MONDAY 18TH APRIL 2022

Zenith, Access, GTBank, UBA's Foreign Subsidiaries’ Contribution to Revenues Rise to 29.5% Kayode Tokede Following their aggressive expansion into other African countries, Europe, and Asia, the subsidiaries of United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), Access Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc

(GTBank) raked in about 29.5 per cent of their combined profit before tax in their 2021 financial year ended December 31, 2021, from their foreign subsidiaries, compared with the 23.3 per cent contribution to profit before tax recorded by the four banks in their 2020 audited financial

statement.

According to data compiled by THISDAY, in terms of value, the four banks’ foreign subsidiaries generated N245.47 billion, which was an increase by 43 per cent, compared with the N171.83 billion recorded in 2020.

Data gathered from the banks'

audited financial statements revealed that UBA, with presence in 20 African countries, a pension custodian subsidiary and branch in United Kingdom generated earnings from its foreign subsidiaries in 2021.

UBA’s subsidiaries generated profit before tax of N100.23 billion

in 2021, up from N71.57 billion in 2020, while Access Bank with subsidiaries in Gambia. Sierra Leone, Zambia, UK, Ghana, Rwanda, D.R.Congo, Guinea, Mozambique, South Africa, Kenya and Botswana generated N67.7 billion profit before tax in 2021, from N35,73billion in 2020.

In the same vein, the foreign subsidiaries of GTBank with subsidiaries in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia. Gambia, Cote D'Ivoire, Kenya Group, Tanzania and UK generated profit before tax of N45.4billion in 2021, higher Continued on page 5

FG Seeks to Revive Brass LNG Project as New Investor, Greenville LNG Shows Interest... Page 10 Monday 18 April, 2022 Vol 27. No 9868. Price: N250

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Sidelined in APC, Yari, Marafa Quit Ruling Party, Join PDP... Page 5

Atiku: After Seven Years of APC’s Incompetence, Nigeria Needs Unifier Urges South-east to focus on ‘what can’t lie’ Says tales about marabouts predicting his presidency surprising Kukah to Buhari: You have divided Nigerians along ethnic, religion, regional lines See story on page 5 PRESIDENTIAL INTERVIEW SERIES 1

"Nigeria must improve and that can only come by devolving powers"

Atiku, PDP presidential hopeful... See full interview on pages on 31 – 35

Withdraw Pardon for Dariye, Nyame, SERAP Tell Buhari... Page 12

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Sidelined in APC, Yari, Marafa Quit Ruling Party, Join PDP Ruling party not Islam, we can leave anytime, says senator Maku also joins opposition party, declares governorship bid Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Angered by their treatment in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, former governor of the state, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, and Senator Kabiru Marafa, yesterday, defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), forming a new political realignment ahead of the 2023 general election.

In a similar vein, former Minister of Information and Communication in the administration of erstwhile

President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Labaran Maku, joined PDP, and proceeded to declare interest in the 2023 governorship election in Nasarawa State.

Both Yari and Marafa had objected to the defection of Governor Bello Matawelle from PDP to APC after he was made leader of the party in the state by a former chairman of the party’s caretaker committee and governor of Yobe State, Mai Bala Buni.

While Yari challenged this decision to no avail, he also enlisted to vie for the party’s national chairmanship but

was forced to step down when President Muhammadu Buhari gave a clear indication that Senator Abdullahi Adamu was his preferred candidate.

The PDP chairman in Zamfara State, Colonel Bala Mande (rtd.), announced the defection of Yari and Marafa shortly after a stakeholders’ meeting in Gusau, the state capital. Mande said the party had finalised the issue of the defection of Yari and Marafa.

The chairman stated, “We have all agreed to work for the development of the party and the PDP in the state has

welcome them to its fold. We will ensure justice and fairness to all members even after we have won elections in 2023.

“The date for their grand reception to our party will be announced later, but we are going to implement all the agreements reached during the stakeholders meeting.”

Chairman, Publicity Secretary of Yari’s faction of APC, Alhaji Ibrahim Birnin Magaji, confirmed the development but did not give details.

“Yes, it is true we are moving to opposition PDP, and this is all I can say for now,” Magaji said.

ATIKU: AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF APC’S INCOMPETENCE, NIGERIA NEEDS UNIFIER Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto Former vice president and presidential hopeful in the 2023 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, at the weekend, said what Nigeria needed after seven years of ineptitude of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was a leader who could bring together diversity in unity and encourage the people to respect and accept each other, despite their differences. Atiku said Nigeria needed a “unifier, not a pacifier”.

He spoke exclusively to THISDAY in the first of a presidential interview series being conducted by this newspaper.

This was just as the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, yesterday accused the Buhari’s administration of having, “divided our people on the basis of ethnicity, religion, and region, in a way that we have never witnessed in our history.”

The former vice president further reacted to the issue of zoning, saying the South-east should focus on what cannot lie, that is his record, “My attitude towards them. My history with them.”

He did not miss an opportunity to sell his candidacy and vision, but dismissed tales about marabouts predicting he would be president someday as the reason he had held on to the dream tenaciously. He said the story remained a surprise to him, too.

Speaking directly to some of the issues defining the state of the nation on the journey to 2023, Atiku said, “I think after seven years of incompetence, Nigerians just want competence. Where it comes from, they do not mind.

“The challenges that we face today have so focused us on the need to elect leaders based on their competence, instead of their region or religion. Nigeria needs a unifier, not a pacifier. We will be pacified by unity. We will not be united by pacification.”

On insinuations about a groundswell of opinion against his recurrent presidential bids, especially suggestions that the people might be tired of seeing his face on the ballot, Atiku said, “That is a fallacy.

There is no groundswell, to use your word. Yes, there are people who have large megaphones, but they do not constitute a groundswell.

“Some of these people have emotional and historic reasons for making their appeals, and one must be sensitive to them. That is why I have gone round and keep going round this country to consult.

I believe in the politics of addition.

I am not a subtracting politician.”

On the mounting sentiments in favour of a Nigerian president of South-east origin in 2023, he stated, “Of course it is in order. Have you forgotten how passionate I have been in advocating for the South-east?

Look at my record.

“What the South-east has to understand is that people’s records matter more than people’s rhetoric.

I ask my beloved people of the South-east to focus on what cannot lie; my record. My attitude towards them. My history with them.”

Dismissing speculations that marabouts played a role in his presidential aspiration, Atiku said, “Even me, I am surprised when people bandy about these types of beer parlour myths. I am a devout Muslim. My principles do not allow for anything other than total submission to the will of God. “That is a myth put together by my political opponents to achieve whatever ends they wanted to achieve. That is just like saying Reagan and Churchill kept trying multiple times because they were powered by soothsayers. It may interest you to know that I became governor after four attempts.

Tenacity is a virtue. It is not a vice.

It should be celebrated.”

Talking about moves for consensus approach in selecting the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

, Atiku contended, “I just believe that no man should be a judge in his own case. Let’s go down memory lane.

“In 2010-2011, the North chose to go that route. However, it was not the aspirants who elected on their own to come up with a consensus candidate. It was the region. Specifically, the Northern Political Leaders’ Forum led by the late Malam Adamu Ciroma.

“If the North as a region wants that option, then, it should be driven by our natural leaders and elders. It should not be promoted by partisans.

Once it becomes like that, then, it may become a poisoned chalice.”

While addressing the issue if zoning, Atiku said, “I will add this: the Peoples Democratic Party, of which I am a founding member, should focus on winning, not on zoning!”

On why he still wanted to be president of Nigeria after five “failed attempts”, he said, “Please, allow me the liberty of rephrasing your question. I would rather say, after several attempts. They were not failed attempts, as I have already explained above.

“In the year 2022, Nigeria is the world headquarters for extreme poverty, and the third most insecure nation in the world. Our economy is not growing, while our population is expanding.

“If you now look at my record in government, where under the leadership of President Obasanjo, I was the chairman of the National Council on Privatisation, and a coordinator of our economic management team, you can clearly see my achievements.

“Those achievements need to be replicated if we are to turn the tide.

In fact, it is almost as if providence thrust me out this time to do again what God had enabled me to do before.

“We provided jobs. Nigerians are now unemployed in record numbers.

We paid off Nigeria’s foreign debt.

Nigeria is now more indebted than at any time in our history. Through

our policies and inclusiveness, we had relative peace.

“Now, Nigeria is in crisis due to insecurity. It would look to me that my curriculum vitae or my resume appears tailor-made to address the challenges we now face as a nation.”

Atiku spoke on the corruption allegations against him, saying, “Thank God you said allegations.

Anybody can allege. You know the history of this country and what specifically I went through. All that is now in the past. What I will say, however, is that I am the most investigated politician in Nigeria; yet, nothing has been established against me. I have received a clean bill of health with regard to the allegations raised against me.

“That alone should tell you something. It speaks volumes. In the attempt to stop me, knowing that my plans are sound, my ideology is solid and stable, and my connection to Nigerians is enduring, the only thing that my political opponents could use against me are false allegations. My only answer to that is that I have judicially been exonerated and vindicated of all of them.”

SEE FULL INTERVIEW ON PAGES 32–35

Kukah to Buhari: You Have Divided Nigerians Along Ethnic, Religion, Regional Lines Meanwhile, Kukah, in his Easter Message to the Church and Nigerians, made available to THISDAY, said the problems and challenges currently facing Nigeria were beyond the 2023 elections.

He lamented that the government had made Nigerians vulnerable and, “ignited the most divisive form of identity consciousness among the people.”

"The years of friendships, cultural exchange, and collaboration built over time have now come under Continued on page 6

But throwing more light on the development, Marafa, who was subtle in his submission, said there was no need wasting time in the ruling party, because APC was not Islam.

Marafa told journalists by telephone yesterday that it was only his religion, Islam, that he could not leave for anything, and that he could not continue to stay in a party, where he was not needed.

He said, "Let those people that are afraid of us come out and say they want to see us out and we can go out anytime now.

As far as I am concerned, I am a fulfilled person as far as this project APC is called. If there is anything left, I am waiting to see how the architect of this cruelty meted out to the people of Zamfara State, how they are going to fare in politics.

"But for now, I am happy, I told them to their faces in Kaduna that they will never benefit out of the machinations they were doing at that time, that is Mai Mala and his cotravellers. And I'm happy that they have lost out and they have lost out disgracefully.

"I can move out of APC anytime I so desire now; anytime I want, I can move out. APC is not Islam. It is my religion that I cannot leave for whatever reason, but a political party, I can leave and join anyone of my choice anytime I feel like."

While noting that APC treated him in unjustly, and he had two options, either to forgive or move out of the party, Marafa said, "It depends on what the new leadership desires to do. If they choose to toe the line of Mai Mala, we are definitely going out. Politics is about winning elections and everything, so, we cannot stay in a house that we are not needed."

He recalled that at a time, there were rumours that he and Yari would be suspended, and he challenged them to do so but they could not.

According to Marafa, "I'm happy that they were unable to see our back as far as the APC project is concerned and I am happy that we have seen their back today. We have sent them back to their primary assignment, the one that they have rejected and as far as we are concerned, we have won.

"Mai Mala lost out disgracefully. He's a young man, he has just started politics.

We are going to see how he's going to end in politics. Zamfara people are not the kind of people he can joke with.

"Mai Mala looked for our trouble, and I told him we

are not going anywhere, I'm going to stay and fight him and I'm happy we have been able to march him action for action. And today, he and all his friends have lost out."

Maku also spoke at the weekend in Abuja after submitting his expression of interest and nomination forms for the governorship of Nasarawa State at the national headquarters of PDP. He told newsmen that he was in the best position to restore peace and security in the state and deliver good governance. He said he would achieve these by connecting with leaders at all levels.

Maku stated, "That (peace and security) is very crucial, because without that you cannot really achieve anything, as it is all over the north and even all over the country.

"I believe I am in the position to bring peace back to our state, offer proper leadership and good governance by connecting with leaders – traditional leaders, community leaders, professional leaders – across the board to see that we are able to bring peace to our state. That is very crucial because without that you cannot really achieve anything.

"As it is all over the north and even all over the country now, you need peace and that will be at the forefront. I know that everybody loves peace, I know this, but we need to work hard at it with vision, with capacity, with strength and with experience. I believe this is feasible and a lot of the people here are also committed to the project.

"The second one is to restore governance. If you go to our state now, hardly will you see any institution properly functioning. You need to retrain the entire civil service and reposition it to be able to execute the programmes of government, because the civil service is the engine room of governance.”

Maku equally promised to harness the abundant natural resources in the state for the overall benefit of its people.

According to him, "Nasarawa State is the richest states in the country. It is one of the richest in agriculture; it has one of the most fertile lands for agricultural production in Nigeria.

"Now, we need to work in the area of agriculture to prepare our farmers, just like Sardauna (Sir Ahmadu Bello) used to do in the 50s and 60s and was producing so much food for the north and selling to develop the north."

ZENITH, ACCESS, GTBANK, UBA'S FOREIGN SUBSIDIARIES’ CONTRIBUTION TO REVENUES RISE TO 29.5% than N22.96 billion in 2020.

The contribution of the foreign subsidiaries to the Group performance of GTCO revealed significant contribution from the West African countries.

Also, the subsidiaries of Zenith Bank’s subsidiaries in Africa, Europe, Dubai and China generated N32.17 billion profit before tax in 2021, up from N41.56 billion in 2020. Zenith Bank, which is the most profitable bank in Nigeria had reported N280.37 billion profit before tax in 2021 from N255.86 billion in

2020, with Nigeria contributing about 94.8 per cent or N265.91 billion in 2021, up from 85.32 per cent or N218.3billion in 2020.

Zenith Bank had also revealed that its foreign subsidiaries contributed 12 per cent of its total revenue in 2021, from 13.9 per cent in 2020, while Nigeria contributed 88 per cent in 2021 from 86.1 per cent in 2020.

However, except for Access Bank that reported significant increase in profit before tax in 2021 from its United Kingdom subsidiary, three other banks

struggled in the UK. Specifically, Access Bank in 2021 reported N22.63 billion profit before tax in 2021 from N7.27 billion in 2020, from its UK subsidiary, while GTBank UK reported a loss of N1.16 billion in 2021 from a loss of N1.62 billion in 2020. Also, Zenith Bank UK’s profit before tax dropped to N4.93 billion in 2021 from N7.6 billion in 2020, while UBA UK Limited reported a loss of N428 million in 2021 from N1.41billion reported in 2020.

Speaking to analysts and

investors on the group performance in 2021, recently, the Group Managing Director, Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, revealed that in 2021, the growth in its subsidiaries have continued to grow.

According to him, “Subsidiaries’ contribution to the group’s profit before tax performance stood at 38 per cent compared to 28 per cent in the corresponding period last year, and of course recording total subsidiary PBT of about N67.7 billion compared to N35.7

billion it contributed in the same period of last year.

“Most of the subsidiaries recorded a decline in their cost to income ratios, reflecting the impact of our effective cost management across the group including Guinea and South Africa, Botswana as well.

“These three countries had their first three months of operations, hence the high cost operating ratio that you probably see in Guinea, South Africa and Botswana. But for all the others they have brought

the costs down.”

Wigwe noted that the transition into a holdings company was expected to play four key roles to deliver on the management objectives.

Commenting on banks’ expansions drive, the Vice President, Highcap Securities, Mr. David Adnori said banking with subsidiaries in Africa and Europe brings balance and improved corporate earnings, which he said was a win-win for shareholders and the economy where the banks have presence.

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Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 08074010580

WALKING THE AISLE...

L-R: former Governors James Ibori, Lucky Igbinedion; couple, Nathaniel Ogwuche and Osasu Igbinedion; Former President Goodluck Jonathan; Edo Gov. Godwin Obaseki; Former SFG Anyim Pius Anyim; Former Chief of Staff, Mike Oghiadome and Chief Mike Ozekhome at the Wedding Reception for Osasu and Nathaniel at International conference center Abuja.. weekend

Lawan Inaugurates Projects in Abia Communities, Harps on Rural Devt Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia Senate President, Ahmed Lawan has said the federal government under the control of All Progressives Congress(APC) remains committed to the development of rural areas through the provision of the needed infrastructure.

He stated this at the weekend during a whistle-stop inauguration of rural projects across three local governments - Isuikwuato, Bende and Ohafia- in Abia State, facilitated by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

Lawan noted that the rural roads and water projects brought to the communities by Kalu, who represents Abia North in the Senate, were evidence of the importance the APC attached to rural development.

"The APC administration believes in developing rural areas. Our rural communities remain uppermost in our minds," he said.

According to him, without opening up the rural communities, the agricultural policy of the federal government would not achieve the desired objective of food security, economic diversification and job creation.

He said the volume of agricultural activities that take place in the rural areas required that farm produce must be evacuated to the markets where they are needed, adding that with good network of rural roads the farmer would be encouraged to produce more food.

Accompanied by his host, Senator Kalu and Senators Theodore Orji(Abia Central), Frank Ibezim(Imo North), and Opeyemi Bamidele(Ekiti Central), Lawan first arrived at Uturu in Isuikwuato local government where he inaugurated Nvurunvu road, a two kilometers asphalted rural road with drainages.

He said he never imagined that he would one day set his foot on Uturu and other rural communities he visited in Abia, adding that the Senate Chief Whip made it possible by attracting the developmental projects and inviting him to inaugurate them.

Other inaugurated projects included phase 1 of 4km Agbo, Amoji Lodu Ring road, phase 1 of 4km Amokwe Item - Ukwu Rubber rural farmers road, Agbaja Nkporo road (7.5km), Umu Imenyi road (2km) and Amankalu Alayi road (2km) as well as water borehole projects in Agbaja, Amuri and Enugwu Nkporo.

Senator Kalu promised to complete the second phase of the Amoji Lodu Ring road and called on the rural folks to sustain their support for the APC. In appreciation of the projects executed for them, each of the benefitting communities conferred

chieftaincy titles on the Senate President and the Chief Whip and entertained them with cultural displays.

Meanwhile, youth leaders under the aegis of Coalition of South East Youth Leaders(COSEYL) has lauded the Senate Chief Whip for

attracting projects to his constituency within a space of three years of representation.

In a statement signed by its president, Goodluck Ibem, the group said the projects that came about through Kalu's, "rewarding and fruitful representation" have

gone a long way in alleviating the sufferings of rural dwellers and added value to their lives.

The Coalition urged other senators to emulate Kalu by attracting projects to the people they represent instead of hiding their underperformance with the excuse that the job of

legislators is only to make laws.

"The quality and result oriented representation of Senator Kalu has proved that he is a goal-getter and a good manager of human resources whose interest in governance is to put smiles on the faces of his people," said COSEYL.

ATIKU: AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF APC’S INCOMPETENCE, NIGERIA NEEDS UNIFIER serious pressure from stereotyping.

Notwithstanding these challenges, religious leader must recover to deploy their moral authority and avoid falling victims to the schemes of politicians and their material enticements,” the Catholic Bishop said.

He disclosed that the values of interfaith dialogue have come under severe strain and pressure, “with extremists from both sides of our faiths denigrating the idea of dialogue with their counterparts of other faiths.”

“Ignorance and miseducation have combined with prejudice to create the falsehood that somehow, one religion is superior to the others.

“With so many ill equipped fraudsters posing as religious leaders, there is an obsession with defaming the others and widening our differences,” Kukah added.

He said religious leaders must face the reality, “that here in Nigeria and elsewhere around the world, millions of people are leaving Christianity and Islam. While we are busy building walls of division with the blocks of prejudice, our members are becoming atheists, but we prefer to pretend that we do not see this.

“We cannot pretend not to hear the footsteps of our faithful who are marching away into atheism and secularism. No threats can stop this, but dialogue can open our hearts.

"In the last few years, we have had some good news from outside the shores of Nigeria. The most noteworthy is the initiative undertaken by both Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque, Egypt, Shaikh Mohammed Al-Tayeb in 2019, when both of them met and signed the Document on Human Fraternity.

“Pope Francis followed up with the publication of an Encyclical titled, ‘Fratelli Tutti, We are all Brothers,’ in 2020.

“The following year, the United Nation’s General Assembly declared February 4, World Day of Fraternity.

Both leaders agreed that: ‘We

need to develop the awareness that nowadays, we are either all saved together or no one is saved.

Poverty, decadence, and suffering in one part of the earth are a silent breeding ground for problems that will end up affecting our entire planet.”

Furthermore, Kukah said, “We need to start thinking of a Nigeria beyond banditry and kidnapping and the endless circles of violence that have engulfed our communities and nation.

"We cannot continue to pretend that there are no religious undertones to the violence in the name of God that has given our religions a bad name. The way out is for the state to enforce the secular status of the Nigerian state so as to give citizens the necessary freedoms from the shackles of semi-feudal confusion over the status of religion and the state in a plural democracy.

“We must be ready to embrace modernity and work out how to preserve our religions and cultures without turning religion into a tool for tyranny, exclusion, and oppression.”

He maintained that, “in finding our way forward, the President must concede that it is within his powers to decide how we are going to end the war that has engulfed and is tearing down our nation.

“It seems that the federal government has shown far greater commitment to integrating so called repentant terrorists than getting our children back from kidnappers or keeping our universities open.

Earlier last month, Operation Safe Corridor announced that it had graduated 599 members of various terrorist groups who have acquired new skills and are now ready to be integrated into society.

“The total comes to over a thousand now. It is plausible to note that the programme involves pyscho-social support, rehabilitation, vocational training, skill acquisition and start-ups.

"Despite all these, the larger issue is that their various communities

have expressed their reluctance to receive their erring sons back.

Nigerians have no access to the transcripts of the texts of the confessions of these terrorists not to talk of evidence of their commitment to not sin again.

"We have only the words of the terrorists and the same military that they have been fighting a war with. It speaks volumes when the President and his military hierarchy choose to believe these young men who took up arms and for years waged war against their country, killed, maimed and wasted thousands of lives, destroyed entire communities and now, they are being housed, fed, clothed with public funds,” he added.

According to Kukah, “all this while their victims have been forced to make the various IDP camps their new homes! Where is the justice for the victims and the rest of the country they have destroyed.”

He said as a priest, he cannot be against a repentant sinner or criminals changing their ways, noting that, “after all, the doors of forgiveness must always remain open.”

“However, in this case, Nigerians have very little information as to the entire rehabilitation processes.

"Have these terrorists felt the heat or have they seen the light or, is their repentance a mere strategic and tactical repositioning? So far, we have no evidence that these terrorists have been able to confront their victims not to talk of seeking forgiveness from them. Something is wrong. We see these terrorists adorned in our national colours in their green and white kaftans, trousers, and looking like heroes of the state!

“Are we to assume that they have become acknowledged models for Nigerian youth? Perhaps the next graduating set might be treated to Presidential handshakes, receptions at the villa with full national colours.”

He said the unfolding event have vindicated his criticism of

this government, saying that last week, in solidarity with him, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, in a statement stated that: ‘It appears that the continuous callous acts of mayhem, killings and arson happening almost on daily or weekly bases around us; either within communities or on the roads we ply, has automatically reset our human psyche that we now have accepted such dastardly acts as part of our lives, to the extent that we no longer feel it.

“Any government that is incapable of protecting the lives of its citizens has lost the moral justification of being there in the first place….our humanity is being eroded and that erosion is become a new normal.”

In addition, Kukah pointed out that the Northern Elders Forum and the House of Representatives recently called on the president to resign since, in their view it was now clear that he cannot protect his citizens.

“This has come three years after the Catholic Bishops’ Statement issued on April 26th, 2018 made the same call that was greeted with cynicism,” he noted.

The cleric stated further that the challenge of fixing, “this broken nation is enormous and, as I have said, requires joint efforts.”

“With everything literally broken down, our country has become one big emergency national hospital with full occupancy. Our individual hearts are broken; our family dreams are broken; homes are broken; churches, mosques, infrastructure are broken.

“Our educational system is broken; our children’s lives and future are broken; our politics is broken; our economy is broken; our energy system is broken; our security system is broken; our roads and rails are broken. Only corruption is alive and well,” he added.

According to the Bishop, “as 2023 beckons and the stage is set, the next president of Nigeria must be

a man or woman with a heart, a sense of empathy and a soul on fire that can set limits to what human indignities visited on citizens that he or she can tolerate.

“We have no need for any further empty messianic rhetoric laced with deceitful and grandiose religiosity. We need someone who can fix our broken nation, rid our people of the looming dangers of hunger and destitution.

"Our presidential aspirants must show evidence from their legacies and antecedents that they know the country well enough and its severe wounds. Whoever wants to govern us must illustrate that he or she understands what is on ground.”

He thanked the president for accepting the report of the Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy and granting pardon to over 150 Nigerians serving various terms of imprisonment.

However, Kukah noted that more serious challenge was to immediately free all innocent Nigerians who are held captive and whose only crime was that they are living in Nigerians.

However, the Bishop congratulated Christians, saying the Easter celebration brings hope and restoration.

He further explained that Easter was a fulfilment of what the Jesus Christ had foretold when he said, “unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain, but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

Kukah stressed that the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are central to the Christian faith.

He noted that the greatest challenges facing the country was how to begin a processes of reconstructing, “our nation hoping on and to survive the 2023 elections.”

“The real challenge before us now is to look beyond politics and face the challenge of forming characters, faith in our country that many have lost confidence in," he added.

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INSPECTION TOUR OF BRASS NLG...

L-R: Managing Director Greenville LNG Ritu Sahajwalla, Chairman of Greenville NLG Mr Eddy Van Den Broeke and Minister of State Petroleum Resources Chief Timipre Sylva, during inspection of the site of the Brass NLG, in Twon Brass, Bayelsa State, on Saturday

FG Seeks to Revive Brass LNG Project as New Investor, Greenville LNG Shows Interest Laments waning funding of oil, gas projects

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government at the weekend said that it was set to revive the over $22 billion abandoned Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (BLNG) in Bayelsa in a bid to ramp up the production and supply of the commodity.

Speaking during an inspection of the project site, in Twon Brass, Bayelsa State, with management of Greenville LNG, an interested investor in the project, Minister of State, Petroleum, Mr Timipre Sylva, said the government was desirous of completing the project because of the manifold economic benefits it will bring to the nation.

The Brass LNG, which has trains 1-4 concept, with an annual projected capacity of 8.4 million metric tons, was initiated in 2005 with the ground-breaking ceremony performed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 14, 2007.

For over 17 years ago, the project has failed to take a foothold, with a key investor, Conoco Philips

eventually exiting the deal that would have led to the take-off of the project which was said to have consumed about $1.2bn as of 2011.

This sum included the cost of acquiring the land, Front End Engineering Design (FEED) and Pre-FEED Concept Evaluation Study (PFCES) as well as the project Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Initially, the BLNG had a number of shareholders, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) with 49 per cent shares while Conoco Philips, Total and ENI International had 17 per cent shares each.

It is estimated that the inability to make progress on the project has robbed the country of over $24 billion in revenues and about 18, 000 direct jobs.

Sitting on 606 hectares of land, the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the critical gas project was supposed to have been taken since 2007, with investment expected to have been recouped in the first

Electoral Act: Ganduje’s Aides, Commissioners Resign En Mass Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Warned by Clause 84 of the new Electoral Act as amended, seven commissioners in the cabinet of the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, have resigned their appointment as part of their preparation to contest elections in the 2023 general election.

Also, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr Farouq Sule Garo, has resigned his position to pursue his political career.

In his letter of resignation to the governor, Sunusi Saidu Kiru, immediate commissioner foreducation, appreciated the opportunity to serve in the administration and the confidence reposed in him during the period.

Kiru said his resignation was to afford him the opportunity to seek to represent Bebeji/Kiru constituency at the House of Representatives.

Garo, on his part, said the resignation became pertinent

for him to serve the people in another capacity by also contesting for the House of Representatives seat for Gwarzo /Kabo federal constituency.

Three other commissioners had earlier tendered their resignation letters.

They included the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Murtala Sule Garo; Commissioner for Rural Development, Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso, and his Budget Planning counterpart, Nura Muhammad Dankadai.

Others were Commissioner of Transportation, Dr. Mohammed Santsi; Mr Ali Kibiya, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Karaye, Commissioner of tourism and culture, Mr Sadiq Aminu Wali of water resources, Director of Hisbah Board, Kano.

THISDAY sources revealed that many political appointees would soon join the 2023 race, following a directive by Ganduje to all his appointees interested in 2023 elections to resign before Monday.

five years.

It was conceived and designed to assist in monetising the nation’s natural gas resources, reduce gas flaring and create jobs for Niger Delta youths.

But a statement by the minister’s spokesman, Horatius Egua, explained that Sylva was joined on the tour of the project site by the Chairman and Managing Director of Greenville LNG, Mr Eddy Van Den Broeke and Ritu Sahajwalla It quoted the minister as saying that the federal government would give the project top priority because of its present policy thrust in gas exploration in the country.

Sylva stated that since the government is planning on refocusing its energy on tapping its abundant gas resources, it was

looking for new investors to take up the project from its current comatose state.

“You know the direction of the government as far as gas is concerned. We want to use gas as transition fuel and also to use it to diversify our economy. You know that with gas you can get so many things and I have said that we can truly diversify our economy through gas,” he said.

The minister who acknowledged the challenges faced in successfully executing the project in the past, noted that the government would do everything possible to encourage Greenville NLG in investment in partly funding the multi-billion dollar infrastructure.

“We want this project to pull through this time and we will do

everything possible to ensure that the final investment decision is taken as soon as possible.

“Greenville LNG is a major player in this sector and we know that they are committed to ensuring that the take-off of this project is achieved. We will continue to discuss and offer the necessary incentives to get this project off the ground,” Sylva added.

While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for “creating the enabling environment” for businesses in the country, the minister urged western nations to shore up their investments in the oil and gas sector in the country.

He lamented the speed with which investments were pulled out of Nigeria in the past, saying

that it hampered the growth of the sector.

“We are calling for more investments in the hydrocarbons sector of the economy especially in gas. We are encouraging companies interested in gas to do so. We have enough gas reserves in the country and we are encouraging anyone with capacity to bring in their investments,” Sylva noted.

Present investors in the Brass LNG project are the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Eni and Total.

For weeks, Nigeria has been under pressure from Europe to ramp up its gas production and supply to the continent, an opportunity the government has failed to take advantage of due to lack of infrastructure.

WTO Sets July Date to Review Global Aid for Trade Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is billed to open the 8th Global Review of Aid for Trade scheduled for between July 27th and 29th, 2022 at the WTO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The review would bring to the fore, areas where developing and least-developed countries (LDCs) need support to overcome supply-side constraints limiting their participation in international trade.

According to the WTO, the hybrid event which would hold physically and virtually has as its theme: “Empowering Connected, Sustainable Trade.”

Aid for Trade provides support for developing countries, particularly LDCs to boost their trading capacities.

The global review helps galvanise support to address supply-side and trade-related infrastructure obstacles so that developing countries can derive maximum benefit from international trade.

The review would feature the

launch of a joint publication by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the WTO entitled: “Aid for Trade at a Glance 2022: Empowered Connected, Sustainable Trade.”

It would delve into the responses to the self-assessment questionnaires that donors (bilateral and multilateral agencies), regional economic communities/transport corridors, South-South partners and developing and LDCs submitted over the last few months as part of the monitoring and evaluation

exercise.

Under consideration in the exercise included aid for trade priorities and how these have changed since the last monitoring exercise, policies for sustainable development, and policies for women's economic empowerment.

The exercise also focuses on understanding the opportunities that green growth and digital connectivity offer to meet multiple targets in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda while promoting economic and export diversification.

Ngige Appeals to ASUU to Return to Lecture Rooms Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has asked the striking university lecturers who are members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to consider the plight of students and parents and return to work.

In a statement yesterday, the Minister said the university lecturers should also consider the efforts which the federal government has committed towards the revitalisation of the university system as well as the openness it has shown in the upliftment of their welfare as contained in the 2020 MOA

and return to the classroom.

"Consider your students and their parents; consider the perils these students pass through on daily basis, away from school as well as the lost opportunities.

Restoring glory to our university system is collective and the present government has shown enough commitment towards it.

"As a parent whose children are in public universities; I share the pains of ordinary Nigerians.

I therefore appeal to ASUU to call off the strike while the rest of the issues in contention are tackled," he said.

While felicitating with Christians on the occasion of the remembrance of the

death and resurrection of Christ, Ngige urged Christians to see Easter as another great opportunity to re-awaken the dying fervor of personal and collective sacrifice, calling on Nigerians not to despair in the face of threatening national challenges.

Ngige said just like Christ suffered death for the redemption of mankind, no sacrifice was too much towards nation-building.

“By death on the cross and resurrection, Christ has left an undying lesson that obedient, absolute faith in God, perseverance and sacrifice make the ultimate path to victory. What else does the world want? What

else does Nigeria need than these virtues at this crushing moment of national history,” Ngige asked.

He therefore charged the nation to, “unite in collective sacrifice against the common enemies of insecurity, corruption, lukewarm patriotism and every other vice, eating out and ebbing away the progress of the Nigeria.”

The minister also congratulated Christians for, “being steadfast with Christ, all through the 40-day lent, culminating in the crucifixion and death on Good Friday, and the eternal damnation of the powers of sin and death through resurrection on the Easter Day.”

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NEWS

DEACONESS PATIENCE ABBE@70...

L-R: Prelate of United Baptist Church, Rt. Rev. Osama Usuanlele; Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Deaconess Patience Abbe, with her husband, Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd.), during Deaconess Patience Abbe’s 70th birthday thanksgiving service, in Benin City... yesterday

At Easter, Osinbajo, Others Pray for Restoration, Foresees Prosperous Nigeria Deji Elumoye in Abuja Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, prayed for

restoration of Nigeria, saying he foresaw the nation being prosperous in not too distant future.

Osinbajo, who joined other Christian faithful worldwide to celebrate Easter Sunday, assured Nigerians of the

El-Rufai: Easter an Affirmation Darkness Can’t Triumph over God’s Plans John Shiklam in Kaduna Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has said Easter symbolised the triumph of hope over despair and an affirmation that darkness could not trump the plans and wishes of the Almighty God. In his Easter message yesterday in Kaduna, the governor said Jesus Christ set an example of sacrifice that has moved men and women through the ages.

While congratulating Christian faithful on the completion of Lent and the great feast of Easter, he called on citizens of the state to promote peace in their communities and reject strife.

“On behalf of the Kaduna State Government, we felicitate with the Christian faithful on the occasion of Easter. In these difficult times, the example set by Jesus Christ, the pain, the sacrifice, the triumph and the message of hope echo with timeless resonance.

“As people of faith, let us continue to practice in our daily lives the lessons of sacrifice, care for the poor, deep spiritual reflection and love for all humankind, irrespective of tribe or religion, observed during the fasting.

“Easter symbolises the

triumph of hope over despair and an affirmation that darkness cannot trump the plans and wishes of Almighty God. Jesus Christ set an example of sacrifice that has moved men and women through the ages.

As we celebrate the triumph of Christ, let us embrace all the lessons of Easter, never losing faith in the will of Almighty God, and the triumph of good over evil.

“Let us uphold each other in our common humanity and pray for peace in our land. Let us do our best to promote harmony in our communities and reject strife in our land. Let hope never depart from our hearts. I call on everyone, who calls Kaduna State home to work together to uphold our state, its hardworking people and their accomplishments from those, who seek to menace and destroy.

“We pray God Almighty that the blessings and lessons of Easter will spread all through our state, and move us all to be better people, that the Almighty will comfort all our people, who have been affected by the security challenges that confront us. May the good Lord bestow His grace upon us, bless our state and its people, reward the endeavours of our citizens

and protect us all from danger and discord,” he stated.

restoration of peace and a more prosperous future for all regardless of current challenges.

The vice-president stated this while speaking with newsmen after the Easter Sunday service at the State House Chapel, Aso Villa, Abuja.

He said, “My message is really a prayer. The resurrection of our Lord Jesus

Christ is a defining moment for us Christians. And one of the most important things to bear in mind is the resuscitation of hope.

“Where there is despair, I pray that hope would be restored; where there is fear, I pray that there is courage and confidence; where there is deprivation, I pray that there is prosperity, and there is abundance.”

Osinbajo further stated that, “There may be things that appear dead but the power of the resurrection is one that assures us that life will come after death, so, we are completely confident especially, for our country that everywhere we suffer deprivation, there will be restoration, and that is the promise of the resurrection.”

Gbajabiamila, Wase Felicitate Christians, Call for Prayers Udora Orizu in Abuja The Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and his deputy, Hon. Idris Wase, yesterday, congratulated Nigerian Christians on the celebration of this year’s Easter.

The duo felicitated with

Christians in separate congratulatory messages, signed by their media aides, Lanre Lasisi and Umar Puma.

Gbajabiamila, in his message stated that the ‘period called for sober reflection and dedication to nationhood.’

He, therefore, urged

Christians to be their brothers’ keepers at all times and use the period of Easter to pray for unity and peace in the country.

Gbajabiamila also called on all citizens to support the government in its efforts to tackle insecurity.

Wase, in a message urged

Nigerians to be strong and prayerful amid current security challenges bedeviling the country.

He expressed optimism that better days would soon come and urged Nigerians not to be discouraged but to continue to pray for the peace and stability of the country.

Welfare of Nigerians, Our Priority, Says APC at Easter Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC), has said the welfare of the Nigerians remained the priority of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Felix Morka, stated this in a statement yesterday, where he celebrated with Christian faithful on the occasion of Easter.

The ruling party urged all

patriotic and well-meaning Nigerians, irrespective of religious affiliations, to use the occasion of Easter to rededicate themselves to making the society a better place for all.

Morka noted that the Easter season provided an excellent opportunity to foster closer relationships with family, friends and the people in the neighborhood.

"The APC-led administration is decidedly committed to the good and

wellbeing of our people.

"We will continue to expand the implementation of people-centered programmes to provide increased jobs and gainful opportunities, strengthen and diversify the economy; vastly improve security of lives and property, complete on-going projects and upgrade of our transport infrastructure, and other social investments designed to uplift the poor and other economically-disadvantaged

fellow citizens," he said.

The party, therefore, enjoined Nigerians to imbibe values of compassion, humility, selflessness, responsibility and kindness in private spaces, communities and other public engagements.

It also noted that tolerance and peaceful co-existence remained the bedrock on which the collective aspiration for social, economic and political advancement must stand.

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NEWS

ILO ELECTION IN GENEVA… ILO DG-elect, Gilbert Huongbo of Togo; Nigeria's Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige; NLC President, Ayuba Wabba and DG, Institute of Labour Studies, Ilorin, Isah Aremu, at the ILO election in Geneva...recently

Withdraw Pardon for Dariye, Nyame, SERAP Tell Buhari Udora Orizu in Abuja The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently review and withdraw the pardon granted to former governors of Plateau State, Senator Joshua Dariye and Taraba State, Rev Jolly Nyame, who are serving jail terms for corruption.

Dariye and Nyame were jailed for stealing N1.16 billion and N1.6 billion respectively.

However, the National Council of State last week endorsed the pardon of Dariye, Nyame and 157 others

serving jail terms following the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.

But in the letter dated 16 April, 2022, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said impunity for corruption would continue as long as influential politicians escape justice for their crimes.

SERAP also urged him to propose constitutional amendment to the National Assembly to reform the provisions on the exercise of the prerogative of mercy to make it provisions more transparent,

and consistent and compatible with Nigeria’s international anti-corruption obligations.

The organisation stated that any proposed amendment should also empower the citizens to challenge the legality of any arbitrary exercise of the power of prerogative of mercy.

The letter, copied to the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, read in part: "Presidential pardon for corruption cases is inconsistent with the rule of law, and the public interest, as it undermines the principle of equality before the law. It will undermine public confidence

in your government’s fight against corruption, and the justice system.

“SERAP is concerned that while the pardon power is routinely exercised to shield influential politicians and politically exposed persons from justice and accountability, ordinary people who have committed petty offences but with no money or influential politicians to speak for them, languish in prisons and are rarely considered for pardon.

"Mr. Dariye and Mr. Nyame should have been allowed to complete their jail terms. The exercise of the presidential pardon in

Group Says Tegbe's Defection to PDP, Proof of Makinde’s Attractive Style of Politics The defection of Chief Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, one of the leading All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant ahead of the 2023 general election in Oyo State, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been described as a testament to Governor Seyi Makinde's attractive style of politics.

A socio-political group in Oyo State, the Oyo Kajola Group (OKG), stated this in a statement yesterday.

They noted that Tegbe's defection was a huge gain for the PDP and for lovers of good governance in the state.

The OKG, in a statement by its Media Coordinator, Mr. Adebayo Ayandele, described efforts by groups within Oyo APC and Tegbe’s new party, PDP, to discredit the politician’s defection as self-serving, facesaving and baseless.

According to the group, Tegbe’s defection from the APC and the party’s reaction through proxies was an indication that the crisis-ridden party was hit hard, adding that, “the defection has

shown that things have fallen apart in the APC in Oyo State.”

The group equally warned individuals and groups within the PDP in Oyo state, “who appear to be waging an unguided war and acting as scarecrows against Tegbe’s entry into the PDP to desist from such paths and look at the bigger picture.”

The statement added: “We in the Oyo Kajola Group welcome Mogaji Olasunkanmi Tegbe to the PDP, the party that has done a good job of rescuing Oyo State from the abyss that his former party, APC consigned it to for eight years.

“We congratulate him for leaving the APC, a sinking ship that Nigerians have abandoned due to the wicked, insensitive and anti-masses tendencies of its leaders.

“Mogaji Tegbe has demonstrated unmatched courage by leaving the divided Oyo APC and its leaders who behave like bandits, hijacking party structures, raping democracy in broad daylight and doing all sorts of desperate

things in an attempt to reclaim power in the state.

“Certainly, Governor Makinde’s beautiful style of politics and the unprecedented good governance he has been providing to the state led to Tegbe’s conversion and we are sure that more people will leave the APC to join PDP as 2023 draws near.”

The group called on Tegbe to work hard to bring his entire structure into the PDP with a view to teaching the APC a hard lesson for the treachery it demonstrated against him in 2019, when he, as the most acceptable governorship aspirant, were held down for Adebayo Adelabu, “who eventually wasted the party’s ticket.”

It also charged the politician to cooperate with Makinde and other PDP chieftains ahead of the 2023 General Election, noting that “if, indeed, he (Tegbe) will fly the PDP flag in Oyo South Senatorial District, the party would need to do everything possible to dismantle what is left of Oyo APC's carcass in the district.

“As the saying goes that revenge is a meal best served cold, we urge Tegbe to rally all his human, financial and other resources and work with Governor Makinde and others to strengthen the Oyo PDP with a view to routing the APC in the 2023 General Elections.

“For the few groups within the APC and PDP, which have been throwing tantrums over Tegbe’s defection, we sympathise with them and pray that they get over their shock soon.

“We also encourage individuals and groups who have been irked by Tegbe’s entry into the PDP to sheathe their swords in the interest of the party, because the politician’s defection will pave the way for more people to join the PDP. “It is important that PDP members look at the bigger picture and the gains that Tegbe can bring to the PDP, instead of pandering to the sentiments of a few individuals whose ambitions may have affected their disposition to the overall wellbeing of the party.”

their cases would seem to be unfair and undeserving. The investigation and prosecution of the corruption cases involving the pardoned former governors Dariye and Nyame reportedly cost over N300 millions of taxpayers’ money.

“The cases went from the High Court to the Supreme Court of Nigeria. SERAP

therefore urges you to urgently withdraw the presidential pardon granted to Mr. Dariye and Mr. Nyame, and to propose amendment to section 175 of the Nigerian Constitution that will make the exercise of the power to pardon more transparent and consistent and compatible with the country’s international obligations.”

Utomi: APC, PDP Are Election Machines, Not Political Parties Chinedu Eze Political economist and Founder/ CEO of Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL) Prof. Pat Utomi has described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as election machines and not political parties, saying both institution lacked ideology.

Utomi made this known while speaking on a programme monitored on Channels Television.

According to him, the ruling party only wants to grab power and does not have any intention about improving the lives of Nigerians.

He said to improve Nigeria, anyone that would be elected as President in 2023 must be able to double the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the next five years for the country to come out of the current economic morass.

He said other political parties besides APC and PDP plan to form a coalition to produce the best candidate in 2023, whose focus would be to transform the country.

“Anybody that cannot double Nigeria’s GDP in the next five years should not think of ruling this country. The new President will double the GDP in five years and double it again in three years,” he said.

Utomi said Nigeria would experience turnaround if a serious-minded person is elected

as president, who would also be surrounded by serious minded people.

“The challenge is how do you redeem the people? Nigerians need to be rescued economically but they need leadership that has compassion. The people who have been ruling do not have compassion for the people because the ruling elite live in luxury while those in their neigbourhood are dying.

“We can create employment for all the graduates and pay them N100, 000 each by deploying many youths to the field where they will plant trees to stem the encroachment of the Sahara Desert and the world will provide the money to pay these youths.

“We can stem corruption and review downwards the emoluments paid to members of the National Assembly. Politics is service; not a profession, but today the money spent on the National Assembly is greater than money budgeted for education. Under the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo less money was paid to the National Assembly but today they their numeration has increased.” Utomi said.

He described the APC as a group of people that wanted power, saying after the party won the election, the actions of its senior party members showed that they did not come to serve the people but to seize power and what accrues to it.

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY APRIL 18, 2022

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Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG

POLITICS

Email: nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com 08114495324 SMS ONLY

M O N D AY D I S C O U R S E Dariye, Nyame: A Pardon Not Misplaced Seriki Adinoyi writes that the recent remission of punishment granted to former governors Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame has generated a mixture of celebration and condemnation

Buhari

T

he atmosphere in Jos suddenly became charged when the news first filtered into the air. One wasn’t sure if it was only a rumour, as it is not unusual to peddle unfounded news at beer parlours and drinking joints.

While some were exercising caution, the streets were already taken over by jubilation; Dariye is Out! Dariye is Free! He Has Regained Freedom! Our Son is Set Free!

As the atmosphere got more and more charged, others who earlier tried to exercise caution to be sure of the story soon joined the train as they could not resist it. So the entire Jos went agog.

A source in Bokkos, headquarters of Bokkos Local Government Area from where Dariye hails, said that motorcycles operators and motorists were driving and singing and chanting victory and freedom songs around the town.

Soon, the state government broke its silence, hailing the President Mohammadu Buhari for letting Dariye off the hook. The state Commissioner of Information, Mr. Dan Manjang said that the state government was happy with the development, adding that, “Every Plateau man is happy about it and we give kudos to the President for honouring us in this manner.

“We want to also thank whoever has a hand in making this happen, because everybody makes mistakes at one point or the other; and you could make errors while in governance.

“As it is today, he (Dariye) has been given a reprieve as if nothing had happened, and that is the spirit we have to imbibe as a people, that when we make mistakes, we have to forgive because nobody is above error.”

Dariye’s successor, Senator Jonah Jang also joined in celebrating his release, describing it as “a moment of respite from the unending, unsavoury happenings bedeviling the nation.”

He said, “The news that the National Council of State has granted pardon to former Governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye and former Governor Jolly Nyame of Taraba amongst others is a cheering one and provides Plateau and Taraba people a moment of respite from the unending, unsavoury happenings bedeviling the nation.

“Since the news filtered out that the Council of State had granted the pardon and President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the release of the former governors, there have been wild jubilations with pictures of both bearing various inscriptions trending on social networking platforms. This shows that the pardon of the former governors is indeed the wishes of the people.”

Jang expressed gratitude to the President for heeding the calls by many, including him, who in 2021 made a passionate appeal to Mr. President for the pardon and release of Dariye and Nyame to enable them contribute their quota to the development of the nation.

He said, “We welcome our leaders home and wish them success in their endeavours, and we look forward to having them return to a turf they are familiar with; politicking and providing leadership for our people. We also urge both

Dariye

leaders to put behind their ordeals and concentrate on the onerous task of making the nation a better place.”

Though Dariye is of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state secretariat, the news threw the busy environment into ecstasy, as the shout of “Head Boy” (Dariye’s nickname) echoed in the air.

It was gathered that the atmosphere in Taraba, where; Reverend Jolly Nyame was pardoned, was largely the same. The jailed former Taraba State Governor is now free.

That was the song on every lip.

Hailing the state Council, the Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Professor Joseph Kunini said that the Council has done well He described Nyame as a worthy son of the state and that his wealth of experience will be invaluable to the state, especially as elections are by the corner and the state is confronted with a myriad of challenges including insecurity and others.

Dariye was a fprmer Governor of Plateau State from 1999 to 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Though he didn’t do much for the people, in terms of developing the state, the people loved him for his kind heart towards them. He gave freely; he helped a number of individuals that needed his assistance.

He was, however, jailed on June 12, 2018 by a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gudu, Abuja. The court found him guilty of misappropriating N1.16 billion Ecological Fund meant for the state.

Justice Adebukola Banjoko also found Dariye guilty of criminal breach of trust as regards N250 million issued to Pinnacle Communications emanating from the state’s Ecological Fund.

In all, Dariye was found guilty of 14 counts out of 23 counts preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

Nyame

(EFCC).

But before Justice Banjoko gave her ruling, Paul Eroko, counsel to Dariye, pleaded for a light sentence, saying “they misled the governor, it is the banks; they said he didn’t have to present anything.”

But Rotimi Jacobs, counsel to EFCC, said Dariye did not deserve a light sentence because he “didn’t show remorse.”

Jacob asked the court not to give Dariye a light sentence in order to serve as deterrence to those holding public offices. “He is not remorseful, his case should serve as deterrence,” Jacobs said.

Dariye also personally pleaded for leniency, but all fell on deaf ears as he was sentenced to jail. The Supreme Court later affirmed the sentence, though reduced the term to 10 years.

The Supreme Court had in February 2020 also upheld the conviction and the 12-year jail term given to Nyame, for misappropriation of funds while he was governor of Taraba State.

A five-member panel of the apex court, in a unanimous decision led by Justice Mary Odili, said it found no reason to set aside concurrent judgements of both the trial court and the Court of Appeal, which found Mr Nyame guilty of misappropriation of funds.

Delivering the lead judgement, Justice Amina Augie, held that the appeal filed by the former governor to challenge his conviction and sentence, lacked merit.

The apex court, however, held that the appellate court was wrong to have imposed fine against Nyame.

Justice Augie, therefore, affirmed the imposed jail term but freed the convicted Mr. Nyame from paying fine for the crime he committed against the state, while he was a governor.

But by the amnesty granted the two former governors by the Council of state last week, they are as good as one that had never committed any crime against the state. They cannot be described as ex-convicts; it simply translates to ‘no offence’. What a great relief, especially coming at the Easter season when Christians commemorate the supreme price Christ paid to redeem mankind from the wages of sin- death.

By this, Christ obtained pardon for mankind.

The gesture from the National Council of State is indeed timely.

This gesture is not the first of its kind, Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, who incidentally is also from Plateau like Dariye,

State pardon can be very sweet and soothing, but who qualifies for it? Why should a person who has cheated on the state be given a clean slate? But that is why it is described as a pardon; no one ever really qualifies for a pardon; it is given at the discretion of the giver. So the question of qualification does not arise. Some notable lawyers have argued that all criminals in prison should enjoy similar pardon

had enjoyed similar gesture from the Council of State during the administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

Gowon had gone on exile after Colonel Joe Garba led coup that enthroned General Murtala Mohammed. He went on exile in the United Kingdom until Shagari granted him amnesty.

State pardon can be very sweet and soothing, but who qualifies for it? Why should a person who has cheated on the state be given a clean slate?

But that is why it is described as a pardon; no one ever really qualifies for a pardon; it is given at the discretion of the giver. So the question of qualification does not arise.

Some notable lawyers have argued that all criminals in prison should enjoy similar pardon.

Three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), Chief Mike Ozekhome, Mr. Femi Falana and Mr. Jibrin Okutepa, have faulted the state pardon, and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to pardon other thieves in prison.

Ozekhome, in faulting the action of the president queried the basis for granting the pardon when the charge of corruption upon which they were convicted is not only a bane in the country but “struts around imperiously like a peacock.” The senior lawyer was of the opinion that the decision to free the two governors who are still serving their jail terms was not in the interest of the people and capable of dampening the confidence of the citizenry in the national moral fabric, and in the fight against corruption.

He said: “By granting pardon to these treasury looters, Buhari is reviving, nurturing and watering corruption with state powers.”

“So, when the Council of State recently authorized the pardon of 159 convicts, including Senator Joshua Dariye of Plateau State and ex-Governor Jolly Nyame of Taraba State, who were both imprisoned for stealing N1.16 billion and N1.6 billion, respectively, many Nigerians justifiably showed anger, because these two political leaders had been duly tried and convicted for stealing money belonging to their respective states”, he said.

The senior lawyer maintained that the purpose of criminal prosecution is to secure justice, not only for the accused, but also for the victims of crimes and the state; and to some extent get reparation and restitution for the victims, while deterring others from going the same route.

“Where lies the justice for the impoverished people of Plateau and Taraba States who will now watch their tormentors stroll out with red carpet treatment?

“The government budgets huge sums of money for the prosecution of such accused persons from the tax players’ sweat; and if after the rigorous period of trial and subsequent conviction, the guilty are simply let off the hook in such a brazen manner, the little remaining lean hope the citizens have in the system is further diminished”, he added.

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

MONDAY APRIL 18, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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18

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2022 • T H I S D AY

2023 CAMPAIGN WATCH SAMUEL AJAYI

E-mail: yemielegance@gmail.com

Mobile: 08033083367

President Muhammadu Buhari (right) and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

As Osinbajo Ends Speculations, Zoning Still Troubling PDP

T

he contest for the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), is gradually taking shape, just as the battle that is to come is already showing its dimensions. After months of consultations and even denials by some of his aides, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, finally threw his hat into the ring.

It was actually not news in the first place as the vice-president had been putting structures in place for his campaign as different groups have been operating for months, campaigning and asking him to run. And while these groups could not be directly linked to him, fact remained that Osinbajo never denied them. In fact, even before his official declaration, he had hosted some of these groups in his office.

The declaration by Osinbajo has expectedly pitted him against his erstwhile political mentor and boss, Senator Bola Tinubu, with supporters of both contestants, already throwing brickbats.

The taste of what to come was, however, served when Tinubu hosted some APC governors and after the meeting, some newsmen accosted the APC National Leader, asking him about his take was as “his son” (referring to Osinbajo) had just declared to run for the presidency.

Tinubu had retorted that he had no son old enough to declare for the presidency. In the same vein, Tinubu’s supporters have been accusing the former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State of betraying Tinubu who, according to them, made him. The weeks ahead would likely see more attritional exchanges.

In the opposition PDP, the dominant issue is still that of zoning. And the party seems not have found a solution to it. Last week, some of the leading PDP presidential aspirants met to see if they could present a consensus candidate to fly the party’s flag at the presidential election next year. It seems there is no headway yet.

Same last week, former Senate President and former governor Kwara State, Bukola Saraki, alongside former Speaker of the House of

headway on that, then consensus seems dead on arrival.

THE FATHER AND SON SITUATION

Jandor Representatives and current governor of Sokoto State, Waziri Tambuwal, were in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, to meet the governor and they told newsmen that the consensus arrangement of the party was working.

Sources within the party said there was no way consensus would work unless the issue of zoning was resolved. All the

aspirants, 14 in number as at the time of going to press, had not agreed on zoning with those from the North, insisting the ticket must be thrown open.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is not ready to step down so that the ticket would be zoned to the South. So, for consensus to work, there must be agreement on zoning and if there is no

After months of speculations and consultations, Vice-President Oluyemi Osinbajo, finally ended doubts and officially announced his intention to succeed his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari. Since January, there has been at least, four occasions, when words were rife that the number two man would announce his candidacy.

But he finally laid this to rest by the rather austere manner with which he did it.

And take this to the bank: Osinbajo is immensely qualified to succeed Buhari, having served as the number two to the president for nearly seven years. Apart from this, in advanced democracies, he should be the first name among those to succeed the president even if his declaration speech was somehow lacking in vibe. In fact, he should have the first right of refusal.

But not in Nigeria. In fact, many, especially, those sympathetic to the strong man of Lagos politics and former governor of the state, Senator Bola Tinubu, believed he should not even run at all. To them, he betrayed his former boss (Osinbajo was Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice when Tinubu was governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007) and the man they believed facilitated his emergence as the running-mate to Buhari in 2015.

Sources have, however, told THISDAY that contrary to words making the rounds, Tinubu did not in any way see to the emergence of Osinbajo as the Vice-President. While this is subject of discussion for another day, the reaction from the camp of Tinubu has been roundly condemned as being unnecessary, cheap, timid, defeatist and unfairly critical of the Vice-President. In fact, some of Tinubu’s supporters have claimed that the fact that Osinbajo chose the Passion Week (week of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ) to declare his

T H I S D AY • MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2022

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2023 CAMPAIGN WATCH

Staying Close With 2023 intention to run showed he was a ‘Judas’.

Sir Kayode Otitoju, logistics expert and leading senatorial aspirant for Ekiti North Senatorial District of Ekiti State, said it was wrong for anyone from Tinubu camp to describe Osinbajo as a betrayer. He said this is a democratic contest whereby everyone was free to try his or her luck.

Sources close to the Vice-President told THISDAY that there is a standing instruction from the Vice-President that none of his aides should attack Tinubu. While that is good but that is limited to his aides, there are those who would take it as a proxy war. And that is why the days ahead promise to be interesting.

AGAINST ALL ODDS, ‘LAGOS 4 LAGOS’ GATHERS MOMENTUM When the man behind the ‘Lagos 4 Lagos’ movement opted to square up against the APC juggernaut in Lagos, many might have thought he was crazy for daring to challenge the political juggernaut called Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. But for Dr. Abdulazeez Olajide Adediran, the determination seems to be out of this world. For over six years, Adediran battled within the Lagos APC, challenging the political establishment within the party and questioning why members could not have an ambition and pursue such without waiting for green light from Tinubu before doing that.

Speaking to THISDAY last week, Adediran said he was not just trying to challenge the status quo in Lagos but had already done so.

He explained that one thing about Lagos APC was that, as a member, you could not develop and build your own structure outside that of Tinubu. He claimed that was the offence he committed. In fact, his own group conducted its own parallel congress in the state last time out. Though as expected, officials that emerged from that congress were not recognised by the national secretariat of the party but Adediran believed a point had been made.

“We are not just trying to challenge the status quo; we have already challenged it. What we are trying to do in upsetting the status quo was starting early. We started seven years ago. What you are seeing now is not a job of two or three years. We have taken the battle to the stronghold of the status quo, which is the grassroots. They would have expected a young man like me to go and be slugging it out with them on the social media.

“But because we know the nitty-gritty of this game and that until there is an implosion within their stronghold, which is the grassroots, there is nothing we can do in upsetting the status quo. Having achieved that and knowing that that base is weakened, the next thing for us is to move such to where we know that if we combine forces together, we can take the state from them. This is why we chose the PDP,” Adediran told THISDAY, admitting that he was aware that it is structures that win elections.

When he announced his defection to the PDP earlier in the year, Adediran caused not a small stir, when about five serving and two former PDP governor graced the occasion.

These included Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Governor Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Governor Ikpeazu of Abia State and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, whom he said was “our leader in the South-west”.

There were also Governor Diri of Bayelsa State and Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom. The two former governors were Peter Obi from Anambra and Olusegun Mimiko from Ondo State.

Asked how he was able to pull this off, Adediran said he did because those political heavyweights believed he was serious.

FAGADE CHALLENGES THE STATUS QUO IN OYO The jinx that no governor has ever done two terms in Oyo State since 1979, was finally broken by the late Isiaka Ajimobi, who emerged governor in 2011 and was re-elected in 2015.

Current Governor Seyi Makinde of the PDP succeeded him in 2019 and is itching to have another go at the coveted seat come 2023. Good dreams but now, Makinde will have a certain Fagade Abisoye, whose ‘Oyo si maa dun’ (Oyo shall be sweet again) movement is making waves in the state. Fagade is also contesting for the governorship of the state on the platform of the ruling APC. It must be noted, however, that Fagade is

Buhari (left) and Kola Abiola on that. The greatest war anyone can fight is between your two ears. We have our short term goals, which are the low hanging fruits (tourism boost, basic infrastructures, youth development and engagement, security etc), long term goal is to build strong institutions that will solidly strengthen all the key sectors of our economy such as educational, health, judiciary, transportation and most importantly, the agricultural system.”

WILL KOLA ABIOLA SUCCEED WHERE HIS DAD FELL SHORT?

Fagade not a political neophyte as the first time he tried his luck to govern Oyo State was eleven years ago, when he contested on the platform of the now defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). And when asked why he floated the ‘Oyo Si maa Dun’ movement, he had this to say: “The Foundation came into place as a medium to reach out to the masses especially, the less privileged in the Nigerian society and the people of Oyo State in particular.

I have had reasons to be concerned about the general welfare of ordinary people on the streets, who suffer not because they are lazy or created to be poor but who are just victims of circumstance.

“Oyo Si Ma Dun Foundation is well structured to bring hope to the society and improve the lives of the common man through its numerous intervention programmes and outreaches. The concept or name Oyo Si Ma Dun came to me about 11 years ago when it dawned on me that if we did not get actively involved, we will lose our right to complain as citizens.

“I felt I should start with my state and create a political niche for myself. At that time, I came out under the progressive party called Alliance for Democracy (AD) and I was able to pay my dues. Since then, I

have always been around to play the role of a key stakeholder and a mobiliser in the Progressive fold.”

Fagade is young. And that is instructive.

Just like Makinde, if he makes it to the Agodi Government House in Ibadan, he would not be a recycled leader. He would be a breath of fresh air in a polluted political environment. To him, politics will remain dirty as long as Nigerians allow the dirtiest among them to continue to lord it over them.

“Politics will remain dirty as long as we continue to allow the worst of us to rule over the best of us. Good people need to stop staying aloof. I urge every competent and passionate patriot to be ready to take the battle to the doorsteps of dirty players in the political turf and challenge the status quo. We should get involved and show the stuff we are made of if we want to have a better society,” he said.

He explained that he was contesting because he wanted to make Oyo State truly the Pacesetter state. According to him, there were low-hanging fruits that he would first try to pluck before going for the high ones.

His word: “We are the pacesetter and all our missions would have their foundation

The heir apparent to both the late MKO Abiola’s political and business dynasties, Kolawole Abiola, last week threw his hat into the ring and informed the nation that he would be contesting the presidency.

Speaking during his declaration, Kola said, he was returning to politics after a 27-year hiatus. His words: “Today makes my formal in-road after 27 years back into politics.”

Kola has joined the People’s Redemption Party (PRP). And explaining the rationale behind his choice, Kola said he had to go back to the history books before deciding where to pitch his political tent.

“I came back into politics through the PRP for some good reasons. I have gone back to the history of Nigerian to look at the party that truly represents Nigeria. I have gone back and I have found out that the oldest living party is the PRP. It still holds those ideals of what Nigeria and democratic practice should be like.

It is a party that started by the people and truly for the people. It is a party that has shown first, as its priority, internal democracy,” he explained.

He also disclosed that the first thing he wanted to do was to disrupt the political process and also disabuse the minds of the youth on godfatherism. He added that the way to do this was to give the true owners of Nigeria, that is those between the ages of 18 and 36, who make up to 70 per cent of the population, an “opportunity for their voices to be heard and their numbers to count.”

As ideal and lofty the thoughts of Kola Abiola were, the fact remains that platform matters in Nigerian politics. At about 60, he is immensely qualified to run for the highest office in the land. Perhaps, going by the platform he has chosen, 2023 might be coming too early. From all indications, no new political group or platform can challenge the two behemoths – APC and PDP – in 2023. Any ambition not on any of these two platforms has its fate clearly defined.

Wait a minute, what of the ‘small matter’ of his kid sister, Hafsat, heading the campaign of the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, ahead of same 2023 presidential election?

It promises to be interesting!

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MONDAY APRIL 18, 2022 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2022

21

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

A T

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

08056356325

A P R I L

S & P INDEX

1 5 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OBB

9.00%

CALL

4%

INDEX LEVEL

564.02%

1/4 TO DATE

5.82%

N413.03/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

10.75%

1-MONTH

6%

1-DAY

–0.17%

YEAR TO DATE

– 15.85%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.19%

Despite Challenges, Banks’ Exposure to Oil & Gas, Agriculture Sectors Reached N5.16trn in 2021

Kayode Tokede Despite insecurity challenges and uncertainty in the global market, a total of 10 banks’ exposure to the Oil & gas and agriculture sectors grew by 11.2 per cent to N5.16 trillion in 2021 from N4.644trillion reported in 2020.

Analysis of the banks’ 2021 audited financial statement revealed that exposure to the country’s economy mainstay grew marginally by 7.5 per cent to N4.39 trillion from N4.08 trillion in 2020, while exposure to agriculture sector hits N774.84billion in 2021 from N561.45billion in 2020.

The banks are; Access bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Holdings Plc

(GTCO), United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, and Fidelity Bank Plc. Others include; Wema Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, FCMB Group Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc and Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. THISDAY findings revealed that banks operating in the country in 2021 made huge loan provisions for Oil & gas, agriculture, manufacturing, among other key sectorsas demanded by the CBN prudential guidelines.

A breakdown revealed that out of the 10 banks, Access Bank, followed

by Zenith Bank maintained the lead in lending to both sectors.

According to the 2021 audited results, Access Bank exposure to four

sectors in the Oil & gas sector grew by 6.4 per cent to N1.04 trillion in 2021 from N973.97 billion in 2020.

Access Bank’s exposure to the Oil & gas- downstream sector grew by 17.7 per cent to N160.85billion in 2021 from N136.63billion in 2020, while gross loans and advances to customers in the Oil & gas- services dropped by 32.2 per cent to N401.83billion in 2021 from n593.06billion in 2020.

In addition, the bank’s exposure in the Oil & gas- upstream gained significantly by 102 per cent to N461.7billion from N228.93billion in 2020, while exposure to crude oil refining dropped by 26 per cent to N11.42billion in 2021 from n15.35billioni in 2020.

On the other hand, Access Bank exposure to the agriculture sector dropped by 7.2 per cent to N43.25billion in 2021 from N46.6billion in 2020.

As Zenith Bank’s exposure to the Oil & gas sector rose by 3.4 per cent to N782.4billion in 2021 from N756.94billion in 2020, exposure to agriculture sector grew significantly by 25 per cent to N227.24billion in 2021 from N182.13billion in 2020.

Analysts expressed that underlined impact of COVID-19 virus led to slump in oil demand adding that banks’ in 2021 exposure to the sector was based on cautious lending to key operators in the upstream sector.

They noted the banks’ exposure to

agriculture highlighted their approach to mitigate concentration risk.

Analyst at PAC Holdings, Mr. Wole Adeyeye said banks were not lending during the pandemic in 2020, stating that the ease of movement the following year obliged them to lend to both sectors.

He noted that the CBN’s 65 Loanto-Deposit (LDR) also mandated banks to lend across the sectors, according to CBN’s prudential guidelines.

With the ease on COVID-19 lockdown, the performance of the Oil & gas sector witnessed steady increase to $77.97 per barrel as at December 31, 2021 from $51.35 per barrel, according to the Organization

of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The global oil prices had slump to around $12.41 per barrel in April 14, 2020 from $67.12 early last year as countries shut down businesses to stop the spread of the virus.

In April 2020, the global prices turned negative for the first time after oil producers ran out of space to store the oversupply of crude left by the COVID-19 crisis, triggering an historic market collapse which left oil traders reeling.

However, the country’s economy continued to show signs of progress, with real Gross Domestic Product Continued on page 22

CBN Fines 10 Banks N7.02trn Over CRR Violation Nume Ekeghe The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2021 debited 10 banks a whooping N7.02 trillion over failure to meet the 27.5 per cent Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) threshold.

According to audited financial statements of these banks, the apex bank had debited them a sum of

N6.71trillion in 2020 for not meeting its monetary requirement.

The CRR is the minimum amount banks and merchant banks are expected to retain with the CBN from customer deposits and it carries no interest and is not available for use by the banks in their day-to-day operations.

In early 2020, the apex bank’s

Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) increased CRR by five per cent from 22.5 per cent to 27.5 per cent over its intention to address monetaryinduced inflation whilst retaining its 65 per cent Loan Deposit Ratio (LDR) policy.

The CBN by regulation forces banks to retain up to 27.5 per cent of their deposits in CRR requirement,

meaning that the deposits are not accessed by the banks for loans and advances.

The policy, which started in 2019 has drawn criticisms from most of the banks and shareholders who have cited a drop in their profitas a major consequence.

The banks include: Access Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank),

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, FCMB group and Sterling Bank Plc. The others are; Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, and Zenith Bank Plc. Extracts from 2021 audited accounts by THISDAY revealed that, Access Bank, followed by Zenith bank suffered the highest debits

in 2021, among other 10 banks, while Sterling bank suffered the lowest debit.

Access bank and Zenith bank are the top two banks in terms of customer deposits.

Access Bank reported 12 per cent increase in restricted deposits with Continued on page 24

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT F R I D AY, A P R I L 1 5 , 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

107.93 4.92 111.64 7.60 112.41 8.68 107.24 10.14 120.75 10.76

Change Updated Time (%) 08, -0.02 April 2022 April 08, 0.27 2022 08, –0.20 April 2022 April 08, 0.00 2022 April 08, 0.31 2022

Discount

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

307,00 307,00 0.00

April 8, 2022

313,00 313,00 0.00

April 8, 2022

188,00 188,00 0.00

April 8, 2022

288,00 290,00 0.00

April 8, 2022

NTB 11Aug-22

318,00 322,00 0.00

April 8, 2022

Yield

OTC F X F U T U R E S

C Ps

MATURITY

Change Updated Time (%)

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

8.93

8.93

-0.09

April 8, 2022

16.46

16.81 0.07

April 8, 2022

8.65

8.75

0.08

April 8, 2022

11.15

11.53 0.30

April 8, 2022

7.78

7.97

April 8, 2022

0.28

CONTRACT TENOR Contract (MONTH) NGUS APR 27 1 2022 NGUS MAY 25 2 2022 NGUS JUN 29 3 2022 NGUS JUL 27 4 2022 NGUS AUG 31 5 2022

Current Rate ($/₦)

Updated Time

427.24

April 8, 2022

428.93

April 8, 2022

430.63

April 8, 2022

432.32

April 8, 2022

434.02

April 8, 2022

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MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

PRODUCT LAUNCH…

L-R: COO, TeamApt, Tobi Amira; Group Head of Marketing, TeamApt, Edidiong Uwemakpan; Executive Director, Wimbiz, Hansatu Adegbite; CEO, TeamApt, Tosin Eniolorunda and Product Lead, Moniepoint, Awal Elegbede, at the launch of Moniepoint in Lagos…recently

Absa: Sustainability of CPS Key to Thriving Pension Sector in Nigeria Ebere Nwoji With a total N13.72 trillion assets raked into the economy within 18 years of migration from the hitherto Defined Benefit pension scheme to the current Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), policy makers in the country have been advised to priorities the growth of the CPS through policies that would favour its continued growth rather than policies that would constitute inhibition to its growth.

Management of a leading panAfrican bank with a strong footprint across the African continent, Absa, stated this during an interactive session with the media in Lagos.

Absa country head of Equities and Fixed Income Sales, Simi Ojumu, who gave the advise in

Lagos said policy makers in Nigeria should prioritise the growth of the contributory pension scheme amongst others to ensure the pension sector maintains a healthy growth trajectory.

Ojumu, dissected the pension industries and shared strategies necessary for improving the business of pension in the domestic market.

She said the pension industry had maintained an impressive growth curve since the enactment of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) of 2004, which made it mandatory for every employer with more than five employees to enroll each one and make a consistent contribution to the pension fund.

According to her, “the CPS, through the multiple operators

and agencies, the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs), Closed Pension Fund Administrators (CPFAs), and the regulator, the National Pension Commission (PenCom), has created an ecosystem of career path, employment, business and investment opportunities for several Nigerians.”

Citing recent reports, she explained that the robust policy intervention in the pension sector had led to a jump in Nigeria’s Net Assets Value of pension assets from a deficit position two decades ago to N13.72trillion valuations in 2022 while scaling the sector’s overall contribution to the GDP from 0.9 percent in 2004 to 9 percent in the current year.

Despite the recent growth, she

admitted that the CPS continues to face some challenges such as Low coverage, inadequate awareness of the scheme’s benefits and inability to ensure strict compliance by the parties adding that these were some of the issues that are still plaguing the sector.

“The most important thing will be to ensure the sustainability of the contributory pension scheme.

Ensuring participants’ compliance by the federal, state governments and the private sector, creating awareness of the benefits, and creating an investor-friendly environment are some of the ways that policymakers can ensure that the pension sector continues to thrive and improve its contributions to the country’s GDP, ”Ojumu said.

She reiterated that the recent cases

of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) by pension fund administrators to recapitalise was a sign of growth in the industry, adding that the new entities that would emerge from the merger and acquisition framework would have more resources at their disposal.

Ojumu, whose banking group operates two licensed subsidiaries, Absa Capital Markets Nigeria Limited and Absa Securities Nigeria Limited, in the country, cautioned that a smooth transition within the merger and acquisition framework was necessary to ensure that the recapitalisation efforts did not harm the contributors’ assets.

“Smooth transitions are also largely dependent on the investment bank that facilitates the reorganisation and in this case, the mergers and

acquisition.

She noted that this was one of the core services of Absa Group in Nigeria.

“At Absa Nigeria, we have proven expertise to manage mergers and acquisitions to ensure a smooth transition of the new company, ”she stated.

Nigeria’s Pension total assets under the Contributory Pension Scheme currently stands at N13.76 trillion according to the National Pension Commission’s February report.

Latest report shows that it grew

by N340 billion in two months to rise to N13.76 trillion from N13.42 trillion as of the end of February 2022 according to PenCom in its unaudited financial report for for first quarter 2022.

NCC, Google Partner to Drive Nigeria’s Digital Transformation Agenda Emma Okonji The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Google Global Services Nigeria have expressed determination to work together towards advancing the actualisation of national targets for ubiquitous broadband access, in furtherance of Nigeria’s digital transformation policy.

This aligns with and gives

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

expression to NCC’s strategic vision plan centering on strategic partnership and collaboration with necessary stakeholders in order to achieve regulatory objectives.

The two organisations made the commitment when a delegation from Google Global Services Nigeria paid a courtesy visit to the Commission’s Head Office in Abuja recently to deliberate on viable collaborative interventions to propel digital transformation across the country and Africa.

Receiving the Google delegation, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said the Commission’s expectations, initiatives, and vision towards increasing broadband penetration,

quality of service, advancement of a digital economy and commitment to improving national security, were at the front burner of its regulatory interventions.

Underscoring the importance of such synergy between the Commission and Google, Danbatta, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services at NCC, Ubale Maska, said the Commission looked forward to making the initiatives of both parties more impactful by enhancing cooperation between the NCC and Google Nigeria for quantifiable and remarkable impact.

The EVC expressed optimism that Google’s investment in the subsea cable, Equiano, which is expected to land in Nigeria by

end of April 2022, would be more impactful in driving NCC’s ongoing implementation of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020-2025, aimed at increasing broadband penetration to 70 per cent by 2025.

“I am hopeful that Equiano will have additional landing points in the hinterlands through collaborative efforts with the licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) to reduce retail data prices significantly and thereby complementing the Commission’s efforts at ensuring affordable Internet services are available to boost the Commission’s ongoing broadband policy drive,” he said.

Earlier in her remarks, the Director, Google West Africa, Juliet

Ehimuan, who led the delegation to NCC, commended the NCC for its consultative approach in formulating regulatory policies, as engine room for optimal delivery of telecommunications services that will in turn impact the digital economy drive of the government.

She particularly applauded the Commission for its seamless, fair, credible, impartial and successful auction of the 3.5 Gigahertz spectrum for the deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) in Nigeria, stating that it is evident that both the NCC and Google share a common goal.

According to Ehimuan, demands for internet services have increased the need for more capacity, and sustainable

collaborations with all relevant stakeholders within the public and private sectors. She asserted that Google’s commitment of $1 billion across five years in various interventions, would support digital transformation in Nigeria and across Africa.

Ehimuan stated that research has proven that Africa would have an additional 300 million internet users and Nigeria would lead in that number, given its current statistics of over 141 million internet subscribers and a broadband penetration of over 40.88 per cent as at January, 2022.

The Equiano cable system is the third private international cable owned by Google and the 14th subsea cable invested by Google.

DESPITE CHALLENGES, BANKS’ EXPOSURE TO OIL & GAS, AGRICULTURE SECTORS REACHED N5.16TRN IN 2021 (GDP) growth remaining positive.

The GDP advanced by 3.98per centyear-on-year in fourth quarter (Q4) 2021, the fifth consecutive quarter of economic expansion.

The growth continued to be driven by the non-oil sector that gained 4.73 per cent with main positive contributions from the agriculture sector that appreciated by 3.58per cent, and financial services, 24.14per cent.

On the other hand, the oil sector shrank 8.06per cent in Q4 2021, reflecting lower oil output as the average daily crude oil production stood at 1.5 million barrels per day (mbpd), down from 1.57 mbpd in Q3 and 1.56 mbpd a year ago.

Despite a recovery in oil prices,

Nigeria has struggled to meet its production targets due to operational challenges and insecurity coming from pipeline vandalism.

On a quarterly basis, GDP increased 9.63 per cent, following an 11.07per cent jump in the third quarter. For the full year 2021, Nigeria grew by 3.4per cent the fastest expansion since 2014, better than Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) estimate of three per cent.

Speaking with THIDAY during the weekend on banks’ lending to Oil & gas sector, the Group Chairman/ CEO at International Energy Services Limited, Dr Diran Fawibe said the sector remains a significant sector in Nigeria’s economy, stressing that financial instructions cannot ignore

the Oil & gas sector despite the domestic and foreign risks.

According to him, “I can only hope banks do their risk assessments in terms of exposure to oil & gas companies. Years ago, there were toxic assets in the oil & gas sector, most especially in the downstream sector. However, there are no oil & gas companies that can finance projects without the help of financial institutions to finance these projects.

“For major oil & gas companies, they have the pedigree to access funds in the international market but independent companies do not have much muscle and they depend on banks. If local banks are not granting funds to local companies, how do you expect them to survive? It is

for banks to make sure these loans are properly paid back.”

The Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf said the ease in COVID-19 restrictions further enhanced banks lending to oil & gas sector amid steady increase in crude oil price.

He explained that, “In 2020, average crude oil price was around $72/ barrel and in 2021, it was above $72/ barrel. The global economy collapsed in 2020 but with the increase in vaccinations, the momentum in the economy picked up and demand for energy increased, which makes the sector attractive in 2021. We noted more lending in the upstream sector and

banks were expected to lend amid observing exercise in lending to new customers.”

Analysts at United Capital Research in a report stated that: “Looking ahead, we expect the Agricultural sector to remain at the forefront of Nigeria’s diversification plan. Thus, we expect the Federal government to sustain its fiat-led interventions in the sector to drive growth.

“We expect an improved FG policy response, particularly on long-standing issues such as land use, farming methods, and farming input quality. As the pandemic abates globally and locally, we expect growth in the Nigerian Agriculture sector to improve.”

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2022

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BUSINESSWORLD

STATUS REPORT

C a n B UA F o o d s M a i n t a i n S t r o n g Fundamentals Amid Severe Competition?

Kayode Tokede

D

espite numerous challenges in the Food and Fast-moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, BUA Foods Plc in its audited result and accounts for full year ended December 31, 2021 reported stronger fundamentals with the growth in profits and financial strength.

The newly listed company on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) in its audited results showed potential to deliver impressive performance and reward shareholders given its well-diversified food business operations.

In the period under review, BUA Foods announced a significant increase in revenue, among other financial parameters to deliver double-digit growth in profits.

Given this impressive performance, the board declared a final dividend of N3.50 per ordinary share of 50 Kobo each, subject to appropriate withholding tax and approval will be paid to shareholders whose names appear in the Register of Members as at the close of business on 13th July 2022.

The Group reported a 73 per cent increase in turnover to N333.27billion in 2021 from N192.86billion reported in 2020.

The growth in turnover was driven by a significant increase recorded in BUA Sugar Refinery FZE which comprises Sugar, Flour and Pasta. The other subsidiary, LASUCO sugar Company Limited produces Rice and Edible Oils.

Take for instance, the 136 per cent increase in turnover from Sugar (Non-Fortified) to N79.16billion in 2021 from N33.52billion reported in 2020 and 91per cent turnover from Sugar (Fortified) to N129.84billion in 2021 from N67.9billion in 2020 impacted on turnover impressive growth.

The group other segments revealed that turnover from pasta that grew by 54per cent to N54.4 billion in 2021 from N35.4billion in 2020 while turnover from Bakery Flour recorded N64.19billion in 2021, an increase of 60 per cent from N40billion reported in 2020.

In addition, turnover from Wheat Bran grew by 37.56 per cent to N5.25 in the year under review from N3.8billion reported in 2020, while turnover from Molasses dropped by 97 pre cent to N439million in 2021 from N12.09billion in 2020.

SUGAR SEGMENT OF BUA FOODS

BUA Foods ‘s sugar division currently operates the second-largest sugar refinery in West Africa, with a total refining capacity of 1.5 million Metric Tons (MT) per annum.

The overall performance of sugar segment in 2021 grew by 84.5 per cent to N209.43billion from N113.53billion reported in audited 2020 results. Sugar segment contributed 62.8per cent of the total turnover reported in 2021 as against 58.8 per cent in 2020.

The company is a leading producer of fortified and non-fortified sugar in West Africa. It operates across the value chain of the sugar industry, including the

production, processing, refining, and distribution of raw sugar and its by-products such as bagasse, molasses and mud cakes.

The division operates two ultra modern and automated sugar refineries, one in Apapa, Lagos State, and the other in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Over the years, the Company also acquired two plantations, in Lafiagi, Kwara State, and in Bassa, Kogi State.

The sugar refineries transform raw sugar into white granulated sugar, which is utilised by manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, bakeries and confectionaries, food, beverages, and dairy products. As a response to Nigeria’s backward integration policy in the Sugar Industry, BUA Group invested in large scale estates within the country to deepen local sugar production through the acquisition of the Lafiagi Sugar Company Ltd (LASUCO) in Kwara state in 2008 and also, the establishment of the Bassa Sugar Company in Kogi State.

BUA FOOD BAKERY FLOUR/ PASTA SEGMENT

Turnover from Bakery Flour/ Pasta grew by 56 per cent to N123.8billion in 2021 from N789.3billion as the business segment contributed 37.2per cent to turnover in 2021 from 41.1per cent in 2020.

BUA Foods owns a state-of-the-art flour mill equipped with high efficiency specifications for energy saving and waste reduction. This flour mill commenced production in 2019 with a capacity of 500,000 MT per annum. The plant currently has 576,000 tons of flour milling capacity. It has seven wheat storage silos with 32,000tons storage capacity.

The group’s flour mill currently produces 315,000 MT of flour and 105,000 MT of bran, with sales revenue split of 91.3 per cent and 8.7 per cent respectively as at 31 December 2020.

The Pasta Division is involved in the processing, manufacturing and distributing pasta. It operates from BUA Foods’ Industrial Complex, Port Harcourt, Rivers State with a capacity to produce 250,000 MT of pasta per annum. To achieve BUA Foods’ drive to expand its product portfolio and create capacity ahead of demand and increase its Pasta market share beyond the North and the South-South of Nigeria, the company has invested in the construction of a second pasta processing plant with a capacity of 250,000 MT per annum.

The Rice Division has a rice milling facility with a capacity of 200,000 MT per annum.

The company expects that the rice mill will be operational in 2022 and expects it to be the biggest single-line rice mill in Nigeria. BUA Foods also expects that the rice mill will produce quality

parboiled rice, with a very strong brand identity that will be identifiable to target customers. It will leverage the existing strong brand name and consumer loyalty with which BUA brand is already renowned.

The company currently has one rice mill and plans to expand its rice milling business to a combined capacity of one million MT per annum, by installing new rice mill facilities in Gujungu, Jigawa State and establishing a rice mill and plantation in Agaie, Niger State.

OPEX & FINANCE CHARGES

Analysis of the company’s results showed that BUA Foods recorded hike In Cost of sales, OPEX & Finance Charges. The group reported 78 per cent increase in cost of sales to N230.3billion in 2021 from N129.3billion reported in 2020, driven 92.6 per cent growth in raw materials.

The group reported N211.3billion spent on raw materials in 2021 from N101.25billion reported in 2020. The growth in raw materials was a result in foreign exchange restrictions and hike in inflation rate.

However, the Group closed 2021 audited with 62 per cent increase in gross profit to N102.96billion from N63.57billion reported in audited 2020 result and accounts.

The Group’s total operating expenses gained 72 per cent to close 2021 at N24.76billion from N14.44billion reported in 2020.

The breakdown revealed that Administrative expenses grew by 40.34 per cent to N14.62billion in 2021 from N10.42billion in 2020 as Selling and distribution expense closed 2021 at N10.14billion, an increase of 152.4 per cent from N4.01billion in 2020 to N10.14billion in 2021.

The interplay between gross profit and OPEX dragged operating income to N79.89billion in 2021 from N51.06billion reported in 2020. From the profit & loss figures, the Group’s finance income moved from N30.99million in 2020 to N2.89billion in 2021, while finance charges grew by 40.2 per cent to N5.05billion in 2021 from N3.6billion in 2020.

PROFITS EMERGED STRONGER

On the backdrop of significant growth in turnover and effective management, the Group in 2021 reported N77.5billion net profit before tax, 64per cent growth from N47.25billion reported in 2020 As tax income dropped by 35per cent to N7.7billion in 2021 from N11.84billion in 2020, profit after tax gained 97.4 per cent to N69.8billion in 2021 from N35.41billion reported in 2020.

The growth in profit drives Earnings Per Share to N4.24 in 2021 from N1.97 recorded in 2020.

STRONG BALANCE SHEET POSITION

In the audited results, BUA Foods recorded stronger total assets as growth total equity and current total assets improved. The group total assets gained 59 per cent to N593.5 billion in 2021 from N374billion in 2020 audited result and accounts for period ended December 31, 2020. As Total Non-Current Assets gained 44 per cent to N323.3billion in 2021 from N224.4billion in 2020, total current assets increased by 80.2 per cent to N270.2billion in 2021 from N149.9billion in 2020.

Meanwhile, total equity grew by 53.3 per cent to N200.72billion in 2021 from N130,95billion in 2020.

The group’s Total Non-Current Liabilities dropped by 0.6 per cent to N52.39billion in 2021 from N52.7billion in 2020, while total current liabilities grew by 78.53 per cent to N340.4billion in 2021 from N190.65bllion reported in 2020.

In addition, total liabilities increased by 61.4per cent to N392.7billion in 2021 from N243.4billion reported in 2020.

ANALYSTS VIEW

Analysts at CSL Stockbrokers, maintained that BUA Foods has an excellent and well diversified product portfolio to compete with peer rivals in the FMCG Industry, which makes its share price attractive because of expected sales and profit growth.

“It has a 1.5million MTPA combined sugar production capacity, eight ultramodern factories for producing rice, sugar, pasta, flour and 20,000 hectares of arable land located in Lafiagi, Kwara State. The new consumer goods firm has two ultra-modern and automated sugar refineries (BUA Sugar Refinery, Lagos and Eastern Sugar Refinery, Port Harcourt) with a combined installed refining capacity of 1,500,000 metric tonnes.

“BUA is the only sugar refiner to have refining capabilities outside Lagos, Nigeria. In response to Nigeria’s backward integration policy in the Sugar Industry, BUA Group acquired the LASUCO in Kwara State in 2008 and established the Bassa Sugar Company in Kogi State,” the analysts said.

They explained that BUA Foods is poised to create a more competitive arena as it has established a state-of-the art plant in Port Harcourt, to cater to the growing needs of fast-growing young population who crave for consumption.

The food businesses that were merged into BUA Foods are: BUA Sugar Refinery Limited; BUA Rice Limited; BUA Oil Mills Limited; IRS Flour and IRS Pasta.

According to the group, the consolidation became necessary to maintain its market leadership in the agribusiness and food processing sector as well as take advantage of the growth opportunities in the economy and the export prospect presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Union Bank of Nigeria Announces 23% Drop in Profit Kayode Tokede

L-R: Founder of C & I Leasing Plc, Mr. Emeka Ndu; MD/CEO of the conpaby, Mr. Ugoji Lenin Ugoji; Former MD/ CEO Mr. Andrew Otike-Odibi and its Chairman, Mr. Samuel Maduka Onyishi, during the company’s stakeholders evening held in Lagos… recently

ANLCA Faults Absence of SON at Ports, Says Vacuum Responsible for Rising Influx of Substandard Goods Gilbert Ekugbe The National president, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Kayode Farinto, has called on the federal government to as a matter of urgency return the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to the nation’s seaports.

He said the country has continued to witness an increasing influx of substandard goods into the country due to the absence of the SON at the seaports.

Speaking at a SON/maritime stakeholders meeting in Lagos, he warned that the effort of some nonconformist has shown that there is need to get SON back at the ports.

“Frankly speaking, if this trend is not arrested urgently by providing solution, then it may affect our economy and dwindle our income drastically. The absence of SON as a regulatory agency in the ports encourages importation and smuggling of these substandard products,” he lamented.

“I advise that as professional customs brokers, we should at all times comply to ensure that we achieve zero substandard goods

in our country,” he said.

He however urged the agency to desist from intercepting cargoes in a commando style, which he said rampant, advising the standards body to join hands, collaborate to have sanity in the nation’s ports operations, preach compliance, speak compliance if it eventually gets back to the seaports According to him, if Nigeria must achieve ease of doing business, freight forwarders, licensed customs brokers must not be involved in dishonesty in their declaration, such as concealment, inaccurate description of imports and exports in order to circumvent the procedures, which are all impediments to achieving ease of doing business.

“We cannot afford to jettison standard best practice and enforcement of quality imports because we need to facilitate ease of doing business in our country,” he said.

He noted that the objective behind SONCAP is to help ensure that products imported to Nigeria meets minimum safety requirements, stressing that this would help ensure that Nigerian consumers are not

exposed to potentially unsafe and sub-standard goods.

“However, we all have role to play that is to ensure that we do not facilitate, the clearance of such injurious cargoes. Sub-standard goods are goods deviating from or falling short of a standard or norm,” he added.

He stated that the decision by the federal government to vacate SON from the nation’s seaports has led to an increase in the imports of sub-standard goods Earlier, the Director General of the SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, charged importers to shift their focus away from importation to invest into manufacturing, noting that is one of the surest ways to contribute their quota to economic development.

Indeed, the standards body stated that the move would help the nation save its hard earned foreign exchange while also creating job opportunities for the country’s teeming unemployed youths.

He urged importers to join hands with the federal government to make Nigeria great again.

“Most of you here are importing

items have the ability to start producing your goods locally in this country. Why is it so difficult for you to put your money together the same way you put money together to buy 100 containers of one item. You can put money together and build a small factory and start producing start employing your people, start paying taxes to the government. We have to work together as Nigerians to save this country,” he advised.

Salim lamented over the continuous influx of fake and substandard goods into the country, saying the country cannot survive if the menace continues.

“If we continue to bring in substandard goods into the country, our local factories would be destroyed gradually leading to more loss of jobs in the country,” he said.

According to the SON boss, there is need for importers to complement the efforts of the federal government to addressing the unemployment situation, advising that investing into local production would go a long way to help Nigeria create lots of wealth while also solving its high unemployment rate currently at double digits.

CBN FINES 10 BANKS N7.02TRN OVER CRR VIOLATION CBN in 2021 to N1.47trillion from N1.31trillion reported in 2020, while Zenith Bank reported a decline of 6.05 per cent to N1.25trillion CRR deposit with CBN as against N1.33trillion in 2020.

GTBank, the banking subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding company reported N953 billion CRR debit with CBN, a decline of 5.5 per cent from N1.01trillion reported in 2020.

The Group in its 2021 audited results explained that, “Restricted deposits with central banks comprises of restricted deposits with the central bank not available for use in the Group’s day-to-day operations.

“The GTBank Nigeria had restricted balances of N953,040,540,000 with the CBN as at 31 December 2021 (December 2020: N1,008,748,051,000).

This balance is CBN cash reserve requirement. The cash reserve ratio represents a mandatory total Naira deposit which should be held with the Central Bank of Nigeria as a regulatory requirement.”

The group in its 2021 investors/ analysts’ presentation noted that CRR closed at N952 3 billion in 2021 from N1 009 trillion in 2020, resulting in effective CRR ratio of 37 6per cent from 44 33per cent in 2020 (with Special Bills, CRR closed 59 7 per cent).

However, UBA’s suffered a debit of N915.15billion in 2021, a decline of 13 per cent from N1.05trillion reported in 2020.

Union Bank of Nigeria and Stanbic IBTC reported 28per cent and 22 per cent increase in deposits kept with the central bank as CRR in 2021, respectively.

The effect can be seen in both banks’ profits reported in the year under review.

From recording a mandatory deposit of N454.8billion with CBN in 2021 from N356.45billion in 2020, Union Bank of Nigeria reported 20 per cent decline in profit before tax to N20.69 billion in 2021 from N25.97 billion, as Stanbic IBTC reported 30.3per cent drop in profit before tax to N66 billion in 2021 from N94.72 billion when its CRR closed 2021 at N423.18billion in 2021 from N348.17billion reported in 2020.

Other banks are, Fidelity Bank with N686.1billion CRR debit from CBN in 2021 as against N540.13billion in 2021; Wema Bank grew its CRR debit to N313.8billion in 2021 from N246.97billion in 2020; FCMB Group closed 2021 with N309.63billion CRR debit with CBN from N289.14billion in 2020 and Sterling Bank reported N243.87billion mandatory reserve deposits with CBN from N228.79billion in 2020.

Analysts at GTCO in its report titled, “Nigeria Macro-economic outlook for 2022,” explained that the reason for the tight system liquidity is the CBN’s discretionary CRR debits which posed a huge challenge to credit growth for most banks.

According to them, “A rough estimate of the industry’s effective CRR position suggests that about 50per cent of total naira deposits are sterilised with the CBN as CRR and Special Bills.

“Going into 2022, the general build-up to the 2023 Elections will very likely result in a system awash with liquidity. We believe that the apex bank will tighten the system from the second half of the year just as political campaigns start, to mop-up excess liquidity from the system.

“Although it is unlikely that the CBN will slow down on its discretional CRR debits, we expect more banks to approach the apex bank for the release of a portion of their ‘excess’ CRR to assist them in funding their transactions, payment of regulatory levies/fees, etc.”

Speaking with THISDAY, the Vice President, Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adnori said the apex bank is using CRR to control inflation, stressing that the introduction of CRR is a drastic monetary policy targeted at controlling money supply in the banking system.

According to him: “If CBN fails to maintain its CRR policy, so much money will flow into the market and further deprecates naira. Generally, the policy has not favoured banks because the fund is not yielding any interest and of no benefit to the productive sector.

“These are funds banks lend to the real sector to drive business activities, finance working capital of productive sector and boost GDP but the CBN is holding it down.

“It is not a good development for the nation’s economy in general.

However, CBN has its reasons and releasing these funds, it might result in hyperinflation, which can damage the nation’s economy. It is like a double edge situation- if you don’t do it, the economy is damaged and if you do it, the economy also struggles.”

He noted that the only way CBN can cut CRR is when inflation dropped to a single-digit rate.

The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele had at the end of 2020 MPC noted that: “the committee is confident that increasing the CRR at this time is fortuitous as it will help address monetary-induced inflation whilst retaining the benefits from the Bank’s LDR policy, which has been successful in significantly increasing credit to the private sector as well as pushing market interest rates downwards.

“The Committee further encouraged the Management of the banks to be more vigorous in its drive to improve access to credit through its pursuit of the Loan-to-deposit ratio policy as doing this would help, not only in creating job opportunities but also help in boosting output growth and in moderating prices.”

On the backdrop of weak gross earnings and decline in net interest income, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc (UBN), announced 23 per cent drop in profit after tax to N19.4billion in 2021 from N25.1billion reported in 2020.

The lender in its audited financial statement for full year ended December 31, 2021 released on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) also reported 20 per cent drop in profit before tax to N20.8billion from N25.9billion in 2020.

UBN in 2021 reported 7.3per cent growth in gross earnings to N172billion in 2021 from N160.3billion reported in 2020, while net interest income dropped by 23 per cent to N44.5billion in 2021 from N57.4 billion in 2020.

The group, thus, reported 18.5 per cent increase in total assets to N2.59trillion in 2021 from N2.19trillion reported in 2020.

The Chief executive officer, Union Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Okonkwo, in a statement said: “Following an enhancement to our operating and go-to-market model to deliver better performance and efficiency leveraging our network across the regions, we are increasing our customer engagement and product penetration which is translating into higher customer revenues across geographies.

“On the back of this, the Bank has continued to record headline growth by diversifying our income streams and accelerating our recoveries programme. For the full year, our gross earnings grew by 8.9per cent from N161billion to N175billion, while our net operating income after impairments dropped by 3.6 per cent to N99.7billion from N103.4billion. Interest income grew by one per cent as our earnings asset base expanded with a growing loan book.

“We continued our strong growth in non-interest income through a combination of aggressive recoveries, which grew 119per cent in the period, from N7.2billion to

N15.9billion and further growth in fee and commission income (33per cent) and e-business (26per cent).

These were delivered on the back of sustained multi-channel growth in users, volume and value across our digital and agent channels.

“Total active Union Mobile users now stands at 3.3 million, up 20per cent while our Union360 customer base grew by 22per cent to 26,400.

In 2022, the Bank will continue to focus on broadening and deepening the strong foundations we have built, while enhancing our digital delivery platforms and service propositions to customers.

“We remain deeply thankful to our erstwhile core investors, Union Global Partners and Atlas Mara who have been instrumental to our journey since 2012. Their invaluable support and expertise helped steer the Bank through turbulent waters and into an era of growth and stability.

“As we turn a new chapter for our Bank with a new core investor expected to come on board, we are proud of the solid foundation built over the last ten years and look forward to a seamless transition and continued successes in the future.”

Also commenting, the Chief Financial Officer, Union Bank of Nigeria, Joe Mbulu said: “We maintained very strong cost controls during the year despite the inflationary pressures and the translation effect of currency depreciation on our cost base.

“Operating expenses increased marginally by 1.5per cent with increasing regulatory, depreciation and amortisation costs. Customer deposits grew by 20per cent while our loan book grew by 22per cent from N736.7billion to N899.1billion, as we deepened support for key sectors in the economy.

“We have been remained proactive in the way we manage our growing risk assets, maintaining our asset quality during the year with our NPL ratio growing marginally from four per cent to 4.3per cent.”

Fidelity Bank Donates Food Items to Physically Challenged Persons Nume Ekeghe Fidelity Bank in collaboration with Yobe State government has donated food items to 150 physically challenged people in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital in fulfillment of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) objectives.

The gesture was part of the Fidelity Helping Hand’s Programme (FHHP) aimed at supporting the vulnerable members of the community.

Highlighting the objectives of the programme, the Branch Leader, Damaturu, Kingsley Echefun in a statement explained that the Bank is very interested in both the financial and physical well-being of people living within its community.

He said: “This exercise is borne out of our compassion for people with special needs.

As a bank, we believe that vulnerable households must be supported to enable them to live decently. That is why staff of Damaturu branch of the bank with the support of our colleagues at the head office, put together this donation.”

He commended the Yobe State

government for providing an enabling environment to carry out such a gesture and disclosed that the Bank had executed similar initiatives in Bade and Geidam local government areas of the state.

On his part, the representative of the Yobe State government and the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Mohammed Goje, commended the bank for keying into the priorities of the state government and urged other financial institutions and corporate organisations in the state to emulate the gesture.

The Chairman, Joint National Association of People Living with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Yobe State, Yawudima Barma said the beneficiaries cut across people living with various physical challenges including the blind, deaf, leprous, cripple and those with spinal cord injuries.

He said the gesture could not have come at a better time given the financial hardship they currently face and thanked Fidelity Bank and Yobe State government for the special consideration on behalf of the beneficiaries.

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

IMMERI Celebrates 3rd Anniversary, Recounts Achievements

L-R: Sub-Sahara Africa Regional Manager for Qnet, Biram Fall; CEO Transblue,Akeem Ajisafe and Chairman of the occasion, Hassan Dantata, at the signing ceremony of their partnership on E-commerce in Lagos… recently

Access Bank, GTB, Top LinkedIn’s Ranking on Nigeria’s Best Workplaces Emma Okonji The world’s largest professional network company, LinkedIn, has released its 2022 list of best places to work in Nigeria, with Access Bank, GTB, Stanbic IBTC and Zenith Bank, topping the list.

Themed “Top Companies 2022: The 25 best workplaces to grow your career in Nigeria”, some Nigerian companies made it onto the list, which include companies in financial services, information technology, consumer goods, food and beverages, oil and gas, telecommunications, professional services and internet services.

Financial services companies in Nigeria dominated the list with the top four companies ranked being Access Bank, GTB, Stanbic IBTC and Zenith Bank.

The world’s largest brewer, Anheuser-Bush Inbev, ranked fifth on the list. Union Bank of Nigeria Plc made the cut at number six,

followed by Sterling Bank Plc at number seven, while British American Tobacco, BAT Nigeria, was ranked number eight.

First Bank of Nigeria was ranked number nine, while Fidelity Bank and Interswitch ranked number ten and eleven respectively, further demonstrating the dominance of financial services as the best sector to grow a career in Nigeria.

Other companies that featured in the ranking include: The CocaCola Company, Standard Chartered Bank, Olam, United Bank of Africa, FCMB, Shell, Globacom, Fiverr, PwC, Amazon, MTN, Wema Bank, Nestle and Promasidor.

The 2022 LinkedIn Top Companies list in Nigeria is the first annual ranking of the 25 best workplaces to grow careers in the country - based on unique LinkedIn data.

LinkedIn said, “These are companies offering stability in our ever-changing world of work – the ones that are not only attracting

employees but retaining them.”

Commenting on the report, Country Manager at Turn Left Media - the Exclusive Partner to LinkedIn Marketing Solutions in Nigeria, Tunde Ajetomobi, said: “This report reflects the evolving relationship between organisational culture and employee retention. It also shows that the dynamics around talent acquisition and retention remain a core component, which organisations must continue to take more seriously and prioritise in their strategic goals.

“As we all can see, the work environment has fully evolved, the future of work we always talked about is here, the aftermath of COVID-19 made sure of that. Job candidates are increasingly choosing their companies as they continue to adapt by taking on new skills, even as businesses are adapting to new consumer expectations and behaviour by leveraging web tech to drive effective brand positioning.

“These rankings are intended to spur organisations in Nigeria to pay closer attention to organisational culture, bearing in mind that competition over quality talent never ceases.”

He added that companies looking to improve their competitive edge have a great opportunity to leverage LinkedIn’s suite of resources to position their brands more favourably to attract and retain quality talent.

“We are a massive resource tool for businesses, we have the B2B Institute, which is a think tank funded by LinkedIn that researches the future of B2B marketing and decision making, we collect valuable data and resources which are very important in making strategic decisions for businesses. There’s a whole lot more, and that’s why we tell businesses to use our servicesand resources, join our free webinars, download our reports and get in touch with us,” Ajetomobi said.

Edo, Firm Partner on Transparency, Performance Metrics Poised to ensure transparency and performance-based service delivery, the Edo State Government has said it is instituting measures and metrics for evaluating activities of civil and public servants so as to meet set targets.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Finance, Joseph Eboigbe during the ongoing performance management capacity building workshop, organized for Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The workshop is expected to ensure quarterly feedback from MDAs on their performance and identify current gaps.

Eboigbe, who spoke during one of the sessions, said the state has placed a priority on creating orderliness, which is being achieved through the state’s 30-year development and physical plan.

“Security is also a huge priority as the state is strengthening its security architecture in partnership with security agencies. Our priority areas are hinged on six thematic pillars; Institutional reforms, Economic revolution, Infrastructure development, Culture and Tourism, Social-Welfare Enhancement, and Environmental Sustainability.”

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MayTac Consulting, Mrs Elizabeth

Rotimi, said she was impressed with the strides of the Edo State Government.

She said the government has made immense contributions towards the development of human capital, noting “I want to see Nigeria working again. States and other subnationals should take the cue and be serious about improving the capacity of their workforce for optimal service delivery to Nigerians.”

On his part, the Managing Director, Edo State Investment Promotion Office, Kelvin Uwaibi, said the state is striving to become the preferred investment destination for investors.

“We should be expecting to see more infrastructure development in Benin City as businesses secure spaces at the ongoing Enterprise Park and the Benin Mall. There are plans to site industrial clusters in Edo Central and Edo North, and a new Airport in Edo North.”

The Managing Director, John Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOBSA), Ms. Imuwahen Ajoonu, assured that the state-of-the-art training academy which is the first of its kind in Nigeria will be partnering with renowned institutions and organizations to retool and strengthen the capacity of its workforce.

Logitech Introduces Remote Work Products for Nigeria Nosa Alekhuogie Following the outbreak of COVID-19, which forced nations to adopt the new normal workspace, organisations have been prompted to identify tech gadgets that allow staff to deal with their workload more effectively.

One of such firm is Logitech, a firm that strives to empower people to do their work the best way they can, from wherever they are.

Focused on innovation and quality, the company has designed products and experiences that have

a place in people’s everyday lives.

Head of Marketing at Logitech sub-Saharan Africa, Theresa Relihan, said: “We understand that for many Nigerian companies, deploying remote work solutions at scale is new and can take time to perfect.

Each of our products is designed with the customers in mind. We always focus on how people connect and interact in the digital world and ensure an efficient, unique and meaningful experience.”

Describing how to make a remote setup efficient, Relihan said for webcams and laptop cameras, the limitation of embedded cameras

undermines the benefits of video collaboration. Problems arise from poor lighting, bad angles and poor resolution or clarity. “The quality of video technology is essential. If the experience of using video for meetings is bad, people are more likely to not attend or be frustrated by the experience. If the visual and sound are clear, people can be seen easily, and the meeting feels like it is being held in person,” Relihan said.

Relihan added that to deliver a superior meeting experience, a business-grade webcam would include a number of features that enhance the image. One of the most

important aspects is the ability to compensate for poor lighting.

Relihan explained that while the experience of using embedded cameras is variable – sometimes good, often terrible – the experience with business-grade webcams is generally outstanding and highly predictable.

Relihan said a wired keyboard would be best if users do not want to deal with input lag, the risk of interference or battery life.

However, a wireless keyboard is the ideal choice, if users want to be mobile and use their keyboard from long range.

IMMERI Group has applauded its customers and stakeholders for their contribution to the company’s achievement in the last three years of operation in Nigeria.

The company in a statement said it has kept evolving over the last three years since its inception, “which has brought about changes in terms of the MLM industry landscape in the country with company birthing in China in 2016 and has far and wide reached its business destination in Asia and the Pacific cutting across Malaysia, Hongkong and Philippines.”

It added that the vision of the Chairman and CEO of Immeri Group of Companies, Mr. Lau Chong Guan of unifying the industry leaders was made possible with the support of the company’s Vice President - Mr. Yap Wai Yen and Group Executive Senior Vice President - Mr. Tan Kam Foo. “The aligned vision of the company leaders who have around 100 years of combined experience in the MLM industry has set the foundation to move forward in alignment of the company’s mission of making everyone happy and more families happier while doing their business, “it stated.

Its CEO, Mr. Lau Chong Guan stated, “We are proud to share with everyone our remarkable achievement that we have quality product lines with segmented brands such as Immercare (Vaginne refreshing intimate gel), Immerplus (Adwelle – plant based enzyme, Alihart – testosterone supplement for men, Femmetima – estrogen supplement for women), Immerlike (Advanced coffee brand collection) and Immer home (soon to launch) and more soon to launch products this 2022. While we ensure

everyone of our sense of business commitment which is one of our unique culture as a company which speaks about conscience in what we do and offer, also we as much as possible has maintained the business with solid momentum due to the support of the leaders who have shown so much in the colorful venture of Immeri.”

Continuing, he added , “As we continue to help people realize their dreams in life and provide reasonable effort of keeping the united spirit of our business leaders in Immeri , as a company we have been very generous to our members who in one way or the other have proved that what is worth focusing is really worth doing.

Indeed our business structure has allowed us to not just better the individual economic level of few people but rather build more success stories and that is true about us that up until today we have set the record straight as we celebrate our 3rd year anniversary themed Metamorphosis.

True enough, we have recognized our success during the pandemic because we overcome what was everyone so afraid about and that is how they will have funds when movement is so restricted. We have remained in our most confident state to reassure our members of continuity in our business because we believe that with our can do attitude we will always have our fair share of the many unfolding stories of people who have put their trust and confidence in our business. Much has been said, this year 2022 we celebrate our 3rd year of success in Nigeria as we adjoin with our leaders who have shared the most remarkable unfolding stories.”

Report Highlights Skills Gaps, Structural Policy Barriers as Hindrance to Women Participation in Nigeria’s Labour Market Oluchi Chibuzor A recent survey conducted by Jobberman in partnership with Mastercard foundation has shown that low women participation in the nation’s labour market are intrinsically related to skills gaps, policy failures and marginalization in the workplace.

This, according to the report, perhaps explains why over one million women are represented in formal employment in Nigeria and suggest their dominance in the informal sector as a consequence of multifaceted barriers and not a necessary preference.

In response to these unfavourable structural conditions and marginalization, the report revealed that women are creatively redefining work in ways that reinforce their identity, values, talents and skills.

But as gender parity and equity continues to take center stage, stakeholders at the launch of the report, titled, “Unmasking The Barriers To Women’s Participation in Nigeria’s Labour Market,” believe that both genders should be given equal opportunities that reflect their needs, abilities and values.

Meanwhile, giving her keynote address, at the event tagged Gender Roundtable 2022, Investment Professional, Yewande Sadiku, said women must be deliberate and authentic in pursuing their dreams irrespective of the enormous responsibility of being a woman.

“Women must develop a

reputation for hard work, high quality delivery and be very aggressive and intentional in investing and building passive income. Women must be shameless in breaking barriers that come in different forms around them.”

The report highlighted that for women in formal and informal employment about 51 percent of women surveyed across the three states indicated that they are more interested in formal work, compared to 17 percent who say they want to be self-employed and 12 percent who are interested in entrepreneurship.

However, the Managing Director, ROAM Africa Jobs, Hilda Kragha said, “patriarchal society and historical challenges has made us believe that women cannot multitask.

Organisations should begin to put policy in place that makes it flexible for women to work.”

According to the report, “With only one million women represented in formal employment in Nigeria, it is perhaps safe to suggest that women’s dominance in the informal sector is a consequence of multifaceted barriers and not necessarily a preference.

“Beyond the gaps in education and skills which remains a significant barrier to formal employment, a common feedback from our interviews further posits that more women are moving into the informal sector due to unfavorable structural conditions and marginalization.

Women are creatively redefining work in ways that reinforce their identity, values, talent, and skills.”

T H I S D AY • MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2022

26

This Week In Tech Tech Top 5 News 08097710984

FLUTTERWAVE’S CEO UNDER FIRE FOR ALLEGED FRAUD frica’s biggest fintech company, Flutterwave, and its CEO Olugbenga Agboola have been dragged into a web of allegations, including fraud, abuse of power and sexual misconduct.

According to an investigative report

by West Africa Weekly, Agboola abused his position as he was simultaneously working for Access bank and Flutterwave.

He was also accused of posing as an Access Bank representative during an investor call to favour Flutterwave taking unfair advantage of his position and assets at the bank without their knowledge.

Flutterwave was reported to have stopped remitting payment for web acquired and switch fees, amounting to N221.10 million, for Ravepay transactions done by the fintech firm between April 2016 and August 2018, according to the letter sent to the unicorn firm by Olubusola Osilaja, during her time as Access Bank’s segment head of channels services.

However, one of the founders, Iyin Aboyeji, said the allegations were lies and an attack on his name.

In a thread of tweets, he said, “The ecosystem does not need saving.

Flutterwave is a great company solving an important problem for Africa, and I have confidence in the board to fix whatever has gone wrong. But first, we must separate fact from fiction.”

There was also the suggestion of sexual relationships with subordinate female staff members at Flutterwave. Agboola has yet to respond to the allegations levelled against him.

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WHISTLE APP LAUNCHES TO SOLVE TRAFFIC HAZARDS IN LAGOS Whistle app has launched a mobile application platform, allowing the public to address road issues and report suspected corruption cases in Lagos.

The app, designed by Glenwater Limited, will ease reporting reckless drivers, traffic congestion, dangerous vehicles, and road crashes.

In some instances, people could also get financial rewards following their reports.

The General manager of Glenwater Limited, Temitope Hundeyin, said the app was created to solve Nigeria’s problems daily.

“We refer to our app users as whistlers.

Every report submitted by a whistler is backed by picture or video evidence and then seamlessly escalated to the appropriate authorities to provide a resolution,” said Hundeyin.

She added, “Part of what makes Whistle unique is that we have integrated a virtual wallet into the app that houses the rewards whistlers receive for filing a report. This means that for reporting a vehicle driving with expired papers, the whistler will earn a share of the fine paid.”

It is also to serve a function of flagging vehicles driving with expired documents and instantly notifying authorities to issue fines where applicable.

It was also emphasised that when a report is filed on the app, the whistler is kept anonymous so that people can be confident to use the app.

The Whistle App is available on Google Playstore for download.

TWITTER APPROVES ‘POISON PILL’ PLAN TO LIMIT MUSK’S TAKEOVER Twitter Inc. has adopted a limited-term shareholder rights plan to limit billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s $43 billion cash

nosakhare.alekhuogie@thisdaylive.com

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Alekhuogie

Top 10 Highest Paying IT Companies in Nigeria

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oday’s technology industry keeps growing at great speed, and its growth rate is way faster than average when compared to other occupations. It has increased access to new opportunities, including improving the quality of employment and life.

Globally, the Information Technology (IT) industry is currently one of the highest paying in today’s world, and technology companies are the dream of every graduate or job seeker who would love to work with them.

According to cpn.gov.ng, Nigeria’s IT industry is worth about $150 billion and has an exponential annual growth rate of 10 per cent.

The IT companies below made the 2022 best places to work for several reasons, including flexible work takeover offer.

The plan referred to as a “Poison Pill’’ could make it harder for him to raise his stake in the social media platform or acquire the company.

The Tesla Inc. Chief executive officer recently offered $54.20 a share in cash for Twitter, valuing the company at $43 billion.

The “poison pill” provision, announced in a press release, is a corporate anti-takeover defence mechanism and preserves the right of Twitter shareholders other than Musk to acquire more shares of the company at a relatively inexpensive price, effectively diluting Musk’s stake.

The provision will be triggered if Musk (or any other investor) acquires more than 15 per cent of the company’s shares. Musk currently owns nine per cent of Twitter’s shares.

The move marks an effort by Twitter’s board to wrest back some control in the deal after Musk’s acquisition offer. The poison pill will not necessarily stop Musk’s bid in its tracks, but it could make buying the company more expensive or force Musk to negotiate with the board.

“The Rights Plan will reduce the likelihood that any entity, person or group gains control of Twitter through open market accumulation without paying all shareholders an appropriate control premium or without providing the Board sufficient time to make informed judgments and take actions that are in the best interests of shareholders,” the company said in a statement.

Twitter’s stock fluctuated a bit Thursday but remained mostly flat, closing around $45, well below Musk’s

environments, better pay and benefits that cover families.

Majority of the blue-chip companies are situated in Lagos and are some of the highest-paying companies in the country.

Here’s a list of 10 of the top-paying tech companies in Nigeria in no particular order: • Oracle Nigeria • Microsoft Nigeria • Interswitch Group • Chippercash • Trade Depot • Moove Africa • Andela • Reliance HMO • MainOne • Google Nigeria.

offer price of $54.20 per share.

The board said Twitter’s poison pill plan would stay for one year.

NCC, GOOGLE PARTNERS TO DRIVE NIGERIA’S BROADBAND ACCESS The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Google Global Services Nigeria have forged a partnership to advance national targets for widespread broadband access.

According to a document obtained, the regulator is working to achieve Nigeria’s digital transformation policy, which targets high broadband penetration, quality of service and the advancement of a digital economy by 2025.

The two organisations committed when a delegation from Google Global Services Nigeria paid a courtesy visit to the Commission’s Head Office in Abuja.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), NCC, Umar Garba Danbatta, said that the partnership would speed up digital transformation and improve national security across the country and Africa.

Danbatta expressed optimism that Google’s investment in the subsea cable, Equiano, will drive NCC’s ongoing implementation of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020-2025, to increase broadband penetration to 70 per cent by 2025.

Google’s Equiano cable system is expected to land in Nigeria by the end of April 2022.

“I am hopeful that Equiano will have an additional landing point in the hinterlands through collaborative efforts with the licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) to reduce retail data prices significantly and thereby

complementing the Commission’s efforts at ensuring affordable Internet services are available to boost the Commission’s ongoing broadband policy drive,” he said.

On her part, the director of Google West Africa, Juliet Ehimuan, applauded NCC for its seamless, credible, and successful auction of the 3.5 Gigahertz spectrum for the deployment of 5G in Nigeria, stating that it is evident that both the NCC and Google share a common goal.

FIFA LAUNCHES STREAMING DIGITAL PLATFORM FIFA has entered the streaming business and launched a free digital platform called FIFA+.

This makes it the first sports federation that moves into streaming.

FIFA+ is a free, ad-supported platform available across all web and mobile devices, with plans to launch on connected devices soon.

The new ad-funded service is set to broadcast the equivalent of 40,000 live matches a year from 100 member associations across the six confederations.

Other content will reportedly include an archive of all matches in previous World Cups, documentaries, and live games.

There could be a subscription fee.

FIFA reported that it would be available in five language editions (English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish), with an additional seven, including Arabic, to follow in June 2022.

Content includes live soccer games from domestic leagues across the globe, archival footage and more, original content in documentaries, and a match centre for results and statistics.

According to Variety, the free cost might be temporary, and there could be a subscription fee in the future.

127

T H I S D AY MONDAY APRIL18 18,April, 20222022 Monday Vol 27. No 9862 TR

See page 28 TINUBU, OSINBAJO AND POLITICS OF LOYALTY At 65 years, Osinbajo does not owe anyone any apology for his political decisions, writes DAVID T. EJENOBO See page 28 ANAMBRA AND THE SPECTRE OF LAWLESSNESS Charles Soludo has a hefty task before him, writes CHIEDU UCHE OKOYE See page 29

WHERE ARE THE CHIBOK GIRLS? CHARLES DICKSON writes that Nigeria has failed the schoolgirls See page 29

EDITORIAL OF OSINACHI AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE See page 30

& RE A S O

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

NIGERIA’S PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE OLUWASEGUN ABIFARIN writes that OlawepoHashim is set to join the crowded field of persons seeking the office of the President

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After 20 years, the Plateau State government is partnering with Jaiz bank to rebuild the market, writes JONATHAN ISHAKU

THE REBUILDING OF THE JOS MAIN MARKET There was an uplifting news item a couple of weeks ago in Plateau State; quite a refreshing change from the constant stream of bad news about killings and skyrocketing prices of IRRGVWXͿV ,W ZDV WKH FKHHULQJ QHZV WKDW WKH VWDWH JRYHUQPHQW KDV DW ODVW IRXQG D ÀQDQFLHU to partner in the rebuilding of the burnt Jos Main Market which for the past 20 years lay in UXLQV DW WKH FLW\ FHQWUH $OWKRXJK LW FRXOG KDUGO\ compensate for lost lives or deepening economic gloom families face these days, it was a reassuring news item, nevertheless, given the vast potential the market has in revitalizing the economy of the state as well as the vast opportunities it holds for LQGLYLGXDO FRPPHUFLDO DFWLYLWLHV The burnt Jos Main Market held a special SODFH LQ WKH VRXO RI 3ODWHDX 6WDWH DQG LWV SHRSOH ,W ZDV LQLWLDOO\ FRQFHLYHG OLNH PRVW LFRQLF projects in the state, by the former Governor of WKH GHIXQFW %HQXH 3ODWHDX 6WDWH 0U -RVHSK ' *RPZDON LQ *RPZDON ZDV WRSSOHG LQ the coup of the same year, so the project went WKURXJK PDQ\ KDQGV %XW OLNH LW LV RIWHQ VDLG LI Gomwalk was the Moses of Plateau State, Chief 6RORPRQ ' /DU ZDV WKH -RVKXD DQ DOOXVLRQ WR the Biblical characters God used in the liberation RI WKH -HZV IURP (J\SW DQG ÀQDO DUULYDO LQ WKH 3URPLVHG /DQG ,QGHHG &KLHI /DU ZDV LQVWUXPHQWDO WR WKH completion of the market as he injected a massive part of the so-called Midland Bank foreign loan KH KDG SURFXUHG LQWR LW %\ WKH WLPH KH WRR ZDV overthrown in the General Muhammadu Buhari FRXS RI -DQXDU\ WKH PDJQLÀFHQW HGLÀFH ZDV DOPRVW FRPSOHWHG ,W ZDV WKH PLOLWDU\ *RYHUQRU 1DY\ &RPPRGRUH 6DPXHO % $WXNXP·V VSHFLDO KRQRXU WR LQYLWH *HQ %XKDUL WKHQ +HDG RI 6WDWH to Plateau State to commission the market in

By the time it was commissioned, the market stood out as the biggest indoor market in West $IULFD %XW WKHUH ZDV PRUH WR LW WKDQ VKHHU size; it was aesthetically resplendent, a sheer DUFKLWHFWXUDO VSOHQGRU $OPRVW LPPHGLDWHO\ it became a tourism delight in its own right, attracting a daily retinue of tourists from near and far who visited the market to just behold WKH DUFKLWHFWXUDO PDVWHUSLHFH 1R VWXGHQWV· educational visit to Jos was complete without LQFOXGLQJ WKH PDUNHW LQ WKH LWLQHUDU\ The market had the capacity to accommodate at least 3,500 traders in the lock-up shops while the open space at the base of the main structure could accommodate at least another 2,000 WUDGHUV 7KH FRPSOH[ DOVR KDG SURYLVLRQ IRU EDQNV UHVWDXUDQWV SROLFH VWDWLRQ ÀUH VHUYLFH station, car parks and even accommodation for VRPH LPSRUWDQW PDUNHW VWDͿ 7KH PDUNHW ZDV ZHOO SDWURQL]HG E\ WUDGHUV IURP DOO RYHU 1LJHULD ,W ZDV D YHULWDEOH LQWHUQDOO\ JHQHUDWHG UHYHQXH ,*5 VSLQQHU IRU WKH JRYHUQPHQW +RZHYHU DOO WKHVH ZHQW XS LQ ÁDPHV RQH QLJKW LQ )HEUXDU\ ,W ZDV GHVFULEHG DV P\VWHULRXV ÀUH EXW public perception was that it was an act of DUVRQ E\ XQNQRZQ KRRGOXPV 7KH JRYHUQPHQW RI &KLHI -RVKXD 'DUL\H VHW XS D FRPPLVVLRQ RI LQTXLU\ EXW WKH UHSRUW ZDV QHYHU UHOHDVHG )RU WKH SDVW \HDUV VXFFHVVLYH JRYHUQPHQWV KDG SURPLVHG WR UHEXLOG WKH HGLÀFH EXW WKH\ DOO IDLOHG WR VR ,Q IDFW GXULQJ WKH EULHI administration of Chief Michael Botmang, the

beautiful yellow metal frames adorning the FRPSOH[ ZHUH UHPRYHG DQG DOOHJHGO\ VROG E\ D WRS DLGH ,Q *RYHUQRU -RQDK ' -DQJ promised to demolish the entire structure and build a modern international shopping mall in LWV SODFH 7KLV WRR ZDV QRW IXOÀOOHG +RZHYHU *RYHUQRU 6LPRQ % /DORQJ EDFN LQ )HEUXDU\ HYHQ EHIRUH KH FRQWHVWHG the election, told a newspaper in an interview WKDW ´RQH RI WKH ÀUVW WKLQJV KH ZRXOG GR ZDV to rebuild the market either through buildoperate-and transfer model or public-private SDUWQHUVKLS µ <HW LW UHPDLQHG DQ XQIXOÀOOHG SURPLVH GXULQJ KLV ÀUVW WHQXUH LQ JRYHUQPHQW even after the fanfare of demolishing a section of the market preparatory to the commencement of FRQVWUXFWLQJ WKH PDUNHW 7KH SROLWLFDO RSSRVLWLRQ made heavy weather of this during his reelection electioneering campaigns, widely circulating the /DORQJ GHPROLWLRQ YLGHR DV HYLGHQFH RI IDLOHG SURPLVHV $V WKH \HDUV Á\ E\ ZLWK WKH VHFRQG tenure inching to an end, the video was also a subject of political jest at watering-holes So it was pleasant news, indeed, when the /DORQJ JRYHUQPHQW DQQRXQFHG DUUDQJHPHQWV for the commencement of the project with Jaiz %DQN 3OF LQ D SXEOLF SULYDWH SDUWQHUVKLS 333 ,W said under the agreement signed by the partners, WKH EDQN ZLOO IXOO\ ÀQDQFH WKH 1 EQ SURMHFW DW ]HUR SHU FHQW LQWHUHVW -DL] %DQN LV 1LJHULD·V ÀUVW QRQ LQWHUHVW EDQN RSHUDWLQJ XQGHU ,VODPLF EDQNLQJ SULQFLSOHV $OWKRXJK LW ZDV IRXQGHG in 2003, the bank began operation as a national EDQN LQ 1LJHULD RQO\ LQ -DQXDU\ Naturally, owing to the sentiments religion packs in this country, already voices have VWDUWHG VKRXWLQJ ´,VODPL]DWLRQ µ VLQFH WKH DQQRXQFHPHQW ZDV PDGH , UHVSHFW RXU defenders of constitutional secularism but this FDQ KDUGO\ EH D WKUHDW LQ DQ\ ZD\ 7KH F\QLFLVP however, is borne out of public ignorance about WKH RSHUDWLRQ RI WKH ,VODPLF EDQNLQJ SULQFLSOHV of non-interest, a concept which other Western PDLQVWUHDP EDQNV VXFK DV +6%& &LWLEDQN %DUFOD\V %DQN 6WDQGDUG &KDUWHUHG HWF

My only advice, as I initially expressed on the social media, is that the memorandum of understanding should be doubly scrutinized to guarantee equity, fairness and justice to the people of Plateau State as well as ensure hitch-free implementation of the partnership

have since incorporated non-interest banking SURGXFWV LQWR WKHLU RSHUDWLRQV 3URSRQHQWV RI WKLV system say that it is an alternative banking based on the principle of non-interest, sharing of risks DQG UHZDUGV HTXLW\ IDLUQHVV DQG MXVWLFH ,Q VKRUW LW LV DQ HWKLFDO ÀQDQFLDO V\VWHP ZLWKRXW UHFRXUVH WR ,VODPLF SURSDJDQGD RU SURVHO\WLVP The major point of departure with the traditional capitalist banking system as practiced LQ 1LJHULD LV WKH UHMHFWLRQ RI XVXU\ ULED ,Q WUXWK this principle is shared by both Christianity and -XGDLVP 7KH %LEOH LV HPSKDWLFDOO\ DJDLQVW XVXU\ ([RGXV 'HXWHURQRP\ (]HNLHO DV SUDFWLFHG E\ WKH PDLQVWUHDP EDQNV which have virtually strangulated Nigerians RU UHQGHUHG WKHP HQVODYHG WKURXJK H[RUELWDQW LQWHUHVW FKDUJHV &KULVWLDQLW\ LV YHU\ PXFK LQ WXQH ZLWK QRQ LQWHUHVW EDQNLQJ SULQFLSOHV ,Q IDFW -HVXV· RQO\ UHFRUGHG H[SUHVVLRQ RI DQJHU ZDV WKH chasing out of usurers who had converted the WHPSOH *RG·V KRXVH LQWR WKHLU SODFH RI RSHUDWLRQ -RKQ ,I -DL] %DQN ZLOO UHEXLOG WKH EXUQW -RV 0DLQ Market and thus resuscitate the economy of 3ODWHDX 6WDWH VR EH LW *RYHUQRU /DORQJ VKRXOG be saluted for keeping his word to rebuild the PDUNHW $OWKRXJK LW PD\ EH FRPLQJ ODWH LQ WKH OLIH RI KLV DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ DQG , DP VXUH WKHUH LV a convincing reason for that, the most important WKLQJ LV WKDW WKH SURFHVV LV QRZ XQGHU ZD\ +LV choice of a partner for the PPP is also a sound RQH :LWKLQ WKH VKRUW SHULRG RI LWV RSHUDWLRQ LQ Nigeria, Jaiz Bank has established a reputation of UHOLDELOLW\ 7KH ÀUVW ,VODPLF EDQN DQ\ZKHUH LQ WKH ZRUOG WR EUHDN HYHQ ZLWKLQ WKH ÀUVW WKUHH \HDUV of its operation, the bank has also just within 10 years of operation been able to move its asset EDVH IURP 1 ELOOLRQ WR 1 ELOOLRQ DQG ÀQDOO\ WR HDUQ DQ RYHUDOO )LWFK UDWLQJ RI % MXVW XQGHU D GHFDGH Besides, Jaiz Bank Plc has a track record in such SURMHFW ÀQDQFLQJ $ IHZ H[DPSOHV ZLOO VX΀FH LQ a tripartite partnership between the Kano State government and private investors, the bank is constructing a multi-million world-class drugRQO\ ZKROHVDOH PDUNHW WKH ÀUVW RI LWV W\SH LQ Nigeria, at the Kano Economic City; in Niger State, in partnership with the government, the bank is developing three hectares in the Minna &LW\ &HQWUH WR SURYLGH IRU D VKRSSLQJ FRPSOH[ PRGHUQ XQGHUJURXQG SDUNV PRGHUQ ÀOOLQJ station, warehouses, corner shops, restaurants and a recreational a centre at a total cost of 1 ELOOLRQ .DGXQD 6WDWH DOVR HQJDJHG LW LQ its market development and currently Enugu State government is reported in talks with it for D VLPLODU SURMHFW 7KH DERYH SHUIRUPDQFH SURÀOH DQG H[SHULHQFH LQ WKH VHFWRU DUH JRRG DVVXUDQFHV RI WKH EDQN·V FDSDFLW\ WR KDQGOH WKH -RV PDUNHW SURMHFW 0\ RQO\ DGYLFH DV , LQLWLDOO\ H[SUHVVHG RQ the social media, is that the memorandum RI XQGHUVWDQGLQJ 028 VKRXOG EH GRXEO\ scrutinized to guarantee equity, fairness and justice to the people of Plateau State as well as ensure hitch-free implementation of the SDUWQHUVKLS Mr. Ishaku is the Managing Consultant of CCL CONSULTING, Jos, Plateau State

2 28

T H I S D AY MONDAY APRIL 18, 2022

OLUWASEGUN ABIFARIN writes that Olawepo-Hashim is set to join the crowded field of persons seeking the office of the President

NIGERIA’S PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE 6RPH WKUHH DQG KDOI GHFDGHV DJR Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim and his tribe of DFWLYLVWV LQ WKHLU WHHQV DQG HDUO\ WZHQWLHV bestrode Nigeria’s political landscape like giants that they are.

Those were the days of military rule, and the radical students’ leaders, the radical Bar and intelligentsia were the main opposition DJDLQVW WKH PLOLWDU\ JRYHUQPHQW 6WXGHQWV· OHDGHUV OLNH *EHQJD LQ WKDW HUD KDG VXFK LQÁXHQFH WKDW WKH\ FRXOG VKXW WKH FRXQWU\ GRZQ IRU ZHHNV DQG OHDYH the military leaders with the only option of pleading for dialogue after series of UHSUHVVLYH DFWLRQV WR FUXVK SURWHVWV ZRXOG KDYH IDLOHG WR GHWHU WKH DFWLYLVWV Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim was an international celebrity in those days such WKDW LQWHUQDWLRQDO EURDGFDVWHUV IURP %%&

Olawepo-Hashim is strong on economic issues, national security and national integration which he has spoken widely on in the past four years. He has core competences theoretically and practically apart from doing business across many international jurisdictions he did core courses in International Finance, International Economics and Global Security 9R$ KXQWHG IRU QHZV DERXW KLP LQ DQ era when there was no Internet and cable news. When he was detained under Decree VWRULHV KDG LW WKDW UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV RI WKH PLOLWDU\ PDGH KLP RͿHUV LQFOXGLQJ RͿHU RI D SDWKZD\ WR D IRUHLJQ VHUYLFH FDUHHU in exchange for support after his release which he declined. +H ZDV RQH RI $IULFD·V GHOHJDWHV WR WKH WK )HVWLYDO RI <RXWK DQG 6WXGHQWV LQ 1RUWK .RUHD LQ -XO\ DQG SDUWLFLSDWHG in the international solidarity March to cross the Demarcation line in the border of 6RXWK DQG 1RUWK .RUHD LQ WKH FRPSDQ\ RI 5LP 6X \RXQJ WKH 6RXWK .RUHDQ 6WXGHQW DFWLYLVW GXEEHG WKH ÁRZHU RI 8QLÀFDWLRQ In 1989, when Gbenga was detained LQ 1LJHULD DIWHU GHFOLQLQJ WKH RͿHU RI possibility of asylum in two European

FRXQWULHV KH ZDV QDPHG 3ULVRQHU RI &RQVFLHQFH MXVW IRXU \HDUV DIWHU WKH legendary Nelson Mandela was so named E\ $PQHVW\ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO He was guests in those days of presidents RI GLͿHUHQW FRXQWULHV IRUHLJQ PLQLVWHUV and ambassadors.

Last week the businessman announced his intention to formally declare for the 2023 3UHVLGHQWLDO HOHFWLRQ RQ WKH SODWIRUP RI WKH $3& 6LQFH KLV DFWLYLVW GD\V WKUHH GHFDGHV plus years ago, Olawepo-Hashim has done many things in business unlike his peers who stay in the traditional comfort zones of running NGOs, media organisations DQG ZRUNLQJ LQ WKH XQLYHUVLWLHV On his part, he went into mainstream EXVLQHVV LQ VSDQQLQJ SXEOLF DͿDLUV management consultancy and political FRPPXQLFDWLRQV +LV FRPSDQ\ 6HW DQG 6HOO &RPPXQLFDWLRQ UDQ WKH ORFDO JRYHUQPHQW HOHFWLRQ FDPSDLJQ IRU &1& in 1997, picked up important clients such as Nigeria World Bank National Water 5HKDELOLWDWLRQ 3URMHFW 3HWUROHXP 7UXVW )XQG 37) 1LJHULD 6RFLDO ,QVXUDQFH 7UXVW Fund, M-tel, Nigeria Deposit Insurance &RUSRUDWLRQ 2DVLV 0RUWJDJH %DQN HWF 2YHU WKH \HDUV KH GLYHUVLÀHG LQWR construction, oil and gas, power generation DQG PDGH XVHIXO EXVLQHVV LQWHUYHQWLRQ globally including in countries such as *DERQ 8QLWHG 6WDWHV 8QLWHG .LQJGRP 8QLWHG $UDE (PLUDWHV &]HFK 5HSXEOLF 6ORYDNLD HWF /LNH &\ULO 5DPDSKRVD 3UHVLGHQW RI 6RXWK $IULFD 2ODZHSR +DVKLP WUDQVIRUPHG VHDPOHVVO\ IURP DFWLYLVP to business; he did perhaps earlier than Ramaphosa. $V RQH RI WKH HDUOLHU SROLWLFDO OHDGHUV after the military departed in 1999, he was 'HSXW\ 1DWLRQDO 3XEOLFLW\ 6HFUHWDU\ RI WKH 5XOLQJ SDUW\ DQG &KDLUPDQ RI WKH SDUW\·V *URXS RI 1(& PHPEHUV ZKLFK KH IRUPHG +H UHVLJQHG IURP WKH 3'3 LQ DIWHU D ORW RI GLVDJUHHPHQWV RYHU PDWWHUV RI party internal democracy.

He is in his 50s. He holds a Master’s LQ *OREDO $ͿDLUV IURP 8QLYHUVLW\ RI %XFNLQJKDP LQ 8QLWHG .LQJGRP ZKHUH he was best student in his cohort. He UHFHLYHG WKH /RUG 0D[ %HURUI 3UL]H IRU *OREDO $ͿDLUV +H KDV D FHUWLÀFDWH LQ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 3HWUROHXP 0DQDJHPHQW IURP ,QWHUQDWLRQDO +XPDQ 5HVRXUFH 'HYHORSPHQW &HQWUH LQ %RVWRQ 0DVVDFKXVHWWV +H KDG KLV ÀUVW GHJUHH IURP WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI /DJRV LQ 1990.

Olawepo-Hashim is strong on economic issues, national security and national integration which he has spoken widely on in the past four years. He has core competences theoretically and practically apart from doing business across many international jurisdictions he did core courses in International Finance, International Economics and Global 6HFXULW\ +H LV KDV OLYHG LQ WKUHH FRQWLQHQWV ZHOO WUDYHOOHG DQG JOREDOO\ FRQQHFWHG +H LV D long standing anti-corruption campaigner.

The question is: Will he, like Ramaphosa, EH WKH DFWLYLVW EXVLQHVVPDQ WXUQHG president?

Abifarin is former Editor of The Week Magazine

At 65 years, Osinbajo does not owe anyone any apology for his political decisions, writes DAVID T. EJENOBO

TINUBU, OSINBAJO AND POLITICS OF LOYALTY 3ULRU WR DQG VRRQ DIWHU WKH GHFODUDWLRQ RI LQWHUHVW WR FRQWHVW IRU WKH 3UHVLGHQWLDO VHDW FRPH 3URI <HPL 2VLQEDMR KDV FRPH XQGHU VHYHUH DWWDFN E\ WKH VXSSRUWHUV RI $VLZDMX %ROD $KPHG Tinubu as being disloyal to his political godfather.

This is hinged on the fact that in 1999 after EHFRPLQJ WKH *RYHUQRU RI /DJRV 6WDWH 7LQXEX DSSRLQWHG 2VLQEDMR DV WKH $WWRUQH\ *HQHUDO DQG &RPPLVVLRQHU RI -XVWLFH RI /DJRV 6WDWH ,W is argued that this was the appointment that brought Osinbajo to political limelight. I will like to throw up four issues to be interrogated in this piece.

2QH ZDV WKH DSSRLQWPHQW DV $WWRUQH\ *HQHUDO DQG &RPPLVVLRQHU RI -XVWLFH LQ /DJRV WKH ÀUVW political appointment held by Osinbajo? The REYLRXV DQVZHU WR WKLV TXHVWLRQ LV 12 %HWZHHQ DQG KH ZDV 6SHFLDO $GYLVHU WR WKH $WWRUQH\ *HQHUDO DQG 0LQLVWHU RI -XVWLFH RI WKH Federal Republic of Nigeria. Thus his foray into the political waters was in 1988 and not in 1999 DV KLV FULWLFV ZRXOG OLNH XV WR EHOLHYH ,Q RWKHU words as at the time Tinubu met Osinbajo in 1999, Osinbajo was not a political neophyte by any stretch of the imagination. It is pertinent to put on record that as at 1999 Tinubu didn’t know the intellectual and professional credentials of 2VLQEDMR ,W WRRN WKH LQWHUYHQWLRQ RI 6HQDWRU Babafemi Ojudu to bring the two of them together.

2MXGX ZDV D IULHQG WR ERWK PHQ 7LQXEX FRQÀGHG in Ojudu that he was looking for a sound legal PLQG WR DSSRLQW DV $WWRUQH\ *HQHUDO 2MXGX who knew the capabilities of Osinbajo brought KLP WR 7LQXEX )URP WKLV QDUUDWLYH LW EHFRPHV FU\VWDO FOHDU WKDW LI 2VLQEDMR GLGQ·W KDYH D WUDFN UHFRUG RI DFKLHYHPHQW DV D SROLWLFDO R΀FH KROGHU KH ZRXOG QRW KDYH EHHQ SLFNHG E\ 7LQXEX 7ZR GLG 2VLQEDMR GHOLYHU RQ KLV PDQGDWH DV $WWRUQH\ *HQHUDO RI /DJRV 6WDWH" 7KLV TXHVWLRQ becomes pertinent in the face of insinuations that it was through the appointment that Tinubu JDYH WR 2VLQEDMR WKDW KH PDGH KLV SROLWLFDO QDPH The truth is that it was the sterling qualities and DFKLHYHPHQWV RI 2VLQEDMR DV $WWRUQH\ *HQHUDO RI /DJRV 6WDWH WKDW VROG KLP WR WKH ZRUOG ,W LV RQH WKLQJ IRU D PDQ WR EH JLYHQ DQ RSSRUWXQLW\ WR H[FHO and it is another for the person to excel. The Lagos 6WDWH OHJLVODWXUH ZDV UDGLFDOO\ WUDQVIRUPHG WR become the best in Nigeria during the eight-year VWLQW RI 2VLQEDMR DV $WWRUQH\ *HQHUDO 7KH OHJDO EDWWOH RI /DJRV 6WDWH ZLWK WKH IHGHUDO JRYHUQPHQW RQ WKH ZLWKKHOG ORFDO JRYHUQPHQW IXQGV LV D JRRG H[DPSOH 2VLQEDMR ZRQ D GHFLVLYH OHJDO EDWWOH IRU /DJRV 6WDWH ZKLFK KHOSHG LQ QR VPDOO PHDVXUH WR EROVWHU WKH SROLWLFDO DFKLHYHPHQWV RI 7LQXEX DV *RYHUQRU RI /DJRV 6WDWH 7KHUH LV QR JDLQVD\LQJ WKH IDFW WKDW WKH DFKLHYHPHQWV RI 2VLQEDMR DV $WWRUQH\ *HQHUDO RI /DJRV ZKLFK FRQWULEXWHG LPPHQVHO\ WR WKH ULVH LQ WKH SROLWLFDO SURÀOH RI Tinubu was enough compensation to Tinubu for DSSRLQWLQJ 2VLQEDMR DV KLV $WWRUQH\ *HQHUDO Three, did Tinubu project Osinbajo for another political appointment after 2007? The claim that Osinbajo is the political son of Tinubu will hold water if Tinubu nurtured the political career of Osinbajo with many political appointments. The fact is that apart from that singular appointment as $WWRUQH\ *HQHUDO RI /DJRV 6WDWH LW LV QRW RQ UHFRUG WKDW 7LQXEX HYHU UHFRPPHQGHG 2VLQEDMR IRU DQ\ RWKHU SROLWLFDO R΀FH DIWHU KLV VWLQW DV $WWRUQH\ *HQHUDO RI /DJRV 6WDWH 5DWKHU LW LV RQ UHFRUG WKDW IRUPHU 3UHVLGHQW RI 1LJHULD 2OXVHJXQ 2EDVDQMR ZDQWHG WR DSSRLQW 2VLQEDMR DV WKH $WWRUQH\ General of the Federation in 2007, but Osinbajo refused because he insisted on the refund of WKH ZLWKKHOG /RFDO *RYHUQPHQW &RXQFLO IXQGV EHORQJLQJ WR /DJRV 6WDWH DV SHU WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW MXGJPHQW 7KXV EHWZHHQ DQG Osinbajo went back to his practice as a Lawyer.

It is now a matter in the public domain that Tinubu was against the candidature of Osinbajo as Vice to Buhari in 2015 because he wanted the position for himself. Buhari appointed Osinbajo as his Vice against the wish of Tinubu. These are KLVWRULFDO IDFWV 6R LI 7LQXEX RͿHUHG 2VLQEDMR DQ

opportunity to be a state political appointee and was prepared to deny him of a federal political appointment, how does that qualify Tinubu to be referred to as Osinbajo’s political godfather? )RXU LV WKHUH D GLͿHUHQFH EHWZHHQ 3ROLWLFDO /R\DOW\ DQG 3ROLWLFDO 6ODYHU\" 7KH VXSSRUWHUV RI 7LQXEX DYHU WKDW E\ 2VLQEDMR GHFODULQJ KLV LQWHQWLRQ WR UXQ IRU WKH R΀FH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW RI Nigeria, a position that Tinubu also is aiming

for, Osinbajo is being disloyal to Tinubu. /R\DOW\ KDV EHHQ GHÀQHG DV D VWURQJ IHHOLQJ of support or allegiance. In other words, to EH OR\DO WR D SHUVRQ LV WR JLYH VXSSRUW WR WKDW person. The key word here is support. If you support a person just because you don’t want WR GLVDJUHH ZLWK KLP WKHQ \RX DUH KLV VODYH QRW D OR\DO SHUVRQ 6XSSRUW RI D SHUVRQ ZLWKLQ the context of Loyalty must be situated in the RYHUDOO JRRG RI WKH SHUVRQ EHLQJ VXSSRUWHG When Loyalty becomes blind support, then RQH KDV FURVVHG RYHU WR WKH UHDOP RI VODYHU\ %\ YLUWXH RI KLV SURIHVVLRQDO WUDLQLQJ 2VLQEDMR FDQQRW EH VODYLVK LQ KLV VXSSRUW IRU DQ\RQH It is on record that in 2015 when the issue of the Vice to Buhari was under consideration, Osinbajo maintained the position that a Muslim/Muslim ticket was not a good LGHD IRU WKH JRYHUQDQFH RI 1LJHULD 7LQXEX a Muslim, wanted to be Vice to Buhari, a Muslim. Tinubu was annoyed with Osinbajo and walked him out of the meeting where the LVVXH ZDV EHLQJ GLVFXVVHG 6HYHQ \HDUV GRZQ WKH OLQH WKH VDPH LVVXH LQ UHYHUVHG RUGHU LV RQ JURXQG D 0XVOLP 3UHVLGHQW KDQGLQJ RYHU WR DQRWKHU 0XVOLP 3UHVLGHQW $JDLQ Osinbajo is saying no to such an arrangement.

By his professional training, Osinbajo sees the larger picture of any argument. That is why KH LV DQ DGYRFDWH :KHQ KH VWDQGV EHIRUH D judge to plead his case, he always enjoins His Lordship to consider the larger picture of the case before passing His judgment. If he then considers the larger interests of Nigerians RYHU DQG DERYH WKH SHUVRQDO LQWHUHVWV RI DQ LQGLYLGXDO WKDW VKRXOG QRW PDNH KLP WR EH disloyal. $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH %LEOH LQ -RKQ &KDSWHU 9, a man born blind from birth was healed E\ -HVXV 7KH 3KDULVHHV GLGQ·W EHOLHYH WKDW WKH PDQ ZDV ERUQ EOLQG 6R WKH\ FDOOHG KLV parents to ask if it was true that the man was born blind. The parents answered: he is an DGXOW $VN KLP LI KH ZDV ERUQ EOLQG ,W LV P\ contention that in all discussions concerning Loyalty of Osinbajo to Tinubu we must factor in the fact that Osinbajo is an adult who has D ULJKW WR KLV GHFLVLRQV $W \HDUV KH GRHV not owe anyone any apology for his political GHFLVLRQV 3OHDVH OHW XV DOORZ WKH PDQ WKH right to plot his own political graph.

Prof Ejenobo writes from Delta State University, Abraka

329

T H I S D AY MONDAY APRIL 18, 2022

CHARLES DICKSON writes that Nigeria has failed the schoolgirls Charles Soludo has a hefty task before him, writes CHIEDU UCHE OKOYE

ANAMBRA AND THE SPECTRE OF LAWLESSNESS Nigeria stands on the three legs of the tripod namely, Hausa/ Fulani, Yoruba, and the Igbo. The Igbo people are a homogenous ethnic group; and they live in the southeast of Nigeria, which is their ancestral home. Five states namely, Ebonyi, Abia, Imo, Enugu, and Anambra make up the southeast geopolitical zone. The natives of the southeast states have the same cultural practices. And they speak the same language, which is Igbo, although we’ve GLͿHUHQW ,JER ODQJXDJH GLDOHFWV But the Anambra State, which we are concerned about in this article, is carved out of the old Anambra State in 1991 by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd). Its slogan is, “the light of the nation”. And the state is living up to its slogan what with its sons and daughters extending the frontiers of science and technology in many GLͿHUHQW FRXQWULHV RI WKH ZRUOG $QDPEUD natives have achieved remarkable distinctions

In addition to the people’s breach of the ban on riding motorcycles in some towns, many commercial bus drivers drive their buses at breakneck speed against the flow of traffic in total disregard of the safety of lives in the areas of political leadership, sports, music, and literature, too.

Anambra State is the home state of the Rt. Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe; Mary OnyaliOmagbemi, the former African sprints queen of the tracks; Chief Osita Osadebe, a high life music maestro; Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, an internationally recognized award-winning novelist; Chief Emeka Anyaoku, a former Commonwealth secretary general; and others.

But Anambra had fallen on evil times in the UHFHQW SDVW ,Q WKH ÀUVW GHFDGH RI WKH WZHQW\ ÀUVW FHQWXU\ VRRQ DIWHU 1LJHULD KDG WUDQVLWHG to democratic governance, the issue of godfatherism nearly derailed the developmental trajectory of the state. We still remember YLYLGO\ WKH &KLHI (PHND 2ͿRU DQG 'U &KLQZRNH 0EDGLQXMX·V SROLWLFDO ÀJKW IRU WKH FRQWURO RI $QDPEUD 6WDWH·V ÀQDQFLDO UHVRXUFHV Mbadinuju was governor of Anambra State EHWZHHQ DQG ZKLOH &KLHI 2ͿRU ZDV his political godfather. And Dr. Chris Ngige, the former governor of Anambra State, who spots a goatee and wears his cap at a jaunty angle, was abducted at the behest of his political godfather for refusing to surrender WKH VWDWH·V ÀQDQFLDO WLOO WR KLP 7KH LVVXH RI political godfatherism, which characterized the state, then, distracted the sitting governors and impeded the development of the state.

Thankfully, today, Anambra State is no ORQJHU LQ WKH ÀUP JULS RI SROLWLFDO JRGIDWKHUV and political buccaneers, who have itchy ÀQJHUV DQG WKLHYLQJ SURSHQVLW\ $QDPEUD KDV gone past the dark era of political godfatherism with its many disadvantages.

But Anambra still has its teething and hydra-headed problems, which constitute a spoke in its wheel of progress. The issues of poor infrastructural development of the state, insecurity of life and property in the

state, ecological disasters ravaging several towns in the state, the inhabitants’ penchant for committing acts of lawlessness, and the people’s entrenched culture of dirtiness militate against the true and sustainable development of Anambra State.

Has Anambra not lost large expanse of land to uncontrollable soil erosion? From Obosi to Nanka, and from Ogbaru to Ayamelum, people’s farmlands and houses had been eaten up by gully erosion. As a result, many people had become homeless, and their source of livelihood, which is farming, ruined as they no longer had farmlands on which to farm.

Again, lately, Anambra, which used to be an oasis of peace and tranquility, has morphed to D NLOOLQJ ÀHOG 7KH PRQVWHU RI LQVHFXULW\ RI OLIH and property is asphyxiating. And it has dealt a big blow to the developmental initiatives of Anambra State’s political leaders. Now, unknown gunmen, who enforce the sit-athome order on every Monday, do kill people and burn public and government-owned buildings. Consequently, Anambra State is in a near state of anarchy.

And the Anambra people’s love of perpetrating acts of lawlessness has been worsening the security challenges bedevilling the state. In Anambra, some people still ride motorcycles in areas where people are SURKLELWHG IURP ULGLQJ WKHP PDNLQJ LW GL΀FXOW for the police personnel and the people to tell armed robbers and innocent people apart.

In addition to the people’s breach of the ban on riding motorcycles in some towns, many commercial bus drivers drive their buses at EUHDNQHFN VSHHG DJDLQVW WKH ÁRZ RI WUD΀F LQ total disregard of the safety of lives. And drivers who are drunk and high on mind-altering and psychedelic drugs toot their horns loudly and FHDVHOHVVO\ ZKLOH VWXFN LQ VORZO\ PRYLQJ WUD΀F making people ask questions about the drivers’ mental state.

It is not only drivers that commit atrocious deeds and acts of incivility on Anambra roads.

Oftentimes, passengers who had got on a bus would throw out orange and banana peelings through the windows of the bus, littering the roadsides with dirt and refuse. And hawkers and traders who trade on roadsides do dump refuse into our drainages. This causes the blockage of the drainages. So when it rains KHDYLO\ UDLQZDWHU ZLOO RYHUÁRZ WKH GUDLQDJHV and spill on the roads. There is a nexus between the ecological disasters ravaging towns in Anambra State and the people’s culture of dirtiness and lawlessness.

More so, in some semi-urban towns, which are densely populated, portions of the roads have been inadvertently converted to dump sites. And our political leaders at the local government and state levels have turned a blind eye to them. But the stench oozing from the refuse dump sites on our roads poses a grave danger to the people’s health. But being habituated to living in the midst of dump sites, they gloss over the fact that the foul air wafting from the dump sites endanger their lives.

Therefore, it behooves governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to speedily tackle the problems bedevilling the state in order to give Anambra people a new lease of life. He ought to know that it is his leadership scorecard that will guarantee him a place in the leadership hall of fame.

Okoye writes from Uruowulu-Obosi, Anambra State

WHERE ARE THE CHIBOK GIRLS? All idiots are morons, but not all morons are idiots On the night of 14–15 April 2014, 276 mostly Christian female students aged between 16 and 18 were kidnapped by the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram from the Government Girls Secondary School at the sleepy town of Chibok in Borno State.

Till date Chibok itself has witnessed almost a dozen and more attacks; Chibok since Chibok has seen almost one attack per year, per village after that incident, whether it is Kwarangullum, Piyemi, Kauitkari, Pemi, villages, it is tales of woes and neglect.

Eight years and counting 110 of them are still missing. And in this timeline over 1500 children according to Amnesty have been DEGXFWHG DQG 81,&() ÀJXUHV VWDWH RYHU RQH million children afraid to go back to school as a result of violence.

The Chibok girls have now become a symbol of the nation and her wayward ways. Chibok, a community discussed as an

This administration would have spent eight years unable to fulfil this promise of safety, and security, simply blaming everyone but themselves

ethnic, faith-based, party-based, politics-laced, symbolizes everything that we stand for in many ways.

Chibok has no electricity, no good roads, health is on leave of absence; the only bank for a long time was simply an agency. Chibok had only that secondary school. Chibok is Nigeria, and Nigeria is Chibok.

I have done a sizable amount of work on not just Boko Haram but also the Chibok girls, NLOOLQJV DEGXFWLRQV DQG 1LJHULD·V FRQÁLFW WRUQ Northwest region. I have visited Chibok four times, I have spoken to a few of the girls that were released, spoke to one that escaped, I have spoken with several of the parents, and that includes a few that are now dead.

For the purpose of this admonition let me quickly share what I would like to call some quick facts of the matter as it is and reminders.

I do not expect it to go down well with many, but truth be told, what’s the essence of an opinion if it is tailored to go down with everyone?

Some of those quick facts, include but not limited to the following–Those girls were indeed abducted from the Government Secondary School in Chibok, and that the ÀJXUHV DUH FRQÁLFWLQJ LW LV HYHQ VDIH WR conclude that no one knows the exact number of girls abducted not even the government, even Boko Haram has lost count of their damage. Years of pressure, there is a semblance of a list of Missing Persons but it’s not even DFFHVVLEOH DQG YHU\ FRQÁLFWLQJ Before Chibok, Boko Haram had established a tradition of abducting girls and women. For countless reasons, the authorities were quiet, the media reported a few it could, and let me tell us many parents equally kept quiet and took it all in their stride.

This writer had interviewed several girls and women who were victims; they escaped one way or the other.

Late Abacha is credited to have propounded

the theory of “if killings go on for so, so and so time, the government knows about it, or are behind it.”

Recall the drama of what I call the international week of Boko Haram—the week where the United States, UK, France, China, Togo, were all willing to help, and how the drones were droning. Nothing happened!

I recall the dramatic Chadian negotiation, a ballet between Modu Sherif, Idris Derby and Jonathan, the sum total of which revealed that we are not really serious as a people on matters that we should be serious. And that many of our tales of nationhood are Chibok like…

Cruel fact is that several hundreds of girls that are victims of this terrible group have paid the ultimate price, a few have escaped with almost irreparable damage, others have become part of them, and we have not done much.

It is equally a fact that one of the many reasons that Boko Haram may continue for a while is because many still do not know what the group is all about. Does it have an ideology, what really is it about…a CIA conspiracy or a thing about poverty, how is it connected to ISWAP, are they same and one with the current bandits and terror camps RI DEGXFWRUV WKDW KDYH JUDGXDOO\ ÀOWHUHG LQ numbers into other parts of the north? How about their funding, communication and many such questions?

I also know that based on what is out there, many experts on the subject matter are foreigners and one wonders. I do not always believe former Olusegun Obasanjo, but I agree with him when he asserts, “many, most, half of these girls will never come back…” That is a fact! A sizable number have passed on, sadly so! And yes, did I add 6DONLGD DOVR D΀UPHG DQG , FRQFXU WRR %XW the good Lord bless those of us that have remained dedicated to the cause–true men and women!

The Chibok parents continue grieving and mourning, with irreparable bewilderment and pain, as they do not know the exact situation of their wards. There may never be any closure, and that fact is gruesomely scary.

(LJKW \HDUV ZH KDYH ORVW PHQ DQG R΀FHUV more villagers and villages have been killed and taken, loads of propaganda, half-truths, PLVLQIRUPDWLRQ DQG VKHHU IDOVHKRRGV ÀJKW between now opposition PDP, and governing APC, even the Air Force has accused the Army of taking their shine. The army has had a mutinous situation, local media vs. foreign media, and Christians/Muslims. But the fact is that we do not have the Chibok girls.

The Boko Haram group in all their splinters, continue making all sorts of demands, releasing videos, and creating more confusion, but the fact is that some girls just disappeared. They were abducted because our institutions are not working the way they should, the girls’ will/may not be found because we are not sincere people, and because many of them are dead, and because we are largely and easily divided by our VHOÀVK PRWLYHV This administration would have spent HLJKW \HDUV XQDEOH WR IXOÀO WKLV SURPLVH RI safety, and security, simply blaming everyone but themselves, assuring themselves while no one is safe, and it would be symptomatic of who we are as a people. The Chibok saga will continue to remind us of who we really are.

Dr Dickson is a Researcher, Development & Media Practitioner

4 30

T H I S D AY MONDAY APRIL 18, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

OF OSINACHI AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE All the stakeholders must do more to stem the unsettling prevalence of domestic violence

F

ollowing a symbolic gesture of one-minute silence held in her honour, the Senate has urged the police and other relevant law enforcement agencies to investigate the death of renowned gospel artiste, Mrs. Osinachi Nwachukwu. Although the FDXVH RI KHU GHDWK LV \HW WR EH R΀FLDOO\ DVFHUWDLQHG DOOHJDWLRQV WKDW VKH VXͿHUHG VXVWDLQHG GRPHVWLF abuse from her husband, Peter Nwachukwu, are rife. And in the wake of her death, many women are speaking out that the fear of being ostracised, WKH ODFN RI PDWHULDO DQG ÀQDQFLDO UHVRXUFHV DQG WKH general lack of sympathy and support from the public have contributed immensely to the growth of domestic violence in many Nigerian homes.

From physical and verbal abuse to rape and even murder, it is evident that the authorities are not doing enough to stem the tide of domestic violence which manifests itself in many forms in Nigeria. While spousal abuse cuts across both sexes, women are predominantly the victims. Yet abused women rarely report the violence they endure, for fear of being stigmatised by the society. Besides, the patriarchal interpretations within our various faiths preach endurance. Inevitably, the victim and the abuser (where summoned) are usually advised WR JR KRPH DQG VHWWOH WKHLU GLͿHUHQFHV UDWKHU WKDQ make public the injury or the violence within.

While it is possible to institute criminal action against the abuser in the country, the investigative and prosecutorial capacities of our law enforcement agencies are a huge disincentive for taking such DFWLRQ &LYLO VXLWV IRU GDPDJHV FDQ EH ÀOHG ZKHUH D conviction is obtained, but again, the system takes WRR ORQJ JLYLQJ VX΀FLHQW WLPH IRU LQWHUYHQWLRQV E\ ‘well-meaning’ relations as well as religious and community leaders.

It is indeed imperative that the authorities make PRUH HͿRUWV WR XQGHUVWDQG WKH XQGHUO\LQJ FDXVHV and dynamics of this growing violence, if only to redeem the stability of the family unit, and

consequently, the larger society. We cannot continue to ignore the upsurge in these occurrences, for the implications on our collective psyche, as citizenry, and our development as a nation, are ominous.

More disturbing is that complaints of violence and abuse (against family members) made at our police stations, where victims can summon the courage to do so, are often dismissed as domestic matters, especially where such violence occurs between spouses. $VVDXOW DQG EDWWHU\ HYHQ WKRXJK VHULRXV RͿHQFHV in our law books, are hardly ever perceived as crimes by many of our law enforcement agencies, unless the acts ultimately culminate in death.

Besides, a pattern where survivors of sexual violence become targets of intimidation with the aid of law enforcement agents is unconscionable and needs to stop. The police need to seek for specialisation in handling cases reported by these unfortunate women, and alerted to the fact that battery and assault remain IHORQLHV LQ RXU ODZ ERRNV HYHQ ZKHUH LQÁLFWHG between spouses.

The media should continue to bring to the fore these incidents, if only to arouse our collective outrage and compel serious actions to stop genderbased violence. We also need an institutional structure where these incidents (including the perpetrators and victims) could be analysed with a view to strategically addressing all the challenges in a comprehensive and structured manner. Finally, our governments, at all levels, need to sit up to address these concerns. That is the only way to assure our women and girls that we care about their welfare and wellbeing, and the health and prosperity of the nation.

While we commiserate with the family of Osinachi and join other stakeholders in demanding a thorough investigation with a view to bringing any culprit to justice, curbing these tragic incidents requires that we establish the necessary infrastructure and wherewithal to support abused women.

Our governments, at all levels, need to sit up to address these concerns. That is the only way to assure our women and girls that we care about their welfare and wellbeing 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

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 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 (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS WHO KILLED BOLA IGE? In many countries of the world, the law places the highest premium on the right to life. This premium comes from a place of preeminence which prescribes that life shall not be taken except in exceptional circumstances DQG HYHQ WKHQ RQO\ DIWHU WKH VWULFWXUHV RI WKH ODZ KDYH EHHQ VX΀FLHQWO\ VXͿHUHG In the Giant of Africa, things have changed gradually but steadily - for the worse. The journey to this point where life has become as cheap as salt, or like a commodity in a market of chips has been a painfully ponderous one. It did not start today. It has been years, even decades, in the making.

On December 23, 2001, while the midday sun burned in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, bullets of indeterminate origin cut short the life of Mr. Bola Ige, Nigeria`s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice at the time and one RI WKH ÀQHVW ODZ\HUV WKH FRXQWU\ KDV HYHU NQRZQ The heinous murder shook Nigeria to its core, brutally hacking open old wounds from the days when military dictators turned many Nigerians over in their blood sport. If an entire country was stunned by the brazen murder of Mr. Ige, it is even more stunning that more than 20 years later his killers are yet to be brought to book. Nigeria was starkly reminded of this sordid fact recently.

At 87, celebrated Nigeria playwright Mr. Wole Soyinka brings with him a lifetime of advocacy for a better Nigeria. When in 1986 the towering lit-

HUDU\ LFRQ IURP $EHRNXWD EHFDPH WKH ÀUVW VXE 6DKDUDQ $IULFDQ WR ZLQ WKH Nobel Prize in Literature, a beleaguered country climbed the shoulders of a giant where it has remained ever since, losing count of the innumerable times he has not held back in rebuking the enemies of the country.

It was Mr. Wole Soyinka who recently reminded Nigeria that the murder of Mr. Bola Ige remains unsolved. In a country where assassination has since been replaced by more brazen killings of innocent Nigerians, what has been done and what is being done? What has Nigeria done to hold all those who have shed innocent blood in the country to account?

Those who kill innocent Nigerians are neither ghosts nor aliens who FRPH IURP GLͿHUHQW SODQHWV WR ZKLFK WKH\ UHWXUQ DIWHU WKHLU GDVWDUGO\ DFWV No. They walk among us. Some of them are even clearly known to the authorities. But because they are powerful in a country where power has been ripped away from the people, there is a rabid reluctance to hold them to account.

To seek to build a just country without justice is the ultimate deception.

As long as Nigerians do not know justice as it is served hot to those who turn others into game in their blood sport, deception will remain a national pastime.

Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

AN EASTER WISH Easter is the time of rebirth in many religions with stories or death and life but all we see in the world at the moment is deaths.

Even Jerusalem, a holy city for again many religions, is at present the site of violence and unrest when it should be full of people celebrating their faith or children eating too much chocolate.

Maybe it’s time for the faithful to pray for peace and for the rest to protest, write letters to politicians and for governments to condemn acts of ZDU DQG XQLWH WR ÀQG D ZD\ IRU SHDFH to prosper.

Peace in our time. A remote possibility or as imaginary as the Easter Bunny? It is a test for all of humanity.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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YEMI OSINBAJO

BOLA TINUBU

Search for a New President Begins…

Aspirants who have declared so far

T ROTIMI AMAECHI

YAHAYA BELLO

hat Nigeria’s political culture hardly entertains issue-based campaigns is a no-brainer.

It’s also the reason many have come to the conclusion that the country’s politics is not rooted in any sound ideology whatsoever.

Indeed, because of the nomadic nature of Nigeria’s politicians – sometimes defecting without a cause – it is even very difficult distinguishing between the politicians of opposing parties. It’s chiefly about survival rather than nation building.

Therefore, because serious issues hardly define the country’s campaigns, and thus, exposing its zero ideological leanings, is the reason the nation is almost brought on its knees in practically all areas of development indices and good governance. Not only do intending officeholders avoid debates to espouse their visions, their supporters often think it’s ‘no big deal’ either and would rather settle for character debates instead, which is sheer distraction, albeit often entertaining.

Eventually, when they are manoeuvred into office, in spite of their palpable limitations and blurred visions, typified by their fast depreciating mental capacity, the façade of their hypes begins to manifest, leaving the nation more traumatised and underdeveloped for the period, yet, making former occupants of the offices appear like God-sent as a result of the inadequacies of the incumbent.

Interestingly, every election cycle always provides an opportunity to redress some of these concerns, and all that is

required is starting early, nipping in the bud, the clearly identifiable challenges that have remained rather constant. It is for this reason that a pre-primary elections presidential interview series has become imperative, if not compelling, in the circumstances.

Reasons for this are simple and basic.

It allows the nation, particularly, the voting population, to see the aspirants for who they are before emerging as the candidates of their respective parties, when it would be more difficult to choose from the lot offered before the primaries.

Importantly, it also helps to shape the choices of parties’ delegates in settling for that one aspirant, who understands the problems and is able to sell them based on clear understanding, persuasions, capacity, competence and experience.

What of course, follows after the primaries, is a debate between the options provided by the parties in the wake of their primary elections. But this interview series presents the aspirants an opportunity to unveil themselves to the Nigerian people and how they have been able to follow through with events in the last few years, sharing their perspectives on the challenges, the solutions and the way forward, including the need for Nigeria to embrace the new world order.

While it is expected that some of the aspirants are likely to avoid this exposure for obvious reasons, this platform, however, is an open opportunity for the real contenders, and not by any stroke the pretenders, to give insights into plans on how to rescue Nigeria from the mess it has continued to find itself in.

ATIKU ABUBAKAR

ANYIM PIUS ANYIM

BUKOLA SARAKI

PETER OBI

AMINU TAMBUWAL

DAVID UMAHI

ROCHAS OKOROCHA

PDP ASPIRANTS

DELE MOMODU

BALA MOHAMMED

NYESOM WIKE

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“

I did not leave the PDP then. The PDP left me by deviating from its founding fathers’ principles and our core values. As soon as the PDP returned to its core values, I returned to the PDP. Right now, no party in Nigeria is as ideologically sound, structurally cohesive, and goal-oriented as the PDP

“

Atiku Abubakar: PDP Should Focus on Winning, Not Zoning

C

onfident, optimistic and determined, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, didn’t mince words, when he said, with a whiff of pride, ‘I’m the best of them all’. That wasn’t just a statement for the media to feast on; it was also a subliminal message to other presidential hopefuls that they have the master of the game to deal with.

Perhaps, he is not unaware this might be his last attempt at the presidency and also very confident about giving it his best shot possible and realising this long-nursed dream. Curiously, nothing has really changed about this Adamawa State-born politician and businessman. From his mental alertness to his youthfulness, understanding of the issues and capacity to sell them, Atiku is prepared to go for broke yet again in the 2023 presidential run.

With eloquence and depth, shaped by experience, Atiku sees the Nigerian Project as very doable. Even more, he thinks the challenges which seem mountainous are no big deal with the right vision and leadership, which he seeks to offer. Thus, speaking with THISDAY in this first in a series of pre-primary presidential interviews, he made great effort in selling his candidacy to Nigerians and his party, the PDP. Excerpts: Continued on page 33

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I’m the Best of Them All! starving it of its oxygen. If we do the same to the oil sector, and other sectors, and just focus on providing good governance, corruption in Nigeria will begin to die a natural death.

Since going into politics in 1993, you have contested for the office of the president five times, albeit unsuccessfully. You attempted it in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019. Now, you’re taking your sixth shot in 2023; is it a lifelong ambition to want to be president of Nigeria?

I would not say the ambition has been to be president. Rather, my ambition has been to help Nigeria fulfil its destiny, as I perceive it, which is to be the beacon of hope for the Black Race, by being a nation well run, united, and providing opportunities for its citizens to prosper and pursue their individual happiness.

After a long and successful career in the public sector, I was able to make a positive difference for Nigeria and that was evident to people, especially, my mentor, the late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’adua. It was he, who recognised my leadership abilities, especially, after he witnessed how I was able to continue making a difference in the private sector.

But the privatisation of national assets hasn’t been an all-round success. It is today considered one of Nigeria’s greatest problems, because of the poor manner aspects of it were handled.

It looks to me that you are referring to privatisation exercises done by other administrations. The privatisation that I was directly responsible for as chairman of the National Council on Privatisation, which took place in the telecommunications and other critical sectors, was a brilliant success, applauded by Nigerians themselves, recommended to other nations by the World Bank, and still thriving till today, and looks set to continue thriving long after I am gone.

We took a telecommunications sector with a corrupt monopoly, and transformed it into an industry with a prosperous philosophy.

We took a cement industry that was government funded and run, and privatised it to Dangote and others, and helped them create thousands of jobs in the process, while creating a new set of innovative business persons, who are now expanding throughout Africa.

We took the downstream sector, and in particular the marketing and distribution of petroleum products, privatised it, and ended fuel scarcity during our time, while simultaneously creating subsisting business moguls who created much-needed jobs and delivered dividends to investors and tax to the government.

What happened in other instances of privatisation that I did not supervise, I will not comment on. When it was my turn, I delivered. And if elected by Nigerians, I will deliver again.

So, in direct response to your question, my ambition has always been to help Nigeria achieve its potential by providing servant leadership, at whatever level, in any sector I find myself, that will enable us realise the visions of our founding fathers. And you may agree with me that leadership is essentially the ability to transform vision into reality. That will be the best way to show my gratitude to Nigeria for all that the country has done for me.

Why do you think you have been unsuccessful so far?

I would not say I have been unsuccessful.

That would be a misreading of the facts. In the last election, I was clearly the favourite of Nigerians to win. You and other Nigerians saw the way and manner that election went.

However, I am a forward thinker, and I will not dwell on the injustices I experienced in the past.

In running for the Presidency, I have been instrumental in influencing the judiciary to make case laws that have deepened democracy.

This much has been espoused by the Supreme Court itself. Success is not just about the end result. You also have to take into consideration the process.

That being said, I am a Muslim, and a firm believer in the principle that power belongs to God and He gives it to whomever He wills. And I will put in my best effort, but ultimately, I am a pencil in the hand of God. There’s a general assumption, which was particularly prevalent in the 2015 presidential run, that you were the most qualified at the time, given your experience, understanding of issues and solutions proffered. But after many failed attempts, don’t you think you should yield the space to others?

Well, this makes as much sense as saying that the answer to two plus two is four. But because certain persons have consistently used all sorts of means to pass off three as the answer to that equation, then, I should agree with them?

You too have said it. To use your own words, “given your experience, understanding of issues and solutions proffered”, I am the best. So why should the best give way to the rest? Is that not why we are where we are today as a country?

So, let’s hit it straight. After five failed attempts, why do you still want to be president of Nigeria in 2023?

Please allow me the liberty of rephrasing your question. I would rather say, after several attempts. They were not failed attempts, as I have already explained above.

In the year 2022, Nigeria is the world headquarters for extreme poverty, and the third most insecure nation in the world. Our economy is not growing, while our population is expanding.

If you now look at my record in government, where under the leadership of President Obasanjo, I was the Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation, and a coordinator of our economic management team, you can clearly see my achievements. Those achievements need to be replicated, if we are to turn the tide. In fact, it is almost as if providence thrust me out this time to do again what had God enabled me to do before.

We provided jobs. Nigerians are now unemployed in record numbers. We paid off Nigeria’s foreign debt. Nigeria is now more indebted than at any time in our history.

Through our policies and inclusiveness, we had relative peace. Now, Nigeria is in crisis due to insecurity.

It would look to me that my curriculum vitae, or my resume, appears tailor-made to address the challenges we now face as a nation.

Unfortunately, you have always had to deal with allegations of corruption, a major dent that has refused to go away. This perception is a major handicap no doubt. What will you do differently to change this view of you in the eyes of many people?

Thank God you said allegations.

Anybody can allege. You know the history of this country and what specifically I went through. All that is now in the past. What I will say however, is that I am the most investigated politician in Nigeria, yet, nothing has been established against me. I have received a clean bill of health, with regards to the allegations raised against me.

That alone should tell you something.

It speaks volumes. In the attempt to stop me, knowing that my plans are sound, my ideology is solid and stable, and my connection to Nigerians is enduring, the only thing that my political opponents could use against me are false allegations.

My only answer to that is that I have judicially been exonerated and vindicated of all of them.

Interestingly, the core of the issues remains the same in almost every election cycle: security, economy and corruption. Why do these issues seem intractable and how do you, with a perception issue, intend to address the endemic and systemic corruption?

Well the issues have remained because we have not sustained good leadership. We have episodic good leadership. This has been expressed by this one step forward, two steps backwards reality that we now face. Most corruption in Nigeria takes place, because government is in the business of business, rather than being in the business of governance. That is why I had a vision to privatise those parts of our government that were involved in business.

For instance, the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited was a corrupt monopoly. Hence, I spearheaded the privatisation of the telecommunications sector, and that area of our economy has become, according to Transparency International, one of the least corrupt sectors.

The successors to NITEL, viz. Glo, MTN, Airtel and co. are run in a businesslike manner. Teledensity has improved by over 1000%. Jobs have been created in their millions. Trillions contributed to the economy annually.

That is how you fight corruption; by

“In the attempt to stop me, knowing that my plans are sound, my ideology is solid and stable, and my connection to Nigerians is enduring, the only thing that my political opponents could use against me are false allegations”

You see, speculation about your perennial presidential run won’t go away. Is it true you are standing on the words of some marabouts (as it is being alleged), who had predicted you’d be president if you remained tenacious, even if the odds were stacked against you?

Even me, I am surprised when people bandy about these types of beer parlour myths. I am a devout Muslim. My principles do not allow for anything other than total submission to the will of God. Let’s put it this way: were you ever told by a marabout that you would be president someday?

That is a myth put together by my political opponents to achieve whatever ends they wanted to achieve. That is just like saying Reagan and Churchill kept trying multiple times because they were powered by soothsayers. It may interest you to know that I became governor after four attempts.

Tenacity is a virtue. It is not a vice. It should be celebrated.

Perhaps, standing between you and the presidency is the ticket, this time, at least, some have reasoned. However, there is a groundswell of opposition against your entry into the race for different reasons.

Some believe your face has become monotonous in presidential campaigns, that Nigerians would prefer a breath of fresh air. And, of course, there are those who think the North should yield the ticket to a southerner after eight years of a northerner in the saddle. What is your take on that?

That is a fallacy. There is no groundswell, to use your word. Yes, there are people who have large megaphones, but they do not constitute a groundswell. Some of these people have emotional and historic reasons for making their appeals, and one must be sensitive to them. That is why I have gone round and keep going round this country to consult. I believe in the politics of addition. I am not a subtracting politician.

As to the other part of your question, permit me to disagree. I think after over seven years of incompetence, Nigerians just want competence. Where it comes from, they do not mind. The challenges that we face today have so focused us on the need to elect leaders based on their competence, instead of their region or religion. Nigeria Continued on page 34

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You Fight Corruption by Starving It of Its Oxygen

needs a unifier, not a pacifier. We will be pacified by unity. We will not be united by pacification.

The agitation in the Southeast to be allowed a shot at the presidency is not without merit, or is it?

Of course it is in order. Have you forgotten how passionate I have been in advocating for the Southeast? Look at my record. What the Southeast has to understand is that people’s records matter more than people’s rhetoric. I ask my beloved people of the Southeast to focus on what cannot lie; my record.

My attitude towards them. My history with them.

Some of your co-aspirants from the north are currently considering a consensus approach to selecting a candidate as part of strategies to defeating the ruling party and mitigating the outcome of the primaries. But you have been somewhat cold to this idea.

Is it because you believe it may not go your way?

Not at all. I just believe that no man should be a judge in his own case. Let’s go down memory lane. In 2010-2011, the North chose to go that route. However, it was not the aspirants, who elected on their own to come up with a consensus candidate. It was the region. Specifically, the Northern Political Leaders’ Forum led by the late Malam Adamu Ciroma.

If the North as a region wants that option, then, it should be driven by our natural leaders and elders. It should not be promoted by partisans. Once it becomes like that, then, it may become a poisoned chalice.

Generally, your party appears torn between the agitation for zoning and merit, to accommodate everyone. Where do you stand on zoning and why are you pushing for it to be jettisoned this time around? Is it because you think it will not serve the interest of the party or you see 2023 as your last chance to bid for the presidency?

I do not want to say anything on this beyond what I have already unambiguously said. However, I will add this: the Peoples Democratic Party, of which I am a founding member, should focus on winning, not on zoning!

Are you desperate for this ticket, because some people actually think you are?

No. I am tenacious. Tenacity is very different and poles apart from desperation.

“You too have said it.To use your own words “given your experience, understanding of issues and solutions proffered”, I am the best. So why should the best give way to the rest? Is that not why we are where we are today as a country?”

This is one of the reasons I invested heavily in education. Youths must be taught the virtue of tenacity. Never give up, is a virtue we must pass on to the next generation. I believe that quitters never win and winners never quit.

My philosophy is to live life without regrets. I believe that there are only two consequences to every decision. You win or you learn. If you took a decision that ended up teaching you something, then you have made progress.

The argument that, of PDP’s 16 years’ reign, over 13 years of that went to the South has refused to fly with your southern members. Don’t you think some of your members would rather throw away what looks like an opportunity to return to power than slouch to that logic?

As I said just minutes ago, the Peoples Democratic Party must focus on winning, not on zoning. Zoning will not matter if we do not win. First, we win, then, when we are in power, we will have the political wherewithal to zone from a position of power, and not from a position of weakness.

Talking about your candidacy, you’d be 77 next year, meaning by the time you serve out your first term if elected president, you’d be 81. Do you think a country that is challenged on all fronts like Nigeria needs an 81-year-old in office, given the health concerns often associated with old age?

The best predictor of the future is the past. If you take a country like the United States, they reached their zenith as a super power under Reagan, who was their oldest President at the end of his tenure. He became President in his 70th year, and governed for eight years.

In that time, he defeated the USSR and won the Cold War. That singular action enabled America to turn its attention towards pressing domestic issues, and allowed them to spend what they would have spent on the arms race, on their people. That redirection and redistribution of resources laid the groundwork for the prosperity that came in the 90s.

Youthfulness is good. However, in a country like Nigeria, with the types of multifaceted challenges we are facing, it looks to me, and many other patriots, that what we need is a man or woman with the experience to pilot a plane in rough weather. We are not in a position where we can afford to have a President, who learns on the job.

One of the presidential aspirants has made it an issue that those who left the PDP to join the then newly-formed APC, including you, were responsible for the party’s defeat in 2015 and should not be in line for the ticket.

What’s your reaction to that? Would you share responsibility for PDP’s defeat in 2015?

You know, I have responded to this issue before. I did not leave the PDP then. The PDP left me by deviating from its founding fathers’ principles and our core values.

As soon as the PDP returned to its core values, I returned to the PDP. Right now, no party in Nigeria is as ideologically sound, structurally cohesive, and goal-oriented as the PDP. However, let me say that our opportunity to win as a party is in today and tomorrow.

It is not in yesterday. As a party, we need to be future-focused. 2015 has gone. We should now focus on 2023.

Do you regret joining the APC at the time you left the PDP?

Although it’s easier to dismiss this by saying the work of the president is not physically demanding, the truth is, it is, and requires alertness of the mind and being in tune with changing realities of daily existence. Isn’t it?

You have been interviewing me for close to an hour now. Look at my response.

Are they or are they not clear, lucid, and addressing the issues? My mind is alert.

The only difference between now and 1993 is that I have acquired an additional 30 years’ of good experience.

Let’s take the three core issues militating against development and growth in Nigeria, one after the other.

Security of life and property is the number one responsibility of any government. Nigeria is today one of the least secure nations in the world.

Life has become brutish, nasty and short. Nowhere is safe anymore; the roads, airports, and rail, have become targets for terrorists. What exactly is the way out of this? Why do you think the government has so far failed to secure the country? How would you tackle banditry and terrorism wreaking havoc all over the country?

What Nigeria is facing is a Malthusian challenge. Our population is growing faster than our economy. In layman’s terms, mouths are increasing, while food is reducing. The error this administration has made is that they have been fighting the symptoms, not the disease. We do not have terror, crime and general insecurity, because Nigerians are inherently bad. No. We have these vices because Nigerians do not have enough jobs, food, and opportunities.

As leaders, we have not provided our people with positive opportunities to express themselves, and that is why many are expressing themselves negatively.

The solution is to develop the economy.

Introduce free trade policies. Lift regulatory bars to investments. Reduce taxation for businesses and fund infrastructure.

While this is going on, we must work with our natural institutions, which are the traditional rulers, clerics and community leaders, to help us achieve our universal education goals. No child should be seen on the streets of Nigeria during school hours.

We will provide universal free and basic education from age four to eighteen. If a child is seen roaming the streets during school period when you start universal education, the parents or guardians must be punished. Uneducated and undereducated youths without skills and opportunities easily take to crime. You starve terror and crime of their oxygen.

Then, we must address those who feel that they have suffered historical injustices.

Mohammed Yusuf, the founder of Boko Haram, was not given to violence or terror.

He was a charismatic cleric. It was when he was extrajudicially murdered that the Continued on page 35

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PRESIDENTIAL INTERVIEW SERIES 1 If the North as a region wants consensus option, then, it should be driven by our natural leaders and elders. It should not be promoted by partisans other national stakeholders, and together, we must do what is right for Nigerians.

group metamorphosed into a terror group and radicals, like Shekau, used that historical injustice to brainwash their followers that Nigeria was against them.

Terror has never been defeated militarily.

It can only be defeated by negotiation.

Look at Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom, with an army and an arsenal, as well as the intelligence and ability to infiltrate, which are much better than our current abilities, were not able to defeat the Irish Republican Army.

They had to negotiate the Belfast Agreement, also known as the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. What the military could not achieve, negotiators achieved it. The same is true for other instances of global terror. We must ensure that the family of Mohammed Yusuf gets justice.

They should also receive compensation.

The mosque that was destroyed should be rebuilt.

When all of these have been done, then, the rank and file members will no longer blindly follow any person saying that Nigeria is an evil place. Internally, they will be weakened. Their cohesiveness will be affected. Then those who refuse to lay down their arms will be militarily dealt with.

On the issue of banditry, we must secure our borders. A country without borders is not a country. And that is my strong point.

I was in the Nigerian Customs Service.

I worked as an exchange worker with the United States Customs and Border Protection.

Believe it or not, in the 80s, I participated in armed sting operations at the US Southern border in Texas. I have some ideas on how to secure our borders so we do not have an influx of foreign bandits, and we can pacify those belligerents who are of Nigerian origin.

So what is right for Nigeria, because that answer is equivocal, and you just sounded like you are also afraid of taking the decision?

You mean that by taking a collective decision with all stakeholders and the representatives of end users, I am showing fear? Some people will call what I just described, democracy in action. But to each his own.

Back to graft issues. It is now almost a cliché to hear politicians seeking office say they would fight corruption.

How would you tackle this scourge, and this is important, because you are largely seen as corrupt?

I think I have already touched on this.

Most governmental corruption goes on at income generating parastatals. That is another reason why government should focus on the regulatory side of business and leave the money-making aspect to the private sector.

You do not hear of corruption in the telecommunications sector, because we privatised it. When government is focused on regulatory practices, it becomes easier for independent anti-corruption agencies, like the EFCC and the ICPC, which incidentally our administration established, to fight corruption within the system.

Currently, they are overwhelmed, because the current system allows too much leeway for public officials to have access to the money-making side of business.

What are your thoughts on INEC? Do you think it could do a good job in 2023, if its recent outings were anything to go by?

We all saw what this administration tried to do. The President attempted to make one of his spokespersons an INEC director. He failed multiple times, because the citizenry united and were resolute in their rejection of such stunts.

If Nigerians continue to be as watchful and forceful as they were during that ugly episode, it will be more difficult for those planning to circumvent the system to do so.

The activities of Fulani herdsmen border more on terrorism, what new measures would you bring to deal with them, considering that you are also Fulani? Would you rein them in unlike the free pass this government has given them, since the incumbent too is Fulani?

I will deal with terrorists as outlined above. Terrorism is not a tribe or ethnic nationality. Terrorism is a crime, and Atiku Abubakar, has zero tolerance for crime.

What would you do to stem secessionist agitations, particularly, IPOB in the Southeast?

I believe that if I am elected President of Nigeria in 2023, all secessionist tendencies will die a natural death. Injustice is at the core of secessionist demands. Once you begin to do justice, secessionists will have a rethink.

If you allocate political offices justly, and budgetary allocations are even, with nobody having more than the other, if the military and paramilitary are ethically and ethnically balanced, secessionists will lose their main campaign message.

Many analysts believe the economy needs fundamental restructuring. Do you believe it does? What really is the problem with the economy? And how did Nigeria fritter away all the gains of the past?

These gains from the past that you are referring to, who gained them? Were they not gained when I was heading the privatisation and the economic management team, under the leadership of President

Obasanjo? Just last month, the World Bank released a document entitled Nigeria Poverty Assessment, 2022. I urge you to read it.

The gains you are referring to were made under our administration.

We paid off our foreign debt. We set up the Excess Crude Account in 2004.

By the time we were leaving office on May 29, 2007, Nigeria’s total reserves were $43.13 billion, which consisted of external reserves of $31.5 billion, $9.43 billion in the Excess Crude Account, and $2.18 billion in other savings accounts.

We delivered GDP growth of 6.7%. We reduced unemployment to single-digit levels. I was part and parcel of making those gains, and we can make them again if elected in 2023. The right leadership will result in the right conditions for all Nigerians.

We must devolve power from the federal government to other tiers of government.

The central government has been too big since the Unification Decree number 34 of 1966.

Nigeria must improve and that can only come by devolving powers, not

“We provided jobs. Nigerians are now unemployed in record numbers. We paid off Nigeria’s foreign debt. Nigeria is now more indebted than at any time in our history. Through our policies and inclusiveness, we had relative peace. Now, Nigeria is in crises due to insecurity”

concentrating them. That is why I commend the Rivers State Government for its legal challenges that have disrupted the tax industry. We need people and institutions like that.

Electricity generation and distribution remain a major problem, what will you do to change the narrative in this all-important sector of the economy?

Historically, no nation has solved its electric power challenges solely at governmental level. Government, that is the public sector, the civil service, and the executive political leadership is not best equipped to drive the changes we need to provide adequate power for Nigerians.

The solution is to complete the privatisation of the sector, which was begun by the Jonathan administration.

Government must swallow the bitter pill of paying off power sector workers, who have resisted privatisation, because they were owed salaries, gratuities and pensions.

Even the best governmental structures in Europe and America, have not provided power for their people, without handing that industry to the private sector, and focusing on the regulatory side of things.

I see no need to reinvent the wheel.

This government deferred the removal of fuel subsidy, which many agree is a huge drain on public resources, to the next government. Assuming you emerge as the candidate of your party and eventually win the presidency, would you take the tough decision to remove the fuel subsidy, which this government has proved incapable of removing?

When by the grace of Almighty God, I am elected President in 2023, I will not take that decision on my own. I will climb down from the mountain to meet with labour leaders, civil society groups, and

Generally, what are your thoughts on how the 2023 elections should turn out, in terms of preparations and voter’s attitude?

Nigerians should be vigilant. To use a local parlance, our people should ‘shine their eyes well, well’! Nigerians must remember that if they do not vote in large numbers, they make it more possible for election riggers to succeed. If we do not want the inconclusive election syndrome to persist, we must all do our civic duty by voting.

Have you any fears at all about the exercise, especially the organisers, who are assigned to ensure a hitch-free run – from the security agencies to the ad hoc staff?

I have concerns, not fears. I have already mentioned some of them. Others will be articulated directly to those agencies concerned.

Put aside your candidacy and let’s talk about the chances of your party, the PDP, running against a ruling party. How bright are they and why do you think so?

A ‘ruling party’? Well, I think if you go by the definition of a ruling party, then, the All Progressives Congress is not a ruling party. They are a party in office, but they are neither ruling nor governing.

Nigeria is on auto pilot with this bunch.

Comparing the Peoples Democratic Party with this APC government is like comparing a PhD with a primary school drop-out.

Lastly, election or not; change of government or not; Atiku as president or not; what is Nigeria’s future like?

Nigeria will survive. And when we eventually get to work to enthrone our vision of One People with One Future and One Country, Nigeria will be the better for it. I am convinced that as one, we can birth a New Nigeria.

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2022

HOMES&DESIGN

Dan & Dan by The Address Homes Upscales Banana Island’s Landscape

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HOMES&DESIGN

Real Estate’s Masterpiece Dan & Dan is one of two set pieces rendered by The Address Home, a crack real estate firm making waves in the country. Bennett Oghifo writes

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onspicuously raising the standard, Dan & Dan introduces distinctive, crafted details that complement modern materials and reinvent Banana Island’s architectural landscape. The features include three penthouses, 12 maisonettes, and 12 terrace houses.

Dan & Dan Apartments, located on Banana Island road, comprises 27 units of fully-serviced apartments; three penthouses, 12 maisonettes and 12 terrace houses.

Designed by award-winning architect, Play in Architecture Limited, nestled in the heart of Ikoyi, Dan & Dan is surrounded by city landmarks, cultural institutions and dozens of trendy dining and shopping options with easy and secured access to roads and waterways.

Upon completion, the estate will have a swimming pool, 24-hour power, security personnel, CCTV, a best-in-class Kitchen, gym, etc.

“In our determination in providing inspiring, regal, and well-built maisonette housing schemes in the country, the top-notch real estate company dedicated to the attainment, development, and management of bespoke deluxe contemporary homes, has added two new maisonette housing schemes into the market,” said the chairman and founder of The Address Homes, Dr Bisi Onasanya.

He added, These maisonette homes are definitely like no other and could only have been delivered by The Address Homes, which prides itself as an ‘address of distinction’, where standards, innovation, newness and fresh perspectives thrive.”

According to Onasanya, the fundamental goal of the firm was to provide smart homes which could boast of the basic amenities that were reflective of global best property development practices.

He explained that the firm did not venture into The Address Homes to make money. His intention is to

do things differently from previous participants and real estate players. He believes there is a need to inject “some” integrity into the real estate business and raise the bar of quality to “some level of international standards.”

“We wanted to come into the industry and put up structures that we can call homes, not houses,” Onasanya added. “These are homes that will compete with the best that you can see outside of the country, and yet without making you break the bank in terms of being able to pay or affordability. We see people trying to relocate from abroad – Canada, the United States of America and Europe. There is a minimum standard of living they have been used to. They like to enter a home, and there are basic things they look to see, the environment they also like to see. We found that these are missing to some extent.”

The Address Homes’ founder thinks comfortability.

“That is what we believe in. That’s what we have been able to do. Have we done everything?

We’ve done our best, but we still believe we’ll keep improving,” Onasanya stated.

He also noted that The Address Homes offered flexible payment plans to enable home buyers to spread payments at their convenience.

“We are very competitive in terms of pricing, but more importantly, we are very flexible in our payment structure. We allow people to dictate to us within a particular time frame how they want to structure their payments during construction,” he further explained.

Onasanya disclosed that even before the final payment, some clients make a special request to move into the property without completing payment, “and yet we still oblige them.”

That has added to The Address Homes’

reputation capital.

“All these have endeared us to the few people who have had the opportunity to interact with us and to enjoy the services that we offer. So, when I see those things, they make me feel proud that what we set out to achieve, we are on course,” said Onasanya.

In doing, Address Homes have succeeded in contributing to the housing deficit. The firm currently plays in the medium market sector and has ongoing and completed over 250 units of houses and still counting.

“We don’t make noise, and we don’t say you must break the bank to access our services. For every single estate that we have built, we make sure that we do not just hand over the keys to you,” he pointed out. “We follow you and make sure we provide facilities management to make living in those estates very convenient and comfortable for you. We also provided some guarantees of a minimum of five to 10 years on the structure so that if anything happens to the windows and doors, we take responsibility. We provide you with 24 hours electricity, CCTV, security, water and others.”

Onasanya noted that all of the firm’s construction projects are subjected to periodic integrity tests by the Lagos government to ensure compliance to set standards and ensure standards for home buyers.

“At every stage, the structural engineer goes to the site to certify every stage before they can do any concrete work,” stressed Onasanya.

“After the structural engineer has done that, the Lagos State government, that is LASBCA, will check what has been done and sign off on it before we go on, and we use this process on all our projects.”

Named ‘Luxuria’ and ‘Dan & Dan’ by The Address Homes, the two brands, on completion, are expected to deliver cosy homes that combine exquisite design with high-level finishes within Ikoyi, Lagos. The Luxuria, which sits on a land area measuring approximately 4890sqm and made up of two towers, is a development made up of 58 units, out of which close to 50 are typical maisonettes.

The construction of the two deluxe contemporary homes, which commenced in 2021, is expected to be completed in 2023. Upon completion, the project will comprise 18 luxury houses, ranging from five-bedroom fully detached houses to five-bedroom semi-detached houses and four-bedroom terrace houses.

Shedding more light on the Luxuria features, the Address Homes boss noted: “When I say maisonettes, there is a reason why we do things differently. First and foremost, we found out that people live in flats.

Developers built flats, but we also found out that when you live in flats, some elements of privacy are denied – you come out of your bedroom and enter your sitting room. People who live abroad are used to multi-level structures.”

He added, “We chose to do things differently. I was having a discussion with an architect, and he said what he has observed in this environment is that people would build blocks of flats and then put them on top of the flats’ penthouses. And I said it is those penthouses, which are very few in number, that are sold first. People are ready to pay any amount of money for the services. Why can’t we do a project where every single apartment looks like a penthouse. If you go to Luxuria, you will see the massive space that we have on two levels. It comes with two kitchens, which means that madam has a reserved house while allowing the chef to use the other area; two living rooms, a bar area, a swimming pool, etc.

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2022

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HOMES&DESIGN

Finishing with the End in Mind

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esigning for wellness means creating spaces that are good for physical and mental health. It is all encompassing and includes everything from improving air quality to using textures, materials, colours, shapes and furniture layouts that nourish our body and mind. In addition, it also entails that the materials used in the finishes are safe and toxic free.

For instance, building materials like formaldehyde and acetone which are known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are extremely harmful to health and can cause chronic diseases. However, utilising organic materials found in nature such as plants, wood, glass, clay, bricks and stone, natural fibres, etc. provides a safe and healthy space that promotes health, wellbeing and productivity. In this article, we will look at finishing materials and products that contribute to creating healthy and productive spaces for its users.

The trend towards using organic and eco-friendly finishes in interior design has been ongoing for a few years and since the pandemic, it has gained even more prominence. This is because the pandemic confined people to stay indoors for a long time which forced them to become more aware of their environment. To alleviate the stress and anxiety from the situation, people found ways to make their spaces more cozy, comfortable and enjoyable. Though the pandemic situation is nowhere near as severe as it was a few months ago, this trend is here to stay. This is because using organic and eco-friendly finishes are good for the environment, they are durable, reusable and they have a positive effect on health, wellbeing and productivity. So, if you are inspired

to improve the quality of your space by making it more organic and eco-friendlier, here are a couple of ideas to implement: Go “green” and use the real thing: Using green plants and flowers in your finishing will make your space more appealing. It will boost air quality, reduce anxiety and depression and increase your creativity. So, go green and if you can, use the real thing because although seemingly harmless, some artificial plants may contain toxic chemicals which may be detrimental to health.

Bring in some wood: Wood is very popular because it is durable, beautiful and it comes in a wide variety of colours and finishes depending on your style and preference. It can be made to look like shiny marble or left raw for a rustic or antique look. It offers excellent thermal insulation, noise protection and improves the air quality by moderating humidity. Using wood in your space transforms it into a warm and cozy environment.

Jazz up with glass: Glass is another popular finishing that is eco-friendly and very stylish.

It adds elegance, beauty and a contemporary vibe to any space. It works perfectly with other materials and can be used as an alternative to wood and stone for certain elements in the design project e.g. on the staircase and as a divider. In addition, it creates an illusion of additional space, helps to distribute natural light and reflects sounds. This makes it perfect for small and dark environment spaces.

Play with clay: Clay is an organic material

which has been used for centuries. It is fireresistant, sustainable, durable, stable and is reusable. It improves humidity and minimises the growth of mould and fungi. With its rustic charm and warm colour, it makes a space cozy and comfortable. Although it is mostly used to create bricks, it can also be used for furniture production, lighting and other design elements.

Build with bricks and stones: Brick walls add beauty and elegance to any space whether it is designed to reflect antiquity or modernity. It can be used throughout the entire project, as a backdrop or for a specific wall. Similarly, natural stone is incredibly elegant, practical and easy to clean. It comes in a variety of colours and can be used for countertops, showers, flooring, furniture, lighting and home accessories.

Go natural with fibres: Natural fibres can be gotten from either plants or animals and they include rattan, bamboo, cotton, linen, wicker, sisal, leather, fur etc. Despite its delicate appearance, natural fibres are strong, durable and versatile. In addition, they add warmth, texture and are visually appealing. Apart from their physical characteristics, they provide natural absorption and improve air quality in your space. They can easily be manipulated to create unique elements for your home and can be used in many ways e.g. lighting, furniture, home decorations etc.

Other ways to incorporate organic and ecofriendly finishing into your home includes using carpets which trap dust particles more than hard floors and promote a healthier environment.

Using ceramic and porcelain tiles for surfaces because they are hard and impervious and uninhabitable for dust mites, bacteria, fungi, and mould. In addition, these surfaces can be disinfected using household cleaners without damaging the finish. This means that your space will remain clean, beautiful, and easy to maintain. Furthermore, materials like copper and alloys (brass, bronze, etc.) have unique antibacterial properties that make them ideal for touch surface applications in hospitals and medical facilities.

Finally, while aesthetics is important in planning your space, make sure you consider the elements and materials that will be used in the finishing.

Regardless of the design you want e.g. rustic, modern, classic, minimalist etc, you can always incorporate organic and eco-friendly finishes so that you can enjoy your space and live healthfully.

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BUSINESSSPECIAL

Editor: Obinna Chima obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08024557078

Olugbodi: Digital Reality Will Shrink Wor kfo r ce, Spu r G rowth i n S M E s

Yinka Olugbodi is the Managing Consultant/CEO of Team Building International. In this interview, he speaks about what to expect from the future work place. Dike Onwuamaeze provides the excerpts: entrepreneurial mentality because somebody who has worked for 20 years should be able to establish his own business under a week in this country. He has gotten enough experience to start his business.

You are pushing for a shift from human resource to team building and development.

What is the team concept all about? eam building or team development is about taking all the resources and interventions that you use to take a group of people or organisation from a formation stage to a full functional and result yielding state, including everything you do to build capacity to the point where they perform.

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What is the impact of leadership on organisational success?

Leaders set the vision and direct the whole organisation to the point of success. They see the Eldorado and chart a path to direct people towards that. So, leadership is absolutely very important to organisation. No leadership, no direction.

What is your view on the current state of human resource management in Nigeria?

My view is that it has evolved tremendously over the years from personnel management concept to human resource concept then to strategic human resource concept and now people are talking about business partner and not just human resource manager.

It is now even evolving to people development, which is almost what we talk about in terms of team development. It all boils down to making employees or a team more functional and more profitable in terms of performance.

Why is executive training important for organisations? It is absolutely important. Your organisation will not have capacity if it does not build people. You cannot be a functional organisation if your people are all mediocre or lack the knowledge or attitude to perform the job.

But this fact is being overlooked by many organisations in Nigeria?

They used to overlook it but not anymore. Now most forward looking organisations are really pouring resources into that. The reason they overlooked it is because it is not easy to quantify its returns on value of investments. But one of the things a capacity building expert should always do is to be able to link that to the bottom line. And the best way to do this is to show what happens when organisations would not train their people.

What happens?

One, there will be a lot of unprofessionalism on the job and the organisation will lose customers because its staff are not doing things professionally.

And if you lose customers you will lose sales and therefore, will not make profit.

How do you view the productivity of Nigerian workforce?

You see more productivity from the private sector because the majority of its activities are about making profit; making the business to grow and the employees having a good life if the business is thriving. Can I say the same thing for the public sector? There are some government parastatals that are really doing very well but in the ministries a lot of bureaucracy is still going on.

What is the core role of human resource manager?

The core role of the human resource person is to enhance performance in any organisation. It is to make sure that the human resource aspect of the organisation is managed to make the organisation more productive.

What are the factors that drive productivity within an organisation?

First of all is motivation, which is part of the responsibilities of the human resource managers. People have to be motivated and the morale to work and achieve set goals must

How does organisational culture impact on human resource productivity?

Absolutely! One of the key things now is corporate culture. Every entity has its own culture and if it is not intentionally crafted may work against the organisation’s strategy. The driving force to strategy is culture. Strategy is like the guiding force: about where we are going and what we want to achieve.

But the engine to drive that is culture, which is the kind of attitude and mentality and philosophy of those who are going to drive that. That is where we come in as team builders. Yes, people can do the job. Before, we emphasised strategy without culture. But we need both to drive organisational success.

What do you offer organisations in the area of team building?

We offer them what I call team building interventions in the sense that we help organisation to build the right culture. Most of what we do in team building is not just capacity building, we also provide attitude changing training that will change peoples’ attitude and mentality to build the right culture within an organisation. If organisations want to outlast their founders and leave for generations they will not depend only on strategies, they will also depend on culture to drive their vision.

Olugbodi always be there. Another factor is capacity building by giving people all the tools and resources they will need, including the knowledge on how to carry out their jobs. Then creating the right atmosphere or enabling environment to make people to deliver more. These are the areas we act on when it comes to team building.

How do you view Nigeria’s place on the issue of diversity in the work place?

Diversity has different colouration and Nigeria is a multicultural environment. When it comes to diversity I think that we have done a lot better.

But a report disclosed that companies headed by expatriates have more diversity than companies headed by Nigerians?

You can only see that in small businesses but if you are going to build conglomerates you have to look beyond one ethnicity or have your hands burnt. Even in some small business people are now looking for those with the capacity and right attitude to do the job irrespective of where they come from.

How do you see women in the workplace?

Women have brought a lot of energy to the workplace. We have women as top executives who are doing great things for the country and international organisations.

What are the challenges facing human resources as a profession?

Among the challenges the profession is facing right now, which is part of the reason we are having this discussion is talent management in terms of getting the right talent from the stock of university education that we have right now.

The other thing is unemployment. We need to redefine our school curriculums to begin to releasing graduates that have entrepreneurial mentality to solve problems and commercialise them to create jobs.

What is the implication of high rate of casualisation of labour in Nigeria that is now affecting university graduates?

The implication is very dire and the reason for that is the standard of our educational system. The truth is that there are countries whose secondary school certificates are stronger than our degrees. Most countries are spending much to develop infrastructure around their educational system. But we have not been doing this.

Some organisations sack workers in their 40s. Can’t a staff be valuable to their organisation in their 50s and 60s?

Once the person is performing and bringing in profits I won’t fire him. So employees have to keep improving and developing themselves.

It still boils down that we have to develop an

What is the relationship between strategic development and sustainable success for an organisation?

Strategic development has to do with what you are building into the future in a consistent manner.

But sustaining them will require asking what the future will be like.

What is the future of workforce?

My speculation is that we are going to depend more on virtual reality that minimises face to face contact. It is going to shrink the workforce and force people to start building small businesses that will build more jobs in the SMEs space.

Articulate the concept of team development and executive training?

The major problem people are facing in the workplace is human attitude problem. The real problem in organisations is not technical ability or competency to do the job but the attitude people brings in doing their jobs. Values are missing in most organisations and that is where we come in.

You cannot use lectures to teach people effective communication but through our action learning.

If you want to solve real workplace negative attitude problems then you have to contact team builders to make your team more innovative and creative. Our first question to organisations is what is your desired outcome? This has given us a lot of millage because at the end of the day we get it done.

NOSAK Group Appoints Rahman as Group Chief Strategy Officer The management of Nosak Group has announced the appointment of Mr Deji Rahman as its Group Chief Strategy Officer to help drive the organisation’s five-year strategic business goal.

According to a statement, in this role, Rahman is saddled with the responsibility of formulating strategies and driving them from start to finish in tandem with the mission and vision of the

Group.

He would manage and oversee strategic planning by providing business information, business solutions, and project monitoring for effective implementation.

He would pilot activities in the ongoing five-year strategic business goal which includes investments into backward integration to source raw materials locally for manufacturing and

lead strategic enterprises in partnership with major stakeholders to expand retail market operations.

Until his appointment, Rahman was the Group Head of Strategy, Nosak Group where he worked on the strategic initiatives that kick-started the five-year strategic business plan.

Rahman holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in economics both from the

University of Lagos. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration, a Fellow of the Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria, a Member of the Advertising Practitioner Council of Nigeria, a Member of the Nigeria Economic Society, and a Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

His working career spans several sectors of the Nigerian economy including the media,

consulting, stockbroking, banking, and manufacturing as well as business editorials.

He is the author of the book, “Circus of the Absurd”, which has enjoyed wide readership and critical reviews in the media.

Rahman was at different times the Head, Capital Market, Business Times Newspaper (in the Daily Times Group); Head, Research, Financial Standard

Newspaper; Head, Research & Strategy, F & C Securities Limited (now FCSL Asset Management) and Coordinator; Market Research & Intelligence in the Strategy Group, Fidelity Bank Plc. He has spearheaded and participated in several strategic and transformation agendas, including the Fidelity Bank SME initiative and the ongoing Nosak Group fiveyear growth plan.

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2022

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BUSINESS SPECIAL

E-BUSINESS

NEXIM: Five Years of Promoting Non-oil Exports

Bello Mark Chieshe

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he size of a country’s exports determines in large part its economy’s resilience and capacity to create jobs and stimulate inclusive growth.

Exports create new markets, expand existing ones, and underpin the trading/purchasing power of a country’s currency in the global marketplace.

They also serve as an important source of foreign exchange earnings for powering national development.

This explains why the world’s most economically advanced countries such as the United States, China, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, etc are export leaders. Statistics show that in 2020, China topped the list with a total export value of $2.5trillion, followed by the United States and Germany with $1.4trn and $1.3trillion respectively.

In Nigeria, growing exports, especially non-oil products such as cocoa beans, cashew nuts, rough wood, nitrogenous fertilizers, rubber, and cotton, has been a central part of government policy for decades, albeit with little impact. Oil and gas account for about 90 per cent of exports while the non-oil exports contribute a marginal 10 per cent.

World Bank statistics show that the total value of Nigeria’s export earnings was $49 million in 2017, $61.5 million in 2018, $63.7 million in 2019, and 38.1 million in 2020. For Nigeria, balancing the parity between oil and non-oil exports and reducing Nigeria’s reliance on oil and gas is now a time-bound matter of national survival.

Reasons include a new normal of lukewarm global oil prices, the threat of climate change, and the resulting global clamor for sustainable economic development.

NEXIM – Charting a Promising Path to Non-Oil Exports The good news is that the Buhari administration is on track to making a significant difference in the Nigerian export market space. The administration has undertaken an aggressive non-oil export growth strategy that is delivering practical results with the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) at the forefront of its implementation. Established in 1991, NEXIM functions as an export credit agency that provides finance and risk-bearing services to exporters.

In 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed a Management Team comprising technocrats with wide-ranging competencies and expertise to reposition NEXIM for a five-year term. The team comprised Mr. Abba Bello as the Managing Director and Chief Executive. He is a seasoned banker with over 30 years of experience. Others include Dr. Bala Bello, Executive Director (Corporate Services), and Stella Erhuvwu Okotete, Executive Director (Business Development).

The management team inherited a Bank with suboptimal operational and financial performance, and dwindling confidence in the bank by partners – regional and international To fix this, they developed a Strategic Plan (2018 – 2022) to improve operational performance and enhance the Bank’s contributions to achieving the objectives of the government’s Economic Recovery & Growth Plan.

Five years later, the Abba Bello-led management team has succeeded in turning around NEXIM. Through deft management, they steered NEXIM from the brink of insolvency to profitability, rebuilt stakeholder, and investor confidence in the bank, and aligned its operational focus in line with its mandate.

To enable them to consolidate their successes, President Muhammadu recently re-appointed the entire management team for another five-year term effective April 10, 2022.

Industry analysts and stakeholders agree that the tenure renewal is a fitting recognition of their outstanding efforts and ability to reposition the bank as a catalyst for growing the country’s non-oil export

Bello market. Indeed, the team maintained a high level of professionalism. They ensured compliance with corporate governance standards and financial risk management procedures in the conduct of the Bank’s operations.

A BETTER NEXIM

The result is a better and improved NEXIM. Consider the historic boost to NEXIM’s operational performance across key financial indices. With a focus on profitability and strict adherence to prudential guidelines and global best practices, the Abba-Bello management team grew the Bank’s balance sheet from N67.73 million in April 2017, to N202.03 billion as of February 2022. This represents a remarkable increase within five years. The team hopes that continual improvements in its balance sheet along with the push for the re-capitalisation of the Bank would place it in pole position to maximize the export opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Second, the management team has recorded a consistent trajectory of profitability. After posting a loss of N8.03 billion in 2016, another loss of N569 million in 2017, the bank reversed the trend to record consecutive profits of N1.09 billion in 2018, N2.03 billion in 2019, N1.28 billion in 2020, and N4.10 billion in 2021. The impact of Covid-19 on the Bank’s operations and resulting interest rate rebates and moratorium caused a decline in profits in 2020.

Third, the Bank implemented an aggressive debt recovery drive to recover its funds from defaulters. The efforts have led to a significant increase in recoveries from only N200 million in December 2016 to N10.2 billion and $3.25 million between January 2017 and February 2022. This was in addition to debtor assets totaling N7 billion that are up for sale.

Fourth is the elimination of non-performing loans on the Bank’s balance sheet. Operation-wide improvements in risk management practices have ensured that all NEXIM loans to export-oriented businesses from 2018 to date are 100 per cent performing. This is a huge departure from the prevalence of non-performing loans in the Bank’s Balance Sheet pre-2017.

ROBUST FINANCING FOR NON-OIL EXPORT BUSINESSES

Expectedly, the efficiency-induced operational improvements at NEXIM have turbocharged the Bank’s institutional capacity to support Nigerian non-oil export businesses to thrive through its financing windows. Starting with the Export Development Fund (EDF), which the Bank operates to stimulate and increase funding, especially to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), towards facilitating regional industrialisation for value added exports and broadening Nigeria’s export basket and market destinations.

The Abba Bello-led Management team pursued an effective stakeholder engagement program that improved confidence levels. As a result, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in February 2018, released N50 billion to NEXIM to implement the Export Development Programme. The fund was further increased to N100 billion in December 2020, after it was clear NEXIM had effectively utilized the initial N50 billion and created a commensurate impact.

Specifically, official statistics from NEXIM show that from 2017 to date, the Bank has leveraged the Export Development Fund to ramp up its financing interventions. This includes processing of 442 applications, across various sectors, including

Okotete manufacturing, agro-processing, solid minerals and services sectors worth N461 billion and $43.69 million. Out of this, N214.65 billion is approved and N153.03 billion disbursed to 101 beneficiaries. Also, approvals totaling N55.85 billion are undergoing pre-disbursement processes.

The positive impact on Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings is already evident. Statistics indicate that $492.97 million and €1.17 million translating into N196.32 billion, have been received as export proceeds from NEXIM funded projects that have repatriated their income, while several others are still in the process of completing their transaction circle.

NEXIM has also secured a vantage position in the implementation of the N500 billion Non-oil Export Stimulation Facility in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria. The facility is designed to provide long-term funds for export-oriented projects.

Additionally, the Bank has re-established valueadding relationships with strategic partners, having recently received $25m from Afreximbank under the Pandemic Trade Impact Mitigation Facility (PATIMFA), launched to alleviate the economic and business impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Nigerian businesses.

The facility is available for continuous funding of exporters, particularly SMEs, adversely impacted by the disruptions of the global value chain and other fallouts of the COVID-19. Also, NEXIM and Afrexim have jointly established a Project Preparation Fund, under which both institutions have earmarked $50m, as takeoff fund, to support the pre-operational phase of a project preparation circle. The objective is to address the dearth of bankable projects and increase the flow of funds to the SME sector.

REVAMPING MORIBUND BUSINESSES NATIONWIDE

The broad impact of NEXIM’s activities is the growing league of vibrant, well-funded, and competently managed non-oil businesses.

These businesses are adding value to local commodities and leveraging the global marketplace to grow their businesses, create good-paying jobs, and improve Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.

As a result, many now feature on the CBN’s list of top 100 exporters published annually. Five years ago, the picture was quite different.

A good example is Ladgroup Limited with operations in Ogun State. NEXIM funded the acquisition of the Shea Processing Plant, which led to the first major export of Shea butter from Nigeria in March 2018. Before NEXIM’s intervention, Nigeria had an insignificant footprint in the export of shea products due to low processing capacity and high incidents of smuggling/informal trade.

This is despite Nigeria’s ranking as the world’s largest producer of shea, with an annual production of 364,000 metric tons, accounting for 45 per cent of global output.

Another equally salient instance is Vertex Agro Limited. NEXIM supported Vertex with working capital to commission its Sesame seed and Cashew processing factories with annual installed capacities of 6,000 tons and 75,000 tons respectively per annum. This has facilitated the employment of over 250 staff of which 80 per cent are women.

In Kano, NEXIM supported GB Tannery to increase its production capacity and boost the export of finished/crust leather by the company to about US$9million annually. The company has installed a new processing line, which is expected to increase direct jobs offered by the company

from 250 in 2019 to 400 in 2020/21.

Like Ladgroup, Vertex, and GB Tannery, NEXIM’s financing interventions are breathing life into moribund industrial projects and revamping the fortunes of many vital non-oil export businesses across the country under the philosophy of Produce, Add Value, and Export (PAVE).

POSITIONING NIGERIA IN POLE POSITION FOR AFCFTA

Furthermore, NEXIM under the Abba Bello – led management team has prioritised deepening Nigeria’s participation in Intra-Africa Trade. A key focus of this push is ensuring that Nigeria maximizes the benefits of being a major player in the March 2018 African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

AfCFTA aims to forge the largest free trade area in the world by the number of countries participating.

The pact connects 1.3 billion people across 55 African countries with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) valued at US$3.4 trillion. Key objectives include reducing tariffs among member countries, enhancing trade facilitation and services, and addressing technical trade barriers. The World Bank estimates that AfCFTA would boost Africa’s income by $450 billion by 2035 (a gain of seven per cent), increase Africa’s exports by $560 billion, mostly in manufacturing, and boost wages for both skilled and unskilled workers—10.3 percent for unskilled workers, and 9.8 per cent for skilled workers.

In this regard, NEXIM has been nimble and proactive.

The Bank initiated and developed strategic programs and systems to enhance Nigeria’s readiness to take optimal advantage of the opportunities in AfCFTA. A notable one is the Sealink Project. Sealink aims to foster regional trade connectivity and facilitate inland waterways operations to support hinterland trade and bulk commodities exports, especially solid minerals.

Though an on-going project, it was taken to the next level in 2020 after NEXIM facilitated a tripartite pact between Sealink Consortium and other agencies of the federal government. Since then, the project has recorded significant progress with the Nigerian Navy and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) completing the first segment of the joint survey and navigational charting activities covering Benue-Onitsha.

The duo is also on track to complete the 2nd segment of the exercise, which covers Onitsha-Burutu by May 2022, following which the pilot scheme of the Sealink project will commence by end of Q2 2022.

Another related NEXIM initiative is the Inter-State Road Transit Scheme. The scheme is designed to facilitate the transportation of goods by road across Customs territories free of duties, taxes, and restrictions while in transit in line with ECOWAS protocol. NEXIM, functioning as the National Guarantor, issues insurance bonds to mitigate the risk of diversion. The Bank is also implementing factoring Services to engender financial inclusion and provide alternative trade financing support for MSMEs. To cap, the Abba Bello-led Management Team has demonstrated an outstanding capacity to reposition NEXIM to deliver on its institutional role as a growth catalyst for non-oil exports. President Muhammadu Buhari exercised commendable judgment in recognizing the value that the team has brought to NEXIM’s operations and the historic impact that the revamp of its interventions is having on the export market.

The country needs a vibrant NEXIM as a matter of national economic survival. With the proven and competent Abba Bello-led Management Team in place for another five-year term, there is a strong basis for optimism for Nigeria’s non-oil exports ambition. t $IJFTIF JT B QVCMJD QPMJDZ BOBMZTU CBTFE JO "CVKB NDIJFTIF!HNBJM DPN

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY APRIL 18, 2022

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CITYSTRINGS

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

Strengthening Nigeria - European Union Cooperation on Maritime Security To enhance intensified presence at sea, Nigeria, the EU and Member States recently held a joint high profile exercise in Lagos to further deepen relations as well as ensure freedom of navigation, safety of seafarers, protection of regional resources and coastal communities, Chiemelie Ezeobi reports

Cross section of Nigerian Navy officers and EU delegation

T

o strengthen the maritime security cooperation between Nigeria and the European Union, a first ever high profile joint event was recently held at the Western Naval Command (WNC) in Apapa, Lagos.

This was against the backdrop of port calls from the naval vessel of the Italian IT RIZZO and the Spanish ES SERVIOLA. Jointly organised by the Nigerian Navy (NN), the EU Delegation to Nigeria and EU Member States operating under the EU Coordinated Maritime Presences (CMP) initiative, and it seemingly solidified the close partnership that has developed between the Nigerian Navy, the European Union and EU Member States operating in the region.

Although the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba; others present were the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambai; the EU Senior Coordinator for the Gulf of Guinea, Mr. Nicolas Berlanga; the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Samuela Isopi; the Italian Ambassador for Maritime Security, Mr. Daniele Bosio; the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stefano De Leo; and the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Juan SELL. Others include the French Maritime Security Coordinator, Mr. Ludovic Poitou; the Consul General, Ms. Laurence Montmayrant as the representative of France; the Greek Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ioannis Plotas; the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Daniel Bertrand; as well as senior officers and diplomats from the Nigerian Navy, EU, France, Italy and Spain.

According to the partnership, over the years, relations have deepened between the partners through enhanced operational cooperation, joint exercises and trainings, capacity development as well as increased information sharing and exchange as all sides have recognised that the incidence of maritime crimes, particularly piracy and armed robbery at sea, has reduced across the region according to International Maritime Bureau Report of February 2022.

They noted that an intensified presence at sea and the collaborative efforts by Nigeria, the EU and Member States played their part in achieving this success, adding that however, the parties also acknowledged the need to further deepen relations by continued cooperating and with an aim to keep ensuring freedom of navigation, safety of seafarers, protection of regional resources and coastal communities.

In a joint release after the exercise, they said: "To this end, Nigeria has taken a leading role in regional coordination through the MCF-GOG SHADE de-confliction group and the Nigerian Navy has continuously developed its capacities to secure the open seas, including through the acquisition of new platforms and through the Falcon Eye surveillance system. " The EU has actively been engaging with the Nigerian Navy through the CMP-mechanisms as well as through regional initiatives such as the

YARIS information-sharing platform and with the assistance of the SWAIMS project.

"All sides will continue deepening their relations and reiterate their full commitment to maintaining their constructive dialogue and cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect.

In his speech, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Gambo said the event came at a time the nation is committed to the sustainable development of her blue economy, adding that "a secured maritime environment is a contributing factor to the economic prosperity of nations the world over.

"The struggle against maritime insecurity is a collaborative effort that no single country or region can tackle alone.

For this reason, ECOWAS in conjunction with the Economic Community of Central African States formulated the Yaoundé Code of Conduct as a foundation for broad based regional maritime security along the entire Gulf of Guinea.

"But the security partnership goes beyond Africa, embracing the European Union and other key international players geographically outside the Gulf of Guinea because the Gulf of Guinea is of global importance as a crucial maritime route.

"Therefore, effort to continue to secure the maritime space, especially the Gulf of Guinea is crucial to the Regional Navies and international players.

"The Gulf of Guinea itself is a vast and diverse region stretching from Senegal to Angola covering approximately 2,874nm of coastline. It is an important shipping zone transporting oil and gas as well as goods to and from Africa and the rest of the world. On any one day, there are about 1500 tankers, cargo ships and fishing vessels navigating its waters.

"Regrettably, piracy, armed robbery at sea, kidnapping of seafarers, illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, smuggling, trafficking and transnational organized crimes pose a major threat to maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

"Maritime insecurity has long been one of the most persistent and intractable threats to maritime communities and economic prosperity in West Africa.

Importantly, concerted efforts in form of synergy should be maintained to

Chief of Policy and Plans, NN Headquarters, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba and FOC Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Wambai flanked by senior officers curb these maritime crimes".

However, he stressed that the commitment of the Nigerian Navy towards maritime security has yielded dividends, adding that "a lot has been achieved by the Nigerian Navy in the safeguard of the Gulf of Guinea.

"Notable among them is the arrest of 10 pirates whose jail terms were secured for hijacking a Chinese fishing vessel, FV HAI LU FENG II off Cote D’Ivoire in May 2020. The crime committed violated Section 3 of the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Act 2019, punishable under Section 2 of the same Act. "Nigeria has continued to record successes in the anti-piracy war as activities of pirates in the Gulf of Guinea have reached an all-time low in more than a decade. Following the significant success occasioned by the Nigerian Navy’s increased maritime security operations against maritime criminalities in collaboration with other agencies, the International Maritime Bureau has exited Nigeria from its Piracy List.

"Nigeria has collaborated with other Gulf of Guinea navies to address the maritime security situation in the Gulf of Guinea. Nigeria has a robust and professional navy with historic tradition. The Nigerian Navy has continuously acquired new assets and has further improved its capabilities to maintain a large fleet and to operate far beyond its territorial waters.

"The state of the art Maritime Domain Awareness facilities comprising; the Falcon Eye and the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability Centres allow the Nigerian Navy to monitor its territorial waters and beyond.

"It is on this note that I welcome the ships’ company of Italian Navy Ship RIZZO and the Spanish Navy Ship SERVIOLA as well as the Italian and Spanish governments for the participatory approach in conducting maritime exercises with regional navies in the Gulf of Guinea in order to mitigate maritime crimes.

"The two naval ships are currently on port call to Lagos to run ashore as well as for replenishment of required logistics for further operations and voyage. I must reiterate that this is among series of port calls on Nigeria by international navies.

"I must also, applaud the Federal Government of Nigeria’s commitment and decisive initiative on the Deep Blue Project through which the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police and intelligence services are poised to tackle the menace of maritime insecurity in the waterways.

"At this juncture, I commend the European Union (EU) for your fundamental support and partnership in operationalising the Yaoundé Code of Conduct through diverse programmes and

"The parties also acknowledged the need to further deepen relations by continued cooperating and with an aim to keep ensuring freedom of navigation, safety of seafarers, protection of regional resources and coastal communities"

initiatives towards capacity development in the Gulf of Guinea.

"We have engaged with you in notable programmes such as the support to West Africa Integrated Maritime Security (SWAIMS) which only this week donated 30 Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats to 12 West African coastal states.

"Others include the support programme for the Maritime Safety and Security Strategy in Central Africa (PASSMAR) and the West and Central Africa Port Security (WECAPS); all these programmes have contributed to positive outcomes in maritime security with meaningful impact on ocean governance in the Gulf of Guinea. Nigeria has also actively partnered with the EU and other African countries in the optimisation of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum - Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) as well as Yaoundé Architecture Regional Information System (YARIS) where already some Nigerian Navy personnel are undergoing training on the system. ' Nigerian Navy and indeed Nigeria appreciates the EU Coordinated Maritime Presence which compliments other maritime security programmes and projects in the Gulf of Guinea. In this regards, the Nigerian Navy calls for enhanced collaboration with EU and coastal states within the framework of the Yaoundé Architecture on information sharing in order to bridge the apparent existing communication gap. "...You can count on the Nigerian Navy’s willingness to always collaborate with international partners on efforts to curb maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea."

Earlier in his welcome address, the FOC WNC, Rear Admiral Wambai reiterated that the aim of the partnership was to further deepen the ties between Nigeria and European Union in the maritime domain, ultimately leading to a stronger strategic partnership in this field.

"As you are all aware, the sea remains the most veritable means of transportation that nations, individuals and groups have exploited to prosper and become relevant. Pertinently, it is to be noted that a key requirement for use of this great common is the safety of the sea during traverse.

"Therefore, the Nigeria-European Union collaborative effort on maritime security is germane.

Working together is a sine qua non in the zeal to defend the seas by enhanced maritime security and safety needed to promote international trade, protect the environment and guarantee use of the Sea for legitimate businesses.

"Also, worthy of mention is the cordial relationship between Nigeria and the European Union that led to the deployment of Italian Navy Ship RIZZO and Spanish Navy Ship SERVIOLA on maritime security patrol mission in the Gulf of Guinea.

"It is hoped that the continued collaboration would improve operational coordination and information sharing as well as joint training and capacity building exercises that is desired to enhance maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea."

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY APRIL 18, 2022

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CRIME

Sustaining Logistics Support in NAF Operations through R&D, Innovation Rebecca Ejifoma and Esther Akinsola report that in line with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao's drive to transform the Nigerian Air Force into a self-reliant, efficient and highly professional fighting force, premium has been placed on research and development to build capacity and reduce cost while maintaining high serviceability status of NAF platforms and equipment

The AOC, AVM HB Abubakar presenting a souvenir to the GOH, AVM AG Bello

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ound the world, air power plays a huge role in tackling insecurity.

Nigeria is not left out in tackling internal security challenges ranging from militancy in the South-south, pipeline vandalism in the South-west, cattle rustling in the North-west, Boko Haram Terrorist insurgency in the North-east and inssurection in the East.

This is where a formidable fleet becomes necessary. For the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) under the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, to win the war, its platforms must remain operational, thus the timely delivery of parts at reasonable costs becomes premium.

However, the fact that the NAF is ordinarily compelled to rely mostly on foreign original equipment manufacturers for the supply of the parts and usually at exorbitant prices has ensured that the service looking inwards.

Also backed by the focus of the federal government in promoting local content, home grown technology and innovation as principal means of preserving the nation’s foreign exchange earnings, NAF currently places much emphasis on research and development as a way of building indigenous technological capacity.

Therefore, it would be safe to say that at the core of the NAF is Research and Development (R&D). Under the present CAS, the department has further been strengthened to boost Nigeria's technological base as a veritable tool for national development.

In line with the CAS' drive to transform the NAF into a self-reliant, efficient and highly professional fighting force, research and development (R&D) in the NAF is being structured and repositioned to cope with emerging challenges.

This is aimed at domesticating knowledge, building capacity and reducing cost while maintaining high serviceability status of NAF platforms and equipment.

It was against this backdrop that the Logistics Command recently conducted its Inter-Unit R&D Competition, with the theme: "Sustaining Logistics Support in NAF operations through R&D and innovation.

Held at 631 Air Craft Maintenance Depot Ikeja, thee Chief of Standard and Evaluation, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), AVM Aliyu Bello, encouraged personnel to put in more efforts in collaborating with relevant stakeholders to promote research and development.

He, however, commended NAF for look-

ing inwards, and developing indigenous technological capacity for the development of the operations of NAF. This is coming as six NAF units and one NAF school carried out various research and development projects over the past months.

Some of the innovations displayed were Drones, Intruder Detection System, Digital Car Speed Detector, Automated Base Security and Fire Alarm System, Design and Construction of a Single Barrel Rocket Launcher.

Others are Design and Construction of Alpha Jet Aircraft Parachute Packing Machine for Ejection Seat Headrest Assembly.

According to the AVM, these innovations will gradually free us from overdependence on foreign technology.

He further commended the AOC, Logistics Command, AVM Hassan Abubakar, for his efforts to rapidly harness the potential of its personnel in utilising indigenous resources to develop these projects.

He said: "I am pleased with the number of projects displayed. It renews the hope that, with ingenuity, determination and right leadership, NAF personnel can achieve much."

The CSE said he believes that in synergising and building strong partnerships, "there is no challenge that we cannot overcome as a service and as a nation. "l am confident that this event will eventually bring out products that will enhance NAF operations and contribute to the development of our dear nation".

While acknowledging that local content production would free them from overdependence on technology, he implored the command to make more efforts in collaborating with key stakeholders to champion research and development activities within the command.

On his part, the AOC, Logistics Command, NAF, AVM Hassan Abubakar noted NAF's resolve to continuously ensure that sufficient aircraft are available for deployment when necessary.

He indicated also that the space and components essential for the serviceability of these aircraft are not usually manufactured in Nigeria and need to be sourced from overseas.

"Unfortunately, deliveries of these components, which are exorbitant, are often delayed with attendant negative effects on our operations," Abubakar noted, while adding that NAF has placed premium value on research and development to stem the situation.

CRIME SITUATION REPORTS

INSECURITY CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA: WAY OUT OF SEEMING DESPONDENCY Gbolahan Samuel Moronfolu Nigeria is faced with an unprecedented wave of different but overlapping security crises - from kidnapping to extremist insurgencies - almost every corner of the country has been hit by violence and crime.

The scale of the insecurity threatens the very fabric of Nigerian society: "With every attack, human lives are lost or permanently damaged."

National security is a premise for national economic growth and development of nations. This is because peaceful nations attract foreign investors while the domestic investors freely operate the economy with little or no tensions and apprehensions.

Security is the pillar upon which every meaningful development could be achieved and sustained. Nigeria as a nation state has witnessed unprecedented series of agitations in the forms of kidnapping and abduction, armed robberies, bombing, and carnages of all forms and magnitude in the past decade and a half.

With the coming to the scene by Boko Haram in 2002, the insecurity situation in Nigeria seemed to have assumed higher and more complex dimensions. A part from the frequency and intensity of deadly attacks and carnages, insecurity situation in Nigeria cuts across cities, towns and villages that there is hardly anywhere to run to for cover.

Lives and properties are not safe for urban dwellers as well as for the rural dwellers.

People live in apprehension almost every day.

Some have linked the recent surge of insecurity to the staggering poverty across the country. Youth unemployment currently stands at 32.5% and the country is in the middle of one of the worst economic downturns in 27 years. According to the UN, by the end of 2021, conflict with the group had led to the deaths of almost 450,000 people and forced millions from their homes.

Boko Haram launches deadly raids, in some cases hoisting its flag and imposing extremist rule on local people. It levies taxes on farms and the sale of agricultural products.

The once booming international fish market in the Chad Basin is now completely controlled by the group. The challenge is made harder by Nigeria's ungoverned spaces - areas that are remote and largely ignored, where groups can torment rural communities without fear of reprisal.

Clashes between herders and farmers There have been violent disputes between nomadic animal herders and farmers in Nigeria for many years. But disagreements over the use of land and water, as well as grazing routes, have been exacerbated by climate change and the spread of the Sahara Desert, as herders move further south looking for pasture. Thousands have been killed in clashes over limited resources.

Benue State, in the center of the country, has recorded the deadliest attacks. Recently, seven people were killed when gunmen opened fire on a camp for those fleeing the conflict. Some have also blamed herders for kidnapping people and demanding a ransom.

Banditry and kidnapping One of the scariest threats for families in Nigeria is the frequent kidnapping of school children from their classrooms and boarding houses.

About 2,000 students have been abducted from their schools since December 2020, many only released after thousands of dollars are paid as ransom.

Some of the kidnappers are commonly referred to as "bandits". These criminals raid villages, kidnap civilians and burn down houses. Attacks by bandits have forced thousands of people to flee their homes and seek shelter in other parts of the country.

The north-west is the epicenter of these attacks. In Zamfara state alone, over 7,000 people have been killed since 2012 and the attacks are still going on. Hundreds of schools were closed following abductions at schools in Zamfara and Niger state, where children as young as three years old were seized.

By every indication, Nigeria's lucrative kidnapping industry is thriving - expanding into previously safe areas - and seemingly beyond the control of the country's army. It poses a real threat to trade and education, as well as the country's farming communities.

In order to ameliorate the incidence of crime, the federal government embarked on the criminalization of terrorism by passing the Anti-Terrorism Act in 2011, fundamental surveillance as well as investigation of criminal related offenses, heightening of physical security measures around the

country aimed at deterring or disrupting potential attacks, strengthening of security agencies through the provision of security facilities and the development and broadcast of security tips in mass media.

Despite these efforts, the level of insecurity in the country is still high signifying a worsened state of insecurity in the country.

With the lingering security challenges and the difficulty of the security apparatus of the government to respond promptly to attacks on citizenry being the front burner to guarantee safety and security to lives and properties of the citizenry in the country, the question that borders everyone in Nigeria today is “can there be assurance of security?” can people still sleep with their two eyes closed? Is the security of lives and properties achievable? It is evident that government at all levels is confronting the situation head-on and dealing with it decisively even though more effort has to be put in place.

Lately, Nigeria has been enmeshed in a firebox of insecurity leading to scores of deaths of innocent civilians, foreigners, some members of the nation’s security personnel, elected officials and many government workers. The insecurity challenge has assumed formidable dimensions forcing the country’s political and economic managers and, indeed the entire nation, to rue the loss of their loved ones, investments and absence of safety in most parts of the country.

The number of violent crimes such as kidnappings, ritual killings, carjacking, suicide bombings, religious killings, politically-motivated killing and violence, ethnic clashes, armed banditry and others has increasingly become very worrisome.

Government has tried everything from “force-for-force” to carrot-and-stick approach to diplomacy but the problem seems to rise with greater monstrosity like the proverbial phoenix. There has also been strong advocacy for a multi-stakeholder intervention to the insecurity question rather than lean on military options alone, but the problem has defied the present medication it is getting.

It will not be out of place to say that the current wave of general insecurity is fuelled by poverty which has made national security threat to be a major issue for the government and has prompted huge allocation of the national budget to security. No region has been spared the vicious scourge of conflict though their prevalence and intensity have not been the same in occurrences across the length and breadth of the nation. The current situation is further intensified by elements of globalization, natural disasters, proliferation of weapons and light arms, corruption, executive lawlessness and so on.

The economic costs of insecurity are enormous. People who joined the fighting forces, who are killed or flee, can no longer work productively; schools, power stations, and roads that are destroyed reduced the productive capacity of the economy. Further, displacement of people reduces the production of exports, thereby reducing foreign exchange earnings, import potentials and consequently further constraining output, leading to a decline in employment and earnings.

The menace remains a threat to governance and economic growth in Nigeria. Despite government’s burgeoning recurrent expenditure on internal security both at the National and State levels, individuals in their various rights, work places and houses spend heavily to provide security for their personal lives and properties. Despite these efforts, the menace keeps exacerbating.

Thus in almost all parts of the country, there exist some levels of insecurity. We have seen instances of ethnic conflicts in some part of the North, kidnapping in almost all parts of the country, but prominent in South-South and West, militancy and pipeline vandalisation activities in the Niger delta, terrorism and religious extremism by Boko Haram in North East, agitations for selfdetermination by IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) and MASSOB (Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra) in South East, herdsmen disturbances in the North and Central, ritual killings in the South West and Eastern security network rampage and attacks on Police Stations and the community and other political and economic disturbances. These disturbances and insecurities in its various forms affect economic growth.

-Moronfolu is a seasoned security consultant with many years of security and policing experience. FELLOW, Fourth Estate Professional Society (FFPS), he has also partaken in peace keeping operations within and outside the country and has flair for general security education.

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Laolu Akande: The Infamy of Presidential Loudmouth With Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, formally indicating his interest in the presidency in 2023, perhaps, his senior media aide, Laolu Akande, can now hide his incompetent face in dishonour. Olawale Olaleye writes

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short but instructive remark was made some years ago by a certain Villa power broker of blessed memory. It was just a few years into the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, after his 2015 victory, and another off-season election was due in a Southwest state.

The election was crucial to the relatively new ruling APC and so, the president had deployed everyone, who understood the power game, the nuances and the equation in the state in question, to make sure the election was won. A poll analysis had also advised a compulsory win, else the party and government might be in trouble in the election to follow.

Of course, the APC won the election – invoking all means possible. But soon after the poll, a former chairman of one of the anti-graft agencies, started chasing one of the men that was deployed by the president to the battlefield for the election over claims that certain money was misappropriated.

Then, this Villa power broker, apparently irritated, had remarked – more like a locker room chat: “It’s obvious XYZ is not a member of this government, otherwise, he wouldn’t be chasing ABC”, knowing how the money was sourced and what it was used for.

In other words, if he was truly grounded, that was too basic a fact not to have been understood by him, but because he was too drawn away from the “government” and caught up in a bubble of his own illusion, he failed to know what qualified others as “bonafide” members of the administration and or party.

A few weeks ago, THISDAY did a story about the presidential aspiration of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and authoritatively reported that the number two citizen would declare his interest in the presidential run immediately after the then-cursed national convention of the APC. The story was not only true and authoritative, it was also very positive for Osinbajo as it stated that the vice president was doing well with his smart but covert campaigns and that a lot of the odds were stacked in his favour. Many of Osinbajo’s fans loved the story, debated and even shared it for the record.

But one person thought otherwise and went ahead to not only dispute the story; he discredited it and dishonoured the publishing medium – THISDAY. Mr. ‘Laolu Akande, Osinbajo’s senior media aide, took to his verified Twitter account with a munched cover of the very THISDAY edition, and denied the report with malevolence. He went on to state that if and when there was any such development, he would be the one to announce it. Note: announce it.

Fair enough, but you can’t but wonder how many of such clinically strategic developments he’d announced before they happened.

Truth is, Akande has always been a person of interest in terms of how well he discharges his assignment as the vicepresident’s spokesperson, professionally.

Unfortunately, because the presidency is

Akande

an institution, it’s hard to tell who was doing what, of course, for the observing public.

On the contrary, for an average active journalist, it was the easiest thing to do. Not only do you know yourselves, you also get to see who does what in terms of delivery and so, Akande is far off the mark in the understanding of the job – from the basic to the serious – and couldn’t have secured the job on merit. Most definitely arguable!

From very poorly authored press releases and statements, to badly captioned photographs – exposing his mediocrity and lack of attention to details – he is one presidential aide, who constantly needs refresher courses to keep tabs and stay on top of the job, otherwise, his output makes

him rather unemployable except for the sort of sentiments that got him his present appointment.

Save for the pizzas and flashes of the influential media’s incursion, which have sustained Osinbajo’s admirable media exposure, enhanced by the vice president’s often stellar delivery in many instances, a character like Akande, who is deliberately distant from the newsroom and unfamiliar even with the active reporters in the field, let alone understanding the rudimentary literature of the profession, cannot keep this kind of job for a rather deserving long period except for enjoying the favours of his principal, who is obviously connected with him on a different pedestal.

Interestingly, a few things had

“Truth is, Akande has always been a person of interest in terms of how well he discharges his assignment as the vice-president’s spokesperson, professionally. Unfortunately, because the presidency is an institution, it’s hard to tell who was doing what, of course, for the observing public.”

happened in the last few weeks, culminating in the declaration, to underscore the submission that Akande is not only detached from the profession he feigns to represent through his appointment; he is also not on the ground within the government he serves, much less being abreast of the happenings around the principal he is directly responsible to.

For clarity, many groups had come out after the THISDAY story, to affirm that Osinbajo would run and the frenzy of his presidential movements had not simmered since then before he eventually did. Two, some groups, different from the first, had also come out to establish that the vice president would declare his intention after the national convention of the APC, thus confirming the THISDAY story, almost word for word.

Importantly, however, there were reports many days back about how the vice president had planned to formally intimate his boss, President Buhari, of his intention to run, which was a major step vindicating the THISDAY story.

Even more noteworthy is the department on politics and governance that the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) recently set up and believed to be deliberate to accentuate the ambition of the vice president. That, of course, clarified the aspect of the THISDAY story, which claimed Osinbajo already had the clearance of his spiritual father, Pastor E.A Adeboye.

None of these came about by accident and none, unlike the tawdry sense of importance that Akande tried to paint, was either confirmed or announced by him, even if by proxy. So, why single out the THISDAY report if he knew his boss would run, assuming he didn’t have other facts at his disposal?

Now, the icing on the cake – the much anticipated has just happened – Osinbajo finally announced his presidential bid on Monday and yet, Akande did not issue any pre-announcement release or statement. What he only did was to hint at it on the morning of the declaration on his Twitter handle, when all the major platforms had already done so. What then did he try to do with the dissing of THISDAY over that one report?

Was it to discredit a prominent national daily that has done nothing but give the campaign of his principal a voice to push their image and efforts, even though THISDAY was merely doing its job of galvanising an atmosphere of truth and reason through many years of sincere, robust and sound journalism?

Not surprisingly, this has only reinforced general persuasion, that, on fair ground, Akande couldn’t get his current job on merit and this is without taking it personally. With poor strategy and zero critical thinking, he is irredeemable and helpless, and only a member of the same religious denomination would hand him such a serious appointment on a platter. He’s nothing but a glorified misfit, boasting slapdash testimonials.

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NEWSXTRA

Alleged Contract Manipulation: FHC CJ Reassigns Suit against Amaechi to Another Judge As plaintiff protests transfer Alex Enumah in Abuja The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho has re-assigned a suit brought against the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi to another judge.

The re-assignment followed a request to that effect by Amaechi.

THISDAY learnt that the suit which was before the re-assignment heard by Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, would now be heard by a vacation judge.

A civil group, the Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER) had dragged Amaechi to court, over the process for the award of contract for operators of Nigeria's International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN).

The plaintiff accused the minister of manipulating the contract process in favour of two local and inexperienced firms Medtech Scientific Limited and Rozi International Nigeria Limited.

The court on December 17, 2021, following an ex parte application

by CASER, restrained parties from taking any further steps in relation to the appointment of operators of the ICTN (an electronic cargo verification system that monitors the shipments of seaborne cargoes and enables a real-time generation of vital data on ships and cargo traffic in and out of Nigeria).

But on March 23, 2022 CASER’s lawyer, Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN) reported to the court that Amaechi had allegedly violated the court's order of December 17, prompting the judge to endorse filing of contempt charge against the minister.

Justice Okorowo also directed the suspension of proceedings in the substantive suit to give way to hearing of contempt charge against Amaechi and fixed May 9 for ruling in a joinder application and commencement of contempt proceeding.

Rather than wait till May 9, Amaechi, claiming utmost urgency, among others, on March 31, requested that the case be reassigned to a vacation judge

for urgent hearing.

However, the CJ in his April 7, letter, had declined the request, stating: “I am to inform you that there have been counter posturing regarding the re-assignment or otherwise of this matter.

"It is discerned that arguments were heard by Justice D.U Okorowo on March 23, 2022 in respect of alleged contempt and ruling scheduled for May 9, 2022. It will hence be disruptive to contemplate a re-assignment of this case.

"Besides, the Easter vacation is for two weeks and there is no guarantee that the vacation Judge can gain any appreciable ground as to convey an advantage over the regular court in terms of hearing of the suit. In the circumstance, the Hon. Chief Judge declined the application."

But following another letter by Ameachi's lawyer, dated April 13, 2022, Justice Tsoho changed his mind and agreed that a portion of the suit be reassigned to the court's vacation judge.

Justice Tsoho's fresh letter, dated: April 14, written by his SA (Unaeze) in response to Amaechi's new letter, read: "I am directed by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to refer to your letter of April 13, 2022 in respect of the above subject matter.

"Having considered the responses as per your letters dated April 13, 2022, and April 1, 2022 respectively, it is noted as follows: that there is presently no indication of any proper or formal application for contempt proceedings.

"The filing of Form 48 per se does not amount to a contempt application or committal proceedings, in the absence of Form 49 with evidence of the alleged contemnor's disobedience obtained after service of Form 48.

"Therefore, in view of the extreme urgency emphasised with regard to the matter, there is good basis for referring the pending applications to be heard during the Easter vacation.

"Consequently, our letter dated April 7, 2022 is cancelled. The pending notice of preliminary objection and the application for

APC Primary: Yahaya Bello Will Beat Perceived Heavyweights, Says Hafsat Abiola The Director-General, Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Organisation, Hafsat Abiola-Costello, has said the Governor of Kogi State would in a free and fair contest, defeat other perceived heavy weights in the forth-coming primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Abiola-Costello said this yesterday, while addressing a press conference in Abuja, on the candidacy of Bello.

She, however, said though it was clear that Bello had resisted the idea of godfathers for long, he would carry the older politicians along when he becomes the President of Nigeria.

She said this in reaction to a question on whether he could emerge the winner of the APC ticket with the likes of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and other perceived heavyweights that had put their hats in the ring.

"It is good that you said heavyweights. But he will win in a free and fair contest. His chances are actually the best of the group because in a competition, it is about the voters and 60 per cent of Nigerians are under 30. I am his Director-General because I believe in him.

“There have been a ground swell in our country by young people to

play a bigger role in our political affairs. You do know about the not too young to run campaign that has been going on for a long time, which led to the President signing the Not too young to run bill into law.

“Nigerian young people are ready to take more responsibilities in the governing of our affairs and this is the young people’s candidate.

“But we really value and appreciate the heavyweights and those you call tested politicians, and they can be sure that if, God willing, we have President Yahaya Bello come 2023, he will carry them along, he will be consulting them and seeking their counsel.

“He will be wanting to build on their networks and resources because the country belongs to all of us, it belongs to the tested politicians and most especially, the young people of Nigeria,” the Campaign DG said.

On zoning, she said the APC as at today had thrown open the contest, not restricting it to any zone, noting that everyone was eligible to contest regardless of the zone.

“At this time, the APC has said that all candidates are free to contest.

They have given no restrictions by zone and we are guided by that and our candidate has the freedom to put his candidacy forward.

joinder in the suit (but not the suit itself) are reassigned to the vacation court for determination.

Please accept the assurances of His Lordship, the Hon. Chief Judge.”

Meanwhile, the plaintiff in the

suit has expressed reservation about Justice Tsoho's latest decision to have the case partially transferred to a new judge.

In a statement by its Executive Director, Frank Tietie, CASER

argued that it was impossible for Justice Tsoho's decision to ensure justice in the case.

According to the letter, "the directive that only the preliminary objection be heard by a vacation

court leaving the main suit is aimed, in our opinion, at terminating the suit without the court adjudicating on the real issues of corruption and incompetence of the companies, as it should be.

CONSULTATION AHEAD OF FORMAL DECLARATION...

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (left) receiving Akwa Ibom Governor, Udom Emmanuel in Minna, Niger state recently. Emmanuel is currently on a nationwide consultation with stakeholders ahead of his formal declaration to run for president on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023...yesterday

ISWAP Kills Soldiers, Travellers in Borno, Yobe Using IEDs Military operations hampered by explosives Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) deployed by the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP), a terror group, led to the killing of soldiers and travellers in the North-east, THISDAY has learnt.

Consequently, the movement of troops battling insurgency in the North-east in recent times was also hampered by IEDs. Although troops succeeded in defusing the locally manufactured explosives planted by the insurgents during military operations, many travellers were already killed.

Flashpoints, where terrorists plant IEDs include Maiduguri, Damboa, Biu, Bama, Banki, Gwoza, Buni Yadi, Malam Fatori and Kukawa, among others.

Speaking in Borno, the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Maj Gen Christopher Musa, identified the detection and defusing of IEDs as a major challenge in the fight against insurgency in the region.

"Troops must scan areas where it is conducting patrols before going for any operation and scan again while returning," he lamented.

Military sources said it takes an extended period of time for troops to defuse landmines with sweepers.

“Military movements that should take minutes, for instance, takes several hours and sometimes days in scanning and rescanning the environment for IEDs so as to ensure the safety of troops,” the source said.

The use of IEDs by terrorists

against troops, had been an issue of concern to military authorities for some time.

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai (rtd), had, during his tenure, decried the performance of IED detectors procured from Slovak Republic.

He said some anti-mine equipment procured from that country and deployed to the North-east were not meeting targets of tactical operations.

Speaking at a meeting with Ambassador of Slovak Republic to Nigeria, Mr Peter Kolasec, at his office then, Buratai, who was represented by the former Chief of Army Policy and Plans, Lt General Lamidi Adeosun (rtd), said the military procured five consignments of arms and ammunition including 127 mm KVA machine guns, prosena

anti-mine equipment and other weapons, which were deployed to the North-east.

He said the anti-mine equipment did not meet the expectations of army’s battle plans.

“The prosena anti-mine equipment is only good for removing mines where war has taken place. We are using it the best way we can but it is not working the way we want it to work. If it can’t detect mine from 50 meters, then we need new equipment.

“The way it is, it is not good for tactical operations so that we don’t waste resources,” he said, noting that insurgents deployed IEDs, which were poorly put together while maintaining that what was required was equipment that would detect and neutralise them.

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NEWS

Oil Theft: Navy Impounds Vessels, Arrests Crew Members Operatives of Nigerian Navy’s “Operation Dakatar Da Barawo’’ (OPDDB) have seized several ships and wooden boats engaged in crude oil theft.

They also arrested their crew members, seized facilities and arrested illegal crude oil refiners.

Director of Information, Naval Headquarters, Commodore Adedotun AyoVaughan, made these known in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja.

The Navy inaugurated OPDDB on April 1 to check crude oil theft and other acts of economic sabotage in the South-South geopolitical zone.

Ayo-Vaughan stated that the Navy’s NNS Pathfinder intercepted nine huge Cotonoucarved wooden boats laden with illegally-refined diesel at Andoki, in the creeks on April 5.

Its operatives also seized cooking pots, tanks and reservoirs from an illegal crude oil refining site at Ketoru Creek.

He added that the NNS Pathfinder also impounded two boats used in providing illegal escort services to oil thieves within the Bonny maritime area.

“On April 7, NNS Aba

intercepted a vessel, MV Royal Diadem, laden with suspected illegally-refined diesel in Bonny area and arrested the crew.

“The vessel was unable to provide appropriate documentation about the originating point of loading of the product,’’ he stated.

Ayo-Vaughan added that NNS Delta also located a vessel around Opumani and Asukpo Creeks in Warri area in Delta laden with about 520,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and seized it.

At Egwa Creek, also in Warri area, a vessel observed to contain several metallic ovens and storage tanks was destroyed.

On April 11, operatives raided Fununu Fishing Camp in Akassa, Bayelsa, suspected to be a hideout for pirates and for illegal refining of petroleum products.

“In the encounter, a dugout pit containing about 1,258 barrels of stolen crude oil was deactivated.

“On the same day, operatives destroyed a wooden boat with unspecified quantity of suspected stolen crude oil at Nabil Creek in Rivers,’’ he stated.

“On April 15, NNS Soroh

discovered two stores and assembly points used by illegal bunkerers at Onimbu and Ayama communities in Bayelsa and recovered 6,000 litres of diesel,’’ he added.

Ayo-Vaughan also stated that operatives impounded three trucks, each laden with 35,000 litres of illegally refined diesel.

“Equally, NNS Delta

deactivated a vessel with about 50,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 150,000 litres of sludge at Asugbo Creek in Warri, Delta.

“On the same day,

operatives deactivated a vessel laden with 250,000 litres of stolen crude and about 30,000 litres of illegally refined diesel around Egwa Creek in Warri, Delta,’’ he stated.

WAR AGAINST DRUG ABUSE…

Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), and presenting the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mallam Mohammed Bello (left), when Marwa presented the minister with a letter appointing him War Against Drug Abuse Grand Ambassador in Abuja…recently

No Hiding Place for Looters of Akeredolu Using Tax Payers' Money to Sponsor Oyo Funds, Says Makinde Wife's Senatorial Ambition, Alleges Ondo PDP The Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde has said there will be a hiding place for looters of state’s treasury. According to him, his administration remains determined to retrieve every kobo of the state's resources stolen by some members of the immediate past administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Governor Makinde noted that his administration has been able to bring about a turnaround in the infrastructure of the state and other key sectors because it blocked loopholes and wastages in resources.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor,

Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that his government is on the track of some chieftains of the APC in the state, who used a certain company to siphon between N12 billion and N15 billion of Oyo State's money.

He added that the government would go after them and retrieve the looted funds for the people of Oyo State.

He maintained that his administration took the bold step of plugging every hole through which the state's funds could be siphoned, adding: "Without blocking loopholes, we could not have been where we are today."

Contactor Laments Corruption in Delta State Oil Commission Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City A contractor with the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), has alleged wide spread corruption in the commission, describing it as a "cash cow" of the authorities in the state.

The contractor, Dr. Ishaq Osagie-Eweka, further bemoaned unwholesome practices in the commission in a statement made available to Journalists in Benin City, capital of Edo State yesterday.

He regretted that in spite of the huge sums of money available

to the commission, it has failed to pay contractors for projects executed armed with certificate of job completion.

Osagie-Eweka also frowned at the practice of collection of outrageous 20 percent of contract sum under the disguise of Assurance/Equity fee.

He, further, stated that the essence of setting up the commission have been defeated as it is now used by public officials to siphon money, noting that all these were some of the reasons why the commission office in Warri was picketed by contractors a week ago.

The Ondo State Chapter of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday accused the State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), of sponsoring the senatorial ambition of his wife, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, tax payers money.

Recall that Betty officially declared her interest to represent Imo East Senatorial District (Owerri zone) in the Senate in 2023 on April 8, 2022.

The wife of the governor, who is fondly called 'Ada Owerri', which is her traditional chieftaincy title, said her aspiration to represent his pre-marital zone in the Senate was gingered by the need to address the gross underdevelopment and infrastructural deficit in her maiden home of Emeabiam in Owerri West Local Government and the other eight local governments that made up the zone.

However, in a statement made available to journalists in Akure by the Ondo State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr. Kennedy Peretei, the party satirically said Betty ranked amongst the wives in the corridor of power who know exactly what to do with the enormous influence and lush funds available to their husbands.

Peretei said that Akeredolu would be unable to do anything in the Imo contest apart from

squandering Ondo's lean resources to service some politicians in Imo State who would never tell 'Ada Owerri' the truth.

He said: "Mrs Akeredolu has also demonstrated that, she is one rank ahead of her husband. As a matter of fact, she does not mince words by saying she is three years older than her husband, who is the governor of Ondo State.

2023: A'Ibom Governor Urges Stakeholders to Eschew Hatred, Violence

Okon Bassey inUyo

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has called on the stakeholders across the political divide in the state to eschew hatred, anger and violence as the nation prepares for the 2023 general elections.

The governor made the call yesterday in a broadcast to mark this year Easter Celebrations in the state.

"I urge them to understand that

politics will come and politics will go, but the spirit of the Akwa Ibom Enterprise will endure and continue to flourish.

"There is no political office that should compel us to shed the blood of our brothers or sisters. There is no ambition that is so deep and sacred that we would be willing to turn our State into a cauldron of violence, in order to satisfy our craving for power," he warned.

The governor, who said all powers belong to God and He

alone, grants such to whom He has favoured, noted that in the past seven years, the state has remained an oasis of peace and tranquility.

"We will never go back to the years of violence and the years where we couldn’t sleep with our eyes closed. We will not return to the years where kidnapping and politically motivated killings numbed our sensibilities and made us question the central purpose of governance, which is the security

of lives and property.

"Akwa Ibom people have collectively and unanimously said goodbye to those years, and have welcomed the era of peace and security. Anyone who markets violence should and must be rejected,” he said.

As the state reflects on the significant of Easter, Emmanuel tasked the citizens to eschew hatred, ethnicity, anger and all forms of divisive tendencies from body-politic.

Delta Governorship: Urhobo Union Hailed for Endorsing Edevbie Prominent Urhobo socio-political organisation, Urhobo Solidarity Front (USF), has hailed the leadership of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide for their wisdom and courage in endorsing Olorogun David Edevbie as the consensus candidate of the Urhobo nation for the Delta 2023 Governorship race.

The USF gave the commendation yesterday following the public statement

by the leadership of UPU announcing their adoption of Olorogun Edevbie as their best and preferred choice from Urhobo land and Delta Central Senatorial District.

In the statement signed by USF Secretary, Oghenekaro Umukoro, the body reiterated the need for Delta Central and Urhobo nation to present a single consensus candidate at the PDP primaries on May 21 to ensure that the Urhobos don't get to the

congress to divide their delegate votes, a situation which if not handled with caution could make Delta Central lose the PDP governorship ticket.

The group said it had uncovered plans by some agents of disunity in Urhobo land to counter the decision of the UPU, which it noted can also sell out the Urhobo nation and play into the hands of external forces bent on undermining the interest of the Urhobo nation.

"We hail the national leadership of UPU Worldwide for coming out boldly to declare a consensus candidate from Urhobo land. As all Urhobo sons and daughters can see, there has been an attempt to undermine the emergence of an Urhobo indigene as Governor of Delta State in 2023 and there was an urgent need for Urhobo leadership to take steps to defend the interest of the Urhobo nation and Delta Central," the statement noted.

A former Chief Executive of SunTrust Bank and Governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jibrin Muhammad Barde, has called on party leaders and stakeholders in the state to ensure a free and fair primary elections, saying that is the only and assured route to victory of the party at the polls in 2023.

In a statement issued by his media office yesterday in Gombe, the philanthropist stated that it would be very easy to defeat the incumbent governor because he has not done well in the last three year and has made lives unbearable for the people of Gombe with his unfriendly policies and insensitivity to the plights of the people.

Barde said that an enabling environment for all aspirants would produce the best candidate and ensure victory for the party.

He expressed confidence in the abilities of the party leadership in the state led by former Governor Ibrahim Dankwanbo and the state executives, adding that they are

men and women of courage, convictions and credibly would ensure a fair playing ground for all aspirants He reiterated his preparedness to wrest power from the APC with the support of the good people of Gombe and the leaders and all stakeholders starting from the primary elections.

Zulum Warns Borno Residents against Boko Haram ‘Only Free, Fair Primaries Would Guarantee PDP's Victory in Gombe’ Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri The Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has warned fish traders against any business deals with terrorist’s groups in order to avoid funding to Boko Haram/ISWAP and reinforce the reign of terror in the state.

Zulum gave the warning at

the weekend during his visit to Monguno, where he supervised the distribution of N275 million alongside bags of food items and textiles to over 90,000 IDPs and vulnerable members of the host communities.

He also directed the release of five vehicles and a business grant as stimulus to fish marketers.

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NEWS XTRA

Kaigama Urges Christians, Muslims to Reject Violence, Corruption, Injustice Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Metropolitan Archdiocese, His Grace, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, has challenged all Christians and Muslims in the country to jointly rise against the evil of violence, corruption, injustice and greed.

He praised the courage exhibited by an Abuja-based Islamic Sheikh for not succumbing to religious sentiments in criticising "the lackadaisical attitude of government to the safety of lives following bombings, kidnappings, and endless acts of insecurity" in the country.

Ahead of the 2023 General Election, Kaigama said that Nigerians want selfless and empathetic leaders, not those paranoid, defensive and antagonistic towards critics.

The Archbishop added that Nigerians should detest leaders operating in their comfort zones and who do not feel the discomfort and pain of the lack of electricity, potable water, fuel or the social dislocation caused by the frequent disruption of schools and medical services due to strikes by workers pressing for their legitimate rights.

In his Homily during a Church Service at the Our Lady Queen

of Nigeria Pro-cathedral, Abuja yesterday, Kaigama said the brutal killings, kidnappings, immoral and anti-social activities in different parts of Nigeria were brought about by the cumulative effect of sins in the nation.

He said: " Amidst the religious and political voices of hatred and violence, Muslims and Christians

whose Ramadan and Easter coincide this year again, should go beyond mutual courteous felicitations to be instruments of fostering social harmony and peaceful co-existence, speaking and acting against corruption, injustice and greed; doing everything to overcome ethno-religious and socio-political

hostilities."

He explained that irrespective of which Nigerian sins (Muslim or Christian or traditional worshipper), sin is a gross disobedience to God, adding that it also hurts the individual who sins and the entire society.

According to Kaigama, it is only when we stop offending

God and one another that the negative and harsh social realities we are witnessing today will be greatly minimized.

He further said that Nigerians have a habit of only blaming those in political leadership, but forgetting that in their private lives they violate God’s laws and also violate neighbours’ integrity

and rights.

Kaigama, however, said he was happy at the recent outbursts of criticism cutting across gender, age, religious and ethnic affiliations against Christian preachers who exploit the name of Jesus for their selfish aims, to the detriment of their gullible followers.

HONOURING YINKA ODUMAKIN…

L-R: Deputy Governor of Osun State, Mr. Gboyega Alabi; Wife of Deceased, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin; Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Representing Lagos State Governor, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso; Afenifere Leader, Pa. Ayo Adebanjo; Guest Speaker, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); and Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council, Mr. Zacch Adedeji, during the First Comrade Yinka Odumakin Lecture and Book Presentation in Lagos…recently ETOP UKUTT

2023: Abe Join Rivers Transparency International, Others Condemn Governorship Race Pardon of Convicted Corrupt Politicians Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Former representative of Rivers South East Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe, has officially declared to run for the governorship seat in the 2023 elections in Rivers State under the All Progressives Party (APC).

Abe made the declaration yesterday during the inauguration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Vanguard in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Abe, however, said he would only support anyone who emerges APC gubernatorial candidate in the state under a free, fair and equitable contest, warning that anything short of that would be resisted.

"I have not said and I will not say that Sen Abe must be the candidate of APC in Rivers State.

"I have always said that if we have a fair, free, transparent, inclusive and equitable contest and somebody emerges from that process, as a democrat I will support whoever emerges in that contest and the person will win.

"But if you go and cook up a process to exclude me, it will not work. They cannot decide for Rivers people, Rivers people will decide for themselves.

"We don't need a riverine or upland candidate that is known to Ameachi. What we need is a Rivers candidate that is known by Rivers people with the capacity and integrity to deliver.

Chuks Okocha in Abuja Ripples of state pardon granted Joshua Dariye and Jolly Name and others The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Transparency International (TI) Nigeria and a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, condemned the pardon granted to former governors of Plateau and

Taraba States, Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame, saying it would send wrogn signals and encourage corruption in the system.

The two politicians were imprisoned for stealing N1.16 billion and N1.6billionbn respectively were among 159 prisoners pardoned by the National Council of State.

But they were among 159 prisoners pardoned by the National Council of State last

week.

However, CISLAC and TI have expressed concern that the names of those granted the state pardon are still shrouded in secrecy.

In a statement by Executive Director CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani said: "We are worried about the effect such ill-thought political pardon will have on the anti-corruption efforts, which constitutes the major agenda

and commitment of the current administration.

"We find some of names recommended by the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy which is headed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the federation questionable and the mere fact that citizens cannot get the full list of the over 150 persons pardoned shows a lack of transparency on the process."

NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine Consignments, Arrests Seven Traffickers Michael Olugbode in Abuja Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted at the nation’s three major airports of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt large consignments of cocaine that Brazil based drug cartels tried smuggling into the country.

According to the Spokesman of the NDLEA, Mr. Femi

Babafemi, those arrested were seven traffickers in the smashes.

Babafemi said that at the Port Harcourt International Airport, five suspects were arrested on Saturday, April 9. Three of them were arrested during the inward screening of passengers on board Qatar Airline flight QR1433 from Doha to Port Harcourt.

He said the three suspects departed Sao Paulo, Brazil

on board same Qatar flight, en-route Doha to Abuja and Port Harcourt with a total of 24.96 kilogrammes of cocaine.

Babafemi sad the first is 51-year-old Udogwu Johnson who was arrested with 5.48 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in lotion plastic bottles sealed with candle wax. He claimed he agreed to traffic the drug for a fee of N1 million.

He said also arrested is Ezekwueme Valentine, 32, who was caught with 10.82 kilogrammes cocaine packed in 84 sachets concealed in seven duvets, while the third trafficker, Chiezie Ikechukwu Arinze, 35, was arrested with 8.66 kilogrammes cocaine hidden in 115 golden and silver colour 30ml breakable bottles factory packaged with lotion on top.

7 at a programme said the Ekiti workers were grateful to Fayemi and would in return vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Biodun Oyebanji, to win the coming election.

The former governor stated this in Ado Ekiti yesterday in a statement issued by a proOni Campaign Organisation group, Ekiti Build Back Better

(EBBB), challenging the NLC state Chairman, Mr. Olatunde Kolapo, on his alleged support for the candidate of the APC, Biodun Oyebanji.

Oni, who reacted through the spokesman of EBBB, Idowu Adelusi, asked the NLC leader to be bold enough to list the gains of the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration to the workers since October

16, 2018, when the APC government came into being.

He said: "Is it the sack of 2,000 workers employed into the civil service in 2018 or the sack of 400 workers employed into the civil, teaching and local government services in 2016, out of which less than one-third was reinstated eight months after that NLC boss considered a benefit?

Court Strikes out N1.7bn Money Laundering Charge against Energy Firm MD, Banker Don't Politicise Workers, Oni Warns NLC Leader Wale Igbintade A Lagos Magistrate Court at Ogba, Ikeja, has struck out money laundering charges brought against the Managing Director of Shibahwells Energy, Isaac Adewole, and a staff member of Wema Bank Plc, Kingsley Ananwude, for lack of merit.

Magistrate A.O. Layinka discharged the defendants and struck out the charge following the legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Lagos State, that no prima facie case has been established against them. were The defendants arraigned on February 9, 2022, in charge number: MIK/B/6/2022–Commissioner of Police vs. Adewole Isaac and

Kingsley Ananwude, for alleged stealing and money laundering involving N1.7billion.

After pleading not guilty, the court granted the defendants bail and then adjourned the case till March 15, 2022, for trial.

When the case was mentioned in court, Magistrate Layinka discharged the defendants and struck out the charge for lack of merit after relying on the legal advice from the office of the DPP, office of the Attorney General of Lagos State/Ministry of Justice.

The legal advice signed by the DPP of Lagos State stated that after an extensive review of the duplicate case file provided by the police authorities, the defendants were arrested based on rumours by one Timi Popoola and nothing more!

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Former Governor of Ekiti State and Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the June 18, 2022, poll, Segun Oni, has warned the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) against politicising the civil service ahead of the poll.

The NLC boss had on April

Adeyemi Tasks Govts on Free Access to Basic Education Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja Worried by the rising statistics of out of school children's and high unemployment rate, the Senator Representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Senator Smart Adeyemi, has urged the government at all levels to give

more attention to free access to basic education with a view to secure the future of the present generation.

Adeyemi made this call while speaking at the inauguration of the third edition of the scholarship award to Indigent Students of Kogi West origin at

Iyara in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State on Saturday , noted that the periodic gesture was aimed at further rebuilding and repositioning the zone; thereby salvaging it from economic backwardness, poverty and digital illiteracy that has been prevalent in the nation.

During the ceremony, at least 500 indigent students of Kogi West Senatorial District benefited from the scholarship award offered by Senator Adeyemi, while 250 undergraduates were presented with scholarship awards and brand new laptops while others received grants.

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Aribo, Balogun, Bassey Lead Rangers to Scottish FA Final Femi Solaja with agency report Super Eagles trio of Joe Aribo, Calvin Bassey and Leon Balogun were on the winning side yesterday as Rangers set up Scottish Cup final with Hearts on 21 May. Rangers came from behind to beat Celtic 2-1 in extra time of the Old Firm derby.

While Balogun was a late minute substitute, Aribo played for 75 minutes. Only Bassey enjoyed the full stretch of the game as Celtic defender, Carl Starfelt, turned his cross into his own net with five minutes of extra time left to send the blue end of Hampden into wild.

The victory sealed an impressive turnaround for the Ibrox side, who fell behind to Greg Taylor's goal in the second half before Scott Arfield equalised and a chance at a first domestic trophy for 11 years.

The rousing comeback also ends Celtic's hopes of a fifth domestic treble in six seasons, having already won the League Cup this season and with a six-point lead in the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers' performance in stopping their rivals from making it 19 straight wins at Scotland's national stadium was especially impressive given they were taken to extra time on Thursday in their Europa League quarter-final against Braga.

With Hampden a cauldron of colour and noise, it was no surprise the game was filled with crunching tackles, mistakes, and nerve-shredding tension.

When the smoke which billowed from the pre-match pyrotechnics finally cleared, the action started and never really let up. Despite their European exploits, Rangers looked fresh as they shut down Celtic's midfield and hampered their build up.

Joe Aribo had two headed chances to give them a deserved lead, and John Lundstram's curling effort cracked a post as they came close to adding the gloss to a disciplined, if frantic, first period.

But Celtic, who have made Hampden their fortress in the last decade, came back in the second half when Callum McGregor's quick free quick caught out Rangers, and Taylor fired beyond

Jon McLaughlin with the help of a deflection off Bassey.

On an afternoon when Ange Postecoglou's side looked less sure of themselves, they might have been 2-0 up and on course for the final had Cameron Carter-Vickers' close-range shot cannoned off the bar.

But instead Arfield swept home the equaliser from James Tavernier's cross with 12 minutes left, and from there it was Rangers who looked the side with more energy and intent heading into extra time, dismissing any notion they would fade.

Tavernier and Fashion Sakala were denied by Joe Hart in extratime, before some quick thinking

by Glen Kamara released Bassey down the left, and his low delivery was prodded by Starfelt beyond his own goalkeeper under pressure from Sakala.

The explosion of noise in the Rangers end was something to behold as their decade-long pain in the cups comes another step closer to ending after a game where they had to dig incredibly deep to get the job done.

After back-to-back derby defeats in 2022, Rangers ceded the league led to Celtic and there was a general malaise about their domestic form, in stark contrast to their Europa League run, which will continue in the semi-finals against RB Leizpig.

But to get off the floor here, especially given they had won just two of their last 11 games at Hampden, with 120 minutes already in the legs from three days prior, was a hugely impressive feat.

All of the substitutes made a huge contribution. Steven Davis brought calm amid the storm and tired legs, Kamara's quick thinking set up the goal, while Arfield scored and Sakala was the man who forced the winner.

That was in contrast to Celtic, who seemed to suffer when Stephen Welsh and Anthony Ralston came on in the full-back positions.

Matt O'Riley did make a difference, but overall, this was a reminder there is work to do with their squad building. They also looked short of ideas when Rangers were able to shut them down for long spells.

Baseball, Softball Teams Battle for Cash Prizes in Asaba Over N1million cash prizes are up for grab at the maiden edition of Victor Chukwudumebi Achakpo 2022 National Division 1 Baseball and Softball championship slated for Asaba, Delta State. It will hold between April 20 and 24.

Baseball Division 1 teams from Delta, Kwara, Lagos, Ekiti and Niger state will battle for the cash prize of N200,000, N150,000 and N100,000 for the first, second and third place teams, while Softball Division 1 teams from Delta, Rivers, Kwara and Lagos will slug it out for the cash prize of N150,000, N100,000 and N70,000, which is at stake for the first, second and third place teams.

According to the organisers, there are also individual awards

for the Most Valuable Player, Best Infielder, Best Outfielder, Best Offensive Player, Most RBI, Best Dressed team and Best Behaved team.

General Secretary of Nigeria Baseball and softball Association, Kehinde Laniyan, stated yesterday that there would be feeding for 17 persons (15 players and two coaches) provided by the sponsor.

Victor Chukwudumebi Achakpo, a former athlete, stated that the National Division 1 Baseball and Softball championship is aimed at promoting and developing the game in Nigeria, re-awake the interest of youths in Baseball and softball, reduce youth restiveness in Nigeria and ultimately expose the players to international level.

Chelsea Defeat Crystal Palace to Set up Liverpool Final Chelsea set up a second Wembley meeting with Liverpool this season as they overcame Crystal Palace's stubborn resistance to reach the FA Cup final.

Liverpool won the Carabao Cup final on penalties in February but Chelsea will have the chance for revenge as second-half goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount underlined their supremacy.

Unlike the first semi-final between Liverpool and Manchester City, chances were at a premium until substitute Loftus-Cheek, on for the injured Mateo Kovacic, broke the deadlock with a deflected shot after 65 minutes.

Palace had their opportunities, Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saving well from Cheikhou Kouyate in the first half, but they could not come back after Mount slipped a low finish beyond Jack Butland with 14 minutes left.

Chelsea have deservedly reached their third successive FA Cup final and will now hope to reverse recent history after losing the previous two to Arsenal and Leicester City.

Manager Thomas Tuchel has a remarkable record in reaching domestic and European finals since his appointment and Chelsea will be formidable opponents for Liverpool, who are in search of a historic quadruple.

FA CUP Chelsea had to work had for their triumph but they showed patience, organisation and then quality to take control after half-time.

By the end, Chelsea were in

complete command and only some generosity in front of goal from substitute Romelu Lukaku, who struck the post when it seemed easier to score, and the otherwise excellent Timo Werner prevented a scoreline that would have been harsh on Palace.

Chelsea may be surrounded

by turmoil off the pitch amid the sanctions against owner Roman Abramovich,but a winning mentality persists on it and the players showed admirable powers of recovery following the disappointment of their Champions League quarter-final elimination

by Real Madrid.

Chelsea players celebrating defeating Crystal Palace to reach FA Cup final

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MISSILE ASUU to Federal Govt

“If they don’t have the money, they will find it. We will not renegotiate it. If they can raise N4 trillion to give to some people in the name of so-called fuel subsidy and then you cannot raise N200 billion to stop the strike and get our children back to school, does it make sense to anybody? Why not take N200 billion out of the fuel subsidy money and end this strike?” – ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, debunking the government’s excuse.

MAHMUDJEGA VIEW FROM THE GALLERY

They Had Nigeria in Mind T

he other day I was looking at some weird collective nouns of animals and it occurred to me that the Englishman who concocted them probably had Nigeria in mind.

He was thinking of Nigerian institutions, politics, society, laws and political processes when he coined those phrases, allegedly as collective nouns for different groups of animals.

Whoever coined the collective noun a train of echidna had Nigeria Railway Corporation in mind. This rare Australian mammal is one of only two mammals that lay eggs, just as NRC is the only railway company whose tracks are at the mercy of bandits.

Was the Englishman thinking of our security agents when he coined the collective noun a troop of baboons, soldiers who arrived at the Kaduna train attack scene long after 60 passengers had been herded into the bush? Government later said that Ansaru terrorists aligned with bandits to attack the train, which reminds me of the collective noun a coalition of cheetahs.

On a good day, beggars, touts and hawkers litter Nigerian streets, probably the reason for the collective noun an intrusion of cockroaches. With equal pestilence but often hidden from view are Nigeria’s army of e-beggars, to which NCC has not found a software solution. They remind me of the collective noun a siege of cranes.

The collective noun a tower of giraffes reminds me of high rise buildings in Lagos, Abuja and other cities from which the business elite and top public officers gaze far beyond the horizon but in reality hardly see beyond their noses. I think the phrase a bank of Komodo dragons was coined with Nigeria’s first, second and third generation banks in mind, pre and post consolidation.

They deduct so many hidden charges from customers’ accounts, from stamp duty to alert fee to account maintenance fee, that accounts get depleted without the account owner ever buying anything.

May be our Corporate Affairs Commission never heard of the collective noun a company of moles. Otherwise, it should carefully screen its companies’ register and weed out millions of companies whose offices are located in brief cases. On the other hand, Nigeria’s oligarchs were the target of the collective noun a richness of mink, cornering as they do most national assets and distorting the GDP per capita picture. The Organised Private Sector in Nigeria, which since 1980 spent more dollars to import machinery, spare parts and raw materials than the value of goods it produced, recalls to mind the collective noun a business of ferrets. The recently invented virtual company AGM inspired the collective noun a congregation of eagles.

Every now and then, our Senate goes into an “executive session,” which probably inspired the collective noun a parliament of owls. Many Nigerians align executive sessions with legislative and oversight hanky

Buhari

panky. Maybe things would have been neater if the separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution had been actualized.

In practice, the relationship between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government recalls to mind the collective noun a conspiracy of lemurs.

This collective noun a court of kangaroos, was it coined with Nigerian customary, shari’a, magistrate, rent, high, appeal and supreme courts in mind? The social scene is hardly neater than the governance scene.

In Nigeria, shylock landlords remind me of the collective noun a shiver of sharks.

Head of State General Obasanjo had tried to tame them with the Rent edicts in 1977 in order to stop landlords from removing the doors, windows and roofs of tenants.

Nothing spoil, because Nigerian landlords think of their tenants as a colony of bats who troop out at dusk, infest trees, eat up the ripe fruits and mess the surroundings with their droppings.

I am sure Nigerian markets were the

inspiration for the collective noun a mess of iguanas. Although most state governments tried to build modern markets with wide spaces for rapid response by fire fighting vehicles, stall “attachments” soon took over these corridors and there is hardly enough space to walk around. Nigerian commercial vehicles, on the other hand, inspired the collective noun a prickle of porcupines, each with its sharp quills up and ready to shoot.

Ponzi schemes that flourish in Nigeria, with many young and not-so-young people believing that they could invest money today and it will double by tomorrow, probably inspired the collective noun a shrewdness of apes. Apes are however smarter than Nigerians because no self-respecting ape will believe in money doubling. Elders are supposed to be the repositories of experience and wisdom. I however thought the collective noun a memory of elephants was inspired

by Nigerian elders. Segun Adeniyi recently described some elders as belonging to a generation that forgets nothing and forgives nothing, and for whom the past is more important than the present!

Maybe the collective noun a glaring of cats was inspired by Nigerian wives who regard their husbands as perpetual cheats, hence the endless attempts to crack their husbands’ phone passwords. Nigerian husbands however inspired a collective noun of their own, a rhumba of rattlesnakes. It derived from the fight by male rattlesnakes in order to corner a female. This reflects the jealously of Nigerian men who throw in everything, personal, official, material and spiritual in the fight for a woman. Getting married in Nigeria must have inspired the collective noun a risk of lobsters.

Nigerian lawyers sometimes remind me of the collective noun a congregation of alligators. Gators, as they call them in the Florida Everglades, lie in wait and pounce on unsuspecting visitors to the water, just as many lawyers in Nigeria peruse the newspapers every morning, looking for a potentially libelous story, which they rush to point out to a client and advise him to sue. Nigerian NGOs inspired the collective

That the national scene is infested with insurgents, kidnappers, bandits, communal warriors, secessionists and “race”agitators must have inspired the collective noun a surfeit of skunks. Foul smell from skunks is even better than the smell of tears and blood.

Roadside preaching by Nigerian clerics very much sounds like a lamentation of swans

noun a consortium of octopuses. They have their hands dug into every pie, mostly not for altruistic reasons. Nigerian academics, whose trade union ASUU has been on strike for a cumulative four years in the last ten, were the inspiration behind three collective nouns, namely an obstinacy of buffaloes, a thunder of hippos and a crash of rhinos.

That the national scene is infested with insurgents, kidnappers, bandits, communal warriors, secessionists and “race” agitators must have inspired the collective noun a surfeit of skunks. Foul smell from skunks is even better than the smell of tears and blood. Roadside preaching by Nigerian clerics very much sounds like a lamentation of swans. Some religious sects go beyond that and engage in zealous displays, which must have inspired the collective noun a murmuration of starlings.

Nigeria has entered the 2023 political season. Political party leaders who are busy juggling with zoning formulas, primary election time tables, cost of expression of interest and nomination forms remind me of the collective noun a prowl of jaguars, about to pounce on prey. Delegates to party congresses and conventions remind me of the collective noun a cackle of hyenas, intent on making a killing and unmindful of whatever happens afterwards. They don’t have to bother because the nominated candidates’ election campaigns remind me of the collective noun a mischief of rats. If one tenth of the promises made by candidates since 1999 had been fulfilled, Nigeria would have resembled El Dorado by now. Nigerian political conventions inspired the collective noun a celebration of polar bears, all colour and no substance.

Abuja football fans that wrecked the Moshood Abiola Stadium because the Super Eagles failed to edge out Ghana’s Black Stars must have inspired the collective noun a mob of deer. Have you seen a video of deer migration in the Serengeti, millions of them? They are better behaved than Nigerian football fans who never believe that a match is either won or lost.

Federal Government’s recently amended borrowing plan to finance the budget while fuel subsidy consumes a third of it must have inspired the collective noun an implausibility of gnus. This grim looking antelope must have looked askance when it heard that fuel subsidy was removed, then reintroduced so that APC will not lose the next election.

Section 84[12] of the Electoral Act, which National Assembly members smuggled in at the last minute in order to trip their ministerial election opponents, inspired the collective noun an ambush of tigers.

One Bengal tiger lying in wait is a lot of danger; imagine if there are many of them.

The Council of State agreeing to grant state pardon to the country’s highest profile thieves when thousands of petty thieves languish in jail, what is the inspiring collective noun for it? A deceit of lapwings.

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