THURSDAY 12TH MAY 2022 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

At Last, PDP NEC Throws Presidential Ticket Open, Recommends Consensus Governors pledge support towards repositioning party Mark heads convention committee Chuks Okocha in Abuja After some back and forth over a period of time, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has finally adopted report

of the national caucus of the party, which approved the report of the 37-man committee that threw open the presidential ticket of the party. Before the NEC, PDP stakeholders had met at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge at 10 am, but

no resolution was reached and the meeting was adjourned for further consultation. However, while the meeting was adjourned to 8pm, the Board of Trustees (BoT) too met at 7pm, where the report was adopted.

But before the NEC and BoT meetings, it was agreed to adopt zoning in subsequent elections, and, due to time factor, the presidential ticket of the party should be thrown open. The NEC and BoT, therefore,

urged the party to work towards a consensus candidate, if possible. The report of the 37-man committee was signed by 36 members, except the member from Imo State, Nze Fidelis OziChukwu. According to the communique,

"The 2022 National Zoning Committee, after extensive deliberations on the mandate given to it by the National Executive Committee of our great Party, at its 95th meeting Continued on page 56

Nigerian Firm, Five Other African Start-ups Make WEF's Technology Pioneers' List…Page 10 Thursday 12 May, 2022 Vol 27. No 9893. Price: N250

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UNICEF Decries 18.5 Million Out-of-school Children in Nigeria… Page 5

2023:Nwajiuba,Onu,AkpabioResignFollowingBuhari’sDirective Amaechi, Malami, Sylva, Ngige, others yet to comply I will consult with president, my constituents, labour minister declares They have up till May 16 to vacate office, says Mohammed It’s with immediate effect, Shehu clarifies CSOs commend president Deji Elumoye, Michael Olugbode and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba; Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations,

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, yesterday, resigned from

their respective positions following the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that ministers in

his cabinet who were desirous of running for elective offices should resign forthwith.

However, Minister of Labour and Continued on page 10

Concerns Mount over N'Assembly's Amendment of Electoral Act to Boost Lawan’s Chances Senior lawyers split on A'Court’s voiding of judgment striking down Section 84(12) of Electoral Act Despite ruling, appellate court insists section unconstitutional, breaches Section 42 (1)(a) of Constitution Alex Enumah in Abuja

Some Nigerians have expressed concerns that the National Assembly’s latest amendment to the Electoral Act, 2022, to allow statutory delegates – all those elected – to participate and vote in the conventions, congresses or meetings of political parties, saying it was designed to boost the chances of the Senate President, Ahmad

Lawan, who recently joined the 2023 presidential race under the All Progressives Congress (APC). This is just as the decision of the Court of Appeal yesterday which set aside the judgment of a Federal High Court, Umuahia, Abia State which voided the provision of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022, Continued on page 56

Public Utilities Aﬀected as NGMC Shuts Down SECOND TERM FOR ABIODUN LOADING... Speaker Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo; Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako Oyedele; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and Gas Supply to Ossiomo Power in Edo... Page 6 L-R: National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungun, during Abiodun’s submission of his nomination form in Abuja... yesterday

THURSDAY MAY 12, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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

NEWS

LBS BREAKFAST CLUB EVENT FOR C-SUITE EXECUTIVES... L-R: Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane; CEO/Managing Director, Wema Bank Plc, Mr. Ademola Adebise; MD/CEO, Greenwich Merchant Bank, Mr. Bayo Rotimi; Dean, Lagos Business School, Prof. Chris Ogbechie; and Executive Director, Corporate Banking, First Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Tosin Adewuyi, during the LBS Breakfast Club, a monthly event designed exclusively for C-Suite Executives to gain access to high-quality intelligence about the operating business environment in Lagos...yesterday

UNICEF Decries 18.5 Million Out-of-school Children in Nigeria Says 10 million are girls

Francis Sardauna in Katsina The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Chief of Field Office, Kano, Rahama Farah has expressed concern over the prevailing statistics

of out-of-school children in Nigeria, saying the country has 18.5 million out-of-school children. He explained that out of the 18.5 million out-of-school children in the country, over 10 million were

girls which represents 60 per cent. Farah spoke yesterday, during a media dialogue on girls' education under the Girls' Education Project 3 (GEP3) funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development

Office of the UK and implemented by UNICEF. He lamented that the statistics had heightened gender inequity, whereby only one in four girls from poor, rural families complete junior

Fuel Scarcity: NMDPRA Threatens to Shutdown Filling Stations Hoarding Fuel in Kogi Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja The Nigeria Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA) has threatened to shut down filling stations hoarding Premium Motor Spirit, (PMS), popularly called fuel to cause scarcity in Kogi State. The Kogi State Coordinator, NMDPRA, Mr. Ogbe Orits Godwin, gave the warning in Lokoja, yesterday, during an interview with newsmen in his office. Ogbe, explained that the petroleum regulatory agency was aware of the alleged dubious activities of some marketers in the state who were reported to have been hoarding fuel in order to sell to black marketers in the night at an exorbitant price. The Coordinator however warned motorist to desist from panic buying, saying any marketer caught in the act would

be sanctioned in accordance to the laws of the land. He recalled that some filling station in Kogi State during the last fuel scarcity were shut down while others were sanctioned accordingly in accordance to the offence committed by airing marketers. "People should not panic about the availability of fuel in Kogi State. In the next couple of days, all the queues you are seeing in our filling station will disappear. Let me use this medium to warn marketers to desist from selling petrol in the night to racketeers. "This is a clear sabotage on government efforts in ensuring the availability of fuel in the country. We are aware that some of this filling stations have fuel but have decided to hoard it just because they want to make more money by selling fuel in the night to black marketers. "Anyone caught will be dealt

with. We are currently partnering with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) towards monitoring the activities of these marketers who intend to shortchange the people. “The

public should please report any filling station that is observed to be selling above the normal pump price, hoarding fuel or selling in the night to Jerry can owners," he added.

secondary school education in the country. Farah noted that the attacks on schools and other educational centres in the country were negatively affecting children's quest for education across the nation, noting that more girls were likely to be affected than boys. He, however, said with the interventions of UNICEF, government and other development partners, 1.4 million girls now have access to education in northern Nigeria. According to him, "Currently in Nigeria there are 18.5 million out of school children, 60 per cent of these out of school children are girls – that is over 10 million girls are out of school

Ex-President, Jonathan Appointed to Board of European Council on Africa, Middle East Nigeria’s former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been appointed to the international advisory board of the European Corporate Council on Africa and the Middle East (ECAM Council). Jonathan’s Special Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, in a statement yesterday, explained that with the appointment, the former president becomes the first sub-Saharan African leader to serve on the board of the ECAM Council, a

non-profit organisation established with the purpose of promoting and developing relations between the countries of Europe, Africa and the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, with Italy playing a leading role. Other members of the Advisory board are: Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister, José Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission, Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf, Secretary General GCC

Gulf Cooperation Council and Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission (AUC). It quoted a letter from ECAM Council to the Office of Jonathan informing him of the appointment to have stated: “For your information, the Chairman of ECAM Council Dr. Kamel Ghribi is well acquainted with Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. We are setting up an

PDP Nominates Danjuma La’ah as New Deputy Minority Whip The Senate yesterday received the nomination of Senator Danjuma La’ah (Kaduna South) as the new Deputy Minority Whip of the Senate from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). La’ah’s nomination was contained in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and read at the start of plenary. The letter was signed by the National Secretary of the PDP,

Senator Samuel Anyawu. Anyawu explained in the letter that the nomination of Senator La’ah was against the backdrop of the recent defection of the former Minority Whip, Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba (Sokoto South), to the majority, the All Progressives Congress (APC). The letter read, “We wish to affirm the nomination of Senator Danjuma La’ah (Kaduna South)

"Most importantly you will need to know that the majority of these out-of-school children are actually from northern Nigeria. This situation heightens the gender inequity, where only 1 in 4 girls from poor, rural families complete Junior Secondary school education," he added. He admonished journalists to advocate for increased funding, timely release and allocation of adequate resources to the education sector for effective and efficient learning. "The media must also be at the forefront of advocating for the action directed at removing these barriers that hinder girls’ education such as child marriage," Farah added.

by the PDP Senate Caucus, to fill the vacant seat of the Senate Minority Whip. “The nomination of Senator Danjuma La’ah follows after the defection of Senator Ibrhaim Danbaba (Sokoto South), the former PDP Deputy Whip to APC. “Please, kindly accord Senator Danjuma La’ah all necessary cooperation and do also accept the assurance of my esteemed

regards.” Senator George Thompson Sekibo (PDP, Rivers East), while coming under Order 1(b) lamented the defection of PDP Senators who occupy the Deputy Whip position. Two Senators - Senators Emmnuel Bwacha and Ibrahim Danbaba - both of the opposition party and La’ah’s predecessors, resigned their membership of the People’s Democratic Party

and defected to the APC. Ruling on Sekibo’s point of order, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, ruled him out of order, saying his observation was not in line with the provisions of Order 1(b) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2022 as amended. He, however, urged the new Deputy Minority Whip to perform his functions to bring about stability and productivity to the Senate.

international advisory board of ECAM Council and Dr. Ghribi would be delighted to welcome him on board.” It noted that the Council was, “founded with the purpose of developing realistic, effective and long-lasting solutions for more sustainable healthcare systems, with a special focus on the common issues affecting the Southern hemisphere of the globe.” Jonathan would be attending this year’s ECAM Council’s high-level advisory board meeting holding in Italy, on May 30. Every year in Italy, ECAM Council hosts a summit, in cooperation with The European House – Ambrosetti. It brings together a selected group of heads of state, government ministers and heads of multi-lateral agencies and focuses on long-term investment and international partnerships in healthcare and infrastructure, as well as the contribution of the private sector in creating strategic hubs in the African continent.

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NEWS

AMCO DARES TINUBU, CHALLENGES SANWO-OLU...

AT FEC MEETING...

L-R: Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development , Uchechukwu Ogah ; Deputy Chief of Staﬀ to the Vice Hon. Olawale Oluwo, Governorship Aspiration in Lagos on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, after President, Ade Ipaye and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja...yesterday PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI submitting his expression of interest and nomination forms, at the International Conference Centre…yesterday

Public Utilities Affected as NGMC Shuts Down Gas Supply to Ossiomo Power in Edo Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Several public utilities and private firms which depend on Ossiomo Power Company in Edo State have been impacted after the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, allegedly shut down gas supply to the plant. THISDAY gathered that the NGMC closed down supply to the power firm since Ossiomo resolved to find alternative gas supply sources following the decision of the gas marketing company to sell the commodity outside the government recommended price. It was further learnt that the NGMC had been selling the commodity to the Ossiomo plant at $6.30 per standard cubic feet as against the government approved price, leaving a margin of over $3.4 million at a daily supply of 1 million cubic feet to the power company. Recently, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, disclosed plan to supply 24-hour electricity to the Benin Airport and the Nigerian Air Force Base in the Benin metropolis from the government’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative with Ossiomo power. Aside those two beneficiaries, the Ossiomo power plant, an Independent Power Project (IPP), provides electricity to government offices and streetlights in Benin metropolis; Emotan Gardens Estate; Edo Tech Park, Edo Modular Refinery; the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy and Edo Creative Hub, among others. Recently, it announced that its

new 40MW plant, dedicated to providing power to the Benin Industrial and Enterprise Park had become operational and connected to power Ologbo and Obayantor communities in Ikpoba Okha council of the state. The new plant management said it increased the generation capacity of Ossiomo Power to 95MW, as a 55MW plant had been operational since 2020. Also recently, the state government announced that it had concluded an agreement with the Benin Owena River Basin Authority for the supply of electricity to the authority’s facilities through Ossiomo. But in a brief statement obtained by THISDAY, Ossiomo which confirmed the development, alerted the public to the forceful shutdown of its plant by the NGMC for no justifiable reason. A statement signed by Adeyinka Ladejobi on behalf of the company said the situation had been escalated to the right quarters in order to resolve the matter which he said had negatively impacted many customers. “We apologise for this unannounced outage. This outage is as a result of a forceful shutdown of our gas plant by NGMC without any notice. The situation has been escalated accordingly and we shall keep you posted,” the brief statement stated. Officials of NGMC did not want to be quoted on the matter, but the federal government had announced the immediate reduction in domestic base price of natural gas to power plant producers per standard cubic

feet (scuf) recently. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who made the disclosure at the opening of the 2021 Gas Sector Stakeholders’ Forum for optimisation of the 614-kilometre $2.6 billion Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline in Kano, said it would save billions of naira lost by power firms. The minister who harped on the inherent impact of the new price regime, had explained that the decision followed a mutual negotiation between government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). The NGMC was incorporated to market and distribute natural gas nationally and to regional African markets and has a mandate to promote the utilisation and monetisation of natural gas

The federal government Staff Housing Loans Board has set aside resources to grant immediate housing loans to the 118 civil servants who graduated from the Batch 1 Leadership Enhancement and Development Programme (LEAD-P) if they indicate interest in obtaining the loan. The Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan disclosed this at the graduation ceremony of 118 of 124 officers that were enrolled for the seven months internship programme. She said the programme has the goal of cultivating 100 officers on Salary Grade Levels 10 -14 annually as the next generation of leaders in the Federal Civil Service.

She described the programme as a key component of the first pillar of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2021 – 2025 which is Capability Building and Talent Management. The HoS said 123 participants started the training in September, 2021. According to her, a report on the action of the four officers who dropped out of the programme for reasons unknown to the Civil Service was being prepared for the attention of their respective MDAs. She thanked the Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG) for designing the guidelines for the LEAD-P training and for being instrumental in organising the private sector for the internship programme in addition to sourcing the private sector organisations that absorbed

cannot continue the CSR projects and remain profitable,” he said. According to him, Ossiomo couldn't do their CSR projects because of the development, adding that the company stopped supplying the community power because of the high cost of gas. "We made effort to reach the management of NGMC to reduce the price so we can continue to enjoy power and the CSR projects to no avail,” he added. He called on the federal government to urgently intervene so that the situation would not deteriorate further. But a reliable source from the NGMC who spoke on the matter described the allegation as ridiculous, stressing that it’s not possible to just shut down a company on the basis of change to

an alternative source of gas supply. “The whole allegation is laughable because nobody will stop you from seeking an alternative source of gas. Once you are cut off, the next thing to do is to ramp up action on your alternative. It’s simple logic. “It’s not even possible because it doesn’t make sense. This is just a group of people trying to brand a cat because they want to kill it. It doesn’t make sense because there are reasons for which a customer can be cut off. “If the indebtedness is high, we cannot continue to operate in that kind of environment because you will need to pay up and that paying up is not a sudden thing. There will be series of negotiations and meetings etc. So, whatever the person is expressing is not the truth,” the source stated.

FG Insists on Right to Produce Head of West African Gas Authority Says action not in breach of regional treaty Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government has insisted that it wasn’t in breach of any part of the treaty setting up the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA) by the selection of a Nigerian to head the organisation. WAGPA is an international institution established by the treaty on the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) Project signed by the Heads of States of the Republics of Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo. But it was gathered that the selection of a Nigerian, Ms. Cha-

FG Grants Housing Loans to 118 LEAD-P Graduates Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

resources. It supplies about one million scuf. “Ossiomo supplies state government’s house ShopRite, hotels, schools, hospitals and other public utilities in Benin. NGMC had been supplying them gas and selling at a higher price. “So, Ossiomo made other arrangements because they are in business and looking for lower costs. Because of that NGMC has shut down Ossiomo. It negotiated with a private supplier who was supplying them at $2.90,” a source said. Secretary of the Ologbo community, Mr Friday Osazuwa, told THISDAY that the situation had further impacted Ossiomo’s ability to perform its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the area. "They complained to us that gas price is too high and as such

20 participants in Lagos and many in Abuja for their last internship. Chairman, AIG Foundation, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said a value-driven and result-focused civil service would lead to significant changes in the Nigerian civil service. He said investment in identifying and developing the next generation of civil service leaders and equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to effect change was crucial. Aig-Imoukhuede said a study of the history of great nations over several years, showed that the civil service played a crucial role in helping past societies forge greatness at nation building level. He said the civil service played a vital role in the transformation of the US, China, Greece, Medieval England and Rome as formidable societies.

fari Kanya, had raised eyebrows within the regional body , with the francophone countries insisting that Nigeria cannot have both the headquarters and the director general simultaneously. THISDAY learnt that Nigeria’s argument is that no part of the international agreement imposes any obligation on members of the organisation to forfeit their right to produce the DG even if the head office is situated in their country. The pipelines project is run by the West African Gas Pipeline Company limited (WAPCo), jointly owned by Chevron (36.7 per cent), Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) (25 per cent), Shell Overseas Holdings Limited (18 per cent), Takoradi Power Company Limited (16.3 per cent), Société Togolaise de Gaz (2 per cent) and et Société BenGaz (2 per cent). Speaking at the meeting of the Committee of Ministers (CoM) of WAGP in Abuja, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, maintained that the Accra resolution of November 2021, to move ahead with the appointment of a Nigerian as the head of the body remains very critical. He called for the understanding of member nations, urging them to stick to the rules setting up the body. “Dear colleagues, I know we have some differences in respect of the appointment of the DG but I am confident that through a common understanding, which has been the hallmark of this body, we will all agree to respect one another’s exist-

ing right under the WAGP Treaty. “As parties to the treaty and the agreements, we should all be guided by the applicable provisions of these legal instruments especially section 4(2) of Article IV of the Treaty, which guides the appointment of the Director General of WAGPA. “It is clear that section 4(2) of Article IV of the WAGP Treaty does not discriminate against any State Party in the appointment of the Director General of WAGPA and by my letter earlier to you my dear colleagues, I have conveyed this express position of the Treaty. “In the circumstances therefore, I will seek the understanding and cooperation of all of us to be guided by the provisions of the Treaty in reaching a sustainable, profitable and fair decision on this matter. “It cannot be argued otherwise that in a situation like this, to be guided by the Treaty, which brought the State Parties together is the most dependable internal mechanism provided for conflict resolution,” the minister pointed out. According to him, it would be most unfair to disregard an applicable provision of the treaty in violation of the existing right of one of the parties to the treaty, which is Nigeria. “I am certain that as committed signatories to the treaty, we shall not find any difficulty in allowing section 4(2) of Article IV of the Treaty to resolve the issue of the appointment of the Director General for all of us. “ If section 4(2) of Article IV of the Treaty says a Nigerian is not

qualified to be appointed the Director General, then such agreement must be kept and be upheld. “ But if section 4(2) of Article IV of the Treaty is to the effect that Nigeria is qualified, then, there need not to be further objection against what section 4(2) of Article IV of the Treaty plainly stated,” he argued. Sylva noted that the meeting was coming at a very critical time especially the changing sociopolitical landscape occasioned by the Russian-Ukrainian war that has put pressure on global gas demands across Europe. Noting that the organisation was set up to ramp up cross border natural gas transportation, he pointed out that since inception, the Takoradi-Tema Interconnection Project (TTIP) and the lifting of force majeure that was in place by Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) between June 2013 and October, 2020 had been achieved. In addition, he listed the reforms of the Access Code to the WAGP Network Code and the ongoing amendment to the WAGP Act and the WAGP Regulations to give licencing power to WAGP Authority to oversee the activities of the Shippers as some other milestones. “We will as a nation continue to work with all stakeholders for the improvement of the project performance. I must dare say that we have not done badly in our collective quests to realise these laudable objectives,” he said. Continued online

THURSDAY MAY 12, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

SANWO-OLU HOSTS APC YOUTH DELEGATION... L-R: Special Assistant to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Hamza Ibrahim Baba; Commissioner, Federal Character Commission, Mrs. Ginika Tor; Managing Director/ CEO, Nigeria Rural Electriﬁcation Agency, Mr. Ahmad Salihijo; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Leader, Mr. Dayo Israel; Special Adviser to the President on NGOs and a member of the delegation, Mr. Wole Aboderin, during a visit to the Governor by the APC Youth delegation, at the Lagos Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja...yesterday

Nigerian Firm, Five Other African Start-ups Make WEF's Technology Pioneers' List To join Wikipedia, Google, Twitter, Moziilla, Spotify Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The World Economic Forum (WEF) has listed six African startups, including Nigeria's Okra among its global Technology Pioneers of 2022. They are among the 100-strong WEF global list of innovative tech startups for its 2022 Technology Pioneers cohort. According to the WEF, the Tech-

nology Pioneers' list is an assemblage of leading, "early-to growth-stage companies from around the world that are pioneering new technologies and innovations." This year's cohort consists of 100 startups from across the world, including the six from Africa —Okra, Access Afya, Sendy, Pula Advisors, Ejara and Ampersand. Following their unveiling, the

technology pioneers would now join an alumni community that comprise some of the world's most valuable tech companies, including Google, Twitter, Spotify, Wikipedia and Mozilla, among others. "By joining this community, Technology Pioneers begin a twoyear journey where they are part of the World Economic Forum’s initiatives, activities and events,

Access Corporation Pledges to Unlock New Opportunities for African Trade Access Holdings Plc, trading as Access Corporation yesterday announced its start of operations, with initial portfolio companies and its future strategy. A statement from the company yesterday, explained that the Corporation, which builds on Access Bank's scale and ethical standards, would have portfolio companies with significant complementarities, allowing the ecosystem to walk with customers across their life cycle while delivering value to stakeholders. The Group CEO of Access Corporation, Herbert Wigwe, while speaking on its debut was quoted in the statement to have said: "Many of you would have heard us talk about Access Corporation earlier this year. This natural evolution of our company will ensure that we continue to use digital tools and our partnership with fintechs to support our customers' lifestyles outside of the banking system. “We have set our sights on and delivered ambitious plans to transform the African financial services sector over the last 20 years. Until now, we have concentrated on banking, with the goal of becoming the World's Most Respected African Bank. Our banking subsidiary is now Nigeria's largest bank by assets and Africa's largest in terms of customer base. “It is now time for us to take the next transformative step, where we provide our customers with beyond banking services delivering new interconnected financial services across customers’ needs." The Corporation would comprise verticals cutting across banking, payments, consumer lending, insurance brokerage and asset management. “Access Bank Group will continue to operate in Nigeria and through its subsidiaries and business offices in Africa, Europe, and Asia. These businesses, when combined, will position Access Corporation to provide banking services, including intra-and inter-Africa trade, consumer lending, payments services, and insurance services to our customers, thereby improving wealth diversification

and preservation. “Looking ahead five years, Access Corporation will be a leading financial and ecosystem player, with services spanning B2B and B2C marketplaces, B2B services, health, housing, digital, mobility content, mobility, core banking offerings, and other financial services such as insurance and wealth management,” Wigwe added. "We recognise and embrace the

change that is currently happening and, as we have previously demonstrated, we will lead. Access Corporation will be a driving force in the ongoing digital revolution to the benefit of our stakeholders. This transition will allow us to offer more career development opportunities across portfolio companies for our employees, allowing us to attract and retain the best talent in an increasingly global marketplace.

bringing their cutting-edge insight and fresh thinking to critical global discussions. "Technology Pioneers are an integral part of the Forum’s Global Innovators community, which is an invitation-only group of the world’s most promising start-ups and scale-ups that are at the forefront of technological and business model innovation," the statement by WEF added. Okra is a Nigerian Application Programming Interface (API)/ fintech startup which specialises in digitalising financial services across the continent. It does this by making it possible for fintechs and even banks to easily access customers' financial information/data. Okra — which was founded in 2019, by Fara Ashiru Jituboh and David Peterside, is described as a “one-stop-shop” platform that “empowers companies and developers to build products with seamless access to inclusive financial data and secure payments,” according to its website. The other five African Technology Pioneers are three Kenyan firms,

Access Afya, Sendy and Pula Advisors. Access Afya specialises in the provision of quality and affordable healthcare for the global mass market. Using technology, the healthtech startup leverages available "patient data to facilitate efficient diagnostic, operational and follow-up care pathways." Sendy, another Kenyan startup specialises in building Africa's ecommerce fulfilment infrastructure for consumer brands. In other words, the company makes "trading in Africa easier and more beneficial to more people" according to information available on its website. Pula Advisors doubles as an insurance and technology company, designing innovative insurance and other digital products farmers. The goal is to de-risk all agricultural investments and guarantee profit. Others are Ampersand of Rwanda, a startup that has been described as the leading batteryswap energy network for light vehicles. Information available on its website says: "we offer East Africa's five million taxi motorcyclists

a commercial electric motorcycle that is cheaper from day one, provides better overall user experience and requires minimal customer behaviour change." Ejara, the Cameroonian startup specialises in helping Africans at home and in the diaspora to invest in different forms of investments including equities, cryptos and commodities, among others.. Last year, eight African startups were named in the WEF 2021 Technology Pioneers list. The startups are: Cambridge Industries (Ethiopia), FlexFin Tx (Zimbabwe), Kuda (Nigeria), Moringa School (Kenya), mPharma (Ghana), Sokowatch (Kenya), 54Gene (Nigeria), and Gro Intelligence (Kenya). According to WEF, the Technology Pioneers' list is an assemblage of leading "early-to growth-stage companies from around the world that are pioneering new technologies and innovations." These startups are at the forefront of their industries, leading change and solving some of the world's most pressing problems, including climate change, food security, cybersecurity, among others.

2023: NWAJIUBA, ONU, AKPABIO RESIGN FOLLOWING BUHARI’S DIRECTIVE Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said he would have to consult with his constituents and the president before resigning his appointment. Other ministers affected by the presidential directive, who were yet to resign included Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, and Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, both of whom have joined the presidential race on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Others are Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who is seeking to contest the governorship position in Kebbi State; Minister of State for Mines and Steel, Uche Ogah, who is running for governorship in Abia State, and Minister of Women Affairs, Paulline Tallen, who declared her ambition to contest for a senatorial seat in Plateau State. With few days to the party primaries ahead of the 2023 general election, Buhari yesterday ordered ministers in his cabinet who were nursing the intention to run for elective offices to resign. However, it was gathered that Nwajiuba had tendered his resignation letter on April 28, after the purchase of nomination and expression of interest forms for him by a group. On their part, Onu and Akpabio, it was also gathered, submitted their letters of resignation to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha. Briefing journalists after the

Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided by Buhari, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the president directed that ministers with political ambitions had up till Monday, May 16, 2022, to resign. But presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, in another interview, said the president's directive to the ministers was with immediate effect. Speaking with journalists after the cabinet meeting, the information minister said, “The mandate I have from the president is to announce that all members of the FEC contesting for elective office must resign their ministerial cabinet appointments on or before Monday, the 16th of May, 2022.” Asked if the directive affected the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who had declared interest in the presidential race, Mohammed declared, “The vice president was elected, he was not appointed.” On the fate of other political appointees, like Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, who might also be contesting the presidential election, the minister explained that the directive was likely to be extended to non-cabinet members. He stated, “As of this moment, the mandate I have is for members of the Federal Executive Council. Subsequently, it might affect other political appointees, but that will be made known. If there is going to be any amendment or any inclusion,

you will be informed in due course." Commenting on the issue, the presidential spokesman said Buhari, at the FEC meeting, asked the ministers with political ambitions to toe the footsteps of Minister of State for Education, who had resigned before the FEC meeting. Shehu, who spoke in Hausa after the cabinet meeting, said, "The president has given a directive to ministers who purchased nomination forms to contest for the presidency. "He told them to follow the example of Minister of State for Education, Nwajiuba, who purchased form and tendered his resignation. The president said anybody who bought form to contest any elective position, excluding the vice president, should immediately resign and face his ambition. That is the directive he gave. "First of all, anyone aspiring for the presidency should not remain in position. What I want people to understand is that whether there is law or no law the president is the one who appoints and he has power to remove any appointee. He has asked them to immediately resign, so we are waiting to see what they will do." He added that a circular would soon be issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to explain the category of political appointees to be affected by the presidential directive. Shehu said, "I will advise that you wait for the circular that would be issued by the secretary to the

government. The circular will explain in details those affected." While reacting to the development, Ngige said the president gave a window for those that needed clarification on his pronouncement to meet him, adding that he would meet Buhari for explanation. He added that the ministerial position he occupied was held in trust for the government and his state, adding that he would consult them before taking any decision. Ngige said, "I have no reaction for now because the president said if anyone wants clarifications, the person should meet him. "So I have to consult him and consult my constituents, Anambra State, because I am holding the office for the government and my constituents." Meanwhile, a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) commended Buhari’s instruction to the ministers with political ambitions to resign. The CSOs had on Tuesday asked the president to relieve the ministers with interest in vying for elective offices of their duties or face a mass action from Nigeria. A statement from the CSOs yesterday read, “The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) commend Mr. President for taking this laudable step and listening to the call of Nigerians towards a free and fair election, following

the issuance of his directives that all members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) running for elective office must submit their letters of resignation on or before Monday, the 16th of May, 2022.” The statement added, “We hope that this directive takes full effect pending legislation on the Court of Appeal’s decision to void Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022, which made it mandatory for political appointees to resign from office before they could vote as delegates or vie for any elective position. “It is worthy of note to mention that this action puts to bed worries of complicity in the impunity with which some political appointees have expressed their political interests ahead of the upcoming general election in total disregard for the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the sensibilities of Nigerians whose collective resources have been diverted to satisfy personal political ambitions. “These illegalities have been well condemned by the public and the president’s decision at this time is, indeed, a welcome one and reflects a responsiveness to the yearnings of the citizenry.” The CSOs also called on all political parties to demonstrate ethical and moral standards that ensure a democratic election and avoid the commercialisation and proliferation of money politics, which disqualified patriotic Nigerians from partaking in the elections.

THURSDAY MAY 12, 2022 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY MAY 12, 2022

POLITICS

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

Fayemi: Nigeria is at War Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi formally declared his intention to contest the presidential primary on the platform of All Progressives Congress in Abuja penultimate Wednesday. Shortly after his declaration, Fayemi provided insight into diverse challenges undermining Nigeria and proposed some strategies to stabilize the federation at a session with journalists. Gboyega Akinsanmi brings details from the session

we have an Electoral Act that says all players must sign off for us to adopt the consensus mode. For me, we have a lot of people who have expressed their interest. I think we must commend the party for being so popular to attract this calibre of Nigerians offering their service to the country. I think, for me, Nigerians who also want to fill the post of President of Nigeria must be citizens of the country. From all my travels around the country over the last one month, I believe the sentiment appears to be anything, but consensus inside and outside the APC. However, people are advocating other modes because people want to have a say. Also, do not forget we have a president, who has been an advocate for bottom-up political practices. President Muhammadu Buhari is known for his passion for every member of the party having a say in the decision that affects the party. So, in that sense, I have no problem with growing demand for a primary process, whether it is indirect or direct. I do not have a problem with that.

hat do you consider Nigeria’s most challenging problem? In every polity, impunity is a very serious issue. There are a number of dimensions to the impunity that is in our country. I always say something that as a leader, it is not enough to be competent, particularly in Nigeria. Also, as a leader, it is not enough to be committed and compassionate. In Nigeria today, what is also lacking is leadership and also courage to do what is right. Some people consider themselves principalities and people who believe that they are the owners of this country. These people believe they can do whatever they like. Also, they believe the law cannot catch up with them. We will not be arbitrary in our approach to governance. But we will be very sneaky about upholding the rule of law, and access to justice to all Nigerians. Fayemi

Can you explain in clear terms how you intend to tackle impunity in this polity if eventually elected the president of Nigeria? There are different levels of impunity. We need to also make sure that we do not leave our people with the temptation to do the wrong thing under the guise of religion, culture, ethnicity or whatever. At all times, we must be advocates of citizen’s rights, as well as responsibilities. Because when you have rights, you also have responsibilities as a citizen of the country. We must uphold this value and live by it. Impunity reigns because our justice system has been crippling and because the entire justice sector in our country is problematic. If we look at the journey from the investigation of the crime to conviction, you will have forgotten that the person actually committed the crime. I think swift delivery of justice, access to justice and accountability in society are priority areas we need to pay attention to. We need to also support our judicial officers so

that we will not again tempt them to resort to misbehaviour because the state has not effectively taken on its own responsibility in terms of remuneration and in terms of support the judicial officers deserve. In a few weeks, political parties will be conducting their primaries to enable them nominate candidates for different elective positions. Even though the Electoral Act recommends consensus, direct and indirect modes of primaries, which mode will you prefer most? Under the APC Constitution, the model of primaries can be consensus, direct or indirect. These options are spelt in our constitution. Now,

Nearly all geo-political zones in the country are insecure and unsafe despite different initiatives taken to address security challenges at different levels. What has the government left undone? There is a lot that the government is doing. Because security issues are sensitive, the government cannot talk about all its strategies. Also, there are areas of impediment that we need to tackle quickly. Given my background, I spoke to let us know some of the challenges our principal officers in the security sector are facing. I always talk about Egypt. In 1967, this country was able to recruit in an emergency manner. It moved from an army of 10,000 to 250,000, within the space of one year. In Nigeria today, there are all sorts of bureaucratic impediments that are not allowing us to increase the number of men and women in

the Armed Forces and Nigeria Police. We need to do that quickly. If we are not able to do that in the shortest possible time, by clearing the bureaucratic impediments, we need to bring on board our reserved elements, who are still on duty. Our soldiers, even in retirement, can be brought back to duty. Our Major Generals, Colonels, Brigadiers and others are all over the place. Many of them would love to serve and help tackle this problem probably in the shortest possible time because it is, firstly, the problem of men. We do not have enough people in uniform. Even the ones we have, they are undertaking police duties. Considering your perspective to the constitutional mandate of the military, what explains military involvement in managing internal security challenges? Today, there is no single state in this country, where we do not have military officers and soldiers patrolling on internal security issues. That is not the job of a soldier. Sometimes, we may need soldiers to act in civil authority. Those are exceptional circumstances. But we need to populate our security agencies. Egypt, as I pointed out earlier, is not up to half of our population. We are told Egypt has one million police officers. In Nigeria, we always tell ourselves we have 350, 000 policemen. But of this number, 150, 000 are doing VIP duties. So, not only do we have to expand and turn our schools during vacation to training facilities because part of the problems we have is training facilities. We may have to turn our schools to training camps during vacation to enable us to train more men and bring into the task of defending Nigeria. Taking cognisance of this approach, we can get more men in the force. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Clark: Nobody from the South Should Serve as Running Mate to a Northern Presidential Candidate The Leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum, Chief Edwin Clark, during an interaction with a group of journalists, including Adedayo Akinwale, said southern politicians should not accept running mate positions if the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party refuse to zone presidency to the South

hat is going on within the political space, especially the South-west to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. As of now, 20 people have picked forms from the South in the PDP and the APC. What is your take on this? It is madness. if I’m to be realistic they are not serious; particularly the southerners from the South-west and the South-south. There are some people that have gone to be bottle bags to play double games. So when it comes to where we say no, some people would come out to say, ‘yes we are contesting.’ So they know why some of them are there. For instance, there are reasons to be told that my very good friend Adams Oshiomhole, the former national chairman of the APC was with Tinubu (Bola). I was surprised yesterday when I saw him entering the race. I’m also surprised that Amosun after seeing the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo from his place entering the race. So, you come back to the South-south, Jonathan was a Rivers State man before Bayelsa state was created in 1996, today Nyesom Wike wants to be president of Nigeria, Rotimi Ameachi wants to be president of Nigeria. Both of them are in small Ikwere. You can imagine what is going on. I understand Timipre Sylvia would soon declare.

Igbos, some of them, I encouraged them to come out. If it is zoned to the South-East.The whole of Nigeria will vote for them

Clark

Meanwhile, people are asking me questions about Goodluck Jonathan and they are in the same Senatorial zone in Bayelsa state. So they know what they are doing. And for the

Are you not surprised that the two major parties, PDP and APC were running away from being speciﬁc about zoning, even when it was in the constitution of PDP, but APC is also singing another tune about zoning. What is your position on this, sir? You have everybody in Nigeria where there is hunger, where there is lack of employment, where there is kidnapping going on every day, where children cannot go to school, where the economy is going down. These people were able to mobilize N100 million to pick form. So, if these governors and ministers use their salaries, I don’t think they have it because they must eat in their houses, and so also the governors. When (Nasir) el-Rufai sometimes ago said 19 governors met with Mr. President that all the positions held by the northerners should be moved to the South and vice versa. With that, we assumed the zoning had been done. So, the South will produce the next president. Now that no southerner contested any position in the party which was zoned in the north and because the chairmanship was zone to North-cntral, Abdullahi Adamu took over.

We strongly warn our politicians, former governors, ministers, senators and so forth not to accept a running mate position from any northern candidate. That will show how serious we are and anybody who offers himself as a running mate will be regarded as the most unpatriotic and a man who has sold his own side of the country and not worthy of being respected and honoured. North always say they have the numbers, what of the event that the two dominant parties end up with a northern presidential candidate? We are going nowhere. No southerner will like to see himself being treated as a slave or as a second class citizen. When he has the right of franchise than someone who believes in population alone. This matter was discussed in the national conference of 2014. Rotation is the only vehicle of unity in Nigeria and it was decided at that conference there should be a power shift, there should be rotation among the various ethnic groups or the various parts of this country if we are to have unity in this country. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY MAY 12, 2022

POLITICS

Igbokwe: As Abia Governor, A PDP Southern Candidate I’ll Make Aba Africa’s Factory’ Can Win against Tinubu Lucky Igbokwe, better known as, Don Lulu is a United Nations Mayor for Peace, the Chairman of 2Flame Entertainment, CEO Lucion Towers Construction Company, the Don Lulu Foundation and the Founder of Green Peace Nigeria. He is a true visionary and a prominent indigene of Umuahia in Abia State who works tirelessly to advance the cause of humanity in the state in particular and Nigeria in general. As a big player in the entertainment company, he has organized concerts and promotions where Mavin Records Don Jazzy and Tiwa Savage as well as other artistes including Omoba D’Prince, Morachi, Muno, Sheyman, Exnel have performed, it has also recruited award-winning DJs including DJ Jimmy Jatt and DJ Kentalky for its promotional concerts within Nigeria. He has also signed on some of Nigeria’s top artistes including Morachi, Yeka and others. He is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nkwoachara Ward and a Governorship Aspirant, Abia State. He spoke with Nseobong Okon-Ekong

Igbokwe

hat are the most urgent items on the Abia agenda that you will immediately address? If given the PDP ticket and elected governor, I will reposition Abia for economic prosperity by creating the enabling environment for industry to thrive, with a better approach to internally generated revenue that would reduce dependence on federation allocations. Paying all the outstanding gratuity and pension of the retired is of utmost priority. Education will be one of the major objectives of my aspiration, the sector will be reformed to include not only building of schools, but also the provision of incentives to teachers. We’ll revisit the farm settlements, improve and empower the youth in particular and our people in general, through agriculture, the creative industries will receive massive boost under our watch. Tourism will be made more attractive and visitors will come to experience our beautiful cultural heritage and sites. We’ll escalate the commercial viability of our markets to unprecedented new levels with improved infrastructure and security. Abia will become the ICT hub in West Africa during our tenure. We shall enhance the road networks and improve transportation. I will ensure that there’s gender balance to give room for our women. We will ensure that more youths will be recognized and appreciated. We are very committed with passion to make sure that Abia occupies its rightful position in the comity of states in the country. We are determined to replicate in Abia state the record of achievements of our hero, late premier, Dr M.I Okpara in the defunct Eastern region of Nigeria. What manner of leadership should Abians expect if you emerge as governor? What we need is the right leadership, a candidate with the fear of God, love for the people, one with good character, great

antecedents and who is popular, if PDP needs to put its best forward for the poll and if it is serious to retain the seat in Abia. Mayor Lucky Igbokwe is the right person and the best hand for the job. I have consistently proved that with my track record in philanthropy, business and human capacity development. My footprints are everywhere in the state despite coming from Abia central. I urge you all to come to the table and let’s take Abia to the most enviable heights we desire. I pledge that nothing short of this will happen. I want us to know that the confidence in me is a confidence of hope, the future, the success, the restoration and the Freedom from fear. What stands you out from the pack of gubernatorial hopefuls in Abia? My decision to run is borne out of hunger and desire to add value and impetus against the backdrop of the yearnings of the entire people of Abia state, who believe in the youths as an option and to take Abia to the much desired place occasioned by their cries and wishes for good governance, inclusiveness and ensuring that Abia takes its rightful place in the comity of States I decided to run following calls from stakeholders, including the downtrodden, traditional rulers and eminent sons and daughters of Abia State, and to take up the gauntlet, to stand in the gap to shield our people from any form of hopelessness Having seen the roles and contributions of our past leaders, there’s no gain saying that they have done their best, but I’m here to reinvigorate our spirits, minds and souls to the much vaunted dreams of our people for a better life. I have watched a common denominator in believing in the youths as it is said, that a state that carries along her youths prepares them for a better future Without the efforts of the past leadership, however, it has become necessary that I bridge the gap, to restore stability, and rebuild the confidence of our youths and the good people of our state. To that extent, I have joined this race with my full chest, to say I appreciate other people who as well aspire for the same position, but however, I pledge that I offer a better option, to galvanize the young people, the men and women of Abia State, to instill a sense of belonging in our administration, which will bring hope and pride to our people. I possess the requisite skills and experience required to harness the vast resources in the state for productive and developmental purposes. My team and I are ready to turn around the fortunes of the state by revolutionizing all the sectors of governance with focus on the masses. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Gbenga Giwa backs his support for a Southern presidential candidate in both the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party with revealing statistics

disagree completely with the analysis of Reno Omokri in his article titled, 2023: Political Realities That Annoy And Heal, published in THISDAY of May 3, 2022, to the effect that, for PDP to win the 2023 presidential election, the party has to field a Northerner, if Tinubu emerges as APC’s candidate. Let me start with the figures Reno gave. He was wrong about the actual votes as released by INEC in 2019 for Kano State and South-east. Kano State votes was 1,891,134 not 2million as he said, while South-east polled 2,220,756, not 2.09million as he said. That’s a difference of 329,622 in favour of South-east not 90,000, as he tried to imply. Yes, the whole of North-west polled over 8million votes. 8,423,389 to be exact, which is way away from the 2.2million of South-east. But looking at the votes, APC had 5,995,651 to PDP’s 2,280,465 in North-west, a difference of over 3.7million. This vast difference can be significantly bridged in 2023, if APC fields Tinubu and PDP fields a Southerner. My reasons: 1. Buhari is not on the ballot and whatever Reno might say, Buhari’s standing army will not vote Tinubu, who as a Southern Muslim will be considered by the Northern Muslims as a counterfeit Muslim, whose wife, Senator Remi Tinubu is an ordained pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG. This is not the kind of Muslim the North will consider a serious Muslim, whose First Lady will be parading Daddy G.O, Pastor Adeboye in the ultra innermost part of Aso Rock. And as we all know, Islam plays a major role in the consideration of the Northern oligarchy on who becomes the President. That’s already a big minus for Tinubu in the North, coupled with the fact that Buhari might have endorsed Tinubu under duress, because if Tinubu was Buhari’s preferred choice, this would have shown long ago. His body language, right now does not point to Tinubu. So, if Tinubu eventually emerged as the candidate, be rest assured that Buhari would have had no choice but to endorse him. That humiliation of going against Baba’s wish will not be lost on the cabal and they will take their revenge by having a lukewarm attitude at the election. This will be in favour of the PDP candidate, whether he’s a Northerner or a Southerner. This situation will then tilt in favour of a Christian Southerner because such scenario will galvanize the Northern Christians to come out to vote, just like they did for Jonathan in 2011, when he polled 1,190,179 votes in Kaduna State, with 88% or 1,047,358 votes coming from the Christian-dominated Southern Kaduna alone. Such will reoccur with a PDP Southern candidate. Other Northern Christian areas in the North-west, like Zuru in Kebbi State would also come out in large numbers. And as being speculated, Kwankwaso will be on the ballot for NNPP. This will further deplete APC’s votes. Give and take, I would give APC 5.5million votes and PDP 4.5million, in the 2023 election for the North-west, a difference of about 1million. In the North-east, APC had 3,238,783 votes to PDP’s 1,25,357 votes in 2019. The APC won’t be able to replicate its nearly 2million votes difference of 2019 over PDP in 2023, reason being that with electronic voting, the 836,496 votes recorded for Borno State, where insurgency has been rampaging the State, even up till today, would not be possible in 2023. Also, Southern Borno with their large Christian population will be encouraged to come out and vote because PDP is fielding a Southern Christian. Taraba and Adamawa with their large Christian population is a given. And Bauchi, which traditionally is a PDP State until 2015 and with its current governor being a PDP, there will be a better delivery of votes from the zone. Consequently, the 2million votes difference will be cut down drastically to about 500,000 votes. Of course, the North-central, which voted almost 50-50 for the two parties in 2019, will significantly tilt towards PDP. In 2019, APC polled 11,700,003 votes in the entire three Northern zones, while PDP polled 5,559,591 votes. With a PDP Southern candidate, against Tinubu in 2023, as per this analysis, which even Reno cannot fault, i do not see a whopping over 6

Tinubu million votes difference APC can have over PDP. Maximum 3 million votes, just like it happened in 2011 between Jonathan and Buhari. These 3million or so votes will be completely wiped out from the massive votes that will come from the South, occasioned by seeing one of their own on the PDP ballot. A little comment on South-west. One will be a fool to say Tinubu is not a colossus in South-west politics. But has anybody sat down to query why most of those he supposedly made are against him today? Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, current Minister of Interior; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Akinwunmi Ambode, former Governor of Lagos State; Senator Babatunde Ojudu; Senator Abayomi Afikuyomi and many other notable first class Bourdillon graduates, are supposed to be the frontliners in this Tinubu’s life ambition. But what do we have? Either they are on the war path against him or are even constituting stumbling blocks on his way to Aso Rock. If, not when, Tinubu becomes APC’s flag-bearer, you think all these APC stalwarts will fold their arms and be disgraced in South-west? Collectively, they may not be able to dislodge him from winning the zone, but they will make sure, it will not be a plain sailing for him. This scenario will be good and favourable to the PDP candidate and if he happens to be a Southerner, the sweeter for the party. Even a today’s analyst knows that Southeast and South-south zones are locked down for PDP. So, it is not correct, Reno, that it’s only a PDP Northern candidate that can win 2023 Presidential election if Tinubu is APC’s candidate. 2. Reno presents Tinubu as if Tinubu will be contesting as an independent candidate. Having failed in three previous occasions of 2003, 2007 and 2011, Tinubu came to Buhari’s rescue and massively helped to install him in 2015 and repeated it in 2019. Now, which sector in Buhari’s administration, will Tinubu campaign on? Economy?, Security?, Education?, Infrastructure?, or even Entertainment? None. Nigerians are tired and they want APC out, no matter who the candidate is. We are back in 2014, where nothing you tell Nigerians about the stupidity of voting Buhari over Jonathan, will make any sense to them. All the statistics of good governance of Jonathan fell on deaf ears. Anybody but Jonathan, Nigerians chorused. That is where we are back now. Only that this time, it is a stark reality. Nobody is saying, anybody but Buhari. What Nigerians are saying is, it has never been this bad. It is not only on economy as was the case with Jonathan, but on all facets of the Nigerian nation: economy, region, religion, name it. The country has never been this polarised and a complete departure from APC in 2023, is the only way forward, if we are to remain one nation. Reno believes this is a sentiment that will not sway votes in PDP’s direction. This is a wrong assumption. Sentiment is a major factor in people reaching a resolution. And majority of Nigerians have resolved to throw APC out in 2023. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͰ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

FEATURES

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

Tunde and Foluke Irukera: Stronger Still @ 28

Tunde Olusunle

aturday, May 14, 2022, is the 28th wedding anniversary of Babatunde Ayokunle Irukera, Executive Vice-Chairman, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, (FCCPC). Irukera and I have several points of mutual convergence, too striking to be ignored. I was born in Kaduna, headquarters of the old Northern Nigeria. Irukera was born in the same city, when it was capital of the North Central State. We bear the same first name, "Babatunde," which is usually vested on male children who are born in the aftermath of the demise of a father or grandfather, in Yorubaland. Since, very happily, our fathers received us at birth, we are therefore, successors to our grandfathers. While it has always been a challenge for me to encounter people with whom I share cherished landmark dates, I have just discovered that Irukera and I got wedded to our wives not only on the same day, but the same month and the same year, this day, Saturday May 14, 1994! Instructively, our wives, who are yet to meet each other, by the way, are educationists in various capacities and academic systems. Mabel Foluke Irukera is proprietor of the Lagos-based institution, The Destiny Trust, (TDT), which manages "Adventure Schools," and which is committed to the empowerment of destinies, according to its mission statement. She is an Early Child Education Consultant, Youth Counsellor and Life Coach. My wife, Funmilayo Kikelomo Olusunle on the other hand, is a Deputy Director in the Department of Quality Assurance, (DQA), an agency in the Education Secretariat of the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, (MFCT). She had spent years in classrooms and subsequently served as administrator, arbitrator and counsellor, respectively. The names of both women, begin with the alphabet "F." The name of Tunde Irukera's family, went ahead of my formal meeting with him. We eventually got to meet for the first time about ten years ago. Yet, there have been unsung congruences between our families over time. My father, may his soul rest in peace, owned an animal feedmill, one of the earliest established in Ilorin, around 1979, in the *Ero Omo*/New Offa Garage section of the Kwara State capital. Directly adjacent my father's enterprise was a processing plant for tuberous produce, fondly referred to as *Agbeloba,* (the farmer is king), or simply *Ile garri* by patrons of the facility and residents of the area. Not many people got to meet the proprietor of the facility, but they knew it belonged to *Mama Irukera.* The Irukera name also resonated in the community of the University of Ilorin, (Unilorin), where I was a student between 1982 and 1985; and between 1987 and 1989, respectively. *Baba Ayodele Irukera* was a very senior administrator within the university system. As students, our paths rarely crossed with those of bureaucrats. But it was clear that Baba Irukera was the spouse of Mama Irukera. By some coincidence, a younger Irukera, Tunde, attended the Federal Government College Ilorin, (FGCI), with one of my siblings, Lydia Ibironke Osasere-Omoruyi, (nee Olusunle). Early October 2014, I was on a delegation of leaders from my traditional address, Isanlu, headquarters of Yagba East local government area of Kogi State, to Egbe, hometown of the Irukeras. We attended the installation of Oba Ayodele Irukera, as *Elegbe of Egbe,* the paramount ruler of his community. The people of the historic town of Egbe, are an integral component of the Yagba stock in Okunland, Kogi State. Yagbaland extends from contemporary Mopa, through communities like Effo-Amuro, Isanlu, Ejiba, Odo-Ere, all the way to Egbe, across three local government areas: Mopamuro, Yagba East and Yagba West. Traditionally, therefore, Yagba people and their other Okun-Yoruba brethren, are kinsmen. Through all of these, I never got to meet Babatunde Irukera, not even for one fleeting second! Ahead of the 2014/2015 electoral cycle, however, Irukera and I finally met. He was being encouraged by the people of Kogi West to take a shot at the senatorial position of the zone. There was an unwritten, mutual agreement between the three federal constituencies in Kogi West, to rotate the office. Lokoja/Kotonkarfe and Kabba Bunu/ Ijumu constituencies had served two terms each, between 1999 and 2007, and from 2007 to 2015. Naturally, it was the turn of the third leg of the geopolitical tripod, Yagba federal constituency, to take its turn. And Irukera desired to have a go at it. He had been advised I was one of the stakeholders he should visit and consult with on the subject. He was chaperoned to my place by a friend of his, who had always deferred to me as an elder brother. That the earlier gentleman's consensus enthroned with regards to the rotation of the said senatorial office has since been consumed

From right: Foluke Irukera; Tunde Irukera and some of their children at an engagement in Abuja

Ire Mitchelle Irukera (left), enjoying a happy moment with her mother, Foluke

Tunde and Foluke Irukera by selfishness, greed and avarice, is not the focus of this piece. Importantly, Irukera and I would subsequently meet again at the instance of Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, as we previewed the 2019 general elections. Our interactions have become much more regular and closer, ever since, especially since his official relocation to the nation's capital, as chief executive of FCCPC, early 2019. He operates a very busy schedule, which keeps him regularly shuttling through eight external outposts of his organisation, among other itineraries. He equally has to keep pace with managing a family resident in major cities across the world. Irukera, however, has serially acquitted

himself as a humble, courteous, unassuming technocrat and gentleman, the prototype *omoluabi* within the Yoruba sociocultural context. He is not the typical Nigerian executive or "Johnny Just Come," (JJC), big man whose nose floats in the air and who invents a novel hubris and fakery, to embellish his affectation. His subsisting standing as a royal counts for little in his carriage and engagements. And don't mistake his cosmopolitanism for inability to speak his Yagba dialect, as distinct from Yoruba. Irukera will surprise you. Irukera and I "meet" more or less, every other day, these days. We belong to a number of sobre-minded whatsapp groups

established respectively by our alma mater, and homeland, respectively. He has something of an amphibious academic profile, having registered to study law in the early days of the programme on the curriculum of Unilorin, when it had not been fully accredited, in one breadth. On the flipside, that generation of law students were eventually taken up by the Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), where he graduated in 1989. He thereafter attended the Nigerian Law School, (NLS), between 1989 and 1990. How he navigates both alumnae families is truly intriguing. But Irukera rises up to the occasion whenever any of the bodies to which he belongs, Okun-based, Unilorin-slanted and so on initiates worthy causes. Oftentimes, he prefers to chip in his bit, away from the public arena. While his wife continues the pursuit of her passion in human capacity building, Irukera has been diligent in the development of his legal career. At various times, he has worked as Counsel to the former Rims Merchant Bank and Associated Properties and Trust Plc, both in Lagos, between 1990 and 1995. He emigrated to the United States of America, (USA) in 1995, and was Partner, Thomas and Irukera LLC, Chicago, Illinois, from 1997 to 2000. He became Managing Partner, Partners, Attorneys and Counsellors LLC, Chicago, from 2000 to 2006, and subsequently Partner, Simmon Cooper Partners, Lagos, since 2006. He has handled an avalanche of briefs for several public and private concerns across his eventful career, before his appointment into his present schedule, early 2019. A little over three years ago, Irukera took over an agency hitherto known as the Consumer Protection Commission, (CPC), as Director-General and Chief Executive. Before then, little was ever heard or felt in the public space, about the operations of the organisation, which was established, as the name suggested, to insulate consumers from the shenanigans and mischief of a wide array of service providers. He has since reengineered the department into a much more focused, proactive, respectable and result-oriented one. The reincarnated FCCPC under his watch, is generally acknowledged today, as a more consumer-friendly concern, wholly committed to equity and justice, for the consuming public. FCCPC today, is unequivocally dedicated to offering succour and justice to Nigerians, by ensuring that they get true value for their money on products and services. FCCPC, also guarantees level-playing fields for operators in the broad canvas of sectors of the nation's economy. FCCPC under Irukera, has also relocated its headquarters from the hitherto constrained operational space in Wuse, Abuja, to a more conducive location in Asokoro district in Abuja, abutting the seat of federal administration. Tunde Irukera is extremely passionate about whatever he believes in. Distances are no deterrents to him. He reminds us about a section of the lyrics in one of the hit tunes s of *juju* music icon, Sunny Ade, which suggests: *Eni ti a o fe, ni ile e n' jina.* This translates as: "It is the home of that friend we loathe, which seems like eternity before our eyes." At a time our part of Kogi State was under siege by marauders and kidnappers, Irukera dared the roads to attend a high powered converge, committed to the Okun cause in 2016, hosted in Kabba, political headquarters of the Okun nation. The meeting was convened under the auspices of the *Okun Development Initiative,* co-steered by Olusuyi Otitoju and Lekan Aiyenigba, both respectable church ministers, to chart a new course for a people so endowed, yet so underdeveloped. Okunland is regarded as that ethnic group in Nigeria, with the largest single pool, of professors, numbered in excess of 500. About a dozen of this figure, have been Vice Chancellors of various universities in Nigeria. Irukera stayed the whole duration of the event, which stretched over a few days. Mabel Foluke Irukera, hails from Ogidi in Ijumu LGA, Kogi State, while Funmilayo Kikelomo Olusunle is from Ikire, Irewole LGA, in Osun State. Both ladies, to the glory of God, are joyful mothers of two sons and one daughter, respectively. The Irukeras have Ife, Olaoluwakitan and Fentan, and the Olusunles, Aramide, Abayomi and Tobiloba. Both mothers are ordained ministers of God, under the umbrella of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG), in their various parishes in Lagos and the FCT, variously. They are very active in women groups in their parishes and provinces. And they are similarly up and doing in church departments committed to the nurturing and mentoring of children and youths, as critical safeguards for the future of our children, for christendom and the nation. May both unions thrive happily forever, beyond their "pearl," "ruby," "golden" and "diamond" anniversaries. t0MVTVOMF 1I% QPFU KPVSOBMJTU TDIPMBS BOE BVUIPS JT NFNCFS PG UIF /JHFSJBO (VJME PG &EJUPST /(&

THURSDAY MAY 12, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY MAYMay 12, 2022 Thursday 12, 2022 Vol 27. No 9894 TR

See page 32 OF ETHNICITY IN POLITICAL PARTIES Power struggle fuels ethnicity and ethnic politics in many African nations, contends FELIX OLADEJI See page 32 THE LAND OF A MILLION PRESIDENTS The days ahead are bound to be quite interesting, reckons OLUSEGUN ADENIYI See page 33

PDP AND ITS POLITICAL ASPIRANTS ZAYYAD MUHAMMAD writes that denying party members the right to participate in the primaries is undemocratic See page 33

EDITORIAL THE ABUJA FUEL SCARCITY

See page 34

& RE A S O

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

CRITICAL THINKING AND PRIMARY EDUCATION IN AFRICA LEO IGWE argues that repositioning the learning system is central to improving the quality of education

UT H

The conduct of our politicians is simply baffling, writes MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE

NIGERIAN POLITICIANS IN THE GAMBLING ARENA

What kind of verdict will history pass on the present political class in Nigeria, especially about its conduct of the pre-2023 JHQHUDO HOHFWLRQ DͿDLUV" /LNH LQ SUHYLRXV dispensations, I doubt if the group is fully aware of its foibles and excesses enough to even bother about posterity. “All the world’s a stage/ And all the men and women merely players/ They have their exits and their entrances/ And one man in his time plays many parts/ His acts being seven ages…,” William Shakespeare wrote that long ago in KLV SOD\ $V <RX /LNH ,W 7KH DFWLRQV WKDW WDNH place on this planet are usually carried out by people who are often unmindful of the consequences of their speeches, deeds and inactions. What makes the Nigerian situation unique is, each set of politicians that enters the scene appears to do so with its own SHFXOLDU WUDGHPDUNV DQG GLVFRPÀWXUH <RX could hinge that on the stakes that keep going higher or the individual ambitions of the players or even the overall changing dynamics of the country. Everywhere in the world, money does play critical roles in political processes. Here, we have witnessed LWV XVHV DQG DEXVHV RYHU WLPH DQG LQ GLͿHUHQW forms. We have seen how materials and men have been mobilised legitimately or illegally to achieve advantages over opponents. We have watched helplessly many cases of the commoditisation of people’s will and conscience. But nothing in our political past, in my opinion, comes close to the kind of enthronement of mammon being wantonly staged at the moment. All you need to be convinced that full commercialisation of Nigerian politics is underway is to simply take another look DW WKH DPRXQWV À[HG E\ WKH WZR OHDGLQJ political parties for the various elective R΀FHV 7KH UXOLQJ $OO 3URJUHVVLYHV &RQJUHVV $3& 3UHVLGHQW PLOOLRQ QDLUD *RYHUQRUVKLS PLOOLRQ QDLUD 6HQDWH PLOOLRQ QDLUD +RXVH RI 5HSUHVHQWDWLYHV million naira and House of Assembly, two million naira. The main opposition party, 3HRSOHV 'HPRFUDWLF 3DUW\ 3'3 3UHVLGHQW PLOOLRQ QDLUD *RYHUQRUVKLS PLOOLRQ QDLUD 6HQDWH PLOOLRQ QDLUD +RXVH RI 5HSUHVHQWDWLYHV PLOOLRQ QDLUD DQG +RXVH RI $VVHPEO\ PLOOLRQ QDLUD ,Q D ÁDVK both parties have become richer by tens of billions of naira via a scheme that is both unprecedented and daring in its design and execution. And more cash is still rolling in. With the primaries only about two weeks ahead, the drama surrounding the sale of these nomination and expression of interest forms further erodes whatever is left of the integrity of the exercise. We are now faced with a bazaar, literally. Those who describe these transactions as obscene have cogent reasons. With the generality of the people succumbing to WKH LQWLPLGDWLQJ IRUFHV RI K\SHU LQÁDWLRQ

massive unemployment, stripped education, stark insecurity, biting hunger and penetrating penury, displaying such ZHDOWK ZKRVH VRXUFHV DUH GL΀FXOW WR H[SODLQ in many instances can connote, at best, insensitivity and, at worst, pure wickedness. Knowing that all these moves are geared towards acquiring power over the people and their common resources also aggravates the psychological pain therein. Nigerians have been so dealt with by their SUHYLRXV H[SHULHQFHV WKDW WKH\ FDQQRW DͿRUG to jump into believing that all these aspirants are in the races for the good of the country. Among the prospectors are very few who are sure of clinching their parties’ tickets, some who are jostling for relevance that can HDUQ WKHP SRVLWLRQV DQG LQÁXHQFH LQ WKH coming government, and many others who are fronting for the heavyweights. The shock of the uninitiated public that initially greeted the parties’ announcements of the grades of fees quickly gave way to subdued anger as tens of millions of naira started appearing on the horizon with ease from all sorts of persons and groups. Truly, the parties’ hierarchies had done their homework. Two practices have refused to leave my FRQVFLRXVQHVV LQ UHODWLRQ WR WKLV IUHQ]\ /DXQGHULQJ DQG JDPEOLQJ (YHQ ZLWK WKH LQFXPEHQF\ HGJH RQO\ WKH $3& FDQ explain the record-breaking attraction to its presidential primaries. Ordinarily, large and diverse participation should be good news in any democratic space but the calibre of prospective candidates and their DQWLFV GR QRW LQVSLUH FRQÀGHQFH DQG KRSH LQ WKH V\VWHP 7KH RWKHU GD\ WKH &KDLUPDQ RI WKH (FRQRPLF DQG )LQDQFLDO &ULPHV &RPPLVVLRQ ()&& $EGXOUDVKHHG %DZD assured everyone that his organisation would work closely with the Independent 1DWLRQDO (OHFWRUDO &RPPLVVLRQ ,1(& WR verify the origins of these funds. While not GRXEWLQJ WKH LQWHQWLRQV RI WKH ()&& WKH

Can we, as a people, aﬀord to leave more room for the self-centred juggling of probabilities, possibilities and favourable or unfavourable outcomes to the detriment of a desperately needed national rebirth?

level of scepticism and cynicism especially WRZDUGV FXUUHQW DQG SDVW SROLWLFDO R΀FH holders in this nation today would require visible, practical measures to assuage. Mere promises are now as good as dead. Gambling, according to Britannica, is “the betting or staking of something of value, with consciousness of risk and hope of gain, on the outcome of a game, a contest, or an uncertain event whose result may be determined by chance or accident or have an unexpected result by reason of the bettor’s miscalculation.” Broadly, many people participate in one type of speculation or the other. Most investments come under this category. The stock market where venture capital is traded and insurance where corporate and personal risks are spread present good examples. What makes the ongoing deals at the party secretariats troubling, however, is WKDW WKH EXVLQHVV GHPRFUDF\ E\ LWV QREOH doctrines, ought not to be a vehicle for private acquisition of public resources. Any activity that casts shadows on that truism should, therefore, be condemned. Failure to do so would inadvertently open yet another shameful chapter in our already fouled SROLWLFDO DWPRVSKHUH &DQ ZH DV D SHRSOH DͿRUG WR OHDYH PRUH URRP IRU WKH VHOI FHQWUHG juggling of probabilities, possibilities and favourable or unfavourable outcomes to the detriment of a desperately needed national UHELUWK" 0RUH IURP %ULWDQQLFD ´$ERXW WKH ODWH WK &HQWXU\ WKHUH EHJDQ D JUDGXDO DOEHLW LUUHJXODU VKLIW LQ WKH R΀FLDO DWWLWXGH toward gambling, from considering it a sin to considering it a vice and a human ZHDNQHVV DQG ÀQDOO\ WR VHHLQJ LW DV D PRVWO\ harmless and even entertaining activity.… The swelling number of gamblers in the 20th century highlighted the personal and social problem of pathological gambling, in which individuals are unable to control or OLPLW WKHLU JDPEOLQJ 'XULQJ WKH V DQG · V SDWKRORJLFDO JDPEOLQJ ZDV UHFRJQL]HG by medical authorities in several countries as a cognitive Should we then hope that the politicians who are struggling to “serve” the people at all cost are not pushing the country WR WKH SUHFLSLFH" 2U ZLVK WKDW WKLV LV QRW D manifestation of conspiracy of the political HOLWH" &DVLQRV DQG ORWWHULHV FDQ EULQJ IRUWXQHV to the lucky. They can also ruin persons, families and institutions, in the same vein. Sadly, at the moment, the Nigerian populace appear to lack the capacity to withstand this rampaging lot and initiate real change. Notwithstanding this sad reality, they deserve genuine leaders who are mindful of true legacies, not a band of pampered pirates or boisterous buccaneers. Dr Ekpe is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

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T H I S D AY

Power struggle fuels ethnicity and ethnic politics in many African nations, contends FELIX OLADEJI

LEO IGWE argues that repositioning the learning system is central to improving the quality of education

CRITICAL THINKING AND PRIMARY EDUCATION IN AFRICA The e-learning Africa conference presents an opportunity to rethink and reposition the learning system in the region. A repositioning is critical to improving the quality of education and by extension the growth and development of Africa and Africans. Incidentally, in many parts of Africa, the educational system is broken. Schools have failed to live up to expectations. African schools graduate students who become unemployed or unemployable. African schools have been unable to foster relevant knowledge and skills, hence many African youths are either unskilled or underskilled. They do not possess the competencies that are required to participate and contribute meaningfully to the global economy. This tragic situation must be addressed. This presentation explores how the teaching of critical thinking would improve WKH TXDOLW\ DQG HͿ HFWLYHQHVV RI EDVLF HGXFDWLRQ in Nigeria. The main focus is on primary education because it is at the primary level that the foundation of subsequent educational programs is laid. Critical thinking has been noted as among the WRS MRE VNLOOV LQ WKLV VW FHQWXU\ ,Q DGGLWLRQ to analytical thinking, innovation, and problemsolving, critical thinking competencies are

Nigerian primary schools oﬀer only verbal and quantitative reasoning. There are no texts or learning aid materials on critical thinking for primary schools among the most sought-after skills by employers of labor. In fact to be able to analyze, invent and innovate, to be able to solve problems, one must have critical thinking capacities. More so, given that the global economy has witnessed a double disruption due to automation and the global pandemic, it has become necessary for African youths to reVNLOO DQG XSVNLOO WR HͿ HFWLYHO\ SDUWLFLSDWH LQ the economies of the future. So critical thinking skills must be fostered at the basic education level. Incidentally, the importance of critical thinking is noted in Nigeria’s National Policy on Education. This document outlines inculcation of critical thinking as one of the objectives of primary education. Unfortunately, there is no subject to that respect. Nigerian primary VFKRROV RͿ HU RQO\ YHUEDO DQG TXDQWLWDWLYH reasoning. There are no texts or learning aid materials on critical thinking for primary schools. To this end, the Critical Thinking Social Empowerment Foundation (CTSEF) is working DQG FDPSDLJQLQJ WR À OO WKLV JDS DQG IXOÀ OO WKLV important need. CTSEF exists to foster critical thinking skills among Nigerian pupils, who speak English as a second language. However, the main challenge is: how GRHV RQH GHÀ QH FULWLFDO WKLQNLQJ LQ D ZD\ that the subject could be taught to children at basic primary levels? Let us examine a few

THURSDAY MAY 12, 2022

GHÀ QLWLRQV 2QH GHÀ QLWLRQ VWDWHV WKDW FULWLFDO thinking is the “ability to identify, analyze and evaluate situations, ideas, and information to formulate responses to problems”. Another GHÀ QHV FULWLFDO WKLQNLQJ DV ´FOHDU UHDVRQDEOH UHÁ HFWLYH WKLQNLQJ IRFXVHG RQ GHFLGLQJ ZKDW to believe or not to believe, what to do or not WR GRµ :KLOH WKHVH GHÀ QLWLRQV H[SODLQ WKH meaning of critical thinking, it does not contain expressions that could easily be operationalized at the basic educational stage. To teach critical thinking, this subject must be delivered in a way that can be measured and assessed at the primary school level. +HUH LV DQRWKHU GHÀ QLWLRQ ZKLFK VHHPV WR IXOÀ OO WKLV SXUSRVH ,W VWDWHV ´FULWLFDO WKLQNLQJ means asking probing questions like, How do you know? Or is this true in every case or just in this instance? It means being skeptical and challenging assumptions, rather than memorizing facts and blindly accepting what you hear and read”. 0RVW LPSRUWDQW LQ WKLV GHÀ QLWLRQ LV WKH phrase “asking probing questions”. Thus critical reasoning stands for the ability to interrogate or pose questions in all areas of human endeavor. For children in primary schools, critical thinking is about expressing their curiosity and inquisitiveness. The emphasis is on asking questions about whatever they can see, hear, smell, touch, taste, or feel. Central to teaching critical thinking is question storming which is the ability to generate questions for questions’ sake. Students are made to interrogate ideas, issues, or experiences in all aspects of human endeavor. Now, what is new about teaching critical thinking in primary schools? Or better how does it infuse a new purpose into basic education? Unlike other subjects, in critical thinking modules, there are no answers. Critical thinking exercise is a form of question-storm. Questions are answers and answers are questions. Again, the prevailing culture of learning in primary schools is teacher-centered. Teachers pose questions and students supply answers to demonstrate knowledge. But in critical WKLQNLQJ FODVVHV LW LV D GLͿ HUHQW FDVH 7HDFKHUV are stimulators of inquiry and interrogation. Students generate questions to demonstrate knowledge and intelligence. For instance at the basic educational level students are taught to generate questions about whatever they observe or experience through the basic senses using the interrogative pronouns. Students are trained to pose questions in the past, present or future. Students are taught to question the subject and predicate, the noun, verb, article, pronoun, preposition, adverb, etc. In conclusion, teaching critical thinking is set to change the culture of learning in Nigerian, nay African classrooms. Critical thinking is here to infuse a new purpose and value into the African school system. Inculcating critical thinking skills will help end the pervasive trend of memorizing and regurgitating information which has been the main driver of education in African schools. With critical thinking, students would no longer be passive recipients of knowledge but active interrogators of what they learn, what is taught and told. The African child will be equipped to meaningfully participate and contribute to the global economy.

Leo Igwe, nskepticleo@yahoo.com

OF ETHNICITY IN POLITICAL PARTIES The composition of the Nigerian state to a large extent has contributed to the degree of underdevelopment and improper integration of WKH GLͿ HUHQW HWKQLF JURXSLQJV LQ WKH QDWLRQ 7KLV UHVHQWPHQW LV UHÁ HFWHG LQ WKH SROLWLFDO UHODWLRQVKLS among them, it is driven by contempt, rivalry, suspicion, and hatred and lingering fear of domination by the majority groups in the nation. This precarious situation is seen across nations in the African continent. There are bedeviled with incessant ethnic crisis and political violence. African politics is characterized by strong individuals rather than strong institutions, unsettling political culture, weak political parties with no clear-cut philosophy and ideology, only

GRPLQHHULQJ LQGLYLGXDOV ZLWK VHOÀ VK PRWLYHV and intentions to ride on the back of the party for personal gains. It is noted here, that African states are largely colonialist in nature and formation, there are more or less a consuming rather than a producing nation, that is to say, they have moved from a crop producing state to a natural resources exploiter, weak and manipulated institutions largely by the elites. African states are also noted here to be states that have constantly shown movement of political power from pluralism to centralism, having strong individuals wielding so much political power on behalf of the political party instead of the party’s constitution or party itself. It is a prism structure, with strong alliance and loyalty for the man on top. There is no party supremacy and authority, but strong and powerful personality at the centre upon which everything rotates. The same is applicable in the Nigerian political environment, where it is worse because of the tendency of ethnicity, political parties are evolved on the basis of ethnic considerations and D΀ OLDWLRQV 7KH &OLͿ RUG &RQVWLWXWLRQ RI XVKHUHG LQ WKH À UVW HOHFWLRQ LQ FRORQLDO 1LJHULD WKRXJK WKLV period witnessed political parties largely agitative in nature and character for independence. But it was obvious that the agitation and the quest for independence was prominent in a particular part of the country, the west. In fact people in the western part of Nigeria had spearheaded independence through a body called the national youth movement (NYM) which later culminated in the formation of political party (NCNC) led by 6LU +HEHUW 0DFDXOD\ LQ DQG VHYHUDO RWKHU political parties emerged in Nigeria later. The point here therefore, is that people in the northern region of the country seem to be less concerned or more comfortable with the colonial situation, until 1951, when the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) was later formed and would later said that they are not ready for independence until 1960, while the rest of the regions got self-rule in 1958. Ethnicity and the development of political parties in Nigeria are intertwined and political OHDGHUV XVHG WKLV PHGLXP WR SURSDJDWH VHOÀ VK and personal interest rather than common interest. They instigate cultural, religious and sectional sentiment in the name of politics. The

origin of ethnicity in Nigeria is traceable to the nation’s colonial experience, particularly the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria in 1914. Ethnicity involves the display of sentiments in bias to a special set of group one belongs to. On the whole, ethnicity has to do with a unique group with distinct and peculiar features which are sources of common ties on which the feeling of sentiment and emotion is being expressed in protest or support of an action taken against or in favor of such a group. Power struggle had been one of the major causes responsible for the fueling of ethnicity and ethnic politics in the system and in many African nations. The quest for political power had created a higher degree of contestation among the various ethnic groupings in nations across the African continent, particularly in Nigeria. These ethnic extractions are always in perpetual suspicion of one another, fear and constant doubts, thereby creating tension and deep resentment. Power struggle among and within the various ethnic nationalities creates deep hostility, hatred and resentment that will eventually result to violence and war in the system. The implication of this was that Nigerian federalism lacked the requisite foundation for a formidable federal system, WKH UHVXOWDQW HͿ HFW RI ZKLFK LV OR\DOW\ WR HWKQLF groups rather than loyalty to the nation. In a circumstance of mutual suspicion and fear of domination, competition for power among ethnic groups becomes unavoidable. And it is on the basis of this fear of domination that formation of political parties in Nigeria DOZD\V UHÁ HFWV D VWURQJ GRVH RI HWKQLFLVP Colonialism left behind for Nigeria a nonhegemonic state that further aggravated the crisis of ethnicism in the nation. Also, resource allocation and control is another major area through which ethnicity and ethnic politics is demonstrated. People RI GLͿ HUHQW EDFNJURXQG DQG OLQDJH HQJDJHG in political violence and social crisis in an attempt to allocate, control and manage resources in their locality. This menace became a major challenge toward national unity and peace in certain area of the nation, particularly in the Niger Delta region and other sensitive area across the African continent. Hence, the perception and feeling of neglect and exploitation create agitation and a feeling of insecurity in these areas thereby leading to societal violence and crisis. Resource control and allocation are factor that fuel ethnicity and ethnic politics across the African continent; many political violence and social unrest stem from the frustration and quest to control one’s resources or out of the feeling or the perceived feeling of deprivation and marginalization of resource control and allocation. These feelings of frustration and marginalization are translated into violence. Many of the ethnic violence are triggered by the desire to control resources found in the locality of these ethnic grouping. Nigeria represents a clear example, their claims stem from their assertion that while their community remain underdeveloped, other areas without UHVRXUFHV DUH WKH RQHV EHQHÀ WLQJ IURP their own resources. To an extent therefore resource control and allocation has become an instrument of ethnic and political divide in most of the African nations particularly in Nigeria.

Oladeji writes from Lagos

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY MAY 12, 2022

The days ahead are bound to be quite interesting, reckons OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

THE LAND OF A MILLION PRESIDENTS Continued from backpage In a nation as challenged as Nigeria, political aspirations should command VREULHW\ 3XEOLF R΀FH KROGHUV FDQQRW DͿRUG WR DEGLFDWH UHVSRQVLELOLW\ 6DGO\ government and governance have been completely abandoned in practically all sectors of our national life in pursuit of APC presidential ticket. “ASUU $FDGHPLF 6WDͿ 8QLRQ RI 8QLYHUVLWLHV KDV H[WHQGHG VWULNH E\ ZHHNV %HIRUH you know it, Nigerian students would have stayed home for the entire year and VHOÀVK HOLWHV TXLFNO\ UHVROYHG DQG VWRSSHG airlines from shutting down services”, presidential aspirant on the platform of African Action Congress (AAC), 2PR\HOH 6RZRUH WZHHWHG RQ 0RQGD\ Those who should be at the forefront of

With Abdullahi Adamu, a former Abacha Minister as APC National Chairman, nothing should be taken at face value, especially with each of the party’s aspirants asked to sign an anticipatory but ‘voluntary letter of withdrawal’ under oath ÀQGLQJ D VROXWLRQ WR WKH $688 FULVLV DUH busy plotting how to become president of Nigeria. 0HDQZKLOH WKH &HQWUDO %DQN RI 1LJHULD &%1 JRYHUQRU LV ¶ZDLWLQJ IRU *RG· WR GHFLGH IRU KLP %XW KH DSSDUHQWO\ subscribes to the notion that heaven helps only those who help themselves since he has approached the court for a way to join the presidential crowd. As regulator of an LQGXVWU\ WKDW WKULYHV RQ SXEOLF FRQÀGHQFH the apex bank governor occupies a sensitive position in the national economy that leaves no room for the kind of SDUWLVDQ SROLWLFV WR ZKLFK KLV R΀FH LV QRZ being dragged. We wait to see how that unfortunate saga plays out. Meanwhile, it is 44 days since armed gangs attacked an Abuja-Kaduna train, killing nine, and injuring scores before abducting dozens of passengers that are still in their captivity. Many Nigerians must have read the statement by distressed families, lamenting that those from whom they expect updates about their loved ones have abandoned them for a presidential adventure. Fuel scarcity cripples the federal capital territory and environs, but

the man we should hold to account has also acceded to the ‘plea’ of the mercantile Abuja persuaders who ‘purchased’ for him the APC presidential nomination IRUP ,Q WKLV FURZGHG SUHVLGHQWLDO ÀHOG ZH DOVR ÀQG ¶XQFRPPRQ WUDQVIRUPHUV· DGHSW at usurping extraconstitutional powers to suborn agencies under them with cronies. The man who chairs the national legislature that makes laws only for their own comfort (as evident in the supersonic speed amendment to the amendment of the amended electoral act 2022) has also thrown his hat into the ring. Nigerians are aware that as many as a dozen governors in both the ruling APC and main opposition PDP have since abandoned their states on this same presidential expedition. In the PDP, a number of aspirants have reduced the process to entertainment while others squabble about zoning. 2Q 7XHVGD\ LQ $EXMD , ZDV DW WKH SXEOLF SUHVHQWDWLRQ RI WKH ERRN ¶%HFRPLQJ President of Nigeria: A Citizen’s Guide’ E\ P\ IULHQG 0DJQXV 2Q\LEH &KDLU RI WKH RFFDVLRQ 3URI %RODML $NLQ\HPL said that with what is going on today in the political arena, he regrets the role he played in the National Democratic &RDOLWLRQ 1$'(&2 ZKRVH HͿRUWV against the military helped to birth the current democratic dispensation in 1999. “I often ask myself whether this was what we went into exile and made all the VDFULÀFHV IRU µ $NLQ\HPL ODPHQWHG 1RW D few Nigerians share his frustration. Interestingly, what we are witnessing reminds me of the farcical drama of the transition politics of late General Sani Abacha. With Abdullahi Adamu, a former Abacha Minister as APC National Chairman, nothing should be taken at face value, especially with each of the party’s aspirants asked to sign an anticipatory but “voluntary letter of withdrawal” XQGHU RDWK 2QFH VPDUW JRGV GHFLGH RQ the “consensus candidate,” that piece of paper becomes legal tender. It is perhaps just as well that we now have the Elders (DUQHVWO\ $VNLQJ IRU %XKDUL PRYHPHQW led by an otherwise respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Meanwhile, in withdrawing his participation from ZKDW ODWH &KLHI %ROD ,JH GHVFULEHG DV ¶)LYH ÀQJHUV RI D OHSURXV KDQG· LQ 'LP (PHND 2GXPHJZX 2MXNZX RI blessed memory) declared that he would not be fooled into a football pitch only to discover that the game being played was rugby. Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka captured the situation better: “If I had written this scenario in a play, I would have been ridiculed.” Even under a supposedly democratic dispensation almost three decades after Abachapolitics, we still inhabit a country ZKHUH DV WKH\ VD\ RQ WKH &KDUOLH %R\ Show, anything can happen! That’s why the days ahead are bound to be quite interesting. I already have a reserved seat, with my popcorn and a chilled bottle of coca cola, waiting for the show to begin.

Adeniyi is Chairman of THISDAY Editorial Board

ZAYYAD MUHAMMAD writes that denying party members the right to participate in the primaries is undemocratic

PDP AND ITS POLITICAL ASPIRANTS Justice, fairness, and the entrenchment of internal democracy are the oils that lubricate the survival of any political party, no matter how big is the party. There are strong rumors and insinuations that some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) at the instance of some governors are hell-bent on disqualifying some aspirants in favor of some incumbent and unpopular governors, in spite of the fact that the party’s 12-man Appeal Panel in their report submitted to the NWC, cleared the aspirants. This is not only unjust but a clear disregard for the party’s guidelines and in violation of the constitutional amendments of the Electoral Act 2022. Reliable information from some quarters within the party indicates that two aspirants from Adamawa and Akwa Ibom States are being WDUJHWHG IRU GLVTXDOLÀFDWLRQ MXVW WR SDYH ZD\ for an unpopular incumbent governor and a governor’s preferred choice to participate in the gubernatorial primaries unopposed. Denying party members the right to participate in the primaries is dangerous and undemocratic. Take for instance, Ambassador Mohammed Jameel Abubakar- Waziri, former state Chief of Protocol to former President Goodluck Jonathan, was said to have been GLVTXDOLÀHG LQ %DXFKL E\ WKH *XEHUQDWRULDO 3ULPDULHV 6FUHHQLQJ &RPPLWWHH RQ WKH ÁLPV\ excuse that the committee had ‘Instructions from the party headquarters not to clear him’. The DVSLUDQW ZDV QHLWKHU LVVXHG D GLVTXDOLÀFDWLRQ QRU TXDOLÀFDWLRQ FHUWLÀFDWH FRQWUDU\ WR WKH UXOH of the party to enable him to write an appropriate appeal to the Appeal Panel. The above notwithstanding, the aspirant submitted a petition to the 15-man appeal panel. He was appropriately rescreened by the panel, which cleared him to contest the primaries. Contrary to what the aspirant was told in %DXFKL E\ WKH VFUHHQLQJ FRPPLWWHH WKHLU UHSRUW indicated that the aspirant as a responsible party member failed to pay his party dues. Therefrom the appeal panel requested the aspirant to show proofs he had been paying his dues as at when due. After sighting the original receipts as presented by the aspirant, the panel in its reports cleared the aspirant to contest in the forthcoming Adamawa PDP gubernatorial primaries. Considering the above, one begins to wonder why the National Working Committee would want to disqualify an aspirant who was duly cleared by the Appeal Panel consisting of six RI LWV PHPEHUV DQG ÀYH %27 PHPEHUV 'RHV LW PHDQ WKH 1:& GRHVQ·W KDYH FRQÀGHQFH LQ WKH VL[ PHPEHUV RI WKH 1:& DQG WKH ÀYH %27 PHPEHUV RQ WKH SDQHO" 2U LV LW TXHVWLRQLQJ WKH integrity of the panel’s chairman? Now, rumors are that some highly placed SDUW\ R΀FLDOV ZHUH VDLG WR KDYH FROOHFWHG PRQH\ DQG SURPLVHG WR H[HUW WKHLU RZQ LQÁXHQFH RQ the NWC to disqualify Ambassador Jameel, simply for the incumbent Adamawa Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to participate in the primaries unopposed - that’s, to say, rubbishing the decision of the 12-man appeal panel. If the party doesn’t want other aspirants to run against incumbent governors, why did it allow them to spend enormous money on the purchase of forms and other obligations? What is Gov. Fintiri scared of as the incumbent governor who claimed to have structures, and resources and have worked for the development of Adamawa State? Could he now be sacred of somebody who he defeated in 2019 when he was QRW D JRYHUQRU" 2U GRHV KH QRZ NQRZ VRPHWKLQJ which we don’t know? If I were Fintiri, I will not

ZDQW WR JHW DPEDVVDGRU :D]LUL GLVTXDOLÀHG and risked running an extraneous legal battle that could eventually end like that of Zamfara State in the 2019 elections. Pundits are sure the governor and the party are aware of the implication of section 84 (3) of the amended

Electoral Act 2022. 7KH ÀUVW DUWLFOH LQ WKH 3'3 HOHFWRUDO JXLGHOLQHV for the gubernatorial primary election says – “in Compliance with section 84(3) of the Electoral $FW WKH TXDOLÀFDWLRQ DQG GLVTXDOLÀFDWLRQ criteria shall only be as stated in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). Article four said: The decision of the National Executive Committee of the party on DOO SULPDU\ HOHFWLRQ PDWWHUV VKDOO EH ÀQDO DQG binding. And, article 5 section (f) of the same JXLGHOLQHV DOVR VWDWHG WKDW ´2QO\ DVSLUDQWV cleared by the Gubernatorial Screening Committee or whose appeal the Gubernatorial Screening Appeal Panel has upheld shall be TXDOLÀHG WR SDUWLFLSDWH LQ WKH SULPDU\ HOHFWLRQ DV FRQWDLQHG LQ WKH ÀQDO OLVW RI &OHDUHG $VSLUDQW $Q DVSLUDQW KDV IXOÀOOHG WKHVH UHTXLUHPHQWV while some people because of personal interests want to deny him or her that right. This will certainly lead to the PDP losing those states where such illegality occurred – this is the same thing that happened to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State in the 2019 election, in which the PDP EHFDPH WKH PDMRU EHQHÀFLDU\ $QG ORRNLQJ at the caliber of the people purported to be GLVTXDOLÀHG RQH ZLOO GHÀQLWHO\ VD\ WKH 3'3 will lose those states: People like Jameel from Adamawa, an accomplished career diplomat with more than 34 years of public service, 27 of which were in the presidency of Nigeria. The PDP National Executive Council (NEC) and the NWC should be very careful. Their reputation is at stake, because any decision taken against the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, and the PDP Electoral Guidelines for Primary Election 2022 will only lead to the PDP easily losing states to the APC at the courts of Law, because any aspirant that is denied the right to participate in the primaries will absolutely go to the courts, and, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will certainly penalize any political party that contravenes court of law and the provision of the Electoral Act 2022. For example, INEC has just rejected the Imo State PDP three-man Ward Ad hoc Delegate Congress conducted on April 30, 2022, following a ruling of an Abuja High Court. In Summary, if the PDP allowed personal interest to override justice, fairness, and the entrenchment of internal democracy, the party will just be battling with court cases, while its RSSRQHQWV ZLOO EH LQ WKH ÀHOG FDPSDLJQLQJ IRU votes.

Muhammad writes from Abuja

4 34

T H I S D AY

THURSDAY MAY 12, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

THE ABUJA FUEL SCARCITY It is another wake-up call to deregulate the downstream petroleum sector

ince last weekend, the Federal Capital Territory has been hit by acute petrol scarcity. This has led to long queues of vehicles at fuel stations, with the attendant WUD΀ F VQDUOV VORZLQJ GRZQ FRPPHUFLDO DQG VRFLDO DFWLYLWLHV 7KLV WLPH DURXQG WKH R΀ FLDO H[SODQDWLRQ IURP WKH 1LJHULDQ 1DWLRQDO 3HWUROHXP &RPSDQ\ 113& /WG LV WKDW WKH SUREOHP could be attributed to low load-out at depots as a result of last week’s two-day holiday. Another contributing factor to the sudden appearances of queues, according WR WKH 113& ZDV increased fuel purchases “which is also usual with returning residents of WKH )&7 IURP WKH SXEOLF KROLGD\Vµ 7KH PDUNHWHUV of course, are saying VRPHWKLQJ GLͿ HUHQW However, whatever PD\ EH WKH H[FXVH DXWKRULWLHV LQ $EXMD PXVW XQGHUVWDQG WKDW QXPHURXV SURGXFWLYH KRXUV DUH EHLQJ lost while people’s savings are getting depleted. At a SHULRG ZKHQ SXEOLF XQLYHUVLWLHV DUH FORVHG DQG PDQ\ SHRSOH DUH RXW RI MRE WKH SDWLHQFH RI 1LJHULDQV LV ebbing fast. ,W LV LQGHHG XQIRUWXQDWH WKDW LQ WKH SDVW VL[ GHFDGHV oil has continued to fuel the hope and the despair of 1LJHULDQV 7KDW WKHQ H[SODLQV ZK\ IHZ SHRSOH FDQ XQGHUVWDQG KRZ WKH VL[WK ODUJHVW SURGXFHU RI RLO LQ WKH JOREH FDQQRW À QG WKH SURGXFW IRU LWV GRPHVWLF XVH $V 1LJHULDQV JURDQ GDLO\ DW À OOLQJ VWDWLRQV WKH VWDUN LURQ\ RI WKLV SUHGLFDPHQW LV RQH WKH\ FDQQRW IDWKRP ,W LV DV FRQIXVLQJ DV LW LV IUXVWUDWLQJ <HW UHVROYLQJ WKH ORJMDP LV QRW D P\VWHU\ $IWHU DOO FRXQWULHV OLNH *KDQD DQG 1LJHU ZKLFK DUH QRW LQ WKH VDPH FDWHJRU\ DV ZH DUH VHOGRP witness such fuel scarcity. 7KH TXHVWLRQ WKDW UHPDLQV XQDQVZHUHG LV ZKHWKHU 1LJHULDQV ZRXOG HYHU VHH DQ HQG WR WKH SHUHQQLDO VFDUFLW\ WKDW KDV FRPH WR GHÀ QH WKH PDQDJHPHQW RI WKH GRZQVWUHDP VHFWRU RI WKH SHWUROHXP LQGXVWU\ 7KLV VKRXOG ZRUU\ WKH FXUUHQW DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ HVSHFLDOO\

VLQFH WKHUH VHHPV WR EH QR FRKHUHQW SROLF\ LQ SODFH WR GHDO ZLWK WKH LVVXH LQ D KROLVWLF DQG ODVWLQJ PDQQHU )RU years, the falling price of crude was the “saving grace”. %XW WKH FRXQWU\ LV QRZ EDGO\ H[SRVHG DW D WLPH RI KLJK crude price occasioned by the current war between Ukraine and Russia. 0HDQZKLOH WKH UHÀ QHULHV KDYH FRQWLQXHG WR IDLO LQ WHUPV RI VDWLVI\LQJ WKH HVVHQFH RI WKHLU HVWDEOLVKPHQW JLYHQ WKDW WKH LPSRUWDWLRQ RI SHWUROHXP SURGXFWV KDV EHFRPH D PDMRU DQG UXQQLQJ URXWLQH LQ WKH HFRQRPLF PDQDJHPHQW RI WKH FRXQWU\ 7KH UHDVRQ DV RIWHQ adduced by the industry H[SHUWV LV WKDW WKH UHÀ QHULHV have either all broken down GXH WR SRRU PDLQWHQDQFH culture or that the installed production capacity cannot PHHW WKH HYHU JURZLQJ ORFDO GHPDQG IRU SHWUROHXP products. Yet, hundreds RI ELOOLRQV RI 1DLUD DUH SXPSHG LQWR WKHP HYHU\ \HDU :KLOH LW PDNHV QR VHQVH WKDW 1LJHULD FRQWLQXHV WR LPSRUW À QLVKHG SHWUROHXP SURGXFWV DW KXJH FRVW WR WKH HFRQRP\ H[SHULHQFH KDV DOVR VKRZQ WKDW WKH JRYHUQPHQW LV QRW DGHSW LQ WKH H΀ FLHQW PDQDJHPHQW of businesses. If anything, the tales of corruption, ineptitude, sabotage and other sharp practices in the RLO DQG JDV LQGXVWU\ KDYH FRQWLQXHG WR FRQÀ UP WKLV widely held opinion. $V ZH VWDWHG UHFHQWO\ QR VHFWRU H[HPSOLÀ HV UHJXODWRU\ IDLOXUH LQ 1LJHULD PRUH WKDQ WKH RLO DQG gas industry. Aside having to contend with wasting ELOOLRQV RI 1DLUD RQ LPSRUWLQJ WR[LF IXHO WKDW GDPDJHG VHYHUDO YHKLFOHV FRQVXPHUV DUH XQIDLUO\ PDGH WR EHDU the brunt of product scarcity. A resurgence of fuel TXHXHV LQ VRPH PDMRU FLWLHV DFURVV WKH FRXQWU\ KDV DJDLQ H[SRVHG WKH PHVV LQ WKH VHFWRU DQG WKHUH LV QHHG WR GHPDQG DFFRXQWDELOLW\ 7KH H[SHFWDWLRQ QRZ LV WKDW D IXOO GHUHJXODWLRQ RI WKH GRZQVWUHDP VHFWRU ZLWK LPSOLFDWLRQ RI KLJK IXHO SULFH FRXOG JXDUDQWHH IXHO availability and free funds hitherto used in subsidy SD\PHQW IRU LQIUDVWUXFWXUDO GHYHORSPHQW

A resurgence of fuel queues in some major cities across the country has again exposed the mess in the sector and there is need to demand accountability

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

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

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to speciﬁc publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS NIGERIA, HOODLUMS AND THEATRES OF BLOOD 'XULQJ WKH HDUO\ \HDUV RI 1LJHULDCV UHWXUQ WR GHPRFUDF\ FRUUXSWLRQ raged freely under Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo who later sought to crown D PDGFDS WHQXUH ZLWK WKH GHVHFUDWLRQ RI 1LJHULDCV FRQVWLWXWLRQ WR DF FRPPRGDWH KLV ELG IRU D WKLUG WHUP *UDWHIXOO\ WKH VKDPHIXO PRYH HQGHG LQ D KXPLOLDWLQJ IDLOXUH +RZHYHU WKH VWDJH IRU EDG JRYHUQDQFH KDG DOUHDG\ EHHQ VHW LQ 1L JHULD DV FRUUXSWLRQ SURYHG DJDLQ DQG DJDLQ WKH VXOWU\ PLVWUHVV RI 1L JHULDQ SROLWLFLDQV DQG SXEOLF R΀ FH KROGHUV 7KXV JHWWLQJ LQWR SRZHU LQ 1LJHULD KDV ODUJHO\ EHFRPH V\QRQ\PRXV ZLWK JHWWLQJ ULFK TXLFNO\ RU LQFUHDVLQJ LQ ULFKHV DV WKH FDVH PD\ EH 2Q 7KXUVGD\ $SULO 3URIHVVRU 1RUD /DGL 'DGXCXW WKH 6HQ DWRU UHSUHVHQWLQJ 3ODWHDX 6RXWK 6HQDWRULDO 'LVWULFW LQ WKH 1DWLRQDO $V VHPEO\ ZDV DWWDFNHG E\ VXVSHFWHG KRRGOXPV LQ 1DPX 4XD·DQ 3DQ /RFDO *RYHUQPHQW $UHD RI 3ODWHDX 6WDWH WRJHWKHU ZLWK KHU HQWRXUDJH ZKLFK LQFOXGHG WRS JRYHUQPHQW R΀ FLDOV RI WKH 3ODWHDX 6WDWH *RYHUQ PHQW DQG DERXW MRXUQDOLVWV IURP WKH 3ODWHDX 6WDWH &KDSWHU RI WKH 1LJHULD 8QLRQ RI -RXUQDOLVWV 7KH VHQDWRU ZKR ZDV KHOG KRVWDJH IRU DERXW WKUHH KRXUV ZKLOH WKH KRRGOXPV WKUHDWHQHG KHU OLIH ZDV VDLG WR KDYH EHHQ LQ 1DPX WR FRPPLVVLRQ DQ ,&7 H OLEUDU\ FHQWHU DV SDUW RI KHU FRQVWLWXHQF\ SURMHFWV ZKHQ VKH ZDV DWWDFNHG E\ WKH KRRGOXPV ZKR EXUQW D FRXSOH RI YHKLFOHV LQ KHU HQWRXUDJH DQG DOVR GDPDJHG KHU

R΀ FLDO YHKLFOH 7KH\ ZHUH VDLG WR EH SURWHVWLQJ WKH DUUHVW RI VRPH \RXWKV LQ WKH FRPPXQLW\ E\ WKH SROLFH HDUO\ WKDW GD\ DQG DOVR WKH IDLOHG SURPLVHV RI WKH 3ODWHDX 6WDWH *RYHUQPHQW WR JLYH WKHP WKH VXP RI 1 PLOOLRQ SURPLVHG WKHP DIWHU WKHLU \DP PDUNHW JRW EXUQW $OVR RQ 0D\ KRRGOXPV DWWDFNHG PHPEHUV RI WKH )HGHU DO &DSLWDO 7HUULWRU\ $GPLQLVWUDWLRQ 7DVN )RUFH DW *DGXZD 'LVWULFW RI $EXMD $ SROLFH R΀ FHU ZDV LQMXUHG ZKLOH RWKHU PHPEHUV RI WKH WHDP ZHUH WDNHQ KRVWDJH E\ WKH KRRGOXPV GXULQJ WKH DWWDFN 7KH PHPEHUV ZHUH RI WKH 'HYHORSPHQW &RQWURO ZKR ZHQW WR *DGXZD FRPPXQLW\ WR PDUN LOOHJDO VWUXFWXUHV IRU GHPROLWLRQ EXW FDPH XQGHU KHDY\ DWWDFN E\ VRPH SHUVRQV EHDULQJ GDQJHURXV ZHDSRQV 6RPH PHPEHUV RI WKH WDVN force ended up in the hospital. 1RZ D SDWWHUQ KDV HPHUJHG ZKLFK LV H[WUHPHO\ GLVWXUELQJ $ FRXQ WU\ WKDW XVHG WR EH UHODWLYHO\ SHDFHIXO KDV VXGGHQO\ EHFRPH D WKHDWUH RI EORRGEDWKV DQG UDJLQJ À UHV ZLWK HYHU\ GD\ EHDULQJ ZLWQHVV WR DWWDFNV RQ SHRSOH RU EXLOGLQJV DOO RYHU WKH FRXQWU\ 7KH Á DPHV ZKLFK EXUQW WKH YHKLFOHV LQ WKH HQWRXUDJH RI 6HQDWRU 'DGXCXW UHFDOO WKH À UHV WKDW UD]HG GRZQ WKH KHDGTXDUWHUV RI $JXDWD DQG 1QHZL /RFDO *RYHUQ PHQW DUHDV RI $QDPEUD 6WDWH EHWZHHQ 0DUFK DQG $SULO 7KH YDQGDOLVP RI WKH VHFUHWDULDW RI WKH 3HRSOHV 'HPRFUDWLF 3DUW\

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ers loose in the corridors of power. ,W LV QRW VR PXFK DERXW DQJHU WKDQ LW LV DERXW UHVROYLQJ WR FOHDQ XS WKH KDOOV RI SRZHU LQ 1LJHULD E\ YRWLQJ RXW WKRVH ZKR VLS À QH ZLQH ZKLOH WHUPLWHV ZDVWH DZD\ WKH FRPPRQ ZHDO DQG SXWWLQJ LQ RQO\ WKRVH ZKR DUH UHDG\ WR FRPPLW WKHLU QRVHV WR WKH JULQGLQJ VWRQH IRU WKH VDNH RI D QHZ 1LJHULD ² DQRWKHU 1LJHULD ZKHUH HYHU\ QXW DQG HYHU\ bolt is in place. Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

A T

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

08056356325

M A Y

S & P INDEX

1 1 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

6.50%

CALL

10.75%

INDEX LEVEL

610.44%

1/4 TO DATE

– 1.31%

N416.75/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

7.17%

1-MONTH

9.66%

1-DAY

0.03%

YEAR TO DATE

7.13%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

1028%

MONTH-TO-DATE

– 1.31%

Telecom Subscriptions Up Slightly in One Year to Reach 198.1M with 103.79% Teledensity in February

Emma Okonji The latest statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has revealed a minimal growth in telecom subscriptions in the country in one year. According to the NCC data, the subscriptions figures across networks increased slightly from 192.4 million in March 2021, with a teledensity of 100.80 per cent, to 198.1 million in February 2022, with a teledensity of 103.79 per cent. Teledensity is described as

the number of active telephone connections per one hundred inhabitants living within an area and is expressed as a percentage figure, and it is calculated on monthly and annual basis. The figures, which THISDAY obtained from NCC’s website, showed that in March 2021, the number of telecom subscriptions across networks was 192.4 million, with a teledensity of 100.80 per cent, but the figure dropped to 188.7 million with a drop in teledensity to 98.86 per cent in April 2021. In May 2021, telecom subscriptions number

further dropped to 187 million with a further drop in teledensity to 97.98 per cent, but in June 2021, telecom subscriptions number increased slightly to 187.6 million with an increase in teledensity to 98.28 per cent. The increase in the number of telecom subscriptions, though slightly, but it continued in the ascending order from June 2021 to February 2022, which is the latest statistics on telecom subscriber number from the NCC. From July to September 2021, the number of telecom

subscriptions grew to 187.8 million, 189.3 million and 190.9 million respectively, with a corresponding increase in teledensity to 98.39 per cent in July, 99.18 per cent in August and 99.98 per cent in September 2021. From October to December 2021, the number of telecom subscriptions also increased slightly to 191.95 million, 193.2 million and 195.5 million respectively, with a corresponding increase in teledensity to 100.56 per cent, 101.20 per cent and 102.40 per

cent in December 2021. In January 2022, the number of telecom subscriptions also increased to 197.5 million with a teledensity of 103.46 per cent and in February 2022, it also increased slightly to 198.1 million with a teledensity of 103.79 per cent. A breakdown of the figure obtained from the website of NCC, showed that out of the 198.1 million subscribers across networks as at February 2022, MTN maintained market lead with 74.93 million subscribers and a market share of 37.89 per cent, followed by Airtel with

55 million subscribers and a market share of 27.81 per cent. Globacom is third on the list with 54.99 million subscribers and a market share of 27.80 per cent, while 9mobile came fourth with 12.84 million subscribers and a market share of 6.49 per cent. Giving reasons for the slight increase in subscribers’ number in one year, as against the rapid increase in the previous years, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Continued on page 38

IFAD: To Guarantee Global Food Security, $1.6trn Required to Restore 1bn Degraded Hectares of Land by 2030 Oluchi Chibuzor With 20 to 40 per cent of land on earth degraded, directly affecting nearly half of the world’s population and threatening roughly half of global gross domestic products (GDP), amounting to $44 trillion, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has revealed that it will require $1.6 trillion to restore about

1 billion hectares of land by 2030. According to IFAD, the figure, which was released by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in its Global Land Outlook, prompted it to call for a significant increase in investments to help small-scale farmers protect and restore lands and ecosystems. However, it maintained that nations must build their

smallholders’ farmers’ resilience to climate change to ensure long-term global food security. In a statement, IFAD revealed that nations have pledged to restore 1 billion degraded hectares of land by 2030. According to the statement, this will require $1.6 trillion in funding this decade adding that annual costs to adapt to climate change in developing countries are

expected to rise to between $140 billion and $300 billion by 2030. It stated that finance for adaptation was far from answering the needs and reached $46 billion in 2019/2020, while small-scale farmers received less than 2 per cent of climate finance. According to the statement, “IFAD is determined to increase its commitments to land restoration and building the resilience of

small-scale producers. Today, IFAD will announce its support to the Abidjan Legacy Programme with a $130 million contribution through ongoing investments and new funding. Promoted by Ivory Coast, host of COP15, the Abidjan Legacy Programme is an ambitious multi-partner initiative, which aims to ensure the environmental sustainability of food value chains. “IFAD also supports the Great

Green Wall (GGW) initiative through its own investments in the 11 Great Green Wall countries amounting to $1.4 billion as well as through multiple regional programmes totalling about $480 million in collaboration with partners that include the African Development Bank, Africa Risk Capacity, the Green Climate Fund Continued on page 36

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT W E D N E S D AY, M AY 1 1 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

BONDS DESCRIPTION

Price

Yield

14.20 14-MAR2024 13.53 23-MAR2025 12.50 22-JAN2026 16.2884 17MAR-2027 13.98 23-FEB2028

110.85

7.79

108.83

9.92

105.63

10.61

119.08

11.10

111.14

11.30

Change Updated Time (%) 6, -0.01 May 2022 6, 0.00 May 2022 6, 0.00 May 2022 6, 0.00 May 2022 6, -0.07 May 2022

Discount

NTB 9-Jun22 NTB 14-Jul22 NTB 11Aug-22 NTB 8-Sep22

304,00 305,00

0.00 May 6, 2022

323,00 324,00

0.00 May 6, 2022

350,00 353,00

0.00 May 6, 2022

349,00 353,00

0.00 May 6, 2022

NTB 13-Oct- 356,00 362,00 22

0.00 May 6, 2022

Yield

OTC F X F U T U R E S

CPS

MATURITY

Change Updated Time (%)

MATURITY NEVE CP I 24-MAY-22 DANC CP II 25-MAY-22 TRBH CP V 26-JUL-22 FSDH CP VI 1-AUG-22 NENL CP I 24-OCT-22

Discount Yield 16.52 16.65 8.56

Change Updated Time (%) -0.25 May 6, 2022

8.60

-0.24 May 6, 2022

11.67 11.98

0.75 May 6, 2022

8.44

0.84 May 6, 2022

14.14 15.14

0.12 May 6, 2022

8.27

CONTRACT Current TENOR Contract Rate ($/₦) (MONTH) NGUS MAY 25 1 427.24 2022 NGUS JUN 29 428.93 2 2022 NGUS JUL 27 3 430.63 2022 NGUS AUG 31 4 432.32 2022 NGUS SEP 28 5 434.02 2022

Updated Time

May 5, 2022 May 5, 2022 May 5, 2022 May 5, 2022 May 5, 2022

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Deputy Chief Investment Officer , Sigma Pensions, Mr. Wale Okunrinboye; Executive Director, Operations, Sigma Pensions, Mr Afolabi Folayan; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Sigma Pensions, Mr. Dave Uduanu; Vice President, Customer Relationship Management South, Sigma Pensions, Mrs. Mabel George; Head Corporate Services, Sigma Pensions, Mrs. Adaora Ude and Vice President Business Development South, Sigma Pensions, Mr Chukwuma Amaonwu at the Founders and Funders cocktail organised by Melon Capital in Lagos… recently

Telcos Insist on Peer Review of Floor Price for Telecom Services Kick against 5% duty on recharge cards Emma Okonji Following the refusal of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to grant the request of telecom operators seeking 40 per cent rise in the cost of voice call, Short Message Service (SMS), and data services, the operators have insisted on a peer review of the floor price for telecom services delivery across networks. Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said the peer review became necessary, following the sharp increase in the cost of diesel from N220 per liter in January this year, to N700 per litre currently, which he said has impacted

negatively on the running cost of telecom operations since the telcos use diesel to power their base stations 24 hours non-stop. Adebayo, who was reacting to NCC’s rejection to the request made by telcos for upward review of the cost of telecom service offerings, told THISDAY that he was not surprised at the rejection, because telcos did not expect NCC to increase cost without understanding the difficult challenges that operators pass through in delivering telecom services to the people. “We did not expect NCC to turn down our request, neither did we expect NCC to increase cost without looking at the need for the increase. So we want NCC

to carry out an independent study to review the floor price for voice and data services to enable it come up with a fair price that will be suitable for the telecom sector. We made our proposal based on the current cost of delivering telecom services, so we will like the regulator to come up with peer review of the floor price of voice and data,” Adebayo said. He added that the telcos’ letter to NCC was in order, but was surprised how it leaked to the media, since it was the usual internal correspondence that telcos send periodically to regulator, based on the challenges, which they face in delivering telecom services to the people. Telcos had last week, sent a

letter to NCC to consider upward review of the cost of voice call, SMS and data services by 40 per cent, a development that triggered reactions from telecom subscribers who objected to the planned hike. Responding to the reactions, NCC, in statement, assured subscribers that telcos cannot collectively or unilaterally increase cost of telecom services without due process. In the statement, which was signed by the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC allayed subscribers’ fears over the planned hike of voice call, SMS and data service cost by 40 per cent. According to the statement, “For the avoidance of any doubt,

and contrary to MNOs’ agitation to increase tariffs for voice and Short Messaging Services (SMS) by a certain percentage, the Commission wishes to categorically inform telecoms subscribers and allay the fears of Nigerians that no tariff increase will be effected by the operators without due regulatory approval by the Commission.” Adebayo frowned at the federal government’s plan to implement five per cent excise duty on recharge cards and vouchers, with effect from June 1, 2022. According to Adebayo, “We will not resist the order of government to collect five per cent excise tax on telecom consumption, but we will only let government

know about the implications of collecting such tax from telecoms consumers at a time when the economy is harsh on businesses and individuals. Telcos will just be collection agents and remit the money to federal government, but we are saying that government must look at the implications before implementing it from June 1, 2022, as planned.” Worried about the levies, Adebayo said: “The behaviour of government is not helping matters. As at today, we have about 36 levies and taxes against operators. An additional five per cent excise tax has now been considered effective for the first of June. All of these will affect the sector.”

54gene Completes Initial Phase of Nigerian 100,000 Genome Project Emma Okonji 54gene, the health technology company advancing African genomics research for improved global health outcomes, has through its non-profit initiative, the African Centre for Translational Genetics (ACTG), completed its first consortium-led publication on over 100,000 Nigerians as commissioned in 2020 at its launch.

Through 54gene’s ACTG, the consortium operates as a unique public-private partnership involving leading African scientists guided by a team of global genomic leaders as the Scientific Advisory Board to achieve the mission of the ACTG. According to the paper, as of January 2019, approximately three per cent of genomic data being used for genome wide association studies (GWAS) came

from people of African descent, with this statistic dropping to 1.1 per cent in 2021. The paper details efforts in building an important resource that could significantly enable African populations to benefit from the global efforts at achieving precision medicine for various diseases. 54gene Founder and CEO, Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong, said: “Along with our partners, we are proud

to be leading the new frontier of African genomics. Precision medicine goes against the onesize-fits-all approach to disease treatment as it is more inclusive, with people treated on their unique genetic makeup. With more than 200 ethnic groups and 500 different languages, Nigeria has one of the most diverse ethnolinguistic concentrations in the world. This pioneering study from the Nigerian

population provides an excellent window into the representation of diversity across Africa.” Co-lead, NCD-GHS and the first author of the landmark paper, Dr. Segun Fatumo, said: “I am so proud of what NCD-GHS has achieved in only about two years. In our own eyes, 100,000 genomes of Africa are emerging from more than 300 diverse ethnic groups in Nigeria. Speaking on the publication of

the research paper, Vice President, Genomics and Data Science at 54gene, Colm O’Dushlaine, said: “The 100,000 project supports 54gene’s core mission to equalize precision medicine, by building rich genomic datasets that will be used to generate powerful insights for the benefit of African, and other global populations. African populations are among the most diverse in the world.”

NCC Engages PwC to Enhance Collocation, Infrastructure Sharing Emma Okonji

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

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced the process of conducting a study to assess the current level of competition in the collocation and infrastructure sharing segment of the Nigerian telecommunications sector. Seventy-eight licensees are currently operating in that market segment. The study is to enable the

Commission to have insightful and evidenced-based facts to glean the dynamics at play and ensure the continuous growth of the CIS segment of the telecom market. In order to achieve this, NCC engaged the services of Messrs. Pricewaterhouse Cooper (PwC), a global consulting firm, to conduct the study on its behalf, in exercise of NCC’s regulatory functions as provided in the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003. The study is expected to

be concluded between April and July, 2022. Speaking at the NCC’s stakeholders’ forum recently organised in Lagos on the commencement of the study, the Director, Policy, Competition and Economy Analysis (PCEA) at NCC, Yetunde Akinloye, who represented the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said the forum was organised to intimate operators in the collocation and

infrastructure sharing segment of the telecom market on the study and to secure their buy-in and cooperation with the consultants undertaking the study. Akinloye said in line with its mandate of creating an enabling environment for competition among operators in the industry as well as ensuring the provision of qualitative and efficient telecommunications services, the NCC periodically conducts studies to assess the level of

competition in the industry. Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity at NCC, Bako Wakil, also joined Akinloye in seeking the full cooperation of licensees in the CIS segment of the telecom market whenever they are approached by the consultants for relevant information either through the instrumentality of the RFI or through one-on-one sessions with consultants in the course of the implementation of the study.

IFAD: TO GUARANTEE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY, $1.6TRN REQUIRED TO RESTORE 1BN DEGRADED HECTARES OF LAND BY 2030 (GCF), the Food and Agriculture Organization, UNCCD and the World Food Programme.” Furthermore, IFAD said it would implement the GGW Regional Support Programme financed by the GCF, which aims to enhance knowledge management and collective impact of GCF projects across the GGW, and is developing a new complementary programme

with the GEF focusing on climate adaptation innovations. It added, “IFAD is stepping up its investments to build small-scale farmers’ resilience to climate change by dedicating 40 per cent of its core resources to climate action over the next three years, up from 35 per cent (equivalent to $1.2 billion) over the previous three-year period.

“Also, IFAD aims to catalyse climate finance at scale from a broad range of public and private partners, including though its flagship programme – the enhanced Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP+), which aims to mobilize US$ 500 million – while expanding partnerships with the three main climate funds: the Adaptation Fund,

the Global Environment Facility, and the Green Climate Fund.” Speaking at the fifteenth session of the Conference of the parties (COP 15) of the UNCCD in Abidjan, IFAD President, Gilbert F. Houngbo, said: “Food value chains need to be urgently put on a sustainable pathway. “We need to invest significantly more in ecosystems restoration

and help small-scale producers who grow one third of the world’s food adopt the practices that will ensure healthy and productive lands, build resilience to climate change, provide a decent living and safeguard food security for all. A lack of productive lands can only lead to widespread poverty, hunger, migration and instability.”

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Musa: Vitavisco Has Capacity to Generate Forex for Nigeria Vitavisco Nigeria Limited, a technology-driven company and subsidiary of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc was established in 2012 as part of Vitafoam’s innovative drive to revolutionize manufacturing of foams in Nigeria. In this interview, Vitavisco’s General, Joseph Musa explains that the company has strong capacity to generate foreign exchange for Nigeria on sustainable basis. Kayode Tokede presents the excerpts What led to the establishment of Vitavisco? itavisco Nigeria Limited was established in 2012. The birthing of the company was motivated by the identified gap found in the specialty foam and allied products market segment. Prior to Vitavisco, flexible Polyurethane foam in the West Africa sub region was synonymous to mattresses. It is worth noting that Vitafoam group brought creativity and a host of new initiatives in the Polyurethane Industry in West Africa sub region through the activities of its various subsidiaries. Vitavisco specialty foam products have various applications in the furniture and interior decoration sector. The company’s molded memory foam pillows are currently the delight of consumers across the country. Furniture manufacturers are using the molded high resilience foams to create comfortable office chairs that compete with international brands. And with the recent introduction of the company’s polyethylene foam sheet into the market, furniture makers have a new weapon with which to shone their creative talents in upholstery work either used as a single material or as part of a composite. In addition, the polyethylene foam sheet is used for protective packaging of furniture items during transportation. The logistics sector requires that goods under transportation are well protected against impacts that are liable to get affected items damaged. Polyethylene foam sheet has excellent cushioning effect that is unmatched by substitute materials such open cell foam, bubble rapper, carton, etc. The products’ protective packaging applications are variously deployed in transportation of farm produce (use of fruit nets), electronic and computer equipment, furniture items, etc. The government’s automotive policy of 2014 met Vitavisco ready regarding local capacity for the supply of molded foam component of vehicle seating. While infusion of locally manufactured parts into vehicle assembly was to commence about 2019, this objective of the policy is yet to be achieved. We are ready and expectantly awaiting full implementation of this policy. In the construction industry, the company’s polyethylene foam products are applied in ribbed slab work (as fillers), expansion joints, and insulation (either as in panel, rod or duct form.

bag makers take their crafts notches higher. They are now able to produce bags that can compete in the international market because of the insulation effect of polyethylene foam.

What were the initial challenges and how were they managed? As earlier stated, Vitavisco began business in 2012. I was redeployed to manage the company in 2017. It is obvious I was not the pioneer General Manager. However, I was aware the company endured a number of initial challenges not uncommon for start-up manufacturing outfits. Vitavisco is a pioneer in her line of businesses. This means that technologies deployed are new to the environment and skills have to be developed to match the various technologies. This invariably means that new products and new markets have to be developed. So, it took a while before the market started to tell the difference between the products the company has on offer versus the substitute products. Vitavisco has thrived through a combination of unending curiosity, creativity and passion.

Who are the Company’s target customers and what strategy is put in place to connect with them? The company’s target customers include Quantity Surveyors, Design Engineers, Structural Engineers, Architects, Bag Makers, Furniture Makers, Mattress Makers, Interior Designers, Dealers in refrigeration components, large scale Farmers, Vehicle Original Equipment Manufacturers. The strategy to connect with the various customers has been through a combination of direct and indirect marketing, participation at industry events and opportunities such as this interview presents. How does Vitavisco source raw materials and what are the challenges involved? More than 90% of input raw materials are imported. Of course, with importation the key challenge is usually foreign exchange availability. If you finally are able to source the forex and goods arrive at the ports, then you are confronted with the ‘Nigerian factor’ at the port. Most of the raw materials we use in Vitavisco have short shelf lifes, usually 9 months. At times by the time the ports release the chemicals there is hardly sufficient time left to process them to finished goods.

Musa

These attributes are critical for success in a specialty area, and more so for any pioneering organisation or an individual. Vitavisco deploys polymer technology to provide solutions for lifestyle, home, and industrial needs. What are the Company’s main products? The company’s main products include the following: Molded viscoelastic (memory) foam pillows., Molded high resilience foams for office and automotive seating. Polyethylene foam sheet used for protective packaging, insulation, and expansion joint applications in construction, padding material in furniture, padding material in bag making (both regular and lunch bags), etc. Polyethylene foam rod used as expansion joint filler and in mattress edge finishing Polyethylene foam duct used as insulation duct for air conditioner waste water Polyethylene foam net used for protective packaging of agricultural produce such as fruits. What speciﬁc problems are the products meant to solve? Vitavisco developed a range of memory foam pillows to solve the problems of poor sleep patterns occasioned by sleeping on uncomfortable surfaces, neck and back pains often caused by using wrong pillow materials, and snoring associated with misalignment of the head and neck when using substitute pillow materials. Mattress and furniture makers, including interior decoration practitioners, across the country finally have a solution from Vitavisco to help provide their customers with sleeping and resting comfort.

Most executives and other office workers in Nigeria are familiar with the ever nagging back and waste pain. In the absence of disease conditions, these problems are often as a result of using inappropriate office chair, padded with the wrong foam material. The Vitavisco molded high resilience office chair foam is designed to arrest this challenge. With our molded office chair foam, executive health and productivity are guaranteed. The polyethylene foam range of products’ applications cut across various industries solving varieties of challenges; When used as joint filler, polyethylene foam sheet and rod save the country foreign exchange as these products are imported by the various construction companies that require them. As padding material, the products also save the country foreign exchange as some event and office chair makers have been importing them from china. Some of these chair makers that are not yet aware of Vitavisco are still importing the products from China. The polyethylene foam padding material provides the furniture maker with more creative options in upholstery works. The polyethylene foam duct used in the insulation of air conditioner wastewater pipe also save the country foreign exchange. These brand of insulation ducts were being imported from China before the commencement of Vitavisco extrusion plants. The foam nets have been introduced to help curb waste in agricultural produce, such as fruits, during transportation from the farm to the market. The foam sheets have been made available to help local

Does Vitavisco have plan to generate foreign exchange in the mid to long run? In the medium term, the company would not be able to generate foreign exchange. However, in the long run the company will build capacity to play internationally and earn foreign exchange for Nigeria in the long run, especially if AfCFTA (Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement) is actualized and does not remain only in the agreement books. How does the Company contribute to the growth and development of the economy? Several areas the company contribute to the growth and development of the economy have already been highlighted, especially in applications where the products help the country save foreign exchange. Also, that the company’s products help improve health and lifestyle of its users contribute to improved productivity, which is good for the economy. The company has experienced in the last four years average annual growth of 60%. This has resulted in the employment of more people to join the workforce. And because of the pioneering efforts of the company, there has to be continuous of training of manpower to be able to align with the requirement of our operations. These are very positive contributions to the growth and development of the economy. Where do you expect Vitavisco to be in another ﬁve years? I expect Vitavisco in another five years to have further expanded its product offerings into the footwear and accessories market, create more options of technical foams for various industries, and provide molded foam solutions for the automotive sector. In this period, the company will be about N10 billion company in turnover.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Amida: Additional Towers, Fibre Connectivity Will Drive 5G Deployment The recently appointed Chief Executive Officer of Pan African Towers (PAT), Mr. Azeez Amida, draws attention to policy and other critical challenges facing the African telecom market, while hinting that additional 5,000 towers in the next three years, coupled with fibre rollout, will enhance 5G deployment across Nigeria. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts: a lot of correlation. They all face downtime here and there and some agencies are there to freeze the sites overnight and all of that. It is a lot of work in all the sites. But at the same time, all you can do is to ensure that you provide an environment where your sites can continue to run so that you will not end up providing horrible services to your customers. To do that, we are equipping our engineers more to be able to get to sites on time to tend to all the issues at hand. So, the same issues will always be applicable to towercos no matter which market you are in. In western countries like the US or UK, the challenges here may not be practically applicable there, but in Africa, I think the issues are always the same.

Beyond what may be generally known to the public already, tell us more about the operations of Pan-African Towers? e provide tower infrastructure to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) for now but our focus is shifting towards providing digital infrastructure services to our customers. We are an enabler rather than a reactive business to what the customers want. The way the industry works now is that the mobile network operators would request for tower infrastructure to be provided at a particular location, and then we go there and build the sites for them after ensuring that due diligence has been done. That means you are just reacting and sticking to what the operators say. However, Pan African Towers is changing that. We are evolving into a digital infrastructure provider. We are saying how do we enable people who want to use infrastructure to have that access by leading the MNOs where they want to go. So, that is what we want to drive our focus to, because in this game, we have a lot of big players that are already in the market, with a lot of money behind them. So, technically as an indigenous infrastructure provider, the only edge we can play around with, is the edge of leading the game. We want to change the approach to the telecoms infrastructure market.

Coming on board to lead the operations of PanAfrican Towers, what is the special agenda you are bringing with you to further drive the company? Well, first of all, our focus is on growth. I believe in growing our business. I have always been an advocate for growth. Growth has always been assumed to be a natural phenomenon, but you cannot just grow without being deliberate about it. At pan African Towers, we are deliberate about our growth. And as you are aware, we have raised a lot of money in the last couple of months, and then we are going to be doing a lot of work to push that growth agenda as much as we can. Growth is an important element of our business. We will be looking at the speed of execution of our projects as well as their quality. That is the first thing. The second thing is to diversify our services. We are going to be doing a lot of branding in the coming months to reposition ourselves in the market; to let you know that we are now fully in for business. I want to go for the long haul and we plan to build a multinational from home here in Nigeria. That is the goal. We want to focus on that. Build a multinational telecom infrastructure company and grow at a very fast speed to deliver value to our shareholders. For instance, we are planning to hit between 3000 and 5000 towers in the coming three to five years. We know this is going to require a lot of work but there is already a demand for growth. We believe we are in the right position to tap into that. With the advent of 5G technology, there is going to be high demand for towers. I saw a report once that says six times the current number of towers are needed for 5G deployment. Those are base stations. There is still going to be a need for fibre connectivity because 5G requires a lot of boosting such that the connection can be close together and the way they work becomes very efficient. To do that, there are going to be a lot of inbuilt solutions; a lot of outdoor dial systems and power for its deployment. We are ready to get into that space and provide premium services to our customers. What is your assessment of the Nigerian telecom infrastructure market vis-à-vis challenges such as multiple taxation and theft? When it comes to financing infrastructure, I will say multiple taxation and fees poses a huge threat to the growth of the Nigerian telecom market. There should be a uniform tax system, and the same should apply to fees. Taxes are essential to providing funding for infrastructure, it is important for the growth of any society. But taxing and levying businesses multiple times inhibits growth. This is where regulation is needed to streamline the tax system and other fees for tower companies. Theft is a huge threat to the growth of the telecoms market because there is already an infrastructure deficit capped at $136 billion and we need an additional 40,000 towers to be able to close that gap. Stealing and vandalising telecom equipment is very detrimental to the growth of the telecom industry in Nigeria. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently reported that there were 33,000 cases of vandalism

Amida and outright theft between June 2017 and August 2018 which resulted in a 35 per cent rate of vandalism and theft of telecom infrastructure in a year. Another report published in the media stated that as a result of the incessant vandalism and theft of telecom equipment, broadband subscriptions had dropped by 9.8 million subscribers between December 2020 and October 2021. Theft is a huge challenge affecting the growth of the Nigerian telecom industry. Despite these challenges, I will say the growth of the market has been rapid, even though a lot of this growth came through acquisitions and not organic growth strategies. You brieﬂy mentioned 5G earlier. Can you put some light on this in terms of its infrastructure demand and how Pan African Towers ﬁts into the equation? 5G is a broad concept. For me, I think we should stick to the passive end of it, which is what we can do. The passive end of it is introducing a lot more towers to support its deployment. You know in the days of 2G, we had very tall towers like 70 metres or more. When 3G came, the height came down because the better the frequency, the closer you need to get to the ground until you get to the fibre line and that is the way to think about it. 2G was up in the air, 3G became shorter, 4G followed the same trend and now 5G is coming further down. The reason for that is that you are reducing the line of sight. In 2G, there is a line of sight to ensure that a tower is tall enough to see the next one. Now, you are connecting sites through shorter waves. So, it is a bit easier to get them to speak to each other. The connection becomes faster and the potential to build a smart city becomes a lot broader. Yes, 5G is something we are looking into and we do not just want to wait for the time it kicks off, we want to start looking at scenarios where we can say we are leading the industry in that area. 5G changes everything, and as a digital infrastructure provider, we are seriously looking into that space. You talked about your vision to boast between 3,000 to 5,000 towers in the medium time. What level are you currently and where are they located apart from Nigeria? Currently, we run 1,000 sites and we mostly are focusing on Nigeria now. And as you may be aware, there is a merger that just got concluded between SWAP Plc and Pan African Towers. That is to ensure that the Nigerian PAT focuses a lot on the Nigerian assets. There are a lot of growth opportunities in Nigeria and we want to take care of that first. As soon as that is there, we can then start focusing on other areas where there are opportunities

to deliver good value to our shareholders. It is not just about building towers; it is more about having the right return to your shareholders at the end of the day. Telecom operators have always complained about the issue of electricity in powering base stations and this contributes to an increase in downtime. Are there new innovative ways your company is adopting to overcome the challenge? Yes, that is very correct, but we have a specific model called the ESCO model and it is a scenario where we use a lot of green energy to generate power. We have done a lot of testing around it and we are now confident that we can roll it out fully. Now we are looking at going green on all our sites. Our current target is to have up to a 50 per cent reduction in our carbon usage by the end of this year or towards the middle of next year. That is one of the key priorities that we have. We had our first gas site go live about a week ago. The aim is to ensure that we are not burning fossil fuels like every other operator in the market. We want to bring all our sites to green energy and that is one of our key focuses. Apart from power, theft is another challenge towercos face while running their sites. I think theft is always one of those problems you have to deal with. It is like you cannot run away from it, but you can minimise it. So, we are weighing our options in terms of security to ensure that we raise the safety standard of the sites. From ensuring that the security on site is held accountable, to making sure that the people responsible for the operations are also held accountable. From there, going hard on any form of theft will go a long way to fostering growth in the telecom business in Nigeria. In one of the communications to the team, I was very clear that we have zero tolerance for theft. So, all cases of theft are being taken seriously. Having overseen tower operations in other African countries, what have you observed as disparity between those countries and Nigeria? Well, I will say there is very little difference, except that perhaps some of them have more electricity than others. The real thing is that all of them have similar problems. For instance, you still need to have proper regulations in all the countries. Things may even be harder in other African countries. However, there is

TELECOM SUBSCRIPTIONS UP SLIGHTLY IN ONE YEAR TO REACH 198.1M WITH 103.79% TELEDENSITY IN FEBRUARY Gbenga Adebayo, blamed the development on the effect of the ban on SIM card registration and activation by the federal government in December 2020. Following the rise in insecurity across the country, coupled with fact that there

were several unregistered SIM cards that were not linked to the National Identification Number (NIN) of telecoms subscribers, the federal federal government, on December 9, 2020, directed the Nigerian Communications Commission

(NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, to suspend the sale and activation of new SIMs, and on December 15, 2020, it directed all operators to update SIM registration records with valid NINs with an initial deadline of

December 30, 2020. “Within that period, there were no registration and activation of new SIM cards, which affected the growth in the number of telecoms subscriptions across all networks,” Adebayo said.

Which policy areas would you say the government should intensify efforts to further propel development in the market? To start with, the passage of the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) bill is still a paramount one. I think it is still important that you have it in place to protect telecom infrastructures in the country. Vandals, thieves and other social situations could render a site not viable for business and as such you may be required to relocate your sites. Relocating a site takes a lot of time and other resources. We cannot continue to have cases where perhaps because of social issues like community protests, vandalism and theft prevents you from having, access to your sites. We need to as much as possible operate in an environment where government’s laws and policies are adhered to and people could feel that telecoms infrastructures are very important for their survival. The CNI will reduce the rate of vandalism and theft. Therefore, the passage of the pending CNI bill is extremely important for the growth of the telecom market in Nigeria. Secondly, in this kind of industry where you have very large and very small companies, it is important that regulations focus on not discouraging the growth of the small companies but providing equal opportunities for growth. I like healthy competitions. I adore competition but it is important that it is regulated so we do not really witch-hunt each other. I particularly believe these two policies are critical to improving the sector. I will not call the second concern a policy but a call to regulation on the way business is done in the industry so equal opportunities are available for both big and small companies. What should we expect from Pan African Towers in the medium term. What and which other countries are you looking at for your expansion plans? Well, I do not limit growth to demographics. I limit growth to returns and numbers. What I can tell you is that in three years, we will have Pan-African Towers at a minimum of 3000 to 5000 towers. Where we are, does not really mean anything if we are producing the same returns. We could be in US, South Africa or we could be anywhere. All we can ensure is that there are going to be profitable towers that will return proper amount of value to our shareholders. One of the benefits of doing business with us, is that we have access to the local capital market. We can always raise funds. We have the support of our stakeholders and we can provide a lot of local contents pricing Towers to operators. I believe we are one of the very few companies in Nigeria giving full naira contracts. Almost every other company produce contents that are in dollars which basically introduces an foreign exchange rate to the operators. But for us, we want to do local contents for our customers and give them naira contracts. Coupled with that, we are now having a very strong refurbishment plan across our sites to make sure that we can provide top-notch services and still give them prices that cannot be matched anywhere else.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Enhancing Patient-doctor Communication in Healthcare Delivery Oluchi Chibuzor highlights the need to teach about empathy and work-related challenges for a better healthcare delivery process in the country

research on, “Association of Perceived Medical Errors With Resident Distress and Empathy: A Prospective Longitudinal Study,” by Colin West, reveals that medical errors are common among internal medicine residents and are associated with substantial personal distress. The research argued that personal distress and decreased empathy are also associated with increased odds of future self-perceived errors, suggesting that perceived errors and distress may be related in a reciprocal cycle. It further noted that medical errors and patient safety are important concern for patients and physicians, while stating that medical errors are associated with feelings of distress in physicians, “but little is known about the magnitude and direction of these associations.” The research opined that as medical doctors possess varying levels of empathy relative to their sociodemographic characteristics, specialty of choice and level of expertise. The research revealed that clinical empathy is the competence of a physician to understand the patient’s situation, perspective, feelings and act on that understanding in a helpful therapeutic way. Acording to the research, “One thing is clear to medical practitioners is that empathy is the backbone of patient-physician communication in clinical care, even though it can be innate, learnt or acquired in the course of the medical career. “However, on the part of the physician it is essential during interpersonal communication to understand the perceptions and needs of the patient, empower the patient to cope more effectively and resolve the patient’s problems. It is believed that effective consultations and interactions between a patient and a physician plays a vital role in patients’ perception of the quality of care received.” Interestingly, a PwC survey of Nigerians found that more than 90 per cent of respondents associated advanced healthcare delivered in Nigeria with ‘low quality’. The PwC report stated that this perception has been established over many years, adding that each new report of poor clinical care has reinforced the belief among the population that Nigerian healthcare is somewhat substandard and should be avoided whenever an

alternative can be found. It further explained there are also negative perceptions arising from confusing the hospitality function such as aesthetics, ambience of hospital, courtesy of staff with the clinical function-effectiveness of care provided of hospitals.

CHAMPIONING EMPATHY

The views of late Prof. Emmanuel Elebute in the medical field remains to be admired considering his exploits in the health sector in the country. In his view, empathy, which is also lacking in practices as most providers do not see their patients as people anymore but as statistics. He believed strongly in the need for healthcare providers to be empathetic which would ultimately improve patient outcomes, while ensuring that Society for Quality in Health in Nigeria (SQHN) standards for accreditation had a chapter on empathy. This was the first standards for Hospital Accreditation with a chapter on Empathy and Professor Elebute remained a giant and exemplar of excellence in Healthcare who wished and strived for Access, Quality and Patient Safety in healthcare in Nigeria. Recognising his role in the industry, former Minister for state on Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, remarked that during late Prof. Elebute’s service in the civil service, he encouraged them to focus on improving the quality of health care in Nigeria. “Our engagements with him then informed the clinical governance initiative we started that led to a National Quality Strategy to be developed in the Federal Ministry of Health. We also engaged safe care to work with PSHAN for quality collaboratives in Primary Health Centers in Lagos State,” he stated.

DRIVING PATIENTS’ SAFETY

In 2003, Elebute, and a group of healthcare professionals came together to promote the idea of a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) being registered to drive the quality and patient safety initiative and take the discussion of quality in

healthcare to a wider platform. The Society for Quality in Healthcare in Nigeria (SQHN) was subsequently incorporated in May 2006 as a not-for-profit organisation which has multi-disciplinary involvement and governed by a constitution, with its focus to bring about a wider understanding and acceptance of quality in Healthcare towards improved patient outcomes and reduction in healthcare delivery costs. It is also a platform to share best practice and successful strategies and since inception it has equipped about 7,000 Nigerian healthcare practitioners with basic and advanced quality and patient safety improvement skills. In line with this mission, SQHN actively began the development of local healthcare facility standards in 2014 to guide and support healthcare facilities in Nigeria in their collective and individual journeys towards quality care delivery, excellent patient experience, and patient safety. SQHN standards are specifically designed to improve the overall quality of the health sector by providing standardised assessment of the structures and processes necessary to achieve quality outcomes in a manner that promotes benchmarking and internal organisation improvement of healthcare facilities. The SQHN accreditation provides a basis for measurement of the performance expectations, structures or processes that must be in place for any healthcare organisation to provide safe and high quality care, treatment and service while minimising variation.

PATIENT’S SAFETY AND QUALITY CARE

Speaking at the first memorial lecture of late professor Emmanuel Elebute, Pate noted that there was widespread evidence from many low- and middle-income countries showing that many individuals who seek care fail to receive appropriate treatments. Delivering the first Emmaneul Adebayo Elebute memorial lecture with the theme on ‘Reimagining

the Future of Healthcare in Africa-A Healthcare Quality Perspective’, Pate said quality should be embedded within all pre-service health workforce training and continuing professional education, with a team-based and multi-disciplinary approach. He emphasised that measurement of quality, tracking and continuous improvement must be at the top of mind for health professionals and managers in our health systems. Such training should include large doses of interpersonal elements and teamwork. “Using digital technology can improve diagnostics, integration and continuity of care, as well as enable patients to be more active participants in the production of health. Provider payment mechanisms that measure and reward quality will set the right incentives for public and private providers,” he maintained. In view of this the SQHN also agreed to set up the first Late Professor Emmanuel Elebute prize award that would help in deepening the culture of patient’s safety across the teaching hospitals in the country. According to him, failure to appropriately treat patients may result from poor provider knowledge, poor access to medicines and vaccines or from the inability of health systems to properly notify and follow up with individuals to provide adequate and timely treatments.

ENTRENCHING PATIENT’S SAFETY

The Board Secretary, SQHN, Dr. Abayomi Sule, said: “We have used this lecture to commemorate professor’s lifestyle and contribution to access quality and financial risk protection in Nigeria. But in terms of quality, his notion was that quality is not what you leave to the doctor , private sector , government or even the patient alone; but something all of us should be involved with. All stakeholders that are involved with quality inclusive of all the health care workers, patients and come together to better understand what quality is and how we can better understand improving quality of care.” NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

BRANDS

Heineken’s Market Leadership Sustainability Drive Raheem Akingbolu writes on the enduring competition in the premium beer market and how the Heineken brand is sustaining its market leadership

ponsorship and activation are among the readily available tools being explored by brand owners to boost sales in any competitive market. As the market records new entrants, existing brands change gear through various marketing strategies to bond more with consumers. The keen contest for the leadership of Nigeria’s beer market has been going on for years but the trend appears to be changing in recent years as a result of new entrants into the market. For the promoters of Heineken, from the stable of the Nigerian Breweries, the determination not to abdicate their leadership position for any new comer has been intense. Through domestication of its global campaign at various local markets, including Nigeria, spin doctors working on the sustainability of Heineken’s leadership are daily raising the bar for the globally acclaimed brand.

LEADERSHIP DRIVE

In line with this, the Heineken brand has consistently leveraged its sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League to promote its brand essence and create a top of mind awareness among its high end consumers. In Nigeria, the brand raised the stake three years ago when it facilitated the coming to Nigeria of Spanish legend, Carles Puyol with the iconic UEFA Champions League trophy. Last month, the feat was achieved again when the brand, again, showcased the iconic Champions League trophy accompanied to Nigeria by football legend Clarence Seedorf. This was followed by tours held in the two cities of Lagos and Abuja. In the end, it turned out to be a double-edged sword because the tour was accompanied by notable Nigerian sports personalities like Jay Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi and top Nigerian Music stars, led by the multi-award-winning superstar Davido. Just like strike partners with the sole aim of banging in goals, the performances of Davido and Reekado in Lagos as well as Peruzzi and Lojay in Abuja were exhilarating. In a way, the infusion of music

into the tour simply demonstrated the affinity between music and sport in brand building. The popular musicians were on hand to delight the crowd with half-time entertainment and after-party displays which capped off a memorable experience for fans and loyal Heineken consumers. For Davido, he even demonstrated he is the best of two worlds with his performance in the faceoff challenge in which he led the likes of Austin Jay Jay Okocha and Daniel Amokachi against Team Heineken captained by the legendary Seedorf in a five-a-side football contest. Other music stars like MI and Darey Art Alade were also part of Team Davido and they did exceptionally well with the former getting on the scorer’s sheet and the latter dazzling the fans with his goalkeeping talents that should catch the fancy of clubs in and around Nigeria. Though the battle for the UCL semi-final tickets was understandably intense among the teams, the fans of the competing clubs were winners regardless of the outcome all thanks to Heineken. In both Lagos and Abuja, the fans were rewarded for their passion and knowledge of the game simply by answering simple questions about the Champions League. While in Nigeria, Seedorf said he was happy to be back ‘home’ with the trophy that meant a million things to him. “We have the opportunity to bring this trophy close to those who never imagined or dreamt about getting close to the trophy. It’s beautiful to send that message to dream big, work hard, stay away from drugs and be a person that believes in himself and this is how I came to realise my dream.” the football legend stated while addressing reporters in Lagos. For Emmanuel Oriakhi, Marketing Director Nigerian Breweries Plc, he succinctly captured the importance attached to the Heineken Champions

League trophy tour which remains one of the biggest events on the calendar of the international premium beer brand. He said: As always Heineken always has something spectacular for Nigerians and once again we are doing this. A lot of people argued that maybe the timing would have been more perfect concerning the disappointment Nigeria suffered a few weeks back. “But we are resilient as a people and we are always positive and believe tomorrow will be better. For those of us still disappointed not qualifying for the World Cup we have the UEFA Champions League. “The UEFA Champions League is one of the best sporting events in the world and Heineken has been partners with UEFA for quite a while and in Nigeria, we have been activating this for a very long period. While this is not the first time the UEFA Champions League trophy will be coming to Nigeria, there were a couple of fresh innovations that made this 2022 edition even more worthwhile. Memorabilia, jerseys, balls and lots of other prizes were won by the fans and loyal Heineken consumers who danced to the sonorous tunes supplied by the DJs at the end of the match-days. The UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour was a chance for football fans around the world to get closer to the iconic UEFA Champions League Trophy. It was developed to enable fans globally to have the chance to get closer to the UEFA Champions League competition and the trophy itself. The 2021/22 Heineken’s UEFA Champions League campaign titled, “Cheers to All Fans”, highlights that football belongs to all passionate fans and challenges the stereotype that football belongs to men. With music in the mix, both the men and women were united for the love of the game even as they wished for more unique football

viewing experiences with Heineken

THE UNDERCURRENTS

Until recently, Heineken was perhaps the only premium brand in the market competing with itself. But with the entry of AB InBev’s Budweiser into the market in 2016, the game changed but Heineken remains a leader because of its firm grip of the market. At the beginning, there were doubts here and there on whether this globally-acclaimed beer brand would really and truly join the ranks of brands to slug it out in Africa’s largest market. Budweiser’s entry thus became a threat to the revenue and future profitability of Heineken’s Nigerian Breweries and Diageo’s Guinness Nigeria. Budweiser’s journey into Nigeria started in 2016 when AB InBev and SABMiller combined their businesses in the largest merger ever for a $100 billion deal to become the largest beer maker in the world. To stage its entry into Nigeria, the latter bought more stakes in International Breweries Plc raising its equity to 75.1 percent.

OTHER POSITIONING TOOLS

Beyond its investment in sports and entertainment, the brand has also appointed sport personalities and music icons as ambassadors to boost its market influence. Poised to tell a Nigerian story that will resonate through families and cultures across the country, the beer brand, had six years ago, teamed up with Nigerian-American singer, Jidenna to bond more with its patrons. In a TVC that was then airing on television, Jidenna was seen sharing gifts with his family after a trip back home, a perfect representation of the bond that is shared by many Nigerian families. The signing of the music star as an ambassador for the campaign has since been described by many analysts as a classic move because Jidenna is seen as someone who believes strongly in the importance of family and has never hesitated to show off his own. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

THURSDAY MAY 12, 2022 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ , MAY 12, 2022

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE Driving Oral Awareness in Nigeria, the Pepsodent Example

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

In commemoration of the 2022 World Oral Health Day, a leading global toothpaste brand Pepsodent, is set to engage 1million children in Nigeria on the importance of oral health to people’s overall well-being and quality of life. Writes Mary Nnah

L-R: Vice President, Nigerian Dental Association(NDA), Dr. Victor Nwabudike; Category Manager Oral Care, Unilever, Eva Ogudu; Head of Dentistry, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Mrs. Bola Alonge; Beauty & Personal Care Marketing Lead, Unilever, Oiza Gyanghealth; President, Nigerian Dental Association(NDA), Dr. Kolawole Obagbemiro; Corporate Aﬀairs Director, Unilever, Mrs. Soromidayo George and Research and Development Director, Unilever, Nwakanma Uche at the event

orld over, poor oral health is linked with a decrease in the level of economic productivity. This explains why an estimated 200million dollars is being lost yearly as a result of man-hours due to workers’ absenteeism and hours lost due to trips to dental clinics to treat oral diseases in their late stages. Unfortunately, the treatment of oral diseases in their late stages has left serious consequences. A recent report revealed that one out of every 10 adults is known to have one oral health challenge or the other. Although oral health diseases are known to be more prevalent among adults, there is an increasing growth trend of children suffering from one oral health disease or the other. Due to the high prevalence of this disease, oral health conditions became a huge priority on the non-communication disease list because they share similar risk factors alongside other NCDs such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines oral health as a disease- and disorder-free state that limits a person’s ability to bite, chew, smile, and speak, as well as their psychosocial status. Thus, the presence of oral diseases can affect a person’s growth and development, as well as their psychic, productive, and social capacity. Oral health is recognised as an essential component of quality of life; however, historically more attention has been paid to its mainly local clinical consequences, regardless of the impact these can have on people’s daily lives. Although Nigeria lacks any oral health policy, there has been an increasing drive to address the burden of oral disease in Nigeria by the different stakeholders. Engaging Children on Import of Oral Health Thus, in commemoration of the 2022 World Oral Health Day, Pepsodent, a leading global toothpaste brand endorsed by the Nigerian Dental Association is set to engage 1million children in Nigeria on the importance of oral health to people’s overall well-being and quality of life. The children will be reached through the educational schools’ programmes with an emphasis on the importance of brushing day and night. Free toothpaste and toothbrushes would be given to the children to facilitate

their brushing habits. The theme for this year’s World Oral Health Day is ‘Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late #TalktoaDentist.’ The aim is to help raise awareness to ensure people understand the importance of acting early, from the moment a problem arises. The World Oral Health Day is a yearly activity celebrated globally to increase awareness of the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene and educate the public on the major activities that help to ensure good oral hygiene. Advocacy In Nigeria, Pepsodent toothpaste has been at the forefront of driving conversations on good oral hygiene through initiatives that include but are not limited to the Schools Programmes, Mobile Dental Clinics, Oral Health Education Conferences, and various consumer education and engagement across digital and traditional media. Speaking during a Press conference to commemorate the day, The Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director, Unilever West Africa, Soromidayo George noted that the essence of the campaign is to drive behavioral change at an early age. “In a demonstration of our commitment to improving oral hygiene in Nigeria, Pepsodent has reached over 5 million school children by educating them on the importance of brushing twice daily and creating a 21-day routine for them to develop a habit of brushing first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. Free Pepsodent toothpaste and toothbrushes were given to the children to help facilitate their brushing habits.” On her part, the Category Manager,

Oral Care, Eva Ogudu, revealed that the brand, in partnership with the Nigerian Dental Association, will have mobile dental clinics in specific neighbourhoods across the country to provide free dental services to consumers and make Pepsodent toothpaste available to them to drive consistent brush twice daily communication. “In addition, to our mobile dental clinic initiative for this year, there would be an online digital activation through Instagram live videos tagged ‘Ask Your Dentist’ which would be launched on March 20, 2022, to provide consumers direct access to a dentist to ask their dental related questions. Through these initiatives, we aim to help millions of people take control of their oral health and avoid severe pain, costly and complicated treatments, and ultimately tooth loss through these services which would run yearly.” Said Ogudu. The President of the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA), Dr. Kola Obagbemiro, lent his voice at the event to advocate for good oral hygiene. “People often ignore the warning signs of a problem, such as a toothache or gum bleeding, hoping it will go away. However, talking to a dentist at the first sign of a problem can help fix the issues before they become serious. “Understanding the terrible consequences of waiting, such as severe pain, more difficult and costly treatments, and ultimately, tooth loss, is vital to helping people realize why early identification and treatment is so important,” he said. Speaking further, he noted that oral health was essential to human general health and wellbeing. He stated that there was a need to ensure proper practice to

“According to dental experts, untreated tooth decay can have a serious long-lasting effect, especially on children’s growth, brain development, and overall health with many children consequently missing out on school and social opportunities”

guarantee good health. He implored everyone to take their oral health seriously in the way and manner they treat other parts of the body. “A lot of us have not had a dental check for many years. We need to do it regularly. We cannot afford to pay lip service to our oral health because it can negatively affect our self-confidence and social skills. What Pepsodent is doing now would go a long way to amplify oral health drive”, he said. Also speaking, the Head of Dentistry, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Bola Alonge, encouraged Nigerians to take their oral health seriously. “The government is working through the various healthcare systems in the country to make access to dentists commonplace to enable people to improve their oral health. We are also working with the private sector through brands like Pepsodent to reach more people with enlightenment campaigns on the importance of good oral health.” She said. Pepsodent toothpaste endorsed by the Nigerian Dental Association is a brand that consumers can trust and delivers excellently on anti-cavity protection, fresh breath, and whitening brand promise. Effects Oral diseases are among the most common diseases which pose a major health burden globally. According to dental experts, untreated tooth decay can have a serious long-lasting effect, especially on children’s growth, brain development, and overall health with many children consequently missing out on school and social opportunities. This is further worsened by the lack of optimal dental care especially in Nigeria due to affordability and access, leaving the majority of tooth decay cases untreated. Statistics Data from BMC Oral Health shows that as of 2012, Nigeria had about 4125 registered dentists for 167.2 million people which is about 40,000 people to 1 dentist. However, by 2017, the population of Nigeria which was estimated to be around 193 million could not match the earlier data with the dentist population ratio reported to have dropped to one dentist for every 38,600 people. Ingenuity by Pepsodent Having realised this existing awareness gap and buoyed by the commitment to change the narrative, Pepsodent, an oral care brand has

T H I S D AY ˾ , MAY 12, 2022

NEWS DRIVING ORAL AWARENESS IN NIGERIA, THE PEPSODENT EXAMPLE devised an ingenious way to drive awareness as a means of promoting oral hygiene with the ultimate goal of eradicating the oral disease in Nigeria. Since its launch in 2011, the brand has been at the forefront of driving conversations on good oral hygiene and eradicating oral diseases through initiatives like the Schools Program, Mobile Dental Clinics, Oral Health Education Conferences, and various consumer education and engagement across digital and traditional media. This sincere and sustained commitment to tackling oral healthcare issues in Nigeria, especially among children is consistent with the agenda of its parent company, Unilever which is solving social problems. Already, the brand has successfully reached over five million children across the country through its school program with an ambition to reach 10 million children by 2024. Commemorating 2022 World Oral Health Day the Pepsodent Way In commemoration of the 2022 World Oral Health Day which is a yearly activity celebrated globally to increase awareness of the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene and educate the public on the major activities that help to ensure good oral hygiene, Pepsodent took the campaign a notch higher by embarking on a project to engage one million children in the country through the educational schools’ program with an emphasis on the importance of brushing day and night. The company gave out free tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes to children as part of the effort to promote brushing habits. To drive the campaign, the brand has initiated and sustained partnerships with relevant associations and agencies such as the World Dental Federation (FDI), which is the principal representative body for over one million dentists worldwide, and the brand’s partnership with the Nigerian Dental Association, which is the local representative body of all dentists in Nigeria to drive its

ambition. Pepsodent toothpaste, endorsed by the Nigerian Dental Association, is a brand that delivers excellently on anti-cavity protection, fresh breath, and teeth whitening leveraging its partnership and product offerings. Speaking during a press conference to commemorate the historic occasion, The Corporate Affairs, and Sustainability Director, Unilever West Africa, Soromidayo George reiterated the company’s commitment to addressing the challenge of oral health particularly among children whose self-esteem has been affected by oral disease. “Oral conditions are the world’s most widespread disease that demands urgent attention. We cannot afford to leave the diseases to grow given its implication for school enrolment among children. Oral health diseases are the main causes of school absenteeism. As you are aware, children with poor oral health are more likely to suffer self-confidence and self-esteem issues. Beyond that, poor oral conditions also affect the confidence of adults” George said. The Category Manager, Oral Care, Unilever, Eva Ogudu revealed that the brand, in partnership with the Nigerian Dental Association, has provided mobile dental clinics in the specific neighbourhood across the country to give free dental services to consumers and make Pepsodent toothpaste available to them as part of efforts to drive consistent brush twice daily communication. “In addition to our mobile dental clinic initiative for this year, there was an online digital activation through Instagram live videos tagged ‘Ask Your Dentist’ which was launched on March 20, 2022, to provide consumers direct access to a dentist to ask their dental related questions. “ Through these initiatives we aim to help millions of people take control of their oral health and avoid severe pain, costly and complicated treatments, and ultimately tooth loss through these services which would run yearly,” Ogudu added.

Lai Mohammed Appeals to Nigerians to Stop Going Abroad for Medical Care ˾ Ù××ÏØÎÝ ßÍÒÏÝÝ ÙÝÚÓÞËÖ ÐÙÜ áÙÜÖÎ ÍÖËÝÝ ÐËÍÓÖÓÞÓÏÝ˜ ÝÚÏÍÓËÖÓÝÞÝ Rebecca Ejifoma The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has appealed to Nigerians to seek medical care in the country. This is just as he commended Duchess Hospital, a purposebuilt and state-of-the-art facility among others with competent specialists and services in the country. He made this appeal during a media tour of Duchess Hospital in Ikeja area of Lagos State on Tuesday. “There is no need for anyone to go abroad,” he emphasised. “This is indeed a purposebuilt, state-of-the-art, 100-bed hospital aimed at delivering the highest standard of healthcare, using the most advanced technology and treatments to provide Nigerians with the best medical expertise available anywhere in the world.” While noting that this visit is in continuation of their media tour of development projects in all sectors of the economy and all facets of life, Mohammed conceded that it is also to showcase what this administration has achieved. “Even where the project is private-sector driven, the Federal Government has either provided the enabling environment or, in some cases, supported it with funding,” says the minister. The federal government, he continued, through the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bank of Industry provided financial support for Duchess International Hospital. According to Mohammed, this is not new. He, however, reminded newsmen that in the wake of COVID-19, the CBN set up

the N100 billion Healthcare Sector Intervention Fund now expanded to N200 billion. “This was to provide credit support for the healthcare sector through long-term, low-cost financing.” He described it as the Federal Government’s Intervention in the Healthcare Sector through the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). “The NSIA has invested a total of $22.5 million in two diagnostic centers in Kano and Umuahia ($5.5 million each) and the NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre in Lagos ($11.5 million). The NSIA is also committed to building a new quaternary hospital in Abuja,” he added. “The essence of these financial interventions and projects in the critical healthcare sector is to fast-track the evolution of world class healthcare facilities like this Duchess International Hospital. “With that, we can conserve our foreign reserves, earn foreign exchange for the country, create jobs, reverse brain drain, become a destination for medical tourists and also ensure affordable and standard healthcare for Nigerians.” While citing available records that Nigerians spend between $1.2 and $1.6 billion on medical tourism, he bemoaned that it’s a huge drain on the nation’s foreign reserves. Meanwhile, to retain doctors, the minister recommended that the healthcare facilities must be equipped to world standard level and doctors and other healthcare workers must be adequately remunerated. Hence, he applauded facilities like Duchess International as veritable tools for job

creation while also attracting medical tourists from across the world. More world class healthcare facilities like Duchess Hospital coming on stream, Nigeria is set to become a destination for medical tourists, instead of having our citizens travel yearly and spending over N500 billion for medical tourism. Speaking also, the CEO of Duchess Hospital, Dr. Adetokunbo Shitta-Bey, projected their vision to be Africa’s favourite Hospital. Its goal remains to reverse medical tourism by winning the trust of “our clientele and of the community by demonstrating competence, reliability, affordability and empathy”. Shitta-Bey explained also that currently they are setting out to demonstrate that healthcare is delivered at an international standard that is affordable and available in Nigeria. The Senior Officer Coordinator, Wellness Centre, Duchess Hospital, Dr. Yewande Adeshida, left the media tour. Newsmen were taken to units including the Cardiology centre including physiotherapy room, Eye care, Learning and development centre, ENT, Surgical and Gynecology Ward, fully-automated lab, Intensive and Critical care unit. Others are the Endoscopy unit, Women and Children ward, Dialysis Centre, Dental Unit, Pharmacy, Play area for children, Surgical Theatre (Modular and automated), Radiology Dept called the eye of medicine, Emergency Room, and the Duchess Cafe.

FERTILITY

With Dr. Kemi AILOJE drkemi@lifelinkfertility.com www.lifelinkfertility.com +2348033083580

AGING AND FERTILITY HEALTH IN FEMALES (PART 2)

ast week, we started a topic on aging and its effect on female fertilityand wellbeing. This week, we will be concluding with some of the ways to preserve female fertility.

PRESERVATION OF FEMALE FERTILITY HEALTH LIFESTYLE CHANGE Our habits and ways of life are lifestyle factors, and they can have an impact on our overall health, well-being, and fertility. The development of healthy habits has a significant impact on your general health and fertility. You may not be able to control medical issues that affect your ability to conceive, but you may control several lifestyle habits that are known to impair fertility, such as smoking, alcohol, and caffeine. Maintain a healthy weight because being overweight or considerably underweight can prevent ovulation from occurring normally. Prevent sexually transmitted illnesses by wearing a condom. Infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea are one of the most common causes of infertility in women. Working the night shift on a regular basis may increase your chances of infertility by altering/ distrupting hormone production as an after effect of stress. If you work the night shift, make an effort to get adequate rest while you are not working. GAMETE/ EMBRYO CRYOPRESERVATION Fertility preservation treatments, such as preserving embryos following IVF or extracting and freezing eggs for later use, are options for women who want to postpone motherhood until their late 30s or early 40s. Embryo freezing (cryopreservation) has a high rate of success, but it requires a male partner or the use of donor sperm. Egg freezing for fertility preservation is a new method which has shown success. Women who want to use elective egg freezing still have to deal with their age. The outcomes of assisted reproductive technology cycles using frozen eggs grow less favorable as the age of women undergoing egg freezing increases. PREIMPLANTATION GENETIC SCREENING New technologies are now available that will allow embryos to be tested for chromosomal abnormalities. This technology is used to generate embryos during an IVF cycle. It may be especially beneficial to older ladies. Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) involves removing a small number of cells from each embryo and genetically analyzing them. The chromosomally normal embryos would be selected for transfer to the mother’s uterus/ womb. The objective is that PGT/PGS willprevent the transfer of a genetically abnormal embryo with increase in the number of successful pregnancies andbirth of healthy babies. EGG DONATION Treatment options are limited when you

are older, especially if you are over 42, have not had success with prior treatments, or if you have premature ovarian failure (POF), commonly known as early menopause. Egg donation, which entails using eggs donated by a woman in her 20s or early 30s, is a highly successful procedure. The high success rate of egg donation shows that the primary obstacle to pregnancy in older women is egg quality, which is linked to age.Although the chances of a successful pregnancy in IVF cycles using donor eggs are much higher if you are over 40, many couples or single women in their early 40s will choose to accept the lesser probability of becoming pregnant using their own eggs. By the age of 43, the chances of becoming pregnant with IVF are fewer than 5%, and by the age of 45, donated eggs are the only feasible option. The woman who receives the donated eggs is referred to as the “recipient” in an egg donation cycle. Fertility drugs are given to the egg donor in order to induce the development of many eggs in her ovaries. At the same time, hormone therapy is administered to the egg recipient in order to prepare her uterus to receive the fertilized eggs (embryos). After the donor’s eggs are collected, they are fertilized in the laboratory with sperm from the recipient’s partner. The embryos are transferred to the recipient’s uterus several days after fertilization. Any embryos that are not transferred can be frozen (cryopreserved) and used in the next cycle. Donor-egg IVF allows a woman to experience pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. The child, on the other hand, will be genetically related to the father and the egg donor rather than to her. Many programs recommend counseling so that all parties involved in a donor-egg agreement are aware of the ethical, legal, psychological, and social issues involved. Women in their twenties with proven fertility are ideal donors because success is heavily reliant on the quality of donated eggs. CONCLUSION As women get older, their fertility naturally declines. However, the time decline begins and the rate at which it progresses vary widely in women but always begin well before menopause. Fertility generally begins to decline in your late twenties or early thirties, and it declines more rapidly after the age of 35. Women who decide to postpone pregnancy until after the age of 35 should seek information on appropriate testing and treatment while remaining realistic about their chances of success with infertility treatment. A woman and her partner will be better prepared to make the best decisions if they are aware of all of their options and are aware of their own needs and goals.

T H I S D AY ˾ , MAY 12, 2022

NEWS

FG to Honour COVID-19 Pandemic Heroes with Productivity Award ˾ ÙÝÝ ßÝÞËÚÒË˜ ÒÏÕáÏËäß˜ ÎË×ß˜ ÎÏØßÑË˜ ÙÞÒÏÜÝ Ë×ÙØÑ ËáËÜÎÏÏÝ Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË The Federal Government of Nigeria said that it will use the platform of this year’s National Productivity Awards to reward and honour those who made sacrifices during the outbreak of the COVID19 pandemic to save lives of Nigerians. Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige who briefed journalists in his office in Abuja on plans for the 2022 National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) investiture, also said that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved Thursday as the day for the conferment of the awards. Ngige also said that government is using the opportunity to recognise

Nigerians that have distinguished themselves as far as productivity record is concerned. Apart from honouring COVID-19 heroes, Ngige said the award commitee has through a thorough exercise recommended recipients for the 2019 and 2020 awards respectively. On the whole, he said the awardees are made up of 36 individuals and 10 organisations. We have confirmed to enrich the scope and content of the award. Thus, in this year, employers of labour will be recognised, the war against COVID-19 Ambassadors will be honoured. “Also is a post-humours award for two Nigerians

who had done the country proud in their various fields before their demise.” Among those selected for individual awards are the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu; Executive Director of the National Primary HealthCare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib. For the category of special COVID19 awards, former Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu; Lagos Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi and Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

The following are to recieve special awards for the Employer of Labour; Allen Oyema, Chief Mike Adenuga, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Jim Ovia and Chinedum Anthony Okereke. Ebola hero, Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh and Babatunde Lawal will recieve post homous awards. When asked the reason for the inclusion of Senator Abdullahi Adamu among the award recipients, Ngige said that the APC chairman was assessed and confirmed even before his election. He said that former Nasarawa governor has distinguished himself as an employer of Labour in the agricultural sector having operated big food crop farm and poultry farm.

NAF Recommends Adequate Infrastructure to Improve Nursing Profession in Nigeria

CAPPA Trains South-east Journalists on Trans-fats Reporting Sunday Ehigiator The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) recently trained journalists from the five states of the South-east on effective reporting of trans-fats. The two-day training organised in conjunction with the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED) in Enugu was funded by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). The training was facilitated by local and international public health, media, and communications experts including the Country Director of the GHAI, Joy Amafah, Executive Director of Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Dr Jerome Mafeni, and a representative from the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Eva Edwards who shared information on the status of the NAFDAC regulations on trans fats. The journalists were drawn from print, broadcast, and online media from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States. The training module targeted building the capacity of Nigerian journalists to understand and exhaustively report on TFAs and their link with poor health for consumers, Strengthening the relationship between Nigerian journalists, civil society advocating a trans-fat-free Nigeria and the regulatory agency (ies), particularly NAFDAC, and Sharing knowledge about local, national, and global issues relating to TFAs and the oils and fats industry. In his address, Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Professor Prof. Ikechukwu Obi who was a special guest at the event explained that the goal of this training is in sync with the visions of the Enugu State government for a healthy citizenry as espoused in its Health sector reform law, which provides for a legal framework for citizen participation in the health sector and the setting of new standards for health research and information system management. The commissioner noted that the high levels of trans fat in foods consumed by Nigerians, from fast foods to re-used oils, means the nation is sitting on a keg of gunpowder that might explode at any time in the form of cardiovascular disease of many kinds. He revealed that the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2021 reported that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally and that a year earlier, an estimated 17.9 million people died from cardiovascular diseases, representing 32 per cent of all global deaths. According to him, “of these deaths, 85 per cent were due to heart attack and stroke,” even as he added that if there is anything that public health advocates learned in the fight against COVID-19, it is the realization that working together, the challenge that threatens the collective well-being of the citizenry can be overcome.

Lagos Pledges to Improve Innovation, Deploy New Tools to Combat Malaria Esther Akinsola

The commander, 661 NAF Hospital Air Commodore AN Chukwuka presenting plaque to the representative of the Air Oﬃcer Commanding Logistics Command, the Chief of staﬀ, Air Vice Marshal AT Marquis Rebecca Ejifoma As the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) joined the rest of the world to celebrate World Nurses Day 2022, it recommended adequate infrastructure to be put in place to improve the nursing profession across the country. With the theme, “A Voice to Lead-Invest in Nursing and Respect Rights to Secure Global Health”, the NAF flagged off the World Nurses Day celebration at the NAF hospital in Ikeja, Lagos. Addressing the nurses at the NAF Base, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, said, “When you look at the record of the number of nurses that are required to adequately take care of patients, it is fast depleting. This is because nurses have become like an

endangered species.” Abubakar, represented by the Chief of Staff, Air Vice Marshal Abidemi Marquis, highlighted the need for infrastructure required to have adequate nurses who will be positive enablers in the healthcare system. He further acknowledged that it takes a lot of years to train nurses backed up with a systematic approach. “We must invest in the infrastructure in order to attract people to the nursing profession. While also recommending a review of nurses’ salary, the AOC described their efforts in the society as unquantifiable. Hence, he encouraged the nurses to see themselves as worthy ambassadors, rendering significant services to humanity. On his part, the Centre Director of Coordination, Commodore PA Yekwe, representative of the Commandant Nigerian

Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), AVM IG Lubo, echoed the views of the AOC. “Nurses are leaving the country because of the attractiveness outside. We need to invest in them by building the infrastructure. We need to entice them so that people will be attracted to the profession. We need to increase their remuneration and improve their training here and abroad,” he implored. He, therefore, cheered the nurses to continue in their act of sacrifice to God and humanity. “I believe that with time the condition of the country will improve and nurses will eat the fruit of their labour.” Speaking also, the Commander, 661 NAF Hospital, Air Commodore Azubuike Chukwuka called for regular training for nurses.

“The nursing profession is almost going extinct. Nurses are in short supply. The nurses should be better taken care of,” says Chukwuka. While conceding that the medical profession is evolving, he harped on the need for continuous training of in-house nurses and otherwise. “Nurses should not despair,” he encouraged. “They should continue to do what is right even when the remuneration is not enough. They should rather embrace the profession as a calling and service to humanity and God.” During the programme, the nursing profession was portrayed as special, considering their daily interaction with society. Hence, the profession rides on six core values that aid better service delivery. They include care, compassion, competence, communication, courage, and commitment.

The Lagos State government has pledged to scale innovation and deploy new tools to combat malaria, just as it restated its commitment to eradicate the disease from the state. Speaking during an awareness walk to commemorate this year’s World Malaria Day in Lagos, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi highlighted the essence of the theme, “Harness Innovation to Reduce the Malaria Burden and Save Lives”. Abayomi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, explained that the present administration is committed to tackling the bane of malaria. The commissioner added that this would be done by using a multi-pronged approach including environmental management and integrated vector control for the prevention of malaria; effective diagnosis and appropriate treatment of malaria cases. Others would be monitoring and evaluation with emphasis on operational research. “The use of its results for evidence-based programming remains a major public health challenge in the state.” He, however, bemoaned that the disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under-five years of age and pregnant women. He described them as the most vulnerable people to the menace. According to Abayomi, this year’s theme highlights the fact that no single tool available today will solve the issues caused by malaria. Rather, he said, collective actions involving improved investments, contemporary and enhanced vector control approaches, diagnostics and antimalarial medicines would enhance the combat against the disease. “These investments involve substantial funding, domestic support and donors. A commendable investment is the collaboration between Lagos State Ministry of Health and Godrej Nigeria Limited, producers of GoodKnight Insecticides to commemorate the Year 2022 World Malaria Day,” says the commissioner. On his part, the Managing Director, Godrej West Africa, Chitwan Singh, pledged his company’s support to the control and elimination of malaria in Lagos, Nigeria. He noted that it is essential for state and non-state actors to consolidate efforts in the fight against malaria leveraging public private partnership. Singh cautioned that malaria is a challenge within control, hence, the need for collaboration to enlighten, draw attention to and involve the right tools and technology to combat the disease in a meaningful and significant way.

T H I S D AY ˾ , MAY 12, 2022

INTERVIEW

Ill-equipped PHCs, Bane of Nigeria’s Healthcare System - Famacare CEO, Ofulue On a mission to reinforce the fact that primary healthcare is an integral aspect of Universal Health Coverage and to change the face of primary health care in Nigeria, Famacare Centre was established by Uzor Ofulue in 2019. Since then, they have been committed to providing quality primary healthcare services to residents of densely populated areas. In this interview with Precious Ugwuzor, several issues surrounding primary health care and its importance in the entire health sector in Nigeria were brought to the table Who exactly is Uzor Ofulue? like to refer to myself as a meta leader intentionally linking and leveraging the efforts of multiple stakeholders to achieve the required objectives. I have about 17 years of progressive work experience spanning five sectors: Healthcare, Management Consulting, Technology, Insurance, and Shipping. I am a strategic healthcare business leader through my involvement and successful delivery of numerous innovative healthcare products and solutions that cut across private and public sectors. I am currently the Founder and CEO of Famacare Centre Limited – a network of integrated clinics that leverages technology to provide low-cost, high-value primary healthcare services to densely populated communities. I am also a Partner at Lauren Parker limited – a professional services company that provides consulting and advisory services in Strategy Formulation, Business Process Management, Optimisation, and Improvement. Outside of work, I am keen on giving back and have been an executive member of the Delta Economic Summit Group (DESG) for the past six years. I am an active part of the team, responsible for delivering youth employability programs and other strategic projects in Delta State. I have a BSc in Microbiology from the University of Lagos and an MSc in Health Economics from the University of Sheffield. One of your main focus is on effective malaria management in the communities. What impact has your organisation made in these communities? In the three years we have been in existence, we have worked on improving primary healthcare services in various communities. We now have two main centres in Lagos: Egbeda and Abule-Egba. On April 25, which is World Malaria Day, we offered free malaria testing and treatment to residents of our host communities. We tested approximately 200 individuals for free, and those who tested positive for malaria got free consultations followed by dispensing the necessary treatment. We have weekly health talks where we educate the community about malaria prevention by cleaning surroundings, emptying congested drainages, getting rid of stagnant water, and regular fumigation – a cheaper and more effective option using kerosine in place of insecticides. We also discovered that nutrition is a major issue in the country and balanced diets are major immunity boosters. Because of the economic situation and our busy lifestyles, most people do not pay enough attention to their nutritional needs and cannot afford expensive supplements that can provide the body with the relevant immunity boosters. So, we educate them that by simply introducing fresh fruits and vegetables into our diets, we can give our bodies the nourishment to keep both adults and children healthy.

the WHO as safe and will substantially reduce severe malaria cases, it failed to mention when it will be available in Nigeria.

Why is it taking Nigeria so long to tackle the malaria scourge effectively? Sadly, the malaria scourge has lingered for a long time in Nigeria, but it’s not just Nigeria. According to the World Malaria Report published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2021, a new cause-of-death methodology was reported across 32 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. It revealed an increase in malaria in African children every year since 2000. However, I believe challenges such as funding, inadequate healthcare facilities, brain drain of qualified healthcare personnel, poor access to healthcare centres due to rurality, road conditions, and drug-resistant malaria slows down the fight against malaria. In addition, the lack of adequately equipped Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) with effective and efficient resources, including manpower, is a major bane in the pressure experienced at the country’s secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities. Therefore, trained medical practitioners should treat some medical conditions at the PHC level to eliminate the pressure at the secondary and tertiary levels of care. Also, extensive research on malaria treat-

Is data paucity a frustrating battle against malaria in Nigeria? Yes, data paucity frustrates the battle against malaria. Where data is unclear, inconsistent, or unavailable, it is pretty challenging to address the problem of malaria. However, various country programmes are reviewed to clarify and fill in the gaps where necessary. Countries need to have an accurate database of malaria cases as this is helpful in the fight against malaria. That is why at Famacare, we have completely digitalised our processes. All patients’ records are captured and saved to the cloud. This means we already have a data warehouse from our patients over the last three years and working with cyber security experts to ensure the data is protected. This approach has drastically reduced wait time at the clinic. In addition, there is no paper file or crosschecking data, instead, the patient’s entire medical history can be viewed with a simple click on the computer. This also means that even when patients change locations, they can walk into any of our partner health facilities, and with the help of technology, their medical records can be accessed without the need for fresh medical investigations. With all these data pooled together, the various country programme coordinators and health administrators can seamlessly collate the data, analyse and extract the information needed to fight malaria.

Uzor Ofulue ment needs to be done. If researchers have access to grants and funding, there will be more studies to solve this problem. The theme of World Malaria Day 2022 is “Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives.” How can diagnostics and antimalarial medicines speed the pace of progress against malaria? Diagnostics are critical in accelerating the treatment of any disease, not just malaria. Unfortunately, wrong diagnoses are increasing and an ongoing challenge within the sector. When patients are not appropriately diagnosed, the wrong treatment is administered, leading to complications and death in some extreme cases. Famacare has adopted the Gold Standard Thick and Thin Blood Film test against the more popular rapid diagnostic test for effective diagnosis. Antimalaria medicines prevent malaria, referred to as chemoprophylaxis in medicine, as it kills the blood stage of the malaria parasite, preventing the symptoms of the disease and eliminating the parasite before it can cause illness. Antimalaria medicine is an alternative to all the other preventive measures I mentioned earlier; hence if all else fails, antimalaria treatment can equally achieve the same objective. Antimalarial drug resistance is a signiﬁcant threat to malaria. How

does this need to be tackled? Research suggests that malaria parasites become resistant to antimalarial drugs. Parasite mutation rates, the overall parasite load, and dosage strength of the medicines are factors driving the resistance. Many years ago, it was customary to treat malaria with Chloroquine. Then came Artesunate, Artemisininbased combination therapies (ACTs). This is because the parasites become more resistant to the previous treatments. Also, people must adhere to the treatment guidelines, read the doctor’s/pharmacist’s prescription, and follow the guidelines on administering the dosage; complying with instructions is critical. Furthermore, the menace of fake drugs cannot be ruled out in the malaria scourge. This is an ongoing battle in Nigeria, and the regulatory bodies are trying their best to put structures and frameworks to mitigate this scourge. What is your take on the malaria vaccine? I believe this is a giant leap toward the fight against the disease. According to the WHO, over one million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi have taken one dose of the RTS, S vaccine. This first antimalaria vaccine will go a long way to curb the disease. Unfortunately, while the report further states that the vaccine was pioneered in Malawi about three years ago and certified by

“The lack of adequately equipped Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) with effective and efficient resources, including manpower, is a major bane in the pressure experienced at the country’s secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities”

Why is the country not attracting more private capital to tackle the malaria scourge? I believe many corporate organizations don’t really consider malaria a ‘major’ ailment; however, it can have devastating impacts on the economy. For instance, a report by the National Malaria Control Programme under the Federal Ministry of Health on ‘Engaging the private sector to eliminate malaria in Nigeria’ stated that Nigeria loses about US$1.1 billion annually due to malaria-related absenteeism and treatment costs. When adults are infected with the malaria parasite, they are off work for three to five days, and when their children fall sick, they still have to care for them. This affects the organization, employed or self-employed, whether in the public or private sector. Based on this significant impact on corporate organizations, they must explore avenues to fund/sponsor the various ongoing malaria programmes. While governments are the biggest drivers of healthcare capital investments, this is the time for private sector partnership. For instance, we have seen the rise of many private sector-led interventions and funding in the fight against malaria; an example is the End Malaria project, supported by notable organizations within the private sector. However, we need to see more of these collaborations, and this can only happen if companies begin to consider malaria as a major disease with a tremendous economic impact. What are your thoughts on the Nigerian health tech system? Technology in the health sector has made the industry more efficient, simplifying operations and helping better manage patient records/ data ( amongst other aspects) to be easily stored and accessible irrespective of the location. At Famacare, we are pretty big on technology. For instance, we run paperless operations; hence patients’ registrations, test results, and drug purchase processes are digitized, meaning patients’ medical records are digital, and documents can be accessed from other clinics/hospitals when we refer our patients. Furthermore, other operations besides patient onboarding and care have been digitized; our procurement, HR, Finance, and other core processes have been digitized to minimise human interventions and manual processes. So adoption of technology in the sector is very impactful; it reduces the cost of operations and ultimately boosts the healthcare system.

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ MAY 12, 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

FCMB, Mastercard Foundation Partner to Uplift 100,000 MSMEs in Nigeria First City Monument Bank (FCMB), a member of FCMB Group Plc, has partnered with the Mastercard Foundation to provide subsidized loans to 100,000 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), to scale their operations to create work opportunities for young Nigerian women and men. The program, which is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy in Nigeria, aims to sustainably move Nigerian youth out of poverty. It is being executed through a novel $27.8 million (about N15.5 billion) MSME Revitalisation Fund, ensuring that qualified MSMEs can access loans for

their business at a single-digit interest rate. Seventy percent of the MSME Revitalization Fund targets women-owned MSMEs in agribusiness, the creativeindustry, and digital sector. Speaking on the partnership, the Managing Director, FCMB, Yemisi Edun, described it as a purpose-driven intervention that would further help break the barriers that limit MSMEs’ productivity and overall success in Nigeria. She said, “The past few years have been very challenging for individuals, households, and businesses in Nigeria. Now more than ever, all hands must be on deck to create opportunities that

will sustainably enable people and businesses to find their footing and stand on more solid ground.” The Mastercard Foundation’s Country Head for Nigeria, Chidinma Lawanson, commented, “This partnership will enable us to scale our support to reach even more young people and communities that have been affected by the pandemic. Together with our partners and others, we will continue to ensure that our efforts enable young people, especially young women, to access quality education, skills, and financial services so that they can transition todignified and fulfilling work.”

FBN Insurance Pays N16.1bn Claims in 2021 Life insurance underwriter, FBN Insurance has announced that it paid N16.1 billion claims to its customers in 2021. FBNInsurance Managing Director Val Ojumah stated this while addressing the media in the company’s claim profile. Ojumah said FBNInsurance commitment to satisfying her clients was non-negotiable. “At FBNInsurance Limited, we are in the business of paying genuine claims that are due. Our strategy remains providing financial security for our clients

and as always, we will not rest on our oars to exceed our customers’ and stakeholders’ expectations, because to us, the Customer is King,” Ojumah stated He noted that customer satisfaction was the fulcrum of insurance business, and that inevitably builds customer loyalty. He said having known this; FBNInsurance would not fail to ensure this. “We believe once FBNInsurance is able to pay customers’ claims as they arise, numerous

customers and the general public will have faith to take up more life policies because they are convinced that should a claim/ loss arise, FBNInsurance will be able to meet its financial obligations to them” He noted that FBNInsurance paid N11.5bn claims in 2020; adding that this was in spite of the challenging operating environment in the country, especially as the world continues to battle with the economic effect of the Covid 19 pandemic.

Heirs Insurance Motivates Workers with Wellness Package Ebere Nwoji Digital insurance company, Heirs Insurance Limited (HIL), said it inspired its workers for optimum performance in this business year and in the years to come through rejuvenating message and wellness package to mark this year’s workers day celebration. In a corporate notice sent to

staff, the company’s Managing Director, Dr. Adaobi Nwakuche appreciated the staff for their unrelenting dedication to customer satisfaction and business growth. “We understand your hard work comes with great sacrifices and we appreciate every one of you. We will continue to prioritise your psychological and physical being as you

are important to us,” she said. She said Heirs Insurance Limited (HIL), the general insurance arm of Heirs Holdings, is redefining the insurance technology space by offering simple, quick, accessible, and reliable services to individuals and companies, adding that its affordable plans cover losses related to vehicles, homes, and buildings, and more.

ICAN Commends Linkage Assurance on Human Capital Development The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has commended Linkage Assurance Plc for its commitment to human capital development of staff particularly in the accounting practice, and its professional ethos in the insurance industry. The 57th President of ICAN, Mrs. Comfort Eyitayo gave the commendation when she led her council members on a courtesy visit to the corporate head office of Linkage Assurance Plc, as part of her working visit to Nigeria’s commercial capital. Eyitayo said Linkage had demonstrated strong support for ICAN, by regularly sponsoring its staff to the annual conference and dinner of the Institute’s MCPD programmes and other examinations of the accounting body.While commending Linkage Assurance for her competitive edge in the

Nigerian insurance industry, she said the company had displayed professionalism and creation of value to her stakeholders having stood strong over the past three decades. Eyitayo, while outlining her programmes targeted at creating value and broaden the scope of the profession for the benefit of her members, called on Linkage Assurance for continuous collaborations in areas that would impact the Nigerian economy. Responding, Managing Director/CEO, Linkage Assurance Plc, Daniel Braie who led the top management to receive the ICAN team said, over the years the institute had gained global recognition as an outstanding professional body. He said the institute had evolved and had never stopped to be the leading professional

body in Nigeria and Africa, producing world-class Chartered Accountants located all over the globe. “As a company that cherished the value creation from ICAN, Linkage Assurance Plc currently has four Fellows of Chartered Accountants, eight Associate of Chartered Accountants and nine Student Accountants.” “I can state equivocally that these members of ICAN are adding value to the company within their various sphere of engagements,” the Linkage Assurance boss stated. According to him, every year the company sends staff members of the institute to the Annual Accountants Conference, as well as the Annual ICAN dinner and ensures that they attend at least one Mandatory Accounting Professional Education (MPCE) as part of their professional development.

EEDC Calls for Caution by Motorists The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) has called on motorists to exercise caution while driving on the highways, especially as we have entered the rainy season, where visibility is usually poor once it’s raining. This call was made by the Head, Corporate Communica-

tions, EEDC, Mr. Emeka Ezeh in Enugu while reacting to the series of accidents recorded recently within EEDC network, which has affected its service delivery to her customers within the affected areas. According to Ezeh, a Toyota Camry car on Monday hit down one of the High Tension (HT)

poles in Premier Layout area of Enugu, pulling down five HT poles, leaving customers served by the line in darkness. Also, on the same day, at Emene, near Enugu, an accident involving a trailer affected one HT pole, leaving the Industrial customers within the area without power supply.

Fromleft:DivisionalHead,PersonalBanking,FirstCityMonumentBank(FCMB),Mr.ShamsideenFashola;Country Head, Mastercard Foundation, Chidinma Lawanson; Managing Director, FCMB, Mrs. Yemisi Edun; Programme Lead, Agriculture, Mastercard Foundation, Lois Sankey and Group Head, Financial Inclusion, FCMB, Mr. Adetunji Lamidi, during the signing of a partnership agreement between FCMB and Mastercard Foundation to provide subsidisedloanstoMicro,Small,andMediumEnterprisesinLagos...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 ͷ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $114.37 a barrel on Friday, compared with $113.04 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).

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͰ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

Airtel Africa Announces $755m Profit for 2022 FY Kayode Tokede Airtel Africa Plc has announced $755 million profit for the year ended March 31, 2022 representing an increase of 82 per cent over $415million reported in prior year. The telecommunication giant’s audited result showed 75.6 per cent increase in profit before tax to $1.2 billion in 2022 from $697million in 2021. With the

growth in profit after tax, the management of Airtel Africa recommended a final dividend of 3 cents per share, making total FY’22 dividends 5 cents per share (FY’21: 4 cents). From the profit & loss figures, Airtel Africa reported a revenue increase of 20.6per cent to $4.7billion in 2022 and 17.8per cent for fourth quarter of 2022. The company in a statement

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noted that constant currency underlying revenue growth was strong in all regions: Nigeria up 27.7per cent, East Africa up 22.7per cent and Francophone Africa up 17.2per cent; and across all key services, with revenue in Voice up 15.4per cent, Data up 34.6per cent and Mobile Money up 34.9per cent. According to Airtel Africa, operating free cash flow of $1.6billion, up 40.5per cent,

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with net cash generated from operating activities up 20.7per cent to $2.01billion. “Over the last twelve months the business has repaid nearly $1.4bn of debt at HoldCo as a result of strong cash upstreaming across its OpCos and proceeds from minority investments in mobile money and tower sales,” the company in a statement explained. Airtel Africa re-

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ported Customer base of 128.4 million, up 8.7per cent with increased penetration across mobile data (customer base up 15.2per cent) and mobile money services (customer base up 20.7per cent). NIN/ SIM regulations in Nigeria impacted customer growth in H1, but then returned to strong growth, adding 4 million customers in Nigeria during H2’22.

The chief executive officer, Airtel Africa, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya in a statement said: “This is another strong set of results for Airtel Africa, demonstrating our solid execution as we continue to enrich the lives of a growing number of people through leveraging the sizeable opportunity to promote digital and financial inclusion across our markets.

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THURSDAY, ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

Thursday, May 12, 2022

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THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

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Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

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Current Price

Ticker

ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϭ͘ϱй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞǆ͘ ^/ ƵƉ ϭϭďƉƐ ĂƐ E' D 'ĂŝŶƐ ϯ͘ϯй

WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂǇ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ dŚĞ ƵůůƐ ZĞƐƵƌĨĂĐĞ͘͘͘ ^/ ƵƉ Ϯ͘Ϭй

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

,KEz&>KhZ

;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, ;нϬ͘ϳйͿ ďŽůͲ

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂǇ͕ ƚŚĞ E'yͲ ^/ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Ϯ͘Ϭй ƚŽ ϱϮ͕ϴϯϴ͘ϰϱ ƐƚĞƌĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůůͲ

ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ďƵǇŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ DdEE ;нϵ͘ϮйͿ͕ ^ŚĂƌĞ

ŝŶĚĞǆ

ƌŽƐĞ

2346.24

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

ďǇ

E' D ;нϮ͘ϲйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůǇ͕ /Ed Z t ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͘ ϭϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ϯϵ͕ϱϱϬ͘ϯϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ zd ůŽƐƐ ĐͲ ŝŵͲ ĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůǇ͕ zd ǁŚŝůĞ ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ ƌŽƐĞ Ϯϯ͘ϳй ƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ Ͳϭ͘ϴй ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ďǇ േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚǇ ǁĂƐ ŵŝǆĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ;ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůǇ Ϯϭ͘ϯйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďǇ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

15 Ecobank Transnational Inc 16 International Brew eries PLC

ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ Ϯϯ͘ϵй ĂŶĚ ϯϵ͘ϴй ƌĞͲ ƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ƚŽ ϰϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ ʬϳ͘ϬďŶ͘ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕

0.0%

5.7x

Dividend Earnings Yield Yield

P/BV

0.8x

5.9%

15.9%

0.0%

8.3%

15.5%

105.6%

13.9%

14.4x

17.7x

5.6%

74.25

0.0%

6.6%

10.7%

19.1%

11.2%

35.7x

6.7x

3.6%

2.8%

23.40

-0.4%

5.1%

-10.0%

19.8%

3.2%

3.9x

0.8x

12.8%

26.0% 32.5%

39.4%

46.6%

1.3% 7.0%

24.45

1.9%

5.1%

-2.8%

20.6%

2.6%

3.1x

0.6x

12.7%

292.40

0.0%

4.4%

13.8%

37.7%

16.4%

13.2x

4.8x

6.8%

7.6%

1,400.00

0.0%

2.8%

-10.1%

112.8%

16.1%

24.3x

28.3x

3.6%

4.1%

11.95

0.4%

3.1%

4.8%

8.4%

0.8%

7.0x

0.6x

3.8%

14.2%

27.50

1.9%

3.3%

14.8%

15.5%

11.1%

7.5x

1.1x

7.3%

13.4%

9.60

-0.5%

2.4%

8.05

0.0%

1.9%

0.0%

15.6%

1.4%

2.3x

0.3x

12.4%

43.3%

34.20

-6.2%

1.4%

-5.0%

15.6%

2.1%

7.2x

1.1x

8.8%

13.9% 3.3%

3.2%

7.3%

70.00

1.4%

2.0%

40.0%

10.5%

3.9%

30.1x

3.0x

2.3%

1,200.00

0.9%

2.6%

84.6%

7.5%

3.6%

12.3x

0.9x

3.4%

8.1%

12.80

2.4%

1.8%

47.1%

18.4%

1.0%

2.7x

0.5x

5.3%

36.4%

6.75

9.8%

1.3%

36.4%

-9.9%

-3.4%

170.00

0.0%

1.1%

19.7%

43.6%

25.5%

8.9x

3.7x

4.3%

11.3%

17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC 18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

ďǇ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, ;ϭϭ͘ϭŵ

0.0%

P/E

227.50

11 United Bank for Africa PLC 12 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 13 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 14 SEPLAT Energy PLC

26.5% 134.6%

ROA

0.0%

8 FBN Holdings Plc 9 Lafarge Africa PLC 10 Access Holdings PLC

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďǇ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ

ƌŽƐĞ ʬϱϱϲ͘ϵďŶ ƚŽ ʬϮϴ͘ϱƚŶ͘ DĞĂŶǁŚŝůĞ͕ ǀŽůƵŵĞ

1.34%

ROE

1,400.00

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

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

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

1.3x

-7.9%

34.50

4.2%

1.1%

21.7%

15.9%

4.5%

5.3x

0.8x

4.8%

18.9%

3.71

3.1%

0.8%

45.5%

13.3%

1.2%

2.8x

0.3x

9.4%

35.5%

2.20

-2.2%

0.5%

-5.2%

2.3%

0.7%

25.8x

0.6x

11.4%

3.9%

ƵůůŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc

16.20

0.0%

0.4%

-6.9%

16.7%

6.6%

8.7x

1.4x

6.2%

11.5%

3.60

2.0%

0.5%

20.4%

10.7%

1.1%

ĐƌŽƐƐ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ

23 United Capital PLC 24 Guinness Nigeria PLC

13.50

1.9%

0.4%

36.4%

110.00

0.0%

0.9%

182.1%

ďƵůůŝƐŚ ĂƐ Ăůů ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŶŽƌƚŚǁĂƌĚ͘ dŚĞ &ZͲ

25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 26 Presco PLC

1.19

2.6%

0.4%

24.0%

170.00

0.0%

0.5%

93.6%

/ d ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ͕ ƵƉ

27 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 28 AIICO Insurance PLC

12.60

0.0%

0.2%

-4.5%

18.5%

5.7%

12.7x

0.80

0.0%

0.3%

14.3%

14.0%

2.2%

ϰ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘ϱй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ ŝŶĚĞǆ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ

29 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 30 Custodian and Allied Insurance

234.50

0.0%

0.2%

5.7%

46.9%

Ğƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϰ͘ϲй DdEE ;нϵ͘ϮйͿ͕ /Ed Z t ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂŶĚ E

31 Vitafoam Nigeria PLC 32 Unilever Nigeria PLC

ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ ;нϮ͘ϲйͿ͘ dƌĂŝůŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌͲ

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 34 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďǇ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŝŶĚĞǆ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d

ϵ͘ϭйͿ͕

hE/> s Z

;Ͳϯ͘ϱйͿ͕

>/E< ^^hZ

;Ͳϲ͘ϰйͿ͕

ĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƌŽƐĞ ϭ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϵй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ŽŶ

35 Oando PLC 36 Wema Bank PLC

ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ďƵǇŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ E' D ;нϮ͘ϲйͿ͕

37 NEM Insurance PLC 38 Sterling Bank PLC

t W K ;нϭ͘ϰйͿ͕ >/E< ^^hZ ;нϵ͘ϱйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ // K ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘

39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďǇ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ

ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞǆ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ ;нϱ͘ϯйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶͲ Ğƌ͕ ŝŶĐŚĞĚ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϴй ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďǇ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚŝĐĞƐ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ďǇ ϭϬďƉƐ ϯďƉƐ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ ƌĞƐƉĞĐͲ ƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘

ƟǀĞůǇ͕ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ Z Ks ;нϭ͘ϭйͿ͕ K EͲ

K ;нϭ͘ϳйͿ͕ E/d, ;нϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h E ;нϭ͘ϲйͿ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďǇ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ KƵƚůŽŽŬ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϲǆ

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďǇ ŵĂƌͲ

ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯǆ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

ŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ͕ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϯϯǆ ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϯϲǆ ĂƐ ϰϮ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ DZ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ D zͲ

^dK < ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂǇ͕ ǁĞ ĞǆƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ƚĂŝŶĞĚ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ŚƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶƐ͘ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝǆĞĚ͕ ĂƐ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůǇ ǁŝŶĚƐ ƵƉ͘

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

11.1%

2.7x

0.4%

0.5x

1.7%

3.6x

0.6%

2.2x

3.2%

31.7x

0.8x

2.5%

3.2%

8.1%

4.4x

1.7x

7.9%

22.8%

8.1%

16.4x

0.0%

0.2%

-9.5%

19.5%

5.5%

4.2x

0.8x

7.0%

23.8%

0.2%

6.4%

50.3%

19.0%

4.5x

2.2x

6.3%

22.5%

14.00

0.4%

0.1%

-3.4%

11.2%

6.9%

16.5x

1.2x

3.6%

6.1%

30.00

0.0%

0.2%

34.2%

20.7%

2.5%

5.1x

1.0x

8.6%

19.8%

6.30

1.6%

0.1%

6.8%

6.1%

0.7%

9.9x

0.7x

10.1%

5.56

5.9%

0.1%

25.8%

14.5%

2.6%

2.4x

0.3x

41.8%

3.75

3.0%

0.0%

420.8%

15.6%

0.9%

13.9x

2.0x

6.4%

7.2%

4.03

0.0%

0.1%

-10.4%

22.3%

12.9%

4.2x

0.8x

5.5%

24.0%

1.9x

0.3x

6.5%

52.0%

1.55

-1.3%

0.1%

2.6%

9.9%

0.9%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

-17.7%

-4.1%

4.50

0.0%

-16.4%

1.8x

-9.5%

0.7x

1.6%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

205.70

10.0%

J A IZ B A N K

40.4

5.9%

0.99

10.0%

T R A N SC OR P

35.4

0.0%

C H A M P ION

4.43

9.9%

IN T B R EW

25.4

9.9%

1.11

9.9%

UN ILEVER

24.6

-8.5% -4.9%

IM G

9.45

9.9%

F ID ELIT YB K

21.0

T R A N SC OH OT

4.45

9.9%

GT C O

18.9

0.8%

IN T B R EW

8.90

9.9%

Z EN IT H B A N K

16.2

0.2%

LIN KA SSUR E

0.69

9.5%

M B EN EF IT

14.3

4.0%

GLA XOSM IT H

7.60

9.4%

WA P C O

13.1

1.4%

262.10

9.2%

UB A

12.6

0.0%

M TNN

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er IKEJ A H OT EL B UA F OOD S

P ric e 1.17 56.70

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

-10.0%

M TNN

1293.7

9.2%

-10.0%

D A N GC EM

1134.1

2.6%

GT C O

450.8

0.8%

ET ER N A

6.54

-9.9%

NNFM

9.05

-9.5%

P R ESC O

405.2

3.9%

393.3

0.2%

R T B R ISC OE

0.63

-8.7%

Z EN IT H B A N K

UN ILEVER

14.00

-8.5%

WA P C O

374.5

1.4%

362.6

-8.5%

SOVR EN IN S

0.26

-7.1%

UN ILEVER

B ER GER

7.20

-6.5%

GUIN N ESS

316.7

-1.5%

224.9

9.9%

200.2

4.0%

C A VER T ON

1.18

-6.3%

IN T B R EW

F ID ELIT YB K

3.52

-4.9%

C A D B UR Y

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

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

7.9%

-0.8%

P ric e

M C N IC H OLS

6.1%

7.15

C WG

OKOM UOIL

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5.6%

3.4x

23.95

T o p 10 G a in e r s T ic k er

17.8%

0.3x

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu | dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 10May-2022, unless otherwise stated.

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 200.72 201.87 20.23% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 6.19% Nigeria International Debt Fund 319.49 319.49 4.38% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 105.26 106.41 6.69% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.18% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.70 3.76 4.40% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A info@anchoriaam.com 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 22.62 23.30 11.51% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 509.08 524.43 12.84% ARM Ethical Fund 42.71 44.00 9.64% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.06 1.06 -2.11% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.04 1.04 2.29% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.73% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 105.16 105.16 8.03% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,103.61 1,103.61 10.36% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.10 2.10 8.60% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.39 2.44 30.38% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalﬁf@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.04 1.04 2.96% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.78% Paramount Equity Fund 20.42 20.81 17.13% Women's Investment Fund 154.34 156.20 8.67% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.95% Cordros Milestone Fund 137.56 138.49 10.25% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 109.15 109.15 4.78% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 4.62% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 5.79% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,145.73 1,156.31 -1.72% EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.29% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 7.40% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.07 1.07 17.29% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 102.22 102.22 4.16% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1448.94 1448.94 10.27% FBN Balanced Fund 195.87 197.29 11.76% FBN Halal Fund 119.39 119.39 9.20% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.17% FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) 123.64 123.64 4.78% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 171.43 173.73 12.43% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.17% Legacy Debt Fund 3.98 3.98 -0.50% Legacy Equity Fund 1.97 1.21 -9.59% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.22 1.22 1.36% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

4,262.37 3,545.48 100.00

4,332.17 3,545.48 100.00

27.22% 6.24% 6.39%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.10 1.10 3.66% 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 4.79% Vantage Balanced Fund 3.13 3.20 16.57% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 140.02 140.02 2.18% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.35 1.39 13.31% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.08 1.08 4.14% 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 N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 13.75 13.83 16.53% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.79% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 101.42 101.42 5.69% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 8.08% 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 1.74 1.76 8.03% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.72 11.74 4.86% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 6.16% PACAM Equity Fund 1.58 1.59 11.30% PACAM EuroBond Fund 116.19 118.99 0.98% 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 134.43 137.31 11.45% 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 1.02 1.02 9.25% 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 3,738.78 3,781.72 8.62% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 238.49 238.49 1.17% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.50 1.53 16.54% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 319.30 319.30 1.90% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 276.30 280.62 14.17% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.61% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 12,693.89 12,876.21 14.28% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.31 1.31 1.69% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.28 118.28 1.12% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 109.10 109.10 2.47% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 1.05 1.08 13.43% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.52 1.54 11.58% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.22 1.24 12.28% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.10 1.10 2.65% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 2.00 2.00 2.39% United Capital Eurobond Fund 124.64 124.64 1.88% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.65% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 14.14 14.28 7.27% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 16.43 16.62 12.48% Zenith Income Fund 22.57 22.57 2.48% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.39% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 4.30 4.40 7.12% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 6.77 6.87 15.73% Vetiva Grifﬁn 30 Exchange Traded Fund 20.11 20.31 13.65% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.26% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 22.52 22.72 12.63% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 166.80 168.80 5.69%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

122.16 53.16

1.62% 0.82%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

15.31 151.09 119.04 23.55 23.21

15.41 154.79 121.63 23.65 23.31

9.58% 14.77% 14.87% 0.00% 0.00%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.55

12.10%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

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.

THURSDAY MAY 12, 2022 • T H I S D AY

THURSDAY, ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

FIFTY-SIX

Buhari Can't Stay Beyond 2023, Olanipekun Tackles Clarke Says call is threat to democracy, national security Alex Enumah in Abuja Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, has taken a swipe at Chief Robert Clarke, another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, for seeking an extension of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure. Clarke, a few days ago, had cited security challenges as threat to the 2023 general election, and said President Buhari should be allowed to continue as President after May 29, until a conducive atmosphere for the conduct of the elections. But Olanipekun, while reacting, described Clarke's statement as

unconstitutional, immoral and threat to the nation's democracy. Olanipekun, in his opposition to Clarke, noted that the only situation where election could be shifted, was if the nation was at war with a foreign country as provided in Section 135(3). The former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), however, contended that the current security challenge in the country could not be equated with war envisaged under Section 135(3) of the Constitution and urged President Buhari to resist every temptation to stay in power at the expiration of his tenure. Olanipekun, who wondered

why Clarke, who condemned ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo's bid for a third term, would turn around to advise Buhari to engage in direct breach of the Constitution, said Buhari was not expected to deal with all the nation's challenges before vacating office. "I am afraid, I cannot agree with the postulations and prognosis of my learned friend of the Inner Bar (Clarke) as, same, with much respect to him, are not constitutional, legal, legitimate, moral, democratic, acceptable, reasonable, or in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. "While it is glaring that Nigeria is bedeviled by a mountain of daunting challenges, including

insecurity, this cannot be any justification for a call for PMB or any President, howsoever, to extend his tenure outside the constitutionally provided maximum period of eight years, as prescribed by the combined provisions of sections 135(2) and 137(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). "With further respect, the suggestion is a direct call to breach of the Constitution, as well as its spirit, tenor and letter. There is no gainsaying the fact that the end result of such a proposition would further compound the conundrum that we have steeped into and, plunge us to a latent state of

anomie. "It is quite disturbing, unfortunate, uncheering, and very worrisome that since 1999, Nigeria has been migrating from one problem to another, oscillating from one crisis to another; graduating from one degree of catastrophe to another; as a result of which the landscape has become a practicing pitch for all sorts of theories, ideologies, ideas, suggestions, prognosis and hypothesis, the last of which has just come from the respected Chief Robert Clarke, SAN," he said. While Olanipekun noted that the suggestion if considered at all, would further compound the woes of the nation and terminate the

survival of the current democratic dispensation, he advised President Buhari to tread cautiously with any invitation to him to extend his tenure by a millisecond beyond May 29, 2023. "In parenthesis, the President does not have the power to extend his tenure; no President has that power or vires to so do. The tenure was given to him by Nigerians and, as at the time of donating that tenure to him, the covenant between the donors and the donee was that in the first instance, it was for a term certain of four years; and upon renewal in 2019, it was for an extended term certain of four years; no more, no less," he added.

CONCERNS MOUNT OVER N'ASSEMBLY'S AMENDMENT OF ELECTORAL ACT TO BOOST LAWAN’S CHANCES has continued to generate mixed reactions in the polity as well as among senior lawyers. THISDAY gathered that the aim of the fresh amendment to the Electoral Act which received accelerated passage at both chambers of the National Assembly, was to increase the chances of Lawan in the party’s presidential primaries and subsequently in the presidential elections. “What the National Assembly is trying to do is to back Lawan with the huge number of statutory delegates of past and present legislators that the amendment would be allowed to attend such conventions and congresses. They are in the region of almost 4,000, who are expected to support Ahmad Lawan. So, that is why they are trying to amend the law again to suit their own selfish purposes and calculations. But will President Buhari sign it? That is what everyone is asking,” a source who pleaded to remain anonymous stated. Analysts easily point to what happened to the previous electoral bill where they reached an understanding with the president to amend after signing the amended Electoral Act only for the lawmakers to renege. . Those identified as ‘statutory delegates’ include the President, Vice President, Members of the National Assembly, Governors and their deputies, Members of the State Houses of Assembly, Chairmen of Councils, Councillors, National Working Committee of political parties, amongst others. Meanwhile, some senior lawyers who spoke on yesterday’s appellate court ruling noted that with the judgment, political appointees are

free to participate in the congresses and conventions of their political parties without having to resign their appointments 30 days to such congresses and conventions. However, others disagreed, claiming that with the setting aside of the judgment which had ordered the striking down of the section of the electoral act, the section subsists until set aside. Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court, Umuahia had in a judgment delivered on March 18, 2022, held that the said Section 84 (12) which barred political appointees from participating in the congresses and conventions of their political parties except they resign their appointments 30 days to the period was unconstitutional. The lower court had predicated its decision on the fact that the constitution had already stipulated the criteria for the qualification and disqualification of persons seeking election into public offices, adding that the provisions of the amended electoral act runs contrary to the provisions and as such must be struck down. However, not pleased with the decision, the People’s Democratic Party had approached the court to set aside the judgment of the lower court on the grounds that it erred in law when it entertained a suit wherein it lacked the legal authority to do so because the plaintiff was not qualified to institute the legal action. However, delivering judgment on the appeal yesterday, the appellate court held that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit and subsequently voided the judgment of Justice Anyadike. The judgment was in the ap-

peal marked: CA/OW/87/2022 and had Nduka Edede and the Attorney General of the Federation as respondents. In a unanimous decision, the three-member panel of the appellate court presided by Justice Hamma Barka held that the Federal High Court, Umuahia, had no jurisdiction to have entertained the case in the first case because the plaintiff, Edede, did not have the legal authority to initiate the suit. According to the panel the plaintiff failed to establish any cause of action to have warranted his approaching the court on the issue because he did not establish that he was directly affected by the provision. The Court of Appeal subsequently struck out the suit marked: FHC/ UM/CS/26/2022 which Edede had filed before the Umuahia court. In reaching the decision that plaintiff lacked locus, the court held that he failed, "to show that he is that political office holder who is affected by the vexed section. " Curiously, none of the numerous office holders, to which the section of the Electoral Act is targeted has shown interest in the matter. “I agree with the appellant that from the 1st respondent affidavit in support of the originating summons, no discernable personal interest to the 1st respondent has been shown to exist. "To that end, I am in full agreement that the1st respondent in the circumference, lacked the requisite locus standi to initiate the action before the lower court, and the court devoid of jurisdiction in entertaining the suit/action. “The aggregate of all I have been saying is that owing to the fact that the 1st respondent lacked the locus

standi to sue, and there being no right of action in his favour, the lower court had no jurisdiction to entertain the suit and thereby laboured in vain. The resultant effect is that the action before the lower court is liable to be struck out and is accordingly struck out. “Consequently, we would proceed to examine issues two and three which forms the fulcrum before the trial court generating the instant appeal and issues two and three being interwoven and related, the issues would be considered at the same time.” According to the justices, the nullification of the judgment of the lower court ought to have ordinarily settled this instant appeal, “But, we are very conscious of the fact that the decision of this court may not be the final decision on the issue, this being a penultimate court.” The panel acknowledged that there are divergent views on what they should do in the circumstance, “having arrived at the decision that the lower court lacked the necessary jurisdiction to entertain the action, in the first leg.” While they submitted that there was the need and duty to avail the apex court a view on the matter being agitated, the panel subsequently delved into the merit of the suit and held that the said Section 84 (12) was unconstitutional because it breaches Section 42 (1)(a) of the Constitution by denying a class of Nigerian citizens their right to participate in an election. “The provision of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022 specifically targets political appointees and disqualified them from being voting delegates or from being voted for at convention or congress of any

AT LAST, PDP NEC THROWS PRESIDENTIAL TICKET OPEN, RECOMMENDS CONSENSUS held on Wednesday March 16, 2022, resolved as follows: "That Zoning and Rotational Presidency provision in the PDP is good and served the party well in the past. It should be affirmed and it is hereby affirmed. We must always try to enshrine justice justly and fairly. "That it is in the interest of justice and fair play that the party should take decision on zoning timeously so as to prevent complication to the process as it is happening now. "In the light of the above, the presidential election should now be left open. However, the party should work towards a consensus candidate where possible," the NEC said, even as it adopted the zoning committee report. In his opening address, National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, said, the NWC was working round the clock to reposition the party. At the same time, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Sokoto State Governor, Waziri Tambawul, said, the party was well-mobilised towards various congresses and national convention and ultimately, the 2023 general election.

"I assure you, Mr. Chairman, as your governors, we are always ready to continue to give you every support that is required for our party to emerge successful in the general election, starting with congresses at various levels. We're very proud of the work, you're doing and members of the National Working Committee," he said. House of Representatives Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, said the array of credible, competent and experienced statesmen as PDP presidential aspirants, had unsettled the failed, corrupt and rejected All Progressives Congress (APC). According to him, "The rattled APC is parading a congregation of pretenders and political strange bedfellows; flocking treasury looters, narrow-minded politicians and failed government officials, many of whom are not in contest but recruited as conduits to siphon billion of naira from public treasury as exorbitant nomination fees to corruptly amass election slush fund for the APC. "Among these are individuals who, as officials of the failed APC administration engaged in reckless pillaging of our commonwealth and foisted a life of misery where millions of Nigerians can no longer

afford their daily meals and other necessities of life. "They include those who condone and rationalise the daily killings and acts of terrorism in our country; who sit in government that deliberately denies our youths the education and opportunities they deserve; failed politicians, rejected by Nigerians, yet, they have the impudence to seek office as president. "Is it not provocative that while thousands of our university students are shut out of their classes over the lingering strike by lecturers in our public universities, the ministers whose responsibility it is to address the issues are more interested in politics?" He, therefore, called on the federal government to immediately resolve the industrial action so that the students could return to their studies. His words: "We also restate our demand to the federal government to address the challenges in the aviation sector as well as the lingering fuel crisis, which have further crippled our nation’s economy. "More importantly, we call on President Muhammadu Buhari to take stronger steps to secure the release of those abducted by

terrorists including in the Kaduna/ Abuja train attack and especially, the woman who put to bed at the den of kidnappers. We must not let our citizens continue to languish in captivity. "Leaders of our party, it is apparent that the APC, having lost all goodwill is deliberately deploying poverty and social dislocation as political weapons to weaken the resolve of Nigerians ahead of the coming elections. "Nevertheless, one thing is sure, Nigerians have seen through the antics of the APC and cannot be compromised by money or coercion. That is why they are rallying the PDP platform. I salute their courage and determination and we must not let them down. "We must remain united and focused in all our activities. We must go into this NEC meeting with undiluted patriotism, eschew all personal, group and sectional interests and come out with strong decisions that will lead our party to victory in 2023," he said. The presidential convention is scheduled to take place in Abuja and the committee is headed by a former President of the Senate, David Mark.

political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election. "This provision does not disqualify any other class of person. “The term community is not defined by the constitution but it is a Canon of constitutional interpretation that where words used in the Constitution are clear and unambiguous they must be given their natural meaning “The term: community in Section 42(1)(a) of the Constitution as members of that group share the same job and therefore, the same political interest. "Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act expressly subjects them to disabilities and restrictions from other citizens of Nigeria, other communities, political interests and political views and thereby contravenes the provision of Section 42 (1)(a) of the Constitution and thereby null and void," he said. Reacting to the judgment, rights activists and constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, told THISDAY that, “they are just saying that because the plaintiff did not have locus standi and if a plaintiff does not have locus standi it means that the court has no jurisdiction. But on the merit of the case, they said Section 84 (12) is unconstitutional and invalid.” Also, senior lawyer and President of the Center for Socio-Legal Studies, Professor, Yemi Akinseye-Goerge while also agreeing that Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act, 2022, was patently unconstitutional as has now been confirmed by the Court of Appeal added, “Until the Supreme Court says otherwise, political appointees are free to participate in their party’s convention as voters or as candidates without resigning their appointments until 30 days to the general election.” While agreeing that the law was discriminatory, the law professor argued that the National Assembly lacks powers to make any law that discriminated against any group of Nigerians “such as this provision which abridges the rights of appointees to participate fully in the primaries of their parties. No one should suffer any disability not recognised by the constitution.” Akinseye-Goerge added that, “Qualifications for participation in elections are clearly stated in the Constitution. They cannot be modified through subordinate or inferior legislation like the Electoral Act. This is in line with a long list of authorities decided by the Supreme Court on the relationship between the Constitution and other laws.” He, however, acknowledged that the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) that they should resign is the best for the country. “They are already distracted and can no longer give their best to the government. It is embarrassing that rather than finding solutions to the problems facing the country they are busy campaigning for votes,” he added. Also speaking in the same vein another senior lawyer, Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN, commended the

appellate court for delving into the merit of the appeal and reaching the decision that the said Section 84 (12) was unconstitutional. He said, “Their lordship has done the right thing as the middle court, they have to delve into the merit of the case and they have even settled it for the High Court judges because they now know that that section is null and void,” adding that only the Supreme Court could set it aside. According to Akintola, “for now it stands”, because once a judgment is delivered by a court of record that judgment must be enforced, as parties have no other choice on the issue but enforce it. The senior lawyer while blaming the legislators for placing political consideration over the law stressed that any law that discriminates against citizens can hardly stand the test of time. “A law is no law if it fails the litmus test of quality; the quality of a good law is that it must be certain, it must not be discriminatory, it must be universal because when a law is targeted at a group of people it is termed a bad law and that is exactly what has happened in respect of Section 84 (12). “That section is unconstitutional because it deprives Nigerians of their rights”, he said, stressing that whether a governor has 400 appointees, it is left for Nigerians to decide whether they are good for political offices. But Mr. Dayo Akinlaja, SAN on his part disagreed with the two submissions, observing that the position appears rather unclear yet. “I just came across another story in the social media that the Court of Appeal referred the issue of the validity or otherwise of the provision to the Supreme Court for determination. On this standpoint, it is sheer wisdom for one to read the judgment of the Court of Appeal before proffering opinion on the issue.” He said, “Nonetheless, it should be safe to say that once the Court of Appeal has held that the High Court in Umuahia had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter for want of locus standi on the part of the person who instituted the suit, it follows that the decision of the High Court is non-existent. “As a sequel to that, whatever decision reached by the Court of Appeal would remain the correct position pending the intervention of the Supreme Court, given the opportunity.” According to him, if the Court of Appeal held that it is invalid, that would represent the position of the law as of today. “However, if the Court of Appeal merely referred the question of the validity or otherwise of the provision to the Supreme Court for determination, the situation would be that there is no judicial determination of the validity or otherwise of the provision yet. “In that case, the law would remain as it is in the Electoral Act, meaning that political appointees cannot vote or be voted for during primaries”.

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TINUBU SUBMITS HIS FORMS... L-R: Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, led other APC chieftains to submit the Expression of Interest and Presidential Nomination forms of the party's National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the International Conference Centre in Abuja...yesterday

Abdulsalami, Anyaoku, Utomi, Others Hold Emergency Confab over Constitution Review Sunday Aborisade in Abuja Prominent Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones of the country, have scheduled an emergency national conference in Abuja, to discuss the ongoing constitution review being undertaken by the National Assembly. An emergency meeting would hold today in Abuja to constitute the National Task Force for Zonal and State Political Dialogue. Head, Media and Publicity of National Consultative Forum, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, disclosed this in a statement yesterday. The statement explained that the Emergency Political Reforms Dialogue on the Constitutional Future of Nigeria would hold at the Yar'adua Centre. It explained that the confab had received major groundswell during the week, from the support and goodwill of key stakeholders and eminent Nigerians Tanko, according to the statement, said some of those, who gave the historic Confab their support and goodwill were a former Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar, and former Secretary General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku,.

Others were the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (SCIA) led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar; former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Cardinal John Onayekan, and President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Olasupo Adeniyi Ayokunle. Also onboard were Tanko Yakassai, Former Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande; former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah and former President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo. Included too were a former Chairman of the NDDC, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba; Leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Leader of Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Prof Ango Abdullahi; Faculty Director of the Fix Politics Initiative, Prof Remi Sonaiya; and other key leaders of Nigerians in Diaspora. The further statement added that Nigerians in the Diaspora were already home-bound to participate in the historic Confab, among other delegates nominated by the Confab selection council to attend the national conference. Part of the statement read:

"The all-inclusive non-partisan Multi-stakeholders' National Political Reforms Dialogue on the Constitutional Future of Nigeria is convened by a distinguished body of Esteemed Statesmen and women and Eminent Leaders of thought under the auspices of the Nigeria Political Summit Group (NPSG) working in conjunction

with a respectable group of elders and leaders of conscience under the umbrella of National Consultative Front (NCFront) with support from some civil society platforms in Nigeria. The statement explained that the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Utomi, had expressed optimism that both President

and women, national assembly members, cabinet members, political associates, and supporters, among others. Abiodun, after submitting the nomination form, said with the support from the masses, he was confident of victory during the March 11, 2023, governorship elections. He added that his administration was committed to the delivery of real dividends of democracy in all aspects of life to all citizens of the gateway state. Somorin quoted Abiodun as saying that he was committed to providing qualitative governance to all residents of Ogun State. According to the statement, the

agenda for national consensus in taking effective advantage of the ongoing constitution review process of the Nigerian National Assembly. He further claimed that the leadership of the National Assembly, had been invited to interface with the Nigerian leaders at the conference.

Online Voters’ Registration to End May 30, Says INEC Abuja school tasks commission to cancel undemocratic congresses Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, hinted that online voters’ registration would be suspended by May 30, 2022. This is as the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, has asked INEC to cancel all undemocratic congresses conducted by the All Progressives Congress (PDP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) within the last month. INEC Chairman, Prof Mohmood Yakubu, who spoke at a meeting with civil society organisations

(CSOs), said this was to enable the online registrants to complete their registration physically at the designated centres before the exercise is finally suspended on June 30. According to Yakubu, this would enable the commission to clean up the registration data, print the permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) and compile the register ahead of the 2023 general election. He explained that for the first time, INEC deployed the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), which involves fingerprint identification and facial

2023: Abiodun Submits Forms, Optimistic of Victory The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun yesterday, submitted the expression of interest and nomination forms for his re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the party leadership in Abuja. Abiodun arrived at the venue around 3: 15p.m amid pomp and pageantry, waving flags and singing songs in praise of the governor who is seeking a second term in office. According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, the governor, who submitted the forms to party officials at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, was accompanied by a large crowd, which included party stalwarts, elder statesmen

Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who have been duly invited, would also attend. Utomi, the statement stated, clarified that the Thursday gathering had been conceived as a critical summit of an inclusive platform of diverse stakeholders to negotiate and harmonise zonal and sectoral

governor said: "Today, I formally submitted my nomination and expression of interest forms to our party leadership. "For the avoidance of doubt, I am running for a second term in office, and I have announced that I will be running with my deputy, Mrs. Noimot Salako Oyedele. "We are running on the records of our achievements in the last three years. We have been open, transparent, inclusive, accountable and brought dividends of democracy to every nook and cranny of Ogun State. “We have put in place, a robust economic agenda, that is encapsulated in our ISEYA (Infrastructure, Social Welfare

and Welfare and Wellbeing; Education, Youth Empowerment and Agriculture) developmental agenda and it has propelled all the various interventions that we’ve had in Ogun State. "Despite COVID-19 and its constraints, we achieved landmark achievements across all sections for which we have received recognition globally. It gave us the opportunity to redouble our efforts and ensure that people can feel us meaningfully in all areas. We shall not rest on our oars. The future of the next generation is the foundation we are laying. All good hands must be on deck." Continued online

biometric recognition, to clean up the registration data. According to him, there were many progressive provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, which required deployment of technology, noting that one of such provisions was the electronic transmission of election results. He stated that section 54(2) of the Electoral Act, also made provision for assistive materials for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). "This is another progressive provision of the new Electoral Act. Over the years, we have worked with the disability community in designing some of the assistive materials such as the Braille Ballot Guide and the provision of magnifying glasses for visually challenged voters and posters for the deaf. "We are also working together to collect disaggregated data for PWDs to assist the commission in optimally deploying the assistive materials. To deepen our collaboration, a meeting will be convened as early as next week with the disability community to discuss the implementation of the provisions of the new Electoral Act on inclusivity," he said. The INEC boss added that the commission had taken into consideration, the lessons learnt from the most recent bye-elections, on the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), following

the complaints received after the recent area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in February this year. Meanwhile, in a letter to INEC, Director of the Abuja School and legal scholar, Associate Prof Sam Amadi, cautioned against INEC reneging on its constitutional duties enshrined in the extant laws governing the regulation of political parties' primaries in Nigeria. According to Amadi, "The apparent violation of some of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 by the political parties compels the Commission to intervene to protect the core principles of electoral democracy as enshrined in the constitution and the new electoral law. "It is important to stress the importance of the new electoral law in helping to establish democracy and accountable governance in Nigeria. It holds the key to reversing the political capture of electoral democracy in Nigeria by a few political stalwarts, who have turned party leadership into a weapon against the democratic freedoms of Nigerians and the consolidation of democracy. "The general consensus reflected in the 2022 amendment of the electoral law is that it is time to effectively regulate management of party primary elections in order to secure strong foundations for democracy in Nigeria."

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AT HALO'S FINANCIAL SERVICES PRESS CONFERENCE... L-R: Chief Investment Officer, Halo Capital Management, Kunle Akintunde; Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Halo Financial Services Ltd., Chidimma Onyeokoro; Managing Director, Halo Microfinance Bank ,Eyo Eyo; Chief Growth Officer and Co-Founder, Halo Financial Services Ltd., Nnenna Onyewuchi and Chief Technology Officer, Halo Financial Services Ltd, Tomiiwo Fakinlede, PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA during Halo's Financial Services Limited Press Conference in Lagos...yesterday.

Osinbajo in Bauchi, Says He’ll Focus More on Security, Economy, Common Man’s Life Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, yesterday, in Bauchi State, said his administration would focus more on improving security, economy and the common man’s life. Osinbajo, who spoke during his engagements with stakeholders and delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across state, promised increasing opportunities for young people. Citing global challenges, including the previous slump in crude oil prices that had led to a recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, and Russia-Ukraine war, Osinbajo stated that, “the

economy is one that we have to pay constant attention to, and, of course, security, is also very important. These are issues that concerns us, which we are trying to deal with every day.” On security, he said the focus of the Buhari administration was to enhance local capacity on arms and ammunition production, and that Nigeria must build on the current challenges to develop a robust system that would tackle all of the challenges on scale. On sustaining positive growth in the economy, the vice-president said, interventions that promote

youth employment will be prioritised, especially, the provision of necessary infrastructure. In agriculture, he noted that if basic infrastructure was provided, farmers would record improvements in yield and improved living conditions for their families, adding also that the Buhari administration had prioritised ramping up local fertiliser production to support the massive farming activities going on across the country. In the power sector, he said changing the grid structure, decentralising the distribution network and reviewing existing regulations

were some of the decisions that were being considered to overhaul the power sector for better result, whilst in the education sector, was of the view that, leveraging technological innovation to improve teaching methods and curriculum would greatly impact the quality of education in the country. However, praying for Osinbajo, the Emir of Bauchi, HRH Dr. Rilwan Suleiman Adamu, said, “We believe that power belongs to God and He gives power to who he wishes to give. “Your Excellency, we are not politicians and cannot participate in

Senate Mourns 40 Taraba Residents, Six Soldiers Killed By Terrorists House urges Army chief, IG to secure Takum LGA, fish out terrorists Sunday Aborisade and Udora Orizu in Abuja The Senate, yesterday, mourned the recent killing of over 40 persons, including soldiers, by terrorists in the southern part of Taraba State. The action followed a point of order by Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (APC, Taraba South). Bwacha drew the attention of the chamber to the incidents of banditry and terrorism that occurred in Southern Taraba during the Sallah break. He said the attackers came on motorbikes and killed over 40 persons, including soldiers who were mobilised to protect the community. The Senator consoled with Military authorities over the loss of its men and officers in the line of duty. He appealed to the federal government to direct the relevant agencies to provide relief materials to the victims of the attack. The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, called on Nigerians to support the military by providing the needed motivation and information to enable them tackle the problem of insecurity. Lawan said, “Let me also say that the military and our armed forces are doing their best, we have no alternative but to support them in whatever way possible. “Here in the Senate and National Assembly, we have been appropriating funds for our armed forces, and I believe that this administration

has provided more resources to them to fight the various forms and ramifications of insecurity in the country than any previous one. “So, we will continue to give that kind of support. And I also want to urge all Nigerians to continue to support our armed forces because they are doing so much even though we don’t have enough for them. “But I believe that the support of citizens for the armed forces will galvanise and keep them motivated.” The Senate, thereafter, observed a minute silence to all those killed by terrorists in Southern Taraba. In a related development, the House of Representatives, yesterday, urged the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Farouk Yahaya and the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to deploy more security men to effectively secure the Takum Local Government Area in Taraba State and fish out the terrorists. The lawmakers also urged the intelligence agencies to take steps to fish out the sponsors of the terrorists and made to face the law. They urged all branches of government to ensure that the shortage of men in the armed forces was urgently addressed, “for we have too few armed men to combat the nature of the security challenges confronting the country today.” The resolutions, however, followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance on the ‘unconscionable killings of civilians and soldiers in Takum, Taraba State’, sponsored by Hon.

Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum. Moving the motion, Kwekum noted that, on Tuesday 10th May 2022, bandits/terrorist attacked Tati village in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State, adding that the Tati village, a farming community, was razed down by bandits, who had arrived in the area the previous night. He said the bandits ambushed the security agents, who were outnumbered and in the ensuring face off, six soldiers were killed, after the bandits had earlier killed a policeman at a check-point and other civilians at Tati. He said the House was aware that the massive movement of the

terrorists to the area had been reported by residents to government agencies and functionaries as well as security agencies some days back. The lawmaker, who expressed concerns that the bandits were increasing their reach and more parts of the country, lamented that the persistent and consistent killings of both security personnel and civilians might dampen the morale of the soldiers and encourage the bandits to cause more havoc. Adopting the motion, the House observed a minute silence in honour of the civilians, policemen, and soldiers, who were gruesomely butchered to death by the terrorists.

politics, but still, we advise wisely and prayerfully for whatever would be the success. If not (that I am an Emir), maybe I would have asked His Excellency to make me his campaign coordinator for Bauchi.”

A foremost Islamic scholar and cleric in the state, Tijaniyya leader, Sheik Dahiru Usman Bauchi, expressed his support for the Vice President yesterday, while the VP was in the State.

Anap's Foundation Poll Skewed to Favour APC, SDP, Says Ekiti PDP Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has described as laughably tainted with fraud and personal agenda, a survey conducted on behalf of the Atedo Peterside-led Anap Foundation by NOI Polls Limited on the June 18 governorship election in the State. The PDP, which alleged that Peterside, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was acting as a judge in his own cause, adding that, "predicting that PDP will come distant third in the election and close race between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the SDP can only happen in the mind of someone who is trying to make himself feel good in his new political party." Petetside had on Tuesday released an opinion poll through Anap Foundation predicting tight race for APC and SDP, with the PDP rated distant third. This had irked the main opposition party. But the State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Raphael Adeyanju said, "Even though we are doubtful that NOI Polls Limited commissioned Atedo Peterside's Anap Foundation to carry out such survey, it is our counsel

that the organisation will do itself much good by dissociating itself from such tainted and fraudulent survey, which was obviously a calculated attempt to give life to a dead horse." Adeyanju added: "PDP is a wellstructured political party in Ekiti, with supporters across the State. The June 18 election will further establish the acceptability of our party and its candidate, Hon. Bisi Kolawole by the people of Ekiti just as it happened in 2018, but the party was robbed. "If Atedo Peterside/SDP strategy is to help his cash-strapped party (SDP) in Ekiti to raise fund by creating a fake perception of popularity for a three months-old-party in the State that is without political structure anywhere, that is dead on arrival." The statement further stated: "Our attention has been drawn to a purported survey conducted by Anap Foundation for NOI Polls Limited on the June 18 governorship election in the State. "To us, even if someone is aiming for a miracle, it should be in line with reality and the reality here in Ekiti today is that SDP can only win in the dreamland.”

HACEY Health Donates Treated Nets, Blood Testing Machines to Kaduna IDP Camp John Shiklam in Kaduna A non-governmental organisation, HACEY health, has donated treated mosquito nets, blood sugar and blood measuring machines to internally displaced persons camp (IDP) in Kafanchan, Jama’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The donations were made during a medical outreach by the organisation to mark the World Health Day. The IDPs were also offered free medical services during the outreach.

Speaking with journalists in Kaduna after the event, HACEY health State Coordinator, Jennifer Agbaji, said the world health day, which was celebrated around the globe, provided an opportunity for HACEY health to reach underserved communities. “We decided to reach out to the IDPs in Kafanchan, Jama’a Local Government Area to create awareness on health issues and offer free medical services. We also donated Blood Sugar testing machine and Blood measuring machine to the IDP as well as

treated mosquito nets to pregnant and nursing mothers at the camp. We tested and treated blood pressure and malaria,” she said. According to her, there are 337 households and 1,952 people at the camp, mainly women and children, most of whom were widowed and orphaned as a result of the attacks in the area, adding that the IDPs were enlightened on the causes and prevention of malaria, hypertension, diabetes which, according to her, are silent killers. “We spoke to them about

some health issues like malaria, diabetes, HIV, hypertension and personal hygiene. We told them that malaria causes malnutrition in children under five years. We educated them about symptoms of malaria and how to prevent malaria. We educated them about hypertension, which is a silent killer and the need to be checking their blood pressures from time to time. We also told them how hypertension can damage the heart and other blood vessels which can lead to stroke, heart attack and dead”, Agbani said.

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NEWS

COVID-19 PALLIATIVES SUPPORT... L-R: Mrs. Toyosi Akinrele Ogunsiji; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; His wife, Mrs. Chioma Uzodimma and Representative of Chairman of Victim Support Fund, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), during a visit to Imo State to present some COVID-19 palliatives to the people at the Imo International Conference Centre, Owerri...recently

APC Ticket: Tinubu will Congratulate Winner if He Loses, Says Babachir Lawal I'm trusting God to emerge presidential candidate, Bakare declares Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal has said former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu would congratulate the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary if he loses in a free, fair and transparent manner. Lawal, stated this when he led the delegation of Tinubu Support Group (TSG), including the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and House of Representatives Chairman on Finance, Hon. James Faleke to submit Tinubu’s completed forms yesterday in Abuja. "Well, we feel elated that today we've come to submit the winning form and we have complied with one of the major requirements of the party for contesting for presidency on the platform of APC. "We've done all that is required, we've submitted all the required documents as you can see, we have received our acknowledgement copy and we're confident victory will be ours come 30th May during the convention," he said. Lawal insisted that him team was 100 per cent ready for the party's primary slated for May 30, 2022. He explained that the Tinubu camp was not facing any challenges,

saying as politicians, they have been in the game for many years. According to him, whatever challenges they have had already been converted into opportunities. Asked to explain what he meant by the statement that Tinubu would go back home if beaten, Lawal added: "He's a democrat. Every politician should not be afraid of the election because the probabilities are two: either you win or lose. So if we lose at the convention we go back home. We lick our wounds and prepare to support the winner if he emerges in a free and fair manner." Lawal said President Muhammadu Buhari's directive for to his ministers with presidential ambition to resign was not a threat to Tinubu in any way. According to him, “How can it be a threat? The more the merrier. We are democrats and we believe that if there are one million contestants on the platform of the APC, we will carry the majority of the delegates at the convention. So the more the merrier, they are all welcome.” Meanwhile, the running mate to President Buhari in the 2011 elections, Pastor Tunde Bakare yesterday said he was trusting God to emerge as the standard bearer of the party.

Three More Kano APC Lawmakers Defect to NNPP Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Three more lawmakers in the Kano State House of Assembly have defected to the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) from the All Progressives Congress (APC). This was contained in their separate defection letters addressed to the Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, notifying the House of their defection from the APC to the NNPP. Spokesman of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Uba Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement yesterday, revealing that the letters dated May 5, 2022, were received by the House, at same time. The lawmakers that defected to NNPP were: Abdullahi Iliyasu Yaryasa, Member, representing Tudun Wada Constituency; Muhd Bello Butu Butu, Member representing Tofa/Rimin Gado Constituency

and Kabiru Yusuf Ismail, Member representing Madobi Constituency. THISDAY recalled that last week, 10 lawmakers of People Democratic Party in the Kano State House of Assembly had defected to the NNPP. The lawmakers then were: Isyaku Ali Danja of Gezawa Constituency; Umar Musa Gama of Nassarawa Constituency; Aminu Sa’adu Ungogo of Ungogo Constituency; Lawan Hussain Chediyar ‘Yan Gurasa of Dala Constituency and Tukur Muhammad of Fagge Constituency. Others were; Mu’azzam El-Yakub of Dawakin Kudu Constituency; Garba Shehu Fammar of Kibiya Constituency; Abubakar Uba Galadima of Bebeji Constituency; Mudassir Ibrahim Zawaciki of Kumbotso Constituency and Yusuf Baba gida of Gwale constituency.

Bakare stated this while speaking with journalists after submitting his expression of interest and nomination forms. His words: "What's next is in the hands of the party, and the organisers of the screening and everything before the primary we

have to comply with all the rules." The presidential hopeful said anyone that participates in a race must comply with the rules. Bakare added: "We have fulfilled our own side. It is now for the party to set the stage and to tell us what next, they will determine what

next what I know for now isn't the only screening and after screening for those who may have appeal, they will appeal and thereafter there will be primary and by the grace of God, we have decided to run according to the rules and we expect to win by special grace."

He insisted that his chances of emerging as the party's candidate are as bright as that of any person. “I'm eminently qualified, either age or experience or everything that counts in this race. And I trust God that I will emerge the winner," Bakare said.

Alleged Fraud: Court Rules in Favour of Jang, Pam, Says EFCC Obtained Statements by Duress Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos, yesterday ruled that the disputed statements obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the trial involving a former Governor of the State, Senator Jonah Jang were not voluntarily given and therefore, cannot be tendered as evidence in court. Presiding Judge, Justice Christy Dabup gave the ruling in the conclusion of trial-within-trial after taking arguments from prosecuting and defense counsels, rejecting the EFCC claim that the statements were voluntarily given. Jang, who governed the state from 2007 to 2015, is standing trial alongside a former cashier in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Yusuf Pam over an alleged misappropriation of public fund amounting to over N6.3 billion Before the ruling by the court yesterday, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacob (SAN) had called a witness and investigator with the EFCC, Mr. Sunday Musa to testify. Musa had told the court that Pam withdrew cash running into millions of naira and handed it over to Jang. He claimed that their investigation revealed that the money was part of the N2 billion which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) gave to the state government as loan in 2015 for disbursement to medium and small scale enterprises. But when the EFCC counsel sought to tender the statements which the EFCC allegedly obtained from Pam through Musa, Pam’s counsel, Mr. S. Oyawole raised an objection and argued that the said statements were obtained under duress from his client and therefore inadmissible in court.

The development had prompted the court to order a trial-within-trial to determine whether the statements were voluntarily given or given under duress. Delivering her judgment after arguments by counsel to both parties, Justice Dabup said: “The court has considered all the arguments and evidences before it during the trial-within-trial. “It is the duty of the prosecution to prove that the statements were made voluntarily. For a confessional statement to be admissible in court,

it must be proven to be voluntary. “The statements were not recorded or put in a video tape. Also, the prosecution witness admitted that no one when the confessional statements were obtained, except the team of investigators,” adding that Pam wanted his lawyers present but was not obliged. "Non-compliance with administrative criminal justice will affect the admissibility of the confessional statements. Court observed the demeanour of the witnesses; witnesses were evasive during

the cross examination. “Slapping of the second defendant (Pam) while making statements appears to be credible; it appears to the court that the second defendant was more or less guided to make his statements rather than being left alone to make his confessional statements. Therefore, all issues are resolved in favour of the second defendant", the Judge ruled. The case is expected to continue today, having ruled on the trialwithin-trial.

Party Primaries: Senate Adjourns Plenary Till June 7 Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Senate yesterday adjourned plenary till June 7, 2022, to enable lawmakers to participate in the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and State Houses of Assembly primaries. The motion for adjournment was moved by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North) and seconded by the Deputy Minority Leader, Shuaibu Lau (Taraba North). The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in a Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Elections released on 26th February, 2022, had directed political parties to conduct their primaries for the nomination of candidates from April 4 to June 3, 2022. The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, before the close of plenary yesterday, explained that the decision to adjourn plenary was to enable lawmakers participate fully in activities and processes leading to the conduct of party primaries for the various elective positions ahead of the 2023 general elections.

He said, “Processing of forms for House of Representatives and Senate has started and we are expected to submit our completed forms tomorrow (Friday). “We have some of our colleagues here who are going for governorship seats of their states. “It is very important that we participate in the process that affects us directly, as well as those that do not affect us directly - that is the State Houses of Assembly, Governorship and Presidential. “Consequently, we have to adjourn to enable us participate fully in all these activities because we are supposed to be active participants. So, I wish all of us the best of luck. “For the presidential candidates, we are four and we pray that one of us will emerge as the candidate of the ruling party.” Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday passed a bill to repeal and re-enact the Customs and Excise Management Act 2004. The passage of the bill followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariffs. Chairman of the Committee,

Senator Francis Alimikhena (Edo North), in his presentation, said the bill amongst others, seeks to assist the Nigeria Customs Service administration in driving economic growth and trade facilitation. He added that bill when signed into law would make the NCS a legal entity under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning with a Board to serve Nigerians and facilitate international trade. According to him, the bill which has 283 clauses, also seeks to bring the Customs and Excise Management Act in line with modern day Customs operation globally; and provide for the NCS a consolidated single legal reference document instead of multiple enactments. The lawmaker noted that the proposed legislation also makes provision for the use of electronic documents, electronic payments and other information technology that are applicable to modern Customs Administration. The bill after a clause-by-clause consideration by the Committee of the Whole was passed by the chamber.

THURSDAY MAY 12, 2022˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Polytechnic Lecturers to Begin Strike on May 16 FG resumes talks with ASUU

Onyebuchi Ezigbo inAbuja

The Academic Staff of Polytechnic (ASUP) will begin a two-week on Monday, following the expiration of the ultimatum given to the Federal Government. The union’s ultimatum expired on May 4. In a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency meeting of the union in Abuja on Wednesday, ASUP urged the public to prevail on the government to do the needful to avert an indefinite strike in the sector. “Following exhaustive deliberations, on the update as outlined above, the emergency meeting of the union’s National Executive Council has resolved that with effect from Monday, May 16 2022, members should withdraw their services in a two weeks industrial action,” said the communiqué signed by ASUP president, Anderson Ezeibe. The union said that within the ultimatum period, it met

with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to review the implementation of agreements reached with the government.

Some of the issues contained in their grievances are non-release of promotions and non-implementation of approved salary structure and

non-release of the approved revitalisation fund for the sector. Meanwhile, the Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has said it will

host a “tripartite-plus” meeting with the government, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other registered trade unions in

Nigerian universities, as well as identified interest groups and civil societies on the ongoing industrial actions by the trade unions.

JOURNALISTS’ PROTECTION ON THEIR MINDS…

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Prinav Media Consultant, Mr Tony Amokeodo; Co-host, Your View, TVC News, Mrs. Tope Mark- Odigie, and Director, International Press Centre (IPC), Mr. Lanre Arogundade, during the IPC’s presentation of documentaries on attacks on journalists and Stakeholders’ Roundtable on protection of journalists in Abuja …yesterday

Abia Monarchs Urge Insecurity: Ogun PDP Aspirant Seeks Parties to Zone Guber Devolution of Powers to Local Chiefs Tickets to Isuikwuato James Sowole in Abeokuta

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

As the issue of zoning of the 2023 Abia State governorship position remains unresolved ahead of party primaries, traditional rulers have waded into the fray with a demand that power should move to the old Isuikwuato district in line with the existing rotational arrangement. The royal fathers made their position known in a statement entitled: ‘The position and demand of Isuikwuato District in the Abia State equation in 2023’. They lamented that the marginalisation of the Isuikwuato district (made up of Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Local Government Areas),

represented by the letter ‘I’ in the acronym from which Abia State derived its name has remained an aberration in Abia politics. In a statement signed by the Chairman of Isuikwuato/ Umunneochi Traditional Rulers’ Council, HRH Eze Godson Ezekwesiri, and Secretary, Eze Uwadiegwu C. Ogbonnaya, the royal fathers insisted that the time has come to end the age-long exclusion of Isuikwuato from the power equation in the state. Therefore, the monarchs called on all political parties in Abia State to give their governorship tickets to candidates from Isuikwuato district in the spirit of equity, fair play and ‘being your brother’s keeper’ ethos of Igbo cosmology.

Armed Men Attack Lagos Hotel, Kills Guard, Rob JAMB Officials Rebecca Ejifoma

A gate keeper simply identified as Peter was, yesterday killed and three Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) officials among others, were robbed after armed men attacked a hotel in Ikorodu area of Lagos State. The robbers were said to have stormed the hotel at 2.30am and allegedly broke into rooms for their operations. It was learnt that Peter was shot after he attempted to stop the robbers from escaping.

Although he was rushed to the hospital, he didn’t make it. Police Spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident. He added that the three JAMB officials have been moved to a safe place. “One Prof. Odunsi, an official of JAMB who lodged at the hotel, was robbed of his two tecno phones, one HP laptop and N20,000 cash. “Similarly, two female officials of JAMB, who lodged at the hotel, were robbed of their phones and jewelry” he listed.

We Have Not Endorsed Any Aspirant, Says Niger NLC Laleye Dipo inMinna

The Niger State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has clarified that it has not endorsed any aspirants for elective positions in 2023. The clarification was contained in a statement that was jointly signed by the NLC State Chairman, Mr. Yakubu Garba and the Trade Union Congress State Chairman, Mr. Yakubu Gana, in Minna yesterday. It said: “The public should disregard claim(s) of purported

endorsement of any aspirant by the organised labour movement in Niger State.” It, however, disclosed that the labour leadership has met with all those aspiring to emerge as election candidates in all the registered political parties. “Since the commencement of 2023 politicking, the Niger State’s council of the organised labour has hosted among others, gubernatorial aspirants, and aspirants for position of Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly,” the statement explained.”

A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Mr. Segun Sowunmi, has called for devolution of powers to local traditional chiefs, also known as Baales, in order to stem the tide of insecurity in the country. Sowunmi noted that Baales are the first level of security in their areas and there is a need for administrative and

legal structures, empowering them to carry out their duties. He spoke in Abeokuta during a consultation meeting with Baales in Egbaland, as part of his move to realise his 2023 electoral ambition. The Baales were drawn from Obafemi Owode, Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Odeda, Ifo, Ewekoro, all Local Government Areas in Ogun Central Senatorial District. Sowunmi said Baales are not in contention with the monarchs

and should be allowed to perform their roles to drive the security and development at the grassroots. He said: “I am particularly concerned that we have not been able to find an administrative structure to accommodate Baales and take advantage of the closest they are to the people and the proximity to the land and it has cost us gravely. “Part of the reason we have not been able to secure our fringes is because we have not

given any responsibility to our Baales. It is time now to create a framework where the Baales will have bigger roles according to the procedures of the service in such a way that we know that these are the responsibilities that they have and the wherewithal we have given them to be able to carry out the duties. “If we must be secured, if we must develop evenly, if we must be prosperous, then we must figure out how to devolve more powers to the Baales.”

Police Designate ACPs as Rights Commission’s Liaison Officers in 36 States Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja In a bid to improve the human rights records of the Nigeria Police, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, yesterday ordered the designation of Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) in charge of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as National Human Rights Commission’s liaison officers in the 36 States. He said the liaison officers

would be mandated to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act/ Laws (ACJA/ACJL) “during investigations, interrogations, and gathering of evidence, and the resuscitation of human rights desks in state police commands nationwide”. The IG gave the directive while receiving the Chairperson of the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr.

Salamatu Suleiman in his office. The NHRC boss had discussed the possibility of having contact persons at the various police commands for effective handling of human rights related cases which prompted the directive. A statement by Force Headquarters said the visit opened up productive discourse towards engendering human rights practices and ensuring better interface between the Police and the NHRC in a bid

to facilitate prompt responses to matters of human rights abuse while ensuring professionalism on the part of both institutions. The IG, while assuring of his administration’s commitment to the achievement of improved human rights driven policing in line with his policing agenda, expressed willingness to cement the already established collaboration with the NHRC to fast track reforms that will enhance public trust and confidence in the Nigeria Police.

Teachers Registration Council Wants Act Amendment to Strengthen Regulatory Powers Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has disclosed that it has approached the National Assembly for amendment to the Act establishing the council to change its name to Teachers Regulatory Council of Nigeria. The Registrar of TRCN, Prof Josiah Ajiboye, stated this in Abuja yesterday while speaking as a guest lecturer at the 24th annual

seminar of the Nigerian Academy of Education with the theme: ‘Professionalisation of Teaching in Nigeria, Past, Present and Future’. Ajiboye said although TRCN conducts registration of teachers, it performs other regulatory functions in terms of ensuring quality, monitoring and accreditation of programmes as well as providing training programmes for teachers. According to him, “Part of things we are looking forward

to in the future is a change in the name of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria to the Teacher Regulatory Council of Nigeria; it’s the same TRCN. Actually, the idea behind that is that when you hear teachers’ registration council, people normally think that the function of TRCN is limited to registration of teachers. “And we say no to that; although we register the teachers, we perform other regulatory functions in terms

of ensuring quality, monitoring and accreditation of programmes as well as training programmes for teachers. “So, we do more of regulation than just registration of teachers. We are not limited to registering teachers only. It’s Teachers’ Regulatory Council that would actually capture the essence of what we do at the level of TRCN. And that is why we are making that proposal to the House Committee on Basic Education.”

Masari Shuts Batsari-Jibia Road over Abductions by Terrorists Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, yesterday ordered the immediate closure of Batsari-Jibia road to curtail the persistent abductions of passengers on the road. Masari in a statement issued by the Director Press, Office

of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abdullahi Yar’Adua, urged all motorists to desist from plying the road. Batsari and Jibia are among the frontline local government areas in Katsina State that are under persistent killings, kidnapping and attacks by motorcycle-riding terrorists

operating in the state. Masari said he shut down the road in accordance with the power conferred on him in Section 176 sub-Section 2 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. He called on residents of the state and security agencies to ensure strict

compliance with the new order to checkmate attacks and abductions of passengers by the terrorists. He, however, approved the immediate reopening of Kankara-Sheme road which was closed in 2021 due to banditry, with immediate effect for all motorists.

THURSDAY MAY 12, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

ISWAP Executes Shekau’s Aide-de-Camp over Attempt to Surrender to Troops

The Islamic State of the West African Province(ISWAP) terrorists have reportedly eliminated one of its top commanders, Abu-Sadiq, popularly known as Burbur, over his alleged plans to surrender to the Nigerian Army. It was gathered that Burbur was executed in Galta village close to Madagali. He was found guilty of a treasonable felony by a purported court presided over by Ya-Shaik, an ISWAP ‘fiye’ (militant chief) of Sambisa Forest. Intelligence sources in the Lake Chad area said Bubur was incarcerated in an ISWAP prison in April after trying to escape. He was executed on May 9. Security sources said before his death, Burbur’s last appointment was deputy military chief (nai’b) in charge of Sambisa Forest and Timbuktu Triangle. The appointment was made in May 2021 after he swore allegiance to ISWAP because of his thorough knowledge of the terrain and his strategic former appointment as the operation commander and aide-de-camp to Abubakar Shekau. Burbur was in charge of

coordinating attacks on military formations and towns, including Michika, Madagali, Askira Uba and other parts of Adamawa. As one of the most trusted lieutenants of Shekau, Bubur was always seen standing behind the scene in Shekau’s videos. Shekau’s other top commanders of the Jam’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihd, who pledged allegiance to ISWAP, include Ba’a Umara, Ba’ana Biga, Abu Maryam, Abu Ayuba, and Ibn Yusuf. Sources said Nigerian troops killed Ba’ana Biga and Ba’a Umara during a massive intrusion into the terrorists’ enclaves in Sambisa while Abu Maryam and Abu-Ayuba, and Ibn Yusuf, were deployed to take strategic positions in Timbuktu Triangle. The troops had cleared about 24 camps of the Boko Haram and ISWAP in Sambisa Forest in the North-East of Borno. The 402 Special Forces Brigade troops led the operations, comprising 134, 198 and 199 Special Forces Battalions, under Operation Hadin Kai’s second

phase of Desert Sanity. The troops successfully cleared some of the terrorists’ enclaves in Mantari, Gapchari, Ngalmari,

Malumbori, Kyautari, Malmatari, Kanari, Kajimari, Ngauramari and Yusufari, among others. Other camps include Karimi,

Jaltawa, Bula Galda, Yale, Bone, Shigabaja, Dole, Chingori, Ukcha, Dalbo Jibrin, Dagumba Zainabe, Dagumba Shettimari, Yerimari

and Amchile, leading to the elimination of many terrorists while others were forced to surrender to the Nigerian troops.

PUBLIC SECTOR AWARD…

L-R: Head of Corporate Communications, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed;Publisher/ CEO, REVENUE Magazine, Frederick Apeji and Ag. Director General (DG), SMEDAN, Wale Fasanya, when REVENUE Magazine presented the ‘Public sector excellence award to the DG of SMEDAN, Dikko Umaru Radda, in Abuja…recently

Hero Lager Fetes Customers Family Decries Non-immortalisation of Western Region Governor, Fadahunsi with Nwanne Connect

Sunday Okobi

Nwanne Connect, the largest gathering of brothers was held last weekend in Onitsha, Anambra State, with top Nigerian artists performing hit songs and entertaining the people of the South-east region. The campaign, according to the organisers, is in recognition of Igbo people, culture, and the celebration of brotherhood. Some of the artists who performed at the gathering included the P-Square, IllBliss, Zoro, HarrySong, SlowDogg, Mr. Raw, Nkem Owoh, White Money among others.

Speaking at the event, the Marketing Director, International Breweries Plc, Tolulope Adedeji, said: “Igbo people anywhere in the world always call one another ‘Nwanne’, which means you are my brother, and you can count on me as a brother. We are here to celebrate 10 years of Hero Lager being a core part of the lives of people in the South-east region of Nigeria. At this point, we need unity in the country and Igbo land. So, when we say Nwanne let’s connect, it’s for a good course of being heroes in what we do and being united David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka as brothers. President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Oilserv, Engineer Emeka Okwuosa, on the inauguration seems unwilling to put an end of a world-class hospital built by to the regrettable reoccurring his foundation, Emeka Okwuosa menace.” Foundation. Kuni said the group Okwuosa will today condemned in strong terms (Thursday) inaugurate a the current insecurity, especially multi-million dollar Cardiology bandits’ activities, in the state that Medical Centre in Oraifite, the citizens are being killed on a daily basis with no positive reaction towards putting an end to it. Wale Igbintade According to him, “We believe this is the handwork of politicians A Lagos High Court sitting in who are using it as campaign strategy. Our state (Taraba) has Ikeja has held that a property not been like this until the bitter management company, CMB side of politics entered into our Building Maintenance and people. Now brothers are killing Investment Company Limited brothers and sisters no long greet has the right to fix service one another because of politics. and reticulation charges for homeowners in Pearl Garden Estate situated at Sangotedo Village in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state. Justice Mufutau Olokoba Abuja, Shepkong said: “We call on Plateau citizens both at home and abroad to unite behind a peaceful and Oyo State politician, Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi, has prosperous Plateau.” He said the association is officially declared his intention a non-political, non-religious to return to the Nigerian Senate association organised exclusively to represent Oyo South Senatorial District on the platform of the All for charitable, scientific, and Progressives Congress (APC). educational purposes. In a statement released yesterday He also said it was established in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, specifically to engage in the Okanlomo of Ibadan land education, health, social and described his ambition as one that economic development activities is not built on “mere promises” for the poor, disabled and but one that guarantees the underprivileged in Plateau continuity and expansion of an and the US. already established track-record

Group Condemns Bomb Blast in Taraba, Writes to Governor Taraba State Indigenes Development Association (TSIDA) in the Diaspora, South-west chapter, has condemned in its totality the recent bomb blast that occurred in Iware and Nukkai areas of the state. The association spoke through its Zonal Secretary/spokesman, Ezekiel Zik Kuni, in Lagos while handing over their letter to the the Taraba State Governor, Mr. Darius Dickson Ishaku, through the Director of Taraba State Liaison Office in Lagos, Mr. Solomon Joseph. The association expressed unhappiness on the recent killings and kidnappings in the state, “whereby the government

Plateau Indigenes in Diaspora Call for Unity The Plateau State’s indigenes living in the United States of America (US) have called on the citizens of the state to unite and embrace peace. The group, under the auspices of the Plateau State Association USA, Inc. (PSA-USA, Inc), gave the charge when its newly elected president, Dr Barth Shepkong, delivered a speech during the swearing-in ceremony abroad. In a statement, signed by the Public Relations Officer of the body, Mrs .Francisca Keyen, and made available to newsmen in

The family of late Governor of the old Western Region, Sir Odeleye Fadahunsi, has decried the refusal of both the Federal and Osun State Governments to accord their patriarch the honour due him since his passing on May 12, 1986. This is coming just as the family stated that the refusal of the two tiers of government is a disservice to the nationalistic efforts of the late politician whom has been described as one of Nigeria’s founding fathers.

Fadahunsi, who was elected into the defunct Western Region House of Assembly on the platform of the National Council For Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) took office as the governor of the region with the exit of the former holder, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, the then Ooni of Ife in 1962. He vacated office in January 1966 upon the takeover of government by the military, which resulted in late MajorGeneral Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi coming to power.

The position of the family is contained in a statement issued in Lagos by one of the sons of the deceased, Mr. Taiwo Fadahunsi, yesterday as part of activities marking the 36th anniversary of the demise of the late nationalist. In the statement, Fadahunsi stated that the family has written a series of letters both to the state and federal government, “without acknowledgement,” describing the action as ‘regrettable and unfortunate’.

“Today marks the 36th anniversary of the demise of our father, Sir Odeleye Fadahunsi. Since he died in 1986, there have not been any deliberate efforts to immortalise his memory by Oyo (now Osun) state. The federal government too has not done anything to immortalise him. “We wish to state that other nationalists of the stature of our patriarch have been honoured with one monument or institution without any thought to Sir Odeleye.”

Buhari Commends Okwuosa on Inauguration of Dialysis Centre in Anambra Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, a facility adjudged to be the best in Nigeria, and which may transit to teaching hospital soon President Buhari while reacting said the inauguration of the hospital is a demonstration of public spiritedness, love and care for the deprived and underprivileged, commending same to all high net-worth individuals round the country. A press statement by his

spokesperson, Femi Adesina read in part: “President Buhari describes the multi-billion naira Dame Irene Okwuosa Memorial Hospital that will dispense health care to the people of Oraifite and surrounding communities as “a worthy example of partnering with government, which cannot solely meet all the essential needs of our teeming population.” “The hospital, a general facility but with special interest

in cardio-thoracic services, President Buhari notes, is a step further in the philanthropic activities of Okwuosa, long known for his humanitarian gestures to society. “The 27-bedded free hospital, an investment in advanced medicine, President Buhari submits, is a way in which the Oilserv boss is shining the light, “and it behoves other blessed and successful people in society to follow suit.”

Court Upholds Estate Mgt’s Authority to Fix Service Charges made the declaration while delivering judgment in a suit filed by some of the homeowners against CMB estate management and the Oyetubo Jokotade Estate Resource Limited (previous landowners). Four homeowners in the estate, Francis Adesuyi, Felix Obiakor, Martin Ajayi-Obe and Peter Afenotan who filed the suit on behalf of themselves and other homeowners within

the Pearl Garden Estate had among other things prayed the court to declare the arbitrary reticulation and service charges by the estate management as illegal. In his judgment, Justice Olokoba upheld the right of the estate management to fix both charges saying that having agreed to pay for the charges of maintaining the estate, the homeowners cannot renege from the agreement.

The court however held that there must be an agreement between the estate management company and homeowners over the actual amount to be paid for the services. The judge said: “ No doubt the defendant is entitled to collect the service charge and the residents/homeowners are bound to pay the service charge as stated in the Sale and Management Agreement.

Senator Akanbi Declares for Oyo South Senatorial Seat of performance. While expressing gratitude to his thousands of supporters and political associates, who have been encouraging him to throw his hat into the ring, Senator Akanbi noted that he considers the call on him not to be only a show of love but also proof that the people of Ibadan, Ido, Ibarapa and all local governments in Oyo South have made development their priority. He said: “It gives me great joy and a sense of fulfillment that although I left the Senate in May

2019, the Almighty has helped me to sustain all my commitments to the development of Oyo South and the welfare of the good people of Ibadan, Ido, Ibarapa and all its towns and villages. “Staying consistent with my belief that infrastructural development is a major driver of economic growth, my contribution to the Ibadan-Lagos railway project has been well documented and cannot be overemphasised. So are my efforts towards the revitalisation of the Ibadan Airport. Today, both

projects remain among the best things happening to the economy of Oyo state. “I have also never ignored the need to directly impact the microeconomic needs of our people and that is why despite being out of office, we have continued to commit personal resources to ensuring that we constantly support our youths, market women, artisans and trade associations with grants, work tools and soft loans to boost their careers and businesses.

THURSDAY, ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Nigeria to Host 1st CAF Cup Final in 18Years Nest of Champions in Uyo gets nod for 2022 Confed Cup final For the first time since 12 December 2004 when the Abuja stadium hosted the final match of the CAF Champions League featuring Enyimba and Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia, a Nigerian stadium will be hosting a CAF cup final. Yesterday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed that the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo will host the 2021/22 Confederation Cup final on Friday, 20 May 2022. This is the first intercontinental major cup final to be hosted in Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. Uyo is the capital of Akwa Ibom State – the home of Nigeria’s Premier League side Akwa United FC. Last year, the Confederation Cup final was hosted in Cotonou, Benin Republic where Morocco’s Raja

Club Athletic beat Algerian side, JS Kabylie 2-1. Four teams remain in the race to win the 2021/22 CAF Confederation Cup. In the first match of the first leg of the semi-finals, DR Congo’s TP Mazembe scored a late goal to secure 1-0 victory over RS Berkane of Morocco. In the second semi-final, the first leg between Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli and Orlando Pirates from South Africa saw Orlando Pirates take a 2-0 advantage to the second leg. The second leg of the semi-finals will be played on Sunday, 15 May 2022. In another development, CAF has awarded the hosting rights of the CAF Champions League to Morocco as the country was the only one that submitted bid. With the North African nation

having hosted last year’s final, CAF encouraged other countries to stage the match but, despite expressions of interest from Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa, only Morocco remained when it came to decision time. With its brand new 50,000-ca-

pacity Stadium in Diamniadio, Senegal had been considered a serious candidate to win the bid but withdrew last week. A CAF source told BBC Sport Africa it costs “a significant amount” to host the final and “if it was easy, we’d be discussing

candidacies from 10 countries or so”. The African Champions League final was previously decided via a two-legged (home and away) tie, but the format was changed to a one-off match in 2020. In a possible sign of the dif-

ficulties in finding a host nation willing to invest funds in hosting the final, CAF also announced on Monday that talks are underway to revert to a two-legged final. Casablanca’s Mohammed V Stadium also hosted the African Champions League final in 2021.

The Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo is Nigeria’s first sports facility to host CAF competition final in 18 years when the Confederation Cup final is played there on May 20

Excitement as AFN’s All Comers Train Makes Final Stop in Abuja FOUR-STAR GENERAL...

Kevin de Bruyne scored four goals as Manchester City mauled Wolves 5-1 to go three points clear of Liverpool with two matches to end of the 2021/22 English Premier League season...last night

2022 CBN Senior Tennis Tourney Serves-off in Abuja Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The 2022 edition of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Senior Open Tennis Championship will serve off at the tennis complex of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja tomorrow. The Director, Corporate Communication Department, CBN, Mr. Osita Nwanisobi, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while briefing reporters. He said that the final of the tournament to be played on hard court will come up on May 21, 2022. Nwanisobi reiterated the apex bank’s pledge to sustain the sponsorship of the tournament, which the bank has undertaken for 44 years. Citing the names of past winners of the competition who had

excelled in international circuits, he noted that the objective of the Senior Open tennis championship remained to create a platform for the discovery, harnessing and grooming of young talents to represent Nigeria at various international tennis competitions. Nwanisobi highlighted the role of the youth in nation building, adding the CBN was committed to empowering the Nigerian youth through its various interventions. The apex bank spokesman also urged youth in the country to take advantage of the intervention programmes in the bouquet of the bank. He also tasked participants at the competition to take opportunity of the Championship to exhibit their talents, with a view to showcasing them at tournaments locally and internationally.

The city of Abuja will come alive from today through Friday May 13, 2022when the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) All Comers competition makes its third and final stop as preparations continue for July/August's Commonwealth Games. The competition, which began at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin in March moved to the

Yaba College of Technology Sports Ground in Yaba, Lagos last month and is now making its final stop in Abuja. While the competition in Lagos was used as the final window for home-based athletes to secure the qualification standard for the 22nd African Senior Athletics Championships scheduled to hold in Mauritius in June, the Abuja event

Flying Eagles Qualify for WAFU B Semis, Held By B’Faso Femi Solaja The Flying Eagles of Nigeria were held 2-2 by Burkina Faso at the ongoing 2022 WAFU Zone B tournament in Niamey, Niger Republic. The this second match result of the Group B clash, the Flying Eagles on four points have booked a place in the semi final despite the outcome of the final group clash between reigning African champions Ghana and Burkina Faso on Saturday. The Flying Eagles will finish as Group B winners if Burkina Faso fail to beat Ghana by more than two goals. Ladan Bosso-led side defeated Black Satellites of Ghana 2-0 in their group opener on Sunday. Ibrahim Muhammad and Ibrahim Yahaya were the scorers for the Nigerian side against Burkina Faso. In Wednesday’s game, which was played inside Stade Seyni

Kountche, Niamey, the Flying Eagles took the lead on 24 minutes through Muhammad whose attempted cross from the right sailed into the top corner. Burkina Faso fought back to level things up but the Flying Eagles reclaimed the lead thanks to Yahaya who converted a 69th minute penalty. Only the finalists from the two groups are to qualify for the African U20 Championships later in the year.

of his contributions to promoting friendship between Japan and Nigeria through sports. The NOC supremo becomes the fourth Nigerian to receive such Order from Japan, following Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, former Minister of Budget and National Planning, Prof Isaac Folorunso Adewole, former Minister of Health, as well as Prof Mohammed Gana Yisa, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Japan.

In a Press release issued by the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, it stated that the NOC President has been instrumental in building relations with the Japanese Olympic Committee and has contributed significantly to the promotion of bilateral cooperation between Japan and Nigeria over the years through the Olympic Games. “His unwavering support of Japan's bid was a major contribution to winning the vote to host the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and since assuming the

performances since the start of the season. ''For example, Sunday Akintan, a 17-year-old has jumped from a 10.65s runner just a little over a year ago to run a 10.23s lifetime best. Same as Ogheneovo Nicholas Mabilo,19, who ran 10.24s at the first edition of the AFN All Comers in Benin in March. 'Another teenager, Konyasila Ajayi improved from a 10.92s personal best to run 10.26s at the Yaba College of Technology sports ground last month while Gracious Junior Ushie, a 20-year-old also ran a new 10.25s personal last month in Ilaro,' said a delighted Onikeku. 'Prosper Oghenemine Ekporore's 13.71s performance in the 110m hurdles in Lagos last month is the fastest any Nigerian man has run since Oyeniyi Abejoye ran 13.69s in June 2019. Abejoye himself was second in the race in Lagos with a 13.72s performance'. The AFN technical director is also impressed with the female sprinters including Praise Ofoku, the 100m finalist at the World U20 championships in Nairobi, Kenya last year who ran a new 11.49s personal best in Benin two months ago.

Ecuador’s World Cup Ticket Threatened as FIFA Probes Player Super Eagles opponents in next month’s International Friendly, Ecuador, have come under FIFA probe for allegedly fielded an ineligible player in World Cup qualifiers.

Japan Honours Gumel with ‘The Order of the Rising Sun' Award President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr Habu Ahmed Gumel, is among distinguished personalities in the world to be honoured by the Government of Japan with the most prestigious Foreign Recipients of the 2022 Spring Imperial Decorations. Gumel, one of the experienced sports administrators in the IOC will receive ‘The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon’, one of the highest order awarded in the name of His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan, in recognition

will serve as the final chance for the athletes to secure places in the AFN Classics scheduled to hold in Benin in a forthnight. Samuel Onikeku, AFN’s Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, stressed yesterday that the All Comers competition was designed to give athletes the competition they require to aid their preparations for the major athletics championships and games this summer. “The AFN is happy with the performances of some of the athletes as they prepare for the major events ahead starting with the African Championships in Mauritius next month. Our team to the championships will be dominated by home-based athletes and the federation is happy to always get them ready in terms of competitions,' said the World Athletics certified Level-1 coach. Onikeku said through the competition and others organised by coaches in some states across Nigeria, the athletes have continued to impress. ''It is heart-warming to note that a number of our junior athletes have been churning out personal best

post of Olympic Committee Coordinator, he has visited Japan several times to attend and actively participate in discussions, thereby contributing to the success of the Games. The NOC President was also lauded for his contributions to strengthening sports exchange between the two countries by sending Nigeria's national Volleyball coach to Tsukuba University and dispatching Volleyball coaches from Japan to help the development of the game in the country.

Ecuador and Mexico have been lined up in friendlies with the Super Eagles in USA in June with Assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf calling 30 players for the games. But yesterday, Chile filed a complaint with FIFA claiming that Ecuador's Byron Castillo is in fact Colombian, and has falsified his age. The Football Federation of Chile (FFC) claims the 23-yearold defender used a false birth certificate and nationality to register as Ecuadorian. If true, under FIFA rules Ecuador could have to forfeit their World Cup place. Ecuador finished fourth in CONMEBOL qualifying and claimed an automatic place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar ahead of Peru, who must play Australia or the United Arab Emirates in a play-off in June. Chile finished seventh.

"FIFA has decided to open disciplinary proceedings in relation to Byron David Castillo Segura's possible breach of the call criteria for the indicated matches," said a FIFA statement on Wednesday. Castillo played in eight of Ecuador's 18 qualifiers, matches in which they picked up 14 of their 26 points. But Chile say that Ecuador should forfeit the eight games Castillo played in, and their opponents be awarded three points for each of them. That would see Chile leapfrog Colombia and Peru into the fourth automatic spot. "There are innumerable proofs that the player was born in Colombia, in the city of Tumaco, on July 25, 1995, and not on November 10, 1998, in the Ecuadorian city of General Villamil Playas," said Chile's statement.

THURSDAY, ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

SPORTS

Inter Beat Juve to Clinch Eighth Coppa Italia Inter Milan came from behind against Juventus to clinch a first Coppa Italia since 2011 at the

Stadio Olimpico. Hakan Calhanoglu's 80thminute penalty forced extra time

and Ivan Perisic scored twice in three minutes as Inter lifted the cup for the eighth time.

Nicolo Barella's superb strike had put Inter ahead after six minutes.

But holders Juventus scored twice in quick succession through Alex Sandro and Dusan Vlahovic to turn the game around early in the second half. Defeat ended record 14-time winners Juventus' hopes of a trophy this season - the first time that has happened since 2010-11. Serie A title chasers Inter, who are second and two points behind city rivals AC Milan with two games to go, had not reached the final of the competition since their previous triumph 11 years ago. Barella gave Inter the perfect start when he curled a sublime right-foot shot into the top corner after cutting inside from the left to score the fastest Coppa Italia final goal since 2015. Samir Handanovic produced a fine save to deny Vlahovic and Paulo Dybala shot wide as

Juventus chased an equaliser before the break. But Massimiliano Allegri's side were ahead within seven minutes of the restart thanks to goals from Sandro and Vlahovic, who followed up his own saved effort after a quick counter-attack. Calhanoglu held his nerve to force extra time after Lautaro Martinez was brought down by Leonardo Bonucci, and Perisic then stepped up from the penalty spot to put Inter back in front after 99 minutes. Perisic added a stunning fourth just three minutes later, taking a touch before firing into the top corner from the edge of the box to put the contest out of Juventus' reach. Inter will now face Cagliari and Sampdoria in their final two league games as they pursue a domestic double.

Four-star De Bruyne Destroys Wolves as City Move Three Points Clear

Inter Milan players celebrating defeating Juventus to win their eighth Coppa Italia...last night

Vardy Double Condemns Relegated Norwich to Fifth Consecutive Defeat Jamie Vardy scored twice as Leicester condemned relegated Norwich to a fifth consecutive Premier League defeat. Leicester won 3-0. Vardy's double ensured the Foxes ended their own seven-game winless run in all competitions and sees them move up to 10th in the table. It was no more than Brendan Rodgers' side deserved as they dominated possession, although they struggled to make a breakthrough until Vardy's opener, which deflected off Norwich defender Grant Hanley before looping over visiting goalkeeper Angus Gunn. Harvey Barnes, who created Vardy's first, also supplied the second for the 35-year-old, who timed his run to perfection before firing into the top left corner. As Leicester moved through the gears, James Maddison blasted an effort into the roof of the net against his former employers, with Gunn unfortunate to see the ball into his path after failing to collect Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's cross. Dean Smith's side offered plenty of resistance until falling behind and arguably had the best chance before Vardy broke the deadlock, with Teemu Pukki first-half effort against the post. However, once they fell behind they wilted and have now conceded 78 goals this term - their worst defensive performance in a top-flight season.

Jamie Vardy (left) scored a brace a Leicester City defeated relegated Norwich 3-0 last night

Kevin de Bruyne's stunning fourgoal haul helped Manchester City thump Wolves 5-1 and restored their three-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Pep Guardiola's side now need only four points from their final two fixtures to ensure they will finish above Liverpool and win their fourth title in five seasons. De Bruyne has played a central role in all of those previous triumphs but this was an individual display that must rank among the finest of his stellar collection in a City shirt. The Belgian started the move that led to his side's opener, and finished it too, running on to Bernardo Silva's pass to slot home. Wolves did not take long to respond, with a rapid counterattack ending when Pedro Neto found Leander Dendoncker in space on the edge of the box to fire past Ederson. This was De Bruyne's stage, however, and he quickly put his side back in front. Again, he played a part in the build-up too, and was in the right place to smash in the rebound after Jose Sa beat Raheem Sterling to his pass. His third goal - again with his so-called weaker left foot - was the pick of the bunch, and saw him drive towards the edge of the area and curl into the bottom corner. De Bruyne hat-trick was his first for City and at 24 minutes

PREMIER LEAGUE was the third-quickest in Premier League history. He celebrated in style by copying the meditation celebration of his soon-to-be team-mate Erling Haaland, who City reached an agreement to sign this week, but he was not finished yet. City came out for the second half looking for more goals to improve their goal difference, which was already three better than Liverpool's before kick-off. Raheem Sterling thought he had extended their lead when he ran clear and beat Sa but an offside flag cut short his celebrations. It was left to De Bruyne to make it 4-1, typically making no mistake when a Phil Foden cross was deflected into his path and finding the bottom corner with his first right-footed effort of the night. More chances followed, with Foden hitting the post and Sterling missing an easy chance but eventually someone else did get in on the act, with Sterling tapping into an empty net after Sa denied Joao Cancelo. This was still the De Bruyne show, however. City are not over the line yet, and their next test is an awkward trip to West Ham on Sunday, but on this evidence they will take some stopping.

Emir of Gombe Appointed Grand Patron of Super Bikes Club Segun Awofadeji inGombe The Super Bikes Club Associations of Nigeria (SCAN) has appointed the Emir of Gombe, HRH Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III as its grand patron. The appointment of the first class monarch was announced at the palace of the Emir in Gombe when members of SCAN paid a Sallah homage to the Emir led by its President, Mr Gomes Adebowale, penultimate

weekend. Adebowale, who on behalf of the group presented a brand new BMW K1600B Intercontinental Tourer to the Emir as a token of SCAN's appreciation for the Royal Father's acceptance of his appointment. He explained that they brought one of the best super power bikes, a 2021 digital bike to the Emir whom they explained have been performing an outstanding fatherly role to the Gombe chapter

of the association, and giving SCAN members inspiration and support in their various chosen fields of endeavours. He said the objective of the association is to harmonise all other biking clubs in the nation and preach safety among bikers as they ply the roads. According to him, some of the safety measures to be embraced by power bikes users include; wearing helmets, hand gloves, boots and other safety kits adding

that if a biker rides responsibly, he will be safe on the roads. "Biking is a way of commuting within the society. While some people have cars, we have bikes. You can ride your power bike in town, but we want them to observe speed limits," he said. Responding, the Emir, HRH Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, expressed appreciation to the Super Bikes Club Association of Nigeria for appointing him as their grand patron and for

donating the bike to him. He urged them to always ride carefully, obey traffic rules and respect the rights of other road users as they ply the streets. The Royal Father also assured the association that the bike donated to him would be put to a very good use. The over 60 Bikers who stormed Gombe for the event were hosted by the president of the Jewel Bikers Motor Club (JBMC), Mr Hussein Misari.

Thursday, May 12, 2022

UT H

& RE A S O

Price: N250

MISSILE

Hassan Kukah to PDP/APC

“You see this thing has been reduced to some kind of joke and Nigerians are sitting and watching in disbelief and keeping quiet. What this means is that someone ﬁxed the price, saying that poor people don’t have to apply, that only rich people can participate in the process. We should not pretend that we are running a democracy; we are rather pushing for plutocracy – government of the rich for the rich people”—Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, on the high cost of nomination forms by the two leading parties

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Presidential Abracadabra!

“…In nearly every one of these gatherings across the length and breadth of this vast, impossible country, active open dissections, and excoriations of the government of the day is on rowdy display, capped often by all manner of hare-brained solutions and scenarios on how best to govern and impose order on one of the world’s most problematic federations. I call this place ‘the land of a hundred million presidents’ without an authentic sovereign because everyone other than the elected president knows what is to be done. In trying to process this cacophony, nothing tangible ever gets done…”

he foregoing excerpts from Dr Chidi Amuta’s foreword to my 2017 book, ‘Against the Run of Play: How an incumbent president was defeated in Nigeria’, could not have been more apt. In the past few days, Nigeria has witnessed an epidemic of presidential declarations. In the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), where nomination forms cost a whopping sum of N100 million, the question is no longer who has declared but who has not. The outrageous (more than $2 million) fee meant to ‘deter’ politicians has become the main attraction and perhaps explains why some insist that the APC nomination process is a not-so-disguised money laundering enterprise. This is perhaps the only plausible explanation for a situation in which ‘anonymous’ groups would pay scandalous amounts of money to procure nomination forms for ‘disinterested’ aspirants. Of course there are also those who argue that the incumbent has so lowered the bar that almost every Nigerian now believes he could be president. Bill Schneider, a former CNN senior political analyst who is currently Senior Fellow & Resident Scholar at Third Way (a Washington think tank) and Professor at George Mason University’s School of Public Policy, once argued that United States citizens choose their presidents like spoiled kids choose Christmas presents. “Americans usually get what they want in a president, but then after a while they discover they want something else,” Schneider quipped. Most Nigerians, as I also argued in the past, would count Americans lucky. In our clime, as Christmas presents go, parents who do the pickings are not as benevolent as to consider the preferences of their kids. That is also the way it goes for the choice of presidents in Nigeria. Since I can remember, the election of our number one citizen has been the prerogative of a few power brokers who first make their permutations, leaving the electorate to simply provide their seal of approval. And since those preferences are made more to conform to the predilections of such power conclaves, public interest is never part of the equation. If the morning therefore shows the day, as conventional wisdom teaches, things might not be different this time around. From my reading, it is obvious that some clever jugglers have already thrown several balls into the air and may just be waiting for the right moment to show their hand. Ordinarily, open-seat presidential elections attract a deluge of aspirants, but we have never experienced anything like this under the current democratic dispensation. We hear of unregistered associations of hungry Nigerians buying N100 million nomination forms for political fat cats. We are also learning that APC is operating like a secret society with closet members in very high places, including those hiding behind one finger—desperate and ambitious men with no courage of conviction. Although with yesterday’s decision that presidential aspirants should quit the federal cabinet, the men will now be separated from the boys. Even at that, the lack of transparency and accountability in the ruling party’s nomination process is such that a friend told me yesterday that members of the Association of Nigerian Bandits (please don’t ask me for their operational address) collected and took the APC presidential nomination form to their

President Buhari supremo, Bello Turji in Tozai Forest! I am aware that right from the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999, money has been an influential factor in our electoral politics and governance. But never have we witnessed this kind of brazen bazaar in

which the two leading parties are practically hawking tickets to the highest bidders. That the APC has taken the excesses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from which it took power in 2015 to postgraduate levels is what concerns Nigerians. With contestation

for power reduced to a financial shoot-out and sinister behind-closed-doors deals rather than open debates about ideas and proposals for addressing challenges that plague the nation, the foundation for the next government is already on shaky ground. There is no longer any debate about the fact that Nigeria is today in a very bad place across all sectors. I may be an illiterate in economic matters, but it must mean something that JPMorgan has “removed Nigeria from its list of emerging market sovereign recommendations that investors should be ‘overweight’ in”. Yet, despite the challenges ahead, the presidency is still seen largely as a big (and glamorous) prize to be won rather than a call to serve the public good. I fail to understand why our entitled politicians cannot see beyond their privileges even when our Titanic may be sinking. Last Friday night, dozens of gunmen on motorcycles invaded Sabon Garin Damri and Kalahe villages in Bakura Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing and maiming all within sight. Hospitals and houses were razed and at least 63 villagers were fatally shot in broad daylight. “In Sabon Garin Damri, they killed at least 26. Thereafter, the armed men moved to Kalahe village where they killed more than 10 persons. In between these two communities, at least 40 bodies were recovered,” a resident identified as Aminu Yusuf, reportedly told Daily Trust. Incidentally, a former governor of the state who spent eight years in power before joining colleagues in the Senate that has become their ‘retirement home’ and whose administration planted the root of the current crisis, also wants to be president of Nigeria under the APC platform! Continued on page 33

Nzeribe: A Complicated Life

bout five years ago, when I learnt that he had been indisposed for a while, I visited the late Chief Francis Arthur Nzeribe at his Apo Legislative Quarters residence in Abuja. It was difficult to reconcile the man I met in a wheelchair with the Nzeribe I used to know. He was, to put it mildly, in very bad shape. Despite his condition, he was delighted to see me; though he couldn’t hold any meaningful conversation. Not long after, Nzeribe was moved to the United Kingdom where he had spent most of his early life. I therefore felt a deep sense of loss when I heard about his passage last weekend. I have known Nzeribe since April 1992 and our relationship will take more than a footnote in my memoir when I write one. On different occasions, I was privileged to have sat with him for long conversations and I could see beyond the façade of a hard man. I recall the weekends I spent at his ‘Haven of Peace’ residence in Oguta, including when he buried his first son. I once broached the idea of writing his biography. He initially agreed until I told him what the title would be: The Odd Man Out! The late Nzeribe was a complicated man whose political life (and may be his business life too) was driven by the dictum that only the end should justify the means. From 1983 when he announced himself to Nigerians during his bid for Senate with the drama of pulling a gun at the collation centre when the returning officer attempted to manipulate the election result against him, Nzeribe was a prominent feature of our politics. The role he played during the transition to civil rule programme of General Ibrahim Babangida with his Association for Better Nigeria (ABN) and the subsequent annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election are already well documented. But in October 2002, Nzeribe met his match in the then Senate President (now

The late Nzeribe presidential aspirant), Anyim Pius Anyim. Apparently working for Aso Rock enforcers at the time, Nzeribe had been gathering signatures of senators with a view to move for the impeachment of Anyim who had by then become an enemy of President Olusegun Obasanjo. But in a preemptive strike, a ruthless Anyim announced in plenary that Nzeribe had defrauded the Senate to the tune of approximately N22 million through five payments. While he provided no evidence to back his claim, he then requested the Senate to grant him (Anyim) leave to hand Nzeribe over to the police for investigation and possible prosecution. With the prayer adopted through a voice vote, Anyim banged his gavel to seal the indefinite suspension that kept Nzeribe out of the Senate for the remaining period of that term.

Four years later, at the PDP primaries ahead of the 2007 general election in Orlu senatorial district where he had a larger-than-life profile, Nzeribe was defeated by his protégé, Osita Izunaso (who was aided by then Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa). Nzeribe never fully recovered from that political humiliation until the health challenge (combined with an advanced age of 83) that ultimately claimed his life last Thursday. Ordinarily, the essence of political participation includes improving systems, empowering citizens etc., all in pursuit of the public good. But for the late Nzeribe, despite his brilliance and national reach, the obsessions were almost always about grabbing power, either for himself or in errands for others. To be sure, one can say that of most Nigerian politicians, but Nzeribe seemed to revel in the role of a spoiler while making himself available for any political undertaking, however unpopular. And it was difficult for me to understand why. Nzeribe may not be as rich as he was touted to be, but he was also, by all standards, materially very comfortable so he didn’t need to behave like a desperate man. Yet, in several instances, that was the way he presented himself to colleagues and the Nigerian public. At the end, Nzeribe was arguably one of the most reviled politicians of his generation. And he brought that upon himself. He allowed his Machiavellian approach to politics to alienate him from different power groups across the country, and the ordinary people on the street. He was my friend, and I won’t ever forget that. But his legacy and how he would most likely be remembered are civic lessons that other politicians should learn from. I commiserate with auntie Joan and other members of the Nzeribe family. May the soul of the departed Ogbuagu, Oshiji, Damanze Oyimba of Oguta rest in peace.

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