THURSDAY 29TH APRIL 2021 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

CBN Queries First Bank as CEO is ‘Purportedly Ousted’ Says bank under forbearance, liquidity support can't remove helmsman without approval Shareholders weigh options, Otudeko, Odukale and Adenuga in battle for conntrol Obinna Chima The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday queried the

board of First Bank Nigeria Limited over the removal of the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the bank, Dr.

Adesola Adeduntan, saying the action was without regulatory approval. The apex bank said the

board's move has “dire implications for the bank and also portends significant risks to the stability of the financial

system.” The central bank stated this in a letter dated April 28, 2021, signed by its Director, Banking

Supervision, Mr. Haruna Mustafa, and addressed to the Continued on page 8

Fidelity Bank Records 53.9% Proﬁt Growth of N10.1bn in Q1...

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Police Deploy Personnel in FCT Borders to Forestall Bandits' Incursion...Page 10

Harsher Times Beckon as NNPC Warns No FAAC Remittance for May Says N111.966bn fuel subsidy defrayment will create massive revenue shortfall Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The three tiers of government, federal, states and local governments, are in for tough times next month as they may get less from the Federation Account, no thanks to the huge payment the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) would have to make for subsidy on petrol. Already, the NNPC, which is

being made to bear the cost for the price differential between the market price and pump price of petrol on behalf of the federation has served a notice that it will not be able to remit any funds to the Federation Account in April for distribution in May. In a letter by the corporation to the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Continued on page 8

We Can’t Afford Another Civil War, Says Osinbajo Obasanjo: Insecurity won’t consume Nigeria US issues advisory on Lagos Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha and Michael Olugbode in Abuja Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday rallied Nigerians to put the brakes on the spiralling violence that has pushed Nigeria to the edge of a precipice as the nation cannot afford another civil war now.

He also urged the elite to speak out against forces of division in order to preserve the unity of the country. However, former President Olusegun Obasanjo is optimistic that the worsening insecurity, as typified by the rising cases of killings, kidnappings, terrorism and Continued on page 8

NEW HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN... L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Ambassador to Spain, Mr. Ademola Seriki, during the groundbreaking of the new Massey Children Hospital, Adeniji Adele in Lagos…yesterday

NSIA: $350m Saved from Presidential Fertiliser Initiative Implementation... Page 5

THISDAY, THURSDAY APRIL 29,2021

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NEWS

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

NSIA: $350m Saved from Presidential Fertiliser Initiative Implementation Says 250,000 jobs created

Dike Onwuamaeze Over $350 million has been saved from the erstwhile payments on subsidy and import substitution through the implementation of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI), the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has said. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NSIA, Mr. Uche Orji, in a statement yesterday said with the support of President Muhammadu Buhari, the programme had accomplished its principal objectives. He said: "Having fulfilled the establishment, stabilisation and market discipline phase of PFI, the primary objective of which was to revive the blending plants and create a viable domestic blending industry, we believe the PFI should gradually evolve into the next phase, which is a tactical withdrawal of intervention in the industry and the emergence of a self-sufficient, sustainable, and efficiently operated market. "NSIA is pleased with the government’s decision and looks forward to seeing the innovation and creativity which will characterise the open market in the sector.” The presidency had approved the restructuring of PFI, starting in the 2021 cycle with various modifications, following the successes recorded over the past four years. Under the modifications, the NSIA has been transitioned to an upstream player thereby limiting its involvement to importation, storage and the wholesale of raw materials to blenders. The NSIA subsidiary, NAICNPK Limited, will be spun off to the Ministry of Finance

Incorporated. Under the new arrangement, blenders will no longer be paid blending fees by NAIC-NPK as they will recover their costs directly from selling the fertiliser to the market. This will balance the incentives of the business and ensure the blenders build the right capacity to actively participate in the local supply sub-sector. The blending plants are expected to provide bank guarantees to cover requisitioned raw materials demand that are appropriated for their respective production volumes. As part of the new structure and in line with the Presidential directive, the Federal Ministry of Finance Budget and National Planning and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are expected to engage commercial banks to facilitate lines of concessionary credits to blending plants for the purchase of raw materials. It is also expected that the CBN will ensure that the foreign exchange needed for the programme is provided as and when needed to cover some raw materials. The approval, issued in November of 2020, and which takes effect immediately, was communicated in a letter through the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President. Under the new arrangement, blenders will be responsible for the bulk of the activities in the fertiliser production value chain such as transporting the raw materials, sourcing filler, blending the fertiliser and selling to off-takers. Also, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will perform its statutory monitoring and quality control role over blender

activities. The benefits of this new approach include but not limited to the unlocking of more development finance (loans and investments) into the local fertiliser blending value chain of Nigeria. It will also strengthen market systems and encouraging actor participation. This will lead potentially to mergers and acquisition and innovation and growth across the industry which will benefit farmers. The new approach will further reduce food price inflation in the market as the availability of fertiliser will drive down the price or cost of food product. It is also expected to reduce

the high rate of unemployment as more people will become engaged in the production process. In his comment, the Chairman, Implementing Committee of the PFI and Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru said: “The programme has in many ways served to augment the administration’s policy-driven programmes to diversify the Nigerian economy. "In the main, the programme has bolstered Nigeria’s industrial base, resuscitated and strengthened domestic production capacity for fertiliser, eliminated to the huge fertiliser subsidy burden placed on the federal government, created thousands of direct and

indirect jobs and alleviate the plight of the domestic farmer by ensuring availability of fertiliser. "Clearly, the programme is a strong value proposition for the nation in the agriculture space given the variety of socio-economic benefits, it presents. We are grateful to Mr. President for creating this programme and look forwards to supporting the next phase as it evolves.” Chairman, the Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Thomas Etuh, said the restructuring was a welcome development for FEPSAN. "The new approach will afford operators the opportunity to build recognisable and

trusted brand while ramping up distribution nationwide.” According to him, within four years of the initiative, the programme has delivered on key outcomes, including over 30 million bags of 50kg NPK 20:10:10 equivalent spanning project period; price reduction on fertiliser from over N10, 000 to under N5, 500. He also said that 41 blending plants had been resuscitated from the initial four plants at project inception, adding that an estimated 250,000 jobs (direct and indirect) across the agriculture value chain, including in logistics, ports, bagging, rail, industrial warehousing and haulage touchpoints amongst others have been created.

OILING FOREIGN POLICY... Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva, (left) and Minister of Foreign Aﬀairs, Mr. Geoﬀrey Onyeama, during the virtual Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja...yesterday godwin omoigui

FG Approves Policy Document on Fighting Poverty Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) submitted by the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC). The FEC also approved N2.1 billion as facility maintenance fee for the Nigerian Content House in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, and flayed the recent attack on the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Benue State, which claimed the lives of some IDPs. Briefing journalists after the meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the meeting took note of the worrisome poverty in the country. According to him, the federal government, concerned by the rising poverty level, has taken

a step towards addressing with the council’s approval of the NPRGS. Adesina said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would chair the steering committee of the new policy to provide guidance for its implementation. He said FEC also approved the strategy’s incorporation into the medium-term national development plan 2021-2025 and Agenda 2050. Adesina added that FEC also directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, to prepare a bill for submission to the National Assembly to make the implementation of the strategy sustainable. He said: "Let me just appraise us with a conclusion on a draft policy on National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy that was also approved by the Federal Executive Council. "The Presidential Economic Advisory Council had some weeks back submitted the National Poverty Reduction

with Growth Strategy to the Federal Executive Council and it was widely debated today, and eventually passed as a conclusion. “And these are some of the things the Federal Executive Council noted the worsening poverty situation in the country and the efforts of the federal government to redress that situation. “It's not as if government is not aware that there is poverty in the land, but things are being done. One of it is this National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy that was presented today. “The council noted that the president has directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the chairman Presidential Economic Advisory Council on the need to come up with a sustainable poverty reduction strategy. And that strategy is what is already codified in this volume and it was widely discussed and passed.

“The council noted the contributions of stakeholders, comments and observations made by FEC members on this volume and the presentation of the NPRGS has been duly incorporated into the strategy. They also noted the final articulation of a two-volume, National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy, and its major pillars. “The strategy is encapsulated in these two volumes, which you may need to get familiar with the contents of the strategy." Also at the media briefing, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouk, flayed the incessant attacks on IDPs' camps. Speaking against the backdrop of the attack by suspected herdsmen on the Abagana IDP camp in Benue State, which led to the death of seven persons, she called for the beefing up of security

around them. According to her, the ministry is working to alleviate the suffering of the IDPs and facilitate their return to their “Really a very sad development and I'm sure the security agencies are on top of it. What I can say is that there should be enhanced security around these areas where we have these incessant attacks. “For us in the ministry, we do our best to see that these displaced people are being supported and catered for while we work towards returning them back to their communities,” she stated. On his part, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva, said FEC approved a facility maintenance contract for the Nigerian Content House, Yenegoa at the cost of N2.1billion. He stated that the other memo approved for his ministry was for the operations and maintenance of a 10 megawatts power plant also in Yenagoa.

“Council also graciously approved the operations and maintenance contract for the sum of N712 million for two years. All the contracts that were presented today before the council were for an initial period of two years,” he said. In his brief, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, said FEC adopted a National Diaspora Policy prepared by the Nigerian Diaspora Commission headed by Hon. Abike Dabiri. He said: “This policy really is aimed at formalising and giving a structure to the relationship between the country and government and the Nigerians in the diaspora, of which, you know, the 17 or more million Nigerians in the diaspora, and they constitute a very, very important part of the Nigerian community. “This policy aims to promote national development through engagement, constructive engagement with the Nigerians in the diaspora.”

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NEWS

With New Bill, Senate Empowers AMCON to Seize Debtors’ Assets

Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja

The Senate yesterday passed the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria Amendment (AMCON) bill after considering the report of its Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions. The amendment bill empowers AMCON to, among others, take possession, manage or sell all assets traced to debtors, whether or not such assets or property are used as security/collateral for obtaining the loan. It also empowers the corporation to access the special tribunal established by the BOFIA, 2020 for dealing with financial related matters. Presenting the report, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Uba Sani (APC, Kaduna Central), said the committee engaged with stakeholders such as AMCON, the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning; Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC). According to him, the stakeholders in their submissions pushed for AMCON to be empowered to take possession, manage, foreclose or sell, transfer, assign or otherwise of property used as security for eligible bank assets among others. This, he said, would provide for a quicker, easier and legitimate process of assets disposal. The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie OmoAgege (APC, Delta Central), during the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill,

sought to know the rationale behind the recommendation of the committee in clause two, which empowers AMCON to take possession of assets outside of those used as collateral in obtaining a loan request. He said: “The essence of collateral is that in the event of default, you lose that asset. What I am reading here is that in addition to seizing that asset, they (AMCON) want to go beyond that to every other asset or property that is traceable to the debtor. I think I need some clarifications to that. Senator Bassey Akpan (PDP, Akwa-Ibom North-East) also said no creditor should be allowed to go outside the asset presented for the facility. Senator Adamu Aliero said: “Mr. Chairman, if you can recall, during debate on this bill, senators made it abundantly clear that these debtors are taking government money and they are using it freely and going free, and we need stringent measures to be enforced to recover the money.” The President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, at this point, called for a voice vote on the contentious clause, which eventually was adopted by the majority. After the passage of the bill, Senators Bassey Akpan and Chukwuka Utazi, while relying on Point of Order 73, contested Lawan’s ruling by requesting for a division. Utazi kicked against the clause empowering AMCON to take possession of assets traced to debtors, saying that most of the banks that have those bad debts colluded with the customers in doing that in the

first place. Interjecting, Lawan said: “When we come to legislate, we all come here with a very clear mind; that we are doing this for our country. We don’t have any interest but the national interest. And when the majority of our colleagues here in their judgement feel that this is the right thing to do, that’s the majority view, unless we have any cause to reverse ourselves. ''If the majority of senators say this is what they feel should be done to remedy a situation

that requires our attention, I think we should allow that. And besides, I believe we had explanations from the committee members who went through all the processes; So, I believe that we should let it go. Let the people go to court to test it, but our hope and desire is for AMCON to be able to recover huge sums of money – trillions that people have taken and now is on the head of Nigerians. And, it is criminal, really. People will consciously take money. I will advise that we stick to our decision.''

Senators Bala Ibn Na’Allah (APC, Kebbi South) and Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), advocated the inclusion of a provision amid the AMCON amendment, to give it precedence over any other law that may be used to cite an instance of conflict. Na’Allah stated that they have to put a clause to say, ‘notwithstanding the provisions obtained in any other law to enable the law take effect.' Senator George Thompson Sekibo (PDP, Rivers East), while citing the Senate rules, observed

that it will be out of order to reconsider any specific question, upon which the Senate has come to a conclusion during the current session, except upon a substantive motion or decision. He said: ''All the discussion we are making on it now is of no value, they are not supposed to be recorded because we have come to a decision on it. It may be wrongly or rightly, but we have ended it.'' Lawan, thereafter, ruled in favour of the provision of the Senate Rule cited by Sekibo and the bill was passed.

OFFICERS OF THE LAW... Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Alkali Usman (left), and Chairman/Chief Executive, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Marwa (rtd), during the police chief’s courtesy visit to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja…yesterday

FG Grants Dangote Cement N22.32bn Tax Credit Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has issued Dangote Cement Plc, tax credit certificates valued at N22.321 billion. The tax credit certificates were for the construction of Apapa-Oworonshoki-Ojota road in Lagos and the LokojaObajana-Kabba road connecting Kogi and Kwara States. While Julius Berger is handling the construction of the two federal roads, Dangote Cement Plc is providing the funds.

The credit certificates issued to Dangote is a waiver to cover the tax that Dangote Cement would have paid. The FIRS' Executive Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami, gave the clarification in Abuja yesterday while presenting the two tax credit certificates to Dangote Cement. Nami was represented by the Coordinating Director, Tax Operations Group, FIRS, Mr. Femi Oluwaniyi. The tax credit certificates for the Apapa-Oworoshoki-Ojota expressway is valued at N21.6 billion while that of Lokoja-

Obajana-Kabba expressway is valued at N721 million. This is the second tax credit certificate the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) will issue to Dangote for the Lokoja-Obajana-Kabba road construction. A N9.5 billion tax credit certificate had earlier in 2019 been awarded to Dangote Cement for the Lokoja-ObajanaKabba road. Nami said: "Government came to that reasoning that if we could encourage local investors to do the needful and of course under an agreement

with some due monitoring and approvals then some of the monies they would have accrued back to government as taxes, they would have paid. "It will be in the interest of the government that other investors, business entrepreneurs, companies take advantage of this key initiative such that Nigeria can develop faster than the government would have done alone. "We are hoping that this arrangement will be taken to another level, we are also believing that this will spur other business players out there

to come and take advantage of it." The issuance of tax credit certificates followed the signing of Executive Order 07 of 2019 by President Muhammadu Buhari, which is on road infrastructure tax credit. The order encourages companies to develop infrastructure around their operational area as long as it will enhance their delivery and their businesses. Receiving the tax credit certificates on behalf of Dangote Cement Plc, the Group Executive Director,

GovernmentGovenment and Stakeholders Relations, Ahmed Mansur, said while it was true that the responsibility of providing public services and public facilities like roads and electricity, among others, was that of the state, the prevailing economic realities had made that difficult to achieve. He added: "To do it at the same time within the time that the public requires is often not possible and I think it is this kind of thing that has generated the need for the state to engage private actors to participate in the process."

Barkindo Seeks Cleaner Oil, Gas Production Techniques Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr. Sanusi Barkindo, yesterday called for cleaner and more efficient techniques and technologies in the production of oil and gas. He said though oil and gas would continue to be relevant as sources of energy, it was time to devise new ways of exploration and exploitation to reduce carbon emissions.

Barkindo spoke in Vienna, Austria, via video conference at a joint meeting with the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Energy Forum (IEF), which focused on coal and gas market outlooks. The symposium examined short to long-term gas and coal market developments, COVID-19 recovery and post-pandemic outlooks, gas decarbonisation and the role of gas and coal in the energy transition.

In referencing OPEC’s World Oil Outlook (WOO)2020, Barkindo stated that global primary energy demand is expected to continue growing in the medium and long term, rising by 25 per cent by 2045. He added that oil is projected to remain the largest contributor to the global energy mix by 31 per cent, while gas and coal are set to account for 28 per cent and 25 per cent respectively. On the energy transition, Barkindo stated that at OPEC, it is believed that the scale of

the challenges that the energy transition presents will require the utilisation of all available energies. “We must seek out cleaner and more efficient technological solutions, such as Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), while promoting the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE), as a means to improve overall environmental performance,” he said. Carbon capture is the process of capturing carbon dioxide to be recycled for further usage

and offers a response to the global challenge of significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions from major industrial emitters. Barkindo highlighted the importance of the meeting, particularly at a time the energy sector continues to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to address its impacts on the global energy markets are in top gear. According to him, the joint event has increasingly attracted high-level participation, while

the important issues discussed have been elevated to the global energy agenda. He described the event as part of the trilateral work programme, involving interactions between physical and financial energy markets. “The COVID-19 pandemic has served as a stark reminder of how crucial global energy cooperation is in confronting serious industry crises, supporting stable energy markets and fuelling economic growth,” he stated.

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Ohanaeze Demands Prosecution of South-east Violence Perpetrators Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The pan-Igbo sociopolitical group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday called on the federal government to immediately commence an inquest into the rising violence in the South-east, with a view to arresting and prosecuting those behind the killings and attack on valuable assets. The group, in a statement

by its President-General, Prof. George Obiozor, and its SecretaryGeneral, Mr. Okey Emuchay, Ohanaeze Ndigbo said the attacks did not bear the usual marks of local perpetrators. It decried the violent attacks on some institutions in the South-east, including the one on the correctional centre, police headquarters and the country home of the Imo State Governor,

Senator Hope Uzodimma. The group recalled the attack on the Federal High Court Abakaliki, Ebonyi, saying that just on Monday, there was yet an attack on the Fulani community at Igbariam in Anambra State, leading to the murder of innocent civilians. It added: “These attacks were clinically conducted by the perpetrators and to this

extent do not bear the usual and known signature of local operators. “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide condemns in strong terms the killings that took place at Igbariam, Anambra State. Such dastardly acts are not in Igbo character. Ohanaeze urges the security agencies to trace the perpetrators of this heinous crime and bring them to book.”

Ohanaeze stated that it has reviewed the incidence of criminalities in the region in the recent past and concluded that going by the sophistication and capacity of the likely perpetrators, some powerful elements or groups could be deliberately orchestrating violence to justify pre-planned and predetermined invasion of the South-east. The organisation, therefore,

requested the federal government to investigate the nature and the sophistication of the crimes that were taking place in the South-east in the interest of all. “Ohanaeze requests the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to thoroughly investigate this new wave of criminalities and violence in South-east of Nigeria,” it said.

about Nigeria. “Epon agbo wa n fi ni, koni ja (the situation may be dire but we won’t be consumed). There will be light at the end of the tunnel.”

piracy. All of these are real challenges. “The good news is this: One, we are in absolute solidarity between us in trying to address these challenges together. And the United States is committed to supporting Nigeria as it meets these challenges. And what that involves primarily is helping Nigeria continue to build its capacity through training, through resources, through information sharing, through equipment and all of that done, very importantly, with full respect for human rights.” He added that: “But it’s also important that we work together, as we are, to address some of the drivers or facilitators of violence and instability that we know those engaged in these activities can sometimes feed on. And that’s why you have to have a comprehensive approach to these challenges. It’s not – the security piece is vitally important, but it’s insufficient, and so economic development, progress, opportunity is hugely important.”

Consulate has cautioned Americans living in Lagos to be more security conscious, given the alleged rise in cases of armed robbery in the state. The consulate, in an advisory, said it had recently seen a notable increase in crime in the state, including smash-and-grabs on the roads by armed men, especially in both Ikoyi and on Victoria Island areas. According to the advisory, typically, men on a motorcycle will follow a vehicle until it stops at a traffic light or intersection then approach the vehicle, present a weapon, and rob the occupants. It stated that although most of the incidents happen at night, the consulate in Lagos has received reports of robberies taking place even during daylight hours. “Please remember to be aware of your surroundings, especially when driving at night. The following personal safety tips can help reduce your risk of becoming a victim. “Keep vehicle doors locked and windows rolled up at all times while driving, especially in traffic jams or at traffic lights. Avoid driving alone at night and do not stop to help strangers on the road,” the consulate said.

WE CAN’T AFFORD ANOTHER CIVIL WAR, SAYS OSINBAJO banditry, would not consume the nation. Osinbajo, at a meeting on Tuesday night in Abuja with All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders from the South-east, said whether or not the country would experience another civil war, after that of 1967-1970 that claimed about two million lives, would depend on the actions and inactions of the political elite. Osinbajo, in a statement yesterday by his media aide, Mr. Laolu Akande, said: “We cannot afford a war in this country… it is the political elite that will determine what will take place. If we keep quiet, if we say nothing and hope that things will just normalise, we may be wrong. “And we may find ourselves heading for something much worse than we are seeing today. “If the political elite do not speak up, if we don’t see anything wrong with what is going on, if we allow it to continue to slide, we will endanger ourselves and endanger the future of our country. “I know that every conflict is a result of elite failure, the elite failure to speak up and tell the truth to their communities, that’s the cause of every one of these civil conflicts. “So, I would urge that we speak up. I would urge

that we stand for something. Sometimes it’s dangerous to stand for something. But the greater danger, of course, is to keep quiet.” He cautioned that “the thing about the kinds of conflicts in these parts of the world is that it is usually a war without end. Everyone who thinks that they have some money stored up somewhere is wrong, you will eventually run out.” Narrating his experience when he worked with the United Nations in Somalia, Osinbajo said he saw a Supreme Court judge queuing for food.

Insecurity Won’t Consume Nigeria, Says Obasanjo But former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday assured Nigerians that the rising insecurity would not consume the nation. He said there would be light at the end of the tunnel despite the killings and abductions. Obasanjo, during a valedictory and commendation service for the retiring President of Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, said he remained an “incurable optimist” that a better Nigeria would

emerge despite the escalating security challenges. The church held its 108th session at the Baptist International Conference Centre, Lufuwape Town, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The service was attended by other dignitaries, including Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; his Oyo State counterpart, Mr. Seyi Makinde; and Senator Ishaku Abbo (Adamawa North), among others. Obasanjo, who is a member of the Baptist Church, added that Nigeria would surmount all the current problems. He stated: “When I was coming here, I didn’t intend to make a speech. And you will see that unlike my two brothers (referring to Abiodun and Makinde); I don’t have anything to read. “If you have brothers like this, do you have anything to fear? So, I told them to make a speech and I have come to concur. So, I concur. “But having concurred, if I don’t say more than that, you will leave here and say ‘Obasanjo is I concur.’ “Is that good enough? My two brothers talked about the situation we are in (insecurity). You know, I’m an incurable optimist about a number of things but particularly

Nigeria Facing Extra-ordinary Security Challenges, Says Blinken Meanwhile, the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Antony Blinken, has said Nigeria is facing extra-ordinary security challenges, but has an ally in his country. Blinken, who was at a virtual roundtable with some selected journalists from Nigeria and Kenya after an equally virtual visit to both countries, said he discussed the security situation in Nigeria with President Muhammadu Buhari and some other top government officials. While answering a question from one of the Nigerian journalists, Blinken said: “I think it is fair to say that the challenges that Nigeria face when it comes to security are quite extraordinary – and you referenced them – whether it’s terrorism, whether it’s banditry and criminality, whether it’s

HARSHER TIMES BECKON AS NNPC WARNS NO FAAC REMITTANCE FOR MAY

Ahmed Idris,

NNPC said it posted a value shortfall of N111.966 billion in February 2021, which will ultimately impact on its ability to contribute to the joint account shared by the federal, state and local governments. A copy of the letter, signed by the corporation’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Umar Ajiya, and dated April 26, 2021, was obtained by THISDAY yesterday. The minister of finance, budget, and national planning; the director-general, Nigeria Governors' Forum; the director, home finance; and the chairman, Commissioners of Finance Forum were copied. The implication is that the zero remittance from the NNPC may

affect the monthly allocation to states, which may ultimately struggle to meet their statutory obligations, including payment of salaries and pensions. The NNPC, in the letter, attributed the N111.966 billion shortfall to the rising average landing cost of petrol, which jumped to N184 per litre in March as opposed to the existing N128 ex-coastal price. According to the corporation, the N111.966 billion incurred as landing costs would be deducted from April oil and gas proceeds due to the federation in May. It stated: “Further to our previous correspondences on the above subject, we wish to advise on the projected remittance to the Federation Account for the

months of April (May FAAC) to June 2021 (July 2021 FAAC). “The accountant-general of the federation is kindly invited to note that the average landing cost of petrol for the month of March 2021 was N184 per litre as against the subsisting ex-coastal price of N128 per litre, which has remained constant notwithstanding the changes in the macroeconomics variables affecting petroleum products pricing. “As the discussions between government and the labour are yet to be concluded, NNPC recorded a value shortfall of N111, 966, 456, 903.74 in February 2021 as a result of the difference highlighted above.” The corporation said a

US Advises Citizens on Movement within Lagos However, the United States

projection of remittance to the Federation Account for the next three months had been sent to the Office of the Accountant-General. It added: “Accordingly, the AGF is invited to note that the sum of N111,966,456,903.74 will be deducted from April 2021 oil and gas proceeds due to the federation in May 2021, which will translate to zero remittance to the Federation Account from NNPC in the month of May 2021.” The corporation stated that the move was to ensure the continuous supply of petroleum products to the nation and the guarantee of energy security in the country. Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele

Kyari, had earlier raised the alarm over the rising landing cost of the product, saying that the NNPC could not continue in that trajectory. However, earlier this month, Kyari assured the nation that there would be no price increase, even till May, as negotiations between labour and the federal government was continuing. Also, during a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari, Kyari had said the NNPC had continued to shoulder the burden of paying subsidies, adding that in a deregulated pricing system, the product would be selling above N200 rather than the current N162 official price. “The price could have been anywhere between N211 and

years the bank is yet to perfect its lien on the shares of Mr. Oba Otudeko in FBN Holdco, which collateralised the restructured credit facilities for Honey Well Flour Mills contrary to the conditions precedent for the restructuring of the company’s credit facility. “Given the bank’s failure to perfect the pledge and satisfy conditions for regulatory approval, the restructuring has thus been invalidated and the credit facilities now payable immediately.” Consequently, the central bank has requested that HoneyWell, “ fully repays its obligations to the bank within 48 hours failing which the CBN will take appropriate regulatory measures against the insider borrower and the bank.” It added: “Furthermore, the Bank notes the untenable delay in resolving the long outstanding divestment from Bharti Airtel Nigeria Ltd in line with extant regulations of the CBN. “Accordingly, you are required to divest the equity investments in all non-permissible entities such

as Honey Well Flour Mills and Bharti Airtel Nigeria Limited within 90 days. Please you are to forward evidence of compliance in accordance with the timelines above to the Director of Banking Supervision.” The Board of Directors of First Bank had earlier yesterday announced that the appointment of Shobo as its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) took immediate effect. Shobo was the bank’s Deputy Managing Director. According to a statement, the appointment was subject to regulatory approval. Also appointed was Abdullahi Ibrahim as Deputy Managing Director, while Mr. Ini Ebong, Mr. Segun Alebiosu, Mr. Seyi Oyefeso and Mrs. Bashirat Odunewu, were appointed Executive Directors. Similarly, their appointments are also subject to regulatory approvals. Commenting on the appointments, the Chairman, First Bank, Awosika said: “We

CBN QUERIES FIRST BANK AS CEO IS ‘PURPORTEDLY OUSTED’ bank’s Chairman, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, a copy of which was obtained by THISDAY. CBN also demanded a comprehensive response on the matter from Awosika to be delivered to the banking sector regulator latest 5pm today. The Board of Directors of First Bank had earlier yesterday announced the appointment of Mr. Gbenga Shobo as the new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO). But in a swift reaction, the CBN noted with concern that the action was taken without due consultation with the regulatory authorities, especially given the systemic importance of First Bank as well as given that the tenure of Adeduntan was yet to expire. “The CBN was not made aware of any report from the board indicting the Managing Director of any wrong-doing or misconduct; there appears to be no apparent justification for the precipitate removal. “We are particularly concerned because the action is coming at a time the CBN has provided

various regulatory forbearances and liquidity support to reposition the bank, which has enhanced its asset quality, capital adequacy and liquidity ratios amongst other prudential indicators. “It is also curious to observe that the sudden removal of the MD/CEO was done about eight months to the expiry of his second tenure, which is due on December 31, 2021.” According to the central bank, the removal of a sitting MD/CEO of a systemically important bank, “that has been under regulatory forbearance for five to six years without prior consultation and justifiable basis,” has dire implications for the bank and also portends significant risks to the stability of the financial system. “In light of the foregoing, you are required to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against the Board for hastily removing the MD/CEO and failing to give prior notice to the CBN before announcing the management change in the media.

“In the meantime, you are directed to desist forthwith from making any further public/media comments on the matter. Your comprehensive response on the foregoing should reach the Director, Banking Supervision Department on or before 5pm on April 29, 2021,” it added. Meanwhile, the banking sector regulator in another letter also signed by Mustafa, titled: “Re: Audited FIRS Accounts for the Financial Year Ended December 31, 2020,” revealed that the bank was yet to divest its interest in HoneyWell Flour Mills, Barti Airtel and other non-permissible interest. The Chairman of FBN Holdings, the holding company of First Bank Nigeria Limited, Oba Otudeko is also the Chairman of Honey Well. He used to be the Chairman of Barti Airtel. However, the CBN in the letter stated: “We are concerned that the bank has not complied with regulatory directives to divest its interest in Honey Well Flour Mills despite several reminders. We further noted that after four

Continued on page 10

N234 to the litre. The meaning of this is that consumers are not paying for the full value of petrol that we are consuming and, therefore, someone is paying that cost,” he said, adding: “As we speak today, the difference is being carried in the books of NNPC and I can confirm to you that NNPC may no longer be in a position to carry that burden.” In March last year, when the international price of crude oil was low, the federal government announced that it had deregulated the downstream sector, which meant that the pump price would be determined by market forces. That policy was implemented for months until crude oil prices rose again, and the eventual return of subsidies’ payment, which the NNPC has put at about N120 billion monthly.

TOP GAINERS CHIPLC PORTPAINT ROYALEXCH ABCTRANS JAPAULGOLD TOP LOSERS FTNCOCOA NEIMETH INTERBREW

NGN NGN 0.03 0.33 0.20 2.60 0.03 0.45 0.02 0.31 0.03 0.61 NGN 0.04 0.36 0.17 1.73 0.50 5.20 PZ 0.40 5.00 CORNERSTONE 0.04 0.53 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,420.00 Volume: 259.51 million shares Value: N1.91 billion Deals: 3,547 As at yesterday 28/4/2021 See details on Page 43

% 10 8.3 7.1 6.9 5.1 % 10 8.9 8.7 7.4 7.0

THISDAY, THURSDAY APRIL 29,2021

THURSDAY, ͺ΁˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

No Missing N10bn, PDP Insists Chuks Okocha in Abuja, Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie in Lagos The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again debunked the allegation that N10 billion that was generated from sales of forms from the 2019 election is missing and challenged its accuser, Mr. Kassim Afegbua, a former member of its Presidential Campaign Council, to show evidence of the alleged missing fund. Afegbua, in a petition to both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), had accused the PDP of diverting the N10 billion realised from sales of forms and donations to the party, and demanded a probe into the allegation. But the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said party members and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party have not complained of missing funds,

adding that the money generated from sales of forms was N4.6 billion. According to him, the money was duly paid into the designated account approved by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC). Both Ologbondiyan and Afegbua spoke yesterday on the ‘Morning Show,’ a programme of ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers. Ologbondiyan, who dismissed the allegation of financial misappropriation, said the accusation is libellous, threatening that the PDP would sue Afegbua to seek redress. He said PDP did not operate unauthorised accounts and that all financial dealings of the party were carried out through the due process and were approved by the National Executive Committee, which is the highest organ of the party. He added: “Afegbua is only fishing in an ocean of rumours and the party is not troubled by his action. He has taken the case

to the EFCC and ICPC, yet he has no clear evidence against the party. By the time the party finishes with the EFCC, the party will definitely engage him within the party level. “If Afegbua is really a member of the PDP as he claims to be, he should study the constitution of the party, and I am sure that by the time he finishes reading the constitution, he will discover his own foolishness. I say this because it is clear in the party’s constitution, who has powers over financial expenditures. Even the National Working Committee of the party has no power of its own on financial matters and Afegbua whose position as a member of the party is not yet determined is making a frivolous accusation.” Ologbondiyan who accused Afegbua of playing anti-party politics, said during 2019 elections, Afegbua was in PDP, but in 2020, he jumped to another party and campaigned for a candidate who was not a member of PDP. He accused him of coming from the blues with a petition

to EFCC against the PDP, saying that his action was simply to bring down the roof of the party because he demanded a party position that was not given to him. Ologbondiyan, however, said the claim of N10 billion generated from the sales of forms as alleged by Afegbua, was laughable because there was no evidence to support such claim. He said the PDP had always worked with audited accounts and would continue to present its accounts for auditing by external auditors as stipulated in the party’s constitution. However, Afegbua said he would pursue the case to a logical conclusion, stressing that he will not be intimated by any blackmail. He said: “I stand by my position that the money realised from sales of forms and other donations was N10 billion, but even with the insistence from the party that only N4.6 billon was raised, I will still want the EFCC and ICPC to investigate

whether the N4.6 billon was generated based on the existing financial standards of the party or whether there was money laundering. I say this because I am aware that the party uses several unauthorised accounts because when I bought my form to contest in the 2019 election for House of Representatives, I paid N1.5 million and I was made to pay the money into a consultant account and I was issued a receipt. “Ologbondiyan and the party members are saying ‘I do not have the legal right to accuse them of wrongdoings because I am no longer a member of the party, having been suspended last year,’ but they forgot to understand that my suspension from the party was for one month, which expired September 2, 2020.” Afegbua also dismissed Ologbondiyan’s defence, saying that his argument was shallow because he lacked the knowledge of the party’s history. According to him, the party must show true accountability

of all its spending since 2019 elections till date, and the evidence of money received and expended must be presented before the EFCC and ICPC. Asked what he stood to gain from petitioning the party, Afegbua said he wanted a situation where party leaders would be conscious of their roles as agents of a viral democratic culture of transparency, accountability, probity and openness in handling public finances, so that they did not think that the resources of the party belonged to them. “I want a situation where persons liable of public financial misappropriation be prosecuted. “Charity begins at home, so PDP cannot claim to be fighting the ruling APC party for incompetence and failure, including corruption, when PDP is committing the same offence within its own microscopic party. My petition will serve as a deterrent so that going forward, nobody will use consultant accounts to steal from the party’s resources,” he said.

Yakubu Wants INEC Unbundled before 2023 Elections

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha and Udora Orizu in Abuja

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday called for the unbundling of the commission before the conduct of the 2023 elections. Yakubu said yesterday in Abuja at the public hearing on the Electoral Offences Commission Bill that INEC, as presently constituted, was overburdened with electoral duties. He added that the commission had secured 60 convictions out of those being prosecuted for 125 electoral offences. Yakubu expressed disappointment over the delay in the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, saying barely a year and nine months to the 2023 general election, the National Assembly is yet to pass the bill. He said 2023 general election would hold on February 18, 2023, and the commission was anxious to know the legal framework to

govern the conduct of the polls. He said the timetable for the election would be released immediately after the Anambra governorship election scheduled for November 6, 2021. He said: ''In order to do so, there should be clarity and certainty about the electoral legal framework to govern the 2023 general election. The public hearing on the bill was being done 13 years after the recommendation of the Uwais Committee in 2008. And beyond that, there had also been so many reports basically calling for action on electoral offenders. "No doubt, INEC is saddled with so many responsibilities ranging from the registration and regulation of political parties, registration of voters, delineation of constituencies, conduct of elections/byelections/referendum/recall and prosecution of electoral offences, among others. “We look forward to the day when highly placed sponsors of thuggery, including chieftains of

political parties and candidates, will be prosecuted. "The tasks are herculean. At last, we are here today for public input into the Bill for the establishment of the Electoral Offences Commission, 13 years after the recommendations of the Uwais Committee (2008), echoed by the Lemu Committee (2011) and, most recently, the Nnamani Committee (2017).” If the bill is passed by the National Assembly and eventually assented into law by the president, the activities of the commission will be unbundled. According to him, the commission has achieved 60 convictions out of the 124 cases being prosecuted, adding that INEC will like to see more prosecution of election offenders and their sponsors. Yakubu said: "By the principle established by the commission, 2023 general election will hold on Saturday, 18 February 2023, which is exactly one year, nine months, two weeks and six days or 660 days from today. We hope

to release the timetable and schedule of activities for the general election immediately after the Anambra governorship election scheduled to hold on November 6, 2021. "In order to do so, there should be clarity and certainty about the electoral legal framework to govern the election. We are confident that the National Assembly will do the needful in earnest." On the activities of the commission, he said: "Of the numerous responsibilities carried out by the commission, the prosecution of electoral offenders has been one of the most challenging." He said INEC was excited by yesterday's public hearing. He added: "I would like to reiterate our appeal to the National Assembly for the expeditious passage of the Electoral Offences Commission (Establishment) Bill 2021 and the pending review of the electoral legal framework generally. "We are confident that the

National Assembly will conclude work on the legal framework in earnest. The commission is anxious to know the legal framework to govern the conduct of the 2023 general election.” Yakubu said the commission would submit a detailed clauseby-clause comment on the bill to the Senate Committee on INEC ahead of the commencement of the committee's technical work. He also urged the National Assembly to avail itself of some of the works of the Uwais Committee and others during its consideration of the bill. He said: "There are recommendations along the lines of the Uwais Committee from the reports of the police investigation, INEC administrative enquiries, court judgements, reports by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and reports by several accredited election observers." Earlier in his keynote address, Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Kabiru Gaya, had said that the

bill provided for the commission to investigate and prosecute electoral offenders on the powers of the Attorney-General, adopt measures to prevent, minimise and eradicate electoral offences. He said: ''There have been a lot of controversies in the news lately, that some of the recommendations submitted to the joint committee of the National Assembly on INEC and Electoral Matters have not been considered. Let me clarify here that every memorandum on the Electoral Bill 2021 has gone through a joint technical committee and the representative to draw a conclusion to the process and seek the president's assent within this quarter. ''The Senate Committee on INEC and the leadership of the National Assembly sincerely appreciate your continued positive participation in improving our laws and your support in lending your hands to building democratic institutions required for the sustenance of our developing democracy.''

Police Deploy Personnel in FCT Borders to Forestall Bandits' Incursion DSS debunks alleged planned invasion of Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ilorin Chuks Okocha and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Following fears of an alleged impending invasion of Abuja by terrorists and armed bandits, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command (FCT) yesterday ordered the deployment of personnel in the borders with contiguous states even as it pushed back against messages circulating on social media of an alleged attack on the University of Abuja by armed criminals. In the same vein, the Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday described it as false, circulating messages of an impending invasion of Lagos, Port Harcourt and Ilorin by the terrorist group, Boko Haram. Panic had gripped FCT residents following the declaration by the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram had sacked 50 villages in the state and that the terror group had hoisted a flag in the state. He said Abuja, a two-hour drive from the state, was not safe as well, a position that created panic in the nation's capital.

But a statement signed by the spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, ASP Yusuf Mariam, said the seat of power was safe. It said the command had deployed personnel to FCT borders with other states. "The FCT Police Command wishes to reassure residents of adequate protection of lives and property in the Federal Capital Territory. “Therefore, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Ciroma, has deployed overt and covert strategies to curb banditry and criminal activities particularly on the borders of the territory. "In addition, the commissioner of police has launched an advance collaborative approach to address the security concerns. On this note, we wish to reaffirm our undeterred resolve towards the protection of lives and property within the Federal Capital Territory," it said even as it implored residents to report all suspicious movements, emergency or distress, through police numbers. In an earlier statement, the FCT police command debunked

another circulating message that University of Abuja was attacked by armed bandits on Tuesday night. The separate statement said the University of Abuja was not attacked by armed bandits. It said the Commissioner of Police, Ciroma, had ordered uninterrupted patrols around schools within the FCT. Meanwhile, the DSS has debunked claims that there were plans by terrorists to invade Lagos, Port Harcourt and Ilorin. In a short statement, the spokesman of the DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said the message was false.

Buhari, APC Insensitive, Says PDP In a related development, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said the silence by President Muhammadu Buhari in the face of terrorist occupation, mass killings, kidnapping, acts of banditry and escalated insecurity enveloping all parts of the nation were ominous and had further

confirmed Buhari as “a lame duck president.” The party lamented that the decision by Buhari to recede into the comfort and safety of Aso Presidential Villa and kept silent while the nation burns had worsened the situation and emboldened terrorist elements to unleash more violence on the nation. In a statement issued yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said due to the incompetence, divisiveness and insensitivity of the presidency, violence, killings,

bloodletting and a gripping reign of terror had seized all parts of the country, adding that there was no hope in sight. PDP said it was a mark of failure that the presidency and the APC appeared unconcerned as terrorists and bandits took control of various parts of the country and even hoisted their flags in Shiroro, Niger State. The main opposition party accused the ruling party of being only interested in its 2023 power-grabbing plot. The party urged Nigerians to note how an APC Senator, Smart Adeyemi, who dared to speak

out against the failure of Buhari on the floor of the Senate, was reprimanded by Senator Remi Tinubu, who reminded him that he was not a member of the PDP and should not show concern for the ugly situation in our country. PDP said: "From the comment of Senator Tinubu, it is instructive to note that the APC and their leaders had turned their backs on Nigerians and that it is only the senators, members and other leaders elected on the platform of the PDP that are concerned about the plight of citizens at this critical time.”

CBN QUERIES FIRST BANK AS CEO IS ‘PURPORTEDLY OUSTED’ are proud to announce Gbenga Shobo as our new MD/CEO. His appointment has proven the resilience of our succession planning mechanisms and the value we place on our longstanding corporate governance practices, which underpins the institution’s enduring sustainability and the 127-year legacy”. The statement explained that

Shobo has had a successful career in the bank and elsewhere, culminating in his appointment as Deputy Managing Director. But all that may now be put on hold as a major boardroom manoeuvre appears to be at play among the three dominant shareholding groups, who are now weighing their options. Otudeko and his allies with 10 per cent shareholding might be

up against an emerging alliance between Oye Odukake (10 per cent) and Mike Adenuga (6 per cent). Odukale and Adenuga, who THISDAY learnt might have teamed up last night, are pushing for the return of the ousted CEO with the ultimate aim of sacking the board presently controlled by Otudeko.

THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Fidelity Bank Records 53.9% Profit Growth of N10.1bn in Q1 Goddy Egene Fidelity Bank Plc has recorded a strong financial performance in the first quarter of 2021, posting appreciable growth in profit for the period ended March 31, 2021. Details of the unaudited results, released on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, showed that its profit before tax (PBT) grew by 53.9 per cent from N6.6 billion in the corresponding period in 2020 to N10.1 billion in the period under review. Similarly, net revenue in the period increased by 13.4 per cent from N30.3 billion in the first quarter (Q1) 2020, to N34.4 billion at the end of March 2021. The bank also recorded growth in other performance indices. Commenting on the results, the MD/CEO of Fidelity Bank, Mrs.

Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, was quoted in a statement to have said: “We commenced the year showing impressive double-digit growth in profitability and improved performance across key efficiency indices whilst ensuring our business model continued to deliver strong positive results in line with our guidance for the 2021 financial year. “Gross earnings increased by 7.7 per cent year-on-year to N55.1 billion on account of 66.7 per cent growth in non-interest revenue (NIR) to N12.1 billion, from N7.2 billion in Q1 2020. In absolute terms, the increase in NIR came from forex-related income, digital banking income and account maintenance charge etc, as total customers’ induced transactions across all our service channels increased by 30.4 per cent year-on-year and 17.1 per cent quarter-on-quarter.

“Net interest margin remained unchanged at 6.3 per cent compared to 2020 full year as the drop in average funding cost offset the decline in average yields on earning assets.” Also, the results showed that average funding cost dropped to 2.5 per cent from 3.6 per cent in 2020 full year due to a combination of improved deposit mix and a slight moderation in average borrowing cost. This, it stated, led to a 26.2 per cent decline in total interest expenses, which translated to 17.1 per cent increase in net interest income to N28.8 billion despite a 4.3 per cent increase in interest-bearing liabilities. “We refinanced our seven-year N30 billion Tier II Bonds issued in 2015 at 16.48% per annum with cheaper 10-year N41.2 billion Tier II Bonds priced at 8.5% per annum,

which led to a 61 basis points drop in average borrowing cost to 4.5 per cent. “Operating expenses increased by N1.3 billion (6.2%) to N23 billion largely driven by N4.3 billion growth in regulatory charges (NDIC & AMCON charges). Excluding the increase in regulatory charges, total operating expenses would have dropped by 13.8 per cent (6.1% quarter-on-quarter) to N18.6 billion, from N21.6 billion in Q1 2020 (Q4 2020 was N19.8 billion),” she added. Also, the bank’s total deposits in the period under review increased by 3.1 per cent year-to-date to N1.751 trillion, from N1.699 trillion in the full year 2020. This was driven by a 5.5 per cent increase in low-cost deposits. The statement said the bank’s foreign currency deposits increased by 15.7 per cent year-to-date to

N46.9 billion and now accounts for 19.7 per cent of total deposits, from 17.5 per cent in full-year 2020, as it harnesses the benefits of its renewed drive in diaspora banking as well as the recent CBN naira-for-dollar incentive scheme for diaspora remittances to Nigeria. Fidelity Bank stated that its retail bankingcontinuedtodeliverimpressive results as savings deposits increased by 4.1percentyear-to-datetoN441.6billion. “Andweareoncourse to achieving the ninth consecutive year of doubledigit growth in savings deposits. “Savings deposits were responsible for 32.9 per cent of the absolute growth in total deposits and now accounts for 25.2 per cent of total deposits compared to 25 per cent in 2020,” it added. Its net loans and advances increased by 7.6 per cent year-to-date to N1.426 trillion, from N1.326 trillion in the

full year 2020. “However, the actual growth was 6.8 per cent while the impact of the currency adjustment (2020FY: N400.3/$ and Q1 2021: N407.6/$) accounted for a 0.8 per cent year-todate growth in the loan book. Cost of risk came in at 0.4 per cent and the NPL ratio dropped to 3.6 per cent from 3.8 per cent in the 2020 full year. “Other regulatory ratios remained above the required thresholds with a liquidity ratio at 33.9 per cent and capital adequacy ratio (CAR) at 18.4 per cent from 18.2 per cent in 2020 full year. “We are committed to sustaining our growth trajectory and achieving the long-term strategic aspirations of the bank as we look forward to delivering another set of good results in the next quarter,” Onyeali-Ikpe said.

THISDAY, THURSDAY APRIL 29,2021

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

COMMENT

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

OLORODE: INTELLECTUAL AND A REVOLUTIONARY EXTRAORDINAIRE Omolade Adunbi pays tribute to Toye Olorode, scholar and a radical with a cause

“We must practice revolutionary democracy in every aspect of our Party life. Every responsible member must have the courage of his responsibilities, exacting from others a proper respect for his work and properly respecting the work of others. Hide nothing from the masses of our people. Tell no lies. Expose lies whenever they are told. Mask no difﬁculties, mistakes, failures. Claim no easy victories...” - Amilcar Cabral, Revolution in Guinea: African People’s Struggle n one of his speeches to comrades during the struggle for the liberation of Guinea Bissau from the clutches of Portuguese colonial exploitation, Amical Cabral admonished comrades and revolutionaries to take their responsibilities seriously, refrain from telling lies, respect all comrades regardless of their age, admit mistakes when one is made and desist from claiming easy victories. All of these characteristics epitomize the life and commitment of Prof. Olorode to the struggle for a better Nigeria---a struggle he has devoted his entire adult life to prosecuting. As we celebrate this scholar, revolutionary intellectual and an iroko of the people’s struggle in Nigeria, I want to ponder a moment to reflect on my personal encounter with him. I decided to start with this famous quote from Cabral because Olorode and Cabral have so many things in common, both were trained in the sciences. Cabral trained as an agronomist while Olorode trained as a botanist. Both were theoreticians, intellectual powerhouse, mobilizer of people, fervent commitment to the ideals of socialism and the emancipation of all Africans, brutally honest and down-to-earth. Thus, how might one start a write up about such an icon and an epitome of modesty in a country where conspicuous consumption and gluttony are the markers of success? In Nigeria today, those who engage in conspicuous consumption of our commonwealth at the expense of the toiling masses are daily celebrated. Pages of our daily newspapers and weekly magazines are often filled up with advertorials celebrating those who daily engage in the pillaging of our national wealth using the same stolen wealth to pay for the advertorials. In the age of neoliberal appurtenances where digital platforms have also become a site for the display of such profligacy, our sensibilities are daily bombarded with different forms of wealth celebration---again stolen wealth---such that the louder your social platforms are, the more pungent your celebration becomes especially in the ‘comments’ and ‘likes’ sections of such platforms. The world of our youths, engineered by the marauding capitalist elite, is now defined by the number of ‘likes’ and emojis you can acquire through your Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat platforms. Today’s youth now measure success by the number of emojis posted and not the degree of iconoclastic ideas that can transform our country. In the midst of the folly where rational beings who put national interest above all else are now considered irrational because of their repugnance at the pursuit of wealth by the ruling elite. It beholds on all of us to roll out the drums in celebration of our icon and champion of the working class and oppressed people of Nigeria, Africa and the world. As we roll out the drums to celebrate Professor Omotoye Olorode on his 80th birthday, it is imperative to pay attention to the significant contribution that this iconic figure have made to the development of a Nigeria where justice, fairness and equitable distribution of our national wealth mattered. My first encounter with Professor Olorode was in 1989 when I attended a National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) zonal meeting hosted by the University of Ibadan Students, Union. I was a teenager and an undergraduate at the then Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti (OSUA),who had just been inducted as a member of the Marxist Youth Movement (MYM). Thus, I was selected as part of the delegation to attend the zonal meeting as an observer. On our way to the meeting, we stopped at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife to meet with comrades and officials of the union. It was that stop over at OAU that began a life-long friendship and appreciation for the important contribution that Prof. Olorode continues to make towards making Nigeria a better place for all. As we finished our initial consulta-

OLORODE IS NOT ONLY A THEORETICIAN, REVOLUTIONARY INTELLECTUAL AND A MOBILISER OF THE PEOPLE, HE IS A BRIDGE BUILDER WHO PUT INTO PRACTICE CABRAL’S NOTION THAT WE CAN ONLY TRANSFORM SOCIETY IF WE STUDY IT, HAVE ADEQUATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE REALITY OF THE PEOPLE AND ARE READY TO MAKE SACRIFICES TO ACTUALISE WHAT WE STAND FOR

tion with comrades at OAU that evening, Comrade Yomi Gidado who was president of the OSUA Students Union suggested we go see Prof. Toye. As a young and enthusiastic member who was attending a big meeting for the first time, I asked, who is Prof. Toye? Yomi responded that he was referring to Professor Olorode, a botanist and Marxist. We all marched to his office in the Department of Botany. On entering the office, Prof. Toye immediately stood up, extended his hands of welcome to all of us with his usual unassuming voice in a way that suggest he had known all of us for a very long time even when people like myself were meeting him for the first time. This amazes me and made me retort to myself, “if this is how Marxists behave, then I am proud to be one”. We were in the office for a brief period but his words of encouragement and support for what we were doing endeared him to many of us. Our path would cross again a year later after his release from over three months of illegal detention by the brutal General Ibrahim Babangida military dictatorship. On April 22nd, 1990, there was a failed coup against the Babangida administration. The coup was led by Major Gideon Orkar, who, in his early morning broadcast had announced the overthrow of the administration levelling several allegations including corruption and lack of respect for human rights against the regime. The coup failed and the Babangida administration used the opportunity to tighten his hold on power by clamping down on many voices of dissent across the country. Among Babangida’s target were intellectuals, revolutionaries, human rights and pro-democracy activists. As history has shown, the greatest fear that every authoritarian regime harbour is always the fear of revolutionary intellectuals. Revolutionaries are always ready to defeat might with ideas. To the Babangida administration, professors Olorode and Idowu Awopetu of the Obafemi Awolowo University represent this threat, hence their decision to illegally detain them. Olorode and Awopetu found company in Professor Obaro Ikime of the University of Ibadan. They were accused of “teaching” the students what they were not being paid to teach. Teaching what they are not being paid to teach is the usual refrain by every successive administration in Nigeria for describing lecturers considered to be radical. Few days before their arrest, Olorode and Awopetu had visited the offices of comrades John Odah and Chom Bagu, both staffers of the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), in Lagos. As I recall, the visit led to the suspension of comrades Odah and Bagu by the Paschal Bafyau- led conservative NLC for their audacity to host “renegades” in the Labour House. Comrades Odah and Bagu were later recalled to their position after serving one week of suspension but they were lucky to have escaped the jackboot of the Babangida administration who was desirous in using the opportunity of the coup to “destroy” all voices of opposition in the country. Professors Olorode and Awopetu were not that lucky. They were both detained and summarily dismissed from their job at OAU, Ile-Ife by the military dictator. On their release from illegal detention, the Students Union Government of the Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti, with the support of the Marxist Youth Movement (MYM), organized a symposium in their honour. Few days before the symposium, the university administration told us to cancel the event for “security reasons and order from above” but we refused. Of course, we knew that the administration was acting on the orders of General Babangida who had declared Olorode and others persona non grata on university campuses and in the country. They refused to be cowed. The symposium held, Olorode and Awopetu spoke and the entire students at the university were appreciative of their knowledge and commitment to the struggle for the emancipation of the people. I remember vividly how thousands of students swarmed around Olorode and Awopetu immediately after the symposium. Fearing for what the state could do to harm them, we quickly ferried them to a “safe house” in the Ado-Ekiti area. Adunbi is a Professor at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States

RETURN OF THE BOKO HARAM FLAG

It is the duty of all to rally round the government and secure the country, writes Olusegun Adeniyi Continued from the back page

uring that period, they could not draw a line between sectarian rascality and respect for the lives and freedom of others in a multiethnic and multi-religious state. The same insurgents they romanticized have now practically rendered the country prostrate under them. However, the responsibility to retrieve Nigeria from the claws of these criminal elements belongs to everyone. And time seems to be running out. That some people played politics with security in the past is no justification to wish ill on our country. This is the time to rally around the government and support our fighting troops and security agencies. We must situate the Boko Haram violence within the broader view of the challenge to our common humanity. We must avoid the temptation to hide behind the cynical Yoruba idiom: “Ki lo kan Olorun nibi ejo san aya; omo eranko lo n da eranko lara!” (Why should God be bothered that a snake bites a monkey when it is a case of one animal fighting another?) When the heavens fall, as another Yoruba adage teaches, there will be no escape for anyone.

The greater responsibility of course lies with the federal government. On 30th December 2016, President Buhari received the flag of Boko Haram retrieved from the Sambisa Forest by then Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole (and current Chief of Defence Staff), Lt. General Lucky Irabor. At the ceremony, then Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai made much show of the flag which he gleefully presented to the president, beaming before the camera, almost as if his army had defeated the insurgents. Now, the same Boko Haram has acquired so much capacity that it is moving beyond the North-east to hoist its bloody flag in the North-central zone of the country. In January 2019, I visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Dalori on the outskirts of Maiduguri, Borno State. As I moved quietly within the camp, I heard many heartrending stories. A particular one centred around what happened at Gwange village where insurgents killed a popular Imam. “We heard that they left instructions that the Imam should not be buried but that made no sense. The next day, we all gathered for the burial. Suddenly, we started hearing gunshots and we abandoned the corpse and ran for our lives. A few hours later, Boko Haram men came back to the

village to kill the Imam who was leading the prayer at the burial ground.” I concluded my intervention with the warning by Mr Fola Adeola which suffices today: “If we continue to ignore the reality that we are a country on the precipice, it is almost certain that we will fall over. It can get worse, and there are examples all around us. Yemen, Sudan, Libya, the DRC; these are all countries with people who also pray to ‘the living God’. Between the opioid optimism of the religious, and the parochial preoccupation with the nuclear that numbs the elite, we are stumbling towards Armageddon. And the thing about Armageddon is it engulfs all: the poor, the rich, the innocent and the guilty.” To compound our challenge, reports from the economic front are equally frightening. On Monday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) wrote the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation on the projected remittance to the Federation Account for the months of April to July. The average landing cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) for the month of March 2021, according to the NNPC, “was N184 per litre as against the subsisting ex-coastal price of N128 per litre, which has remained constant notwithstanding the changes

in the macroeconomics variables affecting petroleum products pricing.” This, NNPC says, has resulted in a huge value shortfall of about N112 billion monthly from February and “will translate to zero remittance to the Federation Account from NNPC in the month of May 2021. This is to ensure the continuous supply of petroleum products.” The long and short of NNPC ‘dogo turenchi’ is that by the time the 22nd anniversary of the currently democratic dispensation is being celebrated at the end of May, there will be nothing to share in Abuja for the three tiers of government! But the biggest concern today is that Boko Haram is gradually pushing Nigeria in the direction of countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia where the entire military command and control once collapsed. What followed at the time was not pleasant: Soldiers shed their uniforms and fled in mufti. Heaps of weapons were dumped everywhere. Pot-bellied ministers trekked several kilometres across the border. The machinery of state was reduced to no more than abandoned piles of files and worthless pieces of paper. Haile Mengitsu boarded a flight to Harare. Mobutu Sese Sekou fled to Morocco. May that never be our portion in Nigeria!

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

EDITORIAL THE CHALLENGE OF NATIONAL SECURITY Government should take its responsibility of securing the nation seriously

he worsening security situation in the country is a throwback to what happened in May last year when the First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari called for action to “rescue” Nigerians from the criminal cartels that are holding the country hostage. At that time, she shared a short clip from an indigenous Hausa musician’s single, “Arewa na kuka,” meaning “the north weeps.” The video displays images of the Security Service Chiefs in a meeting with her husband at the Presidential Villa. “Please in the name of God, pay attention and intervene on our plight,” the musician pleads. “The North is crying! Our blood is being shed! Our people are being killed! Baba, please intervene; Baba please protect us!” From abducted university students being killed in captivity in Kaduna State to the takeover of several communities in Niger State by Boko Haram insurgents who have resumed hoisting their ﬂags, there are no illusions any more. From north to south, the country is collapsing under the weight of insecurity. As the reign of terror continues unabated in the North-east, bandits have also continued THE URGENT IMPERATIVE to unleash mayhem THEREFORE IS FOR THE in the North-west PRESIDENT TO REALISE where herdsmen are THAT A GOVERNMENT THAT killing, raping and maiming innocent CANNOT GUARANTEE THE people. Perhaps SECURITY OF LIFE AND to underscore the PROPERTY FOR CITIZENS unbearable level of AND RESIDENTS IN A killings and destrucCOUNTRY HAS FAILED tion being meted to citizens in various parts of the country, Katsina, the home state of President Buhari, has become a theatre of violence. Meanwhile, the country is spending hundreds of billions of naira yearly on defence and national security but with little returns. On Tuesday, both chambers of the National Assembly decried the killings, kidnapping and insurgency across the nation, asking

Letters to the Editor

President Muhammadu Buhari to “rise up to the occasion”, so as to save the country from implosion. In his passionate contribution, Senator Smart Adeyemi said: “I am an APC man and I’ve been supporting my party, but the President should get to know it has got to a point that we who are supporters and members of the APC can no longer keep quiet.”

T H I S DAY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI AJAYI, DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN, MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

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

t the end, the Senate resolved, among others, that the president should order massive recruitment into the police and armed forces to galvanise manpower to confront the terrorists. The House of Representatives also called on the president to declare a state of emergency in the security sector “to fast track all measures to ensure the restoration of peace in the country.” They also called on the judiciary to accelerate the prosecution of those awaiting trial due to banditry, terrorism and other criminal activities. It is perhaps in response to the call by the National Assembly that the president is seeking foreign help and asking that the headquarters of the African Command (AFRICOM) of the United States Armed Forces be moved from Germany to the continent. Whatever may be the merit of that request, charity must begin at home. It ought to concern President Buhari that conﬁdence in the security agencies is declining at a time public conﬁdence is rapidly shifting to sectional and regional security arrangements. The urgent imperative therefore is for the president to realise that a government that cannot guarantee the security of life and property for citizens and residents in a country has failed. There have been calls by the governors for state police while the federal government recently announced a N13 billion take-off grant for community policing in the country. But the whole idea remains vague since there are neither guidelines nor timelines for implementation. At a time like this when the nation is bleeding, it is such cynical approach to security matters that makes many Nigerians to conclude that the federal government is not taking its responsibility seriously.

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

MOURINHO: CAN THE SPECIAL ONE RESURRECT?

ose Mourinho means so many things to different people. Some see him as very controversial. Others see him as loud mouthed and arrogant with poor human relations. Few people know that the special one as he is fondly called even though many of his critics question that sobriquet is that he was once a professional footballer. Yes, his father was also a manager of Rio Ave, a club in his native Portugal and he played there as well as in two other clubs. He quit the round leather game at the tender age of 24 as a midfielder as he lacked the pace and power required to be a successful professional. His concerned mother tried to enroll him in a business school but he dropped out on the first day to focus on coaching. He first won the UEFA Champions League with little known FC Porto – a Portuguese club in 2004 and that heralded the advent of a glorious coaching career. How did he manage to pull that off with an unknown team and an extremely limited budget? He competed against bigger and better funded teams and so his genius was first established. Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought over Chelsea in 2004 and immediately tapped the services of Mourinho to manage the club that was yet to win anything significant in decades. As expected the billionaire pumped money into the club and during his unveiling he called himself the Special One with the English press latching on to that and the name stuck. Chelsea went on to win the English Premier League for the first time in over four decades and

also qualify for the UEFA Champions League. The Blues won the Community Shield in 2005. He fell out with Abramovich and was fired by the no nonsense Russian owner. He moved to Inter Milan in 2008 and his winning streak continued when he won the Serie A that same season. On April 6, 2010 he became the first Manager to take three different teams to the semi finals of the Champions League. He helped Inter Milan win the Champions League. In 2010 he moved to Real Madrid and took them to the Champions League semi finals three consecutive times. His stay at the Spanish Giant was tumultuous as he often brawled with the assistant coaches, referees and players. He returned to Chelsea in 2013 and he declared that his two football passions were Inter Milan and Chelsea. He won the EPL again with Chelsea in 2015 but his erratic behaviour still persisted and he had a difficult time with the management of the club. He joined Manchester United in 2016 and won the Community Shield that season. His controversial nature didn’t make him win much trophies and in 2018 was booted out by the Red Devils. He joined Tottenham Hospurs in 2019 and failed to win any trophy and they were 7th on the EPL table as at the time of his sack after just being in charge for 17 months. His tactics is defensive football which makes his games very boring and painful to watch. He was responsible for converting John Mikel Obi who was once ranked alongside Lionel Messi from an attacking to a defensive midfielder

which led to his steep decline as a potential star to watch out for. Despite his dull style of play, Pep Guardiola of Manchester City described him as the best coach in the world. Frank Lampard, former Captain of Chelsea described him as the best coach he had ever played for. Why has he now metamorphosed from the special one to the rejected one? Why has he allowed his success get into his head so much so that he now makes more money from clubs sacking him – he made over 90 million pounds from his ouster clauses than from winning trophies like he once used to do? Why has he allowed pride take over his life to the point that his players and even the fans greatly shun him? How art the mighty fallen like the legendary Humpty Dumpty! Sir Alex Ferguson coached Manchester United for 27 seasons – 1986 to 2013 and he didn’t have a runaway success like Mourinho. He didn’t win anything for the first six and was nearly sacked until the winning streak came and he won everything in the game. He was able to build the team from the scratch and convert raw talents into refined products. His managerial skills were legendary and he acted like a team player. Arsene Wenger coached Arsenal for over two decades and his financial genius which made him to be nicknamed the ‘Professor’ made the club’s shareholders smile as he made humongous profits for the London club. He will buy players at a low price and sell them dearly to make astronomical profits. Tony Ademiluyi, Co Founder of TVR Media, Lagos

THISDAY, THURSDAY APRIL 29,2021

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021

POLITICS

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

‘NDDC Forensic Audit Is a Scam’ The Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, Delta State, His Royal Majesty, King Obukohwo Whiskey Udurhie I, before his corronation as the traditional ruler of his town was a journalist. He was also the media anchor for Host theCommunities of Nigeria. In a recent dialogue with journalists, including Adibe Emenyonu, on various issues confronting the Niger Delta region and oil producing states, King Udurhie 1 described the ongoing forensic audit by the Ministry of Niger Delta Aﬀairs as a fraud

iger Delta Development Commission (NDDC): There is no place around the world where you do not have the third force, even in the media, it is there. Way back in 2005, what we had was HOSCON (Host Communities of Nigeria). The HOSCON is like a youth arm of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON). The founder of TROMPCON, Chief Wellington Okrika, is also the founder of HOSCON. As humans, we like turning things the way they will be of benefit to us. Chief Okrika was appointed as the first executive chairman of Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) in 2007 and by the time he finished his tenure in 2010, the person he handed over to wanted to make the advocacy group his baby and changed the name from HOSCON to HOSCOM, but HOSCOM (Host Communities Producing Oil and Gas in Nigeria) is not an offshoot of any group. The HOSCON is an advocacy group for 16 states. We have interest up to Kaduna, Bauchi, Kogi, Abia, Imo, Enugu, and anywhere you have oil in pipelines passing through it, those are the states we refer to as imparted states, while those that produced oil is called oil-producing states. The difference you see is being sponsored by some persons in government to disorganise the Niger Delta people with their struggle because they know that a united Niger Delta is a threat to the forces of government. The man who fought in the National Assembly is a health worker in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He calls himself the National Chairman of HOSCOM. I know as a matter of fact that HOSCON is a legitimate group, but of course, anything called illegal makes more noise than legal. As a former National Director of Media and Publicity of HOSCON, I have had the opportunity of meeting one-on-one with the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, on one or two occasions. I also had the privilege of meeting with the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, and the crux of these meetings has to do with the security and development of the Niger Delta, especially as it has to do with oil production. Of late, the issues that top discussion in the region is the lack of development and in most cases, outright disregard to laws that govern institutions in the region. A case in point is that of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). In the year 2000 when that agency was to be established, I was the first media consultant to the Senate Committee on Niger Delta under the late distinguished Senator Fred Brume. By that position, I cannot be an outsider about the establishment of the commission. It was my group that went round the nine states and booked an appointment with the governors of the states. We met with the late D.S.PAlamesigha of Bayelsa State; Peter Odili (Rivers); Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia); Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom); Donald Duke (Cross River); James Ibori (Delta); Lucky Igbinedion (Edo); Achike Udenwa (Imo); and Adekunle Adefarati (Ondo). As someone who had been at the forefront of the struggle, I am not comfortable with what is currently happening in the commission. The NDDC is our general concern and we will not sit down and allow one individual in the name of Minister of Niger Delta Affair to hijack the commission to the extent that for two years the commission does not have a Board. What they have is a self-imposed interim management committee and lately, it has gone worse that they now call it a sole administrator. To start with, the NDDC Act 2000 does not recognise an Interim Management Committee, not to talk of Sole Administrator. Of course, we are all witnesses to the fact that under the interim management committee, N87 billion allegedly

say they want to verify the project of NDDC in the region. With over 50 communities in my domain, there are abandoned NDDC projects, so, if they are carrying out forensic auditing they would have visited some of the projects, but they have not come here. So, I can boldly tell you that the NDDC forensic audit is a scam perpetuated by an individual to hold the whole region hostage. There is no probe of any kind that does not have a life span. The last time, the minister said he was going to inaugurate the board in April, this is past mid-April already and nothing seems to be happening. What they refer to as forensic audit is a scam. Apprehension in Niger Delta: Tension is rising in the Niger Delta and as a royal father, I am concerned. Whatever we can do to stem the tide should be encouraged. If you go round the creeks of the Niger Delta you will notice neglect. There is a Maritime University in Gbaramutu that is being under-funded deliberately and I think that is an invitation to the crisis. Workers of the institution cannot be paid and those who are being paid are receiving half salaries. I want to call on the Federal Government to pro-actively address issues in the region before it gets out of hand.

King Udurhie I grew wings and flew out of the coffers of NDDC. A budget of about N500bn has been passed for the NDDC for an individual to superintend and we are saying ‘No’ to Sole Administrator in NDDC. The Idjerhe clan in Delta State is a major oil-producing community and for two years, NDDC has not done anything here because there is no structure. What this translates to is that for two years, the development agenda of this kingdom and several others have been held hostage by an individual who is the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs. As a patriot of this region I will not sit down, no matter the threat or inability of the government to wake up to its social responsibilities, they should know that they have a social contract with the people to ensure that the right thing is done. From the happenings we are beginning to think that the Federal Government is collaborating with the Minister to undo the Niger Delta people and one of these days they will wake up to scrap the commission. We will not take that, but will continue to speak. We are saying

categorical “No To Sole Administratorship”. A group of Nigerians were nominated, screened, and confirmed by the National Assembly and it behooves on the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to rise to the occasion by pushing for the inauguration of the committee that they have screened and confirmed. His Excellency, Pius Odubu, who has already been screened as chairman of that body is not an alien to the struggle of the Niger Delta. Also, Bernard Okumagba, who was screened as Managing Director of the commission, was a Commissioner for Economic Planning and later Finance in Delta State, and he cannot be called a Mr. Nobody. I am using this medium to call on the National Assembly to urgently put their house in order and inaugurate the board. The Scam Called Forensic Audit: It is now very clear that the Forensic Audit of the commission is a scam. Nothing is going on there. As a major oil-producing region, nobody has come to my domain, Idjerhe, to

We are beginning to think that the Federal Government is collaborating with the Minister to undo the Niger Delta people and one of these days they will wake up to scrap the commission. We will not take that, but will continue to speak. We are saying categorical “No To Sole Administratorship”. A group of Nigerians were nominated, screened, and confirmed by the National Assembly and it behooves on the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to rise to the occasion by pushing for the inauguration of the committee that they have screened and confirmed. His Excellency, Pius Odubu, who has already been screened as chairman of that body is not an alien to the struggle of the Niger Delta. Also, Bernard Okumagba, who was screened as Managing Director of the commission, was a Commissioner for Economic Planning and later Finance in Delta State, and he cannot be called a Mr. Nobody

Traditional rulers should Have Constitutional role: As a royal father, before the advent of the colonial masters, the administrative institution of this country was in the hands of the royal fathers. I want to advocate that we need constitutional responsibilities for royal fathers in this country. They are closer to serve the people and they have the native authority over their people and when you look at them critically, the governor of Delta State, for instance, is in Asaba. As the royal father of my kingdom, I have three Dukes that report to me. The farthest is 30 kilometres away, while the closest is 10 kilometres. There is nothing that happens in those areas that I will not get the report in less than 20 minutes. But certain things will happen here and it will take the governor at least two days to be aware, while the same information will get to the President in almost one month. So, if you give the traditional rulers constitutional responsibilities, it will smoothen the administration of this country, enhance peace and security. The moment we have peace and security, the development will be rapid. When I ascended the throne, there were lots of problems but we had to address the challenges and today there is peace in the land. The government will not come down to the level of the royal fathers. The royal fathers can come down to the level of culture and tradition of their people. Journalism Practice: I think very strongly that we are facing a crisis in the practice of journalism in Nigeria and we need to go back to the drawing board. The journalism practice and the media industry in Nigeria today need a lifeline. That many newspapers can no longer pay their staff and others can no longer print the number of pages you use to print, while yet others are going off the newsstand, is an indication of the harsh economic weather. Over 2000 social media sites cannot be equated to one national newspaper and that was the training I got as a journalist. As a thoroughbred professional, I know that the country will gain more to have newspapers flourishing. There are ethics and laws guiding the profession and not these publications on social media sites that do not have control. Social media has suddenly become the breeding ground for misinformation, mud slinging, and others because at every point there is no check. The traditional media needs support from the government.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021

POLITICS DISSENTING VOICE...IN HIS OWN WORDS ‘What We Are Facing in This Country is a War’ Save Niger Delta from Hon. Bede Eke, member of the House of Avoidable Crises by Representatives representing Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency, in a chat with Udora Orizu Inaugurating NDDC Board

spoke on salient issues, including why the lawmakers are probing arms procurement in the last 10 years and Boma Ebiakpo, National Chairman of Niger Delta Peoples’ Forum, warns that the Niger Delta region is on how to tackle insecurity the verge of being engulfed in major crises instigated and said well, I apologize for not coming and by the refusal of Senator Godswill Akpabio, Minister these are the reasons why I have not shown up, it doesn’t take anything. It doesn’t make you a of Niger Delta Aﬀairs to inaugurate the Board of the lesser person, doesn’t make us a bigger person. We are all working for Nigerians. He’s important Niger Delta Development Commission and we are also important. We appropriated those funds. If we are not concerned, we cannot What we are facing in this country is a war and the army plays a very vital role and the CBN

Eke

hat prompted the probe of the arms purchase? The probe was as a result of the resolution of the House. Like the Chief of Army Staff said, even a blind man knows that we have security challenges. It’s a concern for every Nigerian, both the high and mighty. The House of Representatives in its wisdom set up that adhoc committee that will move into details at what has happened in the last 10 years and come up with some recommendations to see if it could help the security challenges. The Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila inaugurated the committee. Most of the agencies concerned, all came, including CBN. What we are facing in this country is a war and the army plays a very vital role and the CBN too, because all the releases are done by CBN. So, we said let’s interact with them to know what has happened in the past and what will be the solution. Let’s also get how much of tax payers money that has gone into the security. We tried it the first time but nobody appeared. Of course, you saw the mood of the Committee. There was a motion I moved for the summon. Now, the army, the Chief of Army Staff has come but we’ve not seen the CBN Governor. So, we are waiting. Are the last sitting, the present army chief said, i’nvite my predessors and talk to them.’ Was that an indictment, so to speak, of the former service chiefs or would you say they used the monies released to them judiciously? That’s what we are trying to find out. We cannot judge at this time. We have not seen much of the document needed. So we can’t judge whether those funds were used judiciously or not. When he appeared, he talked about inviting specific people, that he was just appointed. For us, we know he was just appointed but you’re occupying the position of Chief of Army staff. Wecan’t jump you and begin to invite your predecessors. What we expected him to do as the man heading that institution is for him to give us all necessary needed documents. In the course of studying those documents, we now know the specific people to invite. That was why i challenged him and you cannot do our job. You telling us that we know the people to invite, what document suggests for us the people to invite? You would have given us what you have. Government is a continum. Even if it happened 20 years ago and it has to do with the Nigerian Army, go to your archives and get it for us. We know you never participated but your name could come up, one way or the other, you can’t tell me that everything that has to do with it is just only the former chief of staff. We have asked you to provide the documents and allow us to do our job. But he misunderstood us. We also told him, Oga, you went beyond bounds because you appeared before us and members expected you to come up with an apology but he gave us an explanation. But we can’t take that. Even if you have come to us

In your last sitting with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, concerns were raised over how he responded to questions, some believe he was somehow rude to the lawmakers. What do you have to say about this? The Chief of Army Staff probably misunderstood us. But by the time we properly educated him, he calmed down. He now said ok, I now understand, give me more time. Nobody is disturbing him, it’s not a disturbance, we are calling you to come and explain how arms were purchased So, is the House inviting the former service chiefs to answer some questions? The present Chief of Army Staff promised to get us those documents. By the time we look at those documents, whoever that’s mentioned in the lady 10 years under the period in review, then we know. That means the probe is going beyond the present? some former Army Chiefs will be invited? Of course, it is in the last 10 years. Let’s know how much has gone in. Well, if in the last 10 years, they are part of the hierarchy of the army, you have to come. Just come and tell us what you know. Is there anything there? We talk about transparency and accountability, this is taxpayers money. You were asked to go and purchase arms. So, come and tell us how you purchased and the things you purchased. These things are to secure Nigerians and their properties. So, why are the terrorists having more sophisticated weapons? Is it that they are richer than the country? We want to know. Tell us. By the time we look at your documents, interact with you, and probably realize we made a mistake in appointment of the former service chiefs, we can recommend to the Executive and say as chief of army staff you must have this experience and so on. All we are looking at is how to curb these problems we have. It’s everywhere. We call it Boko Haram, IPOB, banditry and whatever name. It is everywhere. Nobody is safe. You’re Igbo and there’s so much going on in the South-east currently, attacks everywhere mostly against police stations. Is that a concern to you? Of course, and that’s why we are looking into this matter. It’s spreading. All over Nigeria, there are kidnappings, Boko Haram, banditry, abducting and killing students. It’s a problem. It’s a concern to me as a Nigerian and I plead that this committee will do its work thoroughly so that we can see how to come out of this situation. It burns in me. These are Nigerians that are being killed, defenceless, innocent citizens that are bing killed. The Speaker Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila made an announcement at the plenary on 20th April that all the adhoc committees should turn in their reports on 30th April. Will it affect the probe? They gave us eight weeks. If we are within the time, we will submit, if we are not, we can ask for extension because the scope is very wide. We are talking to about over over 40 agencies. We will visit some governors too. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

he recent demand by the Ijaw Youth Council for the inauguration of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to run the agency in line with the NDDC Act is in order and we support it fully. Other Stakeholders including the Southsouth governors, traditional rulers and youth groups have been requesting for a Governing Board to be immediately inaugurated for the NDDC in line with the NDDC Act without any further delay. It is important that the peace of the Niger Delta is not troubled at this time when Nigeria is facing multiple conflicts across the country. The IYC, various socio political groups in the region, and indeed the governors of the constituent states and stakeholders have demanded an end to the appointment of illegal Interim Managements for the NDDC by the Niger Delta Minister Chief Godswill Akpabio. Akpabio has been employing every excuse to run the NDDC like his personal property. We call on the president to heed the counsel of stakeholders of the region who have demanded the speedy inauguration of a substantive Governing Board for the commission and an immediate end to the appointment of illegal Interim Managements since October 2019. It is inconceivable that under any guise the NDDC is being run by illegal Interim Sole Administrators for almost two years now. Many of the people who were deceived by Akpabio to support his Interim Management contraption have since realised that it has become an avenue for the perpetration of fraud, as was revealed during the July 2020 National Assembly probe, along with financial recklessness and mismanagement, especially since the interim managements are not beholden to anyone but Akpabio. The NDDC has become Akpabio’s one-man show where he has successfully imposed his cronies as the interim administrators to fritter away the resources of the commission. The minister has employed the mention of a so called “forensic audit” of previous managements as a weapon to hijack the NDDC claiming, rather strangely, that a substantive Board should not be inaugurated for the NDDC in line with the NDDC Act until his so called unending “forensic audit” of a previous period is concluded. In the meantime, he and his handpicked interim managers have helped themselves to over N800 billion NDDC money in the last 18 months while pretending to be carrying out the so called “forensic audit”. These monies which have been wasted by Akpabio and his team belong to the nine Niger Delta States whose citizens are being shortchanged and getting infuriated. Several groups, professionals and stakeholders have stated very clearly that there is no reason why the Governing Board of the NDDC should not be inaugurated to manage the affairs of the commission while the audit of a previous period is on, as has been the standard practice in all other government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that have been audited. Yet, Akpabio has continued in his perfidy. It is important to recall that President Muhamnadu Buhari had in exercise of his constitutional powers forwarded to the Senate for confirmation, the appointment of a 16 – member board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) via a letter dated 18th October, 2019, personally signed by him. The president’s letter read: “In accordance with the provision of Section 2(2)(a) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) (Establishment) Act, 2000, I write to forward,

Akpabio for confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the under listed nominees for appointment into the NDDC board, to occupy the positions indicated against their names.” President Buhari, in the letter, expressed hope that “the Senate will consider and confirm the nominees in the usual expeditious manner.” Accordingly, the written request, which was read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 by its President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, was given expeditious consideration by the upper legislative chamber, which directed its Standing Committee on Niger Delta, to screen all the nominees and report back within a week. The Senate screened and confirmed the appointments of 15 out of the 16 nominees on Tuesday, November 5, 2019, based on the report tabled before it by the Committee on Niger Delta. The inauguration of that Board has been put on hold now for about 18 months. President Muhammadu Buhari should do the needful to put in place the board of the NDDC in line with the NDDC Act to manage the Commission for the benefit of the people of 9 (nine) Niger Delta states. Akpabio has imposed three interim heads of the NDDC over the last 18 months in breach of the NDDC Act. The first was Ms Joi Nunieh, the second was Prof Daniel Pondei (his former classmate at Federal Government College Port Harcourt and the third is the current Interim Sole Administrator in the person of Effiong Okon Akwa, a former personal aide of Akpabio when he was Governor of Akwa Ibom State between 2007 and 2015. Effiong Okon Akwa was also Special Assistant on Finance to a former NDDC MD (Bassey Dan-Abia). If, indeed, the idea is to supervise a credible forensic audit from its inception to 2019, which also covers the period of the Dan-Abia regime in NDDC (2013-2015), then Mr Effiong Akwa clearly cannot be a fit and proper person to supervise the “forensic audit” of the NDDC which covers a period of his previous service at the NDDC. Yet, as has been stated severally, there is nowhere that a Governing Board of a public agency (as mandated by the Law) is put on hold and interim managements imposed for the purpose of conducting the audit of a previous period. Even when the current Buhari Administration audited all revenue earning agencies including the NNPC and the NPA between 2016 and 2017, the Boards and managements of these agencies were in place in line with the law. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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FEATURES

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

Unlocking Africa’s Hidden Job Creators Anzisha Prize, which has essentially worked withAfrica’s youngest entrepreneurs for the last decade, in conjunction with MasterCard Foundation, andAfrican LeadershipAcademy recently released a report highlighting key lessons learned to navigate a future where the youth are job creators through entrepreneurship, Chiemelie Ezeobi reports

ccording to Abraham Lincoln ‘the best way to predict your future is to create it’. However cliche that might sound, this advice rings true today, especially for the youths given the alarming rate of unemployment. For many, this is a call for the youth to take up the challenge and create the future they desire, not just by looking for jobs, but by creating employment for others too. Given that the government and the private sector are in many cases not anymore able to provide adequate employment opportunities, therefore, youth entrepreneurship plays a vital role in economic growth. Potent Inﬂuences One of the most potent influences on young people is the behaviours and expectations of their parents, who often believe that secondary and tertiary schooling are gateways to formal employment, but who do not consider entrepreneurship as the way forward for their children. Parents often do not view entrepreneurship as a viable career path. Some see it as a backup option, a last-ditch effort to secure income, or, even, a hobby. This was what the Anzisha Prize set out to determine and according to Communications and Stakeholder Relations Associate, The Anzisha Prize, Didi Onwu, a decade-long fact-finding report put together by the Anzisha Prize, Africa’s premier entrepreneurship programme, has found that, if parents can be convinced that entrepreneurship can result in ‘job security,’ they will view entrepreneurship as a viable post-secondary option thus encouraging their children to actively consider the entrepreneurial route for their futures. For example, she said: "the organisation discovered that 19 of the top 20 finalists from last year’s Anzisha Prize competition had the support of their parents. However, a wider survey of parents of high-school students across Africa revealed that only 24 per cent felt equipped to support their child to explore entrepreneurial opportunities. "So, then, how could parents be encouraged and to better support and influence their children to take up entrepreneurship as a career option - instead of the traditional post-secondary options such as job-seeking? Especially in an era when job-seeking can be a futile exercise. "But new report suggests the creation of 1million job opportunities by 2030 on the horizon for unemployed African youth. Communications and Stakeholder Relations Associate, The Anzisha Prize, Didi Onwu Essentially, Anzisha Prize, MasterCard Working from the vantage point of an Foundation, and African Leadership Academy entrepreneurship in Africa” highlights 11 key released the report highlighting key lessons lessons learned that inform how early-career established academic institution like African learned to navigate a future where youth entrepreneurs can be supported. Careful to Leadership Academy, the report provides focus avoid market denialism, the program sheds a on supporting the transition from secondary are job creators." According to her, "young people’s inexperi- light on challenges within the entrepreneur- school to entrepreneurship. Addressing various ence is perhaps their greatest asset for being ship movement on the continent, including stakeholders – educators, parents, investors, successful entrepreneurs who create jobs for cultural aversion, weak education systems, policymakers, incubators within the youth their peers. Young Africans today are three unsupportive regulation, and a lack of market entrepreneurship ecosystem – the report offers a guide on how a coordinated movement of times more likely than the generation before access. these key influencers can change the trajectory them to be unemployed, and this was before of entrepreneurship on the continent for young the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. A people and see the creation of 1M dignified staggering statistic that has informed the work opportunities by 2030. program’s work of building a movement of The Anzisha Prize has supported 142 African championing “entrepreneurship as a career” to youth through the fellowship program that solve unemployment amongst African youth. “Our research and data over the last 10 Young people’s inexperience has empowered the entrepreneurs to develop their business acumen skills, access investor years have proven that very young African is perhaps their greatest opportunities, and scale their ventures. To entrepreneurs are exceptional at creating work date, the entrepreneurs have created more opportunities for other youth,” comments asset for being successful than 2500 jobs. Intentional in including stories Josh Adler, Executive Director of the Anzisha entrepreneurs who create of young entrepreneurs that contextualise Prize. “We’re excited to share critical lessons jobs for their peers.Young supporting data, the program’s lessons offer that will inform the future of supporting examples of what entrepreneurship looks like young entrepreneurs and hopefully amplify Africans today are three in practice for young people. For example, how we as a continent tackle the future of times more likely than the 24-year-old Kenyan business owner Geofwork.” generation before them to frey Mulei’s journey of employing 50 young persons, of which 70 per cent are below the Impact Report be unemployed, and this age of 25, dispels the narrative that young The impact report “Unlocking Africa’s was before the outbreak of entrepreneurs are not particularly capable. hidden job creators: Lessons from ten years “Young people have the greatest stake in of supporting transitions from education to the COVID-19 pandemic

Africa’s economic future—and the Anzisha Prize has proven that they are ready to roll up their sleeves and build that future,” says Daniel Hailu, Regional Head, Eastern and Southern Africa Mastercard Foundation. “They have the ideas, the ambition, and the energy required to launch and scale problemsolving enterprises that become engines of economic growth and opportunity. All they need is support. These lessons from the Anzisha Prize’s model of delivering that support can be adopted by other institutions—including education institutions—that are interested in cultivating entrepreneurial skills among young people.” Key Lessons With overarching themes discussing gender inclusivity, entrepreneurship education, and policy change, key lessons that stand out are: "Lesson #4: When young women entrepreneurs are purposefully sought out, they are easily found; Lesson #6: Entrepreneurship is learned through practice. Entrepreneurial skills are best practiced like a sport, not taught like a class. Others inlclude "Lesson #10: Markets open when trust is borrowed. Investors are more willing to engage young entrepreneurs who are endorsed by established brands; and Lesson #11: Supporting parents will enable very young entrepreneurs. A widespread parental attitude shift could be the trojan horse that unlocks entrepreneurship as a career." Despite the proven record that young entrepreneurs provide opportunities for their peers, there still needs to be attention on the support of early age transitions to entrepreneurship. As the program sets its sights on the next 10 years, this will remain a primary focus and aim to drive Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem to “think younger.” Anzisha Prize The Anzisha Prize is delivered by African Leadership Academy in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. Through the Anzisha Prize, the organisers seek to fundamentally and significantly increase the number of job generative entrepreneurs in Africa. They believe that a key to doing so is to test, implement and then share models for identifying, training, and connecting high potential, very young entrepreneurs (15 to 22-year-olds) so that many more organisations have better collective success in creating a pipeline of entrepreneurs with the capabilities for scale. African Leadership Academy African Leadership Academy (ALA) seeks to transform Africa by developing a powerful network of entrepreneurial leaders who will work together to achieve extraordinary social impact. Each year, ALA brings together the most promising young leaders from all 54 African nations for a pre-university program in South Africa with a focus on leadership, entrepreneurship and African studies. ALA continues to cultivate these leaders throughout their lives, in university and beyond, by providing ongoing leadership and entrepreneurial training and connecting them to high-impact networks of people and capital that can catalyse large-scale change. Mastercard Foundation The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organisations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. It is one of the largest, private foundations in the world with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. The foundation was created by Mastercard in 2006 as an independent organisation with its own Board of Directors and management.

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#THISISNIGERIA -Rotimi Fawole

THE SECOND QUADRANNIUM OF GAMBRACH: THE PANTOMIME OF BIKINIMI

fter a season of gbakamuninion with the unchill in the Kingdom of Jirria, the spirit of the Tword once again came upon the Chronicler, bringing phantasmagoric visions of Gambrachian doings. It was time once again for the annual Colustrum of Shiwajun, where the Apicureans gathered from near and far to suckle from the nipples of Shiwajun as he lactated his milk of ancient wisdom. The Colustrum was held in the Car-Knoe, the Kingdom of King Macashma Gandy, the eldorado of every Electoralis. The Apicurean nobles gathered from near and far to hear what Shiwajun might have to say about the ills and lack of chill pervading the land. All knew it was the innermost desire of Shiwajun to succeed Gambrach on the Iron Throne of Boo Jar and, unlike Gambrach, he was pursuing with the use of Too Wrenchy. Alas the Too Wrenchy failed Shiwajun, and yea after he paused for ten seconds he blurted out, “we shall solve the unemployment plaguing our young men by building an army bigger than all the armies of the world put together and then outsource soldiers to all the warfronts of the world – for soldiers are evenly distributed but war is not. And yea, we shall call this starting up idea of providing manpower to the world’s armies ‘MAndela’. And all the Apicurean cronies cheered in united vapidity. It was also in that day that Ser DooMar,the Warden of Conductivitis, ventured into St. Banex Square to fix his device of portability. One of the sentries manning the square called out to him, saying, “Hail, o nondescript nobleman driving a huge chariot. I bid thee good morrow and ask that you ask your chariotsman to convey your chariot to a different parking location – for it rests in illegality in its current postion.” Ser DooMar was incensed. “What does a mere peasant like you know about illegality? Do you know that I preside over Conductivitis to probe the illegalities of Kings and Dukes and nobles? Take that, you bloody knave!” he declared as he dealt the sentry a huge slap. The other sentries were displeased at the assault of their comrade and surrounded DooMar, menacingly. His squire panicked and started screaming, “They are Frabanians, they are Frabanians!” and it was the Constabulary that saved them both. The people of Jirria heard it and a rumbling of unchill swept the land. In North Easteros, the battle continued to rage between the Haramites of Boko and the King’s Army. The Haramites were fiercely armed and had downed two of the King’s Combat Winged Chariots. Morale was low in the garrison, wherefore Ser Unsagash, the King’s Counsellor for War visited the troops to rally them. “Be bold and courageous,” he charged them, “fear not the arrows of the Haramites nor their spears!!!” “Have you brought us bodily armour to protect us from their killingness?” the troops asked. “Oh no, not at all! Are you kidding?” Unsagash replied. “I am here to assure, as the King’s Counsellor for War, that there is no need to fear the weapons of the enemy! For we all know, don’t we, that if we are not meant to die by the tip of the spear or an arrow, only a sword can kill us?” And the people heard the words of Unsagash, and the unchill in the land grew. Yea, the unchill swept into the chambers of Ser Bikinimi, Gambrach’s Counsellor for Advanced Communications, at the peak of his NINcompoop Project. The NINcompoop Project was designed to capture the details and features of all the people in the Kingdom.

The Pantomime of Bikinimi

First it was alleged that the Kingdoms of Bidenistan and Jandinia had placed him on the no-winged-chariot list, for being intensely intelligent about violent religionism, but that was very quickly recanted. But then the details of Ser Bikinimi’s violently intelligent religiosity came to the fore and, maaaaiiiigheeeeurd, there was no chill anywhere. Ser Bikinimi ascribed his unveiling to his championing of NINcompoop. “These things that were said about me were said in the days of my youth. I am grown

now and more mature. And see, I have many people with less intelligent religious fervour in my employ. They are religiously stupid and regionally less endowed and yet i employ them. Canst ye not see that I am not bigoted???” Then a young squire by the name Hunny Din went deep into the citadels to consult all the oracles. And when he emerged, he revealed that Ser Bikinimi had professed love for Sama – the Patron Demon of Pandemonium and El-Karda, the global union of

pandemoniumists. Ser Bikinimi had declared an overflowing of joy when people who believed in Fidel Castro (‘inFidels’) were slain by pandemoniumists. The people read it and there was no gaddem chill in the land. From: THE CHRONICLES OF CHILL | Ancient Tales of a Kingdom not Unlike One You Know -Rotimi Fawole is a lawyer and satirist.

THISDAY, THURSDAY APRIL 29,2021

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Quick Takes Visa Deepens Global Commitment

STAKEHOLDERS’ ENGAGEMENT

L-R: Second Vice President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria(CIBN), Prof Deji Olanrewaju; President, Dr. Bayo Olugbemi; Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Oﬀences Commission (ICPC); Prof Bolaji Owasanoye; Registrar/ Chief Executive, CIBN, Mr. Seye Awojobi; Member, ICPC, Mrs. Olubukola Balogun; and National Treasurer, CIBN, Mr. Dele Alabi, at the CIBN stakeholders’ engagement with the Commission in Abuja recently

Digital Economy: FG Urged to Involve Indigenous IT Professionals Stories by Emma Okonji The federal government has been urged to involve information technology (IT) professionals in its digital economy drive in order to achieve the desired results. President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. Adesina Sodiya, said the federal government would achieve faster and better results when indigenous IT professionals are involved. He frowned upon the situation where the federal government still rely on foreign IT professionals to execute sensitive government projects, thereby putting citizens’ sensitive data at risk while encouraging capital flight in the process. Sodiya, together with the Executive Secretary of NCS,

TELECOMS Mr. Iyiola Ayoola, spoke in Lagos recently, during the monthly interactive session with the media. According to Sodiya, “NCS has experts in all areas of Information Technology. We have professionals with global competitive skills that we need as a nation to drive our IT projects, especially the drive towards achieving digital economy by digitizing all government processes. What we believe is that the government needs to look inward, support indigenous IT professionals by providing enabling environment, and supporting indigenous experts to deliver the right solutions when needed.”

He gave instances how a member of NCS, developed and launched home-grown solution called Konn3ct, designed for online meetings and conferences that could favourably compete with the likes Zoom, Microsoft Team, and Webex. He said such NCS member needed government support and the enabling business environment to perfect the solution and develop more for the country. “The target we have set for ourselves at NCS is that nobody will be using foreign related meeting apps before the end of the year, especially when Konn3ct is available. There are other organisations coming up with a lot of solutions. FinTrak has a lot of products for the financial sector. They

are competing at the global level, receiving recognitions. So, in the area of software, there is no software that Nigerians cannot develop as a nation. “We have the talents and skills, but patronage and government support are the biggest issues we face. I am aware of a bank in Nigeria that spends about $200 million on foreign software annually. You can imagine if we have that money injected into Nigeria’s economy, we will be able to create more jobs for our growing youth population,” Sodiya said. He added that with the development of the financial technology (fintech) startups, the banks are beginning to understand they can’t continue Continued on page 28

FG Restates Commitment to Economic Growth, Devt. The federal government has reiterated its commitment to national development through the use Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions. The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim, Pantami, said this while unveiling digital economy projects across the country, during a virtual conference, which held recently. Pantami while unveiling the projects in Abuja on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, said the projects, which cut across several geo-political zones of the country, were executed by the government parastatals as part of the implementation of the National Digital Economy

TELECOMS Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a digital Nigeria, in line with the Economic Development Road Map of Nigeria and the present administration’s focal points of economic development, security and the eradication of corruption. The seven digital economy projects unveiled included: The Community ICT Centre, Dutse, Jigawa State, North-west; IT Hub, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, North-east; Digital Economy Centre, Imo State Polytechnic, South-east; Digital Economy Centre, Government Secondary School, Garki, Abuja, North-central; Digital Economy Centre, Ojodu

Grammar School, Ojodu, Lagos State, South-west; Emergency Communication Centre, Enugu, Enugu State, South-east; and The Emergency Communication Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, South-west. According to him, the ICT Parks and Digital Economy are more inclined to economic development, fighting corruption and building the capacity of citizens, especially the youths while also encouraging them to migrate from manual traditional activities to online activities. He noted that the federal government had also approved the National Policy on Virtual Engagement, which has recently institutionalized virtual engagement particularly in government

circle. Pantami stated that through virtual activities, lots of government’s resources were being saved and other hazards associated with physical travels were being reduced. He further said that the plan of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was to have Emergency Communication Centers in every state of the federation, including the FCT to effectively cater for emergency needs as occasion demands. Director General of the agencies the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, including the Post Master General of the Federation Continued on page 28

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Rudman to Chair NITRA’s Forum

ÒÏ ÒÓÏÐ âÏÍßÞÓàÏ ÐÐÓÍÏÜ˜ ØÞÏÜØÏÞ âÍÒËØÑÏ ÙÓØÞ ÙÐ ÓÑÏÜÓË ̙ ̚˜ ÓÑÏÜÓË˪Ý ÐÓÜÝÞ ËØÎ ÙØÖã ØÏßÞÜËÖ ˜ Ü˛ ßÒË××ÏÎ ßÎ×ËØ˜ áÓÖÖ ÍÒËÓÜ ÏÍÒØÙÖÙÑã ÙÜß× ͰͮͰͯ˜ áÒÓÍÒ ÓÝ ÝÖËÞÏÎ ÞÙ ÒÙÖÎ ÙØ ÒßÜÝÎËã˜ Ëã Ͱ͵˜ ͰͮͰͯ˜ ÓØ ËÑÙÝ˛ ÒÏ ÏàÏØÞ ÓÝ ÏâÚÏÍÞÏÎ ÞÙ ÑËÞÒÏÜ ÓØÎßÝÞÜã ÝÞËÕÏÒÙÖÎÏÜÝ ÓØ ÍÖÙßÎ̋ÒÙÝÞÓØÑ ÝÏÜàÓÍÏÝ ËØÎ ËÞË ÏØÞÏÜ ÞÙ ÎÓÝÍßÝÝ ÓÝÝßÏÝ ËÜÙßØÎ ÞÒÏ ÑÜÙáÞÒ ÙÐ ÎËÞË ÒÙÝÞÓØÑ˜ ÚÜÏÝÏÜàËÞÓÙØ ËØÎ ßÞÓÖÓÝËÞÓÙØ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÍÙßØÞÜã˛ ÒÏ ÏÍÒØÙÖÙÑã ÙÜß× áÓÞÒ ÓÞÝ ÒÏ×Ï˝ ˩ ÍÒÓÏàÓØÑ ͱͮϱ ÜÙáÞÒ ÓØ ÙÍËÖ ÖÙßÎ ÙÝÞÓØÑ ã ͰͮͰͲ˜˪ áÓÖÖ ËÖÝÙ ÎÓÝÍßÝÝ ÍÒËÖÖÏØÑÏÝ ËØÎ ÝÙÖßÞÓÙØÝ ÞÙ ÐËÍÞÙÜÝ ×ÓÞÓÑËÞÓØÑ ËÑËÓØÝÞ ÏÐÐÏÍÞÓàÏ ÎÙ×ÓÍÓÖÓËÞÓÙØ ÙÐ ÙßÜ ÖÙÍËÖÖã̋ÑÏØÏÜËÞÏÎ ÎËÞË˛ ÍÍÙÜÎÓØÑ ÞÙ ÞÒÏ ÙÜÑËØÓÝÏÜÝ˜ ÞÒÏ ÍÒÙÓÍÏ ÙÐ ßÎ×ËØ ÞÙ ÍÒËÓÜ ÞÒÏ ÏàÏØÞ˜ áËÝ ÌÙÜØÏ ÙßÞ ÙÐ ÒÓÝ ÚËÝÝÓÙØ ËØÎ ÍÙØÞÜÓÌßÞÓÙØ ÞÙ ÞÒÏ ÑÜÙáÞÒ ÙÐ ÖÙÍËÖ ÍÙØÞÏØÞ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÓØÎßÝÞÜã ËØÎ ÏàÏÜãÞÒÓØÑ ÎËÞË˛ ßÎ×ËØ ÓÝ ËÖÝÙ ÞÒÏ ÍßÜÜÏØÞ ÜÏÝÓÎÏØÞ ÙÐ Ó ˜ ÞÒÏ ˛ØÑ ÜÏÑÓÝÞÜã˜ ËÝ áÏÖÖ ËÝ ÞÒÏ Î×ÓØÓÝÞÜËÞÙÜ ÍÙØÞËÍÞ ÐÙÜ ÓÑÏÜÓË˛ Ï ÓÝ Ë ×Ï×ÌÏÜ ÙÐ ÍÍ ˜ ËØÎ ÒËÝ áÙÜÕÏÎ ÓØ Ë ÞÏÍÒØÓÍËÖ ÍËÚËÍÓÞã áÓÞÒ ×ËØã ÓÑÏÜÓËØ ØÞÏÜØÏÞ ÏÜàÓÍÏ ÜÙàÓÎÏÜÝ˛ ÍÍÙÜÎÓØÑ ÞÙ ÞÒÏ ÒËÓÜ×ËØ ÙÐ ˜ Ü˛ ÒÓÕÏ ØáßÏÑÌßÍÒÓ˜ ÙàÏÜ ÞÒÏ ãÏËÜÝ˜ ÓÑÏÜÓË ÒËÝ ÌÏÏØ ÑÜËÚÚÖÓØÑ áÓÞÒ ÞÒÏ ØÏÏÎ ÞÙ ÝÏÍßÜÏ ÞÒÏ ÍÙßØÞÜã˪Ý ÎËÞË ËØÎ ÐßÜÞÒÏÜ ÌÙÙÝÞ ÖÙÍËÖ ÍÙØÞÏØÞ ÓØ ËÖÖ ÝÏÍÞÙÜÝ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÏÍÙØÙ×ã˜ ËØÎ ÕÏã ÝÞËÕÏÒÙÖÎÏÜÝ ËÜÏ áÙÜÜÓÏÎ ËØÎ ÍÙØÍÏÜØÏÎ ËÌÙßÞ ÒÙá ÞÒÏ ÝÏÍÞÙÜ ÓÝ ÐËÜÓØÑ ÓØ ÞÒÓÝ ËÜÏË˜ ËØÎ ÒÙá ÓÞ ÍËØ ËÍÒÓÏàÏ ÖÙÍËÖ ÒÙÝÞÓØÑ ÙÐ ÙßÜ ÝÏØÝÓÞÓàÏ ÎËÞË˛ ÜÙáÞÒ ÝÒÙßÖÎ ÌÏ ÓØÝÓÎÏ̋ÙßÞ˛ ÒÏ ÙàÓÎ̋ͯͷ ÚËØÎÏ×ÓÍ ÒËÝ ËÖÝÙ ÚÜÏÝÏØÞÏÎ ËØ ÏãÏ̋ÙÚÏØÏÜ ÞÙ ×ËØã ÍÙ×ÚËØÓÏÝ ÙØ ÞÒÏ ØÏÏÎ ÞÙ ÐÙÜÞÓÐã ÞÒÏÓÜ ÎËÞË ËØÎ ÍÖÙßÎ ËÜÍÒÓÞÏÍÞßÜÏ˛

Stanbic IBTC Holds AGM May 27th

ÞËØÌÓÍ ÙÖÎÓØÑÝ ÖÍ ÒËÝ ËØØÙßØÍÏÎ ÚÖËØÝ ÞÙ ÒÙÖÎ ÓÞÝ ØÓØÞÒ ØØßËÖ ÏØÏÜËÖ ÏÏÞÓØÑ ÓØ ËÑÙÝ˜ ÙØ ÒßÜÝÎËã˜ Ëã Ͱ͵˜ ͰͮͰͯ˛ ÒÏ áÙßÖÎ ÌÏ Ìã ÚÜÙâã˜ ÓØ ÖÓØÏ áÓÞÒ ÞÒÏ ÍÙÜÙØËàÓÜßÝ ÝËÐÏÞã ÚÜÙÞÙÍÙÖÝ˛ ØØÙßØÍÓØÑ ÞÒÏ ÓØ Ë ØÙÞÓÍÏ ÞÙ ÓÞÝ ÝÒËÜÏÒÙÖÎÏÜÝ ÝÓÑØÏÎ Ìã ÞÒÏ Ù×ÚËØã˪Ý ÏÍÜÏÞËÜã˜ ÞËØÌÓÍ ÙÖÎÓØÑÝ˜ ÒÓÎÓ ÕÏäÓÏ˜ ÝÞËÞÏÎ ÞÒËÞ ÓÞ áÙßÖÎ ÞÜËØÝËÍÞ ÙÜÎÓØËÜã ËØÎ ÝÚÏÍÓËÖ ÌßÝÓØÏÝÝÏÝ ÓØ ÖÓØÏ áÓÞÒ ÜÏÑßÖËÞÙÜã ÜÏÛßÓÜÏ×ÏØÞÝ˛ Ù×Ï ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÍÙØÝÓÎÏÜËÞÓÙØÝ ËÞ ÞÒÏ áÙßÖÎ ÓØÍÖßÎÏ ÜÏÍÏÓÚÞ ËØÎ ÍÙØÝÓÎÏÜËÞÓÙØ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ËßÎÓÞÏÎ ÐÓØËØÍÓËÖ ÝÞËÞÏ×ÏØÞÝ ÐÙÜ ÞÒÏ ͰͮͰͮ ÐÓØËØÍÓËÖ ãÏËÜ˜ ÎÓàÓÎÏØÎ ÎÏÍÖËÜËÞÓÙØ ËØÎ ÜÏ̋ÏÖÏÍÞÓÙØ ÙÐ ÜÏÞÓÜÓØÑ ÎÓÜÏÍÞÙÜÝ˜ Ë×ÙØÑ ÙÞÒÏÜ ÌßÝÓØÏÝÝÏÝ˛ ˫ Ø ÙÜÎÏÜ ÞÙ ÏØÝßÜÏ ÞÒÏ ÝËÐÏ ÍÙØÎßÍÞ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÍÙ×ÚËØã˪Ý ͷÞÒ ØØßËÖ ÏØÏÜËÖ ÏÏÞÓØÑ ÓØ ËÍÍÙÜÎËØÍÏ áÓÞÒ ÞÒÏ ÑßÓÎÏÖÓØÏÝ ÓÝÝßÏÎ Ìã ÞÒÏ ÙÜÚÙÜËÞÏ ÐÐËÓÜÝ Ù××ÓÝÝÓÙØ ËÝ áÏÖÖ ËÝ ÞÒÏ ÏÎÏÜËÖ ÙàÏÜØ×ÏØÞ ÙÐ ÓÑÏÜÓË˜ ÝÒËÜÏÒÙÖÎÏÜÝ ËÜÏ ÒÏÜÏÌã ÓØÐÙÜ×ÏÎ ÞÒËÞ ËÞÞÏØÎËØÍÏ ËÞ ÞÒÓÝ ˜ ÝÒËÖÖ ÙØÖã ÌÏ Ìã ÚÜÙâã ËØÎ ÝÒËÖÖ ÌÏ ÖÓ×ÓÞÏÎ ÞÙ Ë ×ËâÓ×ß× ÙÐ Ͱͮ ÚÏÙÚÖÏ˜ˬ ÕÏäÓÏ ÝËÓÎ˛

“The 6U low-profile rack micro data centre, was designed by APC By Schneider Electric for remote and branch office operations, which is the first ever compact data centre in sub-Saharan Africa, and it reduces OPEX and CAPEX, as much as 30 per cent, while saving space” CEO of Arravo,

Mr. Ayo Adegboye

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͷ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

BUSINESSWORLD DIGITAL ECONOMY: FG URGED TO INVOLVE INDIGENOUS IT PROFESSIONALS to look outside. Sodiya blamed the federal government for the slow adoption of digital transformation, as most Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of government still want to retain the old system of communication. He however promised that NCS would continue to educate and engage them in series of discussions. Ayoola, also stressed the need for the federal government to domesticate broadband policies, through the domestication of the office of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) across the states and local government areas of the country, in order to ease decision making and deployment of government services. “The federal government will need to make that sacrifice of domesticating broadband policies if government is really serious about developing rural and unserved communities,” Ayoola said.

FG RESTATES COMMITMENT TO ECONOMIC GROWTH, DEVT. and the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, among others, were present at the virtual commissioning ceremony and delivered their goodwill messages respectively. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Festus Daudu, while giving the vote of thanks, remarked that the projects were in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy of the present administration, noting that government’s intention of spreading these projects across the country is to avail the youths the opportunity of having direct access to the centres as well as improving themselves in the area of ICT. He further said the ICT centres would support voluntary and community based organisations with their technology needs and also avail the general public the opportunities of using the computer for their ICT benefits and research works. He explained that the ICT centres would get them meaningfully engaged and productive.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

NEWS

‘ICT Can Leapfrog Nigeria, Others into Green Economy’ Stories by Emma Okonji Given the potential of information and communications technology (ICT) solution in economic development, Huawei Technologies, a global tech company, has said it has the potential to reduce global carbon emissions by 20 per cent over the next decade, and propel Africa into a green economy continent. Director of the Board and President of Huawei’s Institute of Strategic Research, William Xu, who gave the assertion recently, said energy sustainability was a daunting challenge that faced all countries over the next decade. “Global energy consumption is growing at an annual rate of 1.7 per cent. Currently 85 per cent of energy comes from fossil fuels. Energy sustainability is a daunting challenge that faces all of us. By empowering a wide range of industries, ICT technology has the potential to reduce global carbon emissions by 20 per cent over the next decade,” Xu said. He added that as many countries that commit to carbon neutrality and lower emissions, the push for renewable energy has increased, and this is where ICT adds new opportunities in electricity generation, storage,

and consumption. “For energy consumption, we must promote integrated smart energy to build energy management systems for households, buildings, and factories, and to create zero-carbon communities, campuses, and cities,” Xu further said. Huawei recently announced that it would focus on innovat-

ing new technologies to help industries reduce their energy consumption for a low-carbon world. In Africa, many countries are increasingly embracing renewable energy to leapfrog to a sustainable energy future. With its grid connectivity algorithm powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), Huawei has provided over

200 power grid models for more than 30 countries and regions. This has helped power plants stably connect to grids in all scenarios and has gradually made PV a high-quality, mainstream energy source, Xu said. According to him, in solar power alone, Africa made great progress over the recent years, with more than 6,200

large scale, commercial and industrial and mini-grid projects identified across the continent. In addition, nine more African nations, apart from South Africa and Egypt, are on their way to joining the ‘Gigawatt Club’, an unofficial tag for the group of countries with installed capacity to produce one Gigawatt (GW) of solar power.

CSR-IN-ACTION

L-R: Head, Corporate Communications, Unity Bank Plc, Mr. DeVoe Okorie; Chief Lekan Bakare; Founder, MEDIC, Doyinsola Ogunye, and Divisional Head, Internal Audit, Unity Bank Plc, Mr. Olusegun Famoriyo, at the Elegushi Kids Beach Garden cleaning in commemoration of World Earth Day 2021, the exercise held in Lagos...recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Nigerian Firm Makes Bill Gates’ Top Five Cleantech Companies A Nigerian utility company, Arnergy, which recently raised $9 million in a Series A round of funding renewable energy systems has been listed by Bill Gates and Associates among top five Cleantech outfits that will help save the planet. The plan of Bill Gates and his friends is to invest in scientific breakthroughs that have the potential to deliver cheap and reliable clean energy to the world. The ultimate goal is to shepherd new zero-emissions technologies to the market. Since the inception of the

firm seven years ago, its Founder and CEO, Mr. Femi Adeyemo has not only built an organisation that seamlessly creates solutions that make the environment safer, but has successfully built a brand that has got the attention of Bill Gates and his billionaires’ friends. With this development, Adeyemo’s Arnergy broke the jinx, not just because it is a Nigerian firm but also due to the fact that most of Breakthrough Energy’s portfolio companies are located in the United States.

As quoted in a recent article published by Forbes: “Operating out of Lagos, Nigeria, Arnergy leases and sells what it calls solar energy systems—bulky cabinet-size apparatuses on wheels fitted with solar panels and batteries that essentially serve as solar-powered generators. The technical gear is accompanied by a software platform that allows clients to monitor and control their energy usage in real-time.” “We’re only focused on investments that will have a substantial effect on climate

change,” Gates told Forbes earlier this year. Arnergy’s goal is to ensure that shops and banks can stay open even when the electric grid fails with its solutions. According to the CEO, “Arnergy’s systems allow businesses in countries like Nigeria to pay for clean energy at the same or a lower price as traditional fossil-fuel sources. Each of our 5-kilowatt modular systems is displacing diesel and petrol generators on a daily basis.” Since its launch, Arnergy has delivered over 3MW of

installed capacity and over 9MWh of storage capacity to business and residential clients across Nigeria. Adeyemo, who decided to start the business after seeing how the Middle East was using solar energy to power telecom towers, explained that Arnergy sells to both small businesses and large enterprise data centres and has deployed 600 systems to customers that include the Nigerian branches of Citibank and KPMG, as well as industrial conglomerate such Dangote Group.

‘270 million People Facing Starvation Globally’ Ugo Aliogo with agency report A worldwide coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGO) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) has raised the alarm over the rise in the number of people, estimated at 270 million, facing starvation globally. In an open letter to leaders of nations across the world

endorsed by 260 NGOs and CSOs including Plan International, the coalition said some, ‘270 million people are facing hunger, starvation or famine all over the world.’ “Every day, we bear witness to suffering and resilience. In Yemen, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, DRC, Honduras, Venezuela, Nigeria, Haiti, CAR, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Sudan and beyond we help people who are doing all they can to simply get

through one more day,” the open letter read in part. According to the Global Hunger Index’s (GHI) 2020, hunger is highest in the region of Africa South of the Sahara where Nigeria belongs. The 2020 Global Hunger Index (GHI) ranks Nigeria 98th out of 107 countries with 12.6 percent of the population malnourished. With a score of 29.2, Nigeria has a level of hunger that is classified serious just five points away from

alarming in the scale. It called on leaders in the countries to take-action in contributing to stop the hunger across the globe, by providing, “additional $5.5 billion needed for urgent food assistance to reach more than 34 million girls, boys, women and men around the globe who are a step away from famine.” It stated that, “It is human actions that are driving famine and hunger and it is our actions that can stop the worst impacts.”

The coalition added: “Every day, we work with people who are fully capable of producing or earning enough to feed themselves and their families. These people are not starving, they are being starved. These girls and boys, men and women, are being starved by conflict and violence; by inequality; by the impacts of climate change; by the loss of land, jobs or prospects; by a fight against COVID-19 that has left them even further behind.”

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Asst. Editor, Money Market

Nume Ekeghe

Senior Correspondent

ËÒÏÏ× ÕÓØÑÌÙÖß (Advertising) Correspondents

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

ÙÝË ÖÏÕÒßÙÑÓÏ (ICT) ÏÞÏÜ äÙÒÙ (Energy)

CBN Urged to Constitute Special Tribunal on Resolution of Islamic Banking Issues Hammed Shittu in Ilorin A former member of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Financial Regulation Advisory Council of Experts and now a professor of Islamic law with University of Ilorin, Kwara State, AbdulRazzaq Alaro has advised the CBN to constitute a special tribunal for resolution of Islamic

banking related disputes. Alaro gave the advice in Ilorin, while delivering his 196th inaugural lecture. He stated that the initiative would also assist the CBN to make necessary amendments into the nation’s law in relation to the Islamic financial banking in the country. He said that, “it would also

guide the apex bank to have a view of giving judges on the Shariah court bench jurisdiction to hear and decide cases relating to Islamic finance. These Shariah court judges are indisputably more competent in this regard than the conventional court judges.” Alaro stressed that, “ this process will also go a long way to follow the existing precedents

that are already in operation in the country where similar needs for specialised know of the subject matter and expertise in related dispute resolution were duly recognised.” He also canvassed for the Islamic banking operators to be more alive to their responsibility of creating necessary awareness for members of the public on the

rudiments of islaimc banking. This, he said would avoid unnecessary misgivings and misconceptions about the operations. Alaro also said it would go a long way in expanding the customer base of these institutions as more people become acquainted with their unique benefits and advantages.

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Hope PSBank Partners JAMB on E-pin Purchase Hope PSBank has partnered with the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in a deal that will help prospective candidates for the upcoming 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, to purchase the e-pin on the bank’s platform, by visiting the bank’s website or its agents. Giving details of the initiative in a statement, its Group Head, Corporate Services, Cletus Igah, said to purchase the e-pin, candidates are expected to visit Hope PSBank’s website or Mobile App: select payments, select account to debit, select education, select Jamb, select E-pin DE or UTME, enter profile code and authorise with their transaction PIN. The transaction will be approved and an e-pin will be generated. The e-pin generated can be used on the JAMB website. The profile code, Igah said, could be retrieved via SMS by sending candidates National Identification Number (NIN) details to 55019 in the following format; NIN space NIN number. Prospective candidates who have not registered for the NIN, which is mandatory for the UTME, can have this done by visiting

the Hope PSBank website. select NIN Registration and fill the registration form then proceed to any Hope PSBank NIN Enrolment Center spread across the country for data capturing, Igah said. This, Igah added, would eliminate the need to visit multiple centres to register for NIN and purchase JAMB e-pins. Igah further said that candidates who have their NIN could visit any Hope PSBank agent and make payment for the JAMB e-pin or pay directly via Hope PSBank Digital App or Internet Banking. The e-Pin purchase portal is expected to close on Friday 10th of May. “Hope PSBank, Nigeria’s premier digital bank is dedicated to providing innovative solutions that cut across the financial market and also provide access to financial services via digital platforms to all cadres of Nigerians,” Igah stated. Since its inception in 2019, Hope Payment Service Bank, Nigeria’s premier digital bank has continually set the pace for driving financial inclusion, digital economy, and the cashless policy by providing innovative digital banking services.

Winner Emerges in DAAYTA Competition, Gets N12m Grant Stories by Emma Okonji The finalists’ pitch event for the 2021 edition of the Deji Alli Young Talent Award (DAAYTA) programme held on April 9, 2021, has produced its winner, Tope Idris Sulaimon of Scrapays Technologies Limited, who won N12 million grant. The winner expressed his excitement saying: “I am happy to be the winner of DAAYTA 2021. In addition to the funding, this opens more opportunities for our startup. Working with all the experienced partners increases our chances of reaching our set milestones and that excites me even more.” The DAAYTA programme

is a youth awards initiative founded in 2015 by ARM in honour of its founding CEO Deji Alli. The award’s goal is to provide support to young entrepreneurs with smart and innovative ideas that positively impact people’s lives and the communities around them. The top six finalists were: Tope Idris Sulaimon with his idea, Scrapays Technologies Limited, a cleantech startup that uses technology to facilitate a decentralised recovery model of recyclable waste in developing nations; Eyitayo Ogunmola whose business idea is a solution called ‘The Nucleus’ because it is the brain box of every premium technology skill training; Akinse

Fela Buyi of Salubata, which produces modular shoes from plastic wastes; Udebuana Oscar Obiora of Edupoint Limited, whose solution Edupoint leverages artificial intelligence to connect students with verified local teachers who deliver oneon-one lessons in any subject, or skill, to help students or learners meet their learning goals. Others are Imodoye Ayokunbi Abioro of Healthbotics whose business solution Lend An Arm encourages the easy transportation of blood using a virtual robot and a mobile application; Uche Kenneth Udekwe with Natal Cares, whose business idea seeks to bridge the healthcare information gap existing in underserved communities.

Speaking about the occasion, CEO of ARM, Jumoke Ogundare, said: “I am glad to say that the event went well, and I say a big congratulations to the winner Tope Sulaimon of Scrapays Technologies Limited and all runners up. We believe that they all have what it takes to make a sustainable impact in their communities, and we can’t wait to start recording success stories as we have with the past winners of DAAYTA since its pilot edition in 2015. I also appreciate the entire team, sponsor, and partners who have supported this initiative to enable us to achieve our goal of enabling young entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to change the narrative in their various communities.”

SystemSpecs Unveils Children’s Day Essay Competition Judges Nosa Alekhuogie SystemSpecs, Africa’s financial and human capital technology powerhouse, has revealed the list of inspiring personalities who will serve as judges in this year’s edition of its annual Children’s Day Essay Competition. They include: Bayo Adekanmbi, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Transformation Officer; Jumoke Lawoyin, techpreneur and Chief Executive Officer at Lucy.ng; and

Emeka Okoye, Chief Semantic Architect and Knowledge Engineer at Cymantiks Nigeria. This disclosure comes as the deadline for the submission of entries into the essay competition was also extended till April 30th, 2021. The extension is in response to requests by schools and students affected by the irregular school terms regime across Nigeria, to enable them participate in the competition. Other judges appointed to the evaluation panel are:Wale

Fatade, accomplished journalist and country commissioning editor at The Conversation; Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata Jnr., technology entrepreneur, business coach and returning judge of the competition; Jide Ayegbusi, a social entrepreneur and founder of the tech-led education-focused platform, Edusko; and Funmi Oyatogun, celebrated travel experience creator and environment crusader. Executive Director at Sys-

temSpecs, Mr. Deremi Atanda, said: “At SystemSpecs, we are convinced that a strong technology foundation is necessary to reposition Nigeria to compete favourably in the comity of nations and thrive in contemporary times. Through our Children’s Day Essay Competition, we seek to stimulate young Nigerians to become more technologically aware and better positioned to creatively apply technology as a natural response to everyday challenges around them.”

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Firm Launches OnlineVerification Solution Nosa Alekhuogie Seclot Technology Limited, an indigenous technology firm based in Lagos, has introduced a verification service that will help Nigerians to verify addresses of businesses, suppliers, staff and prospective job applicants. The service, known as Seclot, is an online solution that allows individuals and corporate organizations to vet their addresses of staff members, job applicants, to clients and suppliers. Seclot Vet is said to be coming at a time that the nation is doing all sorts of verification due to security challenges. With the solution, details such as addresses, time, name and occupation or any manner of business can be confirmed. With a payment of N1,000, organisations that are dealing with numerous people, can subscribe to the solution to the solution. Speaking about the solution during a media chat in Lagos recently, the Cofounder of Seclot Vet and Country Manager of Seclot Technologies Limited, Olasunbo Atekoja, said: “The word ‘Seclot’ was coined from “security for the lot”.

Our core competencies are background verification, surveillance systems and tracking systems. We noticed that the abovementioned areas are places that many organizations have challenges, ours is to fill in these voids by providing world-class services. Seclot is a security-oriented company that deals with online security and physical security. Our vision is to become the leading provider of technology driven security solutions in Nigeria and Africa.” She added: “The platform is a self-service portal where you can create your profile and upload details of people you want to vet. The vetting will be done, and result uploaded back to the portal. Interestingly, you can still view these details years after the vetting has been done. We also relentlessly focus on securing our clients digital ecosystem where data assets are the most valuable and vulnerable components of the global economy leveraging our professional teams across Africa to deliver exceptional solutions and services.” “Today, a lot of people are going into online busi-

nesses due to availability of IT tools, though the issue of trust arises, where customers see items online but supplier supplies another thing. The Seclot Vet addresses this trust issue, with Seclot identity (ID) of the vendor customers can locate and identify the vendor/supplier,” she said. “Seclot Vet can also work with public sector where a government bureau or office will want to deal with group of people. The solution comes with map, video, and address location of the client for just a token fee,” she further said. “We currently operate in over 10 major cities and have carried out over 1,500 verification from 2019 to date. We intend to build footprints of Nigerians to the world. We are looking at having a 100 million Nigerian data verified by 2030,” Atekoja added. The firm has deployed its vetting solution in many corporate organizations and locations such as Parkit.Ng, Reposebay, ET Logistics Limited, and they have also performed domestic vetting jobs in many parts of the country such as Lagos, Benin and most recently Abuja, the federal capital.

T H I S D AY ˾ APRIL 29, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Bridging Infrastructure Gap Emma Okonji writes that the recently released national roaming and collocation guidelines will bridge infrastructure gap and enhance service quality across networks

ew weeks ago, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), released guidelines on national roaming, collocation and infrastructure sharing, aimed at developing a regulatory framework for the implementation of national roaming services in Nigeria. The primary objective of the guidelines is also to establish a framework within which access providers and access seekers can negotiate collocation and infrastructure sharing arrangements. Before the guidelines were released earlier this month, telecoms operators were involved in building their individual telecoms infrastructure, instead of allowing telecoms infrastructure providers to develop such them across the country that will enable them collocate their services and focus on their core service provision. The release of the guidelines was expected to open vistas of opportunities for both telecoms subscribers and operators alike, when fully implemented. While telecoms subscribers will be able to receive quality service from other networks when roaming, the operators will be able to offer quality service in areas where they do not have sufficient network capacities, since operators with sufficient network capacities in a particular location, can transmit voice and data signals from other networks and deliver same to subscribers of other networks, who are the call recipients. With the release of the guidelines on national roaming and collocation, operators will be able to outsource network infrastructure rollout and concentrate more on core service delivery, thereby enhancing service quality, while infrastructure providers will focus on infrastructure rollout, thus bridging telecoms infrastructure gap in the country. National Roaming Roaming enables a mobile subscriber to automatically make and receive voice calls, send and receive data, or access other services when travelling outside the geographical coverage area of their home network, by means of using a visited network. The national roaming guidelines, as released by the NCC, shall apply only to holders of licences validly issued by the commission, containing a condition that makes the holder eligible to enter into a national roaming service agreement. According to NCC, the national roaming services shall be provided within the geographical boundaries of Nigeria, and the guidelines are to be read in conjunction with the Act, the Collocation Guidelines, Interconnection Regulations, Quality of Service Regulations, Competition Practices Regulations, other subsidiary legislations that may be issued by the Commission from time to time. NCC emphasised that duly authorised service providers shall request and negotiate national roaming agreements with each other on bi-lateral and non-discriminatory terms. A roaming seeker requesting for national roaming services shall forward a duly completed roaming request Form A contained in the guidelines to the roaming provider, and a roaming provider shall notify the roaming seeker of its approval or rejection of the roaming request in line with the procedure. Where the roaming seeker receives no response from the roaming provider within 15 days of its request, the roaming seeker shall immediately notify the commission in writing, and the commission shall take necessary steps to ensure the roaming provider responds to the roaming request. The roaming provider shall within 15 days of receipt of the roaming request, notify the roaming seeker of its acceptance by completing the relevant section of the response to roaming request Form B contained in the guiidelines. Parties shall thereafter enter into a nondisclosure agreement and commence negotiations of the terms of the national roaming agreement. Parties shall also conclude negotiations on the terms of the national roaming agreement and execute same within 60 days from receipt of the roaming request. The guidelines further said that parties shall ensure that the national roaming agreement is submitted to the commission for review and approval, prior to registration, within 14 days of execution by parties. It also stated that if within 15 days from the date of submission

Telecoms mast with collocated antennae

the Commission does not act on the national roaming agreement, such shall be deemed approved and registered. NCC said it reserves the right to request for additional information or amendment of relevant parts of the national roaming agreement in order to comply with the provisions of the Act, the guidelines, and any other relevant subsidiary legislation or regulatory instrument. NCC, however, warned that all negotiations for roaming must be done in utmost good faith, such that neither party shall obstruct or delay negotiations; refuse to provide information relevant to an agreement including information necessary for the required cluster; refuse to designate proper representative to expedite negotiation, and that national roaming services shall commence within 90 days from receipt of the roaming request. Collocation and infrastructure sharing In technical parlance, collocation is the process of sharing the same telecoms infrastructure by different telecoms operators in order to serve different telecoms subscribers within a given location. It is a wireless telecoms facility owned and operated by a service provider that is located on the same tower, building, accessory structure, or property, which accommodates several telecoms facilities that are operated by different communication service providers. NCC described collocation is an element of the interconnection of networks hence it is essential that operators agree on terms of its implementation towards ensuring seamless interconnectivity. Collocation shall constitute part of the negotiations for interconnection and be governed by provisions of the Telecommunications Network Interconnection Regulations. NCC further said every incumbent operator, especially dominant operators as may be determined by the Commission should include in their Reference Interconnection Offer (RIO) an offer for the facilities available for collocation, including a price list for the different components of collocation. An operator desirous of interconnecting with another operator is at liberty to choose the type of collocation suitable for its operation, the NCC guidelines further specified. The released guidelines on collocation, gave all access providers and access seekers, the liberty to negotiate collocation and infrastructure sharing arrangements in accordance with mutually agreed terms. The guidelines explain the commission’s role in achieving the most efficient use of facilities amenable to sharing. According to NCC, the guidelines would ensure that the incidence of unnecessary duplication of infrastructure is minimised

or completely avoided. It will protect the environment by reducing the proliferation of infrastructure and facilities installations; promote fair competition through equal access being granted to the installations and facilities of operators on mutually agreed terms; ensure that the economic advantages derivable from the sharing of facilities are harnessed for the overall benefit of all telecommunications stakeholders; minimise capital expenditure on supporting infrastructures and to free more funds for investment in core network equipment. It will also encourage access providers and access seekers to pursue a cost-oriented policy with the added effect of a reduction in the tariffs chargeable to consumers. The guideline stipulates that the commission shall encourage and promote the sharing of infrastructures under two categories, the passive and active infrastructure sharing. The passive infrastructure sharing include Rights of Way (RoW), masts, poles, antenna mast and tower structures, ducts, trenches, space in buildings, electric power, which include public or private source, and dark fibre. The active infrastructure sharing include: complete network structures, switching centers, frequencies, radio network controllers, and base stations. The guidelines, however, stated that where the sharing of an infrastructure such as RoW and electric power is precedent upon securing the necessary approval of a granting authority, such approval should be obtained before the sharing arrangement can be finalised. Beneﬁts According to GSMA, the body representing the interest of global telecoms operators, national roaming would allow SIM cards holders who are telecoms subscribers to use more operators in a country. “This can be a big advantage to be certain of good coverage in a country. If your device is at a location with poor reception, it can switch to the best network. In case of a network outage, it switches to another network for continued service. Or if you use 2G hardware and your operator discontinues the 2G service, you can avoid problems. By having more networks available you can switch operator without any hassle,” GSMA said in a recent statement. The GSMA statement also highlighted the benefits for telecoms operators, explaining that for all data services and voice calls, the visited network captures the details of every session in a Call Detail Record (CDR). “These record information on the location, sending party, receiving party, time of connection, session duration and size, measured in KB or MB. The visited network operator then uses

With the release of the guidelines on national roaming and collocation, operators will be able to outsource network infrastructure rollout and concentrate more on core service delivery, thereby enhancing service quality, while infrastructure providers will focus on infrastructure rollout, thus bridging telecoms infrastructure gap in the country

these details to calculate the wholesale roaming charge payable by your home network. The data records, including the applicable wholesale charges, will be saved in a Transferred Account Procedure (TAP) file. TAP files are sent from the visited network to your home network, typically by using the services of a data clearing house. A data clearing house acts as a ‘hub’ for the distribution of TAP files and provides the home network with services such as reporting to assist the home network in running its roaming business. Your home network then pays the visited network the appropriate wholesale charges, the statement further said. Telecoms subscribers who also spoke on the benefits of collocation, said telecoms operators were still running parallel infrastructures within the same location despite the well documented benefits of outsourcing or collocation of infrastructure. They were of the view that the practice of building individual telecoms infrastructure by telecoms operators, had resulted in the proliferation of masts and towers across the country, some of which, they said, were already posing threats to aviation safety. According to NCC, with the ever decreasing average revenue per user (ARPU), operators have started to complain of high operating costs. It has also been found that management of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) such as masts and towers by operators with the attendant challenges of theft, vandalism of equipment is diversionary to operators’ effort in delivering quality of service. For instance, GSM operators spend as much as $5,000 on the average monthly to run a base station. This expenditure include, servicing of generators, fueling, and security among others. If operators outsource or rent base station it will take off them, the problem of vandalism. Just like in other industries, the operations of telecommunications service providers could as well be outsourced. Outsourcing the management of telecoms infrastructure to experts that will solely focus on collocation and managing of BTS, will eventually reduce overhead cost. Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators can outsource a lot of their operations such as customer care, data hosting, base station management, sales outlets among others, in a bid to achieve collocation, as stipulated in the recent guidelines released by the NCC. Conditions for infrastructure sharing Giving the importance of infrastructure sharing, NCC, stipulated some guidelines that telecoms operators must adhere to during infrastructure sharing. According NCC, an access provider shall make available, capacity to other operators on a “first-come, first served” basis, determined in accordance with the order in which the operator owning or having control over a facility, receives requests for infrastructure sharing. “Every access provider shall reserve the right to refuse an application for infrastructure sharing on grounds of; Insufficient capacity, safety, reliability, incompatibility of facilities, general engineering considerations, and subsisting indebtedness of access seeker to access provider on similar infrastructure sharing arrangements, provided the ground for refusal shall not apply to Collocation in respect of interconnection.” NCC further said the decision to refuse an application for infrastructure sharing shall be communicated in writing to the access seeker, specifying the reasons for such refusal. “ Every infrastructure sharing agreement, including any prior existing agreement, shall be in writing and shall specify the contractual terms and conditions agreed on by the parties. All such agreements shall be registered with the Commission”, the guidelines further stated. It said as a precondition for registration, every infrastructure sharing agreement shall be submitted to the commission for review and approval, and that the commission shall in reviewing infrastructure sharing agreements, ensure that the terms on which infrastructure sharing is offered are in compliance with the principles of neutrality, transparency, nondiscrimination and fair competition.

T H I S D AY ˾ APRIL 29, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Promoting Artificial Banking Made Simple Intelligence in Accounting Raheem Akingbolu reviews the new FirstBank’s corporate website and reckons that it would go a Profession long way in strengthening the ability of the bank’s patrons and other potential customers in addressing basic banking operations

O Adekanmbi

Hamid Ayodeji

n a world driven by ground-breaking scientific innovations, research findings have shown that the advent of technological inventions has influenced the lives of human beings across the world in diverse ways. This is owing to the fact that humans, over the years, have been exposed to multilayered levels of technological evolutions which have constantly developed overtime to enhance the productivity levels of individuals and organisations. As a result, scientists and research-based organisations have opined that the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution will create a path for new technological breakthroughs such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain Technology, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Big Data, and Robotics in order to impact the generality of human lives. It is hinged on this premise that the World Economic Forum Global Risks Report for 2017 stated that the Fourth Industrial Revolution has the potential to raise income levels that will invariably improve the quality of life for all people. Hence, it is pertinent to note that the Fourth Industrial Revolution rides on the success of the Internet of Things (IoT), with Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a major component. This helps to reiterate the fact that the integrated developments driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution is crucial to the shaping of a new era of globalization in our contemporary world. This is because it cuts across all professions, while also possessing the potential to create real economic value. This is further made evident through McKinsey Global Institute’s projection which suggests that IoT has the potential to generate between $4 trillion to $11 trillion a year in economic value by 2025. On the backdrop of the conversations around the Fourth Industrial Revolution, MTN Nigeria sponsored the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria’s (ICAN) 50th Annual Conference. The event, which was themed, “The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Boom for the Accounting Profession and Panacea for the Pandemic,” sought to explore the possible ways the accounting profession in Nigeria could live up to the expectations of our contemporary times, particularly during the post-COVID era. This is because the advent of Internet of Things (IoT) is expected to revolutionize every profession in a manner that will increase productivity outputs. Speaking on IoT, the Chief Transformation Officer (CTO) for MTN Nigeria, Dr. Olubayo Adekanmbi, delivered a resounding presentation on the topic entitled “The Importance

of Internet of Things (IoT) in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.” The timeliness of the topic was evident in how it subtly re-emphasises the need for practicing professionals to remain up to date despite the ravaging economic effects of the pandemic. This is because the advent of IoT in the Fourth Industrial Revolution has shown that accounting-related tasks that may take time to accomplish could be done in an accelerated manner. It is, therefore, right to state that the incursion of IoT provides an avenue for reduced operational costs in daily operations in that one can track anything regardless of anywhere it is. One may be right to state that the disruptions caused by the emergence of IoT would help change the landscape of the accounting profession across the world, including in Nigeria. Accountants in our contemporary world would be saddled with a greater responsibility of analysing real-time financial data instead of a periodical check with a bookkeeper. This implies that better business decisions will be made because auditing, asset management, the prediction of cash flow, and risk management will become more efficient. This further enhances the skills of accountants to easily detect financial fraud, minimise damage, notice financial trends, and also give financial advice. Commenting on the massive impacts IoT would have on the accounting profession, Adekanmbi noted that IoT does not distort the core principles of accounting which is hinged on integrity and efficiency. “All the things that characterise the accounting profession – the integrity, the rigour, the efficiency, and the hands-on checking through the files – still remain with us. However, we must look at the future, embrace it, and then see it as an opportunity to compliment the great legacy the accounting profession has built in this country,” Adekanmbi reiterated. This buttresses the notion that with the emergence of artificial intelligence, a typical accountant’s role will gradually evolve from reporting and ensuring compliance into providing small businesses with forwardthinking business ideas. Having explored the massive potential inherent in the adoption of the IoT, it is essential to note that Nigeria’s leading ICT firm, MTN Nigeria, is keen on championing advocacies that would aid diverse professions in contributing to and taking advantage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This is because the emergence of IoT is expected to help businesses deliver a highly-personalized customer experience through the interaction of sensors and actuators connected by networks to computing systems. And MTN as a leading ICT firm plays a critical role in delivering the infrastructure that powers IoT.

utside the physical identity of any brand, the most accessible door into operations of a company in today’s market is perhaps the website. With digital technology taking the lead in today’s business environment, website has swiftly become the virtual meeting point for sellers and buyers. As a result of the fact that website can make or mar companies, depending on its message and aesthetic look, companies are now evolving every day to communicate their ideals through their websites. Today, having a website and an online presence give brand promoter opportunity to market their products online. For the management of FirstBank Nigeria Limited, the new website represents the trending posture of the brand. In line with today’s business environment, the bank has continued to evolve and reposition to strengthening its operational skills. Though ageing, the First Bank brand is ever young at heart. Through the website, First Bank has been able to present less cumbersome operations and by extension woos potential members of the public to join the FirstBank’s family. Specifically, the website appears to have demystified online banking. Among other unique features, it allows self-registration of online banking; it makes provision for loan facility and encourages multiple transfers at once. In a way, handlers of the First Bank brand show through the friendly site that they are not ready to waste their customers’ time. They are aware that people don’t visit their website because they are looking for somewhere to spend their extra time. The promoters are quite aware that their customers simply want to get to things quickly and that is why the messages on the website speak to the specifics. Technically but smoothly, each category of the products displayed also parades key issues without confusing customers with irrelevant details. Though an upgrade of the old one, the current website plays up features that are streamlined to reinforce its role in delivering seamless banking and technology solutions to its customers across the world. The website is configured with modern design and improved functionality that eases customer experience whilst carrying out various activities on the site, including electronic banking. Non-customers are also able to open an account, putting them at an edge in the industry as they establish a relationship with the bank that puts its customers first. For instance, many analysts have commended the fact that the bank adopts a fresh, magazine-style look and feel for easy navigation in order to promote the access to essential information for its customers, FirstMonie agents, prospective agents and the public. Another beautiful thing about the site is that the upgrade also guides an average customer to make well-informed decisions about one’s personal, business and private financial needs. The CEO, First Bank Nigeria Limited, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, while speaking on the launch of the new corporate website, said that “as one of the key contact points to existing and potential customers, the bank’s website remains a gateway to our business, supporting our unique value propositions and financial services solutions. As such, we are committed to continuously improve the overall user experience through intriguing content quality, exciting features and ease of navigation.” He further noted that “the bank’s new website will be updated on a regular

Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, FirstBank CEO

basis with exciting features that will continue to reinforce the bank’s resolve to promote digital customer interactions and transactions across our virtual touchpoints and platforms’’. Concluding, he remarked that ‘’the website will also serve as a financial services library that will keep customers and the public abreast of various financial services solutions and offerings, thereby helping them to improve their economic and social wellbeing’’. He encouraged everyone to explore the website and follow the bank’s social media pages for updates. There is no doubt the fact that the bank keys into the popular theory that responsive websites are now the rule for institutions, not the exception. Recent experience in the market place has shown that offering a seamless and consistent user experience, responsive design, allows a single site to serve audiences on all devices and orientations. However, if a company’s analytics show that the percentage of mobile traffic to the company’s site is at least 10% and steadily growing, responsive design is a must for your redesign. The new First Bank website is built on a powerful content management system that meets all of the bank’s needs. Meanwhile, some of many basic considerations for institutions, which the new website has explored are; ease of use, features, security and responsive design support. In financial website, content is more important than ever to a financial website, offering visitors useful information, tools and resources to make better decisions with their money. Again, First Bank explores this maximally. The bank’s messaging is simple and consistent, and organised in a scannable format for users to digest and take action. Additionally, like all great sites, the site focuses content around visitor’s needs, offering solutions and varied content types. Being the first impression that its customers gets, website designers often advise that site design should be visually consistent with everything else the audience sees – from customer’s branch to his statement inserts to his emails. In a way, the design of the First Bank website is unique, uncluttered and well-planned so it can keep up with the institution’s changes. Another beautiful thing is that the site’s imagery feel distinct and appeal directly to First Bank’s geographic footprint and specific demographics, successfully balancing branded photography and promotional graphics. Each element of the design has a clear strategic purpose, align with the First Bank brand promise, and send the right message to the bank’s customers.

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Boye-Ajayi: With AfCFTA Female-owned Startups Require More Support The Founder/Chief Executive Officer, The Ark Coaching Company, Olori Boye-Ajayi in this interview speaks on the risks and opportunities the African Continental Free Trade Area presents for micro, small and medium scale enterprise. Hamid Ayodeji presents the excerpts:

hat is the mission and vision of The Ark Coaching Company? The Ark Coaching Company is not just all about business activities, rather we are generally dedicated towards elevating the capacity and minds of Africans by helping such individuals attain more than what they are told they can achieve by the society. Hence, our mission is to enhance the skills and knowledge of our people in order to enable them navigate through the challenges of being in the third world and also use the infrastructures and opportunities on ground to get what they want. Owing to this, we offer multi-level programs which ranges from issues that deals with the mindset of individuals, initiatives that deal with detoxification in areas of finance and values. Over a period of operating we have learnt that the reason why some people are not positioned for empowerment is because their values do not have roots. So, all of the things that have to do with a person’s value system and belief systems are the sort of things we treat at The Ark Coaching Company through our multilevel schemes. In addition to these, we recently just added an initiative called, ‘The Money Ring’ to our program which highlights how individuals can participate in schemes that can help generate wealth, methods to manage wealth, and also how to multiply wealth. This, is going to be one of our signature programs because we have learnt that only two percent of investments come to women of colour. Thus, as part of efforts to change this narrative was not solely to find out how to get more investment to women. But, to enrich them rather than sitting around waiting for aids. This program is going to be a year-long campaign of us training a batch of twenty five persons. Your organisation recently launched the ‘Borderless Trade Network’ program, can you shed more light on what it is about and how impactful and receptive it has been in the society? Borderless trade seeks to help different levels of women in business such as, the woman behind the business, the woman in transition and the woman that wants to go borderless. But in order to go borderless you need a borderless mindset. Hence, Borderless Trade Network helps female business owners tell their stories in fascinating ways by partnering with various technical partners that are experts in branding and eventually help in structuring their businesses. Thanks to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement the continent is now borderless in terms of trading so if we do not provide female-owned startups with the support they need to develop and sustain their businesses the competition coming externally would crumble their businesses. So, we are doing our best to position them for the inevitable market penetration that is coming from other African countries; which is the reason why we set up this initiative. Meanwhile, the program has been able to impact positively on the environment already, as the women have been able to connect with consultants within the first few weeks of its creation. We are more practical oriented rather than theory as we have set up internship programs for the women in different organisations. An individual that collects fifty million naira without having experience of running a business the chances are most likely that the funds would be squandered. So, what we have done is create a relationship with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) to help us identify textile and garments manufacturing firms, petrol chemical firms, agricultural firms, technology firms, pharmaceutical firms in order to enable us send these business women on internship programs at these various sectors so as to prepare them for entrepreneurial activities.

success stories. Due to the negative impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the various sectors of the country’s economy how crucial and impactful would the diversiﬁcation from the oil and gas sector to other sectors such as agriculture, technology and entrepreneurship be towards the sustainable economic recovery of the nation? I would advise that adequate and efficient funding by both the government and private sectors go directly to sectors such as, agriculture entrepreneurs so that they can expand their productivity and create more employment within the ecosystem. According to the National Bureau of Statistics unemployment rate as at 2020 was at seven percent. So, considering this, one of the effective ways to achieve economic recovery is by investing in our citizens skills and technical know-how which would enable us emerge as a nation with individuals that have adequate skills thereby, generating solutions to economic problems. In addition, the private sector needs to do more in terms of driving the economic recovery because they are the engine of the economy. Our economic recovery does not only boil down to the government. The private sector also has a major role to play. So every stakeholder needs to do more in other to drive the economy of the nation.

Boye-Ajayi

Can you explain further the opportunities and risks the AfCFTA presents for the entrepreneurship ecosystem of the country? Looking at the opportunities; If MSMEs used to have ten million as market size within Nigeria to service, what the AfCFTA now means is that such organisations now have over one billion in market size to harness. However, in order to harness such an opportunity the business has to be able to compete at an International scale. The second opportunity it provides is borderless collaboration with the removal of tariffs, custom duties, border restrictions. So, businesses can effectively join forces in order to export their products to the African Union markets and the rest of the world. In addition, this initiative enables every entrepreneur to earn in other currency asides the naira. Regarding the challenges it present; part of the negative mindset of some entrepreneurs in Nigeria is the fact that they settle for less when they are producing their products or services to consumers, rather than aiming for the best result. Also, a lot of this MSMEs do not know how to brand their products in ways it would be able to meet the global market standard. Owing to this, we are partnering with the Institute of Packaging to help our startups with their products in order to make it equal standard to those that have been imported from other countries. Furthermore, another factor that could serve as a huge risk is that Nigeria was not ready in terms of infrastructure for the ratification it signed recently. We do not have efficient trade infrastructure and policies to support a borderless trade economy. If we do not accelerate our trade and production facilities and policies we would face challenges competing with other countries. In addition, a lot of our start-ups do not meet the required workforce of a standard micro business which

should comprise of a minimum of eleven individuals working for the organisation. So, the organisation with larger workforces would come into Nigeria and wipe out the smaller micro business by meeting higher demands. However, the solution to this would require us establishing trading houses in order to bring several MSMEs together and form a giant organisation with a large number of workforce and increased productivity. From your experience as a serial entrepreneur how crucial is the role access to capital plays towards the development and success of any business? What i have gathered is that if you ask business owners this same question in developed parts of the World such as, America and Europe, they would not tell you that capital is the most vital part of establishing and sustaining a successful business, rather they would mention other key factors like access to mentors, programs that could enhance their technical know-how, before eventually mentioning access to capital. Meanwhile in our part of the world here in Africa, due to the rate of poverty a lot of MSMEs think finance is the most crucial factor of establishing and developing a successful enterprise. In view of this, i think that access to capital becomes a viable issue when the concept of the business is bankable and proven. That is because a lot of people have ideas and then want to borrow money based on these ideas at an early stage without considering the fact that they have more problems like, ensuring they have market demand and ability to penetrate the market which is a bigger problem than getting loans and capital. However, in defense of the MSMEs institutions such as the Bank of Industry and other stakeholders can actually do more towards ensuring they mentor and follow up in more efficient ways thereby, ensuring startups they fund generate more

If MSMEs used to have ten million as market size within Nigeria to service, what the AfCFTA now means is that such organisations now have over one billion in market size to harness

What sort of policies and regulations do you think can be enforced in order to make access to loans by entrepreneurs be more favourable and effective to entrepreneurs? First, we should not compare ourselves to developed economies either in ways they give loans or the way they produce the products nor the facilities they possess for their market. We need much more grant oriented schemes to boost our ecosystem. Loans should be giving to the medium and large enterprises, at the micro and small level they need interventions that would help them acquire not to lose or to give back. The loan policies should be accommodating to the inefficiencies of our infrastructure. We should provide loan facilities that would not get people in trouble. Meanwhile, loans policies are not in isolation because there are issues of security lurking there as well. For example; i know of an agriculture entrepreneur that got a loan of fifteen million from an agency. But little did the entrepreneur know that Covid-19 was on the way. In addition to the devastating effect of the Covid-19 the individuals’ farm which was supposed to be used to pay back the fifteen million was also ambushed and destroyed by herdsmen. Thus, there are major security issues to be identified for entrepreneurs. Also, loans should have insurance policies to protect entrepreneurs from unforeseen events and natural disasters that could crash and hinder the success of the business. What sort of work philosophy is The Ark coaching company built on? Leadership, as we believe self-leadership is one of the quickest ways to elevate the mind. When you are able to govern yourself you would be able to govern your business, your family, your community and then a nation. Also, we believe in community because when you want to change a system that is bigger than you it is done through the power of community. Hence, we value community in order for us to change the course in ripple effect and also in compounding ways. When ten people come together to address a problem we generate faster and more efficient solutions. Furthering more, spirituality. We believe that man is not just a physical being as he is governed by his values spiritually. So, we take a lot of our values from the Christian doctrine. We allow the almighty God take charge spiritually, whilst we play our part physically to the best of our knowledge.

THISDAY, THURSDAY APRIL 29,2021

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T H I S D AY ˾ , APRIL 29, 2021

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Why No Child Must Suffer Polio The emergence of COVID-19 in 2020 led to a paralysis of activities including that of routine immunisation which is mandatory for every child. Experts have continued to warn that Nigeria stands at the risk of returning to the list of polio endemic countries if any child is left behind. KuniTyessi writes

e was already in his mid- 40s and was still running in circles. It wasn’t because he wanted to be at the bottom of his class and among his classmates whom after graduating from a prestigious secondary school in Jos, had moved on and had acquired degrees, properties, prestige, marital status/symbols, including making names for themselves. Rather, he was fighting some internal powers which right from childhood had suppressed him and limited his psychological and mental growth which had in turn, belaboured his emotions and outlook towards life. As a child, Ahmad was always angry, unsettled, absent minded and paranoid. He got frustrated over his inability to do things that others could do with ease. So many times during break periods in primary school, no football team ever wanted to include him in its group. Being part of the team meant they were 10 and half in number and not the complete eleven which was the rule in the game of football. Running and engaging other winning techniques was going to be almost impossible for him to achieve and that was a burden to him and the team he was representing. The reason was because he had been attacked by the wild polio virus at the age of three and was cripple in one leg. His mother, a young woman of 21 had to relocate from the city to their village with his pregnancy alongside his elder brother shortly after his father gained admission into the Ahmadu Bello university, Zaria in Kaduna State. His elder brother had been immunised against the polio virus and was free from its malady. However, he was not immunised against measles and at four years, he died from a deadly measles outbreak which also claimed the lives of several children in the village. Managing the situation gulped huge resources and was time and energy consuming. Not the frequent early morning journeys to Dala Orthopedic Hospital and other key health institutions in Kano, from Kaduna could remedy the situation. Even though the affected leg was operated upon and he was given a special kind of shoe which had a double sole in order to assist him stand straight, Ahmad could never be the same again. The shoe was also supported by a carefully constructed metal which was made in circles and supported with a long straight metal which had been carved by the expertise of a welder and it had a had a buckle, s strap made from genuine leather. It was used to support the leg. These were heavy and dragging the leg whenever he walked was cumbersome, painful, slow and regretful. However, it was the only remedy medical personnel could give in order to assist him walk straight. His shoulder and spine were taken into consideration. His case was not as half as bad as that of his cousin in the village who was also affected by polio. The virus crippled her two legs, thereby making it impossible for her to stand. One leg became longer than the other and was shrunken. To walk, she needed the assistance of a stick as she would have to fling one of the legs forward, then struggle to lift her torso with the aid of the stick in order to move the other leg. A journey that could be estimated to take 10 minutes would last 40 minutes whenever Ramatu was involved. That’s not all, village miscreants and playboys took advantage of

Every child deserves a polio-free life

her situation to always profess false love just to have their way with her. On the other hand, there were times she felt she wasn’t good enough for any man as a result of her condition. Getting ‘prospective suitors’ coming to woo her love felt like huge favour, until she was impregnated and abandoned to give birth to a child whose father she wasn’t sure of. The experience of Ahmad and Ramatu resonates in the life of every child affected by the wild polio virus. If it hasn’t happened, then it’s bound to happen, or a part of it is disaster brewing to burst. While others have the support of a strong family base, the potential of majority is cut short by half. Even with a strong and consistent support system, they go through, and daily fight stigma, discrimination, inferiority complex, self pity, hatred for the society and sometimes question the supernatural, inadequate government policies to alleviate their plight and

When children miss immunisation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, they are unable to ﬁght other diseases as immunity becomes low. Therefore, there’s fear of resurgence of major illnesses including polio. Routine immunisation for children under 15 months is a strategy towards combating diseases from reoccurring. With this, children are better kitted to ﬁght the disease

the non implementation of existing laws and strengthening of institutions centered around disabilities, as well as cases of sexual abuse and molestation for the females. Reasons responsible for their inability to get immunised can be likened to many waters that have gone past under a bridge. However, it cannot be unconnected to inadequate information, proximity and the lack of awareness in appreciating the devastating effects of polio and the hardship it brings in its saddle. The world has kept evolving from medieval ages to modern times, even to post modernisation and today, information is at the finger tips of individuals about benefits of routine immunisation and the consequences of refusing it. With the routine immunisation awareness week which has commenced on 22nd of April, it is expected that all households will immunise their children and wards and forestall their future, bearing in mind that routine immunisation is the right of every child and children’s rights are equally Human Rights. With the six months lock down which was not negotiable, due to the spread of the corona virus, experts have raised the alarm stating that there are open windows with the potency of inviting the virus back to Nigeria and making rubbish the declaration made by the World Health Organisation stating that Nigeria is polio free. In a three-day media dialogue which was organised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and culture in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, Director for Planning, Research and Statistics in the state ministry of health and human services, Dr. Stephen John, said the emergence of COVID-19 has disrupted activities surrounding routine immunisation with respect to polio. In the programme themed “Media dialogue on routine immunisation and COVID vaccine vaccination”, Dr. John remarked that “until the world is free, there might be a resurgence of the polio virus”, adding that signals of it resurfacing are visible.

So far, only two countries, namely Pakistan and Afghanistan are in the list of nations still battling to rid themselves from the claws of polio. It will be recalled that Nigeria recorded success after several attempts with huge efforts and funds being expended and going back to the dark days will be an unpalatable story. According to Dr. John: “When children miss immunisation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, they are unable to fight other diseases as immunity becomes low. Therefore, there’s fear of resurgence of major illnesses including polio. “Routine immunisation for children under 15 months is a strategy towards combating diseases from reoccurring. With this, children are better kitted to fight the disease. “The only way to keep children safe is through vaccination for vaccination saves lives and no child should die as a result of vaccine preventable diseases.” In his contributions at the programme, National Immunisation Officer for Adamawa state, Katugwa Emmanuel while espousing the highs and lows of routine immunisation in the state, said polio has recorded a success of 98 per cent. As laudable as it is, he said the two percent that have been left out pose as threats if not found and immunised. He said the major cause of death among children are vaccine preventable diseases and in order to keep Nigeria in the list of polio- free countries, there has to be continuity in informing community members about the importance of completing routine immunisation. “Community leaders, as well as traditional and religious leaders have to keep mobilising the people towards accepting immunisation. There is nothing like too much immunisation for the more the vaccine, the stronger the child’s system becomes in the fight against diseases.” The devastating results of polio and its regrettable hardship is only best imagined and like most curses, it is irreversible and only victims like Ahmad and Ramatu can adequately tell and own their stories. Therefore, lockdown or no lockdown, Evert child must be immunised.

T H I S D AY ˾ , APRIL 29, 2021

NEWS

‘18years After, Nordica Completes Families with 3500 Babies’ Martins Ifijeh Since 2003 till date, Nordica Fertility Centre has successfully treated infertility in couples, hence producing over 3500 babies, the Managing Director of the organisation, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi has said. Speaking at a virtual press briefing recently as part of activities to mark Nordica’s 18th year anniversary, Ajayi said he was glad the centre has put smiles on the faces of thousands of couples in Nigeria. )F TBJE i8JUIJO UIF MBTU 18 years, we have helped families with over 3500 babies and we are looking forward to doing more in the near future. I am en-

couraging Nigerians to take their healthcare seriously. Infertility is a medical condition. It should be treated as such. “Nigerians and by extension, Africans are very careless about their health but the responsibility of living a healthy lifestyle and staying alive lies with you. “ A doctor might make a wrong prescription for you and still leave to practice again but the dead cannot argue. So we must start taking responsibilities because it is your body that we are talking about here.” Ajayi noted there was also a need for media practitioners to continue to play their role in enlightening the

The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa has called on Nigerians to embrace natural and complementary medicines combined with a healthy lifestyle, as a panacea for the various diseases that encroach on the population due to urban living and low immunity. Ohuabunwa made the call on a working visit to his office in Lagos by the management of STK Biotech to the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria where he addressed relevant health concerns currently pressing the country at large. )F UBMLFE BCPVU UIF heightened concerns internationally about the mutating strains of COVID-19, and the third wave that is sweeping across countries like India and Brazil, and proclaimed that the nationwide launch of the STK immune boosters could not have come at a better time for Nigerians. The PSN boss also pleaded with Nigerians not to let the guard down regarding COVID-19 and health safety precautions praying that once again, Nigeria does not experience the worst of the virus. )F SFNJOEFE /JHFSJBOT that the doctor to patient ratio in Nigeria is about 1:2753 so the best practice is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and optimise immune strength. “The problem with our healthcare system is that we abandoned our own natural heritage and wholly embraced the western medicine without having the equipment and facilities to handle it. “We have the human and material resources to achieve whatever we may set our mind to do – we are

blessed with a rich variety of herbs and trees. “It will be cheaper to produce here, and makes us self-reliant in such critical area of national development; and saves us a lot of foreign exchange in the importation of products”. Ohuabunwa in his presentation reiterated his support for the amazing research and scientific work being done at STK Biotech, and promised his support to ensure that the products are made available for all Nigerians. )F DPNNFOEFE UIF 45, biotech for simultaneously launching a wellness network managed by experienced health care professionals, for Nigerians looking to take their health into their own hands and imbibe natural healthy lifestyle to combat modern diseases. Ohuabunwa who was once the President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), as well as the Chairman of Nigerian Economic Group (NEG) encouraged the management of STK Biotech as they roll out distribution of the highly anticipated STK range of natural products PAN Nigeria through both online and offline channels. )F FODPVSBHFE UIF company to partner key pharmaceutical distributors in all the geopolitical regions, to ensure availability of the products across the country. “I am taking the STK immune boosters on the road to help maintain my vitality and boost my immune function naturally, and I am very pleased with the safety and tolerability. “I know a lot of colleagues that will benefit from the different natural remedies from STK, and I will be personally recommending to them too. That is how much I believe in what the company is

Sickle Cell And Infertility (Part 2)

masses on how important their health is to them. )F GVSUIFS SFJUFSBUFE IPX Nordica has been helping in the area of quality healthcare reportage with its Nordica Media Merit Awards as a way of encouraging journalJTUT UP EP CFUUFS )F GVSUIFS encouraged Nigerians to see infertility as a medical condition where only medical solution should be proffered. “Until we get to the level where we get to know that infertility is a medical condition and where to report to is the hospital where every other condition is also being attended to. If there is going to be an alternative way of treating it, let it be standardised.”

Ohuabunwa Urges Nigerians to Embrace Natural Supplements to Boost Immunity Amby Uneze ÓØ áÏÜÜÓ

FERTILITY

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

doing”. The PSN president, who is currently engaged in grassroot nation building activities across the country, also gave some insight into the New Nigeria Group (NNG) where he is traversing the length and breadth of the country engaging the populace on right attitude to health and economy. Speaking on his activities as Convener of the New Nigeria Group, Ohuabunwa restated the mission of the group to mobilise likeminded citizens to install enlightened, visionary and committed leadership in Nigeria that will motivate the country to optimise its human and material resources to attain global competitiveness in a nation where justice, equity and fair play reign supreme, resulting in happy and contented citizens and this of course includes the health of the entire population. )F DPNNFOEFE UIF TUBOdards set by STK Biotech in obtaining NAFDAC certifications and inviting key stakeholders to the company and sharing details of 55 years of research in phyto medicine that had led to the STK range of products. Also recall that on his facility tour, the Director General of the National Institute for Pharmaceuticals Research and Development (NIPRD), Abuja, Dr. Obi Adigwe highly commended the manufacturing process of the STK biotech and promised to partner with the management to make the products available to Nigerians. In the past 18 months, NIPRD, PSN and the Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigerian (MLSN) have visited STK Facility in Imo state and commended the quality of sourcing and production of STK Biotech products.

ast week we talked about the effect of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) on male and female fertility and impact on mother and child, this week we will be looking at how to manage fertility challenges in patients with the disease. Management options for couples with SCD however, depend solely on the clinical symptoms they present with. Most women with SCD can get pregnant on their own while some other may require some form of Assisted Conception or Assisted Reproductive Technologies which ranges from: Ovulation Induction and Timed Intercourse: This may be the option of treatment in SCD couple with good quality sperm in males but menstrual irregularities and anovulation in the female. Most women with SCD often experience irregular menses, with ample evidence showing that they seldom ovulate. Early presentation and diagnosis is very important as advanced maternal age may further depreciate the quality and quantity of the eggs making pregnancy more difficult to achieve. Decision to induce ovulation is usually based on the results of medical history, physical examination, transvaginal ultrasound scan, blood tests and semen analysis. Ovulation induction involves the use of certain oral tablets and sometimes injectable aimed at stimulating the growth and development of eggs on the ovary. Serial scans are performed to assess follicular growth, and then your physician guides you through when to have natural coitus. Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI) This is a fertility treatment that involves placing sperm inside a woman’s uterus (Womb). The goal of IUI is to increase the number of sperm that reach the fallopian tube and subsequently increase the changes of fertilization. The most common indication for IUI in SCD male is low sperm count or decreased sperm motility. It can also be selected as a treatment option for unexplained infertility, ejaculation dysfunction and cervical mucus hostility. Women scheduled for this procedure may be given ovulation enhancing medication, with serial scans done to monitor follicular growth. It is usually done around the time of ovulation.

used when sperm numbers are very low, it is possible to do ICSI with sperm aspirated directly from the testis (TESA) in cases where there is no sperm in the ejaculate due to obstruction along the ejaculatory duct (tube through which sperm flow to exit at the penis). r0UIFS SFMBUFE NFEJDBM DPOEJUJPOT JO 4$% QBUJFOUT requiring IVF include Ovulatory dysfunction, unexplained infertility and Endometriosis (Where cells that should usually line the womb migrate to other parts of the body). For IVF to be successful it typically requires a healthy egg, sperm that can fertilize, and a womb that can carry a pregnancy. But in patients where this is not the case, it is now possible to screen embryos formed from sperm and eggs to check for genetic or chromosomal abnormalities to determine which is healthy to be put back in the woman’s womb using Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT) PGT is indicated in couple who: r)BWF B GBNJMZ IJTUPSZ PG JOIFSJUFE EJTFBTF r 8BOU UP VTF HFOEFS TFMFDUJPO UP QSFWFOU B gender-linked disease r"MSFBEZ IBWF B DIJME XJUI BO JODVSBCMF EJTFBTF and need compatible cells from second healthy child to cure the first, resulting in a “saviour TJCMJOHu UIBU NBUDIFT UIF TJDL DIJME JO )-1 UZQF Pre-implantation Genetic Testing can be (PGT-A,-M, or –SR). PGT-A means Pre-implantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidies (checking for the presence of an abnormal number of chromosomes in a cell). It was formally known as PGS (Pre-implantation Genetic Screening). It is the process of screening embryo from IVF procedure for chromosomal abnormalities before transfer with the goal of increasing the likelihood of achieving a successful pregnancy. It has been shown to: r3FEVDF UIF UJNF JU UBLFT UP HFU QSFHOBOU r&OBCMF DPOàEFOU TJOHMF FNCSZP USBOTGFS r *ODSFBTF JNQMBOUBUJPO SBUF r3FEVDF NJTDBSSJBHF SBUFT r*ODSFBTF POHPJOH QSFHOBODZ SBUF BOE MJWF birth rates.

PGT-M means Pre-implantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic/Single defect. It was formally known In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) as PGD (per-implantation Genetic Diagnosis). It IVF simply means sperm fertilizing egg outside is a genetic test designed to reduce the risk of the body; this is one of the last resorts in the having a child with an inherited condition. It is management of infertility. performed prior to pregnancy to greatly reduce the risk of having an affected child in couples who are at increased risk of passing on a specific genetic Indications for IVF in SCD Couples: r5VCBM EJTFBTF *O XPNFO XJUI CMPDLFE GBMMPQJBO condition. PGT-M is appropriate for couple with tubes, IVF has largely replaced surgery as the risk for having babies with Sickle Cell Disease. This procedure can be used to analyse the genotype treatment of choice. r.BMF GBDUPS .BMF GBDUPS JOGFSUJMJUZ JO 4$% NBMFT of each embryos generated through IVF. This may result from impotence, relative primary gonadal analysis classifies the embryos into their respective failure (hypogonadism), erectile dysfunction(ED) genotypes of AS, SS, AA etc. as a result of priapism, delayed or impaired sexual development and sperm abnormalities. They may Normal embryos with AA are then selected often present with low sperm count, poor motility and transferred back to the womb so babies born and even abnormal sperm forms. by this process though from two AS parents will r*7' XJUI JOUSBDZUPQMBTNJD TQFSN JOKFDUJPO *$4* be with an AA genotype This is a procedure in which a sperm cell is injected directly into the egg cell. This procedure can be TO BE CONTINUED

T H I S D AY ˾ , APRIL 29, 2021

NEWS

States, Experts Reel out Strategies Towards Zero Malaria in Nigeria Chiamaka Ozulumba In an effort towards achieving a Malaria Free Nigeria, some state governments and top healthcare professionals have reeled out some strategies deployed in combatting the disease in the various states across the country They made this known recently at the St Racheal’s Pharma 2021 World Malaria Day Colloquium with the theme: Reaching the Zero Malaria Target. In his address, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, St. Racheal’s Pharma, Akinjide Adeosun, said in order to reach zero malaria target in Nigeria, there must be increased funding for anti-malaria initiatives, as well as optimised existing anti malaria funds utilisation in all states across the country. In his opening remark titled, ‘Hope For A Zero Malaria Future In Nigeria’, Adeosun posited that, with Nigeria’s huge population of 205 million people and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over USD 400billion, “the sub-national and national governments should allocate one percent of their 2022-2032 budgets to anti-malaria initiatives”. He also urged the governments to broaden access to micro-insurance, especially to the economically and geographically disadvantaged, as well as

develop national malaria database to address paucity of data to drive targeted interventions. He further called for increased access to diagnostics (rapid diagnostic test) and procurement of safe, high quality and affordable antimalarials, as well as increased awareness of the citizenry on malaria prevention, testing and treatment. He, however, called for increased private sector participation in anti-malaria programmes and initiatives, adding that “with these reality, Nigeria can surmount the 23 per cent of global malaria death burden”, which according to him “is at least 30 times greater than the COVID-19 fatality in Nigeria in 2019”. Also speaking, Wife of the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Dr Bola Njoku, lamented that governments lack the capacity and political will for sustainability of approaches put in place to tackle the burden of malaria in the country. “Unfortunately, Nigeria depends highly on developing partners for her sustainable programmes on malaria prevention and treatment, and seeing it as the only way the country can move forward. “Most of the drugs, consumables and commodities used in the fight against malaria in

Nigeria are imported as none is produced locally,” she said Njoku further remarked that the health in the country was “grossly underfunded”, noting that the little funds are not well utilised nor programmes integrated to yield optimum results in malaria elimination. She concluded by calling for implementation of communitybased health insurance to cater for the people at the grassroots. Also speaking, the Quality Assurance Manager, Vcare Diagnostics Limited, Prince Abiola Adejumobi, said, reaching zero malaria index involves effect vector elimination approach by the use of chemical agents, “that is, the insecticide; case identification, which involves laboratory diagnosis and effective chemotherapy for the patient, which is the use of drugs, vaccines and every other agents to enable the affected patients recover”. Adding that, medical laboratory approach is very critical for the elimination of malaria, he posited that “if we really want to break that transmission chain, getting diagnosis and identifying people that have malaria is very key to enable us treat them on time and if possible isolate them like the same thing we did for COVID-19.

“ This will actually go a long way in helping to solve the problem of malaria elimination”. Also speaking, Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bashir Bello, said the state has applied several workable strategies to ensure total elimination in the state, which has shown a positive results according to statistics. He said the state flagged off programme that takes care of children directly from the home, with provision being made to give them the necessary care as well as the pregnant women getting all forms of necessary antenatal care including the intermittent treatment of malaria. He however lamented that people do not present themselves at the health facilities when the sickness is mild, as they only come to the facilities when it is complicated. He noted that, “this was why the state government made provisions to ensure that antimalarial therapy are giving to all patients free of charge in all the state public health facilities including the primary healthcare centres.” The Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Ogun State, Dr. Festus Soyinka, said the state, in its 2021 appropriation bill targeted to improve access and utilisation of vector control intervention to at least 80 per

cent of the state’s population by the end of the year. According to him, the state is addressing the issue of stock out of commodities and drugs for the treatmet of malaria in its public health facilites, “which is a challenge limiting the state from achieving positive results in eliminating the disease”. The Director of Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Lagos State, Dr. Rotimi Agbolagorite, said malaria is endemic in the state and poses a major challenge to the state as it impedes human development. According to him, “malaria is known to be the cause of underdevelopment in a state and one of the leading causes of morbidity in a state. “The cosmopolitan nature of Lagos, coupled with the people’s behaviour and the abundant distribution of people in the coastal areas, encourage the availability of stagnant water for the breeding of anopheles mosquitoes.” Agbolagorite said these are responsible for the stable pattern and the continuous transmission of the disease all year round across the state, as well as unstable support from international donors with no local support for the malaria elimination programme.

He however noted that the state government has “made provision for preventive drugs for treatment of malaria in pregnancy and under five children in public health facilities, and other consumables and commodities free of charge.” On his part, the Permanent Secretary , Ministry of Health, Ekiti State, Akinjide Akinleye, said the state government layed emphasis on environmental management, which includes effective refuse disposal and management. “We also have embarked on covering of all water storage containers, clearing of drainage and gutters, proper dredging of channels, clearing surrounding bushes among others to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.” Akinleye said if the vectors are prevented the incidence of malaria would decrease consequently, especially with the monthly environmental sanitation organised and executed to ensure that the people have a clean environment. Adding that, “violators are usually sanctioned according to the provisions of the law, adding that currently, Ekiti state has recorded a huge success through this active intervention, with about 45 percent reduction in malaria compared to 2019.”

Organisation Creates Awareness on TB among Elderly on Lagos Island Chiamaka Ozulumba The Executive Director of Women Protection Organisation (WOPO), Oluwatoyin Fowobola recently held a medical outreach at Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area (LCDA) as part of her organisation’s goal to create awareness on Tuberculosis among the elderly in the society while checking their health statuses. This initiative was in collaboration with Society for Family Health, Equitable Health Access Initiative (EHAI), and Centre for Sustainable Access for Health Africa (CeSAHA). At the medical outreach, beneficiaries were given free medical checks for BP, weight, sugar level and cough. They also got essential medicines like Vitamin C, Multivitamins, Body-pain relief, and Folic Acid among others. While World TB Day is observed every March 24, WOPO saw the need to harp on awareness alongside free testing for the elderly across LGAs in Lagos State. “You know tuberculosis can be detected through cough some times. However, from many we tested, we discovered that it is not only from cough because majority of them didn’t even have cough. “Still we have increased awareness on signs to look out for: any cough that persists for two weeks, low weight, sweating at night, and little fever among others as symptoms of TB,” Fowobola explained. While enlightening about 100 participants including physically challenged persons, the ED said besides taking their sputum, “We also do X-ray

for anyone that can’t produce sputum which helped us detect the result.” She further described TB as a killer disease, which she said is even worse than HIV, hypertension and diabetes, adding that “I encourage Nigerians to get checked regularly”. Speaking also, the Programme Manager, Centre for Sustainable Access for Health Africa (CESEHA), Opeyemi Aladekoyi, said his organisation were on ground to ensure participants got their free TB test. She alongside her team gave health talks, too. “Among those we tested, some had the knowledge of the disease while others didn’t. So we ensured we enlightened them on protecting themselves against contracting the disease. Aladekoyi added: “For those who have it, we let them know it is not the end of the world; they can get treatment and medicines for it, and get better.” In his reaction, the Chairman, Lagos Island East LCDA, Kamal Salau-Bashua, lauded the initiative as a welcome idea. “I feel good as the head of this government. It is a rare opportunity for our people to take advantage of. “That is why I’m here in person to support and identify with the acceptability of TB test and treatment for residents and citizens, many of whom are not aware they have it.” While calling on other residents to seize such health outreaches in the communities, the chairman said a disease that is discovered early is curable. “That is my advocacy on behalf of the government of this council to our people”.

L-R: Lead Investigator/Director, Centre for Malaria Research, Diagnosistic, Training and Policy, Prof.Wellington Oyibo; Secretary to the State Government of Oyo State, Pharm.(Mrs.) Olubamiwo Adeosun; Chairman, St. Racheal’s Pharmaceuticals, Pharm. Akinjide Adeosun, and Managing Director, Bydow Pharmacy, Pharm. (Mrs.) Adenike Adenuga, at the recently held World Malaria Day (WMD) Colloquium organised by ST.Racheal’s Pharmaceuticals in Lagos

We Would Reduce Malaria Burden to 10 Percent, Ehanire Vows Nosa Alekhuogie The Honourable Minister for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has promised that his administration is poised to reduce the malaria burden to 10 per cent in the next five years. Ehanire said this at an event hosted by GBCHealth in collaboration with Corporate Alliance on Malaria in Africa (CAMA) themed, “Combating Malaria in Africa: Lessons and Opportunities”, which held virtually. The minister, who was represented by Dr. Alex Okoh, said the initiative is part of the new malaria strategic plan for 2021-2025 aimed at defeating the parasite and reducing its attendant death toll in Africa. According to him, they are committed to reducing the malaria burden in the next five years to a parasite prevalence of 10 per cent and reduced mortality attributable to Malaria to less than 50 deaths per 1000 lives in 2025 as reflected in the new malaria strategic plan for 2021-2025. “I am delighted to announce

that as of today in the African region, malaria cases per 1000 population at risk has shown a decline from 362. 8 per cent in 2000 to 225.2 per cent in 2019. Similarly, death per 100,000 population at risk, reduced from 212.1 in 2000 to 40.3 per cent in 2019,” he said. The minister also lamented about the crippling effects of the disease on the economic lives of the people, stating that with the implementation of the new malaria plan, the effects of malaria on the health and economic lives of the masses would improve drastically. “To ensure that we continue with this progress in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have continued to sustain malaria intervention across the country. “We had to develop a business continuity plan ensuring that implementation processes align with global practices aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19 and malaria related illnesses,” he said. Also speaking at the event , the Chief Executive Officer, GBCHealth, Ms. Lesley-Anne

Long, explained that the event is part of a targeted community development, workforce development and supported programme aimed at influencing action to eradicate the disease. “This CAMA series have brought indispensable stakeholders in the health sector in the fight against Malaria with businesses raising funds on malaria strategies, and investing directly in the malaria eradication effort. “ Investment is not only about dollars and naira. Investment is also about bringing intellectual capital and technological capabilities to the challenge and the willingness to engage new ways to help speedup malaria control, diagnosis and treatment efforts across the affected countries,” she said. Group Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank , Roosevelt Ogbonna, who represented the Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, spoke on the effect of the disease and its commitment towards supporting the cause. He said that it is important that citizens are told the narrative of malaria so as to grasp

its deadliness. “There has been a lot of story telling around COVID and if you compare the data between COVID and malaria, it speaks volumes. “In a 2018 data on Malaria, 125million people were infected in Africa compared to 4.5million people infected with COVID. About 120,000 deaths in Africa arising from COVID versus 400,000 deaths from malaria in 2018. “We have more people dying from Malaria itself but the story is not being told as effectively as we should. “ If we create a platform for individuals to express their corporate social responsibility, they would do so. As Access Bank, we are committed to partnering with the public sector across all the countries that we operate in. “We are committed to CAMA. Although CAMA has done an excellent job, we want to believe that much more can be done in leveraging technology to solve Africa health problems,” he concluded.

T H I S D AY ˾ , APRIL 29, 2021

NEWS

Nigeria Can Win 50 Percent of COVID-19 War Through Personal Hygiene, Says Nwokike Nnamdi Nwokika, an economist, seasoned marketer and former director at the Nigerian Communications Commission was among the brains behind the manufacture of an alcohol-based disinfectant, Kilox that was recently unveiled by the Minister of state for Health, Dr. Olorunmibe Mamora in Abuja. In this interview with Onyebuchi Ezigbo, he said the initiative was part of the efforts to eradicate COVID-19 virus by promoting the hygiene consciousness of Nigerians Why Kilox? Kilox is a disinfectant that kills 99 per cent of germs and germs in this case for us is fungus, bacteria and parasitise. Our brand Kilox was unveiled last month by the Minister of State for Health. Kilox is our own contribution to the hygiene consciousness of our country, of our people and that has become further necessitated by the fact that the pandemic. A pandemic which in the best circumstances could be controlled with good personal hygiene and some experts have said we are able to have an effective, safe and good hygiene that 50 per cent of germs would be taken care of and I agree with them and what is that hygiene that we are talking about? Simple things that we have always done but never really made it a way of life. Wash your hands with soap, disinfect your hands with alcohol based wipes like Kilox, social distancing, wearing a face mask and all the things that can keep you away from the virus. There may be other means or ways that people can get it so when you do things at that point I believe you will be less in contact with the devastation a virus like COVID can give to you because you would have been immune, you would have had some immunity than someone who has left himself just there with some bacteria and hidden virus in the body which can now be activated and made more dangerous to the human health. We are honestly very happy that we are making this contribution to raising the hygiene consciousness so that our people can be safer, our people can be alive and our people can enjoy what’s best for them rather than being ravished by a pandemic that we believe by the grace of God can be terminated through some means. I was talking about good personal hygiene; if you have been keeping good personal hygiene, you know our bodies have natural immunities from some flu, some cough but when you begin to inhale certain bacteria and make yourself available that when people sneeze you take in, your body will fight it, your body has doses natural immunities that can help you fight it. Tomorrow you expose yourself again, you get infected once again and your body will fight it until when the external things that come into us overwhelms the natural immunity that is when we fall ill but when you are keeping personal hygiene by keeping away from people who are sneezing and droplets by using our wipes because after this interview we are going to wipe this office and I am sure you would have noticed I was going back and forth in the office, I wiped here and I would wipe it for the next person that would come. So you can rest assured that the environment where we are is fully disinfected. Because if it is not touching our tables with your hands, you touching our door knobs and everything, you can carry a virus and without knowing rub it on yourself or rub your nose or eyes and you will get it.

people have tried if you like call it traditional or local, people take a lot of vitamin C, orange juice, ginger, garlic etc. and they feel it has some protection against a flu and it has worked for them in the past but what I am saying it isn’t something you can make a categorical statement because this human body is so different and that is why when they make a vaccine they have tested it on different kinds of human beings and they now come out to say this vaccine works for everybody. When you talk about the natural or traditional ones, what works for A may not necessarily work for B but as long as when B takes it he doesnt have side effects then it is available for everybody to be taken.

Chief Executive Oﬃcer of Saftermobo Nigeria Limited, Mr. Nnamdi Nwokike

As you get any bacteria or any external thing into your body, it is struggling and fighting with your natural immune system and over time if they continue coming to you, they will overwhelm your immune system and make you sick. So what I meant is that by using our wipes you keep your immunity steady without having to take anything incase you get anything that overwhelms your immunity you are better as a person than someone whose immunity is at the lowest level. Are you impressed by the way Nigerians have responded to the public health advisory on non pharmaceutical protocols? Am I impressed? Yes! Because we came from a zero level. I am impressed that the awareness is there. Am I satisfied that what we have done is good enough? No! When you claim that everything is well you are exposing your people to further minor viruses because people will drop their guards. I thank the effort of government all over the world even in America in the last regime they had the same issues because they felt that the former president wasn’t encouraging people enough because he wasn’t wearing mask in most public places and everybody is doing their bit to make sure the awareness is there on the pandemic and that we should do everything within our human effort to show that we keep the virus away.

While the scientists will continue to get the vaccine and eventually the cure that will exterminate the virus. Am I happy? Yes I am happy that the awareness has been created but am I satisfied; no because no one can be satisfied with all the efforts that has been made because it is a continuous thing and if you feel satisfied then you are leaving yourself vulnerable. Do you think that having natural immunity can make someone to avoid taking the COVID-19 vaccine or to feel that it is no longer necessary to receive vaccine jab after all? No, because the vaccine is also trying to boost your immunity from any kind of infection. All vaccines have the tendency of having known the current virus like chicken pox and all the things that have happened, they developed a vaccine that is more powerful and more potent than that current disease but the vaccine we have right now hasn’t been proven because no one can say the vaccine eliminates completely the corona virus because the corona virus has all kinds of mutation because you make a vaccine that takes care of this kind of virus and next we are hearing of another mutation so this vaccine may not be 100 per cent effective. What should I say? Of course people should take the vaccine, this scientific or empirical label vaccine. We also have all kinds of remedies that

What do you think is the problem with our country’s inability to come up indigenous remedy to deal with the COVID-19 virus? I have followed the attempts for a vaccine to be made locally and I have read also where government had looked at it and tried to assist. The pharmacists and the government may know the problem but I don’t know what the issues are and it would be very uncharitable of me to comment because I don’t have all the facts but vaccine is something that takes some time to work on and I know we have intelligent minds and highly qualified people who are interested in going into vaccine manufacture or discovery in our country and I am sure they are doing their bit they would be able to say what their challenges are and my guess would be that funding,, resources and the issue of scrutiny of what they have done may also be the problem but I can’t conclude. Has your product received any form of endorsement from the approving agency, NAFDAC? Our product went through regulatory scrutiny from NAFDAC and NAFDAC for quite some time until they approved the product and our product is a straight forward product that requires you have a disinfected life and when you have them at the right proportion then you wouldn’t have any problem with getting approval. We were lucky and NAFDAC approved our product and we didn’t have much challenge in getting our product approved by NAFDAC. Do you have the capacity to meet the demands of Nigerians? Yes we do. Let me also clear something, our manufacturing plant isn’t here but in terms of the name, it is trademarked and all the ingredients we are using to make this product is approved by NAFDAC and we are manufacturing outside the country and NAFDAC has approved everything and they have inspected our facility but it is not produced locally but as soon as we get critical mass in terms of volume, it is a very straight forward product that can be made, it doesn’t need or require high tech in terms of machinery or factory space to manufacture our product. At the right time of course we can produce here.

Despite COVID-19, Number of Nigerians Receiving HIV Antiretroviral Drugs Surge Michael Olugbode ÓØ ÌßÔË The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has continued to help the Government of Nigeria to accelerate efforts toward HIV/AIDS epidemic control despite the COVID-19 pandemic, through U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). A scientific article recently released titled: Rapid Scale-up of an Antiretroviral Therapy Program Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic-

Nine States, Nigeria, March 31, 2019- September 30, 2020, showed that progress was made in the number of those who made themselves available for HIV treatment despite the prevalence of COVID-19. Also in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), published by the Atlanta-based CDC Headquarters, details were shown of how CDC Nigeria established an Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Surge program, which accelerated progress toward HIV

epidemic control in nine Nigerian states during 18 months. An analysis of data from the CDC’s ART Surge program shows that the number of people living with HIV receiving PEPFAR-supported ART increased by 208,202 in the nine Nigerian states from April 2019 to September 2020. The states are Benue, Delta, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa, Rivers, and the Federal Capital Territory. Through PEPFAR, CDC’s ART Surge program resulted in an eight-fold increase in

the weekly number of newly identified people with HIV who started treatment. The ART Surge continued despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program included weekly collaborative data reviews to create locally adapted interventions and the use of incident command structures for program flexibility and accountability. Engagement and support from civic and local community leaders helped combat HIV stigma

and eliminate other barriers to treatment. According to the lead author of the study, who serves as the CDC Nigeria Acting HIV Program Director, Dr. Emilio Dirlikov, “This is a significant milestone in reaching HIV epidemic control in Nigeria. More people receiving treatment means much lower rates of HIV-related illnesses and deaths. “Furthermore, HIV transmission is reduced to zero among those people living with HIV who have undetectable viral

load.” Dr. Dirlikov recognised the tremendous efforts of the CDC Nigeria implementing partners, healthcare workers in ART clinics across the country, as well as the Government of Nigeria at national and state levels that continued to support the move towards HIV epidemic control in Nigeria. As of December 2020, CDC, through PEPFAR, provides free HIV treatment for more than 769,000 people living with HIV throughout Nigeria.

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͷ˜ 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Transcorp Hilton Launches Business Hub for Corporates King Akan ÓØ ÌßÔË In a bid to consistently redefine hospitality and meet the needs of its corporate guests, Transcorp Hilton Abuja recently launched a business hub at the hotel. The co-working space which is open to all on a subscription basis, comprises workstations powered by high-speed internet access, a fully equipped business centre, soft administrative assistance, secured environment, among other benefits to guests. The Chairman, Transcorp Hotels Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu, inaugurated the business hub in the presence of other members of management, including

MD/CEO Transcorp Hotels Plc, Dupe Olusola; General Manager, Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Kevin Brett, and Commercial Director, Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Islam Elmaddah. Speaking during the launch, Olusola noted that the bespoke design and innovative on-site facilities which Transcorp Hilton Abuja is known for was incorporated in the development of the co-working space to ensure a comfortable and serene atmosphere for corporate guests. “Transcorp Hotels Plc has always been known for being the top choice for corporate events and guests, however, the corporate world experienced

a shift during the COVID-19 pandemic. “With more people working from home and with needed flexibility, the co-working space will cater to the everyday guest who still needs an operational work environment without a designated office. “Over the years, we have been able to build a community of guests and we aim to cater holistically to their leisure and work life,” she said. Also speaking, Brett, said, “the stylish space is an addition to a range of on-site facilities the hotel boasts of; meeting the business needs of our guests, while working in a convenient and safe space.”

DLM Capital Floats Fixed Income Fund Goddy Egene The DLM Capital Group, has unveiled its Fixed Income Fund which aims to provide capital preservation and income generation. The fund, called the DLM Fixed Income Fund is classified as an open-ended unit trust scheme and will invest at least 70 per cent of its assets in high quality fixed income securities with a term to maturity not less than 365 days, while a maximum of 30 per cent will be invested in quality money market instruments. According to the company, the fund is constituted by a Trust

Deed in favour of UTL Trust Management Services Limited as trustee with 5,000,000 units being offered for subscription at the launch of the fund. The minimum investment amount is N500,000. The company added that the fund would be managed by DLM Asset Management Limited, the Asset Management unit of the DLM Capital Group. “DLM Asset Management is licensed as a portfolio/fund manager and investment advisor regulated by the Securities & Exchange Commission of Nigeria (SEC) in 2009. The fund manager has demonstrated competence

in managing clients’ investment needs with its range of products and services,” the firm said. On the other hand, DLM Capital Group is a developmental investment bank that provides innovative solutions to economic and social developmental challenges that impact the everyday lives of people. “Since its inception, the bank has concentrated on creating markets, products, and long-term financing solutions to key sectors of the Nigerian economy that would benefit end customers to improve their well-being,” it added.

FCMB Supports 300,000 Visually Impaired First City Monument Bank (FCMB), in partnership with Tulsi Chanrai Foundation (TCF) of India, has so far carried out free eye surgeries, correctional testing services and provided glasses to over 300,000 Nigerians under the bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, tagged ‘Priceless Gift of Sight.’ According to a statement from the bank, out of the aforementioned number of beneficiaries, the sight of almost 17,000 visually impaired Nigerians have been restored through surgeries, while the rest underwent tests to correct various eye defects and also received glasses. The yearly intervention, which started in 2009, was designed to combat cataracts and other eye defects that could lead to blindness among underprivileged adults and children across various communities in Nigeria. “FCMB has sustained this programme for thirteenconsecu-

tive years (2009 till date) by offering free testing, surgeries and glasses in partnership with TCF in Kebbi, Cross River, Imo, Abuja, Katsina and Adamawa. “The FCMB Priceless Gift of Sight initiative has also raised awareness on the magnitude of the problems associated with cataract in Nigeria. The bank’s support to address the problem has gone a long way to improve the socio-economic well-being of the over 300,000 beneficiaries and their respective families. “In addition, the programme serves as an avenue for indigenous medical and para-medical personnel to build their capacity through the training offered by the team of doctors provided by TCF that conducts the exercise,” it added. The surgeries involve treatment of cataract with inter-ocular lens implantation to those who would otherwise be unable to access quality and affordable surgeries. Modern

surgical techniques, using state of the art equipment, are in use in all the designated hospitals. The exercise also included screening of patients by trained para-medical staff in the communities, transporting patients to the hospitals, full ophthalmic and medical examination of patients prior to surgery and the eventual surgery performed by the surgeons. The Group Head, Corporate Affairs of FCMB, Mr. Diran Olojo, explained that the Priceless Gift of Sight programme is a key aspect of the bank’s CSR initiatives. According to him, “the importance of sight to the well-being of an individual and nation cannot be under-estimated. We are proud to sustain the execution of this initiative with Tulsi Chanrai Foundation, because it has continued to positively touch and transform the lives of thousands of people, homes, businesses and the entire society.

Mikano International Partners Luxury Automaker Mikano International has gone into a partnernership with global leading automaker, Geely. A statement by the Mikano said with almost 30 years of industrial and developmental impressions in Nigeria, the company has established itself as a leading service provider in many aspects including, power generation, steel fabrication, electrical and lighting solutions, heavy construction equipment and forklifts and general civil works. The statement also noted that in 2018, the company diversi-

fied into the auto industry to meet the yearnings of millions nationwide, who desire reliable and cost-effective automobiles fit for work and play; while keeping an eye on global best standards. The statement further explained that the Geely Auto Group which was founded in 1997 has a truly global outlook and is committed to building “and redefining cars that everyone can afford”. According to the statement: “Geely currently owns the Volvo Car Group, and is the biggest shareholder of Daimler AG group (to which Mercedes Benz belongs).

“The Geely Group also wholly owns LEVC (makers of the famous London electric black cabs), a 50% stake in LYNC and Company, 51% stake in Lotus brand of racing cars, as well as several other global brands. “These collaborations have allowed Geely Autos the acquisition of some of the highest global and future technologies in the automotive industry; investing more than $14 billion in R&D over the past 10 years in a commitment to providing the highest level of modern technologies in the industry.

Managing Director/CEO, Transcorp Hotels Plc, Mrs Dupe Olusola (left) and Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Nnorom at the 7th Annual General Meeting of Transcorp Hotels Plc held in Abuja...recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ Ͱ͵ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $63.91 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $63.22 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zaﬁro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela). SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͷ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Nigerian Exchange Boosts Trainee Clerks’Capacity across Asset Classes Goddy Egene Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has started its first Automated Trading System (ATS) Certificate Training for stockbrokers in 2021 with a focus on capacity building beyond equities. About 78 participants that registered will undergo training which began yesterday and would run till May 28, 2021. According to NGX, in line

with its commitment to enhance the knowledge of capital market players across multiple asset classes, the ATS certification training would cover fixed income, derivatives, exchange traded funds (ETFs), and equities trading. The exchange added that it is an intensive training organised for individuals who have passed the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) qualification examination, and

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

forms a part of the mandatory eligibility and admission procedure for any individual who wishes to become a Trading License Holder of NGX. Speaking at the training, the Head, Trading Business Division, NGX, Mr. Jude Chiemeka, said: “I must commend the participants present today on the successful completion of the CIS examinations which lay the foundation for participation at this ATS

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

training. As the future leaders of the capital market, every trainee shoulders the responsibility of building a capital market that provides diversified products and services that meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of investors. I am confident that this ATS Certification Training will provide participants with the capacity needed to make the paradigm shift from a focus on the equities market to strategic

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

trading in other products like derivatives, bonds, ETFs, etc. which are listed in our market.” The first virtual ATS certification training was held May 2020 as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. In emphasising the exchange’s role in ensuring a vibrant and active capital market even in a crisis, Chiemeka had said: “The impact of COVID-19 has

O F

necessitated that we come up with more digital friendly solutions to keep activities in the market moving. The volume of sign-ups we have received for the virtual ATS Training is a testament to the appetite of Nigerians to engage in our capital market as operators. We are pleased about the keen interest we have seen and will continue to provide learning and trading opportunities that will benefit our stakeholders.”

2 8 / 0 4 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

˾ THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

ଂ

ଂ ଂ

ଂ

7 R S 7 U D G H V E \ 9 R O X P H

7 R S * D LQ H U V P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

C H IP LC

0.33

10.0%

FB NH

69.5

0.0%

P OR T P A IN T

2.60

8.3%

T R A N SC OR P

36.7

1.1%

R OYA LEX

0.45

7.1%

Z EN IT H B A N K

16.6

0.0%

A B CTRA NS

0.31

6.9%

SOVR EN IN S

12.6

0.0%

J A P A ULGOLD

0.61

5.2%

UC A P

8.9

1.6%

8.5

-2.4%

8.4

-1.3%

T ic k er

UA C -P R OP NB

0.80

3.9%

N EM

54.00

3.8%

A C C ESS

570.00

3.6%

F ID ELIT YB K

7.5

1.3%

R EGA LIN S

0.30

3.4%

FCM B

5.7

-0.3%

H ON YF LOUR

1.33

3.1%

F T N C OC OA

5.5

-10.0%

SEP LA T

7 R S 7 U D G H V E \ 9 D O X H

7 R S / R V H U V T ic k er F T N C OC OA

0.36

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

-10.0%

FB NH

514.3

P ric e C hg % 0.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

366.4

0.0%

N EIM ET H

1.73

-8.9%

IN T B R EW

5.20

-8.8%

N EST LE

170.1

0.0%

5.00

-7.4%

SEP LA T

128.1

3.6%

C OR N ER ST GUIN N ESS A IIC O LIN KA SSUR E UA C N C UST OD IA N

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

P ric e

Brokerage

0.53

-7.0%

103.4

3.8%

27.05

-5.7%

D A N GC EM

76.5

0.0%

1.22

-4.7%

GUA R A N T Y

68.5

-0.5%

-4.4%

A C C ESS

62.5

-1.3%

-3.7%

UC A P

50.2

1.6%

-3.3%

UA C N

39.3

-3.7%

0.86 10.55 5.80

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com Taiwo Ogundipe | togundi-

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return. An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 27Apr-2021, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors. Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return. NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 155.21 156.74 -4.06% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 4.08% Nigeria International Debt Fund 306.16 306.16 -16.62% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 110.46 110.46 -1.45% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 0.60% Anchoria Equity Fund 128.72 130.22 -3.23% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.07 1.07 -19.77% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 103.80 103.80 2.05% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 1.99 1.99 -28.36% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.20 2.24 -9.01% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.01 1.01 0.57% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.33% Paramount Equity Fund 15.26 15.55 -4.55% Women's Investment Fund 131.38 132.77 -1.33% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.52% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 129.27 130.12 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 110.84 110.84 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.32% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.15 1.17 -4.03% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.33 1.33 -15.81% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 2.56% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 2.31% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,169.84 1,175.67 -2.39% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,360.27 1,360.27 7.36% FBN Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Halal Fund 110.86 110.86 4.42% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.38% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Growth Fund Coral Income Fund FSDH Treasury Bills Fund

124.43 149.56

124.43 3.10% 151.62 -1.07% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price N/A N/A N/A N/A

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price N/A N/A N/A

Offer Price N/A N/A N/A

Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A N/A

GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.57% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.73 2.79 18.82% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 147.99 148.42 -4.78% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.08 1.08 5.89% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ﬁncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.37 1.39 0.69% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,129.93 1,129.93 2.35% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 10.44 10.51 Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.68% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.60 1.63 7.43% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.17 12.32 0.68% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 2.37% PACAM Equity Fund 1.60 1.62 1.41% PACAM EuroBond Fund 110.44 113.34 1.03% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 130.70 132.87 6.01% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 2.31% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,105.38 3,130.00 -3.44% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 228.55 228.55 1.65% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.15 1.17 -1.69% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 299.53 299.53 1.65% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 211.87 214.47 -3.05% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.94% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,954.49 10,079.84 -5.22% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.25 1.25 1.79% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 113.28 113.28 1.98% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 100.65 100.65 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.34 1.36 -2.07% United Capital Bond Fund 1.93 1.93 1.99% United Capital Equity Fund 0.89 0.92 3.17% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.62% United Capital Eurobond Fund 119.69 119.69 2.22% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.07 1.09 -0.95% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.04 1.04 3.64% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.10 12.21 1.95% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.31 13.34 8.60% Zenith Income Fund 24.31 24.31 1.36% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.10%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

122.68 53.06

1.61% 1.26%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.50 121.43 95.03

12.60 121.43 96.80

-5.44% -0.25% -4.37%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Grifﬁn 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.52

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

THISDAY, THURSDAY APRIL 29,2021

THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Two Police Officers, Four Others Killed in A’ Ibom, Benue, Enugu Christopher Isiguzo and Gideon Arinze in Enugu, Okon Bassey in Uyo and George Okoh in Makurdi Gunmen yesterday continued their nationwide rampage as they killed two police officers in Akwa Ibom State and four other people in Benue and Enugu states. The patrol van of the slain policemen was also set ablaze by the unidentified gunmen. The incident happened yesterday while the Policemen were on official engagement at a checkpoint in Urua Inyang, the headquarters of Ika Local Government Area of the state. A source and an indigene of the area said the armed hoodlums on several motorcycles, stormed the checkpoint and shot the two officers dead, while others fled.

In the ensuing confusion, the bandits seized the rifles of the slain officers and also set their patrol van ablaze. The Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Odiko Macdon, a Police Superintendent (SP), confirmed the incident, saying he was in the company of the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Amiengheme Andrew, for an on-the-spot assessment . “We are in Ika, trying to gather more facts about the incident,” he said. According to the PPRO, the Commissioner of Police and the entire Police community in the state were very saddened by the development, given the fact that some officers of the Command had earlier this month been killed by the hoodlums and others declared missing.

The latest killing brought to five the number of Policemen murdered in the line of duty in Akwa Ibom State by unknown gunmen, while four others were declared missing in the recent times. In a separate incident in Enugu, at least two yet-to-be identified young men have lost their lives following a clash between two rival cult groups along Ogui Road in Enugu

metropolis, Enugu State. The police in the state confirmed the unfortunate development yesterday. The Police Public Relations Officer of the Enugu State Police Command, ASP Daniel Ndukwe confirmed the incident. According to him, the feuding rival cultists shot sporadically along the stretch of the ever busy Ogui Road. He said police operatives

evacuated the corpses of the two suspected cultists and deposited them at a morgue for autopsy. “Residents returned to their normal activities in the area shortly after the incident,” Ndukwe said, adding that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mohammed Aliyu, had since ordered an investigation into the incident. In a related development, suspected herdsmen yesterday

killed a man and his wife at Udei branch in Mbabai Council Ward of Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State. The man, Igba Faga and his wife were hacked to death while returning from the farm. This came barely 24 hours after the herdsmen killed seven people at the Abagena displaced people’s camp on Tuesday.

Umahi Imposes Curfew on Ebonyi Border Towns Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. Dave Umahi, has imposed a curfew from 8 pm to 6 am at all entry and exit points with neighbouring states. It also banned all social events such as wake keeping and nightclubbing from 6 pm, warning that defaulters will be fined N1million. Umahi announced the order yesterday while briefing reporters after the state Executive Council meeting. He also ordered all native doctors to register with security agencies in the state immediately. The governor also ordered traditional medicine dealers to register with the Ministry of Health. He warned that anybody who failed to adhere to the directive would be prosecuted. Umahi exonerated the security arm of the proscribed secessionist group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Eastern Security Network, from the recent attacks on security agencies in the state. The governor lamented that fake news purveyors were complicating the scenery

challenges by spreading fake news through social media. He directed security agencies to henceforth arrest and prosecute anybody spreading fake news capable of causing a crisis on social media. He said: “We have agreed that all native doctors in the state and traditional medicine dealers must within seven days today register with the Commissioner for Border Peace, with the Commissioner for health and with the CP. “There will be an executive order to this event and anyone that is caught doing otherwise will be arrested and will be prosecuted. “We are aware there are some killings over the weekend; a policeman was killed, two army men were killed and I think one civilian and their killers are pure bandits. “They do this killing and put it in social media that they are members of IPOB or ESN. “Without standing for either IPOB or ESN but they continue to deny that they are not into violence but for me, criminality is criminality and I have directed security agencies to crack down on all criminal activities in the state.

Suspected Bandits Attack Edo Senator Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja A member of the National Assembly, Senator Clifford Ordia, was last Monday reportedly attacked twice by suspected bandits on Okenne-Lokoja and Lokoja-Abaji roads. Narrating his ordeal to journalists in Abuja yesterday, Ordia, who represents Edo Central, and the chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, said the suspected bandits opened fire on his convoy, when he was returning to Abuja from his hometown in Edo State. He narrated that during the exchange of fire between the criminals and security officials attached to him, three policemen sustained gun wounds, adding that one of the critically wounded policemen

is responding to treatment at an Abuja hospital. The lawmaker also said his vehicle was riddled with bullets, though he was lucky to have escaped unhurt. The senator said: “I’m seriously traumatised by the experience. We were coming from Edo State, somewhere between Okenne and Lokoja, where we met these suspected bandits. They opened fire on my convoy. The gallant policemen had to immediately return fire. “The other security vehicle behind had to immediately join them, and they were able to repel the suspected bandits. During the exchange, three of the policemen sustained gun wounds. One of them was critically injured. We had to immediately rush them to a Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Lokoja, Kogi State.

CELEBRATING MERITORIOUS SERVICE…

L-R: Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde: former President Olusegun Obasanjo; President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Olasupo Ayokunle; his wife, Mrs. Toyin Ayokune; and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, at the end-of-tenure service of Ayokunle as President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, at the Church’s Convention Centre, Lufuwape, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State…yesterday

Banditry: Matawalle Orders Demolition of Informants, Arms Suppliers’ Houses Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has directed security agencies to henceforth demolish the houses of informants and those supplying arms to bandits in the state. A press statement issued yesterday signed by the DirectorGeneral on Media to the governor, Mr. Yusuf Idris in Gusau, the state capital, said that the order was with immediate effect. Matawalle issued the order when Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal paid him a sympathy visit over recent bandits’ attacks on some communities in

Zamfara, which left many people dead and several others displaced. Matawalle said serious punitive measures would henceforth be taken, including the demolition of any house where informants, weapon suppliers and others aiding banditry activities are arrested in the state. He said the action became necessary in order to fully address the resurgence of banditry in some parts of the state. According to him, many people who were living mostly in the cities were providing information to bandits in the bushes.

“The activities of the informants are creating a lot of problems in the ongoing fight against banditry in the state,” he noted and called for the active support of citizens in order to win the fight. The governor also directed traditional rulers in the state to be vigilant and monitor activities of landlords and tenants in their domain. He said that this would help security agents to track and arrest suspicious persons before they inflict havoc on innocent citizens. Earlier, Tambuwal said he was in Zamfara State

to commiserate with the government and people over the recent killing of innocent souls in some parts of the state. He described the attack as devastating, tragic and a serious calamity. The governor prayed for the repose of the souls of those who died in the attack. He commended Matawalle for his handling of the security challenges in the state, which had led to the decline in attacks and killing of residents.

Insecurity: God will Heal Nigeria, Says Adeboye The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, yesterday, urged Nigerians of all tribes and tongues to pray for the country and the rest of the world, stressing that God will heal

the country. Adeboye asked God to show mercy on Nigeria and heal the West African country. The 79-year-old cleric wrote on social media, “Keep praying for Nigeria and the rest of the world

in these difficult times. It is my prayer that God will have mercy on Nigeria and heal our land in Jesus Name.” “I pray that our country will never know conflict, but I know that every conflict is as a result of

elite failure to speak up the truth and tell the truth to their communities. “At the end of the day, it is the political elite that determines what happens in every society, keeping quiet could lead to a more dangerous situation,” he said.

NDLEA Recovers 48g of Cocaine, Arrests 109 Suspects in Kwara Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Kwara State Command yesterday said it had recovered 48 grammes of cocaine worth several millions of naira, and had also arrested 109 suspected drug traffickers between January and April this year. The state Commander of the agency, Mr. Ambrose Umoru, stated this in Ilorin while declaring open a workshop

on the ‘Effects of Drug Abuse and Trafficking on Security, Social and Economic Growth of Kwara State’, which was organised by the agency in collaboration with a non-governmental organisation in Ilorin. He said the agency has also seized a total of 331.261 Kilograms of assorted drugs and five grammes of Swinol from the suspects. According to him, “For the first time in the last 10 years, 22 grammes of cocaine was seized

from one Sherifat Yusuf, while 26 grammes of the said substance were also recovered from Yusuf Abdullahi.” The commander explained that during the period under review the command has recorded two convictions while 32 cases are pending at the court. Umoru noted that over 46 of the suspects arrested during a raid have been counseled and released. In his address, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr.

Muhammed Lawal-Bagega, represented by Mr. Fayola Temitope, urged parents to develop keen interest in the activities of their children to prevent them from abusing drugs. Earlier in his address, the Coordinator of the workshop, Mr. Samuel Rotimi, said the essence of the programme was to share idea on how to reduce the cases of drug abuse to the minimum.

THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Police Brutality: Panel Recommends N755m for Victims in Ondo The Ondo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police brutality and other related matters has recommended the payment of about N755 million as petitioners’ claims, and other monetary recommendations. The Chairman of the nineman panel, Justice Salisu Sidiq (rtd), stated this in his address while submitting the committee’s reports and recommendations to Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in his

office yesterday in Akure, the state capital. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Judicial Panel was inaugurated by Akeredolu on October 20, 2020 to address issues that led to #EndSARS protest. Sidiq said it received and heard 77 petitions out of which 14 were criminal and 63 were civil matters/petitions. He said that the committee also recommended publication

Bill Seeking Additional 111 Seats for Women in N’Assembly Passes Second Reading Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja A bill that seeks to create 111 additional special seats for women in the National Assembly has passed second reading in the House of Representatives. The bill, which was read for the first time on Thursday, April 22, 2021, sought to alter the provisions of the 1999 Constitution. It would create 37 additional seats are created in the Senate and 74 in the House of Representatives for women if passed into law. It sponsored by the Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejiocha. It also required that one additional member from each of the three senatorial districts in the state will be created exclusively for women in each State House of Assembly. Onyejiocha, who led the debate at the plenary yesterday, said the bill would remedy the low representation of women in legislative houses by providing additional separate seats to be contested and filled by only women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly as a temporary measure to promote

women’s representation. She explained that the provision is subjected to a review after four general election cycles of 16 years for the purpose of retaining, increasing or abolishing the temporary measure. Onyejiocha noted that the Bill consists of six major clauses that sought to alter Sections 48; 49; 71; 77; 91; and 117 of the constitution. The lawmaker pointed out that in the proposed bill, Section 48 (1)(a) stated that the Senate should consist of three Senators from each State and one from the Federal Capital Territory; and (b) an additional Senator for each State and for the Federal Capital Territory, who shall be a woman. “Notwithstanding the provision of subsection (1) of this section, nothing shall prevent a woman from contesting for any of the senatorial seats referred to in subsection (1) (a),” she said. Onyejiocha noted that the provisions of subsection (1) (b) should commence after the current life of the National Assembly and shall be reviewed after 16 years from its commencement notwithstanding any other provision of this constitution.

Globacom Rolls Out Glo Café to Enhance Customer Experience Leading telecommunications service provider, Globacom, has rolled out a self-care application called Glo Café for all its subscribers. The app is innovatively designed to bring the best of Glo services together under one unified platform and offers customers a convenient self-service channel to manage their account. Announcing the offer in Lagos, Globacom explained that the revamped Glo Café is a full 360-degree solution to empower all customers of Glo to manage their mobile accounts with convenience and ease. Furthermore, it is a one-stop entertainment shop with unfettered access to a plethora of content covering video, music, sports, comedy, celebrity news and gist. The Glo Café is available for FREE on Web, Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The company stated that the App was designed and developed after spending extensive time researching customers’ needs and understanding their requirements

for a time-efficient yet simple and easy one-stop platform offering customer support. “The launch of Glo Café is part of our efforts to deliver the best customer experience in the digital space and empower customers with a convenient, non-intrusive and 24/7 available channel of support. The self-care app is a simple, secure and convenient way for Glo mobile customers to access a whole host of functionalitiesbuying, sharing and gifting of data, borrowing credit and data, recharging any Glo account and paying postpaid bills, accessing Value Added Services (VAS), among other things”, Globacom stated. Glo Cafe equally offers rich entertainment content including top rated music, videos, comedy and sports. It also has among other things, a world class gaming portfolio, and easy access to customer support – contacting call center executives, raising service-related requests, chatting with agents.

of apologies in national dailies, particularly, where reputation of victims had been tarnished. “Mr Governor Sir, the Panel, after careful consideration of its limitations in line with extant Supreme Court judgments on the powers of Panels of Inquiry to entertain res-judicata cases I suggest that it is high time a review is carried out on Section 84 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act, (2004) to enable judgment creditors enjoy the fruit of their litigations “On the issue of vandalised

property, the panel, after various visits to the ‘locus in quos’, observed that four out of the 18 local government areas, namely: Akure South, Ondo west, Odigbo and Okitipupa were affected during the #Endsars protests,” he said. Responding, Akeredolu thanked the panel for a job well done, especially the Chairman of the panel for his transparency. Akeredolu noted that human rights violation was one of the problems the country was

facing. The governor promised to look at the recommendations and do the needful. Akeredolu described the #EndSARS protest as legitimate against police brutality in the country until it was hijacked by hoodlums that started stealing and destroying property. “No one can convince me that the organisers of the #EndSARS protest were behind the destruction of property in Akure South, Ondo West, Odigbo and Okitipupa.

“Setting my campaign office on fire could not have been #EndSARS because, obviously, I am not a police officer. “Also, setting the APC secretariat and the PDP secretariat on fire could not have been #EndSars,” Akeredolu noted. The governor later dissolved the nine-man panel, comprising youth and police representatives, civil society organisation, human rights groups, among others, after appreciating the work done.

PROMOTING INVESTMENTS…

L-R: Managing Director, Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr. Abubakar Abba Bello; Executive Director /CEO, Nigeria Export Promotion Commission, Mr. Segun Awolowo; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Ms Yewande Sadiku; and President, Halibiz Industries, Mr. Adamu Aliyu, during the facility tour of Halibiz Industries in Abuja …yesterday

Senate Conﬁrms Abdullahi as FCT Chief Judge Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja The Senate at yesterday’s plenary approved the appointment of Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi as the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The approval followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters which screened the judge. Presenting the report, the

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi, Bamidele said the nominee who is the most senior Judge of the Bench at the High Court, satisfied the requirements of the constitution and Senate standing order rules 2015 (as amended). Bamidele said Abdullahi is widely experienced, exposed, competent to superintend such position and as well a fit and proper person. He thereafter moved , ‘’That the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on

Judiciary, Human Rights and legal Matters on the confirmation of the nomination of Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi as the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. No petition is against the nominee, nor is there adverse report against him. We recommend that he should be confirmed as the Chief Judge of the FCT.’’ President Muhammadu Buhari had on April 1, 2021 written the Senate seeking the confirmation of Abdullahi, who

had been in acting capacity as the substantive Chief Judge of FCT High Court. The President, in the letter said he was making the request in pursuant to Section 256 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Also yesterday, the Senate adopted a report for the establishment of Federal University of Education, Ankpa, and Federal University of Agriculture, both in Katsina State

Abducted University Students in Benue Regain Freedom The three students of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State who were kidnapped last Saturday have been released. A terse statement by the Director, Information, Protocol and Public Relations of the University,

Mrs. Rosemary Waku, revealed that the students were returned to campus on Tuesday. She identified the released students as Israel Farren Kwaghgee and Solomon Salihu. She, however, did not say

if a ransom was paid before the students were released Also confirming the release of the students, the spokesperson for the state Police Command, DSP Catherine Anene, said the students had been released. Anene had on Monday

disclosed that three students were abducted. “Kidnapped students of the University of Agriculture have been released unhurt. Investigation into the case continues please,” Anene had said in the statement.

Insecurity: Gbajabiamila Inaugurates 40-man Committee Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has inaugurated a 40-man committee to find a solution to Nigeria’s security challenge that had assumed an intractable dimension. While inaugurating the committee yesterday, the Speaker

mandated it to brainstorm and finding a solution to the debilitating security situation in the country. Gbajabiamila said the Committee would hold a four-day security summit in May, adding that it would be open to Journalists because of its seemingly sensitive nature. He stated: “We are all aware

of the grave circumstances in our country today, which has been so for some time. It has gotten to a point where this House, seating and deliberating and the Leadership felt the need to constitute this committee to begin to deliberate on how to address and tackle the situation we found ourselves. “It is in view of this prevailing

reality that the House of Representatives appointed a special committee to undertake a comprehensive study of the challenges of our national security from the perspective of the legislature. At the end of it will recommend a practical and innovative solution that will help us to build up our national security and challenges.”

THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS XTRA

Senate Queries Finance Ministry, NSA over Alleged N7.5bn Secret Withdrawals Deji Elumoye andUdora Orizu inAbuja The Senate Committee on Public Accounts, yesterday gave the Ministry of Finance, Office of Accountant General of the Federation and Office of National SecurityAdviser (NSA) till Tuesday to explain what they know about the alleged secret withdrawal of N7.5 billion from the two per cent National Automotive Council Design and Development Council (NADDC) Levy Account domiciled with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The Committee had two weeks ago summoned the affected agencies to appear before it but they failed to appear at the scheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 (yesterday). The committee had while acting on the report of the Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF) issued a query which reads: “A total sum of N3,836,000,000 was irregularly withdrawn from the 2 percent

National Automotive Council Levy Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja in two installments of N2,800,000,000 (in 2005) and N1,036,000,000.00 (in 2006) by the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Finance as car loan to be granted for the Security Personnel Car Purchase Scheme Loan. “The transaction was carried out by the Presidency in collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BoI), the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Accountant-General of the Federation without the involvement of NAC, the account owner. However the principal and the accrued interest from the fictitious loan have not been paid back nor are records available on the beneficiaries, agreement documents, moratorium, duration of the loan, the yearly interest rates accruable and how the fund will be paid back by the beneficiary. “The Director General has been requested to intensify correspondence

with the Honourable Minister of Finance, Accountant-General of the Federation and the Presidency to recover the fund (‘loan Presenting the details of the

withdrawal before the Committee yesterday, the Director General of NADDC, Jelani Tukur, said that the agency had already written to Minister of Finance, Budget

and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed and Accountant General of the Federation on the withdrawal of N3.7 billion as loan to NAFCON, withdrawal of

N3.8 billion for security personnel car loan scheme and another withdrawal of N2.3 billion as loan to Steyrs Nigeria Limited.

YOUR RIGHTS… Civil War: Sierra Leone DEFENDING Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr. Anthony Ojukwu (left), and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Hails Contributions of Enugu State, during the inauguration of the state office of the commission in New Haven, Enugu… yesterday Nigeria, Four Others Ayade Takes Delivery of 2nd Boeing 737 Aircraft for C’River Airline Deji Elumoye in Abuja Sierra Leone last Tuesday honoured Nigeria and four other West African countries for standing solidly behind it during the 11-year civil war that ravaged the country between 1999 and 2012. The other countries appreciated are Ghana, Guinea, Liberia and Gambia. The spokesman of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, in a statement issued yesterday said apart from Osinbajo, who was decorated by Sierra Leonean President, Julius Maada Bio, with insignia of honour and dressy tokens, Presidents of

Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo; Guinea, Alpha Conde; Liberia, George Weah, and Gambia, Adama Barrow, were also similarly decorated. President Bio, at a ceremony to mark the 60th Independence anniversary of Sierra Leone in Freetown, the capital of the country, mentioned how Nigeria and other countries in the sub-region have been helpful in the course of the peace and development of his country. In a show of appreciation, President Bio honoured Nigeria and the other countries that he said have stood with Sierra Leone, a nation that survived an 11-year civil conflict from 1991 to 2002.

IG Pledges to Partner NDLEA in War against Drugs Michael Olugbode in Abuja The acting Inspector General of Police (IG), Usman Alkali, has assured the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) of the full support and cooperation of the Nigerian Police Force in the fight to rid the country of illicit drugs. The IG’s pledge came as the NDLEA boss disclosed that over two million kilogrammes of drugs worth over N80 billion have been seized in the last three months by the anti-drug agency. Marwa also said over 3,000 suspects have been arrested for various drug-related offences with 350 convictions win over the same period of time. Speaking yesterday during a courtesy visit to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja, Alkali disclosed that both the Nigerian Police and the drug agency are integral part of policing the country against all forms of criminality, including drug abuse, hence there was the need for synergy among them. He said: “NDLEA is part and

parcel of the agencies to ensure law and order, as well as making sure criminality is brought to its barest minimum. Marwa has been in the business of crime prevention and control right from when he was in Borno State and later Lagos State. We know your efforts in sanitising the system.” Alkali, who disclosed that he was at the NDLEA headquarters to pledge his unalloyed support and collaboration in the fight against drugs, said: “This is because behind every crime, including banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, there is always drug attached. “In the last three months of your being in office, we have seen your impact, and it has helped to bring down the magnitude of crime the country would have experienced. “We will do whatever is possible with the agency to control and contain criminality in this country, especially the trafficking of cannabis and fake drugs. We want to assure you that we are ready to synergise with you in tackling the drug menace anytime. We are ready to collaborate with NDLEA.”

Bassey Inyang inCalabar Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, yesterday took delivery of another Boeing 737 aircraft at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, for the state commercial airline called Cally Air. The arrival of the second aircraft is coming barely three weeks after the first one was received on April 6, 2021. On the ground to receive the

second aircraft at Arik Air hanger in Lagos were the trio of the state Commissioner for Finance, Auquo Ekpeyong Jr.; the Director-General of Due Process, Alphonsus Ogar, and the Director-General, Bureau of Public-Private Partnership, Udiba Udiba. The two Boeing 737 aircraft have a carrying capacity of 142 and 144 passengers respectively. Ayade, while announcing the floating of Cally Air early this

year, had decried the prohibitive air transport cost in the country, particularly the Lagos-Calabar and Calabar-Abuja routes, querying why “a passenger would pay over N70,000 to fly to Calabar? The route to Calabar either from Lagos or Abuja is the most expensive in Nigeria.” The governor explained that the outrageous charges were due to “the fact that there is no corresponding surplus of airlines

coming into Calabar. “So it is the responsibility of the government to respond to the challenge of our people, recognising that they are being extorted as a result of monopoly.” He said he created the Ministry of Aviation to bring into realisation the birth of Cally Air. “We are constructing an airport in Obudu to support the patronage of international tourists coming to Obudu cattle ranch.

House Urges CBN to Suspend Deadline for Recapitalisation of Microfinance Banks Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The House of Representatives has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend the deadline for the planned recapitalisation programme of microfinance banks until the economy stabilises and is considered safe for a new deadline to be fixed.

It also mandated the Committee on Banking and Currency to interface with the CBN to find a workable solution to the challenges associated with recapitalisation of the banks in Nigeria and report back within four weeks for further legislative action. The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved at the plenary

yesterday by Hon. Saidu Abdullahi. Moving the motion, Abdulahi recalled that in October 2018, the CBN reviewed the minimum share capital requirement of the three categories of microfinance banks. He said the categories of Microfinance Banks are Unit Microfinance Banks (MFBs), from N20 million to N200 million; state

Microfinance Banks (MFBs), from N100 Million to N1 Billion; and National MFB from N2 billion to N5 billion. The lawmaker noted that on March 18, 2019, the CBN further reviewed the minimum capital requirements for the MFBs, allowing for installment payment and categorisation of unit microfinance into tiers one and two.

Lagos Begins Construction of Largest Children’s Hospital in West Africa Segun James The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday performed the groundbreaking activity on the construction of the New Massey Children’s Hospital, Adeniji Adele, which is expected to be the largest children hospital in the West Africa sub-region.

Sanwo-Olu said the construction of the hospital is part of his Greater Lagos Vision, adding that the hospital is a 7-Storey, 150-bed General Hospital. The original Massey Street Hospital was established in 1914 as the First General Outpatient Clinic and Referral Centre in

Lagos State, but was converted to a full-fledged Pediatrics Hospital in 1961. Meanwhile, the governor also announced the reconstruction of three strategic roads: Adeniji Adele, Oke Popo and Tapa Streets that lead to the hospital. Sanwo-Olu said: “The construction of the New Massey

Children’s Hospital reflects our unwavering determination to bridge all gaps in the health sector while the reconstruction of three major roads on Lagos Island demonstrates this administration’s commitment to an inclusive and nondiscriminatory developmental agenda for Lagos State.

Again, Legislative Aides Protest Unpaid Salaries Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Some Nigerians under the aegis of Concerned Legislative Aides yesterday staged a peaceful protest against unpaid 2019 outstanding salaries, and implementation of the new national minimum wage. The aides staged the protest at the lobby of the National

Assembly chambers, where they also demanded the immediate implementation of Consolidated Salary Structure (CONLESS), Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) among others. The protesters carried placards with inscription such as ‘Misappropriation of public funds criminal-FRA 2007’; ‘End salary arrears debacles’; We are Aides, not slaves’; ‘Stop the impunity

in National Assembly’; ‘CNA is a public servant, he is not above the law’; and “It is inexcusable to be owed 2019 salaries in 2021, Hon. Speaker’. Speaking on behalf of the protesters yesterday in Abuja, Mr. Zebis Keking explained that the 2019 arrears spanned between four and seven months.

He vowed that they would sustain the protest until their demands are met. The protesters, therefore, called on the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Olatunde Ojo, to ensure prompt payment of the salaries and allowances in order to ensure industrial harmony.

THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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JAMB Kicks against Extortion of Candidates by Private Schools Funmi Ogundare The Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, has expressed concern that some elite schools in the country are compromising its admission process by collecting

illegal examination fees from students for their Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination ( UTME). Oloyede disclosed that these schools collected between N8,000 and N16,000 against the official fee of N4,700 from candidates to compromise the process.

Falana-led Group Writes Senate, Seeks Reversal of Privatisation Programmes The Alliance for Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), a civil society coalition, led by a human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, has asked the Senate to set up an agency that would reverse the alleged fraudulent privatisation programmes carried out in the country. In a letter to the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, ASCAB also asked the upper legislative chamber to mount pressure on the executive to act on its report on Nigeria’s past privatisation programmes. ASCAB noted that in 2011, the Senate had set up a committee to investigate the privatisation and commercialisation activities of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) from 1999 to 2011. The committee, which was chaired by Lawan, had said it found sharp practices in the exercise, ranging from alleged fraud and abuse of power. It had as a result urged the government to reverse some of

the privatisation programmes. In the letter dated April 28, and signed by Falana, the group said the senate should use “legislative tools to put pressure on the Executive” to implement the committee report. The senior lawyer asked the lawmakers to “enact an Act to facilitate the establishment of a body that would actualise the reversal of all past privatizations which your (Lawan’s) committee found were characterized by abuses, illegality and fraud.” “ASCAB is committed to partnering with the Senate in popularising the findings of your committee and putting public pressure on the executive arm of government to implement the Recommendations of your committee,” he said. “We look forward to a collaborative campaign that would lead to a reversal of the dispossession of the public and the taking back from the private sector of the resources that have been fraudulently transferred to private individuals and/or their companies.”

He stated this yesterday during his oversight visit to some of the Computer Based Test (CBT) centres in Lagos. The registrar said that the JAMB would write to the Federal Ministry of Education to sanction these schools for depriving parents from enjoying the benefits of the reduced cost of the UTME by the government. He said: “That is why the schools are bringing their students in mass to the CBT centres for registration

and in the process, they will miss their data and the candidates will be complaining. “The government has reduced the money to N4,000 with the N700 registration fee collected at the CBT centres. The ministry has said you don’t need to collect extra money from candidates.” Oloyede identified this unwholesome practice as one of the reasons schools are involved in examination malpractices to justify the high examination fee they have

collected from the candidates. He said that a total of 410,517 candidates have registered for UTME while 12,040 candidates registered for direct entry in 787 centres and still counting. The registrar disclosed that the board is partnering with EFCC and ICPC to ensure that any public university that failed to comply with its laid down principles would be questioned. Oloyede described its process of admissions as transparent,

adding that the issue of the National Identification Number (NIN) remained mandatory for all candidates sitting for its exam. “The fact that you have a USSD code means you have a NIN. These candidates are intelligent enough. They know what happened last year. They have not gone to the NIMC office to struggle to get their NIN. Between last year and this year, I have not had cases of candidates struggling for NIN,” he said.

FG TasksVarsities on Best FUOYE’s Governing Council Practices for Impact as Panel Removes Registrar Vice-Chancellor, Professor Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Visits FUPRE Abayomi Fasina, to have said: Nigerian universities have been charged to always comply with global best practices in terms of corporate governance, operations, benchmark, quality assurance and judicious application of resources for impact. The Chairman of the federal government Visitation panel to the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun, Prof. Ikenna Onyido, stated this yesterday at the institution. Onyido argued that it was important for the federal government to at interval check the books of the various universities owned by it to ascertain compliance to the various regulations and assess their development in line with available regulations overtime. The Emeritus Professor and

former Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, who led a sevenmember team to FUPRE, stressed that though the assignment was not an inquisition, it had become imperative to streamline things in the universities to accomplish their goals as mandated by the laws. He said their assignment would further strengthen the university to carry out her mandate and attract global acceptance as required by the founding fathers and regulatory agencies. To support learning and research in the university, Onyido further donated sets of academic and leadership books to the university, one of which was on advocacy on returning quality leadership to the Nigerian university system.

The Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti has sacked the university’s registrar, Mr. Olatunbosun Odusanya, barely a week after he was suspended from office over allegation of gross misconduct. The decision was taken at the council’s Tuesday’s meeting that was presided over by the Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Mohammed Yahuza. A statement that was jointly signed by the Chief Information Officer to the Vice Chancellor, Mr. Funso Ogunmodede and the Special Adviser on Media Matters, Mr. Wole Balogun, in Ado-Ekiti yesterday disclosed that Odusanya’s appointment was terminated on Tuesday during the council’s meeting. The statement quoted the

“For me as the Vice Chancellor (VC), my emergence was God’s divine mandate and project. So, l will not work against anyone. I have no plan to sack any staff member of our great university. “However, in line with the council’s directive, we will review all the said appointments with a view to regularise all appointments to ensure that they measured up to our standards, most notably departmental needs, qualifications, proper placement and due process. “My passion has always been to make life very conducive and comfortable for anyone around me and this is what I have always dedicated my life to. God has really helped me and fought for me. I have nothing to do than to love people around me and spread happiness to all.

THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

Abaribe: Buhari Pushing Nigeria to Disintegration Amby Uneze in Owerri The Senate Minority leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has raised the alarm that President Muhammadu Buhari was pushing the country to war and disintegration. The senator, who represents

Abia Central senatorial district in Abia State said the spates of insecurity and killings in all parts of the country were caused by Buhari’s policy of nepotism bad sectionalism. In his keynote address delivered yesterday at 2021 law week of the Owerri Branch of the Nigeria

Bar Association, Abaribe said that the “president’s “enthronement of sectionalism and nepotism has led to the country to be on free fall.” “Ethnic triumphalism of President Buhari’s tribesmen, Fulani, has equally helped in fueling disintegration of the country. In my interactions with Nigerians across all divides and classes, you get the

impression that Nigerians do not want to go to war. You also get the impression that Nigerians don’t want to be divided into many mini countries today,” he explained “But, Nigerians are being pushed to the wall by two things: Nepotism and sectionalism of this government and ethnic triumphalism that is going on;

importing people from outside Nigerian who come into this country and decimating people in this country and no effort is being made to tackle the problem because some people think they are of a particular religion or ethnic nationality. “Under the watch of the present government, Fulani militia are

on a mission of conquest all over Nigeria. By infiltrating and trying to take over every region of this country, we have had to witness killings of natives, women raped, farmlands destroyed, kidnappings of citizens all over the country and forests forcefully occupied.

NSITF Harps on Increased Attention to Workers’ Safety, Health Peter Uzoho and Rebecca Ejifoma The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has stressed the need for employers in the private and public sector to pay more attention to the safety, health and welfare of their employees in the performance of their official assignments. The Assistant General Manager/Branch Manager of the NSITF, Apapa, Mr. Daniel Omotayo, stated this yesterday in Lagos during the branch’s rally in commemoration of the 2021 World Safety and Health at Work Day, with the theme: “Anticipate, Prepare and Respond to the Crisis –Invest Now in Resilience Occupational Safety and Health System.” Omotayo also stressed the need for all corporate organisations in Nigeria to queue into the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS) of the government

in order to help them reduce the high financial burden they incur during compensation for their workers who sustain injuries or die in active service. He said: “Employers all over the world have the responsibility to ensure that their working environment is safe and that they put in place all the safety and health measures and guidelines to reduce accidents and deaths at work place. “It is also important for employers in Nigeria to come on board this scheme so that their workers, their employees can benefit from the scheme, and that will also reduce the burden on their organisations.” He said the safety and health of Nigerian workers were important for the NSITF and that the agency is interested in what happens to employers all over the country, explaining that the NSITF was set up as a government parastatal to manage the ECS.”

House Probes N500m Chibok School Rebuilding Fund, Safe School Initiative Adedayo AkinwaleinAbuja The House of Representatives has resolved to set up an Ad-Hoc Committee that would investigate the status of the N500 million earmarked for the Chibok School Rebuilding Fund and the Safe School Initiative (SSI). The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance that was moved at the plenary yesterday by Hon. Satomi Ahmed. Ahmed recalled the destruction of the school and the abduction of 230 school girls fromtheGovernment Secondary School, Chibok, by Boko Haram insurgents in 2014. Hefurtherrecalledthattheabduction of the Chibok School Girls attracted nationalandinternationalcondemnation and led to the formation of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement by coalitions of civil societies and human rights organisation.

Ahmed noted that the federal government under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan announced a N500 million fund to rebuild the school in Chibok, Borno State. He explained that the then Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, launched the N500 million school rebuilding project under the SSI programme in March 2015 at the Chibok school. The lawmaker noted that the school was expected to have a state of the art library, laboratory, computer and ICT Centre, sports arena and clinic when it would be fully rebuilt and rehabilitated. Ahmed stated: “Seven years after the foundation laying ceremony of the SSI and announcement of a N500 million fund by the government for the rehabilitation of the Chibok’s school, nothing has been done in the school and the school has remained closed.”

Ogun Poly Shut down over Insecurity Following the spate of insecurity across the country, the authorities of the Gateway Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State have shut the institution and asked the students to go home. The state-owned polytechnic has also suspended ongoing examination until the security situation improves. In a memo dated April, 28, 2021, the Acting Registrar of the Polytechnic, J O Popoola, ordered students to proceed on mid-semester break immediately until the security situation improves. “In line with the decision of the

management, all students are to proceed on mid semester break with effect from the close of work on Wednesday, 28th of April, 2021. “This is due to the security challenges around the students residences. Please note that the ongoing examination shall continue immediately the security situation improves. “Meanwhile, all students should vacate their residences and go home. Any student that stays behind does so at his or her own risk “This is for your information and strict compliance.”

YOUTH-FRIENDLY PARTY…

L-R: National Coordinator, Electoral Matters and INEC Liaison, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr. Anayo Arinze; National Director of Communication, Mr. Ifenla Oligbinde; National Chairman, Mr. Ralphs Okey Nwozu; and National Youth Leader, Mr. Maurice Ebam, during the presentation of the Certificate of Endorsement of ADC as one party for Nigerian youths in Abuja … recently

NDN Announces $10m Grant to Support Credible Candidates Tobi Soniyi The Nigeria Diaspora Network (NDN) has announced a $10 million grant it would use to support candidates that are committed to good governance and rule of law during the 2023 general elections. The NDN, in a statement issued yesterday from the United States of America and signed by its Director of Publicity, Mr.

Akintunde Ademola, said the time has come for Nigerians abroad to ensure that only those who are committed to the rule of law should be elected into public offices. The NDN, which is a composition of Nigerian professionals abroad, was established to lend logistics support to leaders — particularly young leaders and to advance the vision that would guide

good governance in Nigeria through the six principles of independence, openness, accountability, integrity, clarity and effectiveness. The network would work with groups that have wellarticulated vision, demonstrated ability to attract supporters, volunteers, donors and have the willingness to collaborate with like-minded groups. Ademola said: “The challenges

we face as a country are real. But there’s no telling what we can achieve if we approach the fights ahead with the passion and determination we feel today, and bring that energy into 2023 and beyond.” He said that Nigerians in the Diaspora would remit billions of Naira to their home country every year but are denied the right to vote during elections.

Police Parade Kidnappers of Ogun Monarch, OOU Students The suspected kidnappers of students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ayetoro campus and the community leader in the state, Chief Tajudeen Omotayo, were yesterday paraded by the Ogun State Police Command. The police also paraded a suspected kidnapper, who sold an AK-47 rifle to an undercover police operative for N1million. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Edward Ajogun, paraded

the suspects who also included suspected armed robbers at the police headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta. Ajogun while parading the suspected kidnappers of the two female students of OOU who were abducted on March 14, 2021, at their hostel said the suspects were apprehended two days after the students were released. The police boss also added that the suspects confessed that

they were behind the kidnap of a doctor and a nurse on the Abeokuta-Imeko Road. The suspects, Umaru Usman, Mohammed Bello, and Babuga Abubakar, 40, reportedly confessed to a series of kidnap cases in the Ayetoro, Olorunda, and Imeko areas. Ajogun said, “They admitted to the kidnap of the two Olabisi Onabanjo University students in Ayetoro. “They confessed that a

female doctor and a nurse were kidnapped on 7th of April 2021 along with Olubo village along Abeokuta -Imeko road by them. They also confessed to kidnapping one Mrs. Yemi Ojedapo at Olodo village, who painfully, they had to kill because she recognized them. “One Babuga Abubakar who is their informant confessed that he supplied information on victims to the gang for ease of operation.

Slain Student of Greenﬁeld University Laid to Rest John Shiklam in Kaduna One of the abducted students of the Greenfield University, Kaduna, killed by bandits, Miss Dorothy Yohanna, was yesterday laid to rest in Kaduna. Dorothy and other students were abducted on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at the school located along the Kaduna – Abuja Highway in

Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. In a tribute to his daughter, during the funeral service held at the ECWA Goodnews Church, Narayi High Cost, the father of the deceased, Mr. Yohanna Meck, said he never thought of burying his child or his younger ones. Meck said in an emotion-laden voice that the bandits interrupted

a deal he had with his daughter. He said his consolation was in the fact that, her late daughter did not disappoint him, adding that she almost fulfilled her own part of the bargain before her death. He said until the moment her daughter was killed, he “never believed the kidnappers would kill any of them.” He added that he could imagine

how her daughter would have pleaded with the bandits to spare her life and eventually how they went ahead to still gun her down. He said: “I had a deal with my daughter. We did not conclude it because some people interrupted us and God who knows the end from the beginning, approved the interruption so that Tirnom can go to His place.

NDE Recruits 1,500 for Environmental Beautiﬁcation Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), is providing training that would enable unemployed persons to earn livelihood from opportunities available in the environmental beautification and ornamental work. This was disclosed in

Oshogbo, Osun State capital, by the NDE Ag. Director General, Mr. Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, while speaking at the orientation exercise for 1,548 participants nationwide who have been recruited for three months training under the NDE 2O21 Environmental Beatification Training Scheme (EBTS)

Fikpo, who was represented by the NDE State Coordinator, Mr. Ismail Yekeen, said that the EBTS was designed to create decent jobs for unemployed school leavers through training and development in landscaping service value chain. He said that apart from its aesthetic value, the beauty of our surrounding could also

enhance healthy living and long life. Fikpo noted that the EBTS would promote environmental renewal in towns and cities and boost job creation and public works programmes, adding that participants at the training would be empowered with starter packs to start their businesses.

THISDAY, THURSDAY APRIL 29,2021

THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Chukwueze Battles Messi, Courtois for La Liga Player of the Month Award Femi Solaja with agency report Villarreal forward, Samuel Chukwueze, may follow in the footsteps of Kelechi Iheanacho who won the English Premiership player of the month recently following the nomination yesterday of the dashing Super Eagles winger for the La Liga Player of the Month award for April. Chukwueze who will be in action against Arsenal in a Europa League semi final game, will contest the prized honour alongside Barcelona captain and talisman, Lionel Messi, Real

Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, and Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa. Just last month, ‘red hot’ Iheanacho expectedly won the ‘Player of the Month’ award in the Premier League following his superb form with Leicester City where he has scored vital goals and put the club in prime position for UEFA Champions League slot for next season. Chukwueze however still have other contestants like Sevilla’s Fernando, Real Betis’ Claudio Bravo and Fernando Pacheco of Deportivo Alaves to battle for the award. The ‘petit bomber’ was in

Calls for UFC on African Soil Grow, As Usman Retains Welterweight Title Following the successful welterweight title defence by champion, Kamaru Usman in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 261 against Jorge Masvidal recently in USA, there are growing calls for an inaugural UFC fight to be held on the African continent. Usman knocked Masvidal out cold in Round 2 of their UFC 261 main event rematch inside VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. The calls for the fight to be staged on African soil come in a dint to honor African fighters, who hold prominence in the UFC. Currently, there are three African world champions, including Francis Ngannou (a heavyweight) from Cameroon and Israel Adesanya (at middleweight) from Nigeria. All three fighters have publicly called for an inaugural UFC fight to be held on the African continent. In acknowledgement, Dana White, the CEO of UFC, recently confirmed in a podcast his desire to bring a UFC fight to Africa both in recognition of the current trio of African UFC champions and because it fulfils his own long held personal ambition to emulate the Muhammad Ali v George Foreman ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ world boxing championship fight held in the Kinshasa in DR Congo in 1974. “One of the many monumental times in my career, but one of the things that I have always wanted to do is have a fight in Africa. The Ali-Foreman ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ is stuff I remember growing up. I have not had mine (opportunity) yet, but it’s coming. We are looking at coming to Africa in 2022, so I am really looking forward to that”. Poised to drive a UFC on the African continent is Dr. Adrian Ogun, Chairman of Streamcent (a digital streaming company based in Nigeria and UK) and the last fight promoter to host a world heavyweight championship fight in Africa, in Johannesburg in 2001 between Lennox Lewis and Hasim Rahman. Speaking on organizing a costeffective fight on the continent, Ogun alluded to the fact that 15,000 US fans attended the Veterans Arena in Jacksonville generating $3,200,000 USD in ticket sales (according to the UFC) which implies an average ticket price of over $200 dollars per person or approximately N100,000 per ticket. “At N100,000 per ticket, only

the elite in Nigeria would be able to attend an African UFC fight based on the Western promotional model applied at Kamaru Usman’s last fight. High entry prices preclude the plethora of adoring African fans from watching their heroes. “Furthermore, in Nigeria, currently fans have to subscribe to cable/satellite channels that only have two million patrons out of a population of 200 million Nigerians - which means the ordinary fan, who cannot afford arena ticket prices, cannot even see their heroes fight on TV without paying a hefty monthly subscription fee to a terrestrial sports channel. “Our solution at Streamcent is to stream fights via our app to fans on mobiles and other devices at a small fraction of the cost of a cable subscription, while lowering prices to ensure the full inclusion of working class fans (as well as the elite) at the fight venue. “Our African pay per view model for a UFC fight on African soil means a huge number of Africa’s more than 250 million smart phone users can watch the fight and the extra revenue more than makes up for any shortfall in venue ticket sales. “This is a ‘win – win’ situation for the UFC promotion, ordinary fight fans seeking affordable viewing prices and our African UFC champions wanting to showcase their talents to mass audiences of all classes in Africa,” stressed Ogun. Two UFC fighters, Ottoman Atzeital and his brother Abu, have been campaigning ferociously for the inaugural fight to be held in Morocco. Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya have also been very vocal about Nigeria being the host nation for UFC. South Africa, with its welldeveloped infrastructure and pedigree of hosting the 2010 World Cup is also a strong candidate with UFC insiders. Regarding possible venue, Ogun says, “Regardless of where ever the inaugural UFC fight is held on the African continent, ticket prices and per view subscriptions should be set at a level that includes rather than excludes ordinary working class African fight fans. “It is worth noting that the average ticket price for the 15,0000 crowd at Kamru Usman’s fight at the weekend in Jacksonville, is out or reach of the budget of ordinary Nigerians, Moroccans or black South Africans,” concludes the Streamcent boss.

terrific for the Yellow Submarine during the month under review, with three goals in five Spanish elite division matches, but six-time Ballon D’or winner Messi has better four goals from the same number of outings. In the 5-1 away obliteration of Levante at the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia on April 18, the 21-year-old ended his 17-game goal drought in La Liga with a brace. With Villareal leading 2-1 following a first-half effort from Gerard Moreno and Postigo’s own goal, the former Golden Eaglet stretched the visitors’ lead in the 63rd minute thanks to an assist from substitute Paco Alcacer. Chukwueze completed his

double with 15 minutes left to play after he beat goalkeeper Aitor. This time, it was Daniel Parejo who turned provider. Against Ronald Koeman’s Barcelona last Sunday, he helped Unai Emery’s side to hit the ground running in the fixture, scoring as early as the 26th minute. The winger opened the scoring at the Estadio de la Ceramica in a spectacular manner, dribbling past his markers before firing into the back of Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s net. Nonetheless, Antoine Griezmann started Blaugrana’s fightback when he levelled proceedings in the 28th minute after receiving a timely assist from

Oscar Mingueza. The Frenchman then completed his brace in the 35th minute, firing home his effort after finding himself in a one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo. The player with the highest number of votes will walk home with the individual accolade as well as succeed March winner Karim Benzema. “He’s a very young player who has to find consistency,” Emery told the club website about Chukwueze. “We need to take steps forward with him and be demanding. “He’s a footballer with great quality. He has a lot of talent, but he needs to improve in front of goal. Today he put in a great

performance and managed to score.”

Samuel Chukwueze.... nominated for LaLiga player of the month of April

PROUD FATHER...

Father of the World MMA champion, Mr. Kamaru being decorated with the belt retained by his son, Kamaru Usman, after winning the rematch with Jorge Masvidal at the Veteran Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, USA...recently

Chioma Ajunwa Foundation to Launch Ambitious N6bn Sports Devt Centre Plans talent hunt programme for girls in eight states Duro Ikhazuagbe Nigeria’s first and only individual gold medalist at the Olympic Games, Chioma Ajunwa-Opara, has launched an ambitious project expected to turnaround sports development in the country. The Atlanta ‘96 long jump gold medalist is planning to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that feat using her foundation to launch a N6billion ultra-modern Sports Development Centre to be sited in Owerri.

In addition, the Chioma Ajunwa-Opara Foundation is planning to embark on a massive talent hunt for girls in eight states in athletics, football and taekwondo to celebrate that golden 7.12m jump that gave Nigeria her very first ever gold medal at the Olympic Games. Speaking at a press briefing to herald the several programmes to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the gold medal in Lagos on Tuesday, Chioma Ajunwa-Opara, an Assistant Commissioner of

Police (ACP), reeled out three sports namely; athletics, football and taekwondo as the core area of focus for the foundation for now. “The Olympic Talent Hunt is for girls between the age of 10 and 17 years in these three sports. I have not seen any exinternational in Nigeria thinking about having his or her sports facilities to enable upcoming athletes to benefit from them. “That is what is motivating me. I have to build a hostel

at Meiran, (in Lagos) where girls camp. We want to make the Chioma Ajunwa-Opara Foundation a reference point in Nigeria’s sports development,” she stressed with emphasis. Ajunwa-Opara who is the only living ex international to play football (with the Super Falcons) up to the World Cup level (in 1991) and also win gold at the Olympic remains grateful to the police authorities for giving her all the support to achieve the highest levels in sports.

HiFL 2021: Pace Sports, NUGA Release Lists for Round of 16 Pace Sports and Entertainment Marketing Limited (PSEM) and the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) have released the final list of the 16 teams that will jostle for honours in the next stage of the 2021 HiFL league season. The last set of qualifying matches for this stage took place over the weekend across five

zones involving 25 teams that made it to the group stage of the qualifiers. Speaking in this regard, the President of NUGA, Prof. Stephen Hamafyelto expressed optimism that lovers of collegiate football in Nigeria are set to witness the best of games. “HiFL presents a great opportunity for Nigerian youths

to express themselves and excel in sports as a career equal to their academic pursuits. We appreciate the organization put in place by our member institutions because the news across the centres is very encouraging. We appreciate the participating schools for their sportsmanship and encourage everyone to just enjoy the spectacle,” Hamafyelto

said. The teams in the Round of 16 include; UNICAL Malabites from the University of Calabar, UAM Tillers of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, UNILORIN Warriors representing the University of Ilorin and OAU Giants from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Enyimba through to Confed Cup Q’finals Cyril Olisemah’s added time goal was all Enyimba needed last night in Aba to beat South Africa’s Orlando Pirates 1-0 to top Group A of the CAF

Confederation Cup quarter finals. Until that goal came, the two-time African champions were at the bottom of the table

on seven points with Pirates leading while Algeria’s ES Setif who defeated Al Ahli Benghazi of Libya in second place on eight points

But Olisemah’s goal changed the entire fortunes with the Aba Elephant climbing to same nine points as Pirates but ahead on superior goals difference

THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

ThursdaySports

Europa: Solskjaer Seeks to End S’finals Hoodoo against AS Roma Tonight Having steered his side to four semifinals, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is yet to progress further than the last four in any cup competition as Manchester United manager, with his latest chance to end that

hoodoo against AS Roma tonight. Domestic progress has been made, with United in a strong position to finish second in the Premier League this season after coming sixth and third

Tokyo Olympics: Competitors to be Tested Daily for Covid-19 Competitors will have daily Covid-19 tests at this summer’s Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo. They will also need to wear face masks except when they are “eating, drinking, sleeping, training or competing”. And those travelling from outside Japan will be given a phone with apps for health reporting and contact tracing. There will be no international fans but a decision on whether local fans can attend the Games will be made in June. There is no requirement for athletes to be vaccinated but they will need to undergo a three-day quarantine on arrival. An updated version of the athletes’ playbook, which lays out the guidelines for the Games, was released on Wednesday. It stated: People travelling from outside Japan will have to take two tests before flying Athletes will be given daily tests “to minimise the risk of

undetected positive cases” Other Games participants will be tested for the first three days after they arrive and will then receive regular tests No participants can use public transport and will instead use dedicated Games vehicles Passengers in the vehicles must refrain from conversation Those at the Games can eat only in catering facilities at onsite venues, restaurants at their accommodation or in their room An athlete who “intentionally refuses” to take a test could be sent home. Japan is in a state of emergencyuntil at least 11 May after a rise in coronavirus infections. “We are confident that compliance with these regulations will ensure the safety and security of athletes, Games officials and spectators, as well as the people of Tokyo,” a statement from the tournament’s organisers added. The Olympics are due to begin on 23 July, with the Paralympics set to start on 24 August.

in the previous two campaigns. However, the trophy cabinet remains empty. What is more frustrating for fans desperate for the club to clinch their first piece of silverware since the 2017 Europa League under Jose Mourinho is United keep getting so close. Whether it be the two League Cup semifinal defeats to Manchester City, the one to Chelsea in the FA Cup last year, or the last-four Europa League loss to Sevilla shortly after, United have found a way to stumble at the last under Solskjaer. Victory over Granada in this season’s last eight has given Solskjaer a fifth opportunity to go all the way to the final, with

AS Roma the latest to try prolong the Norwegian’s agony. But clashes with Roma elicit fond European memories for Solskjaer, as the Italian side were his last opponent as a player in Europe for United. Having lost the first leg of the 2006-07 Champions League quarterfinal 2-1 in Rome, United thrashed the Italians 7-1 in the return match, with Solskjaer coming on as a second-half substitute. “I started the first leg, but can’t remember if I finished it because we played with 10 men and dug out a good result,” Solskjaer told a news conference yesterday. “He (manager Sir Alex

Ferguson) was confident we could go through but that night at Old Trafford was magical. We were on fire and showed what United can do.” Solskjaer retired from playing at the end of that campaign, and began his career in coaching with United’s academy a year later. Now, as his third season as United coach nears its end, the transition period is over and a prolonged trophy drought will not be tolerated. Roma were comfortable in the Serie Atop four at the turn of the year, but a run of one win in their last seven league matches means they have dropped to seventh, with pressure mounting

on coach Paulo Fonseca. “We definitely have a great chance to get through, we do have the better team,” former United defender Wes Brown, who also played in the 7-1 win, told Reuters. “We have been knocked out in the semifinals the last few years – I just hope the lads have learned from that. “Getting to a final is a hurdle they really need to get over. The lads are playing well and with the experience they have had in the past they can push on. It will be great for Ole, too.” United have hit good form at the right time, losing only one of their last 21 matches in all competitions.

Paul Pogba (left) and Donny van de Beek at training ahead of tonight’s clash with AS Roma

Odegbami: Spoiling for Another Chaos in Nigerian Football Fred Edoreh Writing in Today.ngblog of April 24, 2021, under the title: “Re-setting the Button of Nigeria Football Administration”, our revered Chief Segun Odegbami wants the Honourable Minister of Sports, Mr Sunday Dare, to dismantle the statutes and structures of the Nigeria Football Federation to pave way for certain unidentified class of persons to succeed President Amaju Pinnick’s board when their tenure expires in late 2022. Echoing Harrison Jalla’s position, Odegbami insists the statutes is the bane of Nigerian football administration and development and he wants the minister to immediately start the process of tearing it down, irrespective of how and what the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) might feel or do. My immediate reaction is simply to ask Mr Dare to beware. Any discerning reader would readily see that “Mathematical” is simply stoking the embers for another season of anomie in Nigerian football. We have had one too many.

From inception, the Pinnick board had been dragged in circles of harassment and intimidation through successive ministerial regimes until the Presidency had to step forward to declare its disposition for Nigerian football to remain aligned with the universal statutes of world association football. But howbeit that they have come out unscathed from several attacks, the distractions and destabilisation have had its toll on the home game. The NFF statutes in question was approved by its congress, has been passed as a bill by the National Assembly and only awaiting the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari . That is what Odegbami and Jalla wants Sunday Dare to dismantle to suit their convenience for possible shot into the NFF board. Should anybody even consider any need for amendment to the statutes, it is not a matter for abrasive action such as could drag the Honourable Minister and our nation into conflicts. There are simple procedures, including raising the points with his state FA or the Players’ Union to table a motion at the NFF Congress. Rather than focusing on politics

Amaju Melvin Pinnick (left) and FIFA President, Gianni Infantino at a FIFA event. Now, underground moves for who succeeds Pinnick at the Sunday Dankaro House have started two years to end of his second term in oﬃce

to heat up the polity and creating distraction in Nigerian football, the major concern for stakeholders at this time should be organising properly to ensure the Super Eagles’ qualification to the Qatar FIFA World Cup and successful outing at the forthcoming African Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon, all happening in 2022. The task is to ensure adequate and smooth financing for the Super Eagles’ eight qualifying matches to the World Cup which are to be concluded over a short four months period, their campaign in the AFCON and the necessary friendlies and camping to both events It is common knowledge that the government budget for the NFF this year is less than N1billion for all the activities of all the national teams. That can only be enough for about four Super Eagles away games. Under the prevailing difficult economic climate, there is even no certainty on when the funds would be released, like we have experienced before. True stakeholders should worry about that and the implications for coming events for all the teams and other development programmes. In 2010 and 2014, the government saw reasons to set up a Presidential Task Force to source funds from the corporate community to support the Super Eagles qualification campaigns and participation at the World Cups proper. Things are even tougher now and there is just how far the NFF can go with sponsorship marketing as brands and corporate organisations are currently focusing mostly on their survival. Even for sponsors to come in, Nigerian football requires some stability. At this time, the politics of succession into the NFF board with the suggested dismantling of the NFF statutes just to help the political ambition of a few persons would be a major and devastating distraction for Nigerian football. We may recall that Nigeria did

not qualify for the 2006 World Cup and the 2012, 2015 and 2017 AFCONS. It was all due to crises and some of those instigating another fresh one were fingered in most of them. One major problem in the Nigerian football environment is the sense of entitlement and insatiable craving for administrative power by a section of ex-footballers. They give the impression that they, only, know the game and unless and until they are given positions of leadership on a platter, whatever incumbent leaderships do must stand condemned. Yet, many people are aware that playing the game is different from coaching, managing and administering it. We have had a good number of Nigerian ex-footballers coach the Super Eagles and other national teams and we know their scorecards. Odegbami himself have had administrative and managerial opportunities with the National Institute for Sports, Gateway United FC of Abeokuta, Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan and even programme sponsorship by Shell Development Company. We know the outcomes. We also know how so much he craved to be Secretary General of the NFF and the double speaks involved in the process, from Kano to Abuja, and how he also desired to be President of FIFA. As such, we necessarily must look at his gift horses in the mouth. It is curious too that he would want us and the Honourable Minister to take Jalla seriously after he himself has described him in the following terms in his write up: “A person perceived as a rabble-rouser and trouble maker by many...His message... was not echoed anywhere...To many stakeholders, he is a pain in the...and a thorn in the flesh of successive football administrators... Even among his colleagues of the footballers’ fraternity, he has made more enemies in the struggle for the soul of Nigerian football administration... Many people “hate” the man and condemn

his methods...” I wonder how these “many people” can be wrong and only Odegbami and Jalla always in the right. I recall also that Jalla was in the vanguard of those who seized the NFF Secretariat on a couple of occasions after the Russia 2018 World Cup, a development that drove away a number of existing and prospective sponsors. Even the attributio n that “he has been in the vanguard of promoting the interests and welfare of Nigerian ex-football players” remains questionable given the then Secretary, Austin Popo’s testimonies when he broke away from Jalla’s National Association of Nigerian Footballers(NANF) and the fact that FifPro, the international body has deaccredited the body. That is the man Odegbami is recommending to the Honourable Minister. Odegbami underscored the possibility that Jalla may be driven by a personal, excessive and obsessive grudge against Pinnick when he wrote: “His most recent spat has been with the President of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick, who he pursued with petitions even up to FIFA in a futile effort to disqualify him from contesting for a seat on the FIFA Executuve Council...I wonder why some higher authorities have not waded into their matter and settled them.” Jalla’s beef could be because the NFA proceeded to de-recognize NANF and opted to be dealing with Popo’s Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria (APFN). But, tell me which true patriot will seek to stop his compatriot from attaining strategic heights in the international arena? Thankfully, the Nigerian Presidency stood for Pinnick as it also stood for Dr Akinwunmi Adesina for Presidency of the Africa Development Bank and for Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director General of the World Trade Organisation. These gestures are not only

for solidarity, the Presidency clearly understands the leverage such positions can bring to the nation. Had Jalla succeeded in stopping Pinnick, it would have been a huge miss for Nigeria but a huge victory for his clan. If Pinnick is their problem, truth is, we cannot play our football politics with disregard for the currents in the international environment. Pinnick led the charge against Issa Hayatou in CAF even when the home ministry bellyached at his emergence into the Executive Committee. When the successor, Ahmad Ahmad, betrayed him, also with the support of high placed elements at home, he also suffered consequences while Pinnick has had an upswing. For such a homeboy who is well entrenched in the global stage, Nigerians should see him as an asset to be cultivated for his experience, contacts, goodwill and reach, not only for home advantage but also to pull other compatriots up into the system. Climbing the ladders of world football governance is a not a game of puerile exuberance. It requires unity both at home and connection within the right international circles. Should Nigeria approach the home politics brashly, we all will be the losers in the country, in the continent and at the world stage. The forced-in newcomers would have to start all over from the block and it could take more than a decade for them to achieve any reckoning. The least we can do is to consolidate on our present gains with Pinnick and remain solidly in tune with FIFA and CAF, not to launch another season of intimidation, harassment and chaos in our football. As they say in common parlance, let’s apply sense. *Edoreh is the immediate past Chairman of Sportswriters Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Lagos Chapter

Thursday, April 29, 2021

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“Nigeria’s country risk has been aggravated. There is a high risk of capital flight, which would complicate matters for an already floundering economy. Unless we quickly stem the degenerating insecurity, it would be difficult for Nigeria to benefit from the AfCFTA. The risk is that we may become a market destination for finished goods rather than an investment destination for production” – Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Director General on Nigeria and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) .

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Mike Adenuga at 68 G

lobacom Chairman, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr is 68 today. Anybody familiar with the story of Nigeria’s telecoms industry cannot but salute his doggedness even when very few gave him a chance at the beginning of his adventure. In an environment that has become suffocating for entrepreneurship, where industry is no longer encouraged by government’s penchant to create bubble jobs that can only worsen our economic problems in the long run, we need to interrogate the value of men like Adenuga. Especially at a time like this. I have known Adenuga for more than two decades. Yet I cannot recall a time I could directly reach him. Certainly not as THISDAY editor. Nor as presidential spokesman. Or even as THISDAY editorial board chairman. The last time I had any direct contact with him was in June 2010. That was at the Bloemfontein stadium during the World Cup in South Africa which I attended as a member of the presidential task force. Then on 18th January last year (2020), I received a call from a regular Glo number which I didn’t have in my contacts. So I didn’t pick. The person then sent a text message: ‘My Bros, MA Jr called.’ Despite a strong feeling as to who the caller could be, I was not prepared for anybody to scam me so early in a new year so I ignored the message. When on 27th February 2020, I received a similar message, I decided to call the number. The moment Adenuga picked, I couldn’t mistake his distinctive voice in the roaring laughter. What followed was a long conversation after which he said we should continue to keep in touch. In

Adenuga the course of one of our interactions, he specifically thanked me for the support I gave him when he was fighting for a telecoms license two decades ago. I found that quite touching. During the GSM license bid round in 2001, there was an attempt to muscle out Adenuga. The then NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Ernest Ndukwe was very fair and transparent in the manner he handled the exercise. But powerful forces within the political establishment were bent on frustrating Adenuga from securing a telecoms license. Persuaded that we need Nigerian players in the sector, I argued in a few columns that since Adenuga had expressed

interest, he ought to receive a license. In April 2002, at the instance of his late spokesman, Mr Tunji Oseni, I had a breakfast audience with then President Olusegun Obasanjo in Ota during Easter. Three of us were invited: Bashorun Akin Osuntokun, Dr Reuben Abati and myself. Only Osuntokun and myself turned up for the breakfast session that lasted about two hours. As we ate, President Obasanjo asked me, “Segun, please tell me. How much is Adenuga paying you and other journalists for the media campaign you people are doing for him on this telecom license?” The conversation that followed the attack was interesting. Although Obasanjo gave the official version of the account as to why Adenuga missed out on the licensing round, it appeared to me that there might be a personal issue between them. A dogged fighter, Adenuga refused to give up. He eventually secured the license in August 2003. And he changed the game with per second billing, which the more established companies had said was impossible but were then forced to adopt. Despite Adenuga’s initial disadvantage of having to operate in the same space with MTN and Econet (now AIRTEL) with their head-starts in Nigeria and elsewhere as well as their experience in the sector, he has built a solid company that is a clear leader in Nigeria. It also has footprints outside the country. Though he has a foothold in the oil sector and banking, it is in the telecoms sector (where he was almost denied) that Adenuga’s company flies the flag of our country and should be a source of pride to all Nigerians. The massive support that Glo has given to our domestic sports and

Return of The Boko Haram Flag

isturbing videos are making the rounds on WhatsApp. As Boko Haram insurgents invade a northern town with their armoured vehicles, they are being hailed by young boys and girls who act as though they are watching a movie. The videos also come with a message that sums up the state of our country and the danger the future portends: “Children taking terrorists attacks on their community as sports. They watch, laugh and cheer, they even take selfies. This is tragically abnormal. The crisis has been with some of them since their birth, so they see it as a norm. This will not go away in a short time because a generation of Boko Haram children is born and raised. It will be difficult to disabuse their minds from acts of terrorism because they have come to see it as a way of life. May God deliver such generation and us all.” With kidnappers, separatists, bandits, robbers and other criminal elements let loose and many of our politicians blinded by their obsession with 2023 that is not guaranteed, Boko Haram insurgents are not only getting more and more emboldened; they are also gradually expanding their territorial landscape. That the insurgents understand the power of symbolism can be glimpsed from their strategic attempt

to either capture or significantly disrupt livelihoods in Geidam, the hometown of the acting Inspector-General of the Police, Baba Alkali. The Yobe State community has in the past few weeks witnessed several attacks, forcing many of the residents to flee. It is the same message insurgents sent in 2014 when they overran Vimtim, the hometown of the then Chief of Defence Staff, late Air Marshal Alex Badeh. Such is the growing audacity of Boko Haram that a recent memo from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) warned of a planned attack on the Kaduna, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kano, Abuja, and Lagos airports. There seems to be tacit admission by the federal government that Boko Haram is neither ‘technically defeated’ nor has its capacity been significantly ‘degraded’ as we were led to believe. Politicians who were vociferous in making those claims in the past have suddenly become deaf and dumb. The insurgents, backed by other terror affiliates, are now a mighty army that is not content taking over the North-east. After making a serious play for the North-west, they are establishing a strong presence in the North-central with Niger State as their operational base. On Monday, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello again read from the book of lamentations, following the sacking of nearly 5,000 villagers

from their ancestral homes in Shiroro and Munya local government areas. Boko Haram insurgents, according to the Governor, are not only annexing territory, they are also ‘confiscating’ the wives of villagers. “I just heard that they have placed their flags at Kaure, meaning they have taken over the territory.” For effect, Bello warned of the danger of inaction, especially for those who may be under the illusion of safety in the Federal Capital Territory. “Sambisa is several kilometers from Abuja, but Kaure is just two hours’ drive from Abuja. So, nobody is safe anymore, not even those in Abuja,” the governor said. Since criminal cartels heightened their orgy of violence across the country, many videos have surfaced online of things President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and other chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were saying when seeking to wrest power from President Goodluck Jonathan before the 2015 general election. When persons in unauthorized possession of lethal weapons levy war on the state, there cannot be a better definition for treason. But in their desperation for power, many of those who now call the shots rationalized the madness. NOTE: Piece concluded on page 14

the entertainment industry is the kind that can only be offered by someone with a true commitment to their country. I know from my experience in government that Nigerian big men like to obtain these special licenses and permits in order to sell them. Many prefer to be commission agents and middle men who add little or no value to the economy. That is why we have so many idle billionaires with no real source of livelihood. And as I have also pointed out in the past, most of them employ no more than drivers, cooks, stewards etc.—people who minister to their personal indulgence and that of their pampered families. With Glo, Adenuga took a big gamble that has paid off for him. In the process, he has also taught us numerous lessons about the depth of our economy and the resilience of our people. As a nation, Nigeria has never been more challenged than it is today. In whichever area one looks, the statistics are terribly frightening. More worrisome is that the majority of our young people are roaming the streets with no clear future. In the process, many are taking up arms and becoming bandits, kidnappers and robbers. What ails us therefore requires strategic thinking on how we can empower these people to be productively engaged. That will happen if we create an environment for the private sector and come up with smart regulations and necessary incentives. Tradermoni, Marketmoni, Farmermoni, Special Public Works Programme in the 774 local governments may have their use, especially in a society where there is no safety net for the poor, but that will not bring the much needed prosperity for our country or lift the majority of Nigerians from poverty. The surest path for that is through the private sector. By stepping up to be bold and daring, Adenuga has been able to restore our national pride in the telecoms sector. Even more importantly, what his example has also shown, as we have seen with the way our nationals are appointed into critical positions abroad, is that we have game-changers in all aspects of our national life. We just need the government to unleash their creative energies. As he clocks 68 today, I wish Dr Mike Adenuga Jr happy birthday, long life and good health!

The Platform!

The Platform, a signature programme inspired by the Senior Pastor of Covenant Christian Centre, ‘Poju Oyemade, to x-ray Nigerian challenges and proffer solutions, holds on Saturday in Lagos. The theme is ‘Is Devolution of Powers the solution to Nigeria’s problems?” While Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Mr Osita Chidoka as well as Governors Nyesom Wike, Nasir el-Rufai and Kayode Fayemi will be engaged virtually, there are four main speakers: Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, Dr Charles Omole, Mr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN and myself. I hope useful lessons can be learnt from the engagements (usually live on Channels television) as we seek solutions to the myriad of problems confronting the nation.

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