MONDAY 8TH JUNE 2020

CBN Limits Healthcare Research Grant to N500m Outlines guidelines for intervention scheme Obinna Chima The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled guidelines for its Healthcare Sector Research and Development Intervention Scheme (HSRDIS)

and fixed the maximum limit eligible for development/ manufacturing activities at N500 million.

However, under the HSRDIS, the maximum grant limit for research was pegged

at N50 million.

In a seven-page circular obtained on its website yesterday, CBN said the initiative was part of its policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is to finance research and development (R&D) in new and improved drugs, vaccines and diagnostics of infectious diseases in the country.

The scheme is to be funded from the CBN’s developmental

component of its N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund (MSMEDF) and disbursement shall be made to beneficiaries in tranches subject to approved milestones achieved.

The bank stated that the HSRDIS was designed to trigger intense national R&D activities to develop a Nigerian vaccine as well as drugs and Continued on page 31

APC Rules Out Indirect Primary in Edo State... Page 8 Monday 8 June, 2020 Vol 25. No 9191. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Presidency: Security Checks Delaying Confirmation of A’Court President Accuses IPOB of misleading US, UK on Christian genocide claim Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The presidency yesterday explained the delay by

President Muhammadu Buhari to forward to the Senate for confirmation, the nomination of Justice Monica Dongbam-

Mensem as President, Court of Appeal.

Justice Dongbam-Mensem, who had been recommended

by the National Judicial Council (NJC) to succeed Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa who retired in March, is

presently occupying the position in an interim capacity.

Besides, the presidency also accused the Indigenous

Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) of spending $85,000 monthly Continued on page 31

With 38 New COVID-19 Cases, Lagos Records First Slump in 3 Months 260 fresh incidences, raise total to 12,486 with 3,959 discharged, 354 dead Nigeria imports COVID-19 drugs from Bangladesh Martins Ifijeh in Lagos and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The rate of COVID-19 infection in Lagos State, the epicentre of the pandemic in Nigeria, may be on the decline as the state, for the first time in three months, recorded its first sharp drop yesterday.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), in an update yesterday, in which it announced 260 new cases, bringing to 12,486 the total number of confirmed cases in the country, said 38 of the fresh incidences were from Lagos.

The slump in the state's infection rate came just as the federal government has intensified efforts in finding ways of dealing with the virus as it turned to the Asian nation

of Bangladesh for drugs to treat COVID-19.

Nigeria is expected today to take delivery of the drugs it purchased from Bangladesh.

Lagos State has consistently been topping the chart of fresh COVID-19 cases since it recorded the first incidence on February 27, with the nation's index case.

It recorded its highest number of cases in a day on May 30 with 378 out of the 553 confirmed cases nationwide coming from Lagos.

This was followed by 256 cases on May 27, out of the 389 incidences recorded nationwide while on May 29, 254 of the 387 cases recorded all over the country were confirmed positive for the virus.

Continued on page 31

Lawan: Int'l Politics Undermining Nigeria's Fight against Insecurity... Pg 8

A NEW EPOCH BEGINS...

The Oniru of Iru Kingdom, Oba Abdul Wasiu Omogbolahan Lawal (left) and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during the presentation of staff of office and instrument of appointment to the traditional ruler, in Lagos.....yesterday

2

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 •T H I S D AY

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 • T H I S D AY

3

4

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 •T H I S D AY

5

MONDAY, ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

FG Pledges Compliance with OPEC Output Cut Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government has expressed its readiness to abide by the resolutions reached by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-member partners on Saturday to extend crude oil output cuts.

OPEC+ agreed to slash daily production of oil by 9.7 million in April, a deal that has seen the international oil prices recover in recent weeks.

However, Nigeria had acknowledged not being able to meet its own quota of the output cut, with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, admitting that the country could only partially comply with the agreement to the tune of about 52 per cent.

The oil cartel, led by Saudi Arabia, however, pressured defaulting countries, including Iraq, Nigeria, Angola, Kazakhstan, who have now agreed to compensate for their inability to meet their quota by making deeper cuts in the next three months.

Sylva, in a statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media Affairs, Mr. Garba Deen Mohammad, noted that Nigeria has now resolved to cooperate fully with the decisions of OPEC+.

While commending the leadership shown by Saudi Arabia and Russia, Sylva stressed the need to work jointly to slowly stabilise the international oil market, which has been badly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the initial price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. “Nigeria will continue collaborating with other OPEC+ nations in the historic efforts to adjust crude oil production towards rebalancing and stabilising the global crude oil market for the benefit of all. “Nigeria reaffirms its commitment, alongside its OPEC+ counterparts to extend the first phase of the production adjustments of 9.7 mb/d by one month until the end of July 2020. “Nigeria also subscribes to the concept of compensation by countries that are unable to attain full conformity (100 per cent) in May and June 2020 to compensate for it in July, August and September 2020,� the federal government said.

The cut for Nigeria during the April deal was about 417,000 barrels per day (bpd), which is about 23 per cent of its production. But for May, the country was only able to reduce daily production by just over 200,000 barrels per day.

However, Sylva explained

that all was now set to fully comply with the agreement, which has seen several of the participating countries slash their own outputs.

He said: “We are in full alignment with the decision to closely monitor the market dynamics and it is our

conviction that the current gradual recovery being witnessed will be sustained to full traction. “We reiterate our resolve to conform with the decisions reached under the auspices of the 11th OPEC/Non-OPEC Declaration of Cooperation

meeting. “Nigeria appreciates the commitment of OPEC+ group under the able leadership of Saudi Arabia and Russia towards ensuring the success of this historic intervention�.

For May, OPEC+ compliance with the deal was about 89 per

cent, meaning the group fell some 1.1 million barrels short of the target set in the April agreement, which saw crude futures, the global benchmark of prices, rising 5.8 per cent to $42.30 a barrel at the weekend, the highest level since early March.

PROTECTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE VICTIMS...

L-R: Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Hakeem Jamiu; Speaker, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye; the Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his wife, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, during the signing of Compulsory Treatment and Care for Child Victims of Sexual Violence Bill, 2020 into law in Ado Ekiti...weekend

Editors Seek FG's NERC Gives Discos 2021 Deadline to Meter Consumers Bailout for Media Distributors debunk allegation of power rejection

Peter Uzoho

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has called on the federal government to extend its financial interventions to media organisations in order to save them from collapse due to the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on their revenues.

The editors explained that such funding was needed to protect jobs and ensure the continued existence and operations of the media organisations.

The editors, in a communiquÊ yesterday after a virtual Standing Committee’s meeting, signed by the Administrative Secretary of the NGE secretariat, Toye Olori, noted that using public funds to finance private sector operations to save them from bankruptcy and collapse was not new as it had been adopted in other jurisdictions like the United States.

According to the communiquĂŠ, “the Standing Committee acknowledges the dire state of the media, now made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, and reaches the following conclusions: there is an urgent and very compelling need for Nigerian government intervention to save the media from total collapse. The Guild specifically recommends the injection of funds by the federal government, not only to help keep media jobs but, also to ensure continued existence and operations of the various media houses, be they print, electronic or new media. “Notes that using public funds to finance private sector operations to save them from bankruptcy and total eclipse is not new and has been adopted in other jurisdictions.

It cites the instance of the United States government,

which used public funds to save the U.S. automobile industry, banking and other ailing sectors from insolvency during the financial crisis of 2008 and currently with the $2 trillion bailout for companies, amid the COVID-19 scourge.�

The NGE added that the federal government's financial intervention for the media was necessary because that media services were regarded as “essential services� and hence, deserve to be treated like other essential services that played frontline role in the fight against COVID-19.

It said the government's intervention was imperative to ensure that the media continued to discharge its constitutional duty; stressing that survival of the media is crucial to the survival of democracy.

It backed the position of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) and the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), both of which had made strong appeals to the federal government for financial intervention.

The guild however, noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the poor state of infrastructure in the nation’s health sector and urged government at all levels to apply the lessons learnt from the pandemic to fix the nation’s healthcare delivery system.

It frowned on the sudden spike in gender-based violence, especially rape, and called on law-enforcement agencies, the criminal justice system officials and other relevant bodies to consider gender-based violence as “special offences� deserving of special attention, including expedited investigations and judicial process.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has given electricity distribution companies (Discos) December 2021 deadline to close the metering gap in the power sector.

According to the commission, 37 per cent or 3.9 million of registered energy consumers in the country have been supplied electricity meters by the Discos.

The Discos, however, have denied claims that they are responsible for irregular power supply to consumers by rejecting electricity allocated to them.

NERC, in a latest report, which covers the last quarter of 2019, noted that inadequate metering of consumers has led to apathy on the part of some households who are refusing to pay their estimated electricity bills.

The regulatory agency, chaired by Prof. James Momoh, said of the 10,374,597 registered electricity customers, only 3,918,322 (37.77 per cent) had access to meters.

NERC said: “The metering gap for end-use customers is still a key challenge in the industry.

The records of the commission indicate that of the 10,374,597 registered electricity customers, only 3,918,322 (37.77 per cent) has been metered as at the end of the fourth quarter of 2019. “Thus, 62.37 per cent of the registered electricity customers is still on estimated billing, which has contributed to customer apathy towards payment for electricity.

"In comparison to the third quarter, the number of registered and metered customers increased by 7.23 per cent and 0.59 per cent, respectively.�

The commission explained that the increase in registered

customer population was due to the ongoing customer enumeration by the Discos through which unregistered consumers of electricity were brought unto the billing platform.

NERC stated that a review of the customer population data indicated that only Abuja and Benin Discos had metered more than 50 per cent of their registered electricity customers as at the end of December 2019.

However, it added that the commission was continuing its monitoring of Discos’ implementation of and compliance with the provisions of the Meter Asset Providers (MAP) regulations to fast-track meter roll-out. “With the target of closing the metering gap in NESI

by December 31, 2021, the commission, during the quarter, approved the preferred MAPs for the Discos that had finalised their procurement process to contracting MAP(s). In total, the commission had approved 26 MAPs as at December 31, 2019� said NERC. The commission added that the number of customers' complaints increased by 2.88 per cent during the fourth quarter of 2019, more than complaints received during the third quarter of 2019.

It said it attended to a total of 160,842 complaints, representing an increase of 5.80 percentage points from the preceding quarter. “The report shows that Ibadan and Enugu Discos had the lowest customers’ complaints resolution rates based on the proportion of complaints not addressed in the fourth quarter. “A review of customer complaints statistics indicates that estimated billing, metering and service interruption remain the most significant areas of concerns for customers,

accounting for 64.52 per cent (i.e., 114,702) of the total complaints in the fourth quarter of 2019," it said.

On the electricity generation mix, NERC said although thermal share had been on the decline since the third quarter, it dominated the electricity generation mix, accounting for 67.02 per cent of the electricity generated during the fourth quarter of 2019.

Discos Debunk Allegation of Power Rejection The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), an umbrella body of the power distributors, has denied claims that the distribution companies reject power allocated to them.

It restated its position that the Discos have enough capacity and infrastructure to distribute energy received from the Transmission Company Nigeria (TCN).

It explained that contrary to claims in some quarters that Discos have been rejecting power allocated to them due to insufficient distribution infrastructure, none of its members has any reason to do so since they have proven capacity to distribute load allocation.

The epileptic power situation in the country has generated illfeelings amongst Nigerians who have criticised the generation companies (Gencos) and the Discos for failing to provide stable power.

However, amongst the operators, there have also been bickering as they continue to trade blame over the irregular power supply.

However, the Director, Research and Advocacy (ANED), Mr. Sunday Oduntan, in a statement made available to THISDAY at the weekend,

advocated talks among the stakeholders to enable them to resolve the challenges in the sector. “It is truly regrettable that we either spend time on propaganda or propagate information that is inconsistent with facts rather than putting heads together to seek resolution of NESI’s issues,� he added.

He stated that while there had been commendable recovery of generation capacity, a review of NCC records would indicate that peak generation ever, was 5,373 MW (7th February 2019), with gas (mostly), hydro and line constraints.

He said: "With 25 out of 28 of our power plants fuelled by gas, it seems to me to be misleading to keep making references to generation availability of 8,145 MW, when effectively, to date, only a peak of 5,373 MW has been achieved, due to lack of gas, principally. “First of all, Discos can only distribute energy that they receive. Secondly, the most energy ever wheeled by TCN is 4,557 MW, with generation at 5,074 MW (7th February 2016).

Even at the peak generation of 5,373 MW (7th February 2019), the maximum energy wheeled to the Discos was 4,303 MW. “Finally, it is important to mention that a stress test conducted by TCN in 2015 indicated that the Discos have a distribution capacity of 6,288 MW. The more recent distribution capacity indicated

by Siemens in its ‘Electrification Roadmap for Nigeria’ report, May 7th, 2019' is 11,000 MW�.

He suggested that for a greater value, an independent assessment of the technical capacity of NESI be conducted for the minimum alignment of the entire value chain, gas-topower, than the effort spent on information that is not consistent with the facts.

6

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 •T H I S D AY

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 • T H I S D AY

7

8

MONDAY, ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS

Lawan: International Politics Undermining Nigeria’s Fight against Insecurity Military kills scores of bandits in Zamfara Deji Elumoye, Kingsley Nwezeh and Udora Orizu in Abuja President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has attributed the major challenge facing the country's bid to tame insecurity to international politics.

According to him, international politics has slowed down efforts at acquiring sophisticated weapons needed by security agencies to effectively protect lives and property.

Lawan spoke with reporters at the weekend in Abuja ahead of the first anniversary of the Ninth Senate on Thursday.

He spoke just as the military announced yesterday the killing of scores of bandits in Zamfara State.

Lawan explained that efforts to buy equipment for the Nigerian armed forces are usually frustrated by international politics as the requests take longer than expected, unlike when another country makes similar requests from some foreign governments.

According to him, the country's security system is currently overstretched and the country needs more resources to tackle insecurity.

He said: ''To some extent, we are suffering from international politics. I know that in our efforts to try to buy spare parts for their jets, maybe we write to a certain foreign government and it will take six to nine months while another country will write to the same government and maybe get it in one or two months.

"So, something is not right; but that’s to say that it’s now one of our challenges that we will continue to engage with countries that we feel don’t understand what we are doing here. ''Also, we need more resources for the security. By resources, I don’t mean just money; we need more personnel for the armed forces; we need more personnel for the police, Nigerian Immigration Service and almost all the agencies and paramilitary agencies as well, and then of course, the resources in terms

of equipment, machinery and then training."

Lawan also canvassed mutual respect among the three arms of government.

He stated that the legislature should not succumb to the desires of the executive, but rather they should cooperate.

He added that the legislature must be given its due respect by the executive arm of government, saying the separation of powers principle only tries to ensure that there’s efficiency in service delivery to the people. ''The principle of separation of powers is what establishes and sustains the government, especially in democracies that believe in that. I believe in it strongly, the legislature should always be there to provide the legislative intervention, but here I also believe that separation of powers should always be considered alongside checks and balances; that’s what made the separation of powers more effective in terms of ensuring that there’s good governance," he stated.

Shedding more light on the executive-legislature relationship, Lawan said the two arms of government had constituted a special joint committee, that works behind the scene, towards ensuring effective and efficient consideration of some legislations. ''The Senate leader, House of Representatives leader, the senior special assistant to the president in both chambers of the National Assembly are members. The Office of the Attorney-General has a representation and the relevant committee chairmen of the two chambers are members too," he added.

He stated that part of the committee's tasks is to review bills that could cause misunderstanding between the two arms of government and resolve the disagreements to hasten the passage of the legislation. ''That gap between the legislature and the executive that will not be resolved or narrowed

easily has created so much loss to the country. It’s our challenge,'' Lawan added.

On the delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the Senate president said the bill was not yet before the National Assembly, adding that the executive has been discussing with the legislature on what they are doing about it.

He expressed optimism that the bill will be submitted this month, adding that contrary to what happened when it was submitted in previous sessions of the National Assembly, the current Senate will adopt a different approach by bringing the executive and legislature together to work on the bill to expedite its passage.

On the criticisms trailing the recent loans approved by the legislature for the executive, he said: "We approved the loans to ensure that our infrastructural development continues.' ''The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us our weaknesses

in the area of our health facilities, and we are looking at opportunities going forward. We are not supporting the executive arm of government in a very frivolous way; we are very mindful, patriotic in the way and manner we endorse these requests and we are also very meticulous. "Our committees on domestic and foreign loans have gone through all the papers to ensure that there’s justification for those loans and in fact in the Senate, we only passed the request for $5.513 billion, there was $1.5 billion request for states, we couldn’t see the justification and we said no we’re not going to grant that so it’s not everything that was requested that was accepted by the Senate."

Military Kills Scores of Bandits in Zamfara Scores of bandits were killed at the weekend in Zamfara

State as the military launched air strikes on two camps of bandits in Tsibiri and Manya in Zurmi Local Government Area of the state.

The air interdiction was executed by the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji and Operation Accord, which covers North-west and Northcentral.

A military update on the war against banditry said the air interdiction mission at Tsibiri, which is located 15Km East of Zurmi, was executed on the heels of credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports indicating that the camp, with its clusters of thatched huts nestled close to a group of trees, was being used by the bandits to house their fighters and store their weapons and ammunition.

"Accordingly, two Nigerian Air Force attack helicopters were dispatched to engage the location, scoring accurate hits on the target area leading to the destruction of the structures and

the weapons and ammunition stored in them as well as the neutralisation of bandits in the huts and surrounding bushes," the update, signed by the Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, said.

The attack helicopters later conducted an air strike on another camp South of Manya, which also resulted in the killing of more bandits, including some of their leaders, as they gathered for a meeting at the location.

In another encounter during blocking operations against inter-state movement of bandits and troops of Operation Whirl Punch under Operation Accord killed two bandits while others fled with gunshot wounds at Tabani and Tashan Bawa, a border area between Sabuwa LGA in Katsina State and Kuyello District in Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State.

Items recovered include one AK 47 rifle and two mobile phones.

WORSHIPPING IN TIMES OF COVID-19...

Parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral Area 3, Garki, queuing to be screened before entering the church for service as places of worship reopened after over three months of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in Abuja... yesterday

APC Rules Out Indirect Primary in Edo State Party lacks updated register for direct primary, says chieftain Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend foreclosed the adoption of indirect primary as a way of picking its candidate for the September governorship election in the state.

APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu, told THISDAY that the decision of the party's National Working Committee (NWC) to use direct primary for the primary, scheduled for June 22, remains inviolable.

Issa-Onilu spoke against the backdrop of the deepening controversy generated by the party's decision to adopt direct primary to decide on who flies its flag in the forthcoming governorship election.

Six aspirants, from two camps of the party, riven by power tussle, are in the race for the APC's governorship ticket.

Five of the aspirants, including a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who recently

defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC, and a former Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Pius Odubu, are jostling to unseat the Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who is seeking a second term in office.

While the governor, whose camp is opposed to direct primary, is the sole aspirant from his faction of the party, Odubu and three others belong to the faction loyal to APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole.

In a fresh twist to the series of plots to outsmart each other, the state government in a gazette that the governor signed on May 28 and published on Friday, outlawed political gatherings that could aid the conduct of direct primary possible in the state.

The governor's Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, was quoted as saying that the gazzette was in line with the directive of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 that states should manage the COVID-19

pandemic through measures unique to them.

But a former Deputy National Auditor of the party under the Chief Bisi Akande-led National Interim Management Committee, Captain Muhammad Bala Jibrin, has said the party lacks an up-to-date register of members for direct party, adding that the last time the register was updated was in 2017.

Issa-Onilu, in an interview with THISDAY, said it was too late to change the rules for the primary. “The Electoral Act requires us to give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21-day notice for the primary election, and we have done that, stating our resolution to use direct primary. We cannot change the rules; we don’t have power to change it again,’’ he stated.

He also urged the public to ignore the claim that President Muhammadu Buhari had advised the party to use indirect primary in Edo State APC, stating that the president does not interfere in the party’s

affairs. “It can never happen and it will never happen. The president does not interfere in the party’s affairs," he added.

Also, a statement by Edo Professionals Forum (EPF), signed by Dr. Igbinigie Osubor, advised all parties participating in the state election to be mindful of the COVID-19 protocol in determining the mode of primary to be adopted for their elections.

The group said the mode of primary that would decentralise the system was more appropriate at this time of COVID-19 pandemic. “A system that requires thousands of delegates to gather in a stadium to pick their candidate is very unhelpful as this time of our health challenges, created by COVID-19 pandemic. So, all political parties should be guided appropriately,’’ the group stated.

However, Article 20 of APC Constitution says conduct of primaries for nomination for governorship shall be through direct or indirect primary

election to be conducted at the appropriate level.

"Further to Article 20 (iii) of the constitution, indirect primaries for the purpose of nominating a candidate shall be done at a designated venue for that purpose, by an electoral college of delegates democratically elected by members of the party from the various wards contained in the particular constituency at congresses.

"The number of delegates required for each office shall be determined from time to time by the National Working Committee’’, the party constitution stated.

By interpretation, to use indirect primary, also requires direct primary to elect delegates for the indirect primary.

Party Lacks Updated Register, Says Chieftain A former Deputy National Auditor of the party, Captain Muhammad Bala Jibrin, has said the party lacks up-to-date

register of members, saying the last time the register was updated was in 2017.

Jibrin, in a statement yesterday, said the insistence by the party on a direct primary without a register of members smacked of sinister motives to cause confusion, violence and manipulate the process.

He cited some breaches of party constitution by the NWC that can lead to a repeat of what caused the political misfortunes of the party in Zamfara, Bauchi and Rivers States in 2019.

According to him, some state chapters that are crisis-ridden will require the intervention of the party’s National Executive Council (NEC), stressing that the ruling party is at risk of losing its core.

He said: “To conduct a direct primary, the most elementary requirement is an authentic register of party members. Article 9.4 (i) states that: â€œâ€Śthe party shall update its membership records every six months and remit updated copies to Continued on page 32

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 • T H I S D AY

9

10

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 •T H I S D AY

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 • T H I S D AY

11

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 • T H I S D AY

12

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 • T H I S D AY

13

14

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍśËœ 2020

COMMENT

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

OKONJO-IWEALA, WTO AND CHALLENGES AHEAD Chukwuma Okonkwo urges Africa to present a united front by standing behind one candidate

W

hen the news emerged that President Buhari has nominated Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Nigeria’s candidate for the position of the director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), I had mixed feelings. One was a feeling of happiness that, once again, Mr President has demonstrated that he has no rancour against any Nigerian, who is deserving to serve the country at the global stage regardless of his or her party affiliation. The other was a feeling of surprise. My surprise was based on my expectation that Mr Yonov Fredrick Agah, a Nigerian and one of the deputy directors-general at the WTO, who has been in that position since October 2013 when he was first appointed (and reappointed in October 2017), would be the most likely candidate to be nominated. In May 2020, Mr Agah was among the five candidates that some pundits have mentioned to replace Mr Azevedo. But as the news report shows, Mr Agah’s candidacy was withdrawn by Mr President and was replaced with Dr Okonjo-Iweala. The reason for that decision is yet unclear. Though, I genuinely believe that Dr Okonjo-Iweala’s credentials qualify her for that position, her eventual emergence as the director-general of the WTO would appear to be quite uncertain based on a few factors – such as regional representation argument, country/economic classification argument, and influence of the United States.

As a background, on May 14, 2020, Mr Roberto Azevedo announced at a virtual meeting of all the WTO member states that he would resign his position effective August 31, 2020. This means that by August 31, 2020 his resignation will have taken effect. He was due to complete his second tenure on August 31, 2020.

While regional representation argument may seem strong in favour of Dr Okonjo-Iweala as the next director-general of the WTO, given that African region is yet to produce the head of the WTO, that argument will only remain strong if there are no other candidates from Africa or other regions – such as North America and the Middle East – that have not yet produced the head of the WTO. Among the few names that pundits have recently mentioned include Africans such as Hamid Mamdouh, from Egypt, Eloi Laourou, from Benin Republic, Amina Mohamed, from Kenya. If there is no agreement among African countries to present Dr Okonjo-Iweala as a consensus candidate for the African region, her chances of emerging the next head of the WTO will be dampened.

Nonetheless, the country/economic classification argument seems less strong given that the outgoing director-general is from a developing country - Brazil. The developed countries may argue for a rotation, since country/economic classification was one of the key considerations that saw Mr Azevedo emerge as the director-general in the past year(s). Based on this, there is a natural tendency that the US’s influence on the WTO under President Trump will become pronounced during the selection process than in 2013 and 2017, hence that will most likely make the country/economic classification argument prevail in favour of developed countries. Keep in mind that since the

WHILE REGIONAL REPRESENTATION ARGUMENT MAY SEEM STRONG IN FAVOUR OF OKONJO-IWEALA, GIVEN THAT AFRICAN REGION IS YET TO PRODUCE THE HEAD OF THE WTO, THAT ARGUMENT WILL ONLY REMAIN STRONG IF THERE ARE NO OTHER CANDIDATES FROM AFRICA OR OTHER REGIONS

WTO was formed in 1995, the US has not produced any candidate to head the WTO. Though it’s unclear yet whether the US will nominate an American, perhaps Mr Alan Wolff, who is one of the deputy directors-general at the WTO to be considered to replace Mr Azevedo, however, the likelihood of that nomination by President Trump cannot be undermined because given what we know about Trump, he is full of surprises.

No doubt, the resignation of Mr Azevedo has revealed two key challenges. On one hand is the challenge of choosing, yet another leader for the WTO via consensus. Historically, the election of the director-general of WTO is based on consensus among member states and not on votes. As a result, reaching a consensus among member states on who will lead the WTO is often contentious.

In the past, strong considerations have been given to regional representation and classification of economies into developed and developing economies. For example, in 2013, Mr Azevedo’s eventual emergence as WTO’s director-general was based on regional representation and country/economic classification arguments. As at the time, South America seemed to be well-positioned as a region to produce WTO’s director-general, given that two candidates from that region (Brazil and Mexico) were preferred by many countries from the European Union and Africa. A report by The Guardian shows that he was neither the British nor the US’s anointed candidate albeit a consensus was eventually reached to choose him because he was perceived by developing countries as their voice at the WTO. Hence, he became the first South American to occupy that position.

On the other hand is the challenge for who emerges as directorgeneral to help the WTO to weather the storm of the global trade crises exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic, and to reconcile the trade war between the USA and China. This challenge is widely acknowledged. For example, Bloomberg’s Bryce Baschuk and Jenny Leonard in their article in May 2020 noted that Mr Azevedo’s exit came at a very uncertain time when the global economy is suffering from the worst slump since the economic depression of 1930 due to COVID-19, as evident in the low forecasts for global trades and trade policy conflicts across the world. In a similar vein, William Reinsch and John Hoffner from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in their article in May 2020 recognized that a new leadership with a “bold approach to WTO reform� is needed to inoculate a new breath into the already weakened WTO. Although new information is still unfolding regarding nominations for the next head of the WTO, the window for nomination – until July 8 2020, has presented the African region the opportunity to unite around one candidate in order to present a united front and formidable force during the negotiations for a consensus candidate.

As a Nigerian, I can only hope that Dr Okonjo-Iweala will emerge as the next director-general of the WTO. Chukwuma, author of “Speaking From My Mind,� wrote from Calgary

NDDC: LET THE PROBE GO ON

Ă’Ă? Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă— Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ù××ÓÞÞĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂŒĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂŽËœ ĂĄĂœĂ“ĂžĂ?Ă? Ebi Arogbofa

I

n an open letter to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the National Assembly’s probe of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) elder statesman Chief E.K. Clark sought, rather outlandishly, to give life to the allegations made against the lawmakers in the wake of their investigation into the stealing going on at the NDDC, without addressing the corruption that has been perpetrated by the same IMC in the last few months. Chief E.K. Clark’s position must not be allowed to stand and he should steer clear of the IMC probe by the National Assembly.

We are surprised that Chief Clark has not found it worthy to speak on the weighty allegations and petitions of corruption against the IMC, which were sent to the lawmakers and in the media over the last three months on which basis the National Assembly was compelled by its constitutional duty to set up committees to investigate them.

The positions stated in that open letter are fallacious.

For Chief Clark to call the imposition of the illegal interim management committee, which has been condemned by the overwhelming majority of the Niger Delta people and indeed Nigerians, because it is illegal, as courageous is unfortunate. To further qualify the illegal IMC as necessary to supervise the forensic audit betrays a deep lack of knowledge of the operations of organisations. If anything, the forensic audit has become the meal ticket of the illegal IMC.

By virtue of the NDDC Act of 2000, as amended, the legal management provided for the NDDC is the Governing Board. Also, nowhere in this country has a management board been put on hold or set aside for an interim management because of an external audit by whatever name it is called. These are salient issues that we have pointed out which convince us that there is more to the imposition of the IMC on the NDDC. Anyone who has been in the vanguard of the struggle in the Niger Delta should not be a sounding board for corrupt politicians who are using the IMC and the lies of the so-called audit to further their personal agendas. Chief Clark should refrain from regurgitating the lies and statements of the members of the IMC whose hands have been caught in the cookie jar.

The facts of the matter are that allegations have been made by whistleblowers against the IMC that it breached due process in the award of contracts running into billions of naira and these are being investigated by committees of the Senate and House of Representatives in line with their constitutional duty guaranteed by Section 88 of the Nigerian Constitution to oversight ministries, departments and agencies, a right that is inalienable. There are fundamental issues that cannot be changed by the IMC and Akpabio propaganda, one of which is that the IMC is illegal and has no place in the NDDC Act. The second is that it serves no functional purpose in the administration of the NDDC, especially the trumped-up

mission to supervise the forensic audit.

The NDDC’s IMC cannot be allowed to use the forensic audit and its own unproven allegations against some lawmakers to blackmail the National Assembly to stop the probe. The IMC, as every Nigerian citizen, organization or group, knows that it has a duty to report any corrupt act such as demand for bribes to the anti-corruption agencies. The question to ask is why the IMC, which has been imposed on the NDDC for seven months now, did not report these allegations against the lawmakers if it has any evidence. Why is it just making these allegations now that its stewardship is being probed?

It is not true to say that the probe of the IMC will affect the forensic audit because the IMC has no role in the audit, except if the agenda is to teleguide the auditors to work to the answer. Our position is that a credible independent international audit firm be engaged for the forensic audit, just like it was done in the case of the NNPC a few years ago when Price Waterhouse was engaged to audit the Corporation. During that audit, the NNPC board and management were not set aside for an ‘interim management committee’.

The authentic voices of the Niger Delta are very clear in our demands, which are: one, the IMC is illegal and is not provided for in the NDDC Act. The IMC must be disbanded immediately because, as an illegal contraption, it serves no functional purpose in the administration of the NDDC. Two, since IMC has been there for the past

seven months, the National Assembly must investigate its operations, the allegations made against it and Akpabio, and recover all funds spent without proper appropriation and in negation of extant rules of financial propriety.

Three, the forensic audit has to be done by a reputable independent auditor, creditably and independently, just as the NNPC audit was done by Price Waterhouse a few years back while the legitimate board and management was still in place. The board and management of the NNPC were not set aside for an IMC in order to do the audit.

The audit was done independently.

Four, the NDDC Governing Board, which is provided for in line with the law, should be put in place immediately to run the affairs of the Commission.

In conclusion, we urge the Senate and House of Representatives to remain steadfast in their probe of the IMC in the discharge of their constitutional mandate of oversight (in line with Section 88 of the Constitution).

We want to emphasize that the Niger Delta people are fully behind all legitimate efforts to strengthen the NDDC. However, we will resist all attempts to produce a stage-managed forensic audit report, which is what Akpabio and the IMC want to do.

The Governing Board of the NDDC should be put in place immediately in line with the NDDC Act. The NDDC has to be run in line with the law.

Comrade Arogbofa is Director of Research, Strategy and Information, Niger Delta Renaissance Coalition

15

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2020

EDITORIAL WALKING INTO ANOTHER DEBT TRAP Government should borrow with discretion

I

n March this year, the National Assembly approved a foreign loan of $22.7 billion under the 2016-2018 Medium Term External Borrowing (Rolling) plan. About $17.06 billion of the total loans will be provided by China’s Eximbank, while the World Bank, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank and German Development Bank are also in the mix of the new borrowings. Although it remains unclear if the country is also going ahead with its plan to sell a $3.3 billion Eurobond this year to refinance existing maturing loans, the National Assembly last week approved for President Muhammadu Buhari a loan of $5.5 billion to finance the current budget as well as address socioeconomic realities foisted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

While borrowing is inevitable, especially at a period like this, there are serious concerns at the rate these debts are being piled up in Nigeria. Aside the fact that the funds are not being deployed into projects that generate income, borrowing should not be done in such a way to mortgage the future of the country and its sovereignty, as we now see with some African countries and China. In the EXPERTS WITHIN NIGERIA revised 2020, budget, AND MULTILATERAL debt service provision LENDERS HAVE rose from N2.453 trilCONTINUED TO ADVISE lion to N2.678 trillion.

Debt service provision AGAINST INCREASED was also increased BORROWING AND from N2.453 trillion to MOUNTING DEBT AMID PLUMMETING REVENUES N2.678 trillion and the federal government is to fund the fiscal plan with N5.58 trillion. As of 31st December 2019, Nigeria’s total debt stock stood at about N27.4 trillion and in the past few months, more have been added.

Experts within Nigeria and multilateral lenders have continued to advise against increased borrowing and mounting debt amid plummeting revenues. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has in recent times sounded notes of caution that the federal government should not hide

under the mantra of debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio for debt accumulation. In its 2020 Macroeconomic Outlook, the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) also stated that “Nigeria’s mounting debt profile is a major concern despite the country having about $900 billion worth of dead capital in properties and agricultural lands (PwC Nigeria, 2019).”

W

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

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

hile we understand the funding challenge that has now been compounded by COVID-19 and the collapsed oil prices, the federal government must understand that we cannot borrow our way into prosperity. To tackle the revenue challenge, the NESG has reaffirmed the recommendation of several other stakeholders that the federal government should consider unlocking finance and economic growth by the commercialisation or privatisation of many dead capital/assets. They include the National Arts Theatre; the national stadia in Lagos and Abuja; Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos; and the Federal Nursing Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos, and several others.

We hope the federal government will consider the counsel of the MPC of CBN and other stakeholders that there is a need to build fiscal buffers against the growing impact of the country’s high debt profile. Sadly, there are bigger challenges in many of the 36 states. The current governors on assumption of office complained of inheriting heavily indebted states on account of funds taken from the capital market by their predecessors. But many of these governors have also gone to secure their own loans which they also expect future governments in their states to repay. Aside the fact that many of the states can hardly meet their routine obligations after servicing their monthly debts, most of the loans were not deployed to tangible projects.

While it is understandable that the federal government would borrow to bridge the huge infrastructural gap in the country, there are growing concerns about repayments. It is therefore incumbent on the authorities in Abuja and the 36 states to reflect on the implications of the debt burden on the future of our country.

TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Letters to the Editor

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

We Are All Rapists And Murderers

L

ast Wednesday, news broke of the rape and murder of Bakarat Bello, an 18-year-old female, in Ibadan.

Days before, it was Uwaila Omozuwa, a 22-yearold lady, who was found dead inside a church in Benin City after being sexually assaulted. Earlier, Tina Ezekwe, a young girl of 16, was shot and killed by a trigger-happy policeman reportedly trying to extort money from a commercial bus driver in Lagos.

And in faraway United States, Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old African-American man, was waylaid and fatally shot by a white male resident while jogging in a South Georgia neighborhood. Another unarmed black man, 46-year-old George Floyd, died of asphyxia (suffocation) after a Minnesota policeman pinned him to the ground with knees to his neck and back for nearly nine minutes. The cruel and senseless killings have sparked massive public outrage. Millions are voicing their anger and condemnation via social media using trending hashtags, as thousands defy COVID-19 lockdown restrictions to hold protest marches across major cities in the US and around the world. And why not? As Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere!

“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly,” notes the renowned civil rights leader. This is why most of us identify with Bakarat, Uwa, Tina, Ahmaud, George, and all other victims of rape and police brutality. They aren’t mere hashtags; they are our daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, relatives, and friends.

By this same interconnectedness, we cannot dissociate from the perpetrators of these dreadful acts. They aren’t aliens or spirits; they are people—our family and friends. And, while we are only directly responsible for our actions, we are indirectly responsible for what we let happen. Either through feeding belief systems that exalt one sex, race, or tribe over another, or failing to speak up against glaring vices because of gender, socio-cultural, religious, or commercial affiliations.

Although few people openly admit it, many psychological studies show that most of us have implicit biases. We favour male over female, white over black, Christian over Muslim, young over old, thin over fat, straight over gay, able over disabled. And, consciously or unconsciously, we project these biases in our interactions and exchanges—in our homes, schools, offices, and places of worship. How often do we find people in positions of influence give opportunities to job seekers and contractors based on kinship rather than merit? Or a Christian Igbo man rejects requests for his daughter’s hand in marriage only because the suitor is a Yoruba or Hausa man who is a Muslim, and vice versa?

As the great Nelson Mandela said: “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate.” This is also true for gender, I dare add. It is the prevailing culture in which we are immersed that defines our outlook and moulds our behavior.

Tony Usidamen, a communications expert and social advocate, Lagos

S con ina

Rape And The Nigerian Society

T

he trending violence against the female gender in Nigeria is ‘rape’. There were cases of rape in Bauchi, Benin, Ibadan, Lagos, Jigawa, Kano and Kaduna which received total condemnation from all angles. The rapists in some cases even killed their victims. Now, why murder after the rape? The culprits in such a situation are relatives of their victims or close associates.

It is dreadful that girls and women are being abused by their closed ones such as parents, siblings, uncles, cousins, and neighbours. These are people who are supposed to provide solace and protection to them but turned out to be their enemies.

To me, indecent dressing is one of the factors responsible for rape. It has continued to increase on a daily basis thereby tempting men to harass or rape not only indecent dressers but anyone that comes their way. Secondly, pornographies, and indecent Nigerian and foreign movies also contribute a lot in leading their viewers to sexual abuse. It is lamentable that some men fully obey their evil desires and breach the trust. How on earth can a responsible human rape his daughter, sibling, cousin, neighbour or niece?

In the meantime, others believe the high cost of wedding and economic challenges in Nigeria also play a role, but this is a weak hypothesis as married men with children engage in the habit also.

On the other hand, the rape of minors, can either be attributed to ritualistic purposes or wickedness.

I always ask, what pleasure could one derive from raping an under five-year-old girl?

Governments, traditional, religious and community leaders, civil society organizations and parents must strive to break off the ugly trend. I recommend a death sentence, life imprisonment, a website for publication of details of rapists, and the establishment of an act to enforce decent dressing.

Bilyaminu Gambo Kong-kol, Bayero University, Kano

B com dig unl one the

Ton

16

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 •T H I S D AY

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 • T H I S D AY

17

18

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG

POLITICS

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

M O N D AY D I S C O U R S E

The Lawan, Gbajabiamila Leadership in the Ninth National Assembly Deji Elumoye, Adedayo Akinwale and Udora Orizu, X-Ray the leadership of the Ninth National Assembly in the last one year

Buhari

Lawan

Gbajabiamila

Ndume

U

approved another $5.5 billion loan request from President Buhari.

The President’s loan request came weeks after the National Assembly approved a loan of N850bn for the federal government and another $22.79bn loan.

In the recent loan request for $5.513 billion to finance 2020 budget deficits which the National Assembly had since approved, President Buhari had informed the legislative arm that the revised budget draft proposed by the executive for 2020 has a higher deficit and in order to finance the deficit, the federal government plans to raise funds from both domestic and external sources.

In the letter dated May 19th and read on the floors of both chambers, by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House, Hon.Femi Gbajabiamila, the President explained that the loan would be sourced from the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, African Development Bank, Export, Import Bank of Brazil and the African Export, Import Bank.

According to the President, ‘’For the external component, the government is negotiating with multilateral institutions for funding on concessionary terms. A total of $3.4 billion

will be borrowed from International Monetary Fund, $1.5 billion from World Bank, $500 million from African Development Bank and $133 million from Islamic Development Bank, totalling the amount to $5.513 billion.’’ ‘’In addition to the financing required for the revised 2020 budget, financing is also required for some priority projects of the federal government to address the covid-19 pandemic and improve Nigeria’s food security. The Islamic development bank has indicated that only one hundred and thirteen million dollars of financing will be available to the Federal government in the 2020 fiscal year to finance the government’s covid-19 response, which will come from restructuring of previously approved but inactive facilities for Nigeria.’’ ‘’For facilities for projects to support state governments in their fight against covid-19 pandemic, comes under ‘’State fiscal transparency accountability and sustainability program to provide fiscal support to the states’’, Covid-19 action recovery and economic stimulus program to support state-level efforts to protect food security and stimulate economic activity’’.

The Ninth Assembly in the last one year has, however, made some giant strides in terms of laws, motions, and even its timely intervention in issues of national importance.

By Tuesday, June 11, 2019, the Ninth Senate under the leadership of Lawan, took off. The Yobe North Senator, after polling 79 votes, emerged as President of the Senate, defeating his only opponent Ali Ndume, who garnered 28 votes in the secret ballot election held at the Senate chamber.

Soon after the inauguration, the Ninth Senate rolled out its legislative agenda of enhancing stability in the legislative activities and foster national development. It said the agenda would be framework that would guide Senate operations in the next four years.

The Senate in the agenda resolved to return Nigeria to the January-December budget cycle, approve legislative frameworks to curb increasing youth unemployment, alleviate poverty and the menace of out-of-school children in the country, creation of special health centres in the six geopolitical zones, fast-tracking the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, electoral reform, blocking revenue leakages, Open National Assembly Policy and cutting down Federal Government’s agencies.

Others include; security of lives and property, national unity and progress, fight against corruption, eradication of ethnicity and religion, as well as, general development of infrastructure.

Since the commencement of the Ninth Senate scores of bills have been presented in the Senate, with few of them passing second reading and the lawmakers as well adopting motions at the plenary. In the past one year some of these bills and motions have either garnered praises or criticism for the lawmakers.

Some of the actions taken by the Lawan-led Senate upon resumption of office include the speedy passage of the 2020 budget, the Finance Bill, the Public Procurement Act, Sexual Harassment Bill, Social Media Bill,

nlike in 2015 when the plans of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to micro zone principal positions in the National Assembly did not materialise resulting in the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as the President of the Eighth Senate and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the choice of leadership of the National Assembly in 2019 was a smooth sail as the ruling party had it its way save for former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume that insisted on contesting against Senator Ahmed Lawan for the coveted seat of the President of the Senate, other lawmakers elected on the platform of the party towed the party line because they didn’t want to be seen as going against the party zoning arrangement in the legislative arm.

Eventually, the party’s micro zoning led to the emergence of Lawan, a ranking Senator who has been a member of the National Assembly since 1999 as the President of the Senate and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the House.

There is no gain saying the fact that the emergence of the principal officers in the National Assembly exactly as it was envisaged by the ruling has led to a cordial relationship between the legislative and the executive arms of government.

While no one was expecting the legislative arm of government to be a torn in the flesh of the executive, it appeared that the principle of checks and balances may have disappeared in the lexicon of the Ninth Assembly.

For instance, before the world was invaded by the Coronavirus pandemic, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cautioned Nigeria from taking any further loans especially from China, considering the ever rising debt profile of the country since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed power in 2015.

However, the Federal Government has failed to heed the advise.

Recently, the National Assembly

The Ninth senate also made efforts and interventions in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic by donating half of its March salary and faulting the Executive on the implementation of the Social Investment Programme (SIP). Also the Lawan-led Senate moved to curb electoral offences and create a special court with the passage of the second reading of the bill to establish an electoral offenders commission. The ninth Senate has also been notorious for introducing Social Media Bill and Hate Speech Bill which has been passed for second reading. Expectedly, the bill was condemned by Nigerians

19

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020

MONDAY DISCOURSE

Remi Tinubu

Omo-Agege

Olamilekan

Albert

Hate Speech Bill, Move against Gender Discrimination in Police Bill, Zonal Commission Bills, Electoral Amendment Bill, CAMA Bill, National Health Emergency Bill, 2020 Appropriation (amendment) Bill 2020 and so on.

On motions, several Senators had sponsored and adopted several motions including those condemning extra-judicial killings, ban on textile importation, motion on 20 trillion unremitted stamp duties, averting blindness, motion calling for the resignation of service chiefs over rising insecurity, motion for stiffer penalty for rape just to name a few.

The Ninth senate also made efforts and interventions in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic by donating half of its March salary and faulting the Executive on the implementation of the Social Investment Programme (SIP).

Also the Lawan-led Senate moved to curb electoral offences and create a special court with the passage of the second reading of the bill to establish an electoral offenders commission.

The ninth Senate has also been notorious for introducing Social Media Bill and Hate Speech Bill which has been passed for second reading.

Expectedly, the bill was condemned

by Nigerians, saying its provisions will infringe on fundamental human rights of the citizenry. For now, the bill is as good as being consigned to the refuse bin.

The Senate in the last one year has not been able to resolve the impasse in Edo state House of Assembly despite the fact that it intervened at the initial stage last July. The Senate had then threatened to take over the Edo State House of Assembly if the Governor of the State, Goodwin Obaseki, refused to issue fresh proclamation for inauguration of the state parliament.

Senate’s move then was based on the strength of recommendations made to that effect by the Ad-hoc Committee it set up to investigate the crisis.

The Committee led by the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, had in its report, recommended that Governor Godwin Obaseki, should issue fresh proclamation for inauguration of the 7th Assembly in Edo State. It added that “in the event that a new proclamation was not issued by the Governor for proper inauguration of the 7th Assembly of the State within a week, the Senate and by extension, the National Assembly should invoke the provisions of section 11 (4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended .”

Senate President Lawan had said then “The Senate and by extension, the National Assembly cannot afford to shy away from doing the needful on the Edo State Assembly crisis as constitutional empowered”.

Nothing came out of the Senate

intervention as the Edo Assembly crisis still persists till today almost one year after the National Assembly waded into the matter.

The issue of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which appears to have been jinxed also comes to mind as Lawan had vowed that the bill will be passed this year. The Senate President had said last year while inaugurating the 69 standing committees of the Senate vowed to break the jinx of inconclusive legislation on the Petroleum Industry Bill ( PIB) treated in the Eighth Senate as Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB).

Lawan had stated: “Our petroleum industry is almost stagnant and for long needing profound reform. Our oil and gas related committees, are therefore expected to work hard to take the lead in our determination to reform this vital sector. It is the desire, indeed the design of this Senate that, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is passed before the end of 2020”. How realistic is this especially with year 2020 about seven months to go. It is now left for the Lawanled National Assembly to ensure that everything is done to ensure that the bill is actually passed this legislative year.

At the Green Chamber, following the emergence of Hon Femi Gbajabiamila with wide acceptability, he promised in his inaugural speech to do away with business-as-usual attitude, shake table, bring about a House of reforms while sticking to nation building.

While Gbajabiamila’s exemplary leadership skills, diplomacy in handling controversial issues and his experience as a seasoned lawmaker in the Green Chamber has undoubt-

edly set him apart, he has, however, not been able to shake any table as promised in his inaugural speech.

One of his early interventions was visiting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Zamfara, Katsina and Borno States to see the situation on the ground with a view to taking decisive legislative action, while also prioritising citizens security- engagement with Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police and other security agencies over high level of insecurity across the country.

In order to ensure the smooth take off of legislative activities in the House, the Speaker constituted the Standing Committees of the House on July 25, 2019. He expanded the number of committees from 95 to a little over 100 for efficiency while also accommodating members of the opposition parties.

At different times, Gbajabiamila had intervened in the planned strike by different bodies of health workers, namely the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Joint Health Sector Union JOHESU (FCT chapter), ends accreditation rift between ABU, NMCN, as Council restores accreditation of ABU’s Nursing Sciences Department. His intervention brought amicable resolution to the issues at hand, leading to the suspension of planned strikes at various times.

The Speaker equally ensured that the House took a definite stand when Nigerians suffered xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

Moreso, the Speaker has sponsored critical Bills such as the Physicallychallenged (Empowerment) Bill 2019; Criminalisation of Estimated Billing System Bill 2019; Students

Loan (Access to Higher Education Bill), 2019, among others.

The Speaker also organised and hosted a special programme for the Persons Living With Disabilities (PWDs) on December 4, 2019, in commemoration of the International Day for Persons Living With Disabilities.

He also Convinced his colleagues to set aside a day to debate and find solutions to the age-long problem of out-of-school children Gbajabiamila equally ensured that the presentation of the 2020 Appropriation Bill on time and its unprecedented early passage by the House.

One of his interventions during Covid-19 pandemic was sponsoring the Emergency Economic Stimulus Bill, 2020 and the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, 2020.

The Speaker went further to convince his colleagues to donate their two months’ salary for the fight against the pandemic and constituting an ad-hoc committee to coordinate the House response and oversight the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, including monitoring the expenditure arising from donations made.

Gbajabiamila didn’t stop at that, he met with different officials from the Executive over concerns raised by Nigerians at various points during the lockdown as well as to address certain issues observed by the leadership of the House.

He further met with the Chinese Ambassador on the status of Nigeria at the outbreak of the pandemic in Nigeria, while also intervening/ meeting with Health Ministers on the issue of the arrival of Chinese doctors as well as demanding a stop to the inhumane treatment meted out on some Nigerians in China.

The Speaker equally held a meeting with Minister of Power over better electricity supply for Nigerians during the lockdown in response to a Nollywood actor ’s complaint, while also leading the charge for two-month free electricity supply to Nigerians during lockdown although the two months free electricity for Nigerians was never achieved during the lockdown.

The Speaker initiated discussion on how the Executive could support the organised private sector during the pandemic, and also advocated for a convenient way of reaching the vulnerable and the needy among the citizens with palliatives through the Social Intervention Programme (SIP) of the Executive as well as having a legal backing for the SIP. With the second legislative year of the Ninth National Assembly commencing on June 11, this year, one hopes the leadership of the two chambers will churn out people friendly bills and motions that would have positive effect on the live of an average Nigerian.

Some of the actions taken by the Lawan-led Senate upon resumption of office include the speedy passage of the 2020 budget, the Finance Bill, the Public Procurement Act, Sexual Harassment Bill, Social Media Bill, Hate Speech Bill, Move against Gender Discrimination in Police Bill, Zonal Commission Bills, Electoral Amendment Bill, CAMA Bill, National Health Emergency Bill, 2020 Appropriation (amendment) Bill 2020 and so on. On motions, several Senators had sponsored and adopted several motions including those condemning extra-judicial killings, ban on textile importation, motion on 20 trillion unremitted stamp duties, averting blindness, motion calling for the resignation of service chiefs over rising insecurity, motion for stiffer penalty for rape just to name a few

20

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 08038901925

Navy's Contribution to Tame COVID-19 Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that although the Nigerian Navy’s primary responsibility is protecting the nation’s maritime domain, the service is also at the forefront of championing the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by distributing palliatives and personal protective equipment to disadvantaged communities, as well as the construction of an isolation center

Representative of the FOC WNC, Rear Admiral M.M Bashir, with the traditional ruler of Apapa/ Alayabiagba, Baale Yaya Ojora and a beneďŹ ciary

Acting FOC NAVTRAC, Rear Admiral Idowu Yusuf during the donation of palliatives to Oba Abdulkareem Odunaro for Idota Tutun, Ota Community

The Director of Administration, Naval Headquaters, Rear Admiral Jatau Luka at Iddo Community with Commodore Suleman Dahun, the Director of Naval Information

The FOC WNC, Rear Admiral Oladele Daji anked by other oďŹƒcers at the isolation centre

T

o support the Federal Government’s efforts to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigerian Navy recently championed the cause in its respective communities across the country. As directed by the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, these were an integral part of the activities carried out by the navy to mark its 64th anniversary.

From sharing palliatives, Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), as well as hand sanitisers, at their host communities in Abuja Municipal Councils to those around the Eastern and Central, Naval Commands as well as other units of the navy across the country, they also shared at Nigerian Navy Provost and Regulatory School, Makurdi, Benue State and the Nigerian Navy School of Armament Technology, Kachia, Kaduna, among other schools under the NAVAL Training Command (NAVTRAC).

WNC’s Palliatives in Lagos In Lagos, the Western Naval Command (WNC) led by its Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Rear Admiral Oladele Daji kicked off distribution of palliatives such as care packages like the PPE, sanitisers, food stuff and condiments to cook it.

The distribution to over 1000 families in Lagos was done with a view to ameliorate their sufferings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the WNC Command Information Officer (CINFO), Commander Tom Otuji, a breakdown of the palliatives distributed includes 340 households in Ajegunle; 350 in Tongeji Island and 350 other households in Imore, a riverine community in Ori-Ade Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.

In Ajegunle, speaking at the palace of the traditional ruler of Apapa/ Alayabiagba, the CNS explained that the gesture which was part of the navy’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), was also in recognition of the partnership of the host community.

The CNS who was represented by WNC Chief Security Officer, Rear Admiral M.M

Bashir, noted that it was not the first time Alayabiagba, being one of the command's host communities, would be benefiting from the navy, recalling how residents had also benefitted from its medical outreaches in previous years.

He said: "The Nigerian Navy as a responsive organisation that takes into recognition the partnership with host communities, especially on the general populace, in carrying out our activities, considers it a role to impact on their lives, because they also have a responsibility to assist us in our operation. “We see this as a responsibility for us to always reach out to communities. In this particular case, concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to reach out to the vulnerable in the community, by way of supporting them.�

While applauding navy’s gesture, the traditional ruler, Bale Yaya Ojora, assured that he would ensure that the palliative reached those assigned to get them, as had been done in previous presentations by other corporate bodies and private individuals.

Also present at the presentation of the palliatives was the Secretary, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area, Remi Bela, who on her part, appreciated the navy, while describing it as a practical definition of military/ civilian relationship.

NAVTRAC’s Donation to Ota Community At Idota Tutun, an Ota community in Ogun State, the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) extended a hand of fellowship by donating and distributing food stuff and PPEs to locals.

The command gave out 350 bags containing rice, noodles, vegetable oil, condiments, beans as well as hand gloves and face masks to the community that hosts the Nigerian Navy School of Music (NNSM), Ota. The gifts were handed over to the Ota monarch, Oba AbdulKabir Obalanlege at the community hall with few guests present. Handing over the items, the acting FOC,

NAVTRAC, Rear Admiral Idowu Yusuf said the command thought it wise to appreciate the community for all their support to the NNSM. He said: "The current global COVID-19 pandemic affecting the country has made the Nigerian Navy to modify this year’s celebration. This informed the selection of Idota Tutun community, Otta, as one of the several communities to benefit from the CNS’s COVID-19 palliatives to alleviate the hardship caused by this global pandemic on our citizens.

"It was designed to assist 250 households with assorted foods and PPEs including hand sanitisers, hand gloves and face masks. The school has played a lot of roles and the community itself has assisted our naval personnel. Some information we get from the community sometimes help in taking care of security operations, while our presence has also assisted in curbing criminal activates because of the support we have got from the people.�

In his remarks, Oba Obalanlege who was represented by the traditional ruler of Idota Tutun, Oba Abdul-Akeem Kolawole said: “For the Nigerian Navy to come to the aid of our people at this point in time is highly appreciated. We are happy that we have them in our community. What they have brought will be distributed across the 40 CDAs in this community and we are going to ensure urge must vulnerable such as widows, orphans and aged people get them."

Distribution at Abuja Municipal Councils Also reaching out to its other communities, the navy distributed foods items, PEP, sanitisers and other palliatives to host communities in Abuja. The exercise took place in Kuje and Jiwa communities, as well as Abuja Municipal Area Councils.

The Director of Administration, Naval Headquaters, Rear Admiral Jatau Luka, who represented the CNS, at the event, said the palliatives were aimed at reaching out to vulnerable communities.

He said the CNS directed for the conduct

of palliative distribution to members of the public in host communities within the FCT and other commands as it underscores the commitment of the NN to its CSR as well as support to the efforts of the FG in mitigating the impact of the pandemic on the less privileged citizens. �

While the CNS reiterated the commitment of the navy to sustain the relationship between the force and the communities and prayed that the relationship continues, the Chief of Kuje (Gomo of Kuje), HRH Haruna Jubrin, in his response, commended the navy for providing the communities with the palliatives.

Isolation Centre for Asymptomatic Personnel Also as part of its contribution in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, the NN last week Monday inaugurated a 40-bed space isolation centre at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos for naval personnel who are asymptomatic to COVID-19.

The facility built to accommodate four asymptomatic patients per ensuite room, followed concerns that Lagos and indeed Nigeria was running short of isolation centres for COVID-19 positive patients.

The CNS, who was represented by the FOC WNC, Rear Admiral Daji, said the centre would be used to isolate positive but asymptomatic personnel.

Stressing that it was part of NN's proactive measure to curb the spread of the virus, he noted that over 1,500 NN personnel in Lagos have been tested prior to the completion and inauguration of the centre. Ibas said the NN could not afford to take chances considering the nature of their job which makes officers and men stay in enclosed ships for long periods at sea.

According to Ibas, the navy has been in contact with the Lagos State COVID-19 response team and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) since the conception stage of the facility, adding that such collaborations would continue.

21

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍśËœ 2020

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

REPO 16.70 15.60

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

16 18 20

A S

A T

S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima

Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

J U N E 518.89% 0.22% 0.18%

5 ,

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

2 0 2 0

11.43% 7.84%

EXCHANGE RATE N361/1US DOLLAR* ĚŠ

Quick Takes Agusto aďŹƒrms Coronation MB’s Rating

UNITEDAGAINSTCOVID-19

L-R: Senior Manager, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Zainab Mohammed; General Manager, Monitoring and compliance, Mr. Edward Dauda Kabir, and Chairman/CEO,NigeriansinDiasporaCommission(NIDCOM),AbikeDabiri-Erewa, duringadonationbyNPAto thecommissioninAbuja...recently

McKinsey Highlights Measures to Stimulate Growth in Nigeria, Others Stories by Peter Uzoho McKinsey & Company has highlighted five big ideas to safeguard lives in the Covid-19 crisis and for the continent to prepare for the future.

The global management consultancy services company stated this in a report titled: “Acting now to strengthen Africa’s health systems,� obtained recently.

It listed the five big ideas to include building robust, wellfunded emergency preparedness and response mechanisms; accelerating bold health financing reforms to increase budgets and drive efficiency; and building consumer-centric digital health ecosystems.

Others are ensuring reliable access to high-quality medical

ECONOMY commodities and equipment; as well as institutionalising community health works (CHWs) and rapidly upskill broader healthcare workforce.

It stated that while the aforementioned ideas are not new, COVID-19 highlights their importance to a broader set of decision makers and stakeholders.

The report pointed out that Africa faces a twin health crisis—a high existing disease burden and fragile health systems— that would be exacerbated by the pandemic.

It noted that lessons from previous epidemics demonstrates the devastating impact of the crises on all aspects of healthcare, not

only the outbreak itself. “This is the context in which governments and decision-makers must choose how best to spend their COVID-19 emergency funding,� it noted.

The 15-page report, stated that Africa was beginning to see exponential growth in the number of Covid-19 infections, adding that policy makers in the continent could use the billions of dollars allocated for the emergency response to save lives now, while also considering how to make prudent investment decisions that build greater health-system resilience for the future. “The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa is yet to be known as the outbreak is constantly evolving. In recent weeks, countries have started

seeing exponential growth in the spread of the disease—and the actual number of cases may be even higher. “Our research shows a steady correlation between the number of tests and the number of new cases, and with low testing capacity on the continent, the true disease burden may be underestimated. “The experience of previous disease outbreaks in Africa suggests that the health impact of COVID-19 could be devastating.

As the pandemic unfolds, so too is an awakening to the deeper challenges facing Africa’s health care systems. “A broader spectrum of stakeholders is now keenly feeling the consequences of

Coronation Merchant Bank remains one of the top rated merchant Banks in Nigeria as shown by the recently released Rating Report by Agusto&Co, a rating agency in Nigeria.

In the report, Agusto aďŹƒrmed the A ‘ +’ rating assigned to the bank with stable outlook and stated that the rating reects the ďŹ nancial institution’s position in the merchant banking space, good capitalisation, good asset quality and good liquidity position. In preparing the report, the agency took into cognisance the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to severe uncertainty surrounding the Nigerian economy.

A review of the bank’s ďŹ nancial performance showed that as at December 31, 2019, the bank’s gross loans and advances stood at N72.7 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 33.9 per cent. As at full year ended 2019, the bank did not record any credit deterioration with the entire credit portfolio classiďŹ ed under stage 1. Its core capital grew by 6.3 per cent to N33.7 billion as at full year ended 2019, more than double the regulatory minimum for merchant banks operating in Nigeria. As at the same date, the bank’s capital adequacy ratio stood at 19.2 per cent surpassing the 10 per cent regulatory threshold. As at March 2020, Coronation MB had about US$310 million in trade ďŹ nance lines including a US$40 million trade ďŹ nance guarantee facility obtained from the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Overall, the rating agency was of the opinion that the bank is adequately positioned to grow business volumes, albeit moderated by the prevailing economic conditions.

JAIZ Bank Posts N2.4bn PAT

Jaiz Bank Plc has announced a ProďŹ t After Tax (PAT) of N2.4 billion for the 2019 ďŹ nancial year ended December 31.

The performance represented a leap of 193 per cent, from the N834.4 million realised in the corresponding period of 2018.

Gross income grew by 80 per cent to N13.5 billion, from N7.5 billion in the previous year. The bank’s total assets also grew by 54 per cent to N167.27 billion from N108.46 billion. According to a statement, the bank’s ProďŹ t Before Tax (PBT) for the period under review stood at N2.1 billion, representing135percentgrowthwhencomparedtoN879.7millionin2018.

Commenting on the results, the bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr. Hassan Usman said: “The major driving force was the deliberate eorts to satisfy our customers, which was evident in the signiďŹ cant growth in the deposit base and risk asset portfolio.â€?

In addition, its earning per share surged to 8.30 kobo per share as against 2.83 kobo per share in 2018, signifying an increase of 193 per cent and further attesting to the increasing public interest in Islamic ďŹ nanceproducts.However,thebankdeepeneditssupportfortheMSMEs sector with targeted intervention to meet diverse needs of small-scale bourgeoning entrepreneurs. It also made signiďŹ cant investment its IT infrastructuresande-bankingchannelswhichmadeiteasierforcustomers who prefer to bank on the move than through the mundane visitations to banking halls.

Peak Celebrates World Milk Day

Peak Milk recently served breakfast to health workers and patients at select isolation centres in Lagos to mark the World Milk Day celebration.

Observed on the 1st of June annually across the world, theWorld Milk Day is set aside to actively encourage the daily consumption of milk and dairy.

A statement disclosed that this year, Peak Milk re-emphasised the message by serving healthy milk- ďŹ lled breakfast to healthcare workers and patients - especially those at the frontline of the COVID-19 battle.

According to the Marketing Director at FrieslandCampina WAMCO, makers of Peak, ChrisWul-Caesar, “In a show of gratitude for their valour Continued on page 22 and service to humanity, we catered healthy breakfast meals to caregivers and their patients at isolation centres in Lagos and being the leading milk brand in Nigeria, Peak has made it imperative to celebrateWorld Milk Day by championing this breakfast of hope; as it provides an opportunity to further raise awareness about the beneďŹ ts of consuming dairy.â€?

In celebrating this year World Milk Day, Peak Milk also partnered with Nutrition Society of Nigeria to enlighten Nigerians on the importance of incorporating milk into their daily food plan, particularly at breakfast.

Report: Organisations Must Understand Consumers’ Future Needs for Survival The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, has stated that the disruption caused COVID-19 has strengthened federal government’s resolve to focus on digitalisation as a means of diversifying the country’s economy.

Pantami, said this during a webinar organised by the Nigeria Economic Society Group (NESG) on the topic: “Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on the Nigerian Digital Economy and Post Pandemic Strategies.�

He said the importance attached to digitalisation by the federal

ECONOMY government was demonstrated recently, by President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that the protection of the country’s digital infrastructures would now be the collective responsibility of all the security formations in Nigeria. “It was predicted in 2016 that 60 per cent of world economy is going to be digitalised by 2022. And with this pandemic, that prediction has also been challenged because by looking at the way digitalisation is taking place globally it is clear that 75

per cent or thereabout of the world economy is going to be digitalised,� the minister said.

He also called on all the stakeholders to come together to encourage the journey that would fast track the enthronement of digital economy in Nigeria. “The responsibilities are collective one and all stakeholders must come together to ensure that we achieve digital economy in the country,� he said.

The minister identified education as one of the sectors that have been severely hit by COVID-19, especially schools in the rural communities of Nigeria.

He said: “Furthermore, if you look at it carefully you will see that this pandemic has disrupted many of our activities in this country, especially in the educational sector. If you look around, most schools in the urban centres have been conducting virtual classes. “But this cannot be done as of today in our rural areas and local governments. Some places do not have sufficient broadband penetration or maybe insufficient in digital literacy and skills required.

Continued on page 22

“The Project Steering Committee was established as the highest body with the responsibility of providing policy�

SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍśËœ 2020

22

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

MCKINSEY HIGHLIGHTS MEASURES TO STIMULATE GROWTH IN NIGERIA, OTHERS chronic underinvestment and the crisis brings a renewed sense of urgency to create momentum around health system reform and re-imagination across the continent,� it explained.

It stated that Africa faces a twin health crisis that would be exacerbated by COVID-19: a high existing disease burden and fragile health systems. “The continent bears nearly twice the disease burden per capita, measured by disabilityadjusted life year (DALY), compared to the rest of the world. “Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS are widespread and Africa accounts for 94 percent of all malaria deaths, while mother and child deaths are fourfold higher than in other regions. “These existing comorbidities could worsen the severity of COVID-19 on the continent.

Africa’s health systems are already struggling and, in some REPORT: ORGANISATIONS MUST UNDERSTAND CONSUMERS’ FUTURE NEEDS FOR SURVIVAL

“This brings about the need to transform digital literacy and skills and at the same time our broad band penetration. This is key because today those in the cities have the privieleges of having access to virtual classes and meetings. But if you go to our local governments and rural communities this is difficult.�

According to the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, COVID-19 has made stakeholders to look inward for initiatives that would enable Nigeria to contain the challenges the country is faced with.

Danbatta, identified content development, innovation and entrepreneurship as the three key areas to focus on in providing digital solutions that would support the country’s economic and social development.

He said: “When we talk about driving local content, innovation and entrepreneurship, we must first of all put necessary things in place that will ensure that we have the infrastructure that will cause innovation, local content and entrepreneurship.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Customs Evacuates Abandoned Overtime Cargo at Terminal Eromosele Abiodun After years of outcry, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has evacuated all overtime and abandoned containers from the biggest roll-on Roll-off terminal in Lagos; PTML Terminal.

Sources at the terminal told THISDAY that the overtime containers were inspected by Customs between the month of March and April 2020 when the Customs Committee on Overtime Cargoes visited the port.

The terminal operators had earlier in the year raised the alarm that not less than 2,000 cargoes were abandoned inside its facility as a result of the failed auction system of the Nigeria Customs Service.

The abandoned containers allegedly occupied about 30 per cent yard space inside the terminal, thereby disturbing utilisation of the terminal for commercial purposes.

Terminal Manager of PTML Terminals Lagos, Mr. Tunde Keshinro, confirmed to newsmen in Lagos that the overtime cargoes have been evacuated by the customs.

He said the containers have been transferred to Ikorodu government warehouse.

Keshinto said: “PTML already

Emma Okonji The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has said that licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) will soon rollout services across the country, which is expected to improve service quality.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, made the disclosure during a recent virtual conversation on the Socio-Economic and Political Impact of COVID-19 on Telecoms and ICT Sector in the country, organised by the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).

According to Danbatta, the

The Senate has successfully screened two nominees of President Muhammadu Buhari as Non-Executive Directors to the NDIC Board.

They are Ms. Diana Okonta and Hajiya Ya’ana Yaro.

During the exercise, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Senator Uba Sani commended the President for the nomination of two Nigerian

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT)

Area Comptroller, Musa Baba Abdullahi has already secured approval from the Headquarters. “Arrangement is beginning to get at advance stage for the evacuation of these overtime containers. What we are doing now is to get complete statistics for the four terminals here; and we have gotten a comprehensive list of all such categories of containers awaiting further directives.

expected rollout of InfraCos was as a result of the recent slash in Right of Way (RoW) tariffs by some State Governors to N145 per liner meter.

The federal government had in 2013, reached agreement with state governors to maintain a uniform RoW rate of N145 per linear meter, but none of the governors implemented the uniform rate, untill late last month, when few of the governors signed Executive Order to reduce RoW charges to N145 per linear meter. Before now, states charge differently for RoW from N500 to N6, 000.

Danbatta, said with the reduction in RoW charges, InfraCos were expected to help address

the challenges of fibre deployment in towns and cities and assist the country to achieve ubiquitous broadband.

Danbatta explained that the Commission would not rest on its oars for speedy roll out of services by the InfraCos to ensure available, affordable and accessible broadband across the country.

InfraCos have been licensed for the past four to five years, but have been burdened by some state policies, especially RoW tariffs, in rolling out services.

Currently, NCC licensed six InfraCos in all the six geopolitical zones of the country, except that of he North Central Zone, that was initially registered, but

the company had to return the licence to NCC for its inability to rollout services as a result of rollout challenges, which include high RoW charge.

According to Danbatta: “The network congestion in the telecoms sector that we are experiencing exposes the inadequacy of infrastructure that we have been talking about. “The telecoms service providers must be commended because in the face of this challenge of inadequacy of infrastructure they have at least provided services of reasonable quality. We hope and pray that this will continue despite the challenges. “Also, this is the time for

leveraging the redundancies in other to contain the challenges of (network) congestion. By redundancies, I mean infrastructure redundancies; that is fiber networks. “Now, we are all convinced that there is infrastructure deficit in this country and the quickest way we can address this is to roll out fast; deploying more infrastructure through the InfraCos. “Everything that is needed to commence the infrastructure projects in the various zones, have been done and very soon the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami will provide the exact time that these projects will kick-off.�

women as Non-Executive Directors to the Board of the corporation.

The Committee Chairman expressed delight that the two nominees were both women with proven track record of impressive performance. He therefore expressed the hope that they would bring their vast experience to bear in the performance of the board.

While noting that the country, like other parts of the world, was facing difficult situation with

the fight against COVID-19, Sani charged the NDIC Board and Management to re-double their efforts at promoting good corporate governance practices in the banking industry.

Sani, also commended the NDIC for constantly responding to emerging trends and business models in the financial sector.

Female members of the Committee, Senators Betty Apiafi and Uche Ekwunife, expressed the

Committee’s satisfaction with the President for appointing women to the board of the Corporation.

She noted that both nominees were accomplished technocrats of very high quality who had distinguished themselves in their chosen careers. She also said they were well-placed to add rigor to the performance of the Board of the Corporation.

Okonta and Yaro are nominees to represent the south-south and

north-east geo-political zones, respectively, on the Board of the NDIC. Okonta, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) has over 30 years cognate experience spanning both the private and public sectors. On the other hand, Yaro, is a member of the ICAN and Nigeria Institute of Marketing with over thirty years’ experience in both the private and public sectors.

Nestle Pledges to Improve Agriculture Value Chain

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising)

Reporters

moved to the Tin Can Island Port where it already took stock of all abandoned and overtime containers within the four terminals inside the port.

A source close to the Public Relations Officer of the command, confirmed that the command has compiled the list of overtime cargoes at all the terminals for evacuation.

He said the containers would be evacuated by barges as the Customs

Senate Screens Two Nominees for NDIC Board Positions

Senior Correspondent

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) Eromosele Abiodun (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor ((Energy)

mand of Nigeria Customs Service confirmed that the committee on overtime cargoes, “Came to PTML, they finished last month and went to Tin Can. “The committee is headed by Comptroller of Overtime and Auction, they were sent from the headquarters, they have submitted their report back�

THISDAY gathered that the Customs Auction Committee had

InfraCos’ Rollout Will Improve Telecoms Services, Says NCC

Emma Okonji

Correspondents

transferred overtime cargo to Ikorodu. Overtime Cargoes at PTML were examined by Customs during the months of March and April, 2020� Also, a top management executive of Grimaldi Shipping, operators of PTML Terminal, Mr. Nitin Senan, also confirmed to newsmen that overtime cargo has been transferred to Ikorodu already.

Also, a source at PTML Com-

Dike Onwuamaeze The Nestle Central and West Africa Limited (NCWAL) has re-stated its commitment to growing the agricultural value chain in the Central and West African sub- regions by increasing local sourcing of raw materials for its manufactured products.

The company stated that nearly 75 per cent of the raw materials used in its products are sourced locally from suppliers to provide income and create job opportunities for thousands of citizens in the sub regions.

The Business Executive Officer for Culinary at NCWAL, Mr. Dominique Allier, said in recent virtual conference that Nestle

has also taken the manner it communicates its products to the consumers a step further by launching the Maggi website that would provide a “recipe hub� of varied dishes from all over the region and enable people anywhere to prepare African traditional cuisine.

The MAGGI website, which provides information on how

to prepare more than 40 African recipes on an easy-to-use platform, would help families to cook balanced and nutritious meals.

Allier said that the launching of the website is one of the innovative ways MAGGI is meeting its consumers’ digital and nutritional appetites, while also contributing to NestlÊ’s purpose of enhancing quality of life and healthier future

for its customers. “Now that many of us are spending more time cooking at home, who isn’t stuck for new food ideas? Get some inspiration from the Recipe of The Day or the With-A-Twist section! There are recipes for kids, adventurous cooks, those who love a classic dish and time-saving one pot meals, all available in English and French.

23

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍśËœ 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

MONDAY INTERVIEW

Orjiako: Cost of Production Will Determine Oil Firms’Survival The Chairman, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, Dr.ABC Orjiako, recently spoke to journalists on the performance of the company, the oil and gas industry and other issues. Goddy Egene presents the excerpts: train people, employ them when possible, and make sure that they are well represented in areas where we work. The other thing we have also done is to make sure that people in areas where we operate are significant in our number of contractors. So, we train them as contractors; we teach them the skills and make sure they participate while following our laid down procedures and processes; so, you are now beginning to see contractors from our areas of operation who are now retrained to provide various kinds of services. This is a very important aspect of empowerment that we give in these areas and of course we are seeing quite several youths being employed.

We provide social amenities: water supply, electricity supply, road network, in the areas where we operate such that we have enjoyed a good working relationship in all these areas.

The people have confidence in what we do, they take us as a true company, they receive us and we receive them. Going forward, we can only improve on that.

The year 2019 was an interesting year and 2020 has been characterised by so much uncertainties, what factors will drive the oil and gas industry this year?

Number one is cost sensitivity. Any company that would like to survive in the oil and gas industry going forward will have to be a low-cost producer of oil. This is because, the oil has become a marginal business, the price volatility will continue, therefore, only the companies that are able to continue to produce at low cost can thrive. Another important area is that the world is changing, along with climate change advocacy which means that the narrative of cleaner energy is real, and that is why we are emphasising our gas business. Over and above that, we also keep very close eyes on everything that will make us reduce the level of carbon emission into the environment. We will continue to contribute our quota in making sure that the entire populace is well aligned with healthy environment, while also ensuring very well and solid social impact in our businesses by encouraging gas to power initiatives, supporting SMEs and job creation through our gas commercialisation. Other drivers of the oil and gas business depend largely on the global supply /demand balance. The market requires demand recovery to become balanced. The geopolitics among producers and consumer nations is a key determinant for oil price sustenance.

Can you highlight some of the achievements of Seplat in 2019?

The achievements of Seplat are very many, but I will highlight a few of them. We remained profitable as a company, we have continued to be cash generative, a very strong revenue earner, we have also remained profitable. Profit after tax of $277 million is quite remarkable; and at the back of that, we have maintained very healthy cash balances. We have maintained payment of dividend which is very good return to our investors. We have of course continued to be very good corporate citizens.

We have paid huge sums of money in taxes and royalties to the Federal and State Governments. Our very well acclaimed Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes are ongoing and growing especially in areas where we operate, but also in Nigeria as a whole.

We have also continued to maintain a very healthy workforce while generating jobs. We have continued to produce oil and gas and at a maintained low cost oil production of about $6 per barrel of oil equivalent. These are the few of very many achievements that the company has been able record. Obviously, there is always room for improvement, and we will continue to focus on those areas.

What are your priority areas and business survival strategy given the state of the energy market at present?

One area of priority for us is to make sure that the liquidity and the cash flow of the company remains strong and that our balance sheet maintains its resilience and robustness. We set up a liquidity committee which meets regularly to make sure that our liquidity remains healthy and our cash flow remains robust. With free cash of over $300 million as of last year, we will make sure that we maintain healthy balances in 2020.

With respect to 2020 challenges, one thing I highlighted to shareholders was the area of prioritising our gas monetisation. Even before COVID-19, we made sure that our priority was to commercialize gas for the long term, and this is for many reasons. The first is that we are committed to identify with the federal government in terms of closing the gap in power infrastructure. As a result, we have invested heavily in gas, and today Seplat is happy to say that we provide 30 per cent of gas to power in Nigeria, and still growing.

We are supporting the government and the people of Nigeria in making sure that the narrative of the diversification of the economy is built on the platform of growth in power infrastructure. At present, statistics show that off grid power supply in homes through gas,

What is your strategy for 2020 and what should stakeholders be expecting from you?

From inception, we made it clear that our shareholders will continue to reap two major benefits which are dividend and growth in their investment. We have kept up with the payment of dividends and we will continue to do so. We have no plan to deviate from this. 2020 could be a challenging year but we have not taken a decision not to pay dividend.

Orjiako diesel and petrol generators is accounting for as high as 20 gigawatts of power. That tells you that the level of pollution in our environment is very high. Seplat will continue to contribute to cleaner energy from its gas supply. Also it is important to note that our gas supply will power the industries, support SMEs and create jobs on a continuous basis. The other point of course is that gas is lucrative in the domestic market and is a significant contributor to our revenue base. The contribution of gas to our revenue is increasing year-on-year and we expect to see this continue to increase as the volatility in global oil price persists. We are going to leverage on all of these stated factors and make sure that we would not only survive this trying period, but will remain positive in performance indicators.

You completed a major acquisition last year. Do you envisage further acquisitions in the near future?

We have not changed from our very long-term plan and strategy. We are continuously looking at acquisition opportunities. We concluded a very successful acquisition last year, despite the collapse of oil price globally and despite the hardship in the global economy. We remain focused on acquisitions. we have continuously said that we are very committed to price sensitive acquisitions. That means, we do not overpay. So, as the industry changes, it means that the prices that buyers are willing to pay will continue to change and we would adapt and continue to do our acquisitions. The real reason for us to continuously stress the strength of our balance sheet as well as our free cash flow is because it puts us in an advantageous position. We have a major competitive advantage as a result of this because Seplat, being that we are dually listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as well as the London Stock Exchange(LSE) means that we have access to global investible capital. That is why you will see that our cost of borrowing is one of the lowest among peers. Our access to new investible capital in terms of equity is very strong. At the back of all of these, free cash, strong and robust balance sheet, availability

of internationally available investible capital, we have a strong competitive advantage to play in the consolidation market as well as acquisitions.

What is the state of Seplat in terms of corporate social responsibility (CSR)?

We have continuously emphasised that our business is not just about declaring profit for shareholders but to run an inclusive programme where all stakeholders matter. You would have seen that over the years from inception, we spend a tremendous amount of time and resources in communities. In the communities where we operate, you will notice that in terms of our CSR programmes, we focus in a number of areas: Number one is Education. We believe that solving the problem of education is one major step towards the emancipation of any economy. Therefore, we have been running scholarship programmes for universities because we believe that if we produce very good university graduates, and better employable Nigerian youths, then we have empowered them. Our well received Seplat Pearls Quiz programme for senior secondary schools promotes academic performance and encourages youth interaction and engagement.

Secondly, in health, we have focused over the years on child and maternal health, and therefore, the ‘Safe Motherhood’ programme of Seplat is next to none, where tens of thousands of pregnant women are treated, and this is mainly addressing the very high mortality rate in terms of maternal health and infant health. This has paid off, we have spent a lot of time to provide them the amenities they require to make sure that throughout their antenatal period, they remain safe. Another very important area that we have covered is that of sight. We realised that sight is a major challenge in our environment, so we launched the ‘Eye Can See’ programme, where we have again reached out to several tens of thousands of Nigerians, especially in areas where we operate, and this is very prominent.

In areas where we operate, we decided that it is important to empower people, so we run various skill acquisition programmes, we

There were rumours recently that you plan to downsize, how true is this?

That is not correct. This is not the first time that the industry is challenged. In 2016 and 2017, a lot of companies were challenged including Seplat but we didn’t cut our labour force because we recognize all the efforts our staff continue to show in making sure that the company grows.

In 2020, we have not planned to cut down our labour force. We will keep the current staff strengthas part of our strategy to go through the survival mood of 2020 and as well as see growth even in the face of difficulty.

COVID-19 is something no one saw coming. What was your immediate response to it as a company?

The safety and security of our staff and all our stakeholders is number one on our agenda.

The first thing we did was to protect our staff.

We did start a quarantine programme where all staff who traveled outside Nigeria were quarantined for 14 days before coming back to work, and this predated what is happening at the national level. Even before the government declared closure of offices cost oil production of about $6 per barrel of oil equivalent. These are the few of very many achievements that the company has been able record. Obviously, there is always room for improvement, and we will continue to focus on those areas. In Lagos and Abuja, we had taken a decision to close our offices. We reduced the number of staff we have at the fields to make sure that adequate social distancing was maintained, and also made sure that all of the requirements that the NCDC put in place were maintained. Our Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) department is making sure that these are followed strictly. So, on that basis, we have maintained good safety and security of our staff. In the areas where we operate, we take these stakeholders very seriously.

We have made sure that despite the $1.2 million we contributed at the national level through the NNPC to fight spread of the Coronavirus, we still went further to spend various amounts of funds in the states and communities where we operate to keep them safe. We have helped to strengthen supplies in the hospitals; we have also made sure that the communities received certain palliatives, with respect to food security during this difficult period; in addition to supplying them with very essential sanitation and hygiene materials.

24

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Future of West African Corporate Finance Market Kemi Owonubi The Discretionary Sectors Discretionary sectors such as (i) Travel and Leisure - tourism, hospitality, aviation (ii) Real Estate - residential, commercial (iii) Construction (iv) Discretionary Retail (v) Non-Essential Financial Services (vi) Media and Entertainment - cinemas and theatres; and (vii) Oil and Gas - upstream and related services.

These sectors have been impacted by declining incomes and levels of activity due to the restrictions to movements. We expect these sectors will likely only see a return to ‘normalcy’ in the latter half of 2021, or even later, depending on the depth, impact and duration of the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Innovation and Technology Enabled Sectors Tech-enabled sectors such as (i) E-Commerce - including online retail, tech-enabled logistics and transportation (ii) Digital Financial services - including consumer lending platforms & Payment Platforms (iii) Media and entertainment - over the top (“OTT�) platforms (iv) Digital Education; and (v) ICT – Security and IT software solutions. Businesses in these sectors are evolving into high-value high-growth companies, driven by technology, and further enhanced by the solutions they provide to COVID-19 related challenges.

The economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be felt globally. In West Africa, beyond a health crisis, the economic aftershocks will continue to be felt through reduced foreign trade and investment, and declining local income and reduced consumption levels.

Our regional economies are predominantly reliant on commodity exports, which are exposed to price volatilities and changes in global supply & demand dynamics. Oil & Gas commodity exporting countries like Nigeria and Ghana, have been significantly impacted by dampened prospects for a near term recovery in oil prices; and with Cote d’Ivoire, face supply chain disruptions and forecast lower demand for agricultural commodity exports like cocoa, due to weakened global consumer demand.

The impact of the pandemic is also felt on tourism and travel, given the restrictions on movement and drastic reductions in labour force on the back of the downturn. It is within this context, that we reflect on the prospects for West African mergers and acquisitions (“M&A�).

Pre COVID-19 M&A outlook The top five sectors for M&A in 2019 were energy and power, media and entertainment, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), real estate, and industrial materials. The total value of announced M&A deals by value in 2019 (for Sub-Saharan Africa) was $79.6 billion, a 142% increase over the 2018 value.

All the above-listed sectors, except for media and entertainment, feature consistently in the rankings each year. 7 of the top 10 acquisitions (which were all strategic, company-led deals), were cross geography transactions, that enabled the acquirer to expand its business, into the target’s country and region.

Pre-COVID-19 regional outlook The African economic outlook for 2020 was similar to 2019. Real GDP growth was estimated at 3.4% for 2019 and projected to accelerate to 3.9% for 2020 . Leading the way were six economies, amongst the world’s ten fastest growers, including the three West African nations of Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Benin.

Positive investor sentiment in Africa was growing supported by improving macro and political conditions and favourable population demographics.

Appreciable deal activity was expected in broadbased energy and power, FMCG and financial services sectors, telecommunications, media and entertainment.

The adjusted regional outlook Deal activity is typically a direct result of underlying corporate performance (within the context of the macro fundamentals), growth prospects and the availability of well-priced capital. The 2020 GDP outlook for sub-Saharan Africa is expected to contract and has been revised downwards to between -2.1% and -5.1%.

M&A post-COVID We anticipate that the conditions created by COVID-19 will present select opportunities for the discerning investor, who must be prepared to take advantage of such opportunities once they appear or are created. Such opportunities will include

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed

Source: Africa Economic Outlook 2020 – AFDB restructurings, bargains involving distressed sales, or as new segments and businesses, that emerge from opportunities presented by disruptions to existing business models.

Relative to a pre-COVID world, where M&A was broadly directed by the objectives of scale, and driven by economic optimism, in the post-COVID world, M&A will become to some extent, a tool for survival, given the constraints on capital, and the requirements for cost control and optimisation.

There will be opportunities for domestic companies with strong balance sheets & cashflows, and for companies outside the region looking to expand geographically, with the prospects to acquire assets at favourable price levels.

This is how we anticipate that the sectors will be affected.

The Non-Discretionary Sectors Non-Discretionary sectors within (i) Consumer Goods – food and beverages, grocery retail, personal and home care (ii) Healthcare - manufacture and retail of pharma products, healthcare infrastructure

including hospitals and diagnostics (iii) Agriculture and agro processing (iv) Telecommunications - communications including voice and data, telecoms infrastructure; and (v) Logistics and Transportation - distribution infrastructure, warehousing.

These sectors will experience varying levels of impact, due to the pandemic. There will be opportunities to leverage and improve their business and operational models, to take advantage of the opportunities presented, through organic improvements, vertical acquisitions across the value chain or opportunistic acquisitions to build scale.

There is an especially positive outlook for local manufacturers in countries with a high import bill for consumer products. This is so as import substitution becomes a big theme, due to severely reduced FX earnings for governments. A depreciated currency, a trade deficit position and declining reserves will mean countries can no longer support non-essential imports. This presents an opportunity for local manufacturers to produce better quality goods (for sale to an existing consumer market), at higher price levels, capturing higher margins.

Where to Next?

Despite the adjusted outlook, we still see the opportunity for sizeable M&A deals in the nondiscretionary sectors, as demand will be relatively resilient across critical sectors such as healthcare, grocery and food retail, other consumer staples, telecommunications and logistics. Companies in the discretionary sectors, who entered the crisis with high leverage levels, may present bargains for investors, with restructurings, and where the business is a good fit into their existing strategy.

There will also be consolidation opportunities, fueled by a need to survive. We anticipate a general realignment of property prices in the real estate sector, as investment properties are realised for more optimal uses of cash.

We envision deals in the emerging tech enabled sectors, though some may still be in the early phase of growth to be sizeable. On a upside, growth in technology enabled businesses will be accelerated by the newer, growing needs of a post-COVID consumer.

In conclusion, M&A will remain active. We believe that while the typically deal heavy sectors may slow down, activity will continue, driven by value opportunities and consolidations. Overall, West Africa remains a resilient region, and will respond to the challenges at hand with astuteness and innovation.

Sources: [1] Refinitiv Deals Intelligence – SSA African Investment Banking Review – FY 2019 (2) Africa Economic Outlook 2020 – African Development Bank Group, Outlook model assumptions included average of $63 oil prices in 2020. t 0XPOVCJ UIF )FBE $PSQPSBUF 'JOBODF 3.# /JHFSJB XSJUFT GSPN -BHPT

AMAC Unveils Post Covid-19 Revenue Drive Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja In a bid to mitigate the effects of Covid-19 on its internally generated revenue (IGR), the Chairman Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mr. Abdullahi Candido has charged the financial and legal departments of the council to rise

Chris Uba The Kano State Agro Pastoral Project will expend about $9 million to construct 200 Milk collection centers across the state, within the next five years.

The state Project Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad disclosed this in a message to mark the World Milk Day, said the project planned to construct 40 such

to the task and boost IGR in order to meet up with its obligations.

He disclosed this recently when he briefed reporters about the council’s post Covid-19 agenda.

The council boss said the leadership of the area council had met its technical partners on how to conduct all business

activities post COVID-19 with dignity, honour and respect.

Candido, lamented that the pandemic, which forced the area council to suspend its operations, two months ago, has drastically led to a fall in its revenue projection.

He emphasised that it was expedient for AMAC to design

a recovery plan for lost revenue resulting from the challenges occasioned by the virus, which led to the imposition of lockdown in some states and declaration of nationwide curfew to prevent its spread. He noted that in the past, the council has had to deal with the difficulty where the

primary sources of its revenue were encroached upon by other agencies. “I want to urge the legal and finance unit of the area council to reclaim all our revenue sources which constitutionally belong to this area council. “As chairman of this area

council, I will do everything possible to protect what belongs to them as they have given me the mandate,� Candido said.

He also asked all clients and AMAC residents not to hesitate in reporting to the area council, any revenue collector who harasses or intimidates them into parting

Kano Plans 200 Milk Collection Centres centers annually, beginning from this year, in a statement by the Project Communication Specialist, Ameen Yassar.

According to him, “Each Milk Collection Center will have a borehole equipped with a solar-powered pump and a 20,000 litres overhead tank, an inputs store and up to 10 fodder banks in its environs. “This is in addition to a 250-liter

tank cooled by solar power and a milk testing bench with suitable reagents and utensils.�

Ibrahim, further announced that training programmes would be conducted for milk producers to guarantee quality assurance of their products, even as about 40 Milk products cooperative groups, under the umbrella of the state Fura Da Nono Cooperative Union Limited, have been identified for

support. “The project will provide the umbrella union with solar-powered milk cooling and storage facilities with testing kits, which will be complemented with the provision of milk collection cans. “We also plan to invest handsomely in coordinated fodder production and annual cattle vaccination in addition to proactive artificial insemination, to

improve the health and capacity of cattle in the state to produce good quality milk. “Part of our plan for the Milk Cooperatives is to help them improve sanitation in their markets.

In the same vein, milk and milk product vendors especially women will be support with grants/credits to facilitate hygienic processing and storage of their products,� he added.

This, the project coordinator stressed, will provide safer milk and dairy products and increase incomes of the members of the milk associations. “Our overall aim is to ensure that more milk is produced locally, under best practices, so that we can drastically reduce dependence on imported milk and allied products, as well as improve nutrition in our communities�.

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

IMAGES

25

Photo Editor ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ ÔËÖË Email Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜Ë›Ă‹Ă”Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ù×

Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Balarabe (right), being conducted round the Coronavirus Isolation Centre at Ahmedu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) by the Chief Medical Director, Prof.

Ahmed Hamidu, in Zaria, Kaduna State...recently

L-R: Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Aairs, Dr. Wale Ahmed; Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Folashade Jaji; Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; and Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Ajibola Ponnle, during the ministerial press brieďŹ ng to mark the ďŹ rst year Administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu in oďŹƒce at Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos...recently

Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Plateau, Bulus Dabit (left), presenting the COVID-19 sensitization stickers to the Chairman, Jos North Local Government Area, Shehu Bala-Usman, during an intensive motorized campaign against COVID-19 by NOA in Jos...recently

L-R: Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Site Engineer, Mr. Ghassan Fiadel; and Commissioner for Environment, Mr.Chris Onogba, during governor’s inspection of Construction/ Rehabilitation work at Midoma/ Iwerobor Gully Erosion site in Owanta, Boji-Boji Owa, Delta State...recently

L-R: Principal, Government Science and Technical College, Ijebu-Igbo, Mrs. Kehinde Kaka; Director, Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Oluwatosin Oloko; Special Adviser to the Governor on Technical Education, Prof. Joseph Odemuyiwa; and Personal Assistant to the SA on Technical Education, Dr. Temitayo Oderinde, during an assessment tour of technical colleges across the state at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State...recently

L-R: Senior Magistrate 11, Mrs. Alaba Sekinat Yetunde; Ogun State Chief Judge, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu and Mrs. Sinyanbola-Alli Aminat Abosede during the swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed Magistrates, held at Ogun State Judiciary Complex, Kobape, Abeokuta, Ogun State‌recently

A cross-section of members of Kaduna state traditional rulers council during a meeting with the Governor. of the State, Nasir El-Rufai on the aairs of the state...recently

L-R; Executive Chairman, Badagry West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr Gbenga Joseph; Pioneer, Real Acts of Kindness Development Foundation (RAKDF), Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende; and Council Manager, Badagry West LCDA, Mr Ayodele Hunge, during the presentation of Personal Protective Equipment by RAKDF to Badagry West LCDA Primary Health Centre, in Lagos...recently

26

T H I S D AY Ëž JUNE 8, 2020

CITYSTRINGS

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 08038901925

Collaborative Effort to De-market Suicide Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that given the alarming figure of suicide cases in Nigeria, Suicide Is No Solution, an advocacy-based group, is bent on de-marketing the malaise to make it lose its appeal

Photo: Gettyimages

Photo: Google

A

larmed at the increasing spate of suicide in Nigeria, Suicide Is No Solution (SINS), an advocacybased non-profit organisation, is bent on de-marketing the mental health illness. According to them, making suicide lose its appeal is one way to reduce to figures from rising.

In initiating the campaign to dissuade Nigerians from seeing the suicide as a solution to their problems, they have partnered a team of mental health practitioners, religious leaders, social workers and volunteers.

With Nigeria as number one in West Africa, seventh in Africa and 15th in the world, their fears are understandable.

Out to tackle this mental health challenge, SINS Media Lead, Babatunde Muraina, said the group has launched series of advocacy activities, interactive events and counseling support to highlight the increasing spate of deaths by suicide amongst Nigerians.

According to him, they are providing professional support to would be victims with a view to dissuade them from committing suicide. He said a team of mental health practitioners, religious leaders, social workers and volunteers have joined hands to support the cause in order to achieve its objective.

SINS Project Lead, Mrs. Idy Toye-Arulogun said with one person in the world dying by suicide every 40 seconds and Nigeria ranking 15th on the global suicide index; “there was a strong need to intensify the campaign against it.

“The SINS campaign encompasses multimedia communication messages for exposure in both traditional and new media platforms, a helpline and a back end professional counselling support structure to engage members of the public going through distress and depression. “The group is optimistic that the SINS intervention will contribute to the mental well being of Nigerians and ultimately the reduction of deaths by suicide through various engagements�.

SINS also urged the government to make issues of mental health a priority, advocating for dedicated hotlines for people having suicidal thoughts or going through depression to call and get expert help.

Although there are other methodologies of suicide, taking poison seems to be more in vogue, with the users opting for insecticide.

This anomaly is one thing the companies producing it have tirelessly worked on stopping, with their campaign being focused on the fact that although insecticide/miticide controls foliar and soil borne pests, and is at the same time, a restricted pesticide, it is still not for human consumption.

With about 800,000 people dying from suicide yearly, this continually brings to the fore the need to tackle depression. Although there are no well-known documented data of deaths caused by suicide, the anomaly is rising in intensity across the country, as statistics show that Nigeria has the seventh highest suicide mortality rate in Africa and number one in West Africa. Globally, this

Photo: SINS makes Nigeria the country with the world’s 15th highest suicide rate.

Undoubtedly, suicide cases continue to pose a big problem to both the Nigerian government and international bodies. Despite the fact that the two major religions in the country – Christianity and Islam – abhor and preach against the act of ending one’s own life, it continues to happen. Aside from religion, suicide is also a criminal offence under Nigerian laws. And even the traditions and cultures of most people in Nigeria are against it.

Yet, suicide is on the increase in the country, with frequent reports of people hanging themselves, jumping into the lagoon, taking poisonous substances to end their lives, often out of depression.

Over 800,000 people die from suicide around the world every year. Perhaps more shocking is the World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics which states that suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year olds.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 54 per cent of people who die from suicide had no known mental health condition, neither were diagnosed nor open about it.

The alliance also notes that other risk factors that cause suicide can stem from trauma or abuse, isolation, stress, access to firearms or substance abuse.

A breakdown of the statistics from WHO stating that 800,000 people die from suicide

around the world every year, shows that one person die every 40 seconds and for every suicide, 20 plus others have attempted suicide.

The organisation also states that 79 per cent of suicide victims live in low or middle-income countries, which means that 21 per cent live in high-income countries.

On the way forward, medical experts often advocate that one seeks help as soon as possible when one is depressed. According to one Dr Chidi Akano, this is because the common risk factors that lead to suicide include depression, severe anxiety, acute stress due to any reason, severe adjustment reaction, drug and alcohol abuse, side effect of certain prescribed medication – like certain anti- depressants – psychotic illnesses – for example, schizophrenia, other mental illness like mania and personality disorders – previous suicide attempt and family history of suicide, cultural and religious beliefs and lack of supportive social cycle.

According to WHO, communities can play an important role in suicide prevention, support those who previously made an attempt to take their lives, comfort those who have lost someone to suicide, as well as help fight the stigma associated with suicide.

Also, many experts have stressed on the need for Nigerians to be educated on mental health, as this will demystify the myths about mental illness. But the groundswell of opinion among experts is that the respective communities and government need to do a lot more to reduce the prevalence of suicide.

27

MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Standard Chartered Supports Women in Tech for Economic Growth Goddy Egene Standard Chartered Nigeria has announced the winners of the first edition of its Women in Technology Incubator. Launched in June 2019, the SC Women in Tech Incubator

was established to support and promote the economic and social development of women in Nigeria through innovation or technology led entrepreneurship.

According to the bank, from over 600 applications, 10 candidates

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

with the most compelling ideas were selected to go through the programme. And at the end of the training period, five winners emerged and received $10,000 each to support the growth and sustained expansion of their

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 04Jun-2020, unless otherwise stated.

businesses.

Commenting on the success of the first edition, Head Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, Nigeria, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria, Dayo Aderugbo, said: “We are pleased about the

successful completion of the first edition of the SC Women in tech incubator and congratulate the winners who have emerged from this session. We are optimistic about the impact this programme will have on their businesses. The

resources the beneficiaries have received from the sessions will go a long way in ensuring the sustainability of their businesses while creating employment for more women and youths in the country.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.94 0.94 3.87% ACAP Income Funds 0.78 0.78 10.12% 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 6.50% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.63 2.69 7.03% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 5.86% Anchoria Equity Fund 99.24 99.57 -2.71% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.21 1.21 5.78% 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 14.64 15.08 -4.40% ARM Discovery Fund 341.01 351.29 -1.28% ARM Ethical Fund 30.25 31.16 4.00% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.34% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 95.52 96.19 -0.58% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.32% 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 2.04 2.04 13.14% 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 0.07 0.05 6.71% Paramount Equity Fund 11.40 11.85 -7.96% Women's Investment Fund 109.50 110.30 -0.90% 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 4.97% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 97.52 97.74 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 105.61 105.86 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.11% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.91 0.92 -1.57% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.42 1.42 6.81% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,287.88 1,289.26 6.02% FBN Balanced Fund 146.90 147.97 0.05% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.17% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 114.32 115.12 -0.92% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 114.69 115.50 -1.10% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 119.18 120.60 -8.41% 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 4.92% Legacy Debt Fund 3.76 3.76 2.94% Legacy Equity Fund 1.09 1.11 -3.52% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.10 1.10 2.18% 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 Growth Fund 3,065.53 3,100.68 2.79% Coral Income Fund 3,169.49 3,169.49 15.61% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 5.64% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.05% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 120.04 120.70 11.61%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.83% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.21 2.25 1.04% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 10.29% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 143.42 143.97 0.00% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.23 1.25 5.38% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,129.29 1,129.29 4.74% 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 N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.39 1.41 13.87% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.88 11.94 5.49% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.24% PACAM Equity Fund 1.07 1.08 PACAM EuroBond Fund 100.23 102.46 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 119.96 123.04 -2.29% 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 1.01 1.01 3.72% 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 2,521.35 2,532.80 3.86% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 3.20% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -0.56% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 3.65% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 2.43% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.54% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -1.85% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 2.41% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.18 118.18 0.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 10.43 10.56 1.52% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.25 12.58 6.37% Zenith Income Fund 23.42 23.42 5.32% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.90%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

3.50 114.44 52.79

-63.85% 2.22% 1.42%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.95 91.80 69.86

9.05 93.68 71.09

2.81% -0.77% -5.29%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

2.97 4.27 11.71 12.04 180.98

3.01 4.35 11.81 12.24 182.98

-16.12% -27.50% -3.41% 15.76% -3.72%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.29

16.90%

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.

28

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍśËœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Analysts Seek Increased Access to Finance for Women, MSMEs Nume Ekeghe Analysts and business operators have called for cheap and increased access to finance for women in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in order to stimulate economic growth post Covid-19 The Executive Director of Micro-Enterprises, Bank of Industry, Mrs. Toyin Adeniji; Founder and CEO, Mamamoni, Mrs. Nkem Okocha; Special Adviser, Investment, Trade and Innovation, Ekiti State, Mr. Akin Oyebode; Managing Partner, SME.NG, Ms. Thelma Ekiyor and Academic Director, Lagos Business School (LBS)Prof. Yinka

David-West, made this call during a virtual media parley recently.

David-West, noted that various findings had shown that majority of small businesses are women owned, adding that the women mostly contribute to the welfare of their households. Therefore, she stressed the need for enhanced approach to granting cheap finance to these women.

She said: “Over 41 million businesses that are micro businesses in general and with these other people that are under the cash-based economy. They are the most vulnerable and underserved and they are financially excluded because they trade mostly in cash and the category we called under

employed and unemployed. “A lot of them are women and they are in trading general, but we also need to remember that they are active care giver in their home. When we put all these together and we add the financial impact of COVID on this economic sector, we see that financial health and well-being is even more endangered because they are already fragile and vulnerable in the first place.�

On his part, Oyebode said: “There is just an economic reason for supporting women in business especially small businesses. If you look at the NBS data, there is a significant difference between men-led households.

FG Records Progress on Proposed Ibom Deep Water Port James Emejo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The planned establishment of the Ibom Deep Water Port (IDWP) has continued to gather steam as the federal government is prepared to advance to the procurement phase of project.

Bollore/Power China had emerged the preferred bidder for IDWP, which will be delivered through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, following a transparent bidding process held earlier.

Conclusion of negotiations

and due diligence are said to be ongoing with the preferred bidder.

However, Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr. Chidi Izuwah, said the project would become a major national and regional economic gateway that would provide additional container handling capacity for the country. Speaking during the presentation of the Full Business Case Compliance Certificate for the project to the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, he added the IDWP

was also expected to handle petroleum products, crude oil, natural gas, vehicles and bulk trade in natural resources.

Essentially, the project involves the development of a Greenfield Deepsea Port and accompanying Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Akwa Ibom State in the South-South geopolitical zone of country.

The proposed Port and economic zone are part of the planned Ibom Industrial City initiative that will be established on a 14,400-hectare site donated by the state government free of charge.

Techvibes Launches Digital Platform for Crowdfunding James Emejo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË Techvibes International Limited, a technology solutions and transactional services company has unveiled comfundme. com, a unique IT platform that enables organisations, groups and individuals to pool funds together, support causes and disburse same in an efficient and transparent manner.

Managing Director of the company, Mr. Michael Oglegba, said the solution was, “exactly what the world needs at this trying time to unite people irrespective of race, colour, background or geographical location to achieve greater causes collectively.�

In a statement, he added that the product provides a transparent platform that harnesses the power of community in putting resources together and is highly secured as it also accepts both local and international cards.

He said the platform was one of the many innovations the public should expect from the company which has proven expertise in payments and software solutions.

Oglegba, said there was no limit to the company’s culture of innovation as it seeks to break new grounds by continuously researching on how to add value to the lives of individuals, businesses, and institutions across

Africa.Essentially, the platform has three modules; campaign module that allows the creation of campaigns and fund raisers for causes and events such as groups providing relief palliatives, supporting IDPs, settling medical bills of the less privileged among others.

Other services include group collection which allows alumni associations, churches and social groups collect levies, dues and financial commitments etc in a safe and transparent manner as well as revolving contribution module brings transparency to the popular ‘Adashe’, ‘Ajo’ or ‘Esusu’ schemes allowing the creation of such groups on Comfundme.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS Money Supply (M3)

35,029,779.72

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

7,374,356.91

Money Supply (M2)

27,655,422.82

-- Quasi Money

116,533,891.21

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,121,531.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,625,047.69

---- Demand Deposits

9,496,483.91

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

13,911,335.83

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

21,118,443.89

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

35,918,179.45

---- Credit to Government (Net)

10,452,199.38

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

11,007,422.79

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

25,465,980.07

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-14,799,735.56

--Other Assets Net

7,000,253.07

Reserve Money (Base Money

2,005,600.83

--Currency in Circulation

4,677,530.81

--Banks Reserves

317,121.43

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

Expert Identifies Pathway to Healthcare Delivery

(MILLION NAIRA)

SEPTEMBER 2019

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR)

With the widespread incidence of COVID-19 in the country and its impact on healthcare delivery, the practice of telemedicine is being advocated as one of the quickest and effective means of accessing primary healthcare by the majority of Nigerians.The Chief Technology Officer of MeCure, Mr. Adil Shaikh, said this recently at a webinar on, “Managing Healthcare Business During and Post Covid-19 Era,� organised

by Polaris Bank.

Shaikh believes that telemedicine offers a game-changing solution to our already overstretched medical services delivery in the country if properly explored and harnessed concertedly by stakeholders, including financial institutions.With respect to expanding coverage, improved and timely access to primary health care services, it was explained that Telemedicine provides patients the opportunity to access online consultation, prescription and delivery of prescribed drugs

from certified pharmacies across Nigeria.

Shaikh, noted however, that telemedicine comes with challenges especially for providers of medical services who wish to explore the initiative; ranging from technology infrastructure, user education & general awareness and connectivity issues on the part of the consumer.

He further identified three major areas financial institutions could assist to bridge the gaps.

Unity Bank Promotes Financial Literacy Unity Bank Plc said it recently unveiled the ‘One Minute Genius,’ (OMG), an educational gameshow to engage students as part of activities to commemorate this year’s Children’s Day. Over 120 winners are expected to emerge at the end of the 5-day contest that kicked off on June 1, 2020, and ran till last Friday.

According to a statement

from the bank, the initiative underscores the bank’s belief in children. “It connects with the Nigerian children’s aspirations and reinforces the importance of education as a vehicle to empower the child to succeed beyond their wildest dreams,� it added. The contest was open to every child and student between the ages of 6

–12 years. The idea was to enable the participant to improve their intelligent quotient and unleash the genius in them. The game was played as a blend of quizzes containing spelling Bee and Arithmetic questions.

The children that answered the questions correctly within the one-minute stipulated timeframe were rewarded with cash prizes.

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

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ Ͳ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $34.84 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $35.46 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), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

29

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍśËœ 2020

MARKET NEWS

C & I Leasing to Delay Audited 2019 Financial Statement Goddy Egene C&I Leasing Plc has announced a delay in publishing its audited financial statement for the year ended December 31, 2019. In a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), C & I Leasing said the delay was, “occasioned by the nationwide lag in business activities arising from the lockdown; an aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.�

“However, the financial results are currently with our primary regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and we hope to get the requisite approval to publish before 29thJune2020,� the company added.

In its unaudited results for 2019, C & I Leasing posted gross earnings of N35.987 billion in 2019, showing an increase of 29 per cent from N27.815 billion recorded in 2018. Net leasing

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

income grew by 34 per cent from N8.782 billion to N11.809 billion in 2019, while net outsourcing income rose from N832 million to N1.041 billion. Financing cost remained high, rising by 19 per cent from N4.728 billion to N5.650 billion in 2019.

The company ended the year with profit before tax of N1.863 billion up from N1.413 billion N1.169 billion in 2018, while profit after tax printed at N1.747

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

billion, indicating an increase of 32 per cent from N1.169 billion in 2018.

Some market operators said the cost of financing would likely reduce in the current year considering the fact that C & I Leasing made a rights issue to raise fresh capital from existing shareholders late last year. The outcome of the issue is being expected.

C & I Leasing made a rights

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

issue of 539,003,333 ordinary shares of N0.50 each at N6.00 per share to raise about N3.234 billion.

According to the company, the funds would be used to finance business expansion(29.17 per cent); refinancing of loans (58.34 per cent); and investment in working capital (9.73 per cent).

The Chairman of C & I Leasing Plc, Chief Chukwuma

O F

Okolo had told the shareholders that as they look ahead, the board and management of the company have full confidence that the rights issue would result in stronger earnings and cash flows and ultimately improve investment returns.

According to him, the board has laid down a solid foundation for growth, expansion and diversification, which is already yielding results.

0 2 / 0 6 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

30

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 •T H I S D AY

31

MONDAY, ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

PAGE THIRTY-ONE PRESIDENCY: SECURITY CHECKS DELAYING CONFIRMATION OF A’COURT PRESIDENT to lead a campaign aimed at persuading the United States and the United Kingdom to believing that genocide against Christians is going on in Nigeria.

However, amid the rising gale of criticisms that has trailed the delay in forwarding Justice Dongbam-Mensem's nomination to the Senate for confirmation, the presidency attributed the situation to noncompletion of her screening by security agencies.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, while responding to an inquiry by THISDAY on the rationale behind the delay, denied claims that Buhari has refused to send the judge's name to the Senate because she is not a Muslim and does not hail from the core North.

Shehu who said Buhari is not a rubber-stamp president and would not be stampeded to carrying out his constitutional duties, added that the statutory time for the justice to act as the appellate

court's boss has not lapsed.

According to him, the system should be allowed to function effectively, and cited cases of some ministers who did not have National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates in the past, as a major lesson on why proper security checks are necessary.

He said: "In making appointments upon the recommendations of other arms or agencies of the government, the president is not a rubber stamp that will mechanistically sign off on nominees that come before him.

"The president has a duty to ensure that all such appointments meet the requirements of the constitution and in protecting the supreme law of the land in this regard, he has an obligation to allow law enforcement and security agencies to do their work.

"Don’t forget our recent experience with ministers who were signed off upon and turned out as having not

undertaking the compulsory national youth service, just to give you an example. “In the specific case of the acting president of the Court of Appeal, Her Lordship Justice M. S DongbanMensem, the statutory regulatory time of her acting period has not lapsed.

"This is not about ethnicity or religion. It is about security and law enforcement agencies being allowed to complete their work. Nobody should seek to stampede the president in carrying out his constitutional duty in this respect. The president had not been a rubber stamp dealing with these matters before, and is not prepared to be one at this time. Let's all allow the system to do what is right."

The president has been under criticism, especially since the renewal of Justice Dongban-Mensem's acting appointment for another three months, over the delay in confirming her nomination.

Some of the critics had

attributed the delay to part of an alleged plot to edge her out of the post so she could be replaced by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, who chaired the 2019 presidential election petitions tribunal, which affirmed the president's victory in the 2019 election.

A former Military Governor of Kaduna State, Colonel Dangiwa Umar (rtd), had in a recent open letter to the president, accused him of trying to stop Justice Dongban-Mensem's confirmation on the ground of religious and sectional biases.

But the presidency had dismissed the allegation, saying Umar's campaign for Justice Dongban-Mensem's confirmation as Court of Appeal's president is premature. “Her Lordship Justice Dongban-Mensem was first approved as president of the court following a recommendation by the National Judicial Council by President Buhari three months

ago, who approved a further three months acting period starting from June 3rd. “Legally speaking, the privilege to lead the Court of Appeal in acting capacity is for six months. As it is today, the beneficiary is just three months in the office. It is therefore mischievous and unreasonable for anyone to start a campaign, premature as it is, over a right that has not arisen," the presidency had said.

prospects of scale by the Body of Experts (BoE). “In applying for the grant, the applicant shall be required to have conducted preclinical testing of the candidate drugs, herbal medicines and vaccines, and obtained certification from relevant health authorities for further research and development. “Special consideration shall be given to candidate drugs, herbal medicines and vaccines with high scientific merit against emerging infections and contribute to the development of the Nigerian vaccine. For this purpose, a BoE shall be constituted from the academia and industry to review validated research proposal submitted and recommend for financing, as appropriate. “The BoE shall meet regularly to appraise the research and development project and submit progress reports to the CBN.�

According to the CBN, the research and development timeframe will not be over two years from the date of release of fund, while for development/manufacturing activities, it shall not be more

than one year from the date of release of the fund. “The BoE shall be responsible for the review and evaluation of submitted research proposals, as well as recommend for financing R&D projects with high potential to contribute to the development of the Nigerian vaccines for infectious diseases,� it added.

According to the CBN, the composition of the BoE shall be made up of two independent research specialists appointed by the CBN; one nominee from National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); one nominee from Nigeria Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD); one nominee from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC); one nominee from Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) and one nominee from the Federal Ministry of Health.

The BoE chair is to be appointed by the CBN. “The applicant(s) shall submit its application, with relevant documentation of validation from relevant health

authorities, trial results, patent registration details (if any) and development timetable to the Body of Experts. “The BoE shall evaluate applications and recommend to the CBN. The CBN shall review for documentation adequacy and completeness.

Upon approval, the approved grant sum shall be released to the applicant’s account with any PFI of his/her choice.

The beneficiary shall submit periodic progress report on the project to the CBN. “The CBN shall have proprietary right over all financed R&D outcomes or products. Equally, licensing protocol for the mass manufacturing of developed drugs, phytomedicines and vaccines shall be defined by the BoE in accordance with the World Health Organisation’s current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). Periodic joint monitoring of research and development activities shall be conducted by the BoE. The framework shall be subject to review from time to time as may be deemed necessary by the CBN,� it stated.

an Arab lawmaker who tested positive last week.

Sami Abu Shehadeh, a member of the Arab Joint List party, in a post on Twitter had called on all to abide by Health Ministry instructions and warned: “We must all internalise that the battle is not over yet.’’ Israel was quick to impose a stringent lockdown in mid-March, resulting in a relatively mild outbreak of the pandemic in the small Middle Eastern country.

But it was also quick to lift the lockdown.

Schools were reopened on May 17, followed by hotels, swimming pools and restaurants some 10 days later.

On Saturday, Israel’s beaches were packed, with many beachgoers ignoring an obligatory Health Ministry guideline to wear face masks.

As of yesterday, a total of 17,783 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Israel, of whom 15,064 have recovered.

Only 29 are in serious condition, of whom 23 are on respirators.

The Health Ministry said 297 people had died from the virus since its outbreak, necessitating the shutdown of some schools after reopening.

Presidency Accuses IPOB of Misleading US, UK on Christians Genocide Claim Also yesterday, the presidency accused IPOB of spending $85,000 monthly to lead a campaign aimed at persuading the United States and the United Kingdom to believe that genocide against Christians is going on in Nigeria.

A statement by Shehu, while dismissing the campaign as false, accused IPOB,

which is crusading for the excision of the South-east from Nigeria to form a Biafra Republic, of sponsoring the campaign, which involves the use of published articles in collaboration with some Christian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and a US lobbying firm, which he said had been sending letters to the US Congress on the genocide claim.

Shehu described as unfortunate, the decision of the US Congress to yield to the persuasion that Christians are being persecuted in Nigeria, and has consequently been lobbying the White House to appoint a special envoy to Nigeria on the matter.

He urged both Nigerians and the international community not to believe the campaign, describing it as divisive.

"Nigerians and the international community are advised to be wary of this divisive campaign, which Continued on page 32

CBN LIMITS HEALTHCARE RESEARCH GRANT TO N500M herbal medicines against the spread of COVID-19 and any other communicable or non-communicable diseases through the provision of grants to biotechnological and pharmaceutical companies, institutions, researchers, and research institutes for the research and development of drugs, herbal medicines and vaccines for the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

The scheme is to boost domestic manufacturing of critical drugs and vaccines to ensure their sustainable domestic supply and reduce the bulk manufacturing cost of the drugs, herbal medicines and vaccines.

The broad objectives of the scheme, according to the CBN, include providing grants for R&D in new or revalidation of drug molecule, phytomedicines and vaccines for the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in Nigeria; boosting domestic manufacturing of validated drugs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients or APIs), herbal medicines and vaccines for the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases

in Nigeria; and reducing the nation’s dependence on other countries for these drugs and vaccines.

Others include improving the capacity of biotechnological and pharmaceutical companies, institutions, researchers, and research institutes in the development of approved Nigerian drugs, herbal medicines and vaccines for infectious diseases and supporting capacity of relevant health agencies towards attaining World Health Organisation (WHO) Maturity Level 3. The WHO's recommendation is a prerequisite for manufacturing of vaccines in Nigeria.

In addition, the objective is to facilitate partnership between academia (researchers, research institutes and universities) and industry into the research and development of drugs, phytomedicines and vaccines for the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in Nigeria.

The central bank listed activities eligible for consideration under the scheme to include: “Research and development of candidate drugs, herbal medicines

and vaccines validated by relevant health authorities for the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases; manufacturing of drugs, herbal medicines and vaccines validated by relevant health authorities for the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases; red biotechnological R&D in new health technology for the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases; research partnership between academia and industry into the development drugs and vaccines for the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases; and research and development into validated phytomedicines for the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.�

It added: “Candidate vaccines undergoing preclinical testing or trials shall not be eligible for consideration under this scheme. However, candidate vaccines undergoing clinical testing or trials shall be eligible for consideration under the scheme if considered to have high potential to cross the clinical trial stage and

WITH 38 NEW COVID-19 CASES, LAGOS RECORDS FIRST SLUMP IN 3 MONTHS According to NCDC data, patients, THISDAY has learnt. seek assistance, including among Pupils, Lagos State so far has 5,767 Dhaka Tribune, in a report permission for its emergency Teachers confirmed cases with 4,756 patients on admission, 1,025 treated and discharged while 67 have died.

The NCDC, in the update yesterday, said Abia recorded 67 new cases, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 40, Lagos 38, Ogun 19, Gombe 16, Edo 14 and Imo nine.

Also, Kwara, Nasarawa, Katsina and Borno had eight cases each, Kaduna six, Bauchi five, Ekiti four, while Niger, Ondo, Plateau, Sokoto and Kano two have each.

It said: " Nigeria has recorded 12,486 cases of COVID-19. 3,959 persons have been discharged while 354 have unfortunately lost their lives."

Nigeria Buys COVID-19 Drugs from Bangladesh Nigeria will today take delivery of drugs it purchased from Bangladesh for the treatment of COVID-19

on its online edition yesterday, reported that a special flight with the medicines, medical supplies, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, last night for Lagos.

The paper said the emergency flight was loaded with a consignment of Remdesivir and Remivir, two drugs believed to be helpful in the treatment of COVID-19, which were hurriedly purchased by the Nigerian government as the country’s cases of the virus continue to rise.

The report said the drugs, among others, would be used in treating a governor, whose identity was not disclosed.

According to the report, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, telephoned his Bangladeshi counterpart, Dr. AK Abdul Momen, on Saturday night to

plane to land in Dhaka in preparations for evacuating the medical supplies.

The plane, it was learnt, landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at about 5pm yesterday and departed for Nigeria with medicines within a short time.

Apart from the medicines, a small quantity of protective personal equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies are said to be part of the consignment on its way to Nigeria.

THISDAY also learnt that subject to the effectiveness of the drugs, the Nigerian government intends to procure more medicines and medical supplies from the South Asian country.

Efforts to speak to Onyeama last night proved abortive as he did not respond to calls and text messages sent to his mobile phone as at press time.

Israel Shuts Schools again as Cases Rise

Following the rising cases of the virus among pupils and teachers, Isreal has closed down its schools, barely three weeks after the schools were re-opened.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that with 347 pupils and teachers testing positive for the virus, 127 schools did not reopen yesterday, which was the beginning of the workweek in Israel, according to an Education Ministry statement.

The number of pupils and staff in home quarantine grew from slightly more than 16,000 to almost 17,500 in little more than 12 hours.

Most of the new cases are from Jerusalem, particularly from one high school, the Hebrew Gymnasium, where, as of Sunday, 148 pupils and staff have tested positive.

Also, four more Israeli lawmakers had to go into home quarantine, because they had had contact with

Lagos Discharges 31 COVID-19 Patients The Lagos State Government has discharged 31 COVID-19 patients from its isolation centres, bringing to 1,025 the number of successfully treated patients in the state.

The state Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the discharged patients consisted of 25 males and six females.

He said: "Six were discharged from Onikan, four from Gbagada, two from Agidingbi, six from Lekki and 13 from Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) isolation centres.

"With this, the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases that have been successfully managed and discharged in Lagos has risen to 1,025."

32

MONDAY, ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

We'll Continue to Guide Price of Petrol, Says PPPRA Marketers fault FG on fuel costing

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) yesterday denied that it approved the full deregulation of fuel prices, which will subject the cost to market forces.

Executive Secretary of the agency, Mr Abdulkadir Saidu, in a statement in Abuja, said contrary to reports, the PPPRA would continue to provide 'guiding prices'.

PPPRA 's statement was to clarify the one issued last Thursday in which Saidu announced the deregulation of petrol pricing.

In the last Thursday's statement, backdated to March, the agency had said the federal government had begun the full deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector with the removal of the existing cap on petrol price.

It urged marketers to import and sell the product according to the dynamics of the forces of demand and supply.

Saidu, in the statement, had noted that the agency would only continue to monitor trends in the crude

oil market and advise the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and oil marketers accordingly.

Reacting to the PPPRA 's earlier position on petrol pricing, fuel marketers, at the weekend, said it contradicted the federal government's claim that it had deregulated the pricing of petrol.

However, in its latest statement on the issue, Saidu said the agency had not given marketers the freedom to fix the price of the commodity and sell above the stipulated price.

He described the claim as a misconception, adding that the removal of petrol price cap and implementation of a market-based pricing regime was first announced by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr Timipre Sylva.

He added that this was followed by PPPRA’s publication announcing the regulation on the market-based pricing regime, thus creating a legal framework for the policy.

He said: “The published regulation does not confer on marketers the power to fix prices for the product as they deem fit, but rather guiding prices would be advised by

the PPPRA according to market realities. “The agency shall monitor market trends and advise the NNPC and oil marketing companies on the monthly market-based guiding price, which shall include the indicative retail price at which the product shall be sold across the country.�

He added that the federal government had earlier said it would continue to monitor the price of petrol and advise on monthly guiding prices.

Saidu said the guiding prices would guarantee reasonable returns to operators while ensuring consumers pay appropriate price in line with market reality. “For the avoidance of doubt, it is instructive to state that no private individual or group has the mandate to fix prices of petroleum products. However, the statutory regulatory body is saddled with the responsibility of advising guiding prices," he stated.

Marketers Fault FG on Fuel pricing Fuel marketers have faulted

the federal government's claim that it has deregulated the price of petrol.

According to them, a proper study of PPPRA's policy document showed that the federal government still retains the power to fix petrol price.

Marketers under the aegis of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) told THISDAY at the weekend that the PPPRA should explain certain clauses in the document signed

by Saidu, describing it as contradictory.

The Chairman of MOMAN, Mr. Tunji Oyebanji, told THISDAY that clause 3(2) of the PPPRA statement, which stated that "the agency shall monitor market trends and advise the NNPC and oil marketing companies on the monthly guiding marketbased price,� contradicted all principles of market forces.

Oyebanji added that the marketers were surprised by the sudden decision and pronouncement, stating that as operators, they ought to have been carried along to enable them to make some inputs, as being done in other

sectors.

He said: "There is contradiction in that thing (document). For me, I'm a bit confused. You see, if this was banking, financial institutions, CBN would call all the bank MDs; they would do their bankers' meeting and at the end of it there would be a communiquĂŠ and all that. Now you have all these operators, just as you woke up to see this pronouncement, that's how we woke up to see it.

"So, I think it was a reaction to all these noise we have been making and in order to quench that fire, that's why this thing came up. It looks contradictory to me.

You can't say you have fully deregulated and that market forces will prevail and at the same time you say you are the one who will advise on monthly petrol price. And the thing says 'you shall', which means if you don't do it you are in trouble. So, what are we talking about?"

He also wondered if the backdating of the policy to March would mean that marketers' losses from March till date, as a result of the

reduction of the former petrol pump price from N145 to the current price of N121.50, would be refunded to them.

Allaying fears that marketers might take advantage of the masses when the market was fully deregulated and market forces allowed to determine petrol price, Oyebanji urged the federal government to set up an agency to monitor prices to guard against malpractices.

"They will be there as monitor just like NCC and CBN do to telecom companies and banks respectively, and they penalise them whenever they notice malpractice by the operators. Likewise, that is what the monitoring agency will be doing. When they circulate the landing price of fuel and say it should be N100 but some people are charging N200, that is exorbitant.

"So, the monitoring agency will call the person and say, 'come, this your price is too much, reduce it'. If they tell them and they don't listen, then they can bill them N500 million fine and with that nobody will do it again. That's what it should be," he stated.

We Don’t Relate with State Chapters of Political Parties, INEC Insists Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday listed its lines of protocols and communications with 15 political parties that would be participating in the Edo and Ondo states’ gubernatorial elections and declared that it would only honour communications from the national chairmen and national secretaries of these parties in accordance with its rules, regulations and laws.

INEC also stated that it would recognise only the date, venue and type of party primaries that would be submitted to it by the national chairman and national

secretary of the parties, irrespective of whatever that might be happening in the state chapters of the APC. The electoral commission stated that Section 222 of the 1999 Constitution as amended said that only the national chairmen and national secretaries are recognised when parties are registered.

The commission also said that Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act stated the lines of communication between the parties and the INEC. The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Mr. Festus Okoye, explained yesterday that the provisions

of the laws, rules and regulations permitted the electoral commission to communicate only with the national chairmen and national secretaries of political parties.

Okoye said that only the APC has chosen direct primaries out of the 15 political parties for the selection of their respective candidates He said: “It is strictly the business of political parties to choose what mode of primary they want to adopt as long as they follow their own constitution. “INEC does not deal with state branches of political parties in matters relating to or connected with the conduct of

party primaries. In our rules and regulations, the letter to this effect is signed by the national chairmen and national secretaries of political parties indicating the date, time and venue for the conduct of party primaries and the mode of the primaries. “The mode of primaries to be adopted by political parties is a function of their constitution, the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and the regulations and guidelines issued by INEC. “Either way, the commission will not and cannot dictate to political parties the mode of primaries to adopt. It is strictly a party affair.�

The two factions of the

APC in Edo State, led by Governor Godwin Obaseki and the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, have been engaged in squabbles over the type of primary that would be used to elect the party’s flagbearer for the September 19, 2020, governorship election in the state.

While Oshiomhole’s camp, which was alleged to be supporting the factional state Chairman of APC, Mr. David Imuse, has been insisting on direct primary, the Obaseki-led faction of the party has ruled out direct primaries for the selection of the governorship candidate of the party.

Oshiomhole, in a letter to the INEC that was dated May 19, 2020, stated that the party had chosen the direct primaries for the selection of its governorship candidate for the September election.

The State APC Chairman of the Obaseki-led faction, Mr. Anselm Ojezua, said the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party has already chosen the indirect primaries and alleged that the National Executive Committee (NEC) through the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party headed by Oshiomhole is working to impose direct primaries on the state chapter of the party in order to oust Obaseki.

It stated that some published opinion articles had been used to support the claim in the US and some websites created by public relations firm hired in the UK seemed to have succeeded in convincing a British parliamentarian, with France, EU, and Germany also drawn into the agenda.

"There is also a UK and European angle of the campaign, which is more opaque than its US sister campaign – given there is less legal requirement for public filings – but what is known of this at the moment is that their budget is sufficient to

hire four PR firms in the UK, Belgium, France and the US (the latter additional to the above).

"They have founded an “NGO/charity� and a linked web-based campaign named “Stop the Silent Slaughter,� which is well designed and complete with video “evidence�-completely concocted.

"Members of the alleged Christian NGO have had multiple Op-ed articles in conservative news websites promulgating their message of a “Christian genocide�.

Some of those articles have also been used as “evidence�

in the sister US campaign.

"Two of those conservative news websites were co-founded by the owner of the UK PR firm they have hired to generate their publicity as well as an OP-ed article in the name of a British MP who may have been convinced by their campaign under false pretences.

"They have secured additional coverage in France, EU and Germany. They secured a MPs debate on the 'Christian genocide' in the House of Commons in which staff member of the UK PR was referenced as the “private secretary� to the leader of the UK-based Charity," he said.

The party chieftain noted that the APC’s National Executive Council (NEC), and not the NWC, has the final say on the mode of the primary.

He said Article 20 (IV) states: “Without prejudice to Article 20(u) and (iii) of this Constitution, the National Working Committee shall subject to the approval of the National Executive Committee (NEC) make rules and regulations for the nomination

of candidates through primary elections.�

Jibrin said this showed that the powers to determine the mode of election to be used for the nomination of candidates rests with NEC and not NWC, adding that at least NWC must get the approval of NEC. Meanwhile, the legal battle between the Obaseki-led faction of the APC and the party’s NWC over the mode of primary will resume today

at the Federal High Court in Benin.

Factional Deputy Chairman of the party, Mr. Kenneth Asemokhai, and a governorship aspirant of the party, Mr. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, had approached the court seeking to restrain the APC from adopting the direct mode of primaries, citing COVID-19 and 2018 APC National Executive Council (NEC) resolution as the ground for their action.

PRESIDENCY: SECURITY CHECKS DELAYING CONFIRMATION OF A’COURT PRESIDENT available evidence shows is being funded with a monthly spending of $85,000 since October 2019, with no records of the source of this largesse.

"The campaign consists of producing articles in the names of the alleged Christian NGOs’ leaders (of campaign groups created at the time this PR contract with a US lobbying firm was signed) and letters to and from members of Congress to the White House.

"Unfortunately, some members of Congress have clearly been persuaded there is indeed a 'Christian persecution' underway in

Nigeria – and do so quoting the campaign – and they are known to be taking up the case directly with the White House to appoint the special envoy," he said.

The statement, which said the alleged campaign was uncovered by an agency of the Nigerian government, added that there are two interconnected campaigns being simultaneously run

by IPOB. According to the statement, the intention of both campaigns calling for the appointment of a US Special Envoy to Nigeria to stop "genocide� of Christians is meant "to

drive a wedge between the Nigerian government and its US and UK/European allies."

Shehu who described the claim of IPOB that it is concerned about Christian wellbeing in Nigeria as "a ruse," alleged that the US charity firm involved in the campaign had met with the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and made presentations to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

The statement said various platforms had been created in four European countries to drive the campaign with various names coined for it.

APC RULES OUT INDIRECT PRIMARY IN EDO STATE appropriate secretariats‌â€? “As we speak, the national secretariat of the APC has no up-to-date register of members.

The last time the register was updated was in 2017. “While the absence of an

up-to-date official register of members is a clear dereliction of duty on the part of the NWC. The insistence of adopting a direct primary without a register of members smacks of sinister motive to cause

confusion and violence and manipulate the process to serve the whims and caprices of Adams Oshiomhole. “We saw Pastor IzeIyamu, the person Comrade Oshiomhole wants to impose by all means as the governorship candidate of APC in the 2020 Edo elections, announcing on live programme on AIT that he has registered as member of APC online. When did the APC develop online platform

for membership registration? “Where is the registration portal domiciled and who manages it? When has the APC announced such development?

Has it been advertised? Has the party extended the online registration of members to Kano, Kwara, Taraba, Cross River, Ogun and other states where we have exodus of members in and out of the party shortly before the 2019 general election?�

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

33

NEWS

Police Officer Electrocuted in FCT Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Tragedy struck yesterday when a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Lasaka Habila, was electrocuted while cutting branches from a tree in Abuja.

It was gathered that the unfortunate incident occurred opposite the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in Garki, Abuja.

A cutlass was seen beside the tree after the incident. It was purported to have been used by the victim to mow branches from the tree which were seen

littered around the scene.

It is also believed that the victim might have been electrocuted by a high voltage from the high tension wire close to the tree.

His lifeless body was eventually brought down by the Search and Rescue team of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and later taken to the National Hospital where he was confirmed dead The Director-General of FEMA, Alhaji Idriss Abbas, expressed sadness at the tragedy, advising

FCT residents to always seek approval from the FCT Parks and Recreation Department before cutting down any tree in the city and also not take laws into their own hands.

He also warned that during the rainy season, most trees would bloom and come in contact with electricity cables, which may transmit high currents through the leaves

and branches.

Abbas, therefore, warned Abuja residents to avoid coming in contact with trees planted close to high tension cables and other electrical

instillation to avoid being electrocuted, as one may not know whether the tree is carrying a live electrical current which could be harmful to the individual.

Military Kills Five Killer-herdsmen after Deadly Attack in Benue George Okoh in Makurdi A deadly attack launched by suspected herdsmen militias on some communities in Benue State has left many unaccounted casualties, even as the troops of a special strike operation codenamed Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) killed five of the invaders.

The herdsmen had attacked three separate villages in Guma Local Government Area of the state.

According to a local source, the attackers invaded three villages, including Torkula, Kponko and Kaseyo all in Mbadwem council ward of Guma last Saturday.

The Fulani invaders were said to have stormed the villages and started shooting sporadically in all directions, killing people and injuring others in the process.

The source put the figure of death in the attack at 12, but another resident of the area, Tersoo Philip, said one person died during the attack while two others were injured but later died at the hospital, bringing the total number of

death to three.

He said as soon as troops of the OPWS heard about the attack, they swiftly went on the trail of the herdsmen and sighted them in the bush.

“In fact, there was a fierce exchange of gunfire between the troops and the armed herdsmen during which five of the herdsmen were killed with no casualty on the side of the troops,” Philips said.

The troops were also said to have recovered three weapons from the attackers.

When contacted, the Force Commander of OPWS, Maj. Gen. Adeyemi Yekini, declined comment on the attack, but referred the journalist to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Information Directorate. Also, when contacted, the Benue State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Catherine Anene, confirmed the attack but said the Command was yet to ascertain the number of casualties at the time of filing this report. She explained that the intervention of the joint military troops averted further attack in the affected areas.

Sanwo-Olu Installs 15th Oniru, Charges Monarch on Devt Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday handed over staff of office to Prince Abdul-Wasiu Omogbolahan Lawal as he officially ascended the throne of Iru Kingdom as the 15th Oniru.

At a simple but colourful ceremony held at the Oniru Palace on Victoria Island, Lagos State, Sanwo-Olu installed the new traditional ruler, saying the event heralded a new dawn and era of prosperity in the kingdom.

The Oniru installation came two days after the State’s Executive Council approved the selection of Lawal, the immediate past Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, who was nominated for the traditional stool by the Abisogun clan of the large Oniru dynasty.

Presenting the monarch to the governor for formal installation, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Wale Ahmed, noted that the process of selecting the new Oniru was fair and open to all contestants.

He said the choice of Lawal was well received by kingmakers and citizens of the kingdom.

Sanwo-Olu, who described the monarch as a seasoned technocrat and distinguished administrator of international repute, said Lawal’s ascension on the throne marked the next phase of Irú journey to the future.

The governor admonished citizens and residents of the kingdom to rally behind the new king in order to move the city forward. He urged Lawal’s opponents and aggrieved individuals to put the event of Oniru’s selection behind them and join hand with the new king for progress.

He said: “Today is a historic day in the history of Iruland, as we gather to celebrate the installation of the 15th Oniru of Iruland. I heartily congratulate His Royal Majesty, Oba AbdulWasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II, the Oniru of Iruland on your ascension to the throne of your forefathers.

WAGING WAR AGAINST PIRACY...

L-R: The Consular General, Republic of Korea, Mr. Kim Ln-Taek; Commander, Maritime Guard Command, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Commodore Aniette Ibok; Second Secretary, Consular of the Ghana High Commission in Nigeria, Mr. David Ako Sowah; Head of Maritime Survey Unit of NIMASA, Mr. Olu Aladenusi; and Mr. Paul Opuma of the Federal Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, during the official handover of suspected vessel Marine 707 and 51 crew members Ghanaian authorities in Lagos...weekend

CAN Calls for Arrest of Miyetti Allah Leader over Alleged Inciting Comments John Shiklam in Kaduna The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and FCT Abuja, has called for the arrest of the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Bodejo for allegedly making comments capable of causing crisis in the country.

Badejo was reported to have said that the Fulani owned Nigeria and will rule the country forever.

He was also reported to have

said that his organisation had concluded arrangements to flag-off its own security outfit with about 5,000 to 100,000 vigilantes to be deployed across all the states of the federation.

However, Northern CAN, in a statement issued yesterday by its Vice Chairman, Rev. Joseph Hayab, called on the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Inspector General of Police, to “have a session with the ethnic superiority champion to school him on the diversity of

Nigeria and the need for restraint from such reckless statements.

“A newspaper story credited to the National President of one of the groups of Miyetti Allah who is quoted to have said that ‘Nigeria belongs to Fulani and they will rule forever’ confirms and identifies those who do not wish Nigeria to live in peace and unity,” the statement said.

Hayab who noted that Nigeria does not belong to any ethnic or religious group, maintained that such false claims as made

by Badejo, only creates tension

and fuels crisis.

He urged all well-meaning members of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore to urgently disassociate themselves from the provocative statement linked to the group as proof that Badejo was on his own.

“Without doubt, there are members of Miyetti Allah who love this country genuinely, craving to see the country grow in peace and develop in every sphere. The statement credited to the group’s President is not a popular view, as such, needs to be publicly opposed.

Ondo Nabs Fleeing Imo Patient in Akure A trader who tested positive for COVID-19 in Imo State and fled to Akure, Ondo State capital has been arrested.

Following her arrest, the Ondo State Government has begun tracing of her customers and other traders that came in contact with her.

Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro, disclosed this yesterday while monitoring compliance of churches to COVID-19 protocols.

Adegbenro admitted that it would be difficult to trace all the

persons that came in contact with the trader.

Adegbenro noted community transmission of COVID-19 was more active in the state.

According to him: “We saw a case yesterday who tested positive in Imo State and ran to Akure. It was those in Imo State that gave us the report that somebody ran away from there. We had to track the woman down.

“Incidentally she is a woman that sells shoes and bags in our market here. So, you only imagine how

many people must have had contact with her now. We are line-listing them now and tracing the contacts.

“But that will be very difficult to do because somebody will just come in, buy and disappears; no address, nothing whatsoever. I think it is more important now that people should still keep away from market.

“Government would review the situation; it is not a static thing. If there is evidence that we need to review the situation, we will go ahead because the safety of the people is paramount.

“We are still encouraging churches to improve on their performance so far; this will be a regular exercise and COVID-19 is very much around, we have started seeing community transmission.

There is the need for everyone to comply with COVID-19 protocol so as to keep safe.

“We issued warnings to the erring ones but if we come around and see them with same situation, government may not have an alternative than to lock them down.”

Hold Govs, Service Chiefs Responsible for Unabating Insecurity, ADP Tells Buhari Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja The Action Democratic Party (ADP), has asked President Mohammadu Buhari to hold the state governors and service chiefs responsible for the insecurity currently ravaging the country.

The ADP’s National Chairman Mr. Yabagi Sani, stated this during a press conference that was held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja to mark the party’s third anniversary.

Sani said: “President Buhari should hold the service chiefs and the state governors responsible for

the insecurity currently ravaging the country.

“ADP is worried by the situation whereby nobody is held accountable for the inexplicable wanton loss of lives in the hands of these so called bandits. We call on Mr. President to hold the service chiefs, the governors of the respective states accountable for these heinous crimes against humanity being committed in their respective jurisdictions.”

The party also advised Buhari to take urgent steps to fix the security challenges in the country.

He said: “President Buhari as an elected president of Nigeria must

listen to the voices of reason by millions of Nigerians who have been calling for the immediate sack of his service chiefs who are in any case paid from public funds and have failed to justify their retention long after their statutory period of service has expired.

“President Buhari should please ease out these service chiefs now and energise the service for a more effective and decisive fight against these rag tag marauders.”

The ADP also called for a declaration of state of emergency in states like Katsina, Kaduna and Zamfara with immediate effect because of the rising wave of

banditry in the Northwest in order to save the country unnecessary psychological pains and economic backwardness.

Sani said: “The ADP still maintains its considered stance on the urgent need to overhaul the security architecture in the country most especially as it concerns the service chiefs in order to give opportunity to young officers who are more innovative and will be more daring in the fight against the unabating insurgence, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, etc. which are becoming a permanent feature in the life of the nation.”

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

34

NEWSEXTRA

Lagos Govt Drags FG, N’Assembly to Supreme Court over Virtual Court Hearings Davidson Iriekpen The Lagos State Government has dragged the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the National Assembly before the Supreme Court to test the constitutionality of virtual court hearings.

In a suit filed through the

state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), Lagos is asking the apex court to determine “whether having regard to Section 36(1), (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), use of technology by remote hearings of any kind, whether by Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, Skype or

Let EFCC Probe Obasa, HEDA Tells Lagos Assembly An anti-corruption advocacy group, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), has faulted the composition of an ad hoc committee by the Lagos State House of Assembly to probe corruption allegations against the Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

HEDA contended that the House of Assembly’s ad hoc committee could not reach a just outcome, as it was allegedly composed of Obasa’s cronies.

According to HEDA’s Chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, some of the members of the committee had already spoken in his defence.

Suraju, in a statement yesterday, maintained that the allegations against Obasa were criminal and should be handled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commi Suraju described the proceedings of the assembly’s ad hoc committee as a shenanigan, designed to arrive at a predetermined outcome.

He said it was curious that the committee, which claimed to be probing Obasa, gave a notice of less than 24 hours for HEDA to

appear before it and testify.

He said, “the panel set up by the Lagos State House of Assembly is made up cronies of the Speaker. There is no way justice will be delivered to the people of Lagos, whose resources Obasa was said to have pillaged.

“Under the principle of fair process, the House is unfit to be a judge in its own case by constituting a committee to investigate allegations of crime against it.

“The Speaker cannot constitute a committee of his loyalists, many of whom have defended him on these allegations through the vote of confidence passed on him and expect any iota of seriousness or credibility attached to the committee or its recommendations.

This simply goes without saying.

“The allegations against the Speaker are criminal in nature and completely outside the parliamentary power of the Assembly. We have directed these petitions to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for their actions. It would be honourable for the assembly to allow these agencies discharge their statutory responsibilities of investigating this matter.”

Publisher Sues Journalists over Alleged Defamation Alex Enumah in Abuja The publisher of an Abuja-based communication outfit, PRNigeria, Mallam Yushau Shuaib, has dragged a freelance journalist, Mr. Terrence Kuanum, to court over alleged libelous publications made against him.

Yushau, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) presidential award winner, is asking the court to award the sum of N500 million in his favour as general and exemplary damages for alleged defamation of his character through the said publications in several online media on February 1, 2020.

In the libel suit instituted at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court through his counsel, Yunus AbdulSalam, the plaintiff is praying the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant by himself or his agents from further writing, printing or causing to be printed or circulated any similar libelous materials against him.

He further applied for an order of the court compelling the defendant to tender public apology in at least two national

dailies with wide circulation in Nigeria and to retract the alleged libelous and offending publications against him.

The plaintiff in the suit complained that the defendant, a freelance journalists with a television outfit, published libelous publications against him by calling him an empathizer and spy proxy for the Boko Haram terrorist group as well as Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP).

In the writ of summons with reference number CV/1705/2020 dated June 3, 2020, and issued against the defendant, the plaintiff claimed that the libelous statement against his reputation and public image were contained in an article entitled: ‘A Rejoinder to An Impenitent Boko Haram Empathizer, Yushau Shuaib Spleen in memo to President Muhammadu Buhari on Service Chiefs’ published by the Authority Newspapers online.

He further complained that he was libeled by the defendant in another publication with the caption: ‘A Rejoinder to Shuaib’s Memo to President Buhari on Service Chiefs” published by The Cable newspapers online.

any other audio visual or videoconference platform by the Lagos State High Court or any other courts in Nigeria in aid of hearing and determination of cases are constitutional.”

The plaintiff argued that the divergent views on whether or not virtual court proceedings are lawful, is causing apprehension over proceedings already conducted virtually in compliance with Practice Directions issued by the Chief Judge of Lagos State.

It therefore wants the Supreme Court to determine whether in view of the powers conferred on the Chief Judge of a State under Section 274 of the Constitution, and

in particular, the Chief Judge of Lagos State having exercised such power to regulate the practice and procedure of the High Court of Lagos State through the issuance of Practice Directions for Virtual Hearings dated May 4 and 15, 2020, the National Assembly, can usurp the powers of the Chief Judge of Lagos State under Section 274 of the Constitution by commencing the process for the amendment of Section 36(3) and (4) of the Constitution to include virtual or remote hearings.

The state is further seeking a declaration that the extant provisions in the Constitution, especially Sections 36 (3) and (4) are adequate

to accommodate virtual or remote hearings of any kind whether by way of Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, Skype, or any other audio visual or video-conference platform as provided for in the Practice Directions issued by the Chief Judge of Lagos State dated May4 and 15, 2020.

The plaintiff also urged the apex court for a declaration that it is not within the legislative competence of the 2nd defendant or any other body, person or authority whatsoever to make laws or otherwise amend the Constitution for the regulation of the practice and procedure of the courts of Lagos State having regard to Section

274 of the Constitution.

It contended that the bill presented before the 2nd defendant seeking to specifically include remote hearing in the Constitution constitutes a usurpation of judicial function.

In a 45 paragraph affidavit sworn to by Oluwayemisi Osisanya, a state counsel in the Ministry of Justice, Lagos State, she stated that following the outbreak of the pandemic, which practically halted judicial proceedings in courts in Lagos, the National Judicial Council (NJC) issued Guidelines on May 7, 2020 to aid the dispensation of justice in Nigeria.

MAKING RUGA A REALITY...

Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and his deputy, Dr. Nasiru Gawuna, during the inauguration of 25 housing units in the RUGA settlement at Yanshoshi forest, in Kiru Local Government Area of Kano State...weekend

Oshiomhole Still Suspended, VON DG Insists Chuks Okocha in Abuja Fresh leadership crisis seems to be brewing within the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the DirectorGeneral of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and a close associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, Osita Okechukwu yesterday said the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, is no longer a valid member of the party.

Okechukwu warned the APC of

the legal implications of allowing Oshiomhole to sign documents for the Edo and Ondo States governorship elections.

He stated in a statement he signed that Oshiomhole remains suspended from the party in his ward in Edo State.

According to Okechukwu, the Court of Appeal in Abuja that heard the case of his suspension only allowed Oshiomhole to preside over the National Executive Committee

(NEC) meeting but did nor quash the suspension in his ward in Iyamo in Edo State.

The director-general of VON cited the case of Inua Abdulkadir, vice chairman of the party North West, when his ward suspended him, stating that by the APC constitution, the suspended officer of the party or member shall appeal his suspension, adding that this has not been done in the case of Oshiomhole as the Court of

Appeal have not delivered its final judgement as the embattled national chairman challenged his suspension by Justice Danlami Senchi of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

According to Okechukwu in a statement, “May I once more crave the indulgence of the leaders and members of our great party, APC to take due caution as Oshiomhole is no longer a valid member of our party.

Coalition Rolls out Measures for Nigeria’s Economic Recovery Peter Uzoho The Alliance for Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), a labour and civil society coalition, led by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has provided a roadmap that can help the federal government to pull Nigeria’s economy back to life amid COVID-19 hardship.

The group also cautioned the federal and state governments as

well as the private sector not to use budget cuts as an excuse to sack their workers in this difficult time.

The coalition, made up of over 70 civil society organisations, in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Adewale Adeoye, listed steps the government could take to ensure the economy and worker’s interests are protected.

According to him, “The government and the private sector must resist an easy recourse to

job cuts and reduction of public spending on social services, especially healthcare services.”

The coalition said one of the challenges the federal government must decisively confront at this time was how to significantly increase or double public spending not only on healthcare services but also on public sanitation, water supply and public education.

“Increased spending on

public education would allow decongestion of overcrowded classrooms by employing more teachers and urgently building more classrooms before children resume school.

“Doubling public expenditure in these areas will bridge huge gaps in service provision in these critical areas which are important for the early containment of COVID-19,” ASCAB said.

WISCAR Condemns Gender-basedViolence The Founder of WISCAR, Mrs. Amina Oyabola, has expressed displeasure over the increasing rate of gender-based violence in the country.

In a statement issued to THISDAY yesterday, Oyabola condemned the rape and murder of a 100 level student of Microbiology Department, University of Benin, Uwaila

Omozuwa, stating that the level of violence experienced by young women and girls on a daily basis is worrisome.

The WISCAR chairperson said: “In the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic, the whole country was severely shocked by the brutal rape and barbaric murder of Uwaila Omozuwa.

The fact that the attack took

place in the vicinity of a church in which she clearly felt safe and enabled to engage with her studies makes it all the more disturbing.”

Oyabola further explained that the brutal rape of Omozuwa is a reminder that the society is living in dangerous times, “and recent events have been especially dire

for women.”

She added that there is need for people to kick against the seeming loss of respect for life, adding that “this also brings to mind the highly regrettable negligence that led to the death of Tina Ezekwe, which was said to have resulted from a stray bullet.”

35

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Gencos Reject Senate’s Call for Reversal of Privatisation of Power Sector Say FG owing power firms over N1tn

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Electricity Generation Companies (Gencos) in Nigeria have yesterday kicked against the call by the senate to reverse the privatisation of the power sector , following the inability of the operators to deliver electricity to Nigerians more than six years after the sector

was handed over to them.

Executive Secretary of the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), Dr. Joy Ogaji, in a statement in Abuja, argued that instead of seeking to upturn the privatisation of the sector, the senate should look into how the current challenges can be sorted out.

The Gencos who operate under the banner of the APGC, while empathising with Nigerians on the current abysmal situation of electricity supply, maintained that the reversal of the privatisation exercise of 2013 is not the solution to resolving the current abysmal state of the sector.

They complained that

FCT Minister Recommends Castration as Penalty for Rapists Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has suggested castration as a deterrent for rapists.

Aliyu made the suggestion in Abuja during the distribution of palliative items to the leadership of FCT National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) FCT chapter and the Nigeria Football Association of Coaches FCT chapter.

Aliyu said: “We are also pushing for serious institutional framework that will ensure that

justice is done. It is not enough to just jail such person, definitely punishment like castration will do. When we kill them, they die and not remembering anything, therefore they should be castrated and allowed to roam the streets and inactive.”

She revealed that the Ministry of FCT is working in concert with security agencies and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) to push for an institutional framework that would ensure justice is served.

The minister of state stressed that members of

the community would be engaged in the battle against rape and described sexual violence against minors as a heinous crime.

She also used the occasion to appeal to community leaders to ensure that the palliative items would get to the vulnerable; assuring that in no distance time Nigeria would be free from COVID-19 pandemic.

Responding, the President of FCT NCWS Mrs. Hadiza Umar, thanked the FCT administration for the kind gesture and assured that the items would be distributed among widows in the society.

close to seven years after privatisation, a number of the guidelines stipulated in the governing contract have still not been activated, leading to non-payment for power generated and supplied to the national grid.

“This has led to a huge outstanding debt of approximately N1 trillion owed to gencos from the inception of privatisation till date. All contracts remained inactivated, notwithstanding the declaration of the Transitional Electricity Market (TEM), which heralds contract effectiveness.

“The Gencos were made to bear the brunt of this lacklustre performance on the part of NBET (Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading) as the off-taker of the Gencos power,” the generation companies argued.

According to the Gencos, the generation companies only receive a payment of between 11 per cent and 30 per cent of their invoiced amount on a monthly basis, leaving out a huge outstanding receivables and arrears in excess of 1,000 days after invoicing without taking

cogniscance of the interest on delayed payments and foreign exchange volatility.

While noting that the weak transmission (grid) and distribution network inherited from the PHCN days are still in existence and are not complementing their efforts in maximising available capacities, the Gencos said that they had worked to attain average available capacity of 8,589 MW and installed capacity of 13,427 MW with an expansion capacity of 20,000MW.

Ike’s Funeral Now June 11 In line with the operating guidelines and protocols for burials in Anambra State, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ike Royal Family has fixed Thursday, June 11, for the burial of Nigerian literary icon and traditional ruler of Ndikelionwu Community in Orumba North Local Government Area, His Majesty, Eze Professor Chukwuemeka Ike. In a statement issued by the Palace Secretary, Prince Onyeabo Ike at the weekend, on June 10 by 4.30pm, the body of the deceased would arrive the palace.

On Thursday June 11, from 7a.m to 10a.m, the body would lie in state in his Palace, Ogbiti Ikelionwu X1.

The statement indicated that between 10a.m to 11a.m same Thursday, there would be burial service at St. Margaret’s Church, Ndikelionwu.

His remains will be interned at exactly 12 noon in his compound, Ogbiti Ikelionwu XI. There will be thanksgiving/ outing service on Sunday, June 14, by 8a.m, at St Margaret’s Church, Ndikelionwu.

“Attendance to these events is strictly by invitation in order to forestall any violation of the COVID-19 protocols.

“To this end, Groups and Associations will nominate two persons to represent them at the events. Such names are to be sent to the Palace Secretary,” it added.

The late Ike, who transited on January 8 this year at the age of 89, had his initial burial rites slated for April 1-5, but it was truncated by the outbreak of the pandemic.

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

36

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Omo-Agege Denies Asking EFCC to Probe Akpabio Deji Elumoye in Abuja Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-

Agege, has said there was never a time he requested for the probe of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator

Operators Hail Malami, Adebayo on OGFZA’s Takeover of Export Free Zones Peter Uzoho Operators in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, and the maritime sector have hailed the takeover of the Export Free Zones involved in oil and gas activities in Nigeria by the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), saying the development is in line with relevant Nigerian laws.

The stakeholders also applauded the political will demonstrated by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, on their correct interpretation of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Act (NEPZA) Cap No 107, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004 and the Oil and Gas Export Free Zone Act Cap 05 LFN 2010.

They also applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for standing firm on his avowed determination to correct the wrongs of the past.

Before Otunba Adebayo became the supervising minister, NEPZA had undertaken the functions of OGFZA, which by law, has the oversight responsibility over free zones involved in and gas activities in Nigeria.

In a statement issued at the weekend, the operators, who identified themselves as “Concerned Maritime Professionals,” accused NEPZA of frustrating foreign investments by colluding with few companies, which were scared of competition and hell-bent in creating monopoly.

“NEPZA colludes with paper-

weight Lagos-based companies that parade themselves as free zone stakeholders to frustrate foreign investments in the free zones and create monopoly.

“Nigeria is in need of foreign investments due to persisting COVID-19 pandemic and the dipping price of oil; therefore the government’s initiative is laudable in the sense that it would usher in transparent operation of free zones in Nigeria. It will boost more investments and end the era of monopoly in the free zones.

“It has become obvious that NEPZA failed to carry out the role of free zone manager “It did not encourage new investments and it caused frustration and suffering to existing foreign investors in a bid to satisfy its greed,” the group explained.

The group argued that NEPZA’s activities brought negative image to Nigeria and scared current and potential investors from the free zones.

“NEPZAis the only government agency under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment that gives the minister headache because of its incompetence and previous fraudulent deals.

“Indeed, Otunba Adebayo inherited a lot of mess in NEPZA and has done a lot to clean up the agency and carry out reforms but the agency has continued to demonstrate incompetence in the management of the free zones.

Most of the major international oil companies (IOCs) had also expressed reservations over the alleged monumental fraud, which is an act of economic sabotage.

NGO Seeks Justice for Rape Victims Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan A non-governmental organisation, Let’s Talk Humanity Initiative (LTHI), has demanded justice for the victims of the rising cases of rape of young girls across the country, which has also led to the death of innocent girls.

The organisation specifically noted that the deaths of 22-year old student of University of Benin, Miss Uwa Omozuwa, and 18-year old student Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Moore Plantation, Ibadan, Miss Barakat Bello, who were killed in their prime by rapists.

The Founder of the LTHI, Mrs. Fatima Ganduje-Ajimobi, expressed sadness over the rising spate of sexual violence in Nigeria and called on the government to rise up to the challenge of addressing the alarming trend of sexual violence in the country, noting that many of such cases were never properly investigated and prosecuted.

Ganduje-Ajumobi alleged that previous cases were swept under the carpet due to influence of those responsible for the act of sexual violence

in the country.

She said: “There is an urgent need for us to strengthen our laws to ensure maximum punishment for rapists.

“On this note, I call on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately take a prompt action on the need to end rape culture in Nigeria and I also demand that the rapist-killers of Uwaila Omozuwa and Barakat Bello be immediately brought to book in order to serve as a deterrent to other rapists that are still lurking around and a template of justice for rape victims.”

The human rights advocate charged other NGOs to rise to the challenge of child abuse in the country, adding that, “there is the need for non-governmental organisations to start orientating young boys and men that rape is as grievous as murder. We call on other NGOs to join us in this fight against rape and child abuse.”

She equally urged the federal government to strengthen institutions saddled with the responsibility of child advocacy throughout the country in order to curb the menace of child abuse.

Godswill Akpabio.

Omo-Agege in a statement issued yesterday denied asking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the minister.

According to him, a letter purported to have emanated from the Clerk of the Senate, acting on his behalf and requesting the Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Mr. Ibrahim Magu

to investigate the minister did not come from him.

Describing the document as fake, the Deputy President of the Senate insisted that he never instructed the Clerk or any other person to contact the EFCC to investigate any individual.

The statement read inter alia: “The attention of the Office of the Deputy President of the Senate has been drawn to a letter dated

May 7, 2020, purportedly written by the Clerk of the Senate acting on behalf of the Office of Deputy President of the Senate requesting the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and monitor the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and one other.

“This Office hereby states that the said letter

is false, fake, malicious, mischievous and vexatious.

This office never instructed the Clerk of the Senate, or in fact any person, to write to or contact the EFCC in relation to any person.

“In the light of the foregoing, we wish to urge the public to disregard the fake letter, same being the handiwork of a person or persons with criminal intents”.

STRATEGISING FOR EDO, ONDO GUBER POLLS...

L-R: Financial Secretary, National Conscience Party (NCP), Mr. Isa Aderibido; Secretary of NCP, FCT chapter, Mr. Adekunle Oludasa; and National Chairman, NCP, Dr. Tanko Yinusa, during the press briefing organised by NCP on INEC’s plans for Edo, Ondo states’ governorship elections in Abuja...weekend ENOCK REUBEN

Lagos Safety Commission Wants Churches to Use Electronic Methods for Offerings Segun James Ahead of the reopening of religious centres in Lagos State, the state government has charged the worship centres to encourage the use of stationary collection box and electronic methods for offering to contain spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the centres.

The Director-General of Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, who stated this at a follow-up press briefing of the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on

the opening of worship centres in the state, said officials would be deployed to strictly enforce all the guidelines and protocols earlier reeled out by the government.

Mojola, however, issued a caveat that churches and mosques, whose attendees failed on Sundays and Fridays to wear face masks to services would be closed down.

According to him, the government has also prohibited parents from taking their infants to religious gatherings, warning that flouting the directive would attract

sanctions against such parents.

He said the state government expects that in a family with infants, one of the parents would stay at home to offer care, while the other could attend church or mosque service, even as he said it is expected that worshipers would observe the standard two metres social distancing protocol from each other while seated in the church or mosque.

“While all event centres remain shut until further notice, those used for religious gatherings could

however, open but strictly for that purpose and must observe all the protocols,” Mojola said.

The DG, who also disclosed that over a thousand applications have been received from owners and operators of all events, gyms and other social places but have not yet given the nod to reopen, urged them to continue the register-to open procedures and obtain their certificates, stressing that the registration and certificate issuance are at no cost to such businesses.

CSO Kicks against Indirect Primary By Edo APC The Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa has raised the alarm over what it described as the inherent dangers of conducting indirect primaries by political parties in Edo State.

The group in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mr. Steve Adepoju said “The choice of whether or not the All Progressives Congress should conduct a direct or indirect primary should not be made a partisan issue, but should

rather be viewed through common sense especially as it pertains to public health.”

“On one side, you have the Edo State Government, led by the Governor, Godwin Obaseki, agitating for the adoption of an indirect primary because, according to him, it represents the best chance to conduct a political event of that nature in the state without compromising its efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

“To further strong-arm the

political party and other stakeholders into choosing the indirect mode of primary, the governor has gone ahead to pass a gazette banning political gathering of more than 20 persons in the state, leaving only allowance for a large gathering at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City for political purpose, specifically the conduct of primaries.”

Article 20 (iv) of the APC constitution, on the procedure for nomination, elections and

appointments of president, governor, Senate, House of Representatives, House of Assembly, local government council chairmen, among others stated that for the nomination of a candidate through indirect primaries, it shall be done at a designated venue for that purpose, by an Electoral College of delegates democratically elected by members of the party from the various wards contained in the particular constituency at congresses.

Equip Police Scientifically on Rape Cases, Women Tell IG Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Director General of the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Ms. Mary Ekpere-Ita, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Muhammed Adamu, to use the Police Trust Fund (PTF) to equip and train police personnel on how to scientifically prove rape cases.

Ekpere-Ita said that the rising cases of rape in the country warranted a paradign shift in the way the police and the judiciary perform their functions.

She made the call while reacting to the deaths of the University of Benin undergraduate, Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa and a student of the Federal College

of Animal and Production Technology, Ibadan, Miss.

Barakat Bello that were raped and killed, as well as the case of a 12 year old girl who was serially raped by 11 men in Jigawa State, noting that the trust fund would certainly be handy to equip the force.

The director general said: “Aside from worrying data that shows that one in four girls and

one in ten boys have experienced sexual violence before the age of 18, recent months have seen the media publishing reports of rape, which in some cases the women were killed after being sexually assaulted.

“I call for improved and effective response from the police, the judiciary, members of the victim’s family and community members.

MONDAY JUNE 8, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

37

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Adeboye: Govts Can’t Lock down the World Forever The General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has hailed the world leaders for their initiatives in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic that is currently ravaging human race, however, insisting that governments cannot lock the world down forever for fear of its spread.

Adeboye also urged all true Christians to wait upon the Lord to overcome both physical and spiritual problems facing the world, instead of hoping on

human solutions to the physical problem.

He spoke yesterday during a sermon titled, ‘Flying over mountains’ on Dove Television Station.

Adeboye’s sermon was on the Holy Bible’s account in Isaiah 40, 28-31 which talked on ‘Waiting upon the Lord.’

According to him, waiting on God requires perseverance, holiness and diligence.

Describing what it takes to be a waiter, he said: “The one who waits is called a waiter.

The job of a waiter includes sitting a guest down. In a good hotel, a waiter brings you water; presents you the menu. He provides you food and waits on you or stands by you until you are fully satisfied.

“I assure you, you will fly over the mountain of physical lockdown. In Acts 16, 16-34, Paul was minding his business. The demonised girl began to bother him. He cast out the demon; he was doing the work of God. They grabbed him and threw

him and Silas, his partner, into prison. They were thoroughly locked down with chains on their legs and hands, then they waited on the Lord and God sent an earthquake.

“We thank God for all that the governments have been doing, but you know what?

You can’t lock down the whole world forever. Sooner or later, the lockdown would be over.

For some people, it would be over sooner than later. You learn to worship the Almighty God

and all of a sudden, you will discover that instead of the lockdown being a problem, it would become an asset.”

The cleric, who pointed out that the problem occasioned by spiritual lockdown was greater than the physical lockdown, stated, “If you worship the Almighty God and wait on him appropriately, you will fly over spiritual lockdown “Physical lockdown is a minor thing. There is a saying that there are people who are prisoners,

but who are not in the prison yard. They are in their homes.

They can go in and come out but they are in prison also because they have problems; forces of darkness holding them in bondage.

“Look at the mad man of Gadara. He was locked down in a graveyard by forces of darkness. But when he saw Jesus Christ coming, he fell down at His feet and worshipped Him. That day, he was freed.

COVID-19 Fallout Could Last for a Decade, Says World Bank President Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja President of the World Bank Group, David Malpass, has described COVID-19 as a ‘devastating blow’ for the global economy, and warned that the fallout from the pandemic could last for a decade.

Malpass, an economist, who assumed the leadership of the bank since last year, also said in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s programme ‘The World This Weekend’, that the pandemic “has been a devastating blow for the economy.”

According to him, “The combination of the pandemic and the shutdowns have meant billions of people whose livelihoods have been disrupted. That’s concerning. Both the direct consequences, meaning lost income, but also then the health consequences, the social consequences, which are really harsh.

“We can see that with the stock market in the United States being relatively high, yet people in poor countries are being not only unemployed, but unable to get any work even in the informal sector, and that’s going to have consequences for a decade.”

Although the World Bank

is already providing support to the worst affected countries, it is calling on banks and pension funds to offer debt relief to developing countries.

Malpass told the BBC he would also like commercial lenders to make the terms of their loans clearer, so that investors can have more confidence when putting money into those economies.

Noting that the damage to global trade is a challenge, Malpass maintained that the ‘catastrophe’ could be overcome since people are ‘flexible and resilient’.

The World Bank chief said: “I think it’s possible to find paths, it’s a great work for countries and governments to do that. But we can encourage that effort.

“As an optimist, over the long run, human nature is strong, and innovation is real. The world is moving fast and connectivity has never been higher, which gives hope for the future.”

Malpass had recently lamented that that the coronavirus crisis could push 60 million people into “extreme poverty”, which the World Bank defines as living on less than $1.90 per person per day.

TOUCHING LIVES...

Beneficiaries of COVID-19 palliatives distributed by Ummah Support Initiative in Abuja...weekend

Ekiti Police Arrest Three Fake Soldiers, Corps Member Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested a man, Mr. Abdusalam Olalekan for allegedly stealing uniform belonging to the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) to pose as a corps member in the state .

Abdusalam, who was arrested on May 10, 2020, by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS) during a patrol along Atikankan Area of Ado-Ekiti, had confessed to being a fake NYSC member.

A statement issued yesterday in Ado Ekiti by the state Police

Commissioner , Mr. Asuquo Amba, revealed that Abdusalam had allegedly confessed to have burgled the apartment of one Abdulsalam Ibrahim at Aghenebode, Edo State and stole one NYSC fez cap and a pair of NYSC boot.

“The suspect had during the burglary stole one identity Card of Olabisi Onabanjo University belonging to Akinlabi Teslimat Damilola, Identity Card of Kebbi State University and National Youth Service Corp Identity Card both belonging to Abdulsalam Ibrahim.

“The suspect will be handed

over to Edo State Police Command for prosecution”.

The Police boss said his men also nabbed one Abdullahi Kabiru and Obaro Tunde, both from Ife Olukotun Village, Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State and came to Omuo-Ekiti where they sighted one Police Constable Awoniyi Lawrence and allegedly assaulted him.

“The two suspects who identified themselves as Captains in the Nigeria Army attached to 44 Battalion in Niger State, assaulted the Police Constable, beat him mercilessly and further threatened to break the Constable’s

head with a bottle.

“The Police Constable called for reinforcement, which led to the arrest of the two suspects.

During interrogation, the two suspects confessed to be fake soldiers and claimed that the army uniform belongs to one of their brothers”.

The police commissioner added that his men has arrested one Emeka Ukwueze, a motorcycle spare parts sellers, for allegedly breaking into the shop of one Ejiofor Osai located along Nova road, Abeyo area of Ado Ekiti and carting away different kinds of motorcycle/generator parts .

NASU Decries Excessive Bakare: I Can’t Open Church, Endanger People’s Lives Dike Onwuamaeze Taxation Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has asked the federal government to do something about the excessive and multiple taxation on its members.

The union also asked the government to consider the cessation of the National Housing Fund, which it said has lost its usefulness.

The union in a statement issued yesterday by the General Secretary of NASU, Mr. Peters Adeyemi, lamented the situation where workers especially those in the low income bracket are subjected to all manner of taxes.

“In Nigeria only workers pay taxes while the big businesses get tax exemptions and tax holidays.

NASU further said that majority of workers are subjected to property tax and lamented that only workers in low income brackets that would pay the recently introduced communications tax, adding that wealthy business men, their top echelon employees, their class collaborators in the political class as well as public

service bureaucrats do not pay communications tax.

According to the union, these privileged few have their calls paid for by their big businesses and governments.

“When it is all added up, it is only NASU members and other workers as well as the downtrodden masses of this country that pay taxes. The burden of excessive and multiple taxation has impoverished the average Nigerian worker. The salaries and wages paid to them have become slave wages, forcing our members to live below internationally declared poverty line.

“The whole issue is compounded by the absence of any social security safety net in the country and the fact that they are not counted among the 10,695,360 individual households the federal government declared as poor households in Nigeria as at 29th February 2020, which disqualified them from the conditional cash transfers of the federal government. The reason is that our poverty ridden members are erroneously termed to be gainfully employed,” the union said.

The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, formerly known as Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said he is not prepared to open his church yet at the risk of putting the lives of his congregants in danger of contracting COVID-19.

Bakare, who insisted that it was not yet time to open places of worship, said he was sorry for

the country as some Christian and Muslim clerics were putting pressure on the government to open worship centres.

In a sermon titled, ‘You are free to dream again,’ which he delivered on Saturday and was posted on Youtube, Bakare wondered if the religious leaders pilling pressure on the government to open worship centres were planning to take people to the graveyards.

Bakare said, “I’m so sorry for

our country at this juncture; I’m so sorry that we are pressurising the government to open churches and to open mosques; you want calamity upon calamity. The church has not been closed; nobody can close the church.

“Yes, it is true that buildings are closed but the church is marching on. No one can close the church. And government can shut down the buildings; they cannot force us to go back because I’m not going

to endanger the lives of our people.”

Comparing the coronavirus pandemic with the biblical story of Noah and the flood, Bakare added, “Noah did not jump out of the ark; he sent the raven first to test the ground.

The raven never returned. He sent the duck twice; on the third occasion, it did not return. He knew it was safe to go out but he still stayed there until God said, ‘Noah, come out!’

NNPC to Build N21bn Hospitals in 12 States Michael OlugbodeinMaiduguri The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries have made available N21 billion for the building of hospitals in 12 states across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Health (State), Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Emergency and Infectious Disease Hospital in Maiduguri, Borno State, at the weekend.

Mamora said the health care delivery sector is currently witnessing major infrastructural development that would outlive

the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said health care facilities being put in place across the country is a major step to address the infrastructural deficit in the health sector.

The minister disclosed that the hospital project across the 12 states is a joint project between the NNPC and its partners, which N21 billion has been budgeted to construct them in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

He noted that the project, which groundbreaking was being done, would not only help to tackle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but would assist to address the health care challenges in the North-east

region and beyond.

Mamora said: “This project is going to create a kind of turnaround in the health care delivery system of this country, and we are very grateful to the NNPC and its partners for this.

“COVID-19 pandemic has destabilised the entire system-socially, culturally, economically, religiously and so on. For us in Nigeria that we hitherto had what we call weak health system, and with COVID-19 emergence, it’s like exposing that weakness in our health system.

“One of the things that this hospital project will achieve is that even when COVID-19 pandemic is no more, certain landmarks in the

health care sector would have been established; that is the importance of the project which foundation we just laid in Maiduguri today.”

Meanwhile, the state Governor, Prof.

Babagana Zulum, commended the NNPC and its partners in mitigating the humanitarian crises in the state and supporting its rebuilding efforts.

According to him, “What we’re seeing today is part of the institutional capacity building measures envisaged by President Muhammadu Buhari and delivered by the NNPC and its allied organisations in the oil sector.”

38

Ëœ ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

MONDAYSPORTS

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

Transfer: Galatasaray Consider Permanent Deal for Onyekuru Ahead of the transfer window scheduled to commence next month in Europe, there are strong indications that Super Eagles winger, Henry Onyekuru, may seal a permanent deal with Turkish Super Lig side, Galatasaray.

The Nigerian star is currently on his second year loan spell with the Turkish gaints and his performance so far would mean that Onyekuru would be

Henry Onyekuru... craves permanent deal at Galatasaray

given a permanent deal rather than going back to his parent club AS Monaco in France.

The pacey Nigerian winger joined Monaco from Olympiakos in Greece but was unable to tie down starting shirt in the Ligue 1 club and thus necessitated the need to move to Galatasaray on loan.

However, with Onyekuru’s encouraging spell in Turkey, Olympiakos, according to www. bsnsports.com, have renewed interested in having their player back but the Nigerian who is having a good stay in Istanbul appears reluctant to go back to Greece.

Olympiakos last week made an enquiry about the availability of the former Eupen striker but his parent club in France insisted on a permanent sale.

Transfer reports coming from Turkey indicate that Galatasaray is already pondering approaching Monaco in order to secure Onyekuru permanently.

Onyekuru is expected to lead Galatasaray attack when

the Turkish Super Lig resume next week.

The 23-year old was part

of the Super Eagles team to the last AFCON 2019 in Egypt where he made a cameo

appearance in the semi-final match against Algeria He made his debut in

2017 in an international friendly against Togo which Nigeria won.

Nigerian international, Samuel Chukwueze (3rd right), at training with his Villarreal teammates as the Spanish La Liga prepares for a restart of the 2019/20 season disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic

Club’s Pressure Forced Me to Dump CAF, Yobo Pay Tribute to Keshi Four Years after Flying Eagles, Says Chukwueze He Passed on Four years after the death of former Captain and Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) yesterday paid glowing tribute to the ex international fondly called the Big Boss.

The former Anderlecht supremo died of cardiac arrest on June 7, 2016 in Benin City aged 54 years.

CAF said in an emotional tribute to the late Nigerian Coach: “Today we remember Captain Fantastic, Stephen Keshi, who left our world on this sad day 4 years ago. �In 2013 Keshi became the second person to win the

#TotalAFCON title as player (1994) and coach, when he led the @NGSuperEagles to their third trophy in South Africa,� CAF tweeted.

Similarly, Joseph Yobo who captained the Eagles Class of 2013 to Nigeria’s third continental honour, also paid tribute to the Illa-born former footballer. “Dear coach, it’s been four years today since you left us to rest with the Lord. You are deeply missed but your legacy lives on! Rest on the Big Boss,� Yobo wrote on Instagram.

The late Keshi was capped 64 times by Nigeria and scored nine goals

Victor Moses, Others ‘Blocked’ from Returning to Premiership Former Nigeria international Victor Moses will not be eligible to represent Chelsea in the Premier League this season if he is unable to secure an extension of his loan spell with Inter Milan.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner reunited with ex-Chelsea coach Antonio Conte in the winter transfer market, penning a five-month loan deal until June 30, 2020.

Uk’s Daily Mailreported yesterday that players returning on loan such as Alexis Sanchez, Chris Smalling and Moses will be blocked from Premier League action and will only be allowed to play in an emergency. “We’ve been told it will

take a situation where the goalkeeper has to play centre-forward or the centre-forward has to go in goal for these players to be allowed to play. “A lot of players will be in limbo over the next couple of months and will probably have to train at home for a period,� the newspaper quoted the statement on players on loan planning to return to the English topflight.

Moses has been training with his Nerazzurri teammates at the Suning Training Centre ahead of the Coppa Italia clash against Napoli on Saturday, June 13.

There is an option to buy the wing-back for ten million euros included in the loan deal with Inter Milan.

More than a year after he declined to join Flying Eagles at FIFA U20 World Cup in Poland, Nigeria and Villarreal winger, Samuel Chukwueze, has admitted that pressure from his La Liga club made him turn his back on the invitation.

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria failed to go beyond the group phase of the competition with most football pundits insisting that the absence of the Villarreal winger partly contributed to the dismal outing.

While speaking on an Instagram interview session yesterday, Chukwueze, said it was his club that insisted that he should pick between the FIFA U20 World cup and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. “I wanted to play both of them but my club said, no, telling me ‘Samuel you cannot play two of them, you are going to be exhausted.’ It was after this directive that I had to join them in the pre-season tourney. “My club said I need to

make a decision, choose one and the pressure was for me to go to the Under-20, but I cannot finish that tough season in the La Liga and join the Under-20 immediately because they were already playing in at the World Cup. “I told them I want to go to the Nations Cup even if I’m not playing, let me start from the bench, I want to feel the Nations Cup atmosphere,� revealed Chukwueze in that Instagram interview.

The Nigerian forward was prominent in all the matches Super Eagles played at the AFCON 2019 tournament in Egypt and even scored the opening goal in the 2-1 win over South Africa in the quarter final match played at the Cairo International Stadium where he also won the Man of the Match award.

He returned from the competition with his first continental honour- an AFCON bronze medal.

Nigerian-born Naser Facing Two-year Ban for Fourth Missed Drugs Test Suspended world champion Salwa Eid Naser missed a fourth drugs test, it emerged on Sunday.

Naser, who was born in Nigeria but switched allegiance to Bahrain in 2014, is the first Asian woman to be a world champion in the discipline.

Born Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu in Anambra State, Naser ran the third-fastest 400m in history and secured the gold medal at the 2019 world championships in Doha.

It was also the fastest 400m time since 1985. Now she is facing a potential two-year ban over an alleged ‘whereabouts’ violation Under the rules, three missed

tests or filing failures in a rolling one-year span will trigger a charge - Naser admitted on Saturday that she missed three tests ahead of the worlds in Doha, prompting bemusement in the sport over why she was cleared to run, and it has now been confirmed that she went on to miss a fourth test in January of this year.

A statement from the Athletics Integrity Unit yesterday read: “The investigation into Ms Naser’s three whereabouts failures in 2019 was ongoing at the time of the Doha World Championships and she was not provisionally suspended

at the time. “Following conclusion of the investigation and a fourth whereabouts failure in January 2020, a notice of charge was issued and Ms Naser subject to an immediate provisional suspension. “The disciplinary process is ongoing and the AIU will not comment further at this stage.�

Naser, 22, took almost a second off her personal best in beating Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo in 48.14sec – the third quickest time in history.

In a peculiar protestation of her innocence, Naser argued on Saturday it was ‘normal’ to

miss three tests – a stance that is strongly at odds with the views of many athletes.

Salwa Eid Naser....facing two-year ban from World Athletics

Integral Partners Ozil’s Management for Talent Identification Femi Solaja Integral and Family & Football yesterday announced a new joint venture partnership focused on augmenting the level of football talent identification, development and management, on the African continent.

After almost a year of planning and working, Integral, one of the leading African sport management company, sealed this strategic alliance with one of the most prominent global football agencies, Family and

Football.

Family & Football was founded by Dr. Erkut Sogut, a lawyer and registered FA intermediary, and has a foothold in many locations across the globe.

The agency came into prominence by negotiating one of the most lucrative player contracts in Premier League history for Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil whom it also represents.

The joint venture partnership is a landmark achievement for Integral’s football division and the experience of Family &

Football will assist the company in providing quality, first class representation to the flood of football talent dotted all over Africa.

Earlier in the year, Integral hosted Dr. Erkut Sogut when he visited Nigeria with his close friend and associate Misha Sher, VP Sport & Entertainment at Mediacom, who played a crucial role in forming the relationship between both companies.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Erkut Sogut said, “Nigeria, Africa and Integral

are strategic partner for us. We believe in their potential. And with Integral we will showcase African footballers in a different way because they deserve it. “The continent deserves it. It has some of the best talents I have ever seen like Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu and many more like them. “But our ties extend beyond football. I am passionate about education and I see the quality of people here; desirous of learning, of leaving a positive impact in the world.

39

Ëœ ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

MONDAYSPORTS

La Liga to Hold Minute Silence for All Covid-19 Victims A minute of silence will be held before all La Liga games in memory of the victims of coronavirus, the league and Spanish football Federation (RFEF) announced on Sunday.

The tribute will also be paid before matches in Segunda, Spain’s second

tier, as well as play-offs for promotion in the Segunda B and Tercera divisions, the two governing bodies confirmed. “Both organisations have reached an agreement to pay a sincere tribute this season to all those who have left us because of

the pandemic, as well as their families,� said a joint-statement.

The first match back will be on Wednesday between Rayo Vallecano and Albacete, who will play the second half of their Segunda contest in December that was

abandoned due to offensive chanting.

Top-flight fixtures will then restart on Thursday, when Sevilla host Real Betis, with reigning champions Barcelona playing away at Real Mallorca on Saturday and Real Madrid hosting Eibar

on Sunday.

Barca are top of the table, two points clear of Madrid, with 11 games left to play.

The return will bring an end to a three-month hiatus after La Liga suspended matches due to the coronavirus pandemic

on 12 March.

Spain has been able to bring the virus under control in recent weeks but is one of the worst-hit countries overall, with more than 27,000 deaths confirmed according to the latest figures.

Papa Diack Requests Further Postponement of his Trial Papa Massata Diack has requested the postponement of a trial where he and his father are among the defendants, as two of his regular lawyers are unable to travel to Paris for the case.

The case against Papa Diack, his father Lamine, who is a former President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and four other defendants is due to open in Paris today June 8 after two delays. However, it appears another one could be on the cards.

Two of Papa Diack’s preferred lawyers are unable to travel from Dakar in Senegal to France for the case because of restrictions of movement introduced due to the coronavirus pandemic, and his lawyer that can attend the court MaĂŽtre Antoine Beauquier, has requested a further delay, as reported by Le Quotidien. “I will ask for the referral,â€? said Beauquier. “Mr Diack has three counsel, two of them cannot come because of the border closure, linked to COVID-19 and these are his historic lawyers.â€?

The request is set to be reviewed on June 8, when the hearing is due to start.

The trial of Lamine Diack, his son Papa Diack, Gabriel DollÊ, former director of the IAAF’s medical and anti-doping department, Habib CissÊ, lawyer and ex-legal advisor to Lamine Diack, Valentin Balakhnichev, ex-President of the Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) and former treasurer

and vice-president of the IAAF and Alexei Melnikov, former head coach of long distance races at ARAF, was originally due to start in January.

It was postponed to June 3 before a further five day delay.

Lamine Diack, who led the IAAF from 1999 to 2015, is charged with “giving and receiving bribes�, “breach of trust� and “organised money laundering� and is facing a potential 10-year prison sentence for allegedly taking bribes to cover up tests showing doping by 23 Russian athletes.

In their order for reference, the magistrates in charge of the investigation estimated that “Papa Diack could only be enriched in considerable proportions to the prejudice of the IAAF with the constant and enlightened support of his father, who cannot leave the sole responsibility for it to his son.�

In the same document, judges say Lamine Diack “played an active role, abusing his quality as President of the institution, and effectively placed his son at the heart of the system put in place which enabled him to divert important upstream revenues from the IAAF funds.�

Papa Diack, who lives in Senegal, is under an international arrest warrant issued on February 13 by French judicial authorities, while Balaknichev and Melnikov are also the subject of arrest warrants, however both the Senegalese and Russian Governments are refusing to extradite the accused.

Bayern Munich’s Serge Gnabry (centre) in battle for control of the ball with Thomas Delaney of Borussia Dortmund during their weekend Bundesliga game. Bayern are just two points away from winning the German topflight

TRANSFER

Man Utd Set to Hijack Barca Target, Martinez FC Barcelona could miss out on signing Lautaro Martinez this summer after a delay in negotiations, according to reports.

The Inter Milan striker is the LaLiga side’s No 1 transfer target but he will come at a high price.

The 22-year-old has a release clause of ÂŁ99million which the Serie A side want up front.

And Marca report that Inter’s insistence at having the fee being paid all at once is causing a stumbling block with Barca reluctant to meet their demands.

The outlet also claims that Manchester United and Real Madrid are monitoring

Man City Face Critical Appeal against Europe Ban Today Manchester City’s appeal against a two-year ban from European competition will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) starting from today in a case of wide-reaching repercussions.

City are accused of overstating sponsorship revenue to hide that they had not complied with UEFA’s financial fair play (FFP) rules between 2012 and 2016 and were also handed a 30 million euro fine.

UEFA’s case was prompted when German magazine Der Spiegelpublished a series of leaked emails in 2018 that purported to show how City manufactured extra sponsorship revenue from a series of companies with connections to the club’s Abu Dhabi-based owner Sheikh Mansour.

Under the Sheikh’s ownership, City’s fortunes have been transformed from perennially living in the shadow of local rivals Manchester United to winning four Premier League titles in the past eight

years.

However, billions of investment in players and managers has not yet been able to deliver the club’s first-ever Champions League title.

City are still involved in this season’s competition and will be allowed to compete should the 2019-20 edition of Champions League return in August no matter the outcome of the appeal.

But a two-season ban from the competition would represent a huge blow to the club’s prestige, finances and hope of hanging onto manager Pep Guardiola and key players like Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling. “Two years would be long.

One year is something I might be able to cope with,� De Bruyne toldHet Laatste Nieuws last month.

City banked 93 million euros from prize money and television rights alone by reaching the quarterfinals of last season’s Champions League.

The added loss of gate receipts and commercial revenue would make it extremely difficult for the club to meet FFP regulations in the future without cutting costs.

City have steadfastly refuted UEFA’s allegations. “Based on our experience and our perception, this seems to be less about justice and more about politics,� said CEO of the City Football Group Ferran Soriano.

UEFA has been under pressure, most publicly from La Liga President Javier Tebas, to impose a harder line on clubs backed by states, like City and Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain.

European football’s governing body also have plenty riding on the case. Lose the appeal and the future of UEFA’s FFP regulations will be called into question.

The hearing will be held by videoconference due to coronavirus restrictions from Monday to Wednesday.

Martinez’s situation at the San Siro.

The Argentine favours a move to the Nou Camp but is also said to want an increase on his current wages, which is also causing a problem for the Catalans.

Barca players have agreed to a 70 per cent pay cut due to the ÂŁ134m loss expected as a result of coronavirus crisis.

Martinez has been one of the standout player in Italy this season with 16 goals and four assists in 31 games across all competitions and has previously admitted a desire to play alongside Lionel Messi.

The striker’s representatives claimed last week that Roma and Barca’s LaLiga rivals Atletico Madrid missed out on the opportunity to sign the star two years ago.

Speaking to Tuttomercatoweb, intermediary Luis Ruzzi said: “I offered Lautaro to Roma in January 2018, when he cost â‚Ź8million (ÂŁ7.1m), which was the price of his termination clause, but the Giallorossi did not want him.â€?

Barca are also linked with a move for former striker Neymar if negotiations with Martinez continue to stall.

Neymar has previously been

linked with a return to the the Nou Camp with the club failing to re-sign him last summer and UOL Esporte claim the club are desperate for the Brazilian to play alongside Messi once again.

Barca target, Lautaro Martinez

Barcelona to Open Contract Talks with Messi and Other Key Stars Barcelona are eager to open contract talks with forward Lionel Messi this week to ensure he remains at the club after 2021.

The Argentine recently let a clause in his contract - which would have allowed him to leave the club for free this summer - expire, suggesting that he still sees a future for himself at Camp Nou. Barcelona chiefs have long expressed a desire to keep Messi at the club for as long as possible, with rumours of a lifetime contract emerging. While that may not be true, Cope note that Barça intend to sit down with Messi in the coming days to begin negotiating a new deal.

The story has since been corroborated by Sport, who add that Messi is still ‘full of excitement and motivation’ to continue adding to his unparalleled legacy at Camp Nou. The soon-to-be 33-year-old also has his sights on a few

more Ballons d’Or and there is an acceptance that staying at Barcelona will likely give him the best chance to win those individual awards.

However, given his age, talks will only ever be centred around short-term extensions to his â‚Ź70m-a-year deal, rather than a long-term deal.

Messi’s contract is the most pressing in the current squad, but Mundo Deportivo note that Barcelona are eager to begin working on new deals for a number of their top stars as nobody in the first team is tied to the club past 2024 as it stands.

When it comes to the rest of the players whose contracts expire in 2021, Barcelona aren’t too fussed.

Ivan Rakiti and Arturo Vidal are up for sale, Luis Suårez can leave that summer if he doesn’t trigger his automatic extension and Riqui Puig’s deal can be extended by two years, leaving only academy midfielder à lex

Collado to worry about.

However, it’s a different story for the 2022 bunch. Marc-AndrÊ ter Stegen and Ansu Fati are two top priorities, while Gerard PiquÊ and Sergi Roberto also need negotiations. NÊlson Semedo will be offered a new contract if he doesn’t leave this summer, and there’s also the future of Ousmane DembÊlÊ to sort out.

Lionel Messi...Barcelona want to retain his services in a fresh contract deal

Monday June 8, 2020

TR

UT H

& RE A SO

N

Price: N250

MISSILE

Shaibu to Oshiomhole “If Adams Oshiomhole and members of his factional group have the moral turf of the government of the day in Edo State, let them come and tell the world in an open debate� – Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, challenging the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, to an open debate.

ALEXOTTI OUTSIDE THE BOX

alex.otti@thisdaylive.com

The Triumph of Profligacy Over Prudence “The ability to extract maximum value from resources while creating minimum waste is a ™›˜ęÂ?ÂŠÂ‹Â•ÂŽČąÂœÂ”Â’Â•Â•ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ‘ÂŠÂ&#x;ÂŽÇŻČ„ Č°Čą Ž—Â?›’Â?‘ȹ ÂŠÂ—Â•Â˜Â—Čą –’Â?‘ȹ ›ǰȹ ‘Žȹ ŽŠ•Â?‘ȹ ÂŽÂ?ÂŽÂ›ÂŽÂ—ÂŒÂŽČą ž’Â?Žǹȹ —ȹ Â–ÂŽÂ›Â’ÂŒÂŠÂ—Čą •Šœœ’Œ “The former administrations wantonly wasted the ÂœÂ?ŠÂ?ÂŽČ‚ÂœČąÂ›ÂŽÂœÂ˜ÂžÂ›ÂŒÂŽÂœÇŻČą žœÂ?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ?Â˜Čą ‹ž“ŠǰȹÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂ˘ČąÂœÂ™ÂŽÂ—Â?Čą śŖ–ǯȹ Â?ČąÂ’ÂœČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂ›ÂŽČąÂ˜Â—ČąÂ›ÂŽÂŒÂ˜Â›Â?dzǯǯȹ Â?ČąÂ˘Â˜ÂžČąÂ?Š”Žȹ śŖ–ȹ Â?Â’Â–ÂŽÂœČąÂ?Â˜ÂžÂ›Ç°ČąÂ?‘ŠÂ?ČąÂ’ÂœČą Ĺ˜Ĺ–Ĺ–Â–ÇŻČą Â˜ÂžČąÂŒÂŠÂ—Č‚Â?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂŠÂ—Â˘Čą ™›˜“ŽŒÂ?Č„Čą Š•Šȹ ˜‘Š––ŽÂ?Ç°Čą ÂŠÂžÂŒÂ‘Â’Čą Â?ŠÂ?ÂŽČą ˜Â&#x;ÂŽÂ›Â—Â˜Â›Ç°Čą ÂŠÂ˘ČąĹ™Ĺ–Ç°ČąĹ˜Ĺ–Ĺ˜Ĺ–ÇŻ

B

efore going into the main issue of the day, permit me to delve into a story that will serve as its backdrop. The story has to do with the trials and triumphs of a very well-known Nigerian public Ä™Â?ž›Žǰȹ ÂŽÂ?Ž›ȹ ›ŽÂ?Â˜Â›Â˘Čą ‹’ǯȹ ˜Â&#x;ÂŽČą ‘’–ȹ Â˜Â›Čą ‘ŠÂ?ÂŽČą Â‘Â’Â–Ç°ČąÂ–ÂŠÂ—Â˘ČąÂ™ÂŽÂ˜Â™Â•ÂŽČąÂŠÂ?›ŽŽȹÂ?‘ŠÂ?Čą ÂŽÂ?Ž›ȹ Â‹Â’ČąÂ’ÂœČąÂ˜Â—ÂŽČą of the few leaders of the country that has his head properly screwed on his neck. He and I may not belong to the same political party, but then political parties in Nigeria do not operate Â˜Â—ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ‹ÂŠÂœÂ’ÂœČąÂ˜Â?ȹ’Â?Ž˜•˜Â?¢ǰȹÂ?Â‘ÂžÂœČąÂ–ÂŠÂ”Â’Â—Â?ȹ’Â?ČąÂ?’ĜŒž•Â?Čą Â?Â˜Čą ›ŽŠ••¢ȹ Â?’쎛Ž—Â?’ŠÂ?ÂŽČą Â˜Â—ÂŽČą Â?Â›Â˜Â–Čą Â?‘Žȹ ˜Â?‘Ž›ǯȹ ÂœČą Â?’쎛Ž—Â?ČąÂŠÂœČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ™Â˜Â•Â’Â?Â’ÂŒÂŠÂ•ČąÂ™ÂŠÂ›Â?Â’ÂŽÂœČąÂŠÂ›ÂŽÇ°ČąÂ˜Â—ÂŽČąÂ?ŠŒÂ?Â˜Â›Čą Â?‘ŠÂ?ČąÂ”Â—Â˜Â ÂœČąÂ—Â˜ČąÂ™Â˜Â•Â’Â?Â’ÂŒÂŠÂ•ČąÂ™ÂŠÂ›Â?Â˘ČąÂ’ÂœČąÂ?›žÂ?‘ǯȹ —ȹ ÂŽÂ?Ž›ȹ ‹’ǰȹ Â?‘Žȹ Â?›žÂ?‘ȹ Â’ÂœČą Â?‘ŠÂ?Čą ‘Žȹ Â’ÂœČą Šȹ Â?›žŽȹ Ž¥Š–™•Žȹ ˜Â?Čą ÂŽÂĄÂŒÂŽÂ•Â•ÂŽÂ—Â?ȹ•ŽŠÂ?ÂŽÂ›ÂœÂ‘Â’Â™ČąÂŠÂ—Â?ČąÂŠÂŒÂŒÂ˜ÂžÂ—Â?Š‹’•’Â?¢ȹ’—ȹÂ?˜Â?ÂŠÂ˘Č‚ÂœČą  ˜›•Â?ČąÂ Â‘ÂŽÂ›ÂŽČąÂœÂžÂŒÂ‘ČąÂŠÄ´Â›Â’Â‹ÂžÂ?ÂŽÂœČąÂŠÂ›ÂŽČąÂ’Â—ČąÂ&#x;ÂŽÂ›Â˘ČąÂœÂ‘Â˜Â›Â?Čą supply. He may not be the most politically-correct Â™ÂžÂ‹Â•Â’ÂŒČąÄ™Â?ž›ŽȹŠ—Â?ČąÂ?Â‘Â’ÂœČąÂ‘ÂŠÂ?ȹ•ŽÂ?ȹ‘’–ȹ’—Â?Â˜ČąÄ™Â?‘Â?’—Â?Čą œŽÂ&#x;ÂŽÂ›ÂŠÂ•ČąÂ™Â˜Â•Â’Â?Â’ÂŒÂŠÂ•ČąÂ‹ÂŠÄ´Â•ÂŽÂœČąÂŽÂ&#x;Ž—ȹÂ?’••ȹÂ?˜Â?Š¢ǯȹ ÂŽČąÂœÂ?˜˜Â?Čą Â?Â˜Â›ČąÂŽÂ•ÂŽÂŒÂ?Â’Â˜Â—ČąÂ’Â—Čą —Š–‹›Šȹ Â?ŠÂ?Žȹž—Â?Ž›ȹÂ?‘ŽȹÂ?‘Ž—ȹ —ŠœŒŽ—Â?ČąÂ™Â˜Â•Â’Â?Â’ÂŒÂŠÂ•ČąÂ™ÂŠÂ›Â?¢ǰȹ ••ȹ ›˜Â?›Žœœ’Â&#x;ÂŽČą ›Š—Â?Čą Â•Â•Â’ÂŠÂ—ÂŒÂŽČąÇť ÇźČąÂ’Â—ČąĹ˜Ĺ–Ĺ–Ĺ™ČąÂŠÂ—Â?ČąÂ Â˜Â—ÇŻČą Â’ÂœČąÂ&#x;Â’ÂŒÂ?Â˜Â›Â˘Čą Â ÂŠÂœČąÂ‘Â˜Â ÂŽÂ&#x;ÂŽÂ›Ç°ČąÂœÂ?Â˜Â•ÂŽÂ—ČąÂ‹Â˘ČąÂ?‘Žȹ›’Â&#x;Š•ȹ ȹŠ—Â?ȹ‘Žȹ  Ž—Â?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂŒÂ˜ÂžÂ›Â?ȹ ‘Ž›Žȹ‘Žȹ‹ŠĴ•ŽÂ?ČąÂ?Â˜Â›ČąÂ?Â‘Â›ÂŽÂŽČąÂ˘ÂŽÂŠÂ›ÂœČą before reclaiming his mandate. Not too long ŠÂ?Â?ÂŽÂ›ČąÂ‘ÂŽČąÂŠÂœÂœÂžÂ–ÂŽÂ?ČąÂ˜ÄœÂŒÂŽÇ°ČąÂ‘ÂŽČąÂ ÂŠÂœČąČ Â’Â–Â™ÂŽÂŠÂŒÂ‘ÂŽÂ?ȂȹŠ—Â?Čą that made him return to court where he won yet again and returned to his seat on February Ĺ&#x;Ç°ČąĹ˜Ĺ–Ĺ–Ĺ?ÇŻČą ÂŽČąÂ ÂŠÂœČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ›ÂŽÂ?ž›—ȹÂ?Â˜ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂŒÂ˜ÂžÂ›Â?ČąÂ?Â˜Â›ČąÂ?‘Žȹ third time when an election was conducted in Ĺ˜Ĺ–Ĺ–Ĺ?ČąÂ?Ž›–’—ŠÂ?’—Â?ČąÂ‘Â’ÂœČąÂ?ÂŽÂ—ÂžÂ›ÂŽÇ°ČąÂ Â‘Â’ÂŒÂ‘ČąÂ’Â—ČąÂ?ŠŒÂ?ȹ‹ŽÂ?Š—ȹ just a year earlier. That election was declared null and void and he returned to complete his ꛜÂ?ČąÂ?Â˜ÂžÂ›ČŹÂ˘ÂŽÂŠÂ›ČąÂ?ÂŽÂ—ÂžÂ›ÂŽČąÂ˜Â—Čą ÂžÂ—ÂŽČąĹ—ĹšÇ°ČąĹ˜Ĺ–Ĺ–Ĺ?ÇŻČą Â?ČąÂ?‘Žȹ Ž¥™’›ŠÂ?Â’Â˜Â—ČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ‘Â’ÂœČąÄ™Â›ÂœÂ?ČąÂ?ÂŽÂ›Â–Ç°ČąÂ‘ÂŽČąÂ ÂŠÂœČąÂ›ÂŽÂ?ž›—ŽÂ?ČąÂ?Â˜Â›Čą ÂŠČąÂœÂŽÂŒÂ˜Â—Â?ČąÂ?ÂŽÂ—ÂžÂ›ÂŽČąÂ Â‘Â’ÂŒÂ‘ČąÂœÂ?Š›Â?ÂŽÂ?ČąÂ?Â›Â˜Â–Čą ÂŠÂ›ÂŒÂ‘ČąĹ—Ĺ?Ç°Čą Ĺ˜Ĺ–Ĺ—Ĺ–Čą Š—Â?Čą Ž—Â?ÂŽÂ?Čą  ’Â?‘ȹ Š—ȹ Ž•Š‹˜›ŠÂ?ÂŽČą ÂŒÂŽÂ›ÂŽÂ–Â˜Â—Â˘Čą Â˜Â—Čą ÂŠÂ›ÂŒÂ‘ČąĹ—Ĺ?Ç°ČąĹ˜Ĺ–Ĺ—ĹšÇŻ ÂŽÂ?Ž›ȹ Â‹Â’ČąÂŒÂŠÂ–ÂŽČąÂ’Â—Â?Â˜ČąÂ?˜Â&#x;ÂŽÂ›Â—ÂŠÂ—ÂŒÂŽČąÂ ÂŽÂ•Â•ČąÂ™Â›ÂŽÂ™ÂŠÂ›ÂŽÂ?ÇŻČą

ÂŽČąÂ ÂŠÂœČąÂŒÂ˜Â–Â’Â—Â?ȹ ’Â?Â‘ČąÂœÂŽÂ&#x;ÂŽÂ›ÂŠÂ•ČąÂŒÂŽÂ›Â?’ęŒŠÂ?Â’Â˜Â—ÂœČąÂ?Â›Â˜Â–Čą some of the best schools in the world and had ž—Â?ÂŽÂ›ČąÂ‘Â’ÂœČąÂ‹ÂŽÂ•Â?Ç°ČąÂŒÂ˜Â?—ŠÂ?ÂŽČąÂŽÂĄÂ™ÂŽÂ›Â’ÂŽÂ—ÂŒÂŽČąÂ’Â—ČąÂ?‘Žȹ™›’Â&#x;ŠÂ?ÂŽČą sector. He was once the Chairman of Fidelity Š—”ȹ Â•ÂŒÇ°Čą Š–˜—Â?ÂœÂ?Čą ˜Â?‘Ž›ȹ ™˜œ’Â?Â’Â˜Â—ÂœČą ’—Œ•žÂ?’—Â?Čą ‘Š’›–Š—ȹ Â’Â?Ž›’Š—ȹ ŽŒž›’Â?Â’ÂŽÂœČą Š—Â?Čą ÂĄÂŒÂ‘ÂŠÂ—Â?ÂŽČą Commission. He was therefore not one of the “chartered politiciansâ€? who had no alternate ŠÂ?Â?Â›ÂŽÂœÂœÇŻČą Žœ™’Â?ŽȹŠ••ȹÂ?‘Žȹ•Š—Â?ČąÂ–Â’Â—ÂŽÂœČąÂ•ÂŠÂ’Â?ČąÂ?Â˜Â›ČąÂ‘Â’Â–Ç°Čą he was able to navigate them and left the state, ÂŠČąÂ•Â˜Â?ȹ‹ŽĴŽ›ȹÂ?‘Š—ȹ‘Žȹ–ŽÂ?ȹ’Â?ÇŻČą Žȹ‘ŠÂ?ČąÂ—Â˜ČąÂ?˜Â?Â?ŠÂ?‘Ž›ȹ and truth be told, he could not have had one as he had all the ingredients to be a godfather himself and therefore could not have beholden to anyone. That may as well be one of his major problems. Most godfathers have something in common. They would only support those who are dependent on and inferior to them so that when they asked such a stooge to jump, the ’—ŽÂ&#x;Â’Â?ÂŠÂ‹Â•ÂŽČąÂ›ÂŽÂœÂ™Â˜Â—ÂœÂŽČąÂ Â˜ÂžÂ•Â?ČąÂ‹ÂŽÇ°ČąČ Â‘Â˜Â ČąÂ‘Â’Â?‘ǾȂ ÂœČą ‹’ȹ Â?Â˜Â˜Â”Čą ˜Â&#x;Ž›ȹ Â?Â›Â˜Â–Čą Â‘Â’ÂœČą ™›ŽÂ?ÂŽÂŒÂŽÂœÂœÂ˜Â›Ç°Čą ‘Žȹ was determined to chart a new course for the then badly managed state. This column must at this point also quickly acknowledge the ÂŽÂĄÂŒÂŽÂ•Â•ÂŽÂ—Â?Čą Â Â˜Â›Â”Čą Â?Â˜Â—ÂŽČą ‹¢ȹ ›ǯȹ Â‘Â›Â’ÂœČą Â?Â’Â?ÂŽÇ°Čą Â?‘Žȹ

Mohammed Œž››Ž—Â?Čą –’—’œÂ?Ž›ȹ ˜Â?Čą ÂŠÂ‹Â˜ÂžÂ›Čą Š—Â?Čą ›˜Â?žŒÂ?Â’Â&#x;Â’Â?¢ǰȹ who in spite of the ferocious onslaught by the self-assumed godfathers in the state, was able Â?Â˜ČąÂ–ÂŠÂœÂœÂ’Â&#x;ÂŽÂ•Â˘ČąÂŠÄ´ÂŠÂŒÂ”ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ–ÂŠÂ“Â˜Â›ČąÂ™Â›Â˜Â‹Â•ÂŽÂ–ČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ?‘Žȹ state at that time which was access roads. He built a lot of roads within the period he was ˜Â&#x;ÂŽÂ›Â—Â˜Â›ČąÂŠÂ—Â?ȹ’—Â?ÂŽÂŽÂ?ČąÂœÂŽÂ?ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂœÂ?ŠÂ?ÂŽČąÂ?Â˜Â›Čą ÂŽÂ?Ž›ȹ ‹’ȹ to open up even the interiors of the state and make transportation within the state a relatively ÂŽÂŠÂœÂ˘ČąÂŠÂ—Â?ČąÂŠÄ›Â˜Â›Â?Š‹•Žȹž—Â?Ž›Â?Š”’—Â?ÇŻ ÂŽÂ?Ž›ȹ ‹’ȹÂ?ž••¢ȹž—Â?Ž›œÂ?˜˜Â?ČąÂ?‘ŠÂ?ČąÂ˜Â—ÂŽČąÂŒÂŠÂ—Â—Â˜Â?Čą ‘ŠÂ&#x;ÂŽČą Â˜Â—ÂŽČ‚ÂœČą ÂŒÂŠÂ”ÂŽČą Š—Â?Čą ŽŠÂ?Čą Â’Â?ÇŻČą ÂŽČą Â ÂŠÂœČą Â?‘Ž›ŽÂ?Â˜Â›ÂŽČą deliberate about what was important and what Â ÂŠÂœČąÂ—Â˜Â?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ‘Â’ÂœČąÂ™ÂŽÂ˜Â™Â•ÂŽÇŻČą ÂŽČąÂ?˜ŒžœŽÂ?ČąÂ˜Â—ČąÂŒÂžÄ´Â’Â—Â?Čą Â?›ŠœÂ?Â’ÂŒÂŠÂ•Â•Â˘Ç°Čą Â?‘Žȹ Œ˜œÂ?Čą ˜Â?Čą Â?˜Â&#x;ÂŽÂ›Â—ÂŠÂ—ÂŒÂŽÇŻČą –’Â?ÂœÂ?Čą dwindling resources, many of our leaders do not realise that the cost of governance can be ›ŽÂ?žŒŽÂ?ȹšž’Â?ÂŽČąÂœÂ’Â?—’ęŒŠ—Â?•¢ǯȹ Â‘Â’ÂœČąÂ›ÂŽÂŠÂ•Â’ÂœÂŠÂ?Â’Â˜Â—ČąÂŠÂ—Â?Čą Â?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ›ÂŽÂœÂ˜Â•Â&#x;ÂŽČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ’Â–Â™Â•ÂŽÂ–ÂŽÂ—Â?ȹ’Â?Ç°ČąÂœÂŽÂ?Čą ÂŽÂ?Ž›ȹ ‹’ȹŠ™Š›Â?Čą from his peers. The history of governance in Nigeria shows that most of our leaders tend Â?Â˜Čą Œ˜—Â?’—žŽȹ Â?Â˜Čą •’Â&#x;ÂŽČą Šȹ •’Â?ÂŽČą ˜Â?Čą ™›˜Ě’Â?ÂŠÂŒÂ˘Čą Š—Â?Čą ÂŽÂĄÂ?›ŠÂ&#x;ŠÂ?ÂŠÂ—ÂŒÂŽÇ°ČąÂ Â‘ÂŽÂ—Ç°ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂ’Â›ČąÂœÂ?ŠÂ?ÂŽÂœČąÂŠÂ›ÂŽČąÂ’Â—ÂœÂ˜Â•Â&#x;Ž—Â?Čą and wallow in debt. Â‘ÂŽČąÂšÂžÂŽÂœÂ?Â’Â˜Â—ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂ—ČąÂ’ÂœČąÂ‘Â˜Â ČąÂ?Â’Â?Čą ÂŽÂ?Ž›ȹ Â‹Â’ČąÂŠÂŒÂ‘Â’ÂŽÂ&#x;ÂŽČą that feat in a state that was reputed to have been ˜ ’—Â?ČąÂŒÂ’Â&#x;Â’Â•ČąÂœÂŽÂ›Â&#x;Š—Â?ÂœČąÂŠÂ—Â?ČąÂ™ÂŽÂ—ÂœÂ’Â˜Â—ÂŽÂ›ÂœÇľČą Â˜Â ČąÂ?Â’Â?Čą he manage to clear all debts and leave funds Â?Â˜Â›ČąÂ‘Â’ÂœČąÂœÂžÂŒÂŒÂŽÂœÂœÂ˜Â›ČąÇľČą Žȹ‘ŠÂ?ȹ™žÂ?ČąÂ˜Â—ČąÂ›ÂŽÂŒÂ˜Â›Â?ČąÂ?‘Žȹ Â?ŠŒÂ?Čą Â?‘ŠÂ?Čą ‘Žȹ •ŽÂ?Â?Čą Šȹ  ‘˜™™’—Â?Čą Ĺ?śȹ Â‹Â’Â•Â•Â’Â˜Â—Čą Â?Â˜Â›Čą Â?‘Žȹ Â?žÂ?ž›Žȹ Â?Ž—Ž›ŠÂ?Â’Â˜Â—Čą ˜Â?Čą Â?‘Žȹ ÂœÂ?ŠÂ?ÂŽÇŻČą ’”Žȹ Â˘Â˜ÂžÂ›ÂœČą Â?›ž•¢ȹ‘ŠÂ?ČąÂ?Â˜Â—ÂŽČąÂ’Â—ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ™ÂŠÂœÂ?Ç°ČąÂ˜Â—ÂŽČąÂŒÂŠÂ—ČąÂŠÄ´ÂŽÂœÂ?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ?‘Žȹ Â?ŠŒÂ?ČąÂ?‘ŠÂ?ČąÂœÂ˜Â–ÂŽČąÇžĹ—Ĺ›Ĺ›Â–Â’Â•Â•Â’Â˜Â—ČąÂ ÂŠÂœČąÂ’Â—Â&#x;ÂŽÂœÂ?ÂŽÂ?ȹ’—ȹÂ?‘Žȹ tier two capital of three Nigerian banks with –ŠÂ?ž›’Â?Â’ÂŽÂœČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂŠÂ‹Â˜ÂžÂ?ČąĹ›ČąÂ˘ÂŽÂŠÂ›ÂœČąÂŠÂ?ȹ’—Â?Ž›ŽœÂ?ȹ›ŠÂ?ÂŽÂœČąÂ˜Â?Čą ž™ȹÂ?Â˜ČąĹ&#x;Ɩȹ™Ž›ȹŠ——ž–ȹÂ?Â˜ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂŒÂ›ÂŽÂ?Â’Â?ČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ?‘Žȹ Â?ŠÂ?ÂŽÇŻČą ÂœČąÂŠÂ?ČąÂ?‘ŽȹÂ?’–ŽȹÂ?‘Žȹ’—Â&#x;ÂŽÂœÂ?–Ž—Â?ÂœČąÂ ÂŽÂ›ÂŽČąÂ–ÂŠÂ?ÂŽÇ°ČąÂ?‘Žȹ Š’›ŠȹŽšž’Â&#x;Š•Ž—Â?ČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ?‘ŽȹÂ?ž—Â?ÂœČąÂ ÂŠÂœČąÂŠÂ‹Â˜ÂžÂ?Čą Ĺ˜Ĺ›Â‹ÇŻČą If those funds were rolled over at maturity in Ĺ˜Ĺ–Ĺ—Ĺ&#x;Ç°ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂ˘ČąÂ Â˜ÂžÂ•Â?ČąÂ‹ÂŽČąÂ Â˜Â›Â?Â‘ČąÂŠÂ‹Â˜ÂžÂ?Čą ĹœĹ˜Â‹ČąÂ?˜Â?Š¢ǯȹ Â?Čą ’—Â?Ž›ŽœÂ?ČąÂ’ÂœČąÂŠÂœÂœÂžÂ–ÂŽÂ?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ›ÂŽÂ–ÂŠÂ’Â—ČąÂŠÂ?ČąĹ&#x;Ć–ČąÂ?Â˜Â›ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ™ÂŠÂœÂ?ČąĹœČą Â˘ÂŽÂŠÂ›ÂœÇ°ČąÂŠÂ—ČąÂŠÂ?Â?Â’Â?Â’Â˜Â—ÂŠÂ•Čą Ĺ™Ĺ™ÇŻĹ›Â‹ČąÂ Â˜ÂžÂ•Â?ȹ‘ŠÂ&#x;ÂŽČąÂŠÂŒÂŒÂ›ÂžÂŽÂ?Čą to bring the present value of the investments Â?Â˜ČąÂ˜Â&#x;Ž›ȹ Ĺ&#x;ś‹ǯȹ Â‘Â’ÂœČąÂ’ÂœČąÂ˜Â—ÂŽČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ?‘ŽȹŠÂ?Â&#x;Š—Â?ŠÂ?ÂŽÂœČąÂ˜Â?Čą ™›žÂ?ÂŽÂ—ÂŒÂŽČąÂŠÂ—Â?ČąÄ™Â—ÂŠÂ—ÂŒÂ’ÂŠÂ•ČąÂ•Â’Â?ÂŽÂ›ÂŠÂŒÂ˘ÇŻ ÂŽÂ?Ž›ȹ Â‹Â’ČąÂ›ÂŽÂŠÂ•Â’ÂœÂŽÂ?ČąÂ?Â›Â˜Â–ČąÂ?ÂŠÂ˘ČąÂ˜Â—ÂŽČąÂ?‘ŠÂ?ȹ›ž——’—Â?ȹŠȹ •Š›Â?ÂŽČąÂ?˜Â&#x;Ž›—–Ž—Â?ČąÂ ÂŠÂœČąÂžÂ—Â?ÂŽÂœÂ’Â›ÂŠÂ‹Â•ÂŽÇŻČą Â‘ÂŽČąÄ™Â›ÂœÂ?ČąÂ?‘’—Â?Čą he did was to rationalise the size of government Š—Â?ČąÂ?‘Ž›ŽÂ?Â˜Â›ÂŽÇ°ČąÂŽÂĄÂ™ÂŽÂ—Â?Â’Â?ž›Žǯȹ ÂŽČąÂŠÂ•ÂœÂ˜ČąÂ•Â’Â&#x;ÂŽÂ?ȹŠȹÂ?›žÂ?Š•ȹ •’Â?ÂŽÇŻČą ••ȹÂ?‘ŽȹŽ¥Â?›ŠÂ&#x;ŠÂ?ÂŠÂ—ÂŒÂŽČąÂ˜Â?ȹ•ŽŠÂ?ÂŽÂ›ÂœÂ‘Â’Â™ČąÂ‘ÂŠÂ?ČąÂ—Â˜Čą Â™Â•ÂŠÂŒÂŽČąÂ’Â—ČąÂ‘Â’ÂœČąÂ?˜Â&#x;Ž›—–Ž—Â?ÇŻČą Â˜Â–ÂŽČąÂ™ÂŽÂ˜Â™Â•ÂŽČąÂ Â˜ÂžÂ•Â?Čą argue that he overdid it, but it worked. You  ˜ž•Â?ČąÂŠÂ•Â ÂŠÂ˘ÂœČąÄ™Â—Â?ȹ‘’–ȹ’—ȹÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂŽÂŒÂ˜Â—Â˜Â–Â˘ČąÂŒÂŠÂ‹Â’Â—Čą of planes, he would travel alone most of the time, carrying his bags, he would refuse to stay ’—ȹ‘’Â?Â‘ČŹÂ‹Â›Â˜Â ČąÂŠÂ—Â?ČąÂŽÂĄÂ™ÂŽÂ—ÂœÂ’Â&#x;ÂŽČąÂ‘Â˜Â?ÂŽÂ•ÂœÇ°ČąÂ™Â›ÂŽÂ?Ž››’—Â?ČąÂ?Â˜Čą

stay in cheaper hotels where he would negotiate the rates to the bare bones, he would not be seen in a long convoy, he would refuse to do •ŠÂ&#x;Â’ÂœÂ‘ČąÂŽÂ—Â?Ž›Â?Š’—–Ž—Â?ÂœČąÂŠÂ?ČąÂ?‘Žȹ ˜Â&#x;ÂŽÂ›Â—Â˜Â›Č‚ÂœČąÂ•Â˜Â?Â?ÂŽČą and elsewhere, and most importantly, he would refuse to give the proverbial “blood tonicâ€? a euphemism for sharing government money to people who are mere parasites and contribute nothing positive to the development of the state. ŠÂ&#x;’—Â?Čą Â–Â˜Â—ÂŽÂ˘Čą Â’ÂœČą ’–™˜›Â?Š—Â?Čą ‹žÂ?Čą Â?Ž•’Â&#x;Ž›’—Â?Čą value to the populace is even more important. ÂŽÂ?Ž›ȹ ‹’ȹ ž—Â?Ž›œÂ?˜˜Â?Čą Â?Â‘Â’ÂœÇŻČą ÂŽČą ’–™›˜Â&#x;ÂŽÂ?Čą Â?‘Žȹ šžŠ•’Â?Â˘ČąÂ˜Â?ȹŽÂ?žŒŠÂ?Â’Â˜Â—ČąÂ’Â—ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂœÂ?ŠÂ?ÂŽČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ?‘ŽȹŽ¥Â?Ž—Â?Čą that it came into strong reckoning as it ranked ž–‹Ž›ȹ —Žȹ ‹˜Â?‘ȹ ŠÂ?Čą Čą Š—Â?Čą Čą Â?Â˜Â›Čą several years during his tenor. He returned missionary schools to their original owners Š—Â?ČąÂ?ŠÂ&#x;ÂŽČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂ–ČąÄ™Â—ÂŠÂ—ÂŒÂ’ÂŠÂ•ČąÂœÂžÂ™Â™Â˜Â›Â?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ›ÂžÂ—ČąÂ?Â‘Â˜ÂœÂŽČą ÂœÂŒÂ‘Â˜Â˜Â•ÂœÇŻČą ÂŽČą ‹ž’•Â?Čą Šȹ —’Â&#x;Ž›œ’Â?¢ȹ ŠÂ?Čą Â?Â‹Â˜Čą ›’Š–ȹ and built and equipped several hospitals. The state became “smallerâ€? in terms of travel time as he connected most communities by building very good roads. He also understood that the only way to sustain the growth of the state was to support the private sector. He supported the establishment of one of the few if not the only vehicle manufacturing company in Nigeria, Innoson Motors and patronised the company. He ™›˜–˜Â?ÂŽÂ?ČąČƒ ŠÂ?Žȹ’—ȹ —Š–‹›ŠȄȹ‹¢ȹ™ŠÂ?›˜—’œ’—Â?Čą ™›˜Â?žŒÂ?ÂœČąÂ–ÂŠÂ—ÂžÂ?ŠŒÂ?ž›ŽÂ?ȹ’—ȹ —Ž ’ǰȹ —’Â?ÂœÂ‘ÂŠČąÂŠÂ—Â?Čą  ”Šǯȹ —Â?Ž›ŽœÂ?’—Â?•¢ǰȹ ’Â?‘ȹŠ••ȹÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂœÂŽČąÂ?ŽŠÂ?ÂœÇ°Čą —Š–‹›Šȹ was the only non-indebted state as at the time ‘Žȹ•ŽÂ?Â?ČąÂ˜ÄœÂŒÂŽČąÂ’Â—ČąĹ˜Ĺ–Ĺ—ĹšÇŻ ÂœČąÂœÂ?ŠÂ?ÂŽÂ?ČąÂŠÂ‹Â˜Â&#x;ÂŽÇ°ČąÂ?‘ŽȹÂ?˜Â&#x;ÂŽÂ›Â—Â˜Â›ČąÂ˜Â?Čą ÂŠÂžÂŒÂ‘Â’Čą Â?ŠÂ?ÂŽČą revealed that on the average, his predecessors œ™Ž—Â?Čą Ĺ›Ĺ–Â–ČąÂ˜Â—ČąÂŽÂ&#x;Ž›¢ȹÂ?›’™ȹÂ?Â˜Čą ‹ž“Šǯȹ Â‘ÂŽÂœÂŽČąÂ?Â›Â’Â™ÂœÇ°Čą we all know, could happen once every week or even more frequently. This situation is obviously —˜Â?ȹ•’–’Â?ÂŽÂ?ČąÂ?Â˜Čą ÂŠÂžÂŒÂ‘Â’Čą Â?ŠÂ?ŽȹŠ—Â?ȹ’Â?ČąÂ’ÂœČąÂŒÂ•ÂŽÂŠÂ›Â•Â˘ČąÂ˜Â—ÂŽČą of the ways through which state treasuries are •˜˜Â?ÂŽÂ?ÇŻČą ŒŒ˜›Â?’—Â?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂŒÂ˜Â—ÂŒÂŽÂ›Â—ÂŽÂ?Čą ˜Â&#x;ÂŽÂ›Â—Â˜Â›Ç°Čą Â‘ÂŽČąÂ‘ÂŠÂœČąÂ—Â˜Â ČąÂ›ÂŽÂ?žŒŽÂ?ČąÂ?‘ŠÂ?ČąÂŒÂ˜ÂœÂ?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ‹ÂŽÂ? ŽŽ—ȹ ř–ȹ Š—Â?Čą ś–ȹ™Ž›ȹÂ?›’™ǯȹ —ȹ ÂŽÂ?Ž›ȹ Â‹Â’Č‚ÂœČąÂ?˜Â&#x;ÂŽÂ›Â—ÂŠÂ—ÂŒÂŽČą model, such an amount is still too much. We –žœÂ?Čą Œ˜––Ž—Â?Čą ˜Â&#x;ÂŽÂ›Â—Â˜Â›Čą Š•Šȹ ˜‘Š––ŽÂ?Čą for the courage not only to depart from the ™ŠœÂ?Ç°Čą ‹žÂ?Čą Â?Â˜Čą ÂŽÂĄÂ™Â˜ÂœÂŽČą Â’Â?ÇŻČą ˜Â&#x;ÇŻČą Â˜Â™ÂŽČą ÂŁÂ˜Â?’—–Šȹ ˜Â?Čą Â–Â˜Čą Â?ŠÂ?ÂŽČąÂ‘ÂŠÂœČąÂ“ÂžÂœÂ?ČąÂœÂ’Â?—ŽÂ?ČąÂŠČąÂ‹Â’Â•Â•ČąÂŠÂ‹Â›Â˜Â?ŠÂ?’—Â?Čą ™Š¢–Ž—Â?ČąÂ˜Â?ČąČƒÂ™ÂŽÂ—ÂœÂ’Â˜Â—ÂœČ„ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ?Â˜Â›Â–ÂŽÂ›Čą ˜Â&#x;ÂŽÂ›Â—Â˜Â›ÂœÇ°Čą Ž™žÂ?¢ȹ ˜Â&#x;ÂŽÂ›Â—Â˜Â›ÂœČąÂŠÂ—Â?Čą Â™ÂŽÂŠÂ”ÂŽÂ›ÂœČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂœÂ?ŠÂ?ÂŽÇŻČą This very ridiculous practice was put in place by self-serving former governors in states Â?Â˜Â›ČąÂ—Â˜ČąÂ˜Â?Â‘ÂŽÂ›ČąÂ›ÂŽÂŠÂœÂ˜Â—ČąÂŽÂĄÂŒÂŽÂ™Â?ČąÂ•Â˜Â˜Â?’—Â?ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂœÂ?ŠÂ?ÂŽÂœČ‚Čą treasury even after their tenor. It is surprising Â?‘ŠÂ?ČąÂœÂ˜Â–ÂŽÂ˜Â—ÂŽČąÂ?Â˜ÂŽÂœČąÂŠČąÂ“Â˜Â‹ČąÂ?Â˜Â›ČąĹšČąÂ˜Â›ČąĹžČąÂ˘ÂŽÂŠÂ›ÂœČąÂŠÂ—Â?Čą allocates to himself, humongous payments in perpetuity while salaries and pensions of Â™ÂŽÂ˜Â™Â•ÂŽČą Â Â‘Â˜Čą Â?Ž—ž’—Ž•¢ȹ  ˜›”ŽÂ?Čą Â?Â˜Â›Čą řśȹ Â˘ÂŽÂŠÂ›ÂœČą in the civil service may remain unpaid for several months. ‘Žȹ Â˜Â—Â•Â˘Čą Â›ÂŽÂŠÂœÂ˜Â—Čą ›˜Ě’Â?ÂŠÂŒÂ˘Čą ÂœÂŽÂŽÂ–ÂœČą Â?Â˜Čą ‘ŠÂ&#x;ÂŽČą triumphed over prudence in Nigeria is that the citizens condone and accept it. The saying that every society gets the kind of leadership it deserves, cannot be truer. We can at least demand accountability from our leaders. But to Â?Â˜ČąÂ?Â‘Â’ÂœÇ°ČąÂ ÂŽČąÂ–ÂžÂœÂ?ČąÄ™Â›ÂœÂ?ȹ‹ŽÂ?’—ȹÂ?Â˜ČąÂœÂ‘Â˜Â ČąÂ’Â—Â?Ž›ŽœÂ?ȹ’—ȹ Â?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ’ÂœÂœÂžÂŽÂœÇŻČą ÂŽČąÂ–ÂžÂœÂ?ČąÂŠÂ•ÂœÂ˜ČąÂ™ÂŠÂ˘ČąÂŠÄ´ÂŽÂ—Â?Â’Â˜Â—ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ‘Â˜Â Čą •ŽŠÂ?ÂŽÂ›ÂœÂ‘Â’Â™ČąÂŽÂ–ÂŽÂ›Â?ÂŽÂœČąÂ’Â—ČąÂ˜ÂžÂ›ČąÂ•Â’Ä´Â•ÂŽČąÂŒÂ˜Â›Â—ÂŽÂ›ÂœÇŻČą ‘Ž—ȹ you do not show interest, you are then asking Â?Â˜Â›ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ Â›Â˜Â—Â?ȹ•ŽŠÂ?ÂŽÂ›ÂœÇŻČą Â•ÂœÂŽÂ Â‘ÂŽÂ›ÂŽÇ°ČąÂ‹ÂŽÂ?Â˜Â›ÂŽČąÂ˜Â—ÂŽČą ÂŠÂœÂ™Â’Â›ÂŽÂœČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂŠÂ—ČąÂ˜ÄœÂŒÂŽČąÂŠČąÂ?ÂŽÂ ČąÂ’ÂœÂœÂžÂŽÂœČąÂ–ÂžÂœÂ?ČąÂ‹ÂŽČąÂ›ÂŽÂœÂ˜Â•Â&#x;ÂŽÂ?Ç°Čą and an agenda set out for the electorate and the aspirants to engage in a public discourse. ČąÂœÂ’Â?žŠÂ?Â’Â˜Â—ČąÂ Â‘ÂŽÂ›ÂŽČąÂŠČąÂ?Ž ȹ’—Â?Â’Â&#x;Â’Â?ÂžÂŠÂ•ÂœČąÂœÂ’Â?ČąÂ?Â˜Â Â—Čą and decide who they want to impose hardly ‹›’—Â?ÂœČąÂ?‘Žȹ›’Â?‘Â?ȹ”’—Â?ČąÂ˜Â?ȹ•ŽŠÂ?ÂŽÂ›ÂœÂ‘Â’Â™ÇŻČą Â?Â?Ž›ȹŠ••ǰȹ everything succeeds and fails on the altar of •ŽŠÂ?ÂŽÂ›ÂœÂ‘Â’Â™ÇŻČą ’”Žȹ’Â?ČąÂ’ÂœČąÂœÂŠÂ’Â?Ç°ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÄ™ÂœÂ‘ČąÂ?ÂŽÂ?ÂœČąÂ›Â˜Ä´ÂŽÂ—Čą

from the head. It therefore behooves on all of ÂžÂœČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂŒÂ˜Â—ÂœÂ’Â?Ž›ȹÂ?‘ŽȹÂ?˜••˜ ’—Â?ČąÂœÂ’ÂĄČąÂŒÂ›Â’Â?Â’ÂŒÂŠÂ•ČąÂ’ÂœÂœÂžÂŽÂœČą and ask important questions before we allow anyone to lead us.

In considering the critical elements in leadership, Â?Â‘ÂŽČąÄ™Â›ÂœÂ?ČąÂ’ÂœÂœÂžÂŽČąÂ’ÂœČą ‘Š›ŠŒÂ?Ž›ǯȹ ‘Š›ŠŒÂ?ÂŽÂ›ČąÂ’ÂœČąÂ’Â—Â?ÂŽÂŽÂ?Čą everything. We must be sure of where the prospective leader is coming from in terms of Â‘Â’ÂœČą ž™‹›’—Â?’—Â?Ç°Čą Â‘Â’ÂœČą ™ŠœÂ?Čą ÂŽÂĄÂ™ÂŽÂ›Â’ÂŽÂ—ÂŒÂŽÂœČą Š—Â?Čą Â‘Â’ÂœČą morals. It is our opinion that a verbal agreement with a man of character is more enforceable than ÂŠČąÂ Â›Â’Ä´ÂŽÂ—ČąÂŒÂ˜Â—Â?›ŠŒÂ?ȹ ’Â?‘ȹŠȹÂ?‘’ŽÂ?ÇŻČą —ȹ‹Š—”’—Â?Ç°ČąÂ?‘Žȹ most important factor to consider in lending is Œ‘Š›ŠŒÂ?Ž›ǯȹ ‹’•’Â?¢ȹÂ?Â˜ČąÂ™ÂŠÂ˘ČąÂ’ÂœČąÂ—Â˜Â?ČąÂŠÂœČąÂ’Â–Â™Â˜Â›Â?Š—Â?ČąÂŠÂœČą the willingness to pay. Â‘ÂŽČąÂœÂŽÂŒÂ˜Â—Â?ČąÂ’ÂœÂœÂžÂŽČąÂ’ÂœČą Š™ŠŒ’Â?¢ǯȹ ČąÂ™Â˜Â™ÂžÂ•ÂŠÂ›Čą ŠÂ?’—ȹ Â?Â’ÂŒÂ?ÂžÂ–ČąÂ‘ÂŠÂœČąÂ’Â?ČąÂ?‘ŠÂ?ČąČ Â—ÂŽÂ–Â˜ČąÂ?ŠÂ?ČąÂšÂžÂ˜Â?ČąÂ—Â˜Â—ČąÂ‘ÂŠÂ‹ÂŽÂ?Č‚Ç°Čą which means that one cannot give what one does not have. We have situations where we choose leaders who do not have the mental capacity Â?Â˜Čą ž—Â?Ž›œÂ?Š—Â?Čą  ‘ŠÂ?Čą Â’ÂœČą ÂŽÂĄÂ™ÂŽÂŒÂ?ÂŽÂ?Čą ˜Â?Čą Â?‘Ž–ǯȹ Â˜Ç°Čą for those kinds of leaders, they miss the plot Â?Â›Â˜Â–Čą Š¢ȹ —Žǯȹ Â˜Â›ČąÂ?‘Ž–ǰȹ’Â?ČąÂ’ÂœČąÂŠÂ•Â•ČąÂŠÂ‹Â˜ÂžÂ?ȹ ‘ŠÂ?Čą they can grab and not what legacy they can leave behind. In a society like ours that hardly holds leadership to account, it is easy for them Â?Â˜ČąÂ?ÂŽÂ?ȹŠ Š¢ȹ ’Â?‘ȹ’Â?ÇŻČą ˜œÂ?Ž›’Â?¢ȹÂ?Â˜ÂŽÂœČąÂ—Â˜Â?ČąÂœÂŽÂŽÂ–ČąÂ?Â˜Čą –ŠĴŽ›ȹ Â–ÂžÂŒÂ‘Čą Â?Â˜Čą Â™ÂŽÂ˜Â™Â•ÂŽČą Â?˜Â?Š¢ȹ ÂŽÂ&#x;Ž—ȹ Â?‘˜žÂ?‘ȹ Â’Â?Čą  ’••ȹ“žÂ?Â?ÂŽČąÂŠÂ•Â•ČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂžÂœČąÂ’Â—ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÄ™Â—ÂŠÂ•ČąÂŠÂ—ÂŠÂ•Â˘ÂœÂ’ÂœÇŻ ‘Žȹ Â?‘’›Â?Čą Â’ÂœÂœÂžÂŽČą Â’ÂœČą Â?‘ŠÂ?Čą ˜Â?Čą ž•Â?ž›Žǯȹ ’–™•¢ȹ Â?Žę—ŽÂ?Ç°Čą  Žȹ Š›Žȹ Â?Š•”’—Â?Čą ˜Â?Čą Â‘Â˜Â Čą  Žȹ Â?Â˜Čą Â˜ÂžÂ›Čą Â?‘’—Â?ÂœČąÂŠÂ—Â?ȹ ‘ŠÂ?ČąÂ˜ÂžÂ›ČąÂŽÂĄÂ™ÂŽÂŒÂ?ŠÂ?Â’Â˜Â—ÂœČąÂŠÂ›ÂŽÇŻČą Â‘Â’ÂœČąÂ’ÂœČą important because what we sow is what we reap. If we accept a situation where someone pays for everything including our votes, it Â‹ÂŽÂŒÂ˜Â–ÂŽÂœČą Â?’ĜŒž•Â?Čą Â?Â˜Â›Čą ÂžÂœČą Â?Â˜Čą ‘ŠÂ&#x;ÂŽČą Â?‘Žȹ Â–Â˜Â›ÂŠÂ•Čą basis to hold them to account when they do —˜Â?ȹ™Ž›Â?Â˜Â›Â–ÇŻČą Â?Â?Ž›ȹŠ••ǰȹÂ?‘Ž¢ȹ‘ŠÂ&#x;Žȹ™Š’Â?ȹž™Â?›˜—Â?Čą Š—Â?ČąÂ–ÂžÂœÂ?ČąÂ›ÂŽÂŒÂ˜ÂžÂ™ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂ’Â›ČąÂ–Â˜Â—ÂŽÂ˘ÇŻČą ’Ĵ•ŽȹÂ?Â˜ČąÂ–ÂŠÂ—Â˘Čą Â›ÂŽÂŠÂ•Â’ÂœÂŽČąÂ?‘ŠÂ?ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ™Â’Ä´ÂŠÂ—ÂŒÂŽČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂ˘ČąÂ›ÂŽÂŒÂŽÂ’Â&#x;ÂŽÂ?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ&#x;˜Â?ÂŽČąÂ?Â˜Â›Čą the wrong leader is the reason why our roads are never built, why hospitals and schools are not equipped and why salaries remain unpaid. ‘Žȹ—Ž¥Â?ČąÂ’ÂœÂœÂžÂŽČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ?Â˜ÂŒÂžÂœČąÂ˜Â—ČąÂ’ÂœČą ˜—œÂ?›žŒÂ?ÇŻČą Â‘Â’ÂœČą refers to the structure and the frame of the •ŽŠÂ?ÂŽÂ›ÂœÂ‘Â’Â™ČąÂ ÂŽČąÂŽÂĄÂ™ÂŽÂŒÂ?ÇŻČą Â˜Â–ÂŽČąÂ™ÂŽÂ˜Â™Â•ÂŽČąÂŒÂ˜Â–ÂŽČąÂ’Â—Â?Â˜Čą governance without promising anything. They hardly have an idea of what they have come to do in governance. If you are not promised Š—¢Â?‘’—Â?Ç°ČąÂ?‘Ž—ȹÂ?Â˜ČąÂ—Â˜Â?ČąÂŽÂĄÂ™ÂŽÂŒÂ?ȹŠ—¢Â?‘’—Â?ÇŻČą Â?ČąÂ˘Â˜ÂžČą do receive anything at all, then it is a bonus. ‘ŽȹęÂ?Â?Â‘ČąÂ’ÂœÂœÂžÂŽČąÂ’ÂœČą ˜—œŒ’Ž—Â?Â’Â˜ÂžÂœÂ—ÂŽÂœÂœÇ°ČąÂŠÂ•ÂœÂ˜ČąÂ”Â—Â˜Â Â—Čą ÂŠÂœČą ’•’Â?ÂŽÂ—ÂŒÂŽÇŻČą Â‘Â’ÂœČąÂ’ÂœČąÂ˜Â—ÂŽČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ–Â˜ÂœÂ?ČąÂ’Â–Â™Â˜Â›Â?Š—Â?Čą Â?ŠŒÂ?Â˜Â›ÂœČą ’—ȹ Â?‘Žȹ •ŽŠÂ?ÂŽÂ›ÂœÂ‘Â’Â™Čą œŽ•ŽŒÂ?Â’Â˜Â—Čą ÂŽÂĄÂŽÂ›ÂŒÂ’ÂœÂŽÇŻČą Čą leader must be someone who desires to serve not one intent on looting his people. Collecting humongous security votes and travel allowances when your constituents are going to bed hungry and sick can only happen when such a person Â•ÂŠÂŒÂ”ÂœČąÂŒÂ˜Â—ÂœÂŒÂ’ÂŽÂ—ÂŒÂŽÇŻČą  ’—Â?ČąÂ Â˜Â›Â”ÂŽÂ›ÂœČąÂ Â‘Â˜ČąÂ‘ÂŠÂ&#x;Žȹ™žÂ?Čą ’—ȹŽšžŠ•ȹÂ?ÂŠÂ˘Č‚ÂœČąÂ Â˜Â›Â”ČąÂ?Â˜Â›ČąÂ–Â˜Â—Â?Â‘ÂœČąÂ?Â˜ÂŽÂœČąÂ—Â˜Â?ČąÂœÂ‘Â˜Â Čą leadership. Not equipping hospitals where the Â™ÂŽÂ˜Â™Â•ÂŽČą  ˜ž•Â?Čą Â?Â˜Čą Â?Â˜Â›Čą –ŽÂ?Â’ÂŒÂŠÂ•Čą ŠĴŽ—Â?Â’Â˜Â—Čą Â’ÂœČą Š—ȹ ÂŽÂĄÂŠÂ–Â™Â•ÂŽČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ?‘Žȹ”’—Â?ČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ™ÂŽÂ˜Â™Â•ÂŽČąÂ—Â˜Â?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ‹ÂŽČąÂ?˜ž—Â?Čą Š›˜ž—Â?ȹ•ŽŠÂ?ÂŽÂ›ÂœÂ‘Â’Â™ÇŻČą —Â?ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂ›ÂŽČąÂŠÂ›ÂŽČąÂŠČąÂ•Â˜Â?ČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ˜Â?‘Ž›ȹ ÂŽÂĄÂŠÂ–Â™Â•ÂŽÂœČą Â?Â˜Čą Â?Â’Â&#x;ÂŽČą ‘Ž›Žǯȹ Â?Čą Â’ÂœČą œŠÂ?Čą Â?‘ŠÂ?Čą ÂœÂ˜Â–ÂŽČą ˜Â?Čą our leaders will squander state resources on hedonistic pursuits, when what such endeavours cost them in a year is enough to set up at least one hospital that will provide much needed service to even themselves and their families.

The last one is Competence. To aspire to •ŽŠÂ?ÂŽÂ›ÂœÂ‘Â’Â™Ç°ČąÂ’Â?ČąÂ’ÂœČąÂŽÂĄÂ™ÂŽÂŒÂ?ÂŽÂ?ČąÂ?‘ŠÂ?ČąÂ˜Â—ÂŽČąÂœÂ‘Â˜ÂžÂ•Â?ȹ‘ŠÂ&#x;ÂŽČą distinguished oneself in an area of human Ž—Â?ŽŠÂ&#x;Â˜ÂžÂ›ÇŻČą —Žȹ ˜Â?Čą Â?‘Žȹ Â™Â›Â˜Â‹Â•ÂŽÂ–ÂœČą  Žȹ ‘ŠÂ&#x;ÂŽČą Â’ÂœČą that we have become so lethargic that jobless people who call themselves career politicians have invaded the political scene and we seem to have condoned it.

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com