited a recent study carried out by the United Nations, which reveals that globally, women make up 36.3 per cent of local governments, 25.6 per cent of national parliaments and only 28.2 per cent of managerial positions.

According to him, “There has

never been a more critical time than now to empower our women and to harness the diverse skills and talents they possess. At Africa FinTech Foundry, we are proud to have a healthy representation of women in our start-up ecosystem. The Foundry has also organised the Female Digital Academy (FDA) which is a female-focused digital academy, training the next generation of female technology experts on Science, Technology, Engineering

and Mathematics (STEM) courses and getting them ready for the job market.”

AFF also hosts the “Women In Tech” conference twice a year, along with other ecosystem events with the objective to amplify the voices of women. Similarly, the “W” initiative by Access Bank is a virtual community that aims to inspire and connect women Continued on page 31

NIRSAL Facilitates N73bn to Agro-processing, Fo c u s e s o n D e - r i s k i n g A g r i c u l t u r e James Emejo in Abuja The Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) Plc, Mr. Aliyu

Abdulhameed, has said that NIRSAL has facilitated over N73 billion into the country’s agro-processing industry from deposit money banks, development financiers, private equity investors and other

financial institutions.

He said the support was in line with its mandate on creating a stronger linkage between segments of Nigeria’s Agricultural Value Chain (AVC) and their subsequent linkage

to commercial bank finance.

The funding, he added, came at a critical stage when developing economies are increasingly shifting from raw material production to both production and value addition for

increased economic activity, foreign exchange earnings and widespread social development.

Also, he said the agency has effectively discharged its mandate to de-risk agriculture adding that

the sum of N148 billion had so far been facilitated into different sectors of the agricultural value chain since its inception.

Continued on page 31

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 9 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

BONDS DESCRIPTION 12.75 27-APR2023 14.20 14-MAR2024 13.53 23-MAR2025 12.50 22-JAN2026 16.2884 17MAR-2027

Price

Yield

106.80 6.49 112.34 7.52 113.86 8.29 108.16 9.91 124.59 9.96

Change Updated Time (%) 4, -0.01 March 2022 4, -0.01 March 2022 March 4, 0.00 2022 March 4, 0.03 2022 4, -0.09 March 2022

OTC F X F U T U R E S

C Ps

MATURITY

Discount

Yield Change Updated Time (%)

NTB 28-Apr22 NTB 12May-22 NTB 9-Jun22 NTB 14-Jul22

3.07

3.08

0.00

March 4, 2022

3.13

3.14

0.00

March 4, 2022

3.24

3.27

0.00

March 4, 2022

3.38

3.43

0.00

March 4, 2022

NTB 11Aug-22

3.50

3.55

0.00

March 4, 2022

MATURITY

Discount Yield

Change Updated Time (%)

UNCP CP VI 2-MAY-22 NEVE CP I 24-MAY-22 DANC CP II 25-MAY-22 TRBH CP V 26-JUL-22 FSDH CP VI 1-AUG-22

8.78

8.91

0.00

March 4, 2022

16.31

16.92 0.01

March 4, 2022

8.69

8.86

0.01

March 4, 2022

11.45

11.99 0.00

March 4, 2022

8.15

8.43

March 4, 2022

0.00

CONTRACT TENOR Contract (MONTH) NGUS MAR NGUS MAR 30 30 2022 2022 NGUS APR 27 2 2022 NGUS MAY 25 3 2022 NGUS JUN 29 4 2022 NGUS JUL 27 5 2022

Current Rate ($/₦)

Updated Time

427.24

March 2, 2022

428.93

March 2, 2022

430.63

March 2, 2022

432.32

March 2, 2022

434.02

March 2, 2022

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NEWS

EMPLOYMENT SUMMIT…

L-R:Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke; Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Rabiu Olowo; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat;Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Chairman, Board of Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Mrs. Bola Adesola;Executive Secretary LSETF, Mrs. Teju Abisoye; and Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Sam Egube, during A Two Day Employment Summit by Lagos State Empoyment PHOTO: KOLAWOLE ALLI Trust Fund (LSETF) held at Eko Hotels &Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos… recently

NiRA Moves to Populate Dot ng Domain Name, Slashes Cost by 40% Emma Okonji In order to populate the dot ng (.ng) domain name, which is Nigeria’s identity in cyberspace, the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the organisation in charge of managing Nigeria’s country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) the .ng, has slashed the cost of dot ng domain names by 40 per cent.

President of NiRA, Mr. Muhammed Rudman, who made the disclosure in Lagos, told THISDAY that the decision to reduce the cost of .ng domain names was made by the NiRA board of directors after reviewing the growth trajectory of .ng domain names across the country over the last two years.

He said the board’s decision to lower the cost of .ng domain names had been communicated to NIRA’s accredited registrars, who are in charge of .ng domain name registration, renewal, and restoration.

Rudman said the move to slash cost of .ng domain names became necessary, due to NiRA’s 3R (Registry, Registrar, and Registrant) model, which means that it does not sell domains to the general public; rather, all registrations go through its

registrars.

According to Rudman, after reviewing .ng domain name registration and usage over the last two years, the NiRA board decided to lower the cost of .ng domain names so that they are more affordable to Nigerians.

The most recent NiRA statistics on .ng domain name registration, renewal, and restoration, published in February, revealed a drop in domain name registration and renewal, with figures falling

Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

register.”

He further said: “Previously, Registrars were classified as Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Standard, with each category receiving domains at different prices. However, NiRA recently removed such categorisation in order to create a level playing field for all registrars and to remove all barriers for new registrars. We are hopeful that the price reduction and removal of Registrar categorisation will

drive domain adoption and allow other organisations willing to become NiRA Registrar to do so with ease.”

Addressing the drop in registration figures from November 2021 to January 2022, Rudman explained that registration actually increased from 2019 to 2020, but that there was a drop in 2021 and 2022 due to the effect of COVID-19.

“In 2020, we saw an increase in the number of registrations for

country code Top Level Domain Name (ccTLD), but in 2021, the number of registrations dropped due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he says. The issue is that all those who registered in 2020 were unable to use the domain name in that same year due to the pandemic, and as a result, they did not renew their registration in 2021, and new registration for ccTLDs was also suspended in 2021,” Rudman said.

NCC Allays Fears of Market Dominance in 5G Network Rollout Emma Okonji The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has assured Nigerians that the two licenced 5G operators, MTN Nigeria Plc and Mafab Communications Ltd will not have market monopoly over other telecoms operators in the rollout of 5G network, which begins six months from the day the 5G licences were issued.

NCC gave the assurance during the just concluded 2022 edition of AfricaNXT conference, which held in Lagos, and co-sponsored by NCC. During one of the sessions, panelists who spoke about the readiness of Nigerians and the telecoms operators for 5G rollout, said exciting opportunities and lots of benefits await all digitally-

inclined Nigerians, including organisations who would embrace 5G network with open hands.

Subscribers who spoke at the conference said the only two operators that won the 5G auction licence, would likely have market monopoly on 5G service offerings, over other operators.

NCC however allayed subscribers’ fears of perceive

market dominance by the two licensed operators of 5G network.

The Assistant Director, Technical Standard and Network Integrity at NCC, Anthony Ikemefuna, told a large audience at the conference that NCC auctioned only two out of the five slots in the 3.5GHz spectrum band for 5G rollout, and that the remaining three slots would

be auctioned later to other interested operators.

Speaking about the rollout plan for 5G, Senior Manager, Legal and Regulatory Services at NCC, Dr. Sule Yusuf, one of the panelists, said the operators would be given 10 years licence to operate 5G in Nigeria and would ensure effective deployment of 5G to cover major urban areas by 2025.

Expert Urges Startups to Explore Other African Markets for Expansion Emma Okonji

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)

from 184,341 in November 2021 to 178,097 in January 2022.

According to Rudman, “To address the issue, NiRA decided to conduct a downward review of domain name prices on the .ng domains and a marginal reduction on .com.ng domains and others by 40 per cent. We made it public after first announcing it at the registrars’ forum. The goal is to increase the number of domain names registered in the country by encouraging more people to

Given the growing number of success stories recorded by Nigerian startups, they have been advised to explore other African markets for business growth and expansion.

Founder, Summitech Computing Limited, Mr. Adekunle KunleHassan, who gave the advise in a statement, said in order to

address the challenges of expansion among Nigerian startups, founders should attempt to democratise their operations, taking advantage of a growing rate of digitisation in other African cities to expand their business.

According to Kunle-Hassan, “For founders, after establishing answers to the question of the best city to site their startups,

the next riddle is the location of branch offices. One of the factors, which is critically considered, is maximizing startup costs to ensure the best value for available funds.

A critical look at some African cities reveals great quality of life with low living costs, low taxes, sound government policies, which equals competitive business costs.

These thriving African cities face

the same challenges of financial inclusion, access to healthcare, logistics among other sectors.

Nigerian companies should, in spite of language and regulatory barriers, expand into these cities to gain a hold on the continent’s business before these opportunities are swept up by foreign companies,” Kunle-Hassan said.

According to him, while

start-up ecosystems across Africa are beginning to play pivotal roles in attracting global investment and brands, there are still challenges in attracting the needed funding required to reach target markets and increase profitability, a feat, an encouraging number of Nigerian startups have been able to achieve.

Artificial Intelligence Will Enhance Rapid National Development, Says NCS Emma Okonji The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the umbrella body for all Information Technology (IT) practitioners and interest groups in Nigeria, has stressed the need for individuals, corporate organisations and governments to embrace the opportunities that come with the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills for competitive advantage and

rapid national development.

President of NCS, Prof. Adesina Sodiya, who gave the advice at a recent press conference in Lagos to announce NCS’ forthcoming Artificial Intelligence Summit billed to hold in Lafia, Nasarawa State from March 23-25, 2022, said AI has new set of tools that are currently revolutionising the whole world, adding that Nigeria needs to give the required attention to AI for

effective transformation to digital economy and efficient business operations.

According to Sodiya, “NCS is looking forward to having a first ever Artificial Intelligent summit in Nigeria, in collaboration with Nasarawa State government.

NCS is determined to have an impactful and fulfilled summit.

We are sure that this summit will significantly transform Nasarawa State and Nigeria at

large into a more prosperous state. NCS remains committed to IT development in Nigeria, and one of its major goals is to develop strategies for solving all challenges associated with the reliable deployment of Information Technology in our nation.”

Giving reasons for the choice of Nasarawa State, Sodiya said the state understood the importance of technology in driving national

development and it has been at the forefront in developing state with emerging technologies. opportunities to leverage on global advances in AI for national development.

Chairman, Ethics Committee at NCS, Dr. Charles Onyeukwu, said although AI remained a foreign technology that had been accepted globally, Nigeria could tap into it, to develop its citizens and grow national wealth.

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BRANDS

As Fresh Crisis Looms in Lagos Outdoor Sector Raheem Akingbolu writes on the recent appeal made by the leadership of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, over some regulatory issues in the Lagos outdoor corridor and its likely implication

S

ince 2006 when Lagos State Government established the Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency (LASAA), as part of the state’s revenue driven approaches, there has been a trust issue between the agency and members of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN). After a series of court cases involving overlapping functions, multiple taxations and regulatory arrogance, the two bodies have, in recent times, retreated.

Despite the quietness from both sides, it has been established that there still exists a cold war between the agency and the practitioners over vacant board discount policy, road concession and other issues. Under the administration of former Governor Akinwumi Ambode, LASAA hosted a stakeholders’ forum with the aim of resolving the lingering issues. The then Managing Director of LASAA, Mr. Mobolaji Sanusi, had earlier met members of the OAAN and sued for peace.

He also revealed his plans to breathe fresh air into the agency. Few weeks later, the relationship appeared chummy with frequent engagements, both virtual and physical but it was not long before it crumbled again.

After months of cat and mouse relationship between the current leadership of both bodies, OAAN has come out from its shell, urging the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to prevent a looming crisis between its members and LASAA.

LASAA AND ITS REGULATORY FUNCTIONS

As a regulatory agency, LASAA was established to redefine the aesthetic landscape of Lagos as well as promoting global best practice in the industry. Over the years, the agency’s internal processes have been improved while seamless business processes have been put in place to bring about improved service delivery, revenue generation and debt recovery. Again, for easy accessibility, the agency’s branch offices have been realigned.

According to a document that speaks to the functions of the agency, LASAA is; “responsible for the management, regulation and control of the signage and outdoor advertising environment in Lagos State. By implication, we are responsible for managing all forms of signage and outdoor branding opportunities in the state.”

The agency has “embarked on the implementation of a ‘Streetscape Optimisation Process and System (SOPS)’ for all facets of the city’s streetscape, including, signage of all forms, outdoor advertising, and street furniture within the Lagos State boundaries.”

It believes that outdoor advertisement mediums can be used as a tool for supporting infrastructural developments. For an advertisement to run from dawn to dusk, infrastructures that support the outdoor medium of outdoor advertising must be functional.

As a result of this, “LASAA is involved in the provision of infrastructures, which promotes good advertisements. This includes Streetlights, Bus shelters etc. The street light advertisement project, for example, guarantees illumination on our major roads 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Revenues generated from such advertisements will support the maintenance of such streetlight lamp poles.”

OAAN AS A PROFESSIONAL BODY

On the other hand, OAAN was established to develop and maintain standards for outdoor advertising in Nigeria, as well as to regulate and control the practice in conformity with statutory and industry guidelines.

It was also established to develop a vigilant, informed and active membership, which is conscious of its rights, interests and obligations and alive to its professional responsibilities and to maintain an effective safeguard against abuse.

OAAN also aimed at promoting and advancing the use of outdoor advertising mediums to protect the industry against any discriminatory or repressive legislation and wanton destruction and provide a forum for dispute settlement/resolution between members or between members and other parties.

More importantly, the agency was established to cooperate with other bodies and associations in furtherance of mutual interests and propose, promote and support any legislation or subsidiary legislation deemed to be in the interest of the outdoor advertising industry and members of the association.

THE CRISIS

The bone of contention now is the decision of LASAA to concession seven major roads in metropolitan Lagos for up to 10 years, to certain parties and, obviously, some individuals, that will have “concession rights to exclusively install, own, manage and operate all fixed and stationary advertising infrastructure and assets…”

The affected roads are, Ikorodu Road, LASU/Isheri Road, Lagos Badagry Expressway, Funsho Williams Avenue, Apapa/Oshodi Expressway, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja and Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja.

Last year, LASAA had, in a ‘Request for Expression of Interest (EOI),’ disclosed that the state intends to concession the rights to manage and operate the advertising assets and infrastructure along seven roads in Lagos State.

According to the publication, the Lagos State

Government is desirous of stimulating the growth of the advertising industry by creating an enabling environment to attract significant investment in long-term modern advertising infrastructure such as digital infrastructure that has the added benefit of beautifying the state.

The publication gave details of the concession rights, adding that the objective is to align the significant capital expenditure with a long-term revenue framework that will deliver the maximum benefit to both the state and the selected concessionaire.

But in a letter written to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu dated January 31, 2022, OAAN President, Emmanuel Ajufo stated that the move by the Lagos State Government, through LASAA, is without regard to the fact that some of their members currently have their billboard structures on these roads.

Thus, he said, it is just a question of time before such companies that currently operate on such roads, having been duly granted approval by the same agency, are driven away from the affected roads and be thrown out of business.

Ajufo felt LASAA should not compete with the industry it seeks to regulate. He argued this would negate the essence of regulation in the first place as the desire for more money would ultimately compromise the process and platform of regulation.

“The plan by the state, through the agency, to auction some of the prime roads in metropolitan Lagos to certain individuals, for outdoor advertising purposes. This simply means that the roads are being given out on concession basis to certain individuals, who may not necessarily be registered practitioners in advertising, and who may not have been licensed by APCON to engage in outdoor advertising practice in Nigeria.”

According to him, “we are convinced that, with the planned concession, LASAA will end up creating an environmental nuisance with billboard platforms that will spring up along the listed roads, and which will badly affect the aesthetics of the respective corridors.

Ultimately, if LASAA is allowed to go ahead with the auctioning exercise, the environment will suffer from visual blights.”

He further insisted that this move would badly affect the industry, as it would create an unhealthy monopoly, which, no doubt, is expected to come with the attendant implications for the advertisers, and ultimately the consumers.

To him, auctioning of such roads should be limited to those that are just being built (and such would include that the eventual winner of the franchise would spend their resources to build such roads). “Such, in our opinion, should not be extended to existing roads as the case is at the moment,” he reasoned.

In addition, he said most of the members currently operating on the listed roads took loans to build and install the structures, and are yet to fully offset such loans.

He added that the impending ejection from the roads, coupled with the fact that most investors are yet to fully recover from the downturn in business, occasioned by the COVID-19 induced lockdown; portends grave consequences for the industry.

He also identified the impending danger of massive loss of jobs and means of livelihood in the industry that would be suffered by the members and their staff.

Furthermore, he stated that the move would badly affect the industry, as it would create an unhealthy monopoly, which would no doubt come with the attendant implications for the advertisers, and ultimately the consumers.

Additionally, he said “we are of the very strong conviction that auctioning of roads should be limited to those that are just being built (and such would include that the eventual winner of the franchise would spend their resources to build such roads). Such, in our opinion, should not be extended to existing roads as the case is at the moment.”

He said, “It is important to state that most of our members currently operating on the listed roads took loans to build and install those structures, and are yet to fully offset such loans. Thus, the impending ejection from those roads, coupled with the fact that most of us are yet to fully recover from the downturn in business, occasioned by the COVID-19 induced lockdown of last year, portends grave consequences for our industry, including litigations by the financial institutions from which our members had taken loans to fund their businesses that LASAA now wants to destroy.”

Conclusively, he disclosed, “there is also the impending danger of massive loss of jobs and means of livelihood in the industry that will be suffered by our members and their staff who work for, and depend on, them if the concession is allowed to see the light of the day.”

Similarly, OAAN General Secretary, Sola Akinsiku, reasoned that it is illegal for the state to give out federal roads, where there is no collaboration between the two arms of government.

Even in the event that the two tiers of government have agreed on the exercise, he also said there is the likely effect of the unemployment of their members and those that work and depend on them if the concession is allowed to see the light of the day.

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INVESTMENT

Nigeria’s Journey to Self-sufficiency in Sugar Production Nigeria’s goal of becoming a net exporter of sugar in the near future is being vigorously pursued by the federal government with the adoption of credible steps that are bound to reverse the trend of weak output which had bedeviled the sugar production sub-sector of the food and beverages sector of the Nigerian economy over the years, writes Gilbert Ekugbe

F

ollowing its vision of making Nigeria a net exporter of sugar, the federal government has continued to take steps through its National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) to attain self-sufficiency in sugar production through a backward integration policy for sugar companies to invest in sugarcane farming and promote domestically produced extracts for their refineries. Clearly, these policies have produced a remarkable improvement in the production of sugar and helped to revitalise the once vibrant sugar production such that the country can begin to look forward to being counted among the leading sugar producing nations on the African continent in no distant future. The sugar roadmap policy, which began implementation in 2013, is anchored on four major planks. The objectives included: To raise local production of sugar to attain self-sufficiency; To stem the rising tide of unbridled importation of the commodity; To create a huge number of job opportunities and to contribute to the production of ethanol and generation of electricity.

Though the National Sugar Development Council is the leading implementing agency of the policy, its implementation involves allocation of responsibilities to relevant stakeholders like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Ministry of Finance as well as other relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). In addition, stakeholder institutions and facilitators such as millers, importers, cane growers and banks continue to play pivotal roles in the implementation of the master plan.

JOURNEY TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY The journey to self-sufficiency in sugar production isn’t without some hiccups, but the federal government through the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), under the amiable leadership of Mr. Zacch Adedeji as its Executive Secretary is committed to addressing those peculiar challenges frontally as seen in a number of innovative and pragmatic steps taken since he came on board in March 2021. Nigeria has since met and surpassed its raw sugar refining capacity, which is a major component of the NSMP, a feat, which the government is trying its best to replicate in the Backward Integration Programme (BIP) aspect of the NSMP. The Adedeji-led Council has, in more ways than one, demonstrated its readiness to ensure that the sugar BIP project achieves its desired objectives. Adedeji had, during different engagements with operators in the sector, reiterated the Council’s firm position on the implementation of the BIP. According to him, “Nigeria has since met its raw sugar refining capacity, which is very commendable.

But like I have always stated, the successes achieved in the area of raw sugar refining must be replicated in the BIP project. We can only celebrate as a sector if we are able to grow cane and produce raw sugar locally.

I know it is a tough job, but we are more than ready to achieve our target objectives given our commitment and efforts.”

Since he assumed office as the fifth substantive Executive Secretary of the Council in March 2021, Adedeji has taken profound steps and birthed very innovative ideas to address challenges in the sugar sector. Top on the list of the issue that received his prompt attention is the perennial clash between sugar operators and members of host communities over land ownership. To solve this persistent issue, he set up the Forum of Sugar Producing State Governors, ably chaired by the Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state.

President Muhammadu Buhari The initiative was a smart move given that lands are under the authority of state governors who have the stamp of authority to allocate lands without any hue and cry. Also, the creation of an Investment Desk, domiciled in the Council to handle issues relating to investments, zero duty incentive on importation of machineries and equipment for sugar estates as well issues relating to seizures by the NCS. This initiative has finally laid to rest the recurring face-offs between sugar operators and regulatory bodies at the nation’s ports.

IMPLEMENTING THE BIP PROJECT Recently, to encourage investors in the sector, President Buhari launched a $73 million irrigation infrastructure fund to cushion the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on sugar operators implementing the BIP project.

The operators include Dangote Sugar Refinery, BUA Sugar Refinery and Golden Sugar Refinery. Speaking at the official unveiling of the intervention fund in Abuja, President Buhari said, “The aim of this intervention is to significantly improve the country’s performance on cane yields as well as reduce the negative impact of COVID-19 on the industry’s progress in achieving national self-sufficiency.

Consequently, this strategic intervention will enable the country’s leading sugar producers; Dangote, BUA and Flour Mills sugar to expand capacity and capitalise on the import substitution opportunity within the sugar market, to further reduce the country’s import bill.”

In his remarks at the event, Adedeji said the intervention was part of the government’s determination to provide an enabling environment for private investments to thrive and flourish in the country. “Preliminary activities, including identification of the specific project sites for each operator which include framework for design and engineering services for the in-field and bulk water supply systems, project management and maintenance specifications, adoption of a business model and costing, among others, have been concluded long before the formal commissioning of this laudable initiative, ”he said.

Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council, Zacch Adedeji To clear the air on certain misconceptions in some quarters on alleged favouritism and willful distortion of the master plan by some operators, Adedeji debunked such claims saying, “The NSMP is no longer a policy. It is now an Act of the National Assembly, following its amendments in 2015. We shall no longer condone or tolerate deliberate distortion of the master plan by anyone. On our part as a regulator, we will not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law against anyone or group of persons caught trying to sabotage the government’s efforts in the sector.”

The Council recently displayed its renewed vigour and avowed commitment to the success of the NSMP when it made the BIP operators sign recommitment forms, pledging to stick to the provisions of the master plan and to comply with all laid down policies in the sector.

Adedeji who said future raw sugar quota allocation to refineries will be hinged on BIP performance, noted that the era of quota allocation based on size of factory or sugar estate is over.

INVESTMENTS IN SUGARCANE BIOFACTORIES The Federal Government through the National Sugar Development Council has established two sugarcane bio-factories, located in Zaria, Kaduna State and Ilorin, Kwara to help in the rapid multiplication of cane seeds of sugar estates. The biofactories have been commercialized as they sell healthy and disease-free cane seeds to sugar estates within the country.

There has been a general improvement in refinery capacity utilization which today stands at 60 per cent.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY The operators of the Backward Integration Programme have in line with their corporate objectives carried out a number of CSR projects for the benefit of members of their host communities. We at the Council have visited some of the projects done by the operators within the communities they operate. A total of N1.3 billion has so far been spent by the operators on CSR projects.

FG’S IRRIGATION INFRASTRUCTURE INTERVENTION Only recently, President Muhammadu Buhari launched a $73 billion fund sugarcane irrigation intervention designed to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted a lot of programmes within the sector.

Nigeria’s quest to attain self-sufficiency in sugar production remains our major priority. We shall ride on the back of the sugar Backward Integration Programme which is a key component of the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan realize our aspirations in the sector.

PRESIDENTIAL SUGAR BIP The Backward Integration Programme (BIP) for the sugar sub-sector under the Nigerian Sugar Mater Plan (NSMP), was primarily designed to grow Nigeria’s sugar sector to enable it become self-sufficient in the production of the commodity. Since the implementation began in 2013, a number of achievements have been recorded in the sector.

INCREASED INVESTMENTS The sugar Backward Integration Programme under the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan has so far attracted a total of $3 billion worth of investments by players in the sector. The major operators are Dangote Sugar Refinery, BUA Sugar Refinery, Golden Sugar Refinery and KIA Africa Group. The operators have their BIP project sites across states in the country. The Dangote Sugar Refinery has two BIP sites located in Numan, Adamawa State and Tunga in Nasarawa State. Cumulative investments on both BIP sites today stands at $1billion, while BUA’s $300 million BIP site is located in Lafiagi, Kwara State, Golden Sugar’s $400 million BIP site is in Sunti, Niger State and Toto, Nasarawa State.

JOBS/EMPLOYMENT CREATION In all, the six BIP project sites have created 15,000 direct jobs and 60,000 indirect jobs.

Also, a total of 3,500 direct jobs have been created by the sugar refineries. The BIP sites have had tremendous economic impacts on their host communities and adjoining towns and villages. Land under cane has increased from 6,000ha to over 17,000ha under cane.

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E-BUSINESS

Impacting Downstream Petroleum Industry with Tech Solution Emma Okonji writes about the impact of emerging technology solutions on downstream petroleum industry and how the newly launched Epump technology solution by Fuelmetrics will enhance business control and profitability

W

ith technology being an enabler of businesses across all sectors of the economy, businesses are beginning to adopt emerging technology solutions that would enhance total business control, with high returns on investments.

Industry players and business owners in the downstream petroleum industry, who understand the impact of technology on the sector, have continued to embrace and adopt new technology solutions, just as technology solution providers continue to develop solutions that will meet the needs of the sector.

The latest technology solution, developed by Fuelmetrics, known as Epump, seeks to bridge the technology gap in the downstream petroleum industry, by providing transparency and total control for management and business owners in the petroleum industry sector.

Fuelmetrics is a company that was established to bridge the technological gaps for businesses in Africa.

Its sole aim is to provide transparency and control for management and owners of business alike, while businesses track their revenue.

Epump solution, which has become the prime product for Fuelmetrics, is focused on filling stations. The solution automates filling stations, giving station owners real time visibility and control of the stations wherever they are. A lot of businesses in Africa depend so much on people providing feedback and data. The challenge with that is that businesses are at the mercy of the person providing the data. If the person’s integrity is compromised, then it means the entire business is built on compromised data. This could lead to flawed input and output, and decision-making process would be affected. These are some of the challenges that Fuelmetrics aims to address with the Epump technology solution.

THE IMPACT

Speaking about the Epump solution and its impact, the Chief Executive Officer, Fuelmetrics, Mr. Ayodeji Ogundiran, said the solution was developed as an end-to-end automation and payment infrastructure for the downstream oil and gas sector in Africa.

Giving details on how Epump works, Ogundiran said: “The first thing we do to onboard a station on Epump is to install our proprietary forecourt controllers called “Epump Go” on all the pumps in the station. The controllers capture all sales information from the pump and transmits the information to a cloud-based server.

In essence, we are able to capture the number of liters sold for every transaction, the number of customers that visited the station in a day, trend analysis and much more. Management and owners of these stations can then access the information in simplified formats, either on their mobile phones or computers anywhere in the world provided they have internet access.”

According to him, Fuelmetrics also install Automatic Tank Gauges to help stations access their inventory level in real time, how much petroleum product they have in their tank, if water is present in the tank, the volume, time of the last discharge, what was the volume, amongst others. The data is aggregated in a simple to understand dashboard and analytics for the users. After collating all the data at the server end, we do some processing, analysis, comparisons, and we are able to establish patterns. We are able to know the station’s peak period, when a station should optimally be open and much more, Ogundiran further said.

BRIDGING TECHNOLOGY GAPS

According to Ogundiran, Epump serves as the best tool for owners of fuel stations to optimise their little margins. It ensures they capture all their revenues, and prevent smart play on them by their employees.

“What we have seen in the past when we deploy Epump solutions to stations is that there is a kind of

confidence that comes from stations owners, and this is because they know that they don’t have to be physically present to track and monitor their business or even commission engineers to go round stations to change prices of products when it can be done remotely, this gives them peace of mind. It has helped these owners of fuel stations to optimize their business and grow their customer base. Epump is also facilitating cashless transactions in filling stations and by doing so, we are reducing the cost and risk of cash handling,” Ogundiran said.

BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION

Ogundiran who expatiated on how the solution has transformed the downstream oil and gas sector since its launch, said although Epump cannot lay claim to having transformed the downstream oil and gas sector yet, but explained that penetration is still at about five per cent of the industry. He added that the solution has however transformed the way customers do business in more than one way.

Giving details of the transformation, he said: “Firstly, our customers are able to block losses in their business through the visibility Epump provides. Epump is taking away their worries caused by blind spots in their operations. Our customers are typically able to pay more attention to their other businesses, spend time with their families, or even take a vacation weeks after installing Epump, a luxury that has been out of their reach for years.

“We are also helping stations transform from a cash-based economy to a cashless economy. We are deploying technologies that facilitate payment. For example, you can onboard corporate clients who

don’t need to pay for their fueling transactions using cash, they can pay either using a fuel card or using a voucher and all of these are automated.

It gives the customers an assurance of having products fully dispensed while it gives the station owner peace of mind, knowing there is perfect reconciliation of every business transaction. To reiterate, Epump is looking to change the industry positively, we are not there yet but we’ve had a tremendous impact on our customers.”

He said Fuelmetrics became the first to leverage Internet of Things (IoTs) technology to ensure that installations are not as rigorous as they used to be.

“In the past, it would take days to run cables from every pump to a back office. We changed that by installing IoT devices that connect directly into the cloud. Now a lot of other foreign competitors are trying to follow the model but it’s still not as swift as what we’ve done with Epump. More importantly, as of today, we are the only Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for the downstream industry in Africa,” Ogundiran added.

EPUMP SERVICE OFFERINGS

Explaining the type of services offered the solution offers, Ogundiran said Epump technology offers fuel station owners visibility for their operations, it offers business growth, it helps them gain the trust of their customers but more importantly, it also offers them peace of mind.

“We are not a loan granting venture; we are however partnering with financial institutions to facilitate product financing for our customers. Data captured by Epump helps financial institutions to make informed decisions on the possible performance of product loans extended to the

stations. They typically find that the risk is much lower than industry average when it is backed by data, and because of this they offer very competitive rates and terms to our customers. Any customer who has been on our platform for over six months can benefit from this arrangement, “Ogundiran further said.

EXPANSION PLANS

Speaking about the expansion plans for Epump, Ogundiran said Fuelmetrics would continue to innovate to help its customers scale their businesses through technology and partnerships that work for them. He said the company would expand to a pan African business serving customers from all countries in Africa.

Addressing fraud prevention and real time monitoring, Ogundiran said: “We are always at the edge to make sure we are abreast of every new development and to make sure we provide solutions even before the problems arise. Beyond that, it’s our goal to convert at least 70 per cent of transactions at the downstream oil and gas to cashless transactions in order to reduce cash handling and risks for our customers. In line with this, we are coming up with strategies and partnerships that will ensure stations are getting the best out of their businesses.”

In the area of real time monitoring, he said the Epump Go device is first installed on every pump and optionally in tanks. These devices generate data from all business operations, and report that data via web or mobile in real time. To avoid installation downtime, each device installation is done individually, i.e., one pump at a time. Through the use of the Epump Go device, station owners are able to access the data generated by the Epump using a dashboard which is available on Web, Android and IOS app stores, Ogundiran further said.

DEVELOP DIGITAL POLICIES THAT OFFER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN, AFF URGES AFRICAN GOVERNMENT to opportunities nationally and internationally, as well as give them a rewarding banking experience.

In simpler terms, the ‘W’ Initiative is the home for everything Access Bank offers women and is open to all women irrespective of who they bank with, Awe further said,

adding that ending all forms of discrimination against women is not only a basic human right, but also a progressive action which has multiple positive effects across all areas of life.

For this year’s celebration of International Women’s Day, the

United Nations (UN) announced its theme to be ‘Gender Equality Today For A Sustainable Tomorrow’, in line with two core issues – gender inequality and climate crisis – at the heart of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Supporting the theme further,

Awe also cited recent figures, which showed that out of the 1.3 billion impoverished people in the world, 70 per cent are women, while 80 per cent of people displaced by climate change and climate related disasters are women and girls.

“The COVID-19 pandemic

has negatively impacted progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, including those on gender equality and health. In order to protect women from adversity, there must be a global effort to collectively strengthen initiatives, which

address the underlying causes of women’s vulnerability to climate change, such as disproportionate rates of poverty, lack of social empowerment, and inadequate access to health, education and social protection services,” Awe said.

He attributed the success so far recorded on the effective deployment of its Credit Risk Guarantee (CRG) instrument used to share agribusiness-related credit risks with commercial banks and financiers by up to 75 per cent depending on the segment that CRG applicants operate in.

He said, “Because we measure our milestones in terms of volumes of finance facilitated, which runs into billions of naira, some people get the impression that we are lenders.

“When we say that NIRSAL Plc

has facilitated the flow of over N146 billion into agricultural commodity value chains from commercial banks, we mean that we have brokered deals whose value add up to that figure.”

He said, “Banks, very conservative with depositors’ funds, have long shied away from lending to agriculture because of their high perception of risks. Therefore, NIRSAL Plc necessarily creates conditions that influence a change in perception under a purely commercial logic. We refer to it as fixing value chains.”

NIRSAL FACILITATES N73BN TO AGRO-PROCESSING, FOCUSES ON DE-RISKING AGRICULTURE Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, he said the quantum of financing so far attracted to agriculture remained an unprecedented milestone and achievement for the institutions, noting that ordinarily, such a feat would take decades to accomplish.

He said the financing opportunities created by NIRSAL in the sector have had significant economic impact in terms of employment generation among others.

He said, “What we mean is that we have brokered deals whose value added to that amount. Anywhere

you inject private money of up to N148 billion, you will understand that it creates multiplier effects in terms of additional employment and economic activities which could result into trillions of Naira of economic activities.”

Specifically, he said NIRSAL’s finance facilitation efforts had generated an additional $2.5 billion worth of economic activity through agricultural products/outputs and other value chain economic activities, creating 360,000 direct jobs and positively impacting the lives of 1.8 million Nigerians.

He said, “As a result of the success of NIRSAL Plc’s risk-sharing model, commercial banks have pledged a combined $500 million to fund agriculture and agribusiness.

Furthermore, NIRSAL Plc has been approached by other African countries to provide support for the establishment and implementation of Risk Sharing facility models in their respective jurisdictions.”

Abdulhameed also corrected an erroneous impression in some sections likening NIRSAL to commercial banks, which receive deposits and disburse credit.

According to him, NIRSAL remained a deliberate creation of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) mainly to establish linkages between agriculture and financing, “as well as creates those conditions that influence change of the perception by banks that agriculture was highly risky to access funding.”

NIRSAL, he stressed, is saddled with the responsibility of galvanizing organic economic interest in the agriculture sector, to build conditions that enable borrowers and lenders engage in the creation of new value across the sector.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

UK Govt, Cybersafe Foundation Produces First Set of DigiGirls Program Nosa Alekhuogie

Cybersafe Foundation in partnership with the United Kingdom (UK) government who trained 2,400 girls and women across Nigeria in digital skills through the DigiGirls Digital Empowerment Program, has produced the first graduating cohort of women and girls who are expected to be in high demand globally.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the cohorts held in Lagos, the founder, Cybersafe

Foundation, Confidence staveley said the DigiGirls Project was undoubtedly a success and she was certain that the employable digital skills will drive positive livelihood outcomes for themselves and their families.

According to her, with 2000+ beneficiaries resident in all the states across Nigeria and the FCT, the purpose-built female focused program was able to achieve resounding success owing to a handful of strategic elements.

“We believe that we have just

Del-York Wins West Africa’s Media Agency of theYear Award Africa’s Foremost International PR and Strategic Communications Agency, Del-York International, was awarded “West Africa’s Most Outstanding Media Agency of the year” at the 11th West Africa brands excellence awards. The 2021/22 awards ceremony was held over the weekend of February 26th 2022, in Lagos, at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, where the global Agency received the main creative industry trophy of the evening.

The Number one spot in the regional Award came as a result of the Agency’s reputation for creating unconventional PR & Strategic Communications campaigns, eye-catching creative branding and disruptive ad campaigns.

The prestigious Brand Excellence award recognized Del-York’s stunning documentary Campaigns across the sub-region, creative ads and design campaigns for Federal and State Governments, Development Agencies, and Global Fortune 500 companies. Also mentioned was the well-executed PR and Creative branding campaign, which stole the world’s attention

for the Coronation Ceremony of the 21st Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, in August 2021.

Speaking on the award, Linus Idahosa, President/Founder of the Del-York Group, applauded his team for their hard work and team’s creative strength which gave birth to the recognition and he charged them to continue give their best to client and that the growth of the industry is absolutely dependent on improving on creative work as expect.

The West Africa Brand Excellence Awards, brainchild of the Institute of Brand Management of Nigeria (IBMN), seeks to improve the quality of the creative craft, recognize creative excellence, and promote the spirit of healthy competition and the application of global best practices. Some Diplomatic observers for the Award/IBMN include United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, French Ambassador to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann, Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Fulvio Rustico, Nigerian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, amongst others.

churned out the next generation of female tech gurus who will go ahead to not only make a living for themselves but also make Nigeria and the world at large proud, ”Staveley said.

Speaking further, she explained that the beneficiaries have been equipped with basic digital skills like Digital Marketing, E-Commerce, Data Analytics, Graphic Design, Cyber security, top 10 in-demand soft skills, CV writing and LinkedIn master class among other skills that

would enable them have access to gainful employment within and outside Nigeria.

She also revealed that there were a few setbacks encountered during the course of the program as quite a number of participants did not own a laptop during the course of the trainings and found it difficult to gain access to one.

“In Spite of the challenges posed, we are fully confident of the effectiveness of the training and quality of ladies graduating

from the program.

In DigiGirls 2.0, we promise improvements in Gamification, Disability Inclusion and scaling for more community impact,” she concluded.

On her part, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing expressed her delight at the initiative stating that the project will be expanded to directly benefit additional 4,000 women and reach a further 10,000 women through the trainer approach.

She further noted that the UK government believes the programs will help in addressing digital inequality in Nigeria, which currently holds a 15 per cent gender gap against women.

Speaking on the side lines of the event in celebration of International Woman’s day, Senior Programmes Manager, Fate Foundation, Oge Nnaife commended the initiative of Cybersafe in bridging the inequality gap and noted there’s was room for improvement.

Broadcasting Firm Unveils Website to Distinguish Consumers’ Experiences Nosa Alekhuogie Consumers Value Broadcasting, in celebration of the global Consumer Protection Week, has introduced a website for consumers to vote for their favorite brands based on their experiences.

While launching the website, the Managing Director, Akonte Ekine, said the move was a proactive measure to enlist mass awareness of consumers to their rights as

consumers.

According to him, the move became expedient given the current clustered market and the growing concern about consumer vulnerability.

“The website features a voting/ rating system that allows consumers to honour and acknowledge the commitment of brands to innovation, superior customer service and excellence. It will be up to consumers themselves to vote for these brands based on their experiences. The

winners will be selected through an online public ballot process in which the outcome is based on their votes, and that it was its own way of ensuring transparency, originality and brand awareness, ”Ekine said.

The website is designed in such a way that consumers can demonstrate their level of acceptance of a brand through their votes and can also show the trust and loyalty which a brand has earned, Ekine added.

Chairman, Consumers Value

Broadcasting Ltd, Adedayo Ojo, said: “We are deeply excited at the vista of opportunity that the consumers Value Awards will open for the Nigeria market place. Every stakeholder, the brands, the consumers, regulators and the promoters will be positively motivated. Our commitment is to raise standards of consumer experience all round to the benefit of the society. We will ensure that the process and the results are transparent and impeccable.”

Zoho Offers Low-code Market Gaps with New Creator Platform Emma Okonji Zoho Corporation, a global technology company, has introduced the latest version of its low-code offering, Zoho Creator.

The new version addresses the need for an easy-to-use platform that enables business users to create complex and powerful business applications, while empowering the IT teams to place sufficient guardrails and govern usage,

ensuring security and compliance.

Organisations currently face soaring demand for new business software, but existing low-code platforms are either for business users and lack the sophistication needed to develop scalable, enterprise-ready end-to-end tools or are for users with intricate understanding of the application development process.

Announcing the initiative, President MEA, Zoho Corp,

Hyther Nizam, said: “The bulk of low-code application development, from customization to automation, can be handled today by users with moderate technical knowledge.

Where we see a gap, especially for the mid-market and enterprise, is between building and deployment.

“Currently there isn’t a low-code solution on the market that allows both business users and IT to truly build end to end business solutions.

With this update, Zoho’s Creator

Platform combines application development, business intelligence and analytics, integrations, and process automation into one single platform while simultaneously enabling IT teams to effortlessly manage ongoing challenges of security, compliance, and governance. Now, organisations can leverage a unified solution for all of their low-code needs, extending the ability to innovate to every employee.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ , MARCH 10, 2022

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

T H E 2 0 2 2 H E A LT H P E R S O N A L I T Y F O R I N T E R N AT I O N A L W O M E N ’ S D AY

Dr. Kemi Ailoje: Helping Women Tackle

Fertility Challenges, Gain Access to Healthcare

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COVER T H E 2 0 2 2 H E A LT H P E R S O N A L I T Y F O R I N T E R N AT I O N A L W O M E N ’ S D AY

Dr. Kemi Ailoje: Helping Women Tackle Fertility Challenges, Gain Access to Healthcare Dr. Kemi Ailoje is a reproductive Endocrinologist, Fertility/IVF Specialist and the MD/CEO of Lifelink Fertility Clinic. Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that over the years, she has continuously broken the bias in helping women with fertility issues, enhance access to health and education, as well as champion the rights of women and children especially the girl-child

W

ith speciality in Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Endocrinology, Endocrine Pharmacology, and Embryology, Dr. Kemi Ailoje, the Managing Director of Lifelink Fertility Clinic (LFC), has for years helped women seeking for the fruit of the womb in fulfilling their utmost desires.

But beyond this, she has been enhancing access to health and education, as well as championing the rights of women and children especially the girl-child.

This year, the theme of the International Day of Women (IWD) is “Break The Bias”, which is what Dr. Ailoje has been doing for over two decades without recourse to the financial implications.

International Women’s Day The International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day commemorated every March 8 to celebrate social, economic, political and cultural achievements made by women.

It is also a time to reflect on growth towards gender equality, call for action while celebrating acts of courage and determination by women who break the glass ceiling at different endeavours.

This year, to commemorate the 2022 International Women’s Day, the theme was centred on “Breaking the Bias”.

According to to the IWD, “Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it difficult for women to move ahead. Knowing that bias exists isn’t enough, action is needed to level the playing field.”

Reproductive Endocrinologist Which is why what Dr. Ailoje does through her Lifelink Fertility Clinic (LFC) helps break the bias that a woman doesn’t have a say over her own body.

As an endocrinologist & fertility/ IVF Specialist, her passion to help women and children’s gain access to health is palpable.

Also as an reproductive endocrinologist, she talks about the hormones of women and how that can help them achieve pregnancy.

Lifelink Fertility Clinic and Individualised Treatments In May 2010, she founded Lifelink Fertility Clinic (LFC). As an ultramodern, state-ofthe-art fertility treatment centre with strong collaboration with experts locally and abroad, the clinic also offers emotional services for women.

This is because it is a fertility clinic run by women for women, and a women. It also boasts of being a children’s hospital.

The clinic specifically takes care of the health of women by women. They offer chances of getting pregnant within the shortest possible period, paying attention to details and they pride themselves in giving individualised treatments to women.

United Nations-trained Counsellor Beyond the fertility and children, Dr. Ailoje is a UN trained counsellor. In this role, she brings to bear the series of trainings received from the UN on reproductive health, sexuality education, negotiation skills.

Such counselling involves decisions about the number of babies that the woman wants, access to medication, health and life.

Foundations Going beyond the job, in 1998, Dr. Ailoje set up the Kemi Ailoje Foundation for Women and Children’s Health, Education and Rights (KAFOWCHER INITIATIVE), an organisation dedicated to advocacy, education and empowerment of women, youth and children especially the less privileged and disadvantaged.

Ailoje is also the Founder and CEO of DIVAF (www.divaf.org) which she opened in May 1997. The Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) is involved in enhancing access to health and education, as well as championing the rights of women and children especially

Ailoje the girl-child.

Fertilink Profile To cater for adolescents and their reproductive health, she set up Fertilink Profile, which promises free services on adolescent reproductive health and sexuality education for ages 18 to 25 years.

Also, Fertilink Know your status, which is for 26 – 35 years is for young women screenings for fertility profiles seeking possibilities of expanding their families.

Services Under her leadership, Lifelink Fertility Centre offers premium, individualised and tailored services to its clients using

highly skilled professionals, with stateof-the-art technology.

As one of Nigeria’s most sought after female fertility/IVF specialist, Dr. Aiolje brings her unique and versed experience in proffering solutions to infertility issues across the globe to work and walk with you towards successful parenthood.

According to the clinic, “Hope, Experience, Result” are three words that perfectly represent their mission and what they promise anyone that needs their services, adding that “together these words embody our pledge to stand, encourage and guide you to your dreams and desires”.

Essentially, they offer Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Management; Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT-A,

“This year, the theme of the International Day of Women (IWD) is “Break The Bias”, which is what Dr. Ailoje has been doing for over two decades without recourse to the financial implications...she has been enhancing access to health and education, as well as championing the rights of women and children especially the girl-child”

PGT-M, PGT-SR); Women and Children’s Health, Micro/Macro Surgery, Hysteroscopy, Myomectomy, Laparoscopy, Urology, Donor/ Surrogacy/ Gestational Host, Comprehensive Health Screening, Counselling and Specialist Referral Services.

Future Plans Dr. Ailoje through her fertility clinic is not resting on her oars. In the nearest future, she plans to ensure Lifelink Fertility Clinic becomes a centre that can create more specialists as that is the only way they can self regulate and eliminate quackery in the profession.

She also divulged that they are planning to have an institute where people can come in without the need to do promos and gather people to buy equipment.

Qualifications Dr. Ailoje has a Bachelor of Pharmacy and Master of Science with distinction from the University of Lagos and Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, Specialisation in Reproductive Medicine and Endocrinology from the University of New South Wales, School of Women and Children’s Health, Sydney, Australia.

Two decades and some years after she started pursuing a passion in fertility, enhancing access to health and education, as well as championing the rights of women and children especially the girl-child, there is surely no stopping Dr. Ailoje in her voluntary work to spur women to be in charge of their health without recourse to anyone.

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NEWS

ESGN Takes Endometriosis Awareness to Schools Sunday Ehigiator In commemoration of this year’s ‘Global Endometriosis Awareness Month’, Endometriosis Support Group Nigeria (ESGN) has revealed plans to take awareness campaigns about the medical condition to secondary school girls.

This was revealed by ESGN Patron, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, during a virtual media parley recently to announce the group’s activities for endometriosis awareness for 2022, themed, ‘Speak Out’ According to Dr. Ajayi, endometriosis is a condition believed to be affecting over two to 10 per cent of women globally and a major cause of infertility in over 50 per cent of women living with the condition.

“With a heavy incidence rate of about 10 per cent of our female population, coupled with the rather debilitating effect on the quality of life of women living with the condition and the really sad fact, that there is no known cure for it, the world, therefore, needs to raise awareness to help women burdened by its effect to get help at the most appropriate time “A second reason for global

concern for this cause is the fact that research has shown that this condition affects women in their reproductive ages starting in the early years of secondary school when most girls see their monthly menstrual period for the first time.

60 per cent of women who have Endometriosis, the symptom started before the age of 20.

“In several countries where research has been done extensively on the subject, adolescent females have been identified as a critical audience burdened with endometriosis because the condition would have started at that tender age, but it may not be diagnosed early until the adolescent sufferer grows into adulthood with concerns relating to infertility.”

This year, the World Endo March, the global organisation that has championed this cause over time, has chosen the theme ‘speak out, which is a clarion call for people living with endometriosis to tell their stories about the condition with the hope of getting governments across the globe to take affirmative action to drive policies to enhance the lives of women living with Endometriosis.

The theme is also aimed at helping other women who may be living in silence, denial, or ignorance about the condition.

Hence, in furtherance of ESGN’s resolve to create awareness among adolescent females, it announced that it would be holding an annual Secondary Schools Essay Competition.

According to Dr. Ajayi, “This year we have driven our campaign to cover schools not only in Lagos but also in Delta state and the FCT. “Entries will be closing on the 15th of March and the winners will be announced after the adjudication process is completed by our independent panel of judges.

“This year we are raising the bar a notch higher by adding a special award to the school of the First Prize apart from the individual prize money “Also in furtherance of our desire to raise awareness among government in the country we have reached out to the First Ladies of Lagos and Delta states with the view of soliciting their support to champion the cause in the various states.

“We believe that these partnerships will help shape the workplace and school policies

that may see better support for women living with Endometriosis “We are exploring a few physical engagements as we are all navigating the post-Covid landmines.

“We are partnering the Rotary Club of Asaba Central in Delta State to carry out an advocacy program among Secondary school girls. These partnerships we believe can kick start a joint initiative between our organisation and Rotary International both on a local and international scale.

“On March 26, we will be hosting our annual digital hangout ‘Speak Out 2022’.

“This event will have a crosssection of women living with Endometriosis sharing their stories for a global audience as we equally will be having distinguished medical practitioners alongside my humble self as we provide medical perspectives to the management of the condition.

“Later in the year in June, we will be hosting the African Endometriosis International Conference under the auspices of the African Endometriosis Foundation which we co-founded alongside other groups on the African continent.

Osun Govt Seeks Stakeholders Collaboration in Tackling Maternal Deaths Yinka Kolawole ÓØ ÝÙÑÌÙ Osun State government has appealed to critical stakeholders in the health sector for collaboration to combat the health crises being faced in the country.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Rafiu Isamotu stated this during an engagement meeting with medical stakeholders in the state.

According to him the World Health Organisation record shows that Nigeria accounts for over 34 per cent of global maternal deaths. He said the lifetime risk of dying during pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, or after an abortion for a Nigerian woman is 1 in 22, compared to 1 in 4,900 in developed countries.

This stakeholders meeting which was held at the instance of the Osun State Commissioner for Health and a leading Health NGO in Nigeria was to prevent maternal mortality and improve the maternal health through digital technology.

Dr. Isamotu however emphasised that collaboration with critical players in global health will improve the quality of health care service delivery as well as checkmate the death rate during pregnancy.

He also harped on the need for healthcare providers, particularly at the grassroots, to take advantage of the digital gadgets to improve their services.

The Team Lead of the Hacey Health Initiative, a development organisation, Mrs. Kemi Omole said the idea is to focus on improving the health and productivity of vulnerable and underserved populations in Africa.

Kemi Omole, emphasised that the digital platform wouldn’t only ease the daily routine of health providers but also enhance proper handling of antenatal and other care using modern health technology.

She stressed that the initiative will go a long way in reducing the number of death recorded during pregnancy and childbirth The Executive Director of the group, Rhoda Robinson, who spoke on the rationale behind the interventions, said the nongovernmental organisation has operated in 13 states across the country with a major interest in the provision of clean water, the Champion campaign against FGM, and other health-related crises across the country.

i-Fitness Expands to Become West Africa’s First, Fastest Growing Chain Rebecca Ejifoma

Break the Bias

IWD: Cycology Riding Club Canvasses Gender Equality Funmi Ogundare Cycology Amazon Ride, the women’s arm of its cycling club, recently joined other women to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day ( IWD) themed, ‘Break the Bias’.

As early as 7 a.m in the morning, the women cyclists, made up of successful entrepreneurs, industry leaders, CEOs of multinationals, senior public servants, medical directors, among others, rode through Ikoyi, Lekki Link Bridge, Oworoshoki, Kingsway road, Alfred Rewane and back to

Bourdilon in Ikoyi, to create an awareness on gender equality.

Speaking to journalists after their ride, the Vice Captain of Cycology Cycling Club, Mrs. Temitope George, expressed concern that women do not have equal representation in the society, while calling on the government to ensure inclusion of women in leadership positions.

“We just saw the bill that was before the National Assembly asking for more women representation that was turned down. “ This is a topic that we need

to keep discussing to break the biases, we need to start this conversation in our homes.

“We need to let our children and men know that girls and boys are equal, so that they don’t feel that there is a particular place for boys and another for the girls. It starts from the home,” she stated.

She said women are now venturing into professions that used to be dominated by men, adding that both gender are important and can learn a lot from each other. “ There is really no limitations.

So we should have opportunities that provide for inclusion of women. A lot of people may think we are feminist.

“No we are not, but we are saying that if a woman wants to be in politics or leadership, she be be given the opportunity. Do not do things in an environment that stifle women from participating.

“We know that a lot of meetings are held late into the night. They need to create an enabling environment for women to participate in government and leadership, That is what we want,” George stressed.

AstraZeneca Marks Anniversary of First COVAX Vaccine Deliveries to Africa Rebecca Ejifoma Committed to expanding and accelerating vaccine supply to the African region this year and beyond to help governments reach their vaccination targets, AstraZeneca had marked one year of delivering first COVAX vaccines to Africa.

One year ago, the first doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine began to arrive in countries across the world through the

COVAX initiative, as part of the largest global vaccination drive in history.

Last 24th February, health authorities in Ghana received 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine.

Within days, Ivory Coast got 504,000 doses. Since then, more than 310 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine have been delivered through COVAX to 130 countries.

An estimated 70 million

doses have reached sub-Saharan Africa, making the AstraZeneca vaccine one of the most used COVID-19 vaccines across the continent to date.

The Country President for Africa, AstraZeneca, Barbara Nel expressed that as part of their commitment to putting broad and equitable access at the heart of our pandemic response, AstraZeneca was the first global pharmaceutical company to join COVAX in 2020.

“Our strong partnerships with the Serum Institute of India (SII), GAVI – the Vaccine Alliance and the World Health Organization are vital to deliver on our commitment to supply Africa with the COVID-19 vaccine at no profit,” she added.

She further commended governments across the continent for the works they are doing to increase immunisation coverage and to protect their citizens from severe disease.

To promote a healthy lifestyle among Nigerians in the LekkiJakande and Ogba areas of Lagos State, i-Fitness, West Africa’s fastest and growing fitness chain recently unveiled two new branches in the heart of Lagos.

Speaking at the launch ceremony held on Saturday, February 26 this year, the Founder and MD i-Fitness, Foluso Ogunwale, said their decision to open new outlets was to help Nigerians, particularly those in urban communities, keep a healthy lifestyle.

Ogunwale also outlined that the new branches would offer the opportunity for urban individuals to access the best of facilities for a hearty lifestyle.

According to him, it became imperative to establish the company in 2015 to address the alarming rate of death caused by non-communicable diseases.

Quoting a 2021 global report from World Health Organisation (WHO), he said it “had estimated death arising from non-communicable diseases globally to be about 71 per cent noting that this was a wake-up call that led to the planting of fitness chains across Lagos state.

“We are very excited to build the first fitness chain Nigeria has ever seen starting from Lagos. We have 14 locations now but we will be having 15 by next Monday. We are more excited because we have the rare opportunity to create the path in the industry, creating over 400 jobs.”

While adding that i-Fitness currently has the highest engagement of personal trainers in West Africa, Ogunwale admitted that this gives them the privilege to assist these vibrant, youthful people with a means of decent livelihood. Also speaking, the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Michael Ikpoki, highlighted that the company remains committed to supporting Nigerians in living a healthier lifestyle by creating new outlets in several locations, particularly in urban cities such as Lagos and Abuja.

Ikpoki pointed out that setting up a new fitness location is simply to provide opportunities for more Nigerians to access world-class gym facilities.

“For every outlet we open, we try to improve standards or raise the bar in terms of structure, appeal, look or ambiance,” he said.

The chairman stressed that the company would continue to play its part in creating jobs and contributing to the Lagos economy through the establishment of outlets.

One of the individuals, who registered at the Lekki outlet, Abigael Simon-Wilcox, expressed that joining i-Fitness is to assist in achieving her fitness goals.

“Fitness is very important because we all need to live a healthy lifestyle. I tried to do about 10,000 steps a day but at some points, there was no motivation. But now that I have a closer place, I am motivated to achieve my daily exercise”, Simon-Wilcox said.

37

T H I S D AY ˾ , MARCH 10, 2022

NEWS

Kidney Dialysis: How Three Sisters Cater for Low Income, Uninsured Patients To cater for the needs of low income and poor kidney disease patients, who are uninsured and have little or no means of affording high cost dialysis treatments, three sisters- Jumoke Ojomo,Folawe Ojomo and Kunbi Ojomo, polled their personal funds to set up the JFK Dialysis Centre in Lagos. Precious Ugwuzor reports that at the centre, there is no consideration of profit as the philosophy of ploughing back resources for continuous and lean operation is paramount

T

oday, March 10, on the occasion of World Kidney Day, the contributions of three sisters –Jumoke Ojomo,Folawe Ojomo and Kunbi Ojomo, come to the fore. Coincidentally, this recognition fell into the commemoration of the 2022 International Women’s Day (IWD).

World kidney Day is being celebrated worldwide to draw awareness to the deadly kidney disease.

In 2016, these three sisters thought about giving something back to the community.

They came up with the idea of setting up a dialysis centre in Lagos to cater for the needs of low income and poor kidney disease patients, who are uninsured and have little or no means of affording high cost dialysis treatments.

To actualise this project, they put together their personal funds to the tune of over N60millionto secure a property, buy dialysis machines and equip the centre with state of the art facilities.

Today, JFK DIALYSIS CENTRE, whose name is derived from first initials of their first names - “J “for Jumoke,”F” for Folawe and “K” for Kunbi, has grown to become one of the well managed, front line and sustainable dialysis centres within the Lagos metropolis.

At JFK Dialysis Centre, there is no consideration of profit as the philosophy of ploughing back resources for continuous and lean operation is paramount. JFK Dialysis Centre is located within the Palmgrove Estate in Lagos. These sisters went a step further to set up a non -governmental organisation (NGO) called Global Assistance for Healthy Kidney Initiative (GAHKI), whose mission is to promote global awareness of the plight of people suffering from Kidney disease, a silent killer, ravaging the population.

GAHKI subsidises the cost of treatment for indigent patients who cannot afford three dialysis sessions in a week. The average cost of dialysis is equivalent to $900-$1000 in US dollars per month.

If clients on dialysis do not have the financial and social support, it is very difficult to get the required treatment, making such clients more sick, unable to work, and eventually terminated from work because of tardiness and extensive absenteeism, continuing the vicious cycle of poverty and noncompliance with treatment.

The JFK sisters During the World Kidney Day activities, which comes up on the second Thursday in March of every year, GAHKI organises special enlightenment and screening programs to educate the populace and screen for hypertension and diabetes- the two foremost causes of kidney failure. In 2018, GHAKI in collaboration with Apollo Hospital in India organised successfully a medical mission which screened more than 500 persons in Lagos whilst providing educative materials to them.

At that medical outreach, a team of 10

nephrologists, doctors and other specialists from India were present.

At other commemoration days, screening and enlightenment programs were organised for different socio-economic groups at other venues –Ojuelegba (for transport workers), and Ojuolowo, Mushin (for market women).

The impact of those programs were tremendous, thus, today on World Kidney Day, the contributions of these ladies are tremendously recognised.

Their tireless passion and dedication to com-

munity service is admirable. On program and activities days, these sisters come from wherever they may be to gather in Nigeria to participate fully and demonstrate their desire to help the vulnerable population.

Their impact is commendable. But who are these sisters you might ask? While Jumoke is a successful businesswoman who lives in Lagos; Folawe is a senior pharmacist who works in Maryland, USA and Kunbi is a Clinical nurse manager and stem cell specialist, who works in New Jersey, USA.

Nordica Fertility Centre Celebrates First Baby From Ibidun Ighodalo 40at40 Project Rebecca Ejifoma Nordica Fertility Centre has celebrated the first baby from Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation (IIF) 40at40 Project maiden edition.

The 40at40 project helps 40 couples annually become parents through the In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) in honour of the late Mrs. Ibidunni Ighodalo, the founder.

The first beneficiary of the project, which is at no cost, is Mr. Prince and Mrs. Carol Arheghan, co-pastors of the Great Harvest

Deliverance Centre.

Having been married for 11 years and tried IVF once but failed, the couple couldn’t contain their joy, as they thanked the foundation and Nordica.

Sharing her experience, Arheghan said, “Like every other couple, my husband and I expected that after the wedding, we would have our children naturally.”

After years of trying severally and following doctors’ prescriptions, Arheghan sought advice

from a friend, who referred her to Nordica Fertility Clinic.

“That was six years ago. I never wanted to do IVF because of my background. Being a pastor’s wife, I initially believed that IVF is not God’s will,” she added.

According to the new mum, she succumbed to IVF in late 2019 into January 2020 after much conviction and encouragement from the Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Clinic, Dr Abayomi Ajayi and his wife.

Sadly, it flopped and again

her hope was botched. “It was not successful because the embryo stopped developing,” adding that she felt her world crumbled.

Narrating her ordeal in a virtual interview session, the co-pastor recalled that the IVF treatment cost an arm and a leg six years ago.

“It took us a year to save the money. I felt all my efforts were a waste. But Nordica called from time to time to encourage me.”

In late 2020, however, the

couple returned for another procedure only to realise that Nordica was selected for the 40at40 project. They had already started the IVF process with the Fertility Clinic.

“That was how they transferred us there. Around January/ February we started the process again and in May the embryo transfer was done and today we are carrying our baby,” she gushed with excitement.

She further thanked the Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation

for making her a mother and her husband a father. “I must also thank Nordica Fertility Clinic for doing everything to ensure that the process was successful. I will rate Nordica Fertility Clinic 10 out of 10.”

Ajayi said, “To us, success is attained when our elite physicians collaborate and apply their combined knowledge and individual skills as doctors to solving your infertility, helping you achieve your dreams of parenthood.

New Report Shows how Commercialised Healthcare Undermines COVID-19 Response in Nigeria Sunday Ehigiator A new report released on March 2, 2022, by the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, has revealed how the commercialisation of healthcare in Nigeria has been amongst the main factors undermining the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, with harmful impacts on the right to health.

The report, entitled ‘The Failure of Commercialised Healthcare in Nigeria during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Discrimination and Inequality in the Enjoyment of the Right to Health’, was carried out in partnership with the Justice & Empowerment Initiatives and with the support of

Corporate Accountability & Public Participation Africa.

It detailed how governmental policies and international development actors have encouraged the growth of private and commercial healthcare since the late 1980s.

More recently, successive policies have listed the creation of an enabling environment for public-private partnerships and private sector engagement in healthcare over 2004-2018.

The National Strategic Health Development Plan (2018-2022) sets out as a goal the promotion of public-private partnerships in healthcare. As a result, an estimated 60 per cent of all healthcare services are provided by the private sector, amongst the largest shares in

Sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the report which was presented in Lagos state over the weekend, this highly commercialised system has not been able to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the report, Nigeria has a critical shortage of lifesaving equipment to treat acute cases of Covid-19, such as ventilators, oxygen, and qualified specialists.

“The country had only 500 ventilators in May 2020, against the 20,325 that would be needed to address the epidemic and only 0.17 intensive care unit (ICU) beds per 100.000 inhabitants. Unfortunately, this was to be expected.

“Healthcare services are severely underfunded: health spending as a share of general government expenditure decreased from 7.3 per cent in 2006 to as little as 4.4 per cent in 2018, below similar African states such as South Africa and Kenya, and far below the 15 per cent of their annual national budget to which the African Union States committed to in the Abuja Declaration.

“Access to testing for Covid-19 is largely dependent on a persons’ socioeconomic background. Even if testing for suspected Covid-19 cases is provided for free at government laboratories, there are only 84 public testing laboratories as of February

2022 for a population of over 200 million inhabitants.

“This is not enough, as evidenced by reports in the media that several public health facilities redirect suspected Covid-19 cases, including those with visible symptoms, to fee-paying laboratories due to lack of capacity and corruption, with charges as high as N50,400 ($132) per test.

“Some private providers also add extra fees for ‘logistics’, up to between N60,400 and N100,400 ($159 – $264) for a COVID-19 test, which is approximately two to three times more than the monthly minimum wage in Nigeria.”

The report also finds insufficient regulation and monitoring of private health

providers.

It, therefore, recommended an increase in government funding to health by at least 15 per cent of the budget to meet the Abuja commitment and expand the availability of quality, well-coordinated public healthcare services, and a reversal of the current policies intended to encourage higher for-profit private sector engagement in healthcare.

The report equally task the government to ensure that all healthcare providers are strictly monitored and regulated at the federal, state, and local level, and also take concrete steps to ensure universal access to social healthcare insurance or another pre-pooled financing scheme.

38

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͮ˜ 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Business Leaders, Experts Rally Entrepreneurs on Productivity at FCMB Forum Entrepreneurs, particularly startups, have been charged to acquire knowledge and the right competencies if they must succeed and stand the test of time in a rapidly changing business environment.

Twelve celebrated business leaders and entrepreneurs made this call in Season 2 of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) knowledge sharing and capacity building series, Top-5-In-5.

The series was designed to give Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) practical insight into different business areas to inspire them to achieve optimal results. Offering tips on a wide range of topics, the business leaders noted that no entrepreneur could stand the test of time without the right competencies and offerings aligned with market needs. They added that businesses must have a broad view and offer solutions that exceed expectations to achieve optimum performance and sustainable growth.

Speaking on, “How to Grow a Local Startup with Global Appeal,” CEO of Interswitch

Limited, Mitchell Elegbe said entrepreneurs must have a unique business model and be clear on the products or services they are offering to the public.

On her part, Business Manager, Africa Development Centre, Nkechi Wigwe said given the challenges posed by COVID-19, which has led to remote working by employees, entrepreneurs should provide the necessary tools for their staff to work effectively.

She also urged them to adopt the right technology, policies and processes to remain relevant and competitive.

Also speaking on the topic, “How to build top of mind awareness on a budget”, the Chief Executive Officer of X3M Group, Mr. Steve Babaeko, advised entrepreneurs to build a strong network of partners and customers. According to him, “networking presents you with the opportunity to find others who are either in similar circumstances or can buy into your business.

When you network appropriately, doors start to open, and your brand is top of mind. Building

professional relationships can help you get new customers, retain current customers, and manage your reputation. Your network is your net worth”.

In his presentation on, “How to navigate tax issues as a small business owner,”Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader at PriceWaterhouse Coopers, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele highlighted the importance of professionalism, best business practices and recordkeeping. He stated that, “cutting corners will not last. It won’t take you far, especially if you plan to grow your business, scale and become a large organisation.

Ensure you commit to doing the right thing, including compliance with laws, regulations and paying taxes. It is a lot more affordable to do the right thing. Though Tax compliance can be complicated, having the right knowledge can help you”.

Group Technology Programme Manager at FCMB Group Plc, Mr. Emeka Eboegbune equally offered tips on “How to harness technology in transforming your business”.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021

Ecobank Extends Mortgage Finance to Civil Servants in Ogun

Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

Kayode Tokede

-- 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

Ecobank Nigeria has entered into partnership agreement with Ogun State government to provide mortgage financing to interested civil servants who are allotees of the state’s housing scheme.

Under the housing scheme, the Ogun State Government has developed an acquisition arrangement to build and allocate houses to senior civil servants, to be purchased through installment within a defined period of time.

With this partnership, Ecobank is to provide mortgage finance facility to interested and qualified beneficiaries that meet the Bank’s credit risk acceptance criteria and other conditions.

According to the Memorandum

of Understanding (MoU) between both parties, the allotee must have been in continuous employment with the state government for at least thirty-six months prior to the application for the facility, while Ecobank is expected to review and approve loan applications based on the agreed terms.

Ecobank Nigeria in a statement said the Bank is excited with partnering Ogun State Government in its housing scheme for civil servants in the state, stressing that the Bank is committed to deploying its pedigree in mortgage financing and other loans solutions to support the allotees of the houses.

In his comment, the Ogun State Commissioner of Housing, Jagunmolu Akande Omoniyi said

the decision of the government to partner with Ecobank on the project was informed by the Bank’s expertise in mortgage financing, stressing that the state government has implicit confidence on the Bank’s ability to deliver on target.

He pointed out that the construction of low-cost mass houses in the state is targeted at providing decent, quality, and affordable housing to civil servants, adding that many housing projects are currently being constructed by the Ministry of Housing and the Ogun State Property Investments Company (OPIC) as part of the state’s blueprint on purposeful governance and robust development blueprint summarized in a mantra “Building our Future together.”

LIRS Reaffirms March 31 Deadline for Filing Individual AnnualTax Returns The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has notified all individual taxpayers, including self-employed persons and employees under the PAYE Scheme to file their Annual Tax Returns on or before March 31, 2022.

This it said in a statement is in accordance with provisions of the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) Cap P8 2011 (as amended).

“The obligation to file annual tax returns is stipulated in Section 41 of the Personal

Income Tax Act (PITA). This provision makes it mandatory for all taxable person(s) to file a return of aggregate income from all sources for the preceding year with the State tax authority in which they are deemed resident within 90 days from the commencement of every new year of assessment, “it stated.

The Executive Chairman of LIRS, Mr. Ayodele Subair in the statement urged all individual taxpayers, including self-employed persons and employees under the PAYE

Scheme in Lagos State to file their annual tax returns on or before March 31, 2022, to avoid payment of penalties as well as other statutory sanctions.

He also emphasized that filing of tax returns in Lagos State can only be done on the LIRS e-Tax portal.

“It is therefore mandatory for all taxable persons in the State to register on the e-Tax portal. The e-Tax portal is built purposely for the convenience of taxpayers. It is easy, convenient, and safe, “he said.

Agropartnerships Announces PaymentTimelines As part of efforts to redeem payout commitments to all stakeholders, Agropartnerships have announced that payouts will resume in July 2022.

The company made this known during a virtual stakeholder meeting, which also featured the presentation of a consolidated payout plan.

While assuring partners that the company is committed to clearing all payouts, Co-founder and Co-CEO, Agropartnerships, Uyi Osayimwense disclosed to stakeholders that the company is working relentlessly to strengthen

its pillars for longevity in the sector.

He said the payout strategy presented will enable the business to fully return to a healthy financial standing.

“More importantly, it ensures partners are paid in the earliest possible time frame. We have spent a huge amount of time since the last webinar with our team of experts, speaking with employees, contractors, institutional investors, agencies, technical partners, and some agropartners. I can assure you that everyone has worked tirelessly with us and our internal

teams to fully analyze the situation - past and future maturing cycles, operations, future cash flows, risks, and opportunities.

It is based on the outcome of this deep assessment that we have come up with the most viable way out of the present challenges, “he said Also speaking, Co-CEO, Osayi Osazuwa commented, “To this end, we have halted all payouts from February 18. While we plan to begin Interest payments in July 2022, all payments will be made in three batches, July 2022, Oct 2022, and Feb 2023.”

---- 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).

39

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͮ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

Gains in Consumer Goods, Oil & Gas Sectors LiftsStock Market by N71bn Kayode Tokede

The stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) yesterday closed transactions on a positive note, rebounding from the five consecutive bearish trading days.

In summary, the NGX AllShare Index (ASI) grew by 132.74 basis points or 0.28 per cent to close at 47,287.09 basis points, while the overall market capitalisation value gained N71

billion to close at N25.485 trillion.

Sector performances were mixed yesterday with the NGX Consumer Goods appreciating by 2.07per cent and NGX Oil and Gas also grew by 0.11per cent sectors closing positively, while the Banking depreciated by 0.04per cent and Industrial goods dropped by 0.01per cent to close in the red zone.

The market breadth was positive as 30 stocks advanced against 12 stocks that declined.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

Presco recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent to close at N114.95, per share.

Pharma Deko followed with a gain 9.89 per cent to close at N2.00, while Linkage Assurance up by 9.80 per cent to close at 56 kobo, per share. Royal Exchange rose by 9.63 per cent each to close at N1.48, while R.T. Briscoe Nigeria appreciated by 8.93 per cent to close at 61 kobo, per share.

On the other hand, Ellah Lakes Plc led the losers’ chart

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

by 9.92 per cent, to close at 3.45, per share. May & Baker Nigeria followed with a decline of 9.91 per cent to close at N4.91, while Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals declined by 9.34 per cent to close at N1.65, per share.

Niger Insurance shed 8.70 per cent to close at 21 kobo, while Cutix Plc depreciated by 7.26 per cent to close at N2.30, per share.

However, the total volume of trades fell by 55.45 per cent to

T R A D E D

VALUE TRADED ( N )

MAIN BOARD

A S

336.305 million units, valued at N5.860 billion, and exchanged in 5,248 deals.

Transactions in the shares of FBN Holdings (FBNH) topped the activity chart with 108.615 million shares valued at N1.249 billion. Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) followed with 54.134 million shares worth N1.428 billion, while United Capital traded 25.292 million shares valued at N308.508 million.

Zenith Bank traded 22.292

O F

0 9

million shares valued at N595.015 million, while Caverton Offshore Support Group transacted 14.946 million shares worth N19.043 million.

According to analysts at GTI Securities Limited: “The Nigerian domestic market rallied after a five day bearish sentiment, as the risk of the Russian-Ukrainian war still weigh on investors. However, we expect bulls to trade-off on the market given the spate of corporate actions.”

/ 0 3 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

40

THURSDAY, ͹͸˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

Thursday, March 10, 2022

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THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

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2023.54

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

1,260.00

3 BUA Cement Plc 4 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC 5 Zenith Bank PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC

Price Previous Price Current Change Price Change Weighting Index to Change YTD Date

0.32% 0.0%

ROE

9.1% 102.4% 38.2%

31.9%

15.0%

ROA

P/E

3.5%

5.3x

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

P/BV

0.8x

6.0%

31.9%

17.0%

1.5%

204.00

0.0%

8.0%

3.6%

3.6%

134.7%

14.1%

13.9x

21.4x

70.75

0.0%

6.8%

5.5%

5.5%

19.1%

11.2%

34.0x

6.4x

26.15

-0.2%

6.2%

0.6%

0.6%

24.8%

3.9%

4.0x

5.1%

7.2%

1.0x

11.5%

25.3% 29.4%

2.9%

26.50

-1.1%

5.9%

5.4%

5.4%

20.4%

2.7%

3.4x

0.7x

11.7%

273.50

0.0%

4.4%

6.4%

6.4%

39.2%

16.3%

12.9x

4.8x

7.3%

7.8%

1,435.00

2.9%

3.1%

-7.8%

-7.8%

106.8%

15.6%

27.8x

32.8x

3.5%

3.6%

;нϯ͘ϭйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ E ;нϯ͘ϬйͿ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ E'y ůůͲƐŚĂƌĞ ŝŶͲ ϭϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ϯϵ͕ϱϱϬ͘ϯϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ

8 FBN Holdings Plc 9 Lafarge Africa PLC

11.50

3.1%

3.2%

0.9%

0.9%

8.4%

0.8%

6.8x

0.6x

3.9%

14.7%

23.50

0.0%

3.1%

-1.9%

-1.9%

11.6%

8.4%

8.8x

1.0x

8.5%

11.4%

ĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ Ϭ͘ϯй ƚŽ ϰϳ͕Ϯϴϳ͘Ϭϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ Ͳϭ͘ϴй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ

10 Access Bank PLC 11 United Bank for Africa PLC

10.10

1.0%

2.8%

8.6%

8.6%

17.0%

1.4%

2.8x

0.4x

8.4%

35.3%

8.50

1.2%

2.2%

5.6%

5.6%

15.8%

1.4%

2.5x

0.4x

11.8%

39.9% 12.7%

േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ƚŽ ϭϬ͘ϳй ;ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůLJ ϭϬ͘ϰйͿ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ

ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ േϳϭ͘ϱďŶ ƚŽ

12 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 13 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 14 SEPLAT Energy PLC

േϮϱ͘ϱƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ

15 Ecobank Transnational Inc 16 International Brew eries PLC 17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϱϱ͘ϰй ƚŽ ϯϯϲ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůͲ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕

18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 19 Fidelity Bank PLC

ƵĞ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ϲϭ͘ϭй ƚŽ േϱ͘ϵďŶ͘ E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

20 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, ;ϭϭ͘ϭŵ

35.00

0.0%

1.5%

-2.8%

-2.8%

15.1%

2.1%

7.9x

1.2x

11.7%

47.90

3.0%

1.4%

-4.2%

-4.2%

7.6%

2.7%

30.1x

2.2x

3.3%

3.3%

990.00

0.0%

2.3%

52.3%

52.3%

8.7%

4.1%

9.0x

0.8x

4.2%

11.1%

11.00

0.0%

1.6%

26.4%

26.4%

5.20

2.0%

1.1%

5.1%

5.1%

-10.3%

-3.9%

137.00

1.5%

1.0%

-3.5%

-3.5%

36.5%

23.3%

9.3x

3.1x

31.00

1.3%

1.0%

9.3%

9.3%

15.9%

4.5%

4.7x

0.7x

5.3%

21.1%

2.99

0.3%

0.7%

17.3%

17.3%

13.3%

1.3%

2.3x

0.3x

7.4%

44.0%

2.5x

39.8% 1.0x

2.35

0.0%

0.5%

1.3%

1.3%

9.3%

3.0%

7.2x

0.7x

9.4%

13.8%

0.0%

0.4%

-9.2%

-9.2%

15.3%

6.3%

8.7x

1.6x

6.3%

11.5%

3.42

0.0%

0.5%

14.4%

14.4%

10.3%

1.1%

0.3x

4.4%

12.50

3.3%

0.4%

26.3%

26.3%

2.8x

12.2%

65.00

0.0%

0.6%

66.7%

66.7%

13.3%

6.0%

13.7x

1.7x

0.7%

7.3%

1.15

8.5%

0.4%

19.8%

19.8%

11.1%

2.3%

6.1x

0.6x

0.9%

16.4%

35.6%

18.5%

6.0x

1.0x

4.7%

16.8%

2.4x

0.9% 3.1%

8.2%

1.6%

18.6%

23 United Capital PLC 24 Guinness Nigeria PLC

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 26 NEM Insurance PLC

3.82

7.3%

0.3%

-15.1%

-15.1%

ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ϯ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͕ Ϯ ůŽƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ &ZͲ

27 Presco PLC 28 NASCON Allied Industries PLC

114.95

10.0%

0.4%

30.9%

30.9%

13.00

0.0%

0.3%

-1.5%

-1.5%

21.3%

6.9%

12.2x

2.4x

/ d ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ

29 AIICO Insurance PLC 30 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri

0.70

6.1%

0.2%

0.0%

0.0%

7.2%

1.1%

388.9x

0.7x

264.90

0.0%

0.3%

19.4%

19.4%

48.0%

9.5%

5.4x

2.2x

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d

Ğƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϰ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŝŶĐŚĞĚ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ďLJ ϯ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ Ϯ͘ϭй ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ϵ͘ϭйͿ͕

hE/> s Z

;Ͳϯ͘ϱйͿ͕

>/E< ^^hZ

;Ͳϲ͘ϰйͿ͕

// K ;нϲ͘ϭйͿ͕ E D ;нϳ͘ϯйͿ͕ E ^d> ;нϮ͘ϵйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ

E ;нϯ͘ϬйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ

ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ

Ϭ͘ϭй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ K E K ;нϬ͘ϴйͿ͘ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘

31 Custodian and Allied Insurance 32 Vitafoam Nigeria PLC 33 Unilever Nigeria PLC 34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 35 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 36 Oando PLC 37 Wema Bank PLC 38 Sterling Bank PLC 39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ Ğƌ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϴй ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ ϰďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ϭďƉ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ

ƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘

10.8%

15.80

DŝdžĞĚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

-11.0%

0.3%

7.20

0.0%

0.2%

-8.9%

-8.9%

19.5%

5.5%

4.2x

0.8x

7.6%

23.6%

21.90

0.0%

0.2%

-2.7%

-2.7%

38.7%

16.0%

5.6x

2.0x

6.8%

17.8%

14.00

0.0%

0.2%

-3.4%

-3.4%

7.8%

4.9%

31.1x

1.2x

26.45

0.6%

0.2%

18.3%

18.3%

18.9%

2.4%

4.0x

0.8x

1.5%

25.0%

4.0%

6.25

0.8%

0.1%

5.9%

5.9%

7.1%

0.8%

7.0x

0.7x

4.87

0.8%

0.0%

10.2%

10.2%

14.5%

2.6%

2.1x

0.3x

3.2%

0.92

0.0%

0.1%

27.8%

27.8%

14.1%

0.8%

4.0x

0.5x

4.3%

25.0%

1.55

1.3%

0.1%

2.6%

2.6%

9.4%

0.9%

2.0x

0.3x

3.2%

49.4%

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

13.7%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a in e r s T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P R ESC O

P ric e C hg %

114.95

10.0%

FB NH

108.6

3.1%

P H A R M D EKO

2.00

9.9%

GT C O

54.1

-0.2%

LIN KA SSUR E

0.56

9.8%

UC A P

25.3

3.3%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ KƵƚůŽŽŬ

R OYA LEX

1.48

9.6%

Z EN IT H B A N K

22.3

-1.1%

R T B R ISC OE

0.61

8.9%

C A VER T ON

14.9

-7.1%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ

T R A N SC OR P

ŽŶ E/d, ;Ͳϰ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ hd/y ;Ͳϳ͘ϯйͿ͘

;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϲdž

ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘Ϯϳdž ĨƌŽŵ ͲϬ͘Ϯϭdž ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

ƉƌŝŽƌ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ ϯϬ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ͕ ϭϮ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ

ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ DZ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ D zͲ

M B EN EF IT LA SA C O

ǁŚŝůĞ dZ E^ ;Ͳϴ͘ϯйͿ͕ > ^ K ;Ͳϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ >/s Ͳ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĚƌĂŐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ͘ ^dK < ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝdžĞĚ͕ ĂƐ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůLJ ǁŝŶĚƐ ƵƉ͘

1.15

8.5%

UB A

11.3

1.2%

0.27

8.0%

T R A N SC OR P

10.4

8.5%

J A P A ULGOLD

9.8

5.9%

F ID ELIT YB K

8.2

0.3%

NB

4.9

3.0%

1.10

7.8%

N EM

3.82

7.3%

WA P IC

0.50

6.4%

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

ǁŚŝůĞ ϲϲ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽĚĂLJ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƉƌŽĮƚͲ < Z ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ,KEz&>KhZ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ T ic k er ELLA H LA KES M A YB A KER

P ric e 3.45 4.91

P ric e C hg % -9.9% -9.9%

N EIM ET H

1.65

-9.3%

N IGER IN S

0.21

-8.7%

C UT IX

2.30

-7.3%

C A VER T ON

1.30

-7.1%

UP L

2.49

-5.0%

J A IZ B A N K

0.70

-2.8%

C H IP LC Z EN IT H B A N K

14.2% 47.7%

0.63

-1.6%

26.50

-1.1%

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

GT C O

1428.3

-0.2%

FB NH

1248.9

3.1%

N EST LE

1022.8

2.9%

Z EN IT H B A N K

595.0

-1.1%

UC A P

308.5

3.3%

NB

229.6

3.0%

P R ESC O

157.5

10.0%

OKOM UOIL

153.8

1.5%

UB A

95.7

1.2%

M TNN

75.9

0.0%

41

THURDAY, MARCH 10, 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 08Mar-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 N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 8.59% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.65 3.82 4.66% 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 7.10% Anchoria Equity Fund 144.42 146.17 3.01% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.23 1.23 7.36% 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 20.99 21.62 3.48% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 475.25 489.58 5.34% ARM Ethical Fund 39.47 40.66 1.31% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.05 1.05 -3.16% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.03 1.03 1.36% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.46% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 108.89 108.89 7.06% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,083.39 1,083.39 8.34% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.09 2.09 11.15% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.25 2.29 16.56% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.02 1.02 1.64% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.67% Paramount Equity Fund 18.66 18.99 10.87% Women's Investment Fund 145.36 146.93 4.50% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.93% Cordros Milestone Fund 139.23 140.15 5.33% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 111.41 111.41 0.88% 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 N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.57% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.02 1.02 5.49% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.04 1.04 13.82% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 101.49 101.49 3.43% 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 1,423.48 1,423.48 10.80% FBN Balanced Fund 182.80 184.17 4.31% FBN Halal Fund 117.50 117.50 8.70% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.29% 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

122.97 154.01

122.97 3.98% 156.13 2.27% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price 1.00 3.98 1.80 1.22

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 7.26% 3.98 -0.69% 1.84 3.57% 1.22 0.80% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price 3,962.40 3,507.93 100.00

Offer Price 4,022.37 3,507.93 100.00

1.09

1.09

Yield / T-Rtn 1.79% 1.14% 6.12%

3.40%

INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.41% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.85 2.92 -0.11% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 142.93 142.99 -8.15% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.27 1.31 0.96% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.08 1.08 3.94% 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 1.57 1.60 4.08% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,161.27 1,161.27 2.14% 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 12.55 12.63 6.42% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 8.71% 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) 103.75 103.75 12.58% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 8.32% 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 1.62 1.64 0.52% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.63 11.63 3.92% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.58% PACAM Equity Fund 1.48 1.49 2.48% PACAM EuroBond Fund 114.20 116.69 -0.86% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 132.54 134.77 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 3,519.73 3,558.82 2.23% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 236.87 236.87 0.48% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.33 1.35 3.08% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 316.48 316.48 1.00% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 243.09 246.60 0.39% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.54% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,174.17 11,331.47 0.59% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.30 1.30 0.81% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 117.66 117.66 0.59% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 107.97 107.97 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 0.96 0.99 3.59% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.41 1.43 3.37% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.15 1.16 5.42% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.09 1.09 1.38% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.98 1.98 1.37% United Capital Eurobond Fund 123.53 123.53 0.97% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.92% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.35 13.47 1.22% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 15.14 15.31 3.64% Zenith Income Fund 22.32 22.32 1.49% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.20%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.98 54.65

10.62% 8.10%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.01 134.46 106.34 20.11 22.47

14.11 137.83 108.69 20.21 22.57

0.28% 2.16% 2.63% 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

4.36 5.60 18.49 1.00 21.04 169.68

4.46 5.70 18.69 1.00 21.24 171.68

15.88% 9.88% 7.61% 6.87% 8.48% 7.50%

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.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

Calls Mount for West to Impose No-Fly Zone, Give Jets to Kyiv US Vice President Kamala Harris travels to Poland’s capital, Warsaw, Wednesday as the Biden administration and its NATO allies debated the best ways to fortify Ukraine while avoiding being drawn directly into the fighting, which would risk a wider European war.

US officials say Harris will be carrying a message to Poland that the United States stands “firmly and resolutely” with NATO allies and will continue to provide aid to Ukraine.

Her visit, however, coincides with diplomatic turbulence over a Polish offer, which caught Washington by surprise, to donate its Soviet-era MiG-29 warplanes to the US for the fighter jets to be transferred to Ukraine. In turn, Warsaw wants Washington to replenish its air force with American-made planes.

The Polish government didn’t get the green light from the Biden administration before going public with the plan, and the Pentagon Tuesday rejected the idea as not “a tenable one.” Victoria Nuland, the third most senior US State Department official, only learned the scheme had been made public by the Poles as she was giving testimony before a Capitol Hill committee and was questioned about it by senators.

Polish officials say they were only taking up a suggestion made by the Biden administration.

Conservative Yoon Wins South Korea’s Presidential Vote Yoon Seok-youl, a conservative former prosecutor and relative political newcomer, will become South Korea’s next president.

Yoon defeated his liberal rival, ex-provincial governor Lee Jae-myung, in a bitterly contested election that many observers say was one of the ugliest in South Korea’s 35-year-old democracy.

With 98% of votes counted from the Wednesday election, Yoon led Lee by about 260,000 votes. At about 4:00 a.m. local time Thursday, Lee conceded defeat.

Yoon will take over the world’s 10th largest economy and Asia’s fourth-largest during a time of deepening social division and economic challenges.

He will become president in May, replacing Moon Jae-in, who was limited to a single five-year term.

On foreign policy, Yoon has promised a tougher stance toward North Korea, which has recently ramped up provocative missile tests, and China, which is South Korea’s largest trading partner. Yoon also vows to improve South Korea’s relationship with Japan, its former colonial ruler, and prioritise Seoul’s alliance with Washington.

Perhaps Yoon’s most striking domestic initiative is his promise to eliminate South Korea’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. During the campaign, Yoon courted young men who opposed feminism.

Yoon has said there is “no structural discrimination” against women, despite South Korea being at or near the bottom of most global rankings on gender equality in developed countries.

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Accuses Russia of Destroying Mariupol Maternity Hospital Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that a Russian airstrike had destroyed a maternity hospital in the southeastern port city of Mariupol and that children were among those “under the wreckage.”

Russia has not commented on the allegation.

It has denied targeting civilians in its invasion of Ukraine.

A senior Ukrainian official, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, said authorities were trying to determine the number of people who might have been killed or wounded.

The hospital attack led Zelenskyy to again call on NATO to impose a no-fly zone in Ukraine, declaring, “You have power, but you seem to be losing humanity.”

A senior US defence official told reporters Wednesday that the United States was in talks with Ukraine and other “allies and partners” to provide Kyiv with defensive weapons that do not involve more air defence capabilities.

The US, however, has deployed two Patriot surface-to-air missile batteries in Poland, according to Marine Captain Adam Miller, a spokesman for the US European Command. Miller said in

The French Presidency said the new sanctions approved on March 9 also include targeting the maritime sector and measures aimed at excluding three Belarusian banks from the SWIFT financial payment messaging system while also clarifying the issue of cryptocurrencies and giving a complete list of technologies and goods that cannot be sold between Russia and the bloc.

a statement Wednesday the missile batteries, normally stationed in Germany, had been repositioned at Poland’s “invitation.”

“This defensive deployment is being conducted proactively to counter any potential threat to US and Allied forces and NATO territory,” Miller said.

Turkey to Host Meeting of Ukrainian, Russian Foreign Ministers Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is headed to Turkey ahead of a meeting Thursday with his Ukrainian counterpart at a Turkish resort. Ankara, which has close ties with Moscow and Kyiv, has been seeking to mediate since Russia invaded Ukraine.

Turkey’s resort city of Antalya will be the venue for the first meeting between Lavrov and Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, since Russia invaded Ukraine. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will host the summit.

Senior Turkish presidential advisor Ilnur Cevik said the fact that the meeting is happening is a success in itself.

“The fact that the Russians and the Ukrainians have agreed to come to Antalya is quite an important achievement for Turkey,” he said.

“They recognise Turkey as an honest broker, it seems. So, we are very happy about that, we don’t know where it will take us, but the fact that it’s happening is very, very significant.”

Russia and Ukraine have been holding talks, but the meeting in Antalya will be the highest-level Russian-Ukrainian encounter since hostilities erupted.

While Ankara has supplied Turkish-made drones and other military hardware to Ukraine, it has also opposed international sanctions on Russia.

Namibia Defends Sale of Elephants to UAE Zoo Namibia has defended its sale of 22 wild elephants to a zoo in the United Arab Emirates as legal and needed to prevent human-wildlife conflict. But conservationists call it a legal loophole and excuse to make money.

The chief of Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism described the sale as a private transaction between buyer and seller, which the Namibian government could not influence.

Speaking at a press briefing Wednesday, Teofilus Nghitila said the transaction is lawful and, per CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

“I have indicated earlier that these live sales of these African elephants fulfil Article Three of the CITES, and making reference to that article, it set procedures that need to be followed and the responsible authority have to cross-check and

also in consultation with the CITES Secretariat, that that requirement is fulfilled. So, we have not received any opposition for the CITES at this stage, and that means the condition is fulfilled,” said Nghitila.

Michele Pickover is executive director of an animal welfare group, the EMS Foundation.

She told VOA that Namibian authorities are being disingenuous by citing Article Three of the CITES, which deals with the export of endangered species from their natural habitats.

Iraqis Protest Rise in Food Prices, Officials Blame Ukraine War Protests erupted Wednesday in Iraq’s impoverished south over a rise in food prices that officials attributed to the conflict in Ukraine.

For about a week, cooking oils and flour prices have skyrocketed in local markets as government officials have sought to address growing anger with various statements and measures.

More than 500 protesters gathered in a central square in the southern city of Nasiriyah — a flashpoint of anti-corruption protests that gripped the country in 2019.

“The rise in prices is strangling us, whether it is bread or other food products,” retired teacher Hassan Kazem said. “We can barely make ends meet.”

On Tuesday, the Iraqi government announced measures to confront the increase in international prices.

These included a monthly allowance of about $70 for pensioners whose income does not exceed one million dinars (almost $700), as well as civil servants earning less than 500,000 dinars.

The authorities also announced the suspension of customs duties on food products, basic consumer goods and construction materials for two months.

EU Agrees to Broaden Sanctions on Russian Officials, Oligarchs The European Union has agreed to expand its third round of sanctions being imposed on Russia to target a larger number of oligarchs and officials close to President Vladimir Putin over Moscow’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

The French Presidency of the European Council said in a series of tweets on March 9 that the new sanctions added would apply to “Russian leaders and oligarchs and their family members implicated in the Russian aggression against Ukraine.”

The third round of sanctions being imposed on Russia, the largest EU package agreed since the invasion began on February 24, includes a freeze on the Russian central bank’s assets in the bloc and a ban on Kremlin media in the European Union.

Heineken, Universal Music Group Join List of Companies Leaving Russia Dutch brewer Heineken and Universal Music Group have become the latest companies to pause business in Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine.

Heineken announced Wednesday it also will suspend operations in Russia, including the sale, production and advertising of its popular beer, and said it would “step up support and donations for NGOs (non-government organisations) operating in Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia,” assisting Ukrainian refugees.

Heineken already had announced plans to end all new investments and exports to Russia.

Universal Music group announced its decision in a statement on its website, saying it was suspending all operations in Russia and closing its offices there effective immediately. Universal — the world’s largest music label — said it has been working with groups from a range of countries to support humanitarian relief efforts to bring urgent aid to refugees in Ukraine.

Russia Announces New Evacuation Cease-fires for Besieged Ukrainian Cities Russia announced plans for new cease-fires Wednesday to allow civilians to leave several parts of Ukraine besieged by Russian forces, a day after thousands of people were able to leave a city in northeastern Ukraine while Ukrainian officials accused Russia of shelling another evacuation route in the southern part of the country.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Russia confirmed evacuation routes would lead out of Sumy, Mariupol, Enerhodar, Volnovakha, Izyum and several towns near the capital, Kyiv.

Vereshchuk said 5,000 people were able to evacuate Sumy on Tuesday.

But in Mariupol, where a Russian siege has left the southeastern port city with dwindling supplies of electricity, heat, food and water, efforts to get people out Tuesday failed, with Vereshchuk saying Russian forces fired on a humanitarian cargo convoy.

“The situation in Mariupol is apocalyptic,” Red Cross spokesperson Ewan Watson said.

Asked by VOA about Russian shelling of humanitarian corridors, a senior defence official told reporters Tuesday it was “disingenuous” of Russia to declare a humanitarian corridor that goes north into Belarus or Russia.

Australia to Declare East Coast Floods a National Emergency Australia’s prime minister on Wednesday said he would declare a national emergency following floods across large swathes of the east coast that have claimed 22 lives.

During a visit to flood-devastated Lismore in northern New South Wales state, prime minister Scott Morrison announced that four people died last week.

Morrison said the national emergency declaration in a statement will “ensure all our emergency powers are available and that we cut through any red tape we might face in delivering services and support on the ground.”

It is the first such declaration since a law was passed in December 2020 in response to catastrophic wildfires during the previous Southern Hemisphere summer.

Extraordinarily heavy rains have created the current emergency in New South Wales and Queensland. Some of the flooded communities were battling fires two years ago.

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THURSDAY, ͹͸˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

FORTY-SEVEN FIRST TIME IN 22 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY, SENATE GOES AGAINST AGREEMENT REACHED WITH SITTING PRESIDENT Owing to the development on the Red Chamber yesterday, pundits argued that there might be distrust between the executive and the National Assembly going forward, adding that it could negatively impact future bills.

The analysts pointed out that right from the tenure of former presidents: Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan – when the president wants to get a bill signed, they would agree with the National Assembly on areas they want removed or included and it would be done as agreed by both arms of government.

Therefore, they noted that for the Senate not to abide with what was agreed with the executive would endanger future bills because the president would not listen to them again.

“By their act, they have broken a sacrosanct tradition that is done everywhere in the world that practices democracy. This would have major impact on future bills and with future presidents,” a source who pleaded to remain anonymous said.

Another source explained further; "The President had wanted to veto the reworked electoral act but was sensitive about the mood of the nation and the impact another delay would have on the 2023 elections calendar. Instead he raised the issue of the contentious clause with the leadership of the National Assembly who went to meet their caucus to discuss the President's concerns.

They came back to the president that they have agreed to expunged the contentious clause that infringes on the constitutional rights of political appointees to vote or be voted for from the bill after he signed the bill into law. Having extracted that commitment from the leadership of the National Assembly, the President proceeded to sign the bill into law.

And immediately followed with a

request for an amendment based on the understanding reached with the lawmakers. It is therefore a betrayal of the understanding for the lawmakers to now turn round to reject the request from the President to amend the law to bring it in conformity with the constitution."

Reacting to the request by the president that Section 84 (12) be deleted in the new Electoral Act 2022, the source argued that, the section of the law was discriminatory because it allows elected officials to perpetuate themselves.

“That means they would have no challenge from appointed officers,” he added.

However, the Electoral Act Amendment Bill was unanimously rejected by the lawmakers when it came for second reading on the floor during plenary, amidst a mild drama.

There were strong indications before plenary that the senators would kick against the bill despite the position of the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan that the red chamber would go ahead to consider the bill notwithstanding a court order barring it from doing so.

The court had, in a ruling delivered by Inyang Ekwo, on an ex-parte application by the People’s Democratic Party, barred the President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Senate President from tampering with the newly amended Electoral Act 2022.

The Court maintained that the Electoral Act, having become a valid law could not be altered without following the due process of law.

The move to reject the bill was signaled by a point of order from Senator Adamu Aliero for it to be stepped down after the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, moved a motion for the bill to be read a second time.

Aliero, who came under a point of Order, drew the attention of his colleagues to the provision of Rule 52(5) of the Senate Standing Order.

The Order 52(5) provides that, “Reference shall not be made to any matter on which a judicial decision is pending, in such a way as might in the opinion of the President of the Senate prejudice the interest of parties thereto.”

Aliero, therefore, advised the upper chamber to step down further consideration of the bill pending the vacation of a court order delivered by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday.

The Senator maintained that going ahead with the amendment of the Act would be clear conflict with the sub judice rule in law which prevents the legislature from deliberating or considering any matter already before a court of competent jurisdiction.

Aliero explained: “Going ahead to consider the bill obviously will mean that we are disrespecting that order, and this is an institution of the Senate - the symbol of Nigeria’s Lawmaking body.

“We should not be seen to be disobeying the court order. No matter how bad that court order is, we should respect it.

“So, I’m of the opinion that we should stop considering this bill pending the time the court set aside that order, and I think I’m speaking the opinion of my colleagues here."

The Senate President, while ruling on Aliero’s point of Order, insisted that the move by the upper chamber to amend the Electoral Act was in line with exercising its Constitutional duties amid following due process.

Lawan said: "To be specific to this particular request, for us in the Senate, it is to look at the request and follow our due process.

“Looking at the request does not mean granting the request. Members of the National Assembly are at

liberty to review the request to see if the arguments by the Executive arm of government are convincing enough.

“If the arguments are not convincing enough, the National Assembly can deny the request, and that is how it is. We have no encumbrance from that order.

“So, it is for Senators here to decide to vote for this amendment or vote against it.

“I think we are not breaching any law, in fact, we are trying to promote democracy because to do otherwise may mean that one day someone will go to court and say that the Senate of the National Assembly should not sit.

“I want to appeal to all of us, that we are on the right course and my ruling remains that we are going ahead to consider the proposal which the Leader of the Senate is leading the debate.

“At the end of the debate, we are going to vote, and the vote will decide the fate of the bill.

“I’m sure all of us know that whatever we do here is to protect democracy and the sanctity of the upper chamber,” the Senate President said.

The Senate Leader, was then given the floor to lead the debate on the Electoral Act Amendment bill.

The real drama started unfolding when the Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), kicked against the deletion of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill as requested by President Buhari.

He said: “There are certain things that we see which we think we don’t even have to come here to debate.

“One of those things is the fact that in every democracy, all over the world, there are certain rules which we don’t need to be told about.

“One of those rules is the fact that you cannot be a referee and a

player on the same field. It is either you’re a referee or a player.

“So, every other place in the world where democracy is practiced including Nigeria, we don’t need to be told that if we want to run for office, we have to resign. That is a sine qua non that we don’t even need to debate.

“Yet here we are today in Nigeria, and people think they can sit in an office and contest an election and become candidates and continue to sit in that office until the date of election. So, how would we continue to debase democracy in this way?

“Mr. President, I think, a cursory look at this paper shows that this paper is dead on arrival. And I urge you, my colleagues, to help us to continue to deepen democracy by insisting that this bill not be read a second time in any manner whatsoever.”

The rejection of the bill continued with the bombshell from the APC Senator, representing Kogi West, Smart Adeyemi, who also, vehemently, expressed his disapproval to the consideration of the bill.

Adeyemi said, “one of the hallmarks of democracy is justice, fairness and equity."

He continued, “Indeed, Mr. President, it is a settled matter in law that you cannot be a judge over you own case.

“In any election, where people have the added advantage of holding

UMAHI, DEPUTY APPEAL JUDGEMENT AS INEC AWAITS CERTIFIED TRUE COPY Ebonyi people. I am just here for two things: one is to urge you all to be very peaceful, another is to tell you that we still have very serious confidence in the judiciary.

"The PDP lawyers were the people that did the hatchet job; the PDP were the people that

would be free and fair, given the leadership in place and given the stand of Mr. President.

"What simply needs to be done is to give every member of this party a sense of belonging, not forgetting the founding fathers and the parties that came together to form the APC. “One, which is the Congress of Progressives Change (CPC) led by President Muhammadu Buhari; the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) led by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) led by Rochas Okorocha; the All Nigerians Peoples Party (ANPP) led by Ogbonnaya Onu and Abdulaziz Yari and a host of others," he said.

The party chieftain noted that if these people were carried along and the governors were recognised as leaders of the party, the party would have a peaceful convention.

He stressed that the party should, as a matter of urgency, respect the rule of law and obey the court judgment and orders, where they exist, adding that when this is done, it would also give everyone a sense of belonging.

The former Imo governor said he came to the party secretariat to encourage the new leadership, give his word of advice and what should be done to move the party forward.

According to him, APC remained the people's confidence, because the people believed in this party and “if we hold this convention on the 26, it will restore the confidence of the people and members of this party”.

To that extent, the governing APC leadership has approved the zoning of party offices, ahead of the convention.

This was contained in a statement, yesterday, by its Director of Publicity, Mr. Salisu ambatta.

"During its regular meeting on March 8, 2022, the Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) approved the recommendations of the Committee on Zoning,” the statement stated.

The positions zoned to the NorthCentral are: National Chairman, National Vice Chairman, Deputy National Secretary, Deputy National Legal Adviser, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Zonal Secretary, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organis-

were doing forum shopping and I am going to write the NBA to discipline them because you know, the judge was misled.

"In Bayelsa governorship election, APC won the election but because there was defect in the credentials of the deputy, the Supreme Court, in their wisdom, saw that the votes cast in any election belongs to the candidates and not the party but lawyers knew about this but they misled the judge.

"I am using the opportunity to let Nigerians know that nobody castigated the judge and we will not do such.”

He added, "We have done three things: we have done the appeal at Enugu and when I said that we have two judgements, I said that the judgement in Ebonyi State, which has equal powers with that of Abuja, will be obeyed.

"We will appeal the judgement of Abuja High court; we did not say we will disobey the court, otherwise, we will not appeal the judgement."

The chairman of South East Governors’ Forum said the appeal was already before the appeal court in Enugu. “We are also before the appeal court in Abuja and we have also filed stay of execution," he added.

Umahi noted that with the appeal already filled, he still remained the governor while Igwe remained the deputy governor of the state.

"Yesterday, I made it very clear that the Supreme Court has said that for any defection in the legislative houses, the presiding officer, who is the Speaker or the Senate President, has the duty and not the court to declare the seat vacant," he added.

He stated further that the House of Assembly had also appealed against the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, adding that the Assembly is still intact.

Umahi told the people, "There is nothing to be afraid of, go about your businesses very peacefully and let me assure the NBA chairman that he is a perfect gentleman and that we will never insult the judiciary.

"We have confidence in the judiciary and I know they will do the right thing and we have engaged eight SANs to proceed to Abuja, we have also engaged 10 SANs to proceed to Enugu. Do not be angry about anything, it is for our promotion.

"What the people intended for evil, God has turned it for good.

When it happened yesterday, God told me be still and know that I am God. And so, you will see what God is going to do, Nigerians are fighting for us."

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Tuesday ordered Umahi, his deputy, and 16 state lawmakers to vacate their offices on account of

Continued on page 49

Continued on page 50

APC FINALLY EDGES OUT BUNI, AKPANUDOEDEHE; REORGANISES CONVENTION SUB-C’TTEES fact that the Bello leadership had taken four critical decisions in just four days, mainly the issues the Buni leadership made to appear impossible and by so doing, stalling the national convention of the party.

This is as the APC leadership has recently just discovered that there was a court order, obtained in cahoots with some members of the CECPC to prevent the convention from holding.

Reports also had it that the new leadership at the national headquarters of the party, actually ordered security agencies to prevent Akpanudoedehe from accessing the secretariat, since his services were no longer needed in any respect.

However, with the leadership change and the current turn of events, a former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has expressed confidence that the proposed March 26 date for the APC national convention was feasible.

From the re-organisation and pruning down of the convention sub-committees, yesterday, at the secretariat by Bello, the Governor of Kastina State, Aminu Masari, would head the screening committee, while the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan would chair the screening appeal committee.

Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru, would head the election committee, while the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, heads the Election Appeal Committee.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, would head the legal committee, while David Umahi, will head the media committee, and to be assisted by the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, as co-chair, while the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello will head the security committee.

Bello, while inaugurating convention sub-committees, said, "For those of you that have been monitoring events in the national secretariat since Monday, we have started the effort to ensure that there is free and fair convention.

"We have made efforts to see a successful convention and part of those efforts is to inaugurate chairmen and secretaries of the committees in consideration of tract records and loyalty to the party," he said.

Bello said he knew that a lot of party faithful wanted to serve in

various committees as their support or contributions towards a healthy party, but added that everyone could not be accommodated in the committee.

His words: "So, we trimmed down the number to workable size without undermining everyone and I think this decision is the best for our party," he said, explaining also that the Caretaker Committee members went through hell compiling the list, because everyone wanted to serve.

"If you didn't see your name in the list, please don't be offended.

I'm sure other opportunities will come in future. I want to remind you that you have to work hard to ensure that the national convention will go on, on 26th of March 2022.

That day is sacrosanct, insha Allah."

He posited that, the task before the committees was to ensure the success of the convention.

Unfortunately, ahead of yesterday’s developments, the party had mulled the options of offering Buni and Akpanudoedehe a soft-landing such that what was going on in the party would not seem as if they were disgraced out of office, after engaging them to set the party on the path of progress.

THISDAY sources said since the idea was mooted and shared with Buni especially, he had acted as if the new development in the party was not going to stand, deliberately foot-dragging, and therefore forced other stakeholders to conclude that the party must move forward regardless.

The party source hinted that despite all the changes that were going on in the party, Buni still stayed back in Dubai, where he was alleged to be observing medical vacation, thus prompting the new developments regardless, even though an express sack of the two would have been announced, the source added.

Some of the excited members of the party have also rejoiced at some of the happenings in the party, saying it was surprising that some of the things Buni made to appear impossible had been addressed in four days, pointing out four critical decisions.

According to the stakeholder, who pleaded anonymity, “In four days, Bello has sworn in all the state chairmen of the parties of the party. That’s one. Two, he has received the zoning report from the committee. Three, he has summoned

the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which is now slated for next Thursday, and four, he has just sworn in the national convention sub-committees of the party.

“What more can you say? There’s clearly nothing esoteric in leadership for as long as there is capacity and competence, and that’s all Bello has exhibited in just four days of taking over the party leadership and doing the simple things that almost threw the party into the abyss.”

But, in a development that might have justified all the steps so far taken in the APC, the party leadership has just discovered how a court order was secretly obtained in November last year by a certain Salisu Umoru, which Buni was privy to and kept till the last minute, to stop the party from going ahead with the convention.

Justice Bello Kawu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had in an exparte application delivered on November 18, 2021, restrained the APC and Buni “from organising, holding or conducting the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in January and February 2022 or any other date before or after pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The suit marked FCT/MC/ CV2958/2021 was brought by Umoru, and had as respondents, the APC, Buni and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Tracing some of the events that led to the emergence of Bello to the failure of Buni to effect the directive of President Buhari on March 1, 2022, the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, said the president, having accepted the zoning formula, directed the immediate swearing-in of state chairmen, who were elected some months back in order to put machinery in place for the convention, but sadly the directives were ignored.

His words: “The president gave three directives. He said this is the zoning formula that is fairest to everyone, I will sit with all the aspirants from North Central and will try to get to agree to consensus around one candidate, when I come back from my trip. Thirdly, he said they should swear in the states chairmen; they were elected months ago and they have not been sworn in, and because they have not been sworn in, the states executive cannot

function, they should be sworn in so that a date can be fixed.”

According to him, the president added that they should give notice for an emergency national executive meeting, which he said required one week notice.

He noted that although Buni was not present in that meeting as he was said to be away on a medical trip, Bello who was a member of the caretaker committee, was mandated to pass the message to the caretaker committee to effect this action.

El-Rufai, however, said for days, no action was taken, saying, “Buni travelled abroad on medical treatment and handed over to Bello as acting chairman while he was away. Bello now said let’s implement the president’s directives and the National Secretary just refused.”

The Kaduna governor said, following the refusal, the governors gathered on Sunday before the president left for his trip abroad to complain that, “There is no movement on this thing and we are hearing that there was a court order and we now saw that there was one.”

But in spite of grandstanding and holding some face-saving media briefing on Tuesday, Akpanudoedehe failed to come to the party secretariat yesterday.

It was gathered that the security agents at the party secretariat were given clear orders not to allow Akpanudoedehe access to the secretariat.

A party source, who preferred anonymity, said it was because of Akpanudoedehe that the security at the national secretariat was beefed up.

"It was because of him that the security was beefed up. He has been asked to step aside and not to come close to the secretariat. We are in here for a serious matter now. We are preparing for the convention.

March 26 is now sacrosanct. Before, when the Caretaker committee sits, you won't know what they discuss in the meeting. They will just come and eat and go," the source said.

Also, encouraged by the developments in the party, Okorocha, who spoke to journalists yesterday at the party secretariat, said with the new leadership in place, the March 26 convention was possibility.

"I can see light now at the dark end of the tunnel and I'm more reassured more than ever that this convention will take place and it

executive power, either by proxy or directly or by appointment, for such people to have access and compete with others who came from the street, I think is an unjust society.

“Therefore, Mr. President, I disagree with all the arguments on the need to consider a decision that has already been settled.”

A last minute move by the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, to save the bill from sudden death by swaying his colleagues' standpoint, also suffered a devastating blow.

Omo-Agege said, "The framers of the constitution, knew that a day like this will come. And notwithstanding, it clearly stipulated in the constitution those provisions with qualification and disqualification on running for political office.

"If it was their intent that for holding a political office, you should not contest election, they would have so provided.

"There were some provisions some of us voted for at the beginning of section 84(2) that says no political party shall seek to disqualify anybody by importing into the process a provision for qualification or disqualification not otherwise provided for in the constitution."

When the bill was eventually put to a voice vote for second reading by the Senate President after its consideration, it received a resounding ‘nay’ from senators in the majority across party lines.

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EXECUTIVE MEMBERS OF NAWJN AT MARINA...

L-R: President, National Association of Women Judges in Nigeria (NAWJN), Hon. Jumah Sankay, JCA; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and NAWJN Vice President, Hon. Justice Toyin Oyekan-Abdulai, during a courtesy visit by the Executive members of NAWJN at Lagos House, Marina, ... yesterday

Court to Hear FG’s Extradition Suit against Abba Kyari March 23 Drug Deals: 20 lawyers enlist for suspended DCP’s defense Alex Enumah in Abuja A Federal High Court in Abuja will on March 23, commence hearing in the extradition request of the federal government against the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari.

Kyari, who was arraigned only last Monday, is wanted in the United States of America, over his alleged involvement in fraud running to billions of dollars.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice had last week hinted that the federal government had already filed application for Kyari's extradition to answer to fraud charge in the US. The application was filed under the Extradition Act, as part of Nigerian government’s approval of the request by the U. S. for Kyari’s extradition.

The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/249/2022, it was learnt was assigned to Justice Inyang Ekwo, who has fixed March 23 for hearing in the application.

Kyari, formerly the head of Inspector-General of Police special Intelligence Response Team (IRT), was said to be, "a subject in a superseding three counts indictment in case no: 2:21-cr-00203-RGK," in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, USA. The suspended DCP in count one was accused of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1349, ll.

“Count two: Conspiracy to

commit money laundering in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(h) “Count three: Aggravated identity theft and aiding and abetting, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C, Sections 1028A (a){1}j and 2(a)".

According to the AGF, the punishment for the offences as contained in the superseding indictment carries a maximum of 20 years imprisonment for count one, 20 years imprisonment for count two and two years imprisonment for count three.

Malami had explained that the offence for which Kyari was accused of was an extraditable offence under Articles 3 (18 & 20) of the Extradition Treaty between the United States of America and Great Britain, signed at London, on December 22, 1931.

He said the treaty was recognised as binding on the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by legal Notice 33 of 1967.

He said the offences were also covered by Articles 3, 5 and 6 of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime, adopted November 15, 2000 (“The UNTOC”).

Meanwhile about 20 lawyers have indicated interest to defend Kyari in the alleged drug suit filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Musa Shafiu, a legal practitioner, told newsmen yesterday that the team was made up of four Senior Advocates of Nigeria who represented him and his co-defendants during their arraignment before

Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday.

He recalled that Abba Kyari, in a motion filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo of Federal High Court sitting in Abuja denied the allegation linking him to an international drug cartel by the NDLEA. “He filed the motion to seek for his fundamental rights enforcement.

He said he was ready to appear in court to answer any charge against

him because the allegation upon which he was arrested and detained is a trump-up allegation without sufficient proof,” Shafiu said.

The lawyer said the decision to support Kyari, was also premised on the sacrifices the suspended DCP had made for the country in the area of security.

He said Kyari has distinguished himself in areas of serving his father’s land as a police officer,

A group of Nigerian professionals in politics yesterday in Abuja, added their voice to the call on former president Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2023 presidential election.

They were however silent on the political party under which they would want him to contest.

Operating under the auspices of the Coalition of Nigerian Professionals in Politics (CNPP), the group described Jonathan as the best democrat, the country had ever produced.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the National Coordinator of CNPP, Dr. Ibrahim Baba, assured the erstwhile president that the group

had structures across the country to ensure victory for him.

Baba said: "Looking at those who have so far indicated interest in contesting for the presidency, none, in our estimation, is better qualified than Jonathan for the job description.

"He will come on board with an experience of his strengths which he needs to consolidate on and shortcomings which he will redress in order to serve better than in his first term.

"At this critical period, the progress and well-being of Nigerians cannot be experimented with new comers who will spend time on team building and learning on the job.

"Therefore, we ask that Nigerians

while the remaining two civilians pleaded guilty.

The suspended officers include; ACP Sunday Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu.

The civilians are Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, whom are alleged drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

Moghalu to Train One Million Young Nigerians on Digital Skills Dike Onwuamaeze The Moghalu4Nigeria Movement (M4NM) has concluded plan to organise “Fish-For-Life digital skills empowerment bootcamp for one million Nigerian youth” that would equip them with digital self-employment skills.

The M4NM said it would collaborate with Naija Lives Matter and American Internet Business School to implement the digital skill empowerment programme, which would be held between Tuesday, March 15th and Friday, March 18th, 2022, and every month thereafter for the next 12 months and hopefully beyond.

A statement signed by the spokesman for M4NM, Mr. Jide Akintunde, explained that the Convener of the M4NM, Prof.

Kingsley Moghalu, who was a presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections, has announced

that, “the boot camp is targeted at Nigerian youth interested in learning how to legitimately monetise the internet for self-employment, using simple skills they can learn and deploy for profit in a matter of days.”

Akintunde said Moghalu would be launching a program for the benefit of the youth and unemployed that is markedly different from the usual, “fish-to-eat” practice of old school politicians handing out food and money whenever it is close to elections.

“The Fish-For-life initiative will empower up to one million youth with basic digital self-employment skills they can learn and deploy in literally a matter of days with zero investment,” it added.

Akintunde urged any Nigerian interested in learning digital skills for self-employment to apply at www.moghalu.org/fishforlife.

According to a Senior Official

2023 Presidency: Group Makes Fresh Case for Jonathan to Contest Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

with the arrest of many high profile criminals across the country.

He said his, “good work and dedication to the country is far more than his short coming.”

Kyari, alongside six others, including four suspended officers of IRT, were last Monday arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on drug offences.

Kyari and four of the suspended police officers denied the charges,

be presented a ready candidate who will not waste precious time navigating his or her way through trials and errors?

"Another of Jonathan’s high prospects is his well-known reputation for accommodating all, his belief in the destiny of his country and his ability to recruit Nigerians both in and outside the country to offer their unstinted service to their fatherland irrespective of social, political and religious creed.”

According to Baba, although Jonathan is from the least of the regions of the country, his call was for a great unifier of the country, an attribute he said the former president had displayed in convincing measure both in and out of office.

"A man with this type of credentials is, surely, the type of man Nigeria needs right now to be able to reach her peak," he added.

Baba cited the case of the almajiri school programme in which Jonathan built many hybrid schools in the northern part of the country to provide opportunity for millions of out-of-school children and to bridge the gap between the north and south of our country.”

He said, "As former president who was a friend to all and an enemy to none, Jonathan has proven capacity and goodwill to mobilise Nigerians from all walks of life to participate in the arduous task of nation-building."

of M4NM, Mr. Ochi Ogbuaku Jnr., the, “Fish-For-Life” initiative would provide training, and digital self-employment opportunities to a million youth over the next 12 months, through live online workshops, recorded training, and ongoing mentorship by seasoned trainers from the American Internet Business School, coordinated by the Naija Lives Matter organisation.”

Ogbuaku added: “This initiative

is part of a big picture vision we have been working on for some time, and we are excited to be finally kicking it off. This free, five-day boot camp will provide practical and immediately marketable skills, to attendees in the areas of freelancing, affiliate marketing, info marketing, and e-commerce. The program will be declared open by our convener, Professor Kingsley Moghalu.”

No Preferred Bidder Yet for Nigeria Air, FG Clarifies Insists no corporate entity, individual has been appointed or selected Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The federal government yesterday said it was yet to appoint any bidder for the proposed Nigeria Air even as it stated that it had at no time selected nor appointed either entity nor individual as preferred bidder for the project.

The government through the Ministry of Aviation, made this known in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja.

The statement by the Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu, read: "Our attention has been drawn to reports in some media to the effect that Qatar Airways has been chosen as the preferred bidder for Nigeria’s national carrier, Nigeria Air. "The report, coming just two days after the issuance of a Request For Proposal which was published in local and international news media, is not only false but capable of discrediting the process for the establishment of the airline, and discouraging interested parties.

It further read: "We wish to state that throughout the process leading to the publication of the Request for Proposal, the guiding principle has been transparency and accountability which we promised will remain till the final delivery of the project, and by which we stand.

"We wish to state categorically that no corporate entity or individual has been appointed or selected, or even preferred for the project as the process for selection has just started with the Request for Proposal.

"All interested partners and the public are therefore advised to discountenance the report and proceed with their proposals as we assure them of our unalloyed commitment to transparency and accountability till the end of the process.”

The statement added: "Our driving force is the commitment of the Buhari’s administration to bequeath to the country a national carrier that Nigerians would be proud of and our determination and commitment to it remains stoic.

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LASU SYMPOSIUM...

L-R: Dr. Oluwatoki Jamiu of the History and International Studies, Lagos State University; Dr. Dapo Thomas; Prof. Dele Adeoti; Head of Department, History and International Studies, Dr. Adewunmi Falode; Prof. Abolade Adeniji and Dr. Remi Britto, during a symposium held at Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos…recently

To Us, Buni Remains CECPC Chairman, Say APC Senators Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Senators elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, after a closed-door meeting for about three hours, insisted that the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, remained the Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordonary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party.

Fielding questions from journalists after the second day of their emergency caucus meeting, leader of the Senate, Yahaya Abdullahi, said the various issues facing the party, were exhaustively deliberated upon with clear indication of peace ahead of the March 26, 2022 National Convention of the party.

"These are trying times for major political parties in the country, the very reason we in the APC as Senate

caucus met for second day running this week towards required collaboration with other stakeholders for unity of purpose in the party ahead of the coming National Convention and 2023 general elections.

"Required strategies have been mapped out by the caucus to bring all interests groups together in making the party stronger and well-positioned for the 2023 general election. The reported storm in the party by the media is not true as there was no leadership crisis.

"Governor Buni, to us, remains the Chairman of National Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the Party. He will resume in that capacity any moment he returns from Dubai, where he went for medical check.

"Governor Sani Bello, who is acting in that capacity now is doing so to

avoid vacuum in leadership and most importantly, to put in place required arrangements for the forthcoming National Convention of the party, 17 days from now," he said.

But a source privy to the meeting told THISDAY that not only did the senators support the sack of Buni, they also ratified the new national planning committee of the party.

The meeting was attended by

A meeting of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, yesterday, alerted Nigerians that the nation was headed in a wrong way and aiming for disaster.

It also looked at the state of the nation under the present All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration and passed a damning conclusion of a sorry state of affairs in the country.

The meeting, which took place at the Legacy House in Maitama

District, Abuja, was presided over by former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu.

The meeting was attended by 15 former governors, who looked at the opportunities and challenges opened by the present situation in the country.

In a communique signed by Aliyu, the forum also looked at the state of structural development of the National Secretariat of the PDP, which was still under construction and noted that there was still much to be done on the structure.

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has said the All Progressives Congress (APC), deserved a man who was energetic, accessible, people-oriented, and one with capacity to sit down, listen and interact with party members as its national chairman.

Akeredolu stated this while receiving a frontline aspirant for

the position of the APC national chairman, Senator Sani Musa, in his Alagbaka, Akure office on Tuesday.

A statement by the Senator's Media Office, yesterday, in Abuja, explained that the Niger East Senator was in Akure as part of his ongoing consultations.

Akeredolu, according to the statement, urged Musa not to be distracted but to remain focused and continue with the consultations

The meeting noted that over 80% of the citizenry had agreed that Nigeria was going through the wrong path and heading towards disaster.

It noted the sprawling increase in job loss, insecurity, poverty, bad economy, and loss of sense of belonging amongst citizens, noting further with grave concern, the worsening fuel scarcity and bad management of the country’s resources by the ruling APC administration.

It said most Nigerians across all

levels and social strata, were tired of the lies and deceits by the present government and were eagerly looking forward to a better change.

The meeting noted that the former governors should play a more active and decisive role as strong reservoir and kinetic energy base for the PDP as the party prepares for the 2023 general election, in conjunction with the PDP Governors’ Forum and all other relevant organs of the party, calling for a harmonious relationship between former and sitting governors of the PDP.

APC FINALLY EDGES OUT BUNI, APANUDOEDEHE; REORGANISES CONVENTION SUB-C’TTEES ing Secretary, Zonal Women Leader, Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD) and National Ex - Officio member.

Positions zoned to the Southsouth are: National Vice Chairman, National Publicity Secretary, National Women Leader, Deputy National Treasurer, Deputy National Welfare Secretary, Zonal Secretary, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organising Secretary, Zonal Women Leader, Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD) a d National Ex - Officio member.

For the South-west, the positions zoned to it are the National Secretary, National Vice Chairman, National Youth Leader, National Physically Challenged Leader, Deputy National Auditor, Zonal Secretary, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organising Secretary, Zonal Women Leader, Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD) and National Ex - Officio member.

The South-east positions are

Deputy National Chairman (South), National Vice Chairman, National Treasurer, National Welfare Secretary, Deputy National Organising Secretary, Zonal Secretary, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organising Secretary, Zonal Women Leader, Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD) and National Ex - Officio member.

Positions zoned to the North-east are Deputy National Chairman (North), National Auditor, National Vice Chairman (North East), Deputy National Financial Secretary, Deputy National Women Leader, Zonal Secretary, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organising Secretary, Zonal Women Leader, Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD) and National Ex - Officio member.

Those coming to the North-west are National Vice Chairman (North West), National Legal Adviser, National Organising Secretary, National Financial Secretary, Deputy National, Youth Leader, Zonal Secretary, Zonal

of tension in the party.

The caucus further resolved to meet with CECPC of the party, leaders of the Governors Forum and aspirants/candidates, starting from tomorrow, Friday.

Akeredolu: APC Needs Energetic, Accessible National Chairman

Ex-PDP Governors Allege Nigeria Heading for Disaster Chuks Okocha in Abuja

the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; his Deputy, Ovie Omo – Agege; the Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu and other principal officers, who adopted seven point communique geared towards dousing any form

Youth Leader, Zonal Organising Secretary, Zonal Women Leader, Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD) and National Ex-Officio member, the post of National disabled leader is zoned to the Federal Capital Territory.

The party, however, said the zonal representatives of the CECPC would coordinate the process in each zone.

Meanwhile, the CECPC has shifted its emergency NEC meeting from Tuesday to Thursday 17th March, 2022.

The notice of invitation for the meeting which would be held virtually was signed by nine out of the 12 members of the caretaker committee.

Those that signed the notice were Bello, Senator Ken Nnamani - South East representative, Senator Abubakar Yusuf - Senate representative, Stella Okotete - Women leader and James Lalu - PWD representative.

Others were Chief David Lyon -

South-South representative; Senator Abba Ali - North West representative; Prof. Tahir Mamman - North East representative and Barr. Ismail Ahmed - Youth leader.

The last time the ruling party held its NEC was on December 8, 2020.

The notice read: "Under Article of 25B (i and ii) of the Party Constitution, and by the power vested on the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) via the NEC resolution of 8th December 2020, the CECPC of our Party at its 23rd meeting of 8th March 2022, hereby calls for the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to consider matters about the National Convention, governance of the party and any other relevant business of the party.

"All members of the NEC are by this invitation to take notice of the meeting by Article 12.3."

process.

"As the APC holds its National Convention this month, the ruling party would require a National Chairman that is energetic, accessible, people-oriented with capacity to sit down, listen and interact with party members,” he said.

Akeredolu harped on the leadership qualities expected of the potential chairmanship candidate of the APC, stressing that the ruling party at this crucial stage would do well to avoid candidates with predetermined ulterior motives for the party even before they assume leadership.

He hailed Musa’s intellectual sagacity and described him as the kind of leader the party needed now for the APC to progress as it approached 2023 general election.

The governor disclosed that

he was not against APC zoning of offices once they are done to reflect equity, fairness and justice, and encouraged Musa to continue with his consultations with leaders and stakeholders within the party, saying, “It is not over, until it is over”.

Musa, however, reeled off his plans for the party if given the opportunity to lead as chairman.

According to him, if given the opportunity to lead the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, he would completely re-engineer the internal structures and workings of the party.

The Senator added that he would continue with the consultations and prepare himself and others for the national convention with the hope of winning the contest.

Police Announce Death of DIG Egbunike, Officer Investigating Kyari Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Nigeria Police has announced the death of a Deputy InspectorGeneral of Police (DIG), Mr Joseph Egbunike.

A statement issued by the Police Headquarters, Abuja, said Egbunike, who recently headed the police panel that investigated allegations of fraud against Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, died at the National Hospital, Abuja, after a brief illness.

There were also reports that the late DIG slumped while on duty and was rushed to the hospital, where he died.

The statement signed by Acting Force Public Relations Officer and Chief Supretendent of Police (CSP), Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the the IG, the police management team and the entire police force, condoled with the family, relatives and friends of the late senior police officer.

The statement titled: "Death While in Service: IGP Mourns DIG Egbunike, Condoles with Family", stated that the late senior police officer headed many important departments of the force.

"The Inspector-General of Police,

IGP Usman Alkali Baba, on behalf of his management team, and officers of the Nigeria Police Force, regrets to announce the demise of DIG Joseph Obiajulu Egbunike, PhD, ACTI, mnin, FCNA, which occurred at about 9pm of March 8, 2022 at the National Hospital, Abuja, after a brief illness.

"DIG Egbunike was until his death the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department and the supervisory DIG in charge of the South-east.

"DIG Egbunike was a dedicated and seasoned police officer, who served the nation in various capacities including as the Commissioner of Police in charge of Police Accounts and Budget.

"An officer with finesse and commitment to intellectual development and was instrumental to the achievements of the giant strides within the police architecture.

"The Inspector-General of Police, hereby, condoles with the immediate family, relatives, and friends of the deceased DIG, who passed away in active service of his fatherland and prays for the repose of his soul," the statement added.

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NEWS

INAUGURATION OF APC CONVENTION COMMITTEE...

L-R: Jigawa State Governor, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar; Ekiti State Governor/Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; APC Acting Chairman/Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, and former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, during the inauguration of the party’s convention committee in Abuja...yesterday Photo: ENOCK REUBEN

Amina Mohammed: We Need to Recommit Our Energies Towards Gender Equality Delta CSOs berate NASS over rejection of 35% affirmative action for women Sylvester Idowu in Warri and Sunday Ehigiator in Lagos United Nations Deputy SecretaryGeneral, Amina Mohammed has stressed the need for the world, and in particular Nigeria, to recommit their energies towards achieving true and irreversible gender equality.

She made this comment yesterday while speaking at an exclusive dinner event hosted by Media Entrepreneur and CEO of RED For Africa, Adebola Williams, with the theme: ‘An evening with African Power Girls', held in commemoration of International Women's Day. According to her, “It is only with women and girls at the center of our efforts that we have the best chance

to succeed in addressing our current and pressing global challenges; from the climate emergency to genderbased violence, political divisions and to a sustainable recovery from this global pandemic.

“The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reflect the commitment made by member states in this region over the past forty years thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of women activists and feminist movements.

“On this International Women's Day let's recommit our energies to achieving true and irreversible gender equality because we all benefit when women have the opportunity to lead and to rise for all.”

Re-emphasising how gender parity was essential to create a sustainable future, Non-Executive Director, Adrian Group, Kenya, Lerato Molebatsi, said, achieving all-around, sustained development in society requires achieving parity in every stratum of every organisation, be it in government or private.

“Women and men both have invaluable contributions to make that bear the unique imprints coloured by gender characteristics and tendencies.

Without these imprints, society is bound to be lopsided.”

The exclusive dinner, with The Platform Capital and Unilever's Knorr as partners, also had in attendance, the Chairman, Access Bank Plc, Dr. Ajoritsedere Awosika;

Founder, Nike Arts Gallery, Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye; Director, Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa, Charlotte Osei; and Co-Founder, Lufodo Group, Joke Silva.

Others in attendance were the Deputy Managing Director, Falcon Corporation Limited, Audrey JoeEzigbo; Director Corporate Affairs & Sustainable Business, Unilever, West Africa, Soromidayo George; Executive Director at Coronation Merchant Bank, Funke Feyisitan Ladimeji.

Meanwhile, Delta State Civil Society Organisation Forum (DELCOF) has berated the National Assembly for rejecting bills that would promote the participation

of women in politics, particularly the 35 per cent affirmative action.

Convener of DELCOF, Chief Mulade Sheriff, at a forum to mark international day of women in Warri, yesterday, said it was disheartening that the bill which sought to create more opportunities for women was thrown out by the National Assembly.

He noted that the bill sought for additional special seats for women in the national and states houses of assemblies noting that if passed into law, it woukd have created additional 34 seats in the Senate and 74 seats in the House of Representatives.

In his speech, Chairman of DELCOF, the umbrella body of

non-state actors with over 200 civil society organiSations in Delta State, Dr. Agboro Andrew, maintained that the electoral system in the country has not been fair to women.

He said the country was considered the worst performer in the West African region when looking at the representation of women in parliament and the second worst after Eritrea in the whole of African continent.

Speaking at the occasion, Mrs. Bridget Affiah, thanked all those who were at the occasion to commemorate with women stating that support for women is support for development and peaceful coexistence because women promote peace and unity.

the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on March 8, 2022, by Justice Inyang Ekwo, which inter-alia ordered him and Mr. Eric Igwe to vacate the offices of governor and deputy governor, respectively, of Ebonyi State on grounds of their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

"Following the judgement, Engr.

Umahi, in the course of a press conference - video evidence of which is currently making the rounds on both new and mainstream media - threw caution to the wind and deployed very uncomplimentary adjectives and intemperate language in characterising both the judgment and Justice Ekwo, including but not limited to describing the judgment as jungle justice and His Lordship as a hatchet man.

"As if these were not enough, Engr. Umahi accused the court of murdering justice and also arrogated to himself the judicial powers and magisterial authority to declare the judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction as null and void while unashamedly declaring his intention to disregard the judgement in favour of another.

“To put it plainly, this is impunity of the highest order and executive rascality taken too far."

President of NBA, Mr. Olumide Akpata, who signed the statement, noted that although NBA had absolutely no interest in the outcome of the case in question and would continue to stay away from partisan politics, it would not "sit idly by in the face of this unprovoked and totally unwarranted attack on the judiciary."

Akpata disclosed that the leadership of NBA had been inundated with calls from a cross-section of

well-meaning Nigerians who were outraged by the utterances of Umahi and who had rightly demanded that appropriate action be taken to protect the sanctity of the judiciary.

He stated, "It is for this reason that we condemn without equivocation, Engr. Umahi's unfortunate diatribe which, if it had emanated from an average litigant, would still have been regarded as shocking but coming from one who occupies the exalted office of a state governor, is nothing short of a national embarrassment.

"In the wake of the judgement, one would have expected Engr.

Umahi to sue for calm from his supporters and to assure them that all legal and constitutional avenues would be explored to challenge the judgement.

“For Umahi to, instead, resort to attacking and denigrating the high office of a judge in this unprecedented manner is disgraceful, undemocratic, and completely unacceptable.

"We view Engr. Umahi's reaction to this judgement as being consistent with the current penchant, on the part of those in the executive arm of government, for intimidating the judiciary whilst taking advantage of the historical reluctance of that arm of government to rise to its own defence.

"In light of the forgoing, the NBA hereby demands an immediate apology from Dave Umahi and a retraction of the comments he made against the person and judgement of Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court. It is also our demand that this apology and retraction is given as much media coverage as the press conference where the unfortunate comments were made."

UMAHI, DEPUTY APPEAL JUDGEMENT AS INEC AWAITS CERTIFIED TRUE COPY their defection from PDP to APC. Ekwo held that their continued stay in office after defecting was illegal, null and void because the votes, which brought them into office, belonged to PDP that they had dumped for APC. However, in the notice of appeal filed by their lead lawyer, Chukwuma Machukwu-Ume, Umahi and Igwe asked the court to allow their appeal and set aside the judgment of the trial court that ordered their sack.

The appellants predicated the appeal on 11 grounds on which they argued that the trial court erred in law in arriving at the decision to remove them from office.

In ground one of the appeal, the appellants contended that the lower court erred in law and misdirected itself when it held that they “have not seen any authority which propounds that where a governor or deputy governor defects, his political party on which platform he was elected into office, he cannot be sued by that political party to reclaim its mandate...Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution did not envisage such a situation.”

The appellants submitted that the trial court was virtually setting aside the Supreme Court of Nigeria’s decision in "AG Federation v.

Atiku Abubakar & 3 ORS (2007) LCN/3799(SC) to the effect that there is no constitutional provisions prohibiting the president or vice and invariably the governor and or deputy governor from defecting to another political party or meting out punishment for doing same.

"The trial court was also virtually setting aside the decision of the Supreme Court in Global Excellence Communications Ltd v. Duke (2007)

LPELR — 1323 to the effect that state governors and their deputies have immunity against being sued while in office."

Umahi and Igwe argued that the provisions of Section 308 were specific, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the constitution, but subject to Subsection (2) of the section that "no civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against 3th and 4th appellants during their mandate in office as governor and deputy governor respectively."

More so, the appellants maintained, "There is no provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) that provides for the removal of the appellants as sitting governor and deputy governor, respectively, of Ebonyi State for reason of defection.”

Among other grounds, the appellants argued that the lower court erred in law when it assumed jurisdiction on the issue of defection of appellants, when it had no jurisdiction over it.

The error, according to Umahi and Igwe, was that the trial court's interpretation of what amounted to the Federal High Court having the powers of State High Court under the constitution was wrong.

"Power of court and jurisdiction are not the same," the appellants argued.

The appellants argued that they were state officers and not federal officers. They faulted Ekwo for relying on Sections 68 and 109 of the 1999 Constitution in holding that the appellants, having defected from PDP to APC, offended the provisions of the constitution and must vacate their offices as governor and deputy governor.

They further claimed that the trial court misdirected itself because,

"There is no specific mention of governor and deputy governor in the provisions of Section 68 and 109, respectively, of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

"By relying on Sections 68 and 109 of the constitution, the trial court assumed the role of the legislator and arrogated to itself the powers of amendment of the constitution.

"There is no provision in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which state that governor or deputy governor will vacate his office if he defects from his political party to another political party.”

Similarly, the 16 lawmakers of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly prayed the appellate court to set aside Ekwo's judgement of March 8, which also asked them to vacate their seats.

The affected lawmakers, in their notice of appeal dated March 9, also sought an order of the Court of Appeal setting aside the judgement of Ekwo.

Respondents in the appeal are PDP, INEC, and APC.

We Are Waiting for Certified True Copy of Judgement, Says INEC INEC yesterday said it was yet to be served the certified true copy of the court ruling sacking Umahi and the others. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

Okoye said the commission would meet and take a decision when it receives the certified true copy of the court judgement.

He stated, “The commission has not been served with a copy of the said judgement. The commission will meet and take a decision when

it is served with a Certified True Copy of the judgement.”

Speaking in the same vein, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekalmi, said, "At the close of work yesterday, Tuesday 8th March, the commission had not received the Certified True Copy of the judgement of the Federal High Court on the matter.

"It is only when this happens that the commission will meet and take a decision."

In reaction to the court judgement, PDP said it had submitted to INEC the names of Iduma Igariwey, a serving member of the House of Representatives, as nominee to replace Umahi, and Fred Udogwu as deputy governor to replace Igwe.

PDP National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, said at a press conference in Abuja that the decision was made after due consultation with party stakeholders at the national and Ebonyi State chapter, in compliance with the Tuesday’s judgement of the Federal High Court.

NBA Condemns Umahi's Attack on Judge, Demands Apology

NBA yesterday rose with indignation against Umahi for making unsavoury comments against a judge of the Federal High Court.

In his immediate reaction to the judgement, Umahi had in a press briefing attacked the person and judgement of Justice Ekwo, an action NBA said was not only unwarranted but a display of impunity.

The umbrella association of Nigerian lawyers said in a statement, "The NBA has noted with utter dismay, the unfortunate and totally unacceptable reaction of Engr.

Dave Umahi to the judgement of

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FOCUS

Jamoh’s Three-Point Agenda: Two Years After

By Oluwafemi Kumuyi

O

n March 10, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Dr. Bashir Jamoh as Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Upon assumption of office, the newly constituted Executive Management hit the ground running with a three-point agenda, namely, Maritime Safety, Maritime Security, and Shipping Development, in line with the Agency’s mandate.

The three elements, referred to as the 3s or Triple S, are critical to the survival and effectiveness of the Nigerian maritime industry, which the Management of the Agency has passionately pursued.

Although the administration was greeted with the COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the entire globe, affecting virtually all sectors of the world economy, with a heavy toll on the maritime sector, it continued to carry out its functions and ensured the effective and efficient operation of the maritime sector.

In examining the Triple S strategy of the Jamoh administration, it is imperative to state that security is at the heart of the maritime sector of any nation. Security of the maritime domain helps to build investors’ confidence and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the maritime sector.

Nigeria is endowed with a vast 853 kilometres of coastline, making it a strong maritime nation, bordering the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) alongside other countries in West and Central Africa. The Gulf of Guinea, being a major shipping route, is faced with enormous security challenges and considered a dreaded route for shipping activities. Cases of vessel hijacking, crew kidnapping, and other maritime crimes are rife in the region.

It was amid this security conundrum that the Deep Blue Project was birthed.

The project, which has air, sea, and land components, is purposed to tackle criminal activities within the Nigerian maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea.

President Muhammadu Buhari launched the Deep Blue Project on June 10, 2021 in Lagos.

The project has since started yielding results, as there has been a significant decline in piracy in Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea.

At the launch of the assets, President Buhari said, “The initiative will serve as a benchmark for member states in the Gulf of Guinea and other relevant stakeholders to further develop innovative strategies and align efforts with the subsisting framework to improve maritime security in the region.

“The launch marked an important milestone in our collective effort to tackle security challenges in the form of piracy and other maritime crimes in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.

“It is also a demonstration of the government's strong commitment to ensuring security, as this will no doubt facilitate a conducive environment for the maritime sector to thrive and contribute to the diversification of the Nigerian economy.”

Buhari expressed confidence in the

Jamoh project, saying it provides robust maritime security architecture, with enhanced maritime domain awareness capability and improved law enforcement ability.

The Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, signed into law by Buhari in June 2019, gives further credence and backbone to the Deep Blue Project, as it facilitates more effective prosecution of maritime crimes.

Extolling the role of the Agency in its sustained effort to curb insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Kitack Lim noted that the launch of the maritime security infrastructure was a major development in the war against piracy. Lim added that the Deep Blue initiative had helped to tackle piracy and other maritime related crimes, not only in Nigerian waters, but also in the Gulf of Guinea.

This acknowledgement is a testament to the strides of the Jamoh Management in its effort to realise a viable maritime sector in Nigeria.

Furthermore, a report released by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) in the third quarter of 2021 revealed that

there was a drastic reduction of piracy attacks in the Nigerian waters compared to the same period in 2020. This feat is not unconnected with the launch of the Deep Blue assets, which have been deployed for use.

Another strategic focus of the current leadership of the Agency is safety on the waterways. This led to the launch of the wreck removal initiative across the coastal states in the country.

In September 2021, the Agency, through the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMOT), got approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to commence the process of wreck removal across the country. The process started by first identifying the wreck across the country, thereafter beginning the removal and the recycling process. This will not only guarantee safety of navigation, but also help in the creation of jobs in the country.

To further harness the gains of the wreck removal operations, the Agency, in collaboration with the Nigerian Railway Cooperation (NRC), agreed on a partnership to make use of NRC’s foundry to break and recycle the wrecks for the purpose of wealth creation.

Meanwhile, the Agency has also embraced collaboration as a measure for achieving some of its objectives, geared towards a safe and secure maritime domain in Nigeria. One of such is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) aimed at providing a weather forecast system for vessels plying the Nigerian waters, in line with international best practice. This is meant to guarantee safety and security in the country’s waterways.

All these efforts are helping to build a robust shipping development regime geared towards a competitive maritime sector in Nigeria.

The Agency, within the last two years, has also renewed its Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Navy for the patrol of the waterways to guarantee safety of vessels and their crew. This is in addition to other partnerships with the Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Department of State Services (DSS), among other stakeholders.

For the first time in the history of the Nigerian maritime sector, the Agency, alongside its sister agencies – Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) – initiated a joint meeting of heads of the maritime agencies.

The chief executives of the agencies meet periodically to brainstorm, harmonise their activities, and encourage synergy in their operations. This move will help improve information sharing and efficiency in the operations of the Nigerian ports.

Remarkably, in the last two years, there has been a significant increase in conditional survey of Nigerian flagged vessels and Ports State inspections for foreign-flagged vessels, thereby adding impetus to the level of compliance and enforcement of vessels operating in the Nigerian waters.

Other strides of the Agency in the last two years include the signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Maritime University (WMU), Malmo, Sweden, aimed at developing capacity of the staff and boosting their knowledge of the maritime sector. This is also birthing a strategic succession plan that guarantees the future of the Nigerian maritime industry.

Furthermore, an online certificate verification platform for seafarers was reactivated in order to reduce forgery, while also enhancing the employment chances for seafarers anywhere in the world.

The last two years have been eventful in the Nigerian maritime sector, as the Jamoh administration maintains its focus on realising the mandate of the Agency.

The strides have been seamless through collaboration, which has remained a hallmark of this administration.

Conclusively, there is a common saying that, to whom much is given, much is required. There is still much work to do, particularly with economic diversification drive of the Federal Government, geared towards reducing dependence on oil. The maritime sector remains a key industry and all hands must be on the deck to ensure maximisation of the country’s rich potential, with particular reference to the development of the Blue Economy.

The focus should be the usage and preservation of ocean-based resources for wealth creation and economic prosperity. * Kumuyi is a staff of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

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NEWS

Seven NDLEA Officers Injured During Arrest of Taraba Drug Kingpin Michael Olugbode in Abuja Seven officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were injured and one of the agency’s vehicle damaged in a face-off with some thugs during the arrest of a notorious Taraba drug dealer, Micha Godwin.

A statement yesterday by the anti-narcotics agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the operatives of NDLEA were at Nukai market, along Jalingo-Wukari road in the Taraba state capital, Jalingo, to arrest Micha Godwin, during which the anti-narcotic officers came under attack and at least seven of them were injured and one of their vehicles damaged.

Babafemi said despite the attack, the officers managed to arrest their target after recovering some quantities of illicit drugs from the suspect and thereafter retreated to take the wounded to the hospital for treatment.

He revealed that following intelligence, the operatives last Tuesday stormed the market at about 2.30pm to arrest the drug dealer and evacuate illicit substances in his warehouse, adding that soon after the arrest of Micha, miscreants mobilised

from the community to attack the officers and vehicles with dangerous weapons.

He said reinforcement from the state Command of the agency and other security agencies was able to move in

to rescue the operatives from the scene of attack.

According to him, in custody, the drug dealer said: “What happened today is bad because this is the second time I have been arrested and brought

here but the first arrest was not like this. I don’t know who invited the boys who attacked the NDLEA officers.”

Reacting to the incident, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba

Marwa (rtd) condemned the attack and directed immediate switch to new operational guidelines that will make officers and men well positioned to defend themselves adequately in the course of carrying out

their duties.

Marwa warned that henceforth any obstruction or attack on NDLEA operatives in line of duty by suspects or their supporters would receive commensurate response.

DISCUSSING ENERGY MATTERS…

L – R: Executive Vice President, Oando Clean Energy Limited, Ademola Ogunbanjo; Regional Chief Operating Officer, Afreximbank, Eric Monchu Intong; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo; Group Managing Director, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Mr. Bala Wunti, and Senior Broadcast Journalist , Channels Television, Olu Phillips, at Nigeria International Energy Summit sponsored by Oando and other energy companies, in Abuja…recently

2023: Ohuabunwa Urges PDP Lawmakers Demand Justice for Slain BRT Passenger, ‘Bamishe “Rampant Cases of Violence, national productivity as it was The lawmaker said the House Orizu in Abuja Incessant Rape and Ritual Killing occurring amongst people in the was aware that Oluawabamise to Choose Credible, Visionary Udora The House of Representatives of Our Women Folks, a Call for productive age group, who were was last seen on the 26th day has urged the Nigeria Police and Urgent Intervention”, sponsored having to deal with the negative of February 2022 after boarding Presidential Candidate the National Security Intelligence, by the Minority Leader, Hon. physical and psychological a BRT bus with number 240257 Ohuabunwa said that result Chuks Okocha in Abuja A presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, yesterday said that it is the choice of the PDP to determine whether it will win or lose the 2023 presidential election. He also urged the party’s leaders and members of the National Assembly to work together for the emergence of a credible, competent, visionary man of integrity and good character as the party candidate in the 2023 election.

Ohuabunwa, a former Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group(NESG), stated this during his consultative meeting with PDP caucus of the National Assembly in Abuja.

of recent research indicates that Nigerians were eagerly waiting for the return of PDP in 2023.

“The 2023 election, it is the PDP to choose to win or to lose.

“My prayer is it doesn’t matter whether I am the one that end up becoming the party’s nominee or the candidate, but Nigerians are looking up to the PDP to do the right thing.

“They are looking at PDP to present their best fits out.

They are looking for PDP to present new paradigm.

“There are certain things that the people of Nigeria are fed up with. So, they want PDP to reinvent itself to show something new and something different from what they have seen in the past,” he said.

to fast track the investigations and ensure that the killers of Miss Oluwabamise Ayanwola are brought to justice.

The House, therefore, mandated its committee on Police Affairs and National security and intelligence to ensure compliance.

The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance, titled:

Ndudi Elumelu, at the plenary, yesterday.

Elumelu, while moving the motion, noted with serious concerns, the rising cases of violence, incessant rape and ritual killing of female Nigerians by criminally-minded persons in various parts of the country.

He further noted that these incessant attacks were hindering

consequences of the vice.

He recalled that in the last six weeks, many incidents had occurred that had made headlines,the recent being that of 22 years old Miss Oluwabamise Ayanmola, whose corpse was found on Carter Bridge, at Ogogoro Community in Lagos Island, nine days after being declared missing by her family.

at about 7pm around Chevron, Lekki.

He expressed concerns that there were allegations that the BRT driver earlier confessed to having canal knowledge of the late Bamise before killing her and harvesting some vital organs only for the story to change after some influential Nigerians intervened on his behalf.

Insecurity: Tambuwal Vows to Flush Out Bandits, Informants Onuminya Innocent In Sokoto

Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has warned marauders and their collaborators to stay away from the state or face the full wrath of the law once apprehended.

Tambuwal, who cut short an official trip midnight Tuesday to address the reported influx of suspected bandits and their

informants into the village of Sabon Garin Liman in Wurno Local Government Area of the state, said his administration, with the assistance of security agencies and the federal government, will not allow criminals to roll back the gains being made to stem the tide of their nefarious activities.

In a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity Tambuwal said the state

government is not unaware “of what is happening in this village, where bandits, both from within and outside the country are taking refuge.”

“I was out of the state. I left Sokoto yesterday. I had to come back by 1 am last night because of certain information that I received that are very worrisome and of concern, that have to do with happenings around here and

Gundumi forest (in Zamfara state).

“We know that there are informants in this village and they collaborate with bandits. We are going to flush them out and make sure that the law takes its course on them,” he reaffirmed.

He appealed to the law-abiding people in the community to collaborate with the village head, other leaders and security agencies in the state.

fact that an army unit is stationed at Iordye settlement, which is less than five kilometers from Ahentse.

The bandits were reported to have come from Awe, through Damkor and through Iordye to unleash the attack and fled.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Guma Local Government area Mr. Caleb Abah, saying “some herders came from the direction of Nasarawa State precisely Awe local govt area and attacked Ahentse village

killing five people while two people sustained various degrees of injuries and are receiving treatment at the General hospital, Gbajimba.”

The Benue Police command also confirmed the killing.

According to the Police Public Relation Officer(PPRO) CSP Sewuese Anene, the killing in Gbajimba, Guma Local Government Area is confirmed.

She said four persons were killed and one person is currently receiving treatment, adding that

Investigation is ongoing.

Meanwhile, the Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has called on the federal government to synergise with his administration and step up military operations that will flush out armed herdsmen from neighbouring states bordering Benue.

He said this will help end the invasion of Benue communities by killer herdsmen who have continued to use the porous nature of the state borders to

Niger Workers Continue with Warning Strike Five Killed as Suspected Herdsmen Attack Benue Community Laleye Dipo in Minna The seven-day warning strike embarked upon by the organised labour in Niger state since Monday will go on despite government meeting some of the demands of the workers.

THISDAY learnt that series of meetings between officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and those of the government between Monday and Tuesday this week resulted in the government shifting ground over the demand of labour.

It was learnt that government agreed to immediately commence refunding the 30 per cent of salaries of workers deducted in 2020 and have in fact made the refunds with majority of those affected by the action receiving alerts from their banks.

THISDAY also learnt that government bowed to the demand of workers for the resumption of payment of pension and gratuities to its retirees with a pledge that

effective from the end of this month (March) N200 million will be released to the state pension board for the commencement of the payment of gratuities to those deserving it.

However, THISDAY gathered that the issue if union dues deducted from salaries of workers but not remitted to the unions and the matter of percentage payment of salaries of local government workers are twin issues that will make the strike to continue.

According to the findings, the government officials could not readily provide the quantum of money deducted from workers’ salaries and when the unions will get the amount remitted to their accounts.

Also, some local government officials at the meeting vehemently opposed the abrogation of the partial autonomy granted them which has made not less than 17 of the 25 LGAs unable to pay full salaries.

George Okoh In Makurdi Five people were killed in Ahentse community in Ndzorov council ward of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, by suspected Fulani militants in the early hours of Tuesday.

According to local sources, the operation by the bandits lasted for about two hours leaving five dead and several others sustaining various degrees of injuries.

The sources said what was worrisome about the attack is the

FG Expresses Concern over Rising Unemployment Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The federal government has again expressed serious concern over rising rate of unemployment and poverty in Nigeria, charging the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to double efforts at arresting the situation.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, who gave the charge yesterday in Jos

during 2021 ITF merit award, also appealed to state governments, non-governmental organisations, and spirited Nigerians to complement the fund’s efforts at ending the menace.

Describing ITF as one of the most important agencies and most result-oriented parastatal under his ministry, the minister, who was represented by Nagogo Mohammad said:

“From the scorecard presented by the Director-General earlier, it is obvious to me that rather than allow the weight of your achievements to lull you into complacency or to rest on your oars, you have become more vibrant and determined in the pursuit of your mandate.”

He added:“This, for me, is not entirely surprising, given the Fund’s track record since

the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR as the President of Nigeria.

“From reports available to me, I am fully aware that in the last six years you implemented several life transforming skills intervention programmes and other initiatives that empowered thousands of Nigerians with requisite skills for employability and entrepreneurship.

THURSDAY MARCH 10, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

Police Parade 220 Suspects, Terrorists, Armed Robbers in Kaduna John Shiklam in Kaduna Two hundred suspected terrorists and 20 suspected armed robbers were yesterday paraded by the Kaduna State Police command.

The spokesman of the command, Mohammad Jalige, who paraded the suspects on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Mudasiru Abdullahi, at the command’s headquarters in Kaduna.

He disclosed that 18 AK47 rifles, 2,000 live ammunitions of different calibre, 11 pump action guns, 10 locally fabricated pistols seven vehicles of different brands and nine motorcycles were recovered from them.

Jalige said the arrests were made between January and March, 2022, at different locations in the state.

He said among those paraded were the prime suspect in the murder of Air Vice Marshal Maisaka (rtd), who was killed at his residence in Rigasa area of Kaduna metropolis sometimes in January as well as suspected terrorists, said to have killed over 15 persons at different times.

According to Jalige, the arrests were made following the

relentless efforts by the police to combat crime in the state.

He said the relative serene security atmosphere currently being witnessed in the state was as a result of the strategic

Operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS), have arrested the Chairmen of Gwarzo and Kano Municipal Local Governments, Bashir Abdullahi Kutama and Faizu Alfindiki, over alleged use of armed political thugs in the state, which resulted in a recent clash between supporters of two gubernatorial aspirants.

It was gathered that no fewer than four persons were killed while several others were injured recently during the inauguration of elected officials of the APC

Anambra State government yesterday held a valedictory event for the outgoing governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano, even though his tenure ends on March 17.

Prominent individuals who gathered at the International Convention Centre, Awka took time to praise Obiano over what they termed his glowing achievements in the last eight years in the state.

The event also featured award presentation, unveiling of a biography on the governor

for Kano Southern Senatorial zone in Rano by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

A reliable source at the DSS State command, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the arrest of the two local governments chairmen on yesterday.

“Yes, they have arrested Mr Faizu Alfindiki, the Chairman of Kano Municipal and Bashir Abdullahi Kutama, Chairman of Gwarzo Local Governments, over allegations of sponsoring highly placed political thuggery in the state, culminating in attacks and subsequent killings.

and the official inauguration of the 13,000 seater International Convention Centre, Awka.

THISDAY gathered that the reason for the event was the insistence of the governor-elect, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to hold a low-key swearing-in ceremony, as he would spend eight hours working at Okpoko Slum, near Onitsha on March 17, after being sworn in.

During the valedictory event, a book written by investment banker, Ike Chioke with the title - Akpokuedike, Duty Call in Anambra, was also unveiled.

ECOWAS Builds Capacity against Gender-based Violence Michael Olugbode in Abuja The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has commenced building the capacity of stakeholders on protecting the rights of women, children and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria.

The three-day workshop, organised by the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to ECOWAS commission, aimed at building the capacity of multi-stakeholders, senior government officials in charge of International Human

partnership in the continuous fight against criminal elements as the quest of securing the society is everybody’s business.

He said the Kaduna

command of the police was not unmindful of the security challenges bedeviling the state, stressing that, remarkable efforts were being made to address the situation.

L-R: Majority Leader, Apapa Local Government Council, Hon. Shodunke Moshood;Council Manager, Mrs. Mosunmola Otauku- Okoka;One of the beneficiaries and Student of United Christian Senior SecondarySchoolApapa,Miss.ChristianAdeolaAdelaja;Chairman,ApapaLocalGovernmentCouncil,Hon.IdowuSenbanjo;LegislativeLeader,Hon.FowoweEbenezer;andHumanResourcesOfficer, Mr.IbitoyeYusuf,atthedistributionoffree2022UnifiedTertiaryMatriculationExamination(UTME)formstoindigentstudentsofApapaLocalGovernmentArea,Lagos…yesterday ETOPUKUTT

Obiano Commended on Achievements David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

architecture in the state.

“The sum of these approaches resulted in the successes we are showcasing today”, he said.

Jalige stressed that the

FREE JAMB FORMS…

DSS Arrests Two Kano LG Chairmen, Declares another Wanted Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

and tactical deployment of the special units of the force, undercover operatives, conventional police personnel as well as the purposeful synergy within the security

Right Law (IHL), Gender-based Violence (GBV), trafficking in person (TIP), media, as well as representatives of Civil Society Groups (CSOs) and other nonstate actors.

At the end of the workshop, the participants are expected to present their views in relation to the implementation of ECOWAS texts for the elimination of genderbased violence and trafficking in persons as well as the promotion of child rights and the enhancement of international humanitarian laws.

Hanifa’s Murder: Court Overrules Suspects over Alleged Torture Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Justice Usman Na’aba of Kano High Court situated at Audu Bako Secretariat, has overruled allegations of threat to life, confession under duress and torture raised by Abdulmaliq Tanko, the prime suspect and other in the murder case of Hanifa Abubakar, a five-year-old pupil of Noble Kiddies Academy kidnapped and killed in Kano.

At the resumption of the criminal trial yesterday Justice Na’abba declared that there was no substantive evidence brought

before the court to prove the suspects were not responsible for their earlier statements.

In his ruling on trial within trial, Justice Na’abba declared that Abdulmaliq could not clearly prove the identity of the device which he claimed was used to penetrate his body parts, thereby dismissing the suspects argument.

Abdulmaliq (first defendant) and Fatima Musa (third defendant) at the last sitting denied signing the confessional statement brought against them by the security.

The prime suspect also revealed

that he was electrocuted with an unknown device and threatened with dangerous weapons by the security while making a statement which he claimed refused to sign.

The third defendant similarly told the court that she was threatened and offered N250,000 compensation, if she offered to cooperate with the security officers while obtaining her confession.

The revelation came when the defence counsel, Muktar L. Usman objected to the submission of the first security witness Sergeant Rilwan Ibrahim for what he described as inconsistency in

the evidence of the first and third suspects statements.

The defence solicitor who also doubles as deputy director at Legal Aid Council, Kano office, faulted the method applied by the police to obtaining the suspects’ statement, insisting the security failed to comply with provisions of Criminal Administration of Justice Act (CAJA).

Usman later sought the court permission to order for a trial within trial, to clear the claim and counterclaim where the first (Tanko) and third (Fatima) suspects made contrary claims.

2023: ‘Preferred Choice for A’Ibom Guber Race is Backed by Citizens’ Okon Bassey in Uyo The Head of National Media for the Umo Eno Campaign Organisation and Maintain Peace Movement (MPM) in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Anietie Usen, has said that the preferred choice of Governor Udom Emmanuel the position of governor in the state come 2023 is backed by a mass movement of the citizens.

Governor Emmanuel on January 30, 2023 announced that God told him to pick his Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Pastor Umo Eno as his preferred candidate come 2023 general elections in the country.

Usen, a journalist, said the Umo Eno political journey is beyond politics but ‘a movement of the people backed by the host of heaven’.

He spoke at the inauguration of the state and local government chapters of a leading political pressure group in the state, the Friends Of Umo Eno League (FUEL) Usen, who is newly appointed as the state chairman of the group, said the choice of the State Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources as preferred governor of the state come 2023 is a good thing

for the state.

“Pastor Umo Eno is a good man, a good brand and God’s plan” for Akwa Ibom State in in 2023 and beyond,” he said.

He said Eno, is “a man of peace, tailor-made for this land of peace and serenity”, adding that Akwa Ibom State is in need of a transformational leader in 2023 rather than a transactional politician in the State House.

Fayemi Pledges War against Female Genital Mutilation Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has restated the commitment of his administration to relentlessly wage war against the Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) practice in the state.

The governor also assured all that the government is mapping out strategies for Ekiti to rank high in the West African Examinations Council results in 2022, saying

over 70 per cent of students made five credits including English and Mathematics in the last results.

Fayemi spoke in Ado Ekiti, yesterday when Hacey Health Initiative presented prizes to five students, who came tops in the ‘Stop FGM Essay Competition’ held in Oyo , Ekiti and Osun States to increase their awareness on the negative implications of the practice.

The students are: Olamiju

Abimbola Joy of Ekiti State Government College Ikere; Ogundipe Kehinde Esther of Christ Girls School, Ado Ekiti, and Aborisade Omotolani Sarah of Christ Girls School Ado Ekiti.

Others include: Ayodele Susan Mary Mofopefuluwa, St. Louis Grammar School Ikere Ekiti and Oladapo Oluwaferanmi Aanuoluwa, Mary Immaculate Grammar School Ado Ekiti Addressing the students,

Fayemi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Folakemi Olomojobi, said: “We are working hard, making laws and reaching out to our partners to ensure that we stop FGM . The fact that our students are aware of this scourge makes us happy.

“In the last WAEC, over 70 per cent of our students passed with five credits, including English and Mathematics.”

Lawmaker Identifies Insecurity as Bane of Devt, Food Security Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city The member, representing Ovia federal constituency of Edo State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, has expressed worry that insecurity may hamper development as well discourage investors from coming to the state if not urgently check.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) federal lawmaker

expressed this worry when he spoke to journalists in Benin-city yesterday.

He said the security challenges that have prevented farmers from their farms have recently assumed a worrisome dimension, noting that not only are people being abducted on a daily basis, there is also now issue of banditry, murder, rape, torture and abuse of residents of various

communities in the state.

The lawmaker cited Uromi bank robbery of February 24, 2022, which led to the death of seven persons, including two police officers, and the gruesome murder of Dr. Otote Osaikhuomwan of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), as example.

“The issue of kidnapping has spread across the state, including

the Owan-lhievbe Warrake Road, Benin-Auchi highway, among many other spots in the state.

“Also note that on January 31, herdsmen invaded farmlands in Igolo and (Abumwentre I) communities in Ovia federal constituency, killing one person and wounding at least two, forcing the residents to flee into the neighboring community of Okokhuo for refuge.

THURSDAY, ͹͸˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

54

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Benzema’s Second Half Hat Trick Send Real Madrid into Q’final C H A M P I O N S L E AG U E

Karim Benzema scored a superb second-half hat-trick as Real Madrid produced a stirring fightback at a raucous Bernabeu to reach the Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of Paris St-Germain.

Kylian Mbappe's first-half goal had given PSG a deserved two-goal aggregate lead and looked to have put Mauricio Pochettino's side well on course for the last eight.

However, a mistake by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma proved the catalyst for a dramatic recovery with Benzema turning home after the Italian dawdled in possession.

Luka Modric's driving run and intricate pass made Benzema's second as he levelled the tie against a clearly panicked PSG, and as the visitors attempted to regroup the 34-year-old drove a low effort into the bottom right corner seconds after the restart to settle the tie.

Until Donnarumma's error PSG had been in complete control.

Marco Verratti was slick and

dominant in midfield, while Neymar and Lionel Messi worked themselves into some dangerous positions as the hosts struggled to contain their more fluent opponents.

Mbappe in particular was electric, racing on to a pass from Neymar to open the scoring against the side he has been heavily tipped to join in the summer when his contract at PSG expires.

Either side of that the 23-yearold tormented the Real defence, twice having goals correctly disallowed for offside but showing his predatory instincts nonetheless.

A surge of acceleration also saw him burst past Real's Eder Militao and only a brilliant covering challenge from David Alaba prevented him from adding to his tally.

Mbappe's influence was such that he received warm applause from the home support as he got up after appearing to be hurt in a tackle, but the real damage to his and PSG's long-standing aspirations in the competition were still to come.

Rangers’ Awka Move Excites Monimichelle Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle, Ebi Egbe, has said he is excited over the move

by Rangers FC to play at their remaining home matches at the Awka City Stadium constructed by his firm.

Rangers who are currently playing at Nnewi have applied to LMC requesting to shift base to Awka.

The Flying Antelopes have blamed their poor run at home on the Nnewi natural grass turf which does not support free flowing football.

Egbe who is now putting finishing touches to the Awka turf said yesterday that Rangers playing at Awka would be another good opportunity for Nigerians to see what his firm is

capable of doing. Egbe was also full of praise for the Anambra state government for giving him the opportunity to put in place a world class turf at the arena.

“When Rangers come here in a matter of weeks, Nigerians would see and appreciate our job and the stuff Monimichelle is made of. We are bringing the latest technology to Nigeria and what we have right now in Awka is FIFA certified hybrid synthetic turf which is the best in the world and the future for African football. I thank Gov Obiano for this opportunity,” Egbe said.

Monimichelle it would be noted constructed the pitches in Aba home of Enyimba, Katsina, Makurdi, Ikene and the MJA Arena in Lagos.

NFF in Grief as Former Super Eagle, Justice Christopher, Dies at 41 Nigeria Football was again in mourning early Wednesday as news filtered in that former Super Eagles’ midfielder, Justice Christopher, had slumped and died in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Christopher represented Nigeria at youth and senior levels, playing for the Super Eagles between 2001 and 2002, during which he amassed a total of 11 caps. He was in Nigeria’s squad to the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals in Korea/Japan, featuring in the 0-0 draw with England at the Osaka Nagai Stadium.

“This is devastating. Justice Christopher was young and full of life. His death is a thing of

deep sorrow here at the NFF and the entire Nigeria Football ambience. There was no report that he was ill. We are stunned to hear of his death.

“We pray that God will grant him eternal rest and comfort the family that he has left behind.”

Justice Christopher featured for Katsina United, Sharks FC and Insurance FC on the domestic front before travelling abroad, where he played for Antwerp FC (Belgium), Levski Sofia (Bulgaria), Trelleborgs FF (Sweden); Alania Vladikavkaz (Russia) and Herfølge BK (Denmark). In October 2012, he joined Nasarawa United FC of Lafia.

Karim Benzema netted a hat trick as Real Madrid came from behind to oust PSG ...last night.

Ekong Back from Injury, to Play against Ghana in Playoffs Super Eagles defender, William Troost-Ekong is now fit and cleared by Watford medical team after a mild injury.

Troost-Ekong resumed full training yesterday. He’s now in good shape for the World Cup play-offs against Ghana later this month.

This news is a big boost for coach Augustine Eguavoen ahead of this month’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification play-off against the Black Stars.

Watford in a statement on their website, confirmed Troost-Ekong has returned to full training.

A groin problem ruled the Nigerian centre back and although he is back with the squad, the game against Wolves tonight might be too early for him.

WORLD CUP “William Troost-Ekong makes his return to full training today (Wednesday) following a minor groin problem, but Thursday’s Molineux encounter is likely to come too soon for the Nigeria captain,” the statement read.

Troost-Ekong’s only game for the Hornets this year was against Tottenham Hotspur on New Year’s Day, before he joined up with the Eagles for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon where Nigeria exited in the Second round.

Since his return to the UK, he has been an unused substitute against Burnley, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.

Karim Benzema netted a hat trick as Real Madrid came from behind to oust PSG ...last night.

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THURSDAY, ͹͸˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

SPORTS RESULTS UCL R’Madrid 3-2 PSG (Madrid qualified 3-2 agg) Sporting 0-0 Man City (Qualified 5-0 agg)

*EUROPA (Last 16) Sevilla Atalanta Barca Rangers SC Braga

v West Ham v Leverkusen v Galatasaray v C Zvezda v Monaco

*Europa Conference PAOK P’ Belgrade S’ Prague Vitesse Bodoe/Gilmt Leicester Marseille PSV

Manchester City’s forward, Raheem Sterling (2nd right) missed the chance to score last night

v Gent v Feyenoord v LASK v Roma v AZ Alkmaar v Rennes v Basel v Copenhagen

Man City Held, Qualify from First Leg 5-0 Advantage Manchester City cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League despite being held at home by a Sporting Lisbon side who were intent on damage limitation.

City's stunning 5-0 win in last month's first leg in Lisbon had already effectively settled this tie, and it was clear from

the outset that the Portuguese did not entertain any hope of an unlikely comeback.

They packed their defence, perhaps wary of suffering another damaging defeat, leaving Pep Guardiola's side in total control of possession but struggling to carve out meaningful chances.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Raheem Sterling wasted City's best opportunity before the break when he ran on to Phil Foden's pass and tried to dink the ball over Antonio Adan but did not get enough height on his shot.

Gabriel Jesus did find the net for the home side at the start of the second half but a VAR review ruled he was offside from Riyad Mahrez's pass and the goal was disallowed.

Woods Inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame Tiger Woods was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame at the PGA Tour headquarters in Florida on Wednesday evening.

American Woods has won 15 majors, second only to Jack Nicklaus' 18, and a joint-record 82 times on the PGA Tour.

The 46-year-old is missing this week's Players Championship at Sawgrass as he continues to recover from the injuries he sustained in a car crash in 2021.

He played with his son Charlie at an event in December but is yet to set a date for his return to the PGA Tour.

The ceremony, which starts at 19:00 local time (00:00 GMT) will see Woods introduced by his daughter Sam and be inducted alongside former PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, four-time major winner Susie Maxwell and course developer and architect Marion Hollins.

Speaking before the Players

Championship, 2019 champion Rory McIlroy said: "He was going to be a Hall of Famer when he was five years old.

"He's been an inspiration for so many of us. We - all that are playing here this week - have to thank Tiger for where the game is and where the Tour is."

To emphasise that point, Woods recently won the PGA Tour's Player Impact Programme and with it $8m (£6m) for generating more media interest than any other golfer in 2021 - even though he played just one tournament all year.

His last official PGA Tour event was the 2020 Masters.

Woods was seriously injured in a car crash in February 2021 and was not seen publicly for much of the year. In late November a social media post of him hitting golf balls under the title "making progress" attracted 7.8 million views on Twitter.

Tiger Woods ...to be inducted into golf half of fames

GTI to Unveil Unique Football Fund for Discerning Investors Mary Nnah The Board and Management of GTI Asset Management & Trust Limited, an innovative financial services provider of cutting-edge investment banking services in Nigeria's financial landscape, is set to unveil a football fund project to serve as a catalyst for the transformation of sports business development in Nigeria.

The novel idea is a bold step towards harnessing the huge untapped potential in sports from the developmental and marketing

points of view.

Beyond its universal appeal which transcends all known and apparent geographical and ethnic boundaries, sports business is not only lucrative but also offers multiple streams of income to thousands of business concerns across different sectors of any economy.

GTI's aspiration is to help deliver a project that will serve as a onestop-shop for all stakeholders whose common aspiration is to see sports in Nigeria attain new heights of development leading to a united

people and stronger economy.

In the sports sector where others see challenges, GTI has dared to see possibilities.

In the words of the Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Abubakar Lawal, "Because funding has always been a challenge to the growth of sports in Nigeria, we intend to harness the various resources through innovative financial schemes and help build a very vibrant football economy in the sports ecosystem.

To achieve this, we have created a unique model focusing on the sports business because football is a

multibillion-dollar business in other climes and we intend to replicate the same in Nigeria”.

He further enthused, "The fund would be an enabler that will facilitate wealth creation for our citizens and collective prosperity for our nation" The launch event is slated for Tuesday, 22nd March 2022. The event will have in attendance sports administrators, prospective investors, and key stakeholders in the sports world, thus Nigerian and by extension, African sports is set to be the biggest winners.

Despite being unable to make the breakthrough, City remained completely comfortable and Guardiola was relaxed enough to bring on third-choice keeper Scott Carson for Ederson with 20 minutes remaining.

The 36-year-old, making his first appearance of the

season, was quickly called into action to deny Paulinho from close range, bringing chants of 'England's number one' from the delighted City fans.

City are into the quarterfinals for the fifth successive season, and will find out their opponents in the last eight on 18 March.

World Athletics Awards Okpekpe Road Race 2022 Elite Label The historic Okpekpe international 10km road race has been awarded an elite label for its eighth edition which holds on May 28, 2022in Okpekpe near Auchi, Edo State.

This is in line with the new categorisation of all road running events approved under the new Label Road Races Regulations approved by World Athletics Council in October last year and which came into force in November 2021.

Under the new arrangement, road races are classified as World Athletics Label, World Athletics Elite Label and World Athletics Elite Platinum Label.

Okpekpe, the first road race in West Africa to be granted a World Athletics rating in 2015, is among the 93 road races across the globe and only seven in Africa to be awarded a World Athletics Elite Label.

The new categorisation has implications on ranking points available to international elite athletes, and Olympics and World Championships qualification slots offered by the highest-categorised competitions.

A World Athletics Label denotes high standards in event organisation, safety and runner experience and application of the World Athletics Rules and Regulations among other considerations.

The Chief Executive Officer of Pamodzi Sports Marketing, organisers of the race, Mike Itemuagbor, is delighted World Athletics still rates the

organisation of the race very high even after a covid-19 induced two year absence.

“This is great news because it is a testimony of our organisational ability and of course strict adherence to the application of the World Athletics Rules and Regulations,' he said and thanked the Edo state government for the support given to the race and corporate Nigeria for their trust.

Itemuagbor is confident Okpekpe road race will be the first in Africa to be awarded a World Athletics Elite Platinum Label.

“Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu was clear about the direction the race is going when he said at the press briefing heralding this year's race last month in Benin City that a Platinum label is the target. ''With the immeasurable support we have received from the government of Edo state since the inception of the race, particularly from His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki who has been a part of the race since 2013, we believe we will score another first for Nigeria and this time Africa,'he said.

No African country is among the 12 road races across the globe awarded World Athletics Elite Platinum Label. The USA has three which includes the New York Marathon, China two, Japan two, Germany one and the London Marathon the only one awarded to Great Britain.

Thursday, March 10, 2022

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MISSILE

Olumide Akpata to Dave Umahi

“We condemn without equivocation Umahi’s unfortunate diatribe which, if it had emanated from an average litigant, would still have been regarded as shocking but coming from one who occupies the exalted office of a State Governor, is nothing short of a national embarrassment... resort to attacking and denigrating the high office of a Judge in this unprecedented manner is disgraceful, undemocratic and completely unacceptable”—NBA statement on Ebonyi governor’s attack on the Federal High Court Judge who delivered judgement against him .

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

APC, PDP, and the Mafia Game

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he emergence of the ruling party national chairman in Nigeria is often akin to the way Mafia bosses choose their Consigliere (right hand man).

The manner of their exit from office is also no different: A nod and a wink from the president and enforcers will handle the rest.

That was the way almost a dozen national chairmen were hired and fired by the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while in power for 16 years (1999 to 2015).

Interestingly, it appears that whatever the PDP could do, the (current) ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) can do even better.

On Monday, Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello emerged at the party’s secretariat to take over as acting chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC). The Secretary, John Akpanudoedehe, who had earlier that morning sent out a desperate press statement, looked bewildered in the group photograph that followed the meeting—standing beside his new boss like a weather-beaten chicken.

While he may still be huffing and puffing, Akpanudoedehe has enough experience in Nigerian politics to know that he and Governor Mai Mala Buni are effectively now history as far as APC leadership is concerned. And they can only blame themselves. Given an important assignment, both bungled it on the altar of greed and inordinate ambition.

Two weeks ago, I recounted how the CECPC was put together after the controversial dissolution of the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) by President Muhammadu Buhari in June 2020. I also wrote on how Buni and confederates began their manipulation games. “First, Buni abandoned Yobe and relocated to Abuja, although he once confessed to spending three days in the state every month (apparently to preside over the sharing of Yobe’s allocation from the federation account). Second, he began to crisscross the country, looking for governors from other parties that he could poach into joining the APC. That was how Buni also abandoned his primary assignment in the party. And with a sleight of hand and connivance of

Sani Bello other APC kingpins, Buni’s dubious mandate became elastic. Six months stretched to 12 months. And then 18 months. Even when an apparently embarrassed Buhari moved in recently to ask for an end to the farce, the president was practically dribbled. After the national convention was set for 26th February without any plan or venue, it was obvious that Buni and co were playing games. And on Monday, Buni wrote to INEC, talking about zonal congresses to be held on 26th March! So, effectively, the idea of a national convention had been jettisoned. But confronted by fellow Governors within the party (many of them with their own different agenda), Buni had no new card to play. Seizing the initiative, the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) on Monday night intervened and following a series of meetings, including with the president, APC announced dates

of the processes that will ultimately culminate in its national convention on 26th March.”

However, as I learnt after the publication, Buni and Akpanudoedehe still imagined they had additional cards to play. And they were helped by the statement that President Buhari would be traveling to Kenya and thereafter proceed to London for routine medical checks expected to last two weeks. With no plan to hold a convention, Buni and fellow travelers conspired to instigate a legal and political crisis that would force the hands of the president when he returned by presenting him with a fait accompli that the only way forward was to conduct the national convention together with the primaries. The idea has always been for Buni to preside over the nomination of APC candidates for all political offices ahead of the 2023 general election.

I understand that Buni has been promising the APC presidential ticket to two gladiators within the party and two prominent citizens who are yet to publicly declare for APC. All the four are southerners. Akpanudoedehe of course wants to be Akwa Ibom governor, a life-long ambition that he believes he could use the CECPC to achieve. These cold calculations were thwarted the moment the president changed his plan by returning to Abuja from Kenya. The last people to see him before he proceeded to London last Sunday were six APC Governors: Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi who chairs the party’s governors’ forum, Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Simon Lalong of Plateau and Sani Bello of Niger.

Confronted with a litany of Buni’s undoing backed by damning documentary evidence, the president was said to have ordered the immediate removal of the Yobe governor from the CECPP. But it was also evident the six governors had their plan mapped out. Since Sani Bello was the only remaining governor in CECPP (the other governor-member being Gboyega Oyetola who resigned before the recent Osun State party primaries), the Niger Governor was immediately designated to take over the running of APC. He will conduct the national convention scheduled for 26th March that is already billed as a coronation

Bestial Murder on the BRT

T

he late Miss Bamise Ayanwole could not have made a more rational choice in settling for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicle while returning to Ota from Ajah on 26th February this year. But as it turned out, the public vehicle she boarded was more than the usual ‘One Chance’ where people are dispossessed of their property. This one would rob her of life in a most vicious manner. As we are now learning, Bamise may have fallen into the hands of ritual killers operating from a Lagos-owned public transport.

With so many ‘influencers’ on pulpits and social media selling the message that wealth and work do not have to go together and that money (however ill-gotten) is everything, human ritual has become the latest industry in Nigeria.

Superstition, ignorance, and debased values have combined to make many young Nigerians believe they can harvest money through human

parts. Last weekend in Delta State, there was a tragic drama during the burial of a woman whose remains were brought by her husband.

According to the report in PUNCH newspaper, pandemonium erupted when the family of the deceased discovered the corpse was without eyes, tongue, and other vital organs. The ongoing trial of the proprietor of Hilton Hotel and Resort, Chief Rahmon Adedoyin and six staff over the alleged murder of a postgraduate student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, provides another gory example.

However, I am more concerned about Bamise’s case because of the implications for public transportation in a city like Lagos. Disturbing for me is the video of the BRT driver, Nice Andrew Omininikoron, speaking after arrest.

“I picked her from Chevron, and the other three guys at …when those guys show me his weapon as I was inside, I can’t be myself anymore,” said the driver who looked very

fresh and unruffled. “Fears have come in, so, whatever the man with the gun told me, I do.

I followed that Carter Bridge, that overhead bridge, they ordered me to stop there, they say I should open the door, when I open the door, then when they come down, they now start dragging her, when I saw that she was crying for help, I was helpless.”

Beyond the gaping holes in his narrative, distrust of the police to which the case has been handed and social media reports that this driver could be a serial rapist, there are critical issues to consider in this tragedy. But for now, let me make only three points. One, it is in the public interest that this case be thoroughly investigated with all the culprits arrested and brought to justice. Two, there is need for the Lagos State government to pay restitution to the family of the deceased. Three, measures should be put in place to ensure that this kind of tragedy does not recur on BRT. It must never happen again!

for the former Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Adamu. As a former military man familiar with coups, President Buhari thereafter gave the necessary approval to the relevant authorities that subsequently aided Sani Bello to seize the APC Secretariat from Buni and his minions. The rest, as they say, is now history!

Meanwhile, as my oga, Festus Eriye wrote in his column on Tuesday (in The Nation), APC is moving surely and steadily from appointing caretakers of doubtful legality to enthroning those who may end up as undertakers in the coming weeks, if care is not taken. But let me also state that things were not better under the PDP. In fact, both seem to be operating from the same rule book. The story of how President Olusegun Obasanjo visited Chief Audu Ogbeh, requested for pounded yam before asking the then embattled PDP national chairman to append his signature to an already written resignation letter, is well told. The ordeal of Chief Vincent Ogbulafor under President Goodluck Jonathan was no less interesting, as I detailed in my book, ‘Power, Politics and Death’. During the political imbroglio brought about by the illness of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (and the long sojourn in Saudi Arabia hospital), Ogbulafor had aligned with PDP governors who argued that there was no power vacuum. And that Jonathan did not need any letter of power transmission before he could continue to act. On one occasion, Ogbulafor quoted for Jonathan the Biblical Psalm 62:11 (God has spoken once, twice have I heard; power belongs to God) to buttress his point. While Jonathan did not dispute the power of God, Ogbulafor was made to taste a dose of the power that also belongs to Aso Rock: A case filed by ICPC in 2004 about a N104 million campaign donation was exhumed to send Ogbulafor out of office.

In my column last week, ’100 Crucial Days in Nigeria’, the first in a series, I reminded stakeholders that our country is so challenged on all fronts that Nigerians expect that political parties and those who seek power would begin to put forward practical ideas on how to resolve contradictions that have for long held back our country. But, in the real sense, we do not have political parties. What we have are vehicles for hijacking power.

This then brings me to the final point that a democracy anchored on a ritualistic and mechanical conception of elections that are not issue-based will only enthrone people who neither understand the rudiments of governance nor can advance the public good.

In APC, Buni, Akpanudoedehe and confederates may have been wrestled to the ground. But that could just be the close of a sordid chapter rather than the end of the book for the ruling party that is now troubled by how to hold a national convention and thereafter nominate candidates, including for the presidency. The situation in the PDP is perhaps even worse, though I will come to that in the coming weeks. In fact, the main opposition party seems to have learnt nothing from its defeat seven years ago. Yet, for our democracy to develop and thrive, political parties in Nigeria must move beyond intrigues to developing relevant programmes and policies capable of addressing the concerns of citizens. And there is no better time to start doing that than now!

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