FRIDAY 24TH JUNE 2022 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

FG: We Saved over N10trn Through Treasury Single Account Implementation Says IPPIS pegged federal civil service staff at 720,000 Declares aspects of Oronsaye report implemented Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government yesterday disclosed that over N10 trillion had been saved since the Treasury Single Account (TSA) was introduced by the Muhammadu

Buhari-led administration. The Director-General of Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dr. Dasuki Arabi, who made this known at a news briefing at Abuja, declared that government had succeeded in getting the

TSA deployed in all ministries, departments and agencies. According to him: "Challenges have come in the implementation at the initial stage, but we are overcoming that and government is able to save over N10 trillion

over the years because whatever you're generating now goes into a TSA that is managed by somebody else, not you. "And government, especially at the top is always able to see what has come into our TSA today

and what has gone out of that. So planning has been simplified. Budgeting has been simplified. Our distribution and allocation of resources have been simplified and streamlined." Speaking on the performance

of the Bureau in the execution of its core mandate particularly in ensuring the full implementation of reform policies and programmes for the government, he said Continued on page 5

NUPRC Moves to Reactivate 3,000 Oil Well Components in Bid for 3m bpd Production...page 6 Friday 24 June, 2022 Vol 27. No 9936. Price: N250

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FG: Cooking Gas Market Surpasses Initial N10bn Estimate, Grows to N100bn... page 10

Ekweremadu, Wife Deny Allegations of Organ Harvest Lawyer says allegation serious, preposterous

Goddy Egene in Lagos and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The lawmaker and his wife were

arraigned for conspiracy to arrange the travel of a child, child trafficking, potential modern slavery, and organ harvesting. The case was adjourned

till July 7, as their bail application was turned down. They were in court for less than one hour and the reason

for the adjournment was that the Attorney General had to rule on the jurisdiction of the case because two countries – Nigeria and England

– are involved. But in a letter dated December 28, 2021, addressed to the British High Commission in Abuja, in

support of the organ donor, Mr. Ukpo Nwamini David’s visa Continued on page 5

Buhari to Johnson: No 3rd Term for Me, First Person Who Tried It Didn’t End Well Promises British PM he won't stay a day longer than his tenure Says UK’s help on security should start by first fixing Libya Justifies detention of Nnamdi Kanu, argues he’s flight risk Begs Nigerians to be tolerant of each other, lays wreath at Kigali genocide memorial Lauds economic, political relations between Nigeria, Jamaica Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, reassured Nigerians and the world that he would not stay in office a day longer than May 29, 2023, when his second and final term as president will end. Buhari spoke in Kigali, Rwanda, during the 26th edition of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), a biennial gathering of Commonwealth countries hosted by different member countries on a rotating basis. The Nigerian president told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, on the sidelines of the conference, that the first person, who tried to extend his tenure – an apparent reference to former President Olusegun Obasanjo – did not end well. Continued on page 5

BUILDING RELIGIOUS HARMONY... L-R: Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev (Dr) Olasupo Ayokunle and Secretary to Oyo State Government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun. during a courtesy visit of the leadership of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) to Governor's Oﬃce, Secretariat, Ibadan...yesterday

Osun 2022: My Tolerance Level for Failure is Zero, Adamu Tells Campaign Council...page 40

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CBN, AFF Host eNaira Hackathon to Enhance Financial Inclusion, Safety James Emejo in Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday announced that registration for the eNaira hackathon has commenced. The computer programming conference is geared towards ideating innovative solutions for the newly launched digital currency. The event is being organised by Africa Fintech Foundry, an innovative hub established to identify and accelerate innovative startups

in Africa in partnership with the central bank. The hackathon registration is billed to open on June 27 till July 21, 2022. According to a statement issued by the organisers, the main event, billed to kick-off from August 4, 2022, was part of efforts to drive financial inclusion, facilitate macroeconomic growth and integrate Nigerian economy to the world leading economies through innovation and cutting edge emerging technologies.

The statement further urged interested participants to visit the eNaira Hackathon at www. affcbnhack.com to register from June 27. With the theme: “eNaira - Africa’s Gateway to a Digital Economy,” the hybrid hackathon would bring together teams of talented entrepreneurs, developers, designers, solution developers, problem-solvers, out-of-the-box thinkers, and code magicians from Africa to develop innovative solutions that would drive

improved adoption of the eNaira. Speaking on innovation in Nigeria’s payments system ecosystem, CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele recently said: "We cannot deny the fact that the newly introduced CBDC (eNaira) would be necessary in the future to ensure Nigeria is competitive as the world becomes increasingly digital. "We have seen in the past few years how digital currencies have opened international economies to individuals who wield them and

how seamless they have made trading, buying, investing and other economic activities." He said, “We desire to achieve this and more with the eNaira with the underlying goal to boost Nigeria’s economic outlook. Innovators at the hackathon will develop solutions in the areas of international remittance, trans-border payment, blockchain, financial inclusion, and trade (AfCTFA)." The statement further pointed out the conference will to address the

strategic points to eliminate possible glitches that could hamper smooth transactions being carried out with the eNaira. THISDAY also gathered that the event is expected to increase the number of innovative products available on the digital currency platform, providing consumers with choices. It will also strengthen the eNaira security architecture as experts explore more ways to boost its security.

by the denial of bail to the couple queried, "Who is now taking care of their sick daughter? The daughter had being on dialysis for a while and was wasting away. They were advised she had little time left if she didn’t get a transplant as soon as possible. They said Ekweremadu promised the boy heaven and earth for agreeing to give his daughter a lease of life. Now look at what the boy has done to them. The poor girl's life is fading, with no one to care for her, her parents locked up for attempting to save her precious life." Ekweremadu attended plenary on the floor of the red chamber in Abuja yesterday before travelling to the UK, where he was arrested alongside his wife and are currently being detained.

The UK metropolitan police had said the duo were charged following an investigation by the police’ specialist crime team. The police added that the investigation was launched last month after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022. “Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 55 (10.9.66) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/ facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting,” a statement by the police said. “Ike Ekweremadu, 60 (12.05.62) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting,” the police also stated in a statement.

FRESH FACTS EMERGE ON IKE EKWEREMADU, WIFE’S ARREST OVER ALLEGED ORGAN HARVEST application, which he personally signed, the senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District had stated clearly the reason why he applied for the travel document. The letter stated that David was to travel to the Royal Free Hospital, London, to undergo investigations as a possible kidney donor, an arrangement to which he had given his consent. The letter read, “I am writing in support of the visa application made by Mr. Ukpo Nwamini David, who is currently having medical investigations for a kidney donation to Ms. Sonia Ekweremadu. “David and Sonia will be at the Royal Free Hospital London and I will be providing necessary funding. I have enclosed a statement of my bank account. “Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require additional information. “Please accept the assurances of my highest regards.” THISDAY’s sister broadcasting news channel, ARISE News Channel, which covered the Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court proceeding, reported that the Nigerian High Commission sent representatives to the court in London, but they got there late. During yesterday’s court hearing, Ekweremadu denied allegations of human trafficking. In a statement, he said at no stage did he arrange transport for anyone with intention to exploit him or her. His wife similarly denied the allegations in her prepared statement, the court heard. Gavin Irwin, representing Ekweremadu, said, “There is no question this is a serious allegation. Mr. Ekweremadu is a member of the senate in Nigeria. “He has previously held an even

more senior role as Deputy President of the Senate. He is a member of the bar in Nigeria. He is a principal in a law firm that bears his name. "Those issues taken together go way beyond him being a person of good character…rather that he has led a blameless life as a public servant.’ Irwin added that the allegations were “nothing short of preposterous”. On her part, Antonia Gray, who stood for Mrs. Ekweremadu, said, “She has never been complicit or involved in any alleged illegal trafficking of any young person. She is a financial accountant with an unblemished record.” Arise News Channel reported the prosecutors to have said the Ekweremadus were being charged with bringing a 15-year-old boy from

Nigeria to the UK with the claim that he was to be given a better life in the UK, but the intention was allegedly to harvest his organ. The prosecutors told the court that the former senate president procured a passport for the boy and claimed he was 21 years old, but discovered that he was 15 years old. The prosecutors also told the court that the Ekweremadus had a daughter with a kidney-related disease, who had been on dialysis for quite some time. They told the court that they believed the plan was to use an organ from the boy on their daughter, who appeared to need a kidney transplant. Ekweremadu and his wife had separate legal representations and prayed the court to release them on bail. But the magistrate dismissed their

prayer. The couple has surrendered their passports to the UK government. The name of the boy wasn’t disclosed in court for legal reasons. He was now in care and was being offered support, Arise News disclosed. Although the accused live in Nigeria, they do have family connection to London. Speaking with THISDAY yesterday, a source familiar with the matter, who pleaded to remain anonymous, faulted the position of the prosecutors, insisting that David, who claimed to be underage, was actually an adult. The source said, “The guy told the UK police that he is underage, probably, because he didn’t want to come back to Nigeria. He may have claimed underage to win sympathy of the police." The source, apparently, peeved

FG: WE SAVED OVER N10TRN THROUGH TREASURY SINGLE ACCOUNT IMPLEMENTATION the introduction of Integration Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) led to the reduction of the Federal Civil Service personnel to 720,000. The IPPIS, the DG further explained, led to the weeding out of about 70,000 ghost workers from the service. Using video slides to illustrate, Arabi said: "On the next slide, these are some of the benefits that we think government or Nigerians have benefited out of the work that we have been doing in collaboration with other agencies of government, where they with the introduction of IPPIS about 70,000 ghost workers have been eliminated from the payroll. "We have a one shot opportunity to look at IPPIS and say, as at today, we have 720,000 public servants working for Nigeria.

"This is a great achievement which I think we need to encode and we need to get it celebrated by all of us. We've been able to reduce more than N220 billion wastage through wrong management of IPPIS on payroll by ministries, departments and agencies of government. We have reduced the budget deficits and change the budget composition.” The DG said as part of the reforms in the service, the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIGMIS) had made government business paperless and "it has reduced man to man contact and processing, payments in ministries, departments and agencies of government." According to him: "Transparency has been improved. A lot of things are done even outside the office.

But the most important thing is the ability given to central agencies, office of Accountant General of the Federation, and the Ministry of Finance to see what is happening in all ministries, departments and agencies of government because GIFMIS is not controlled by the agencies. "It is controlled by the central agencies, but every activity you are doing under GIFMIS somebody, is watching you and is monitoring that activity. This is a great achievement for us and for all of you and for all Nigerians. "There is better access to information on finances in this country. Whatever you do, somebody's watching you and somebody can request and get the information. International rating agencies standards and co have more confidence in Nigeria

now because they have access to information and data that they were not able to get before this time. "Again, this is a breakdown of some of the benefits of the reforms that we've been driving." On deductions blamed on the IPPIS, which has been a source of friction especially between government and universities’ unions, Arabi affirmed that deductions just do not occur on their own except where loans had been obtained. His words: "On deductions and complaints around IPPIS, you know, we have just started from the pilot ministries, six. We went to 10 then because of the push by the international community, especially the development partners, who are really eager to get Nigeria at that level at par with other nations

BUHARI TO JOHNSON: NO 3RD TERM FOR ME, FIRST PERSON WHO TRIED IT DIDN’T END WELL Buhari welcomed the British government’s security assistance to Nigeria, but said a good way to start was for the United Kingdom to first stabilise Libya. The fall of the Libyan leader, Muammar Gadaffi, in 2011, after 42 years in power, in an uprising that threw the country into a protracted civil war, has been blamed for the crisis in the Sahel, which has had terrible implications for Nigeria’s security. Buhari justified the continued detention of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. He said Kanu had jumped bail in the past, which made his bail this time difficult. The president visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Rwanda, toured the permanent exhibitions at the Memorial, and laid a wreath at the mass graves, where more than 250,000 victims of the genocide were buried. He made a passionate appeal to Nigerians to be tolerant of one another and embrace peace. Buhari, who also met with the Jamaican Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, in Kigali, extolled the cordial political and economic relations between Nigeria and Jamaica. A release by Buhari’s media adviser, Femi Adesina, said at the meeting with Johnson, the Nigerian

president reiterated his resolve to respect the maximum term limit in the Nigerian constitution. Johnson had asked if Buhari would run for office again, perhaps, unfamiliar with the country's democratic system, but the Nigerian leader immediately retorted, “Another term for me? No! The first person who tried it didn’t end very well.” Obasanjo had towards the end of his second term in 2007 attempted to seek a third term in office but met stiff resistance at the National Assembly. The federal legislature threw away the clause that sought to give a sitting president the right to seek a third term. But the former president has always denied having anything to do with the idea. Addressing speculations that Kanu was not being allowed to see his lawyers privately, the president dispelled such insinuations, saying the detained separatist is being given every opportunity under the law “to justify all the uncomplimentary things he had been saying against Nigeria in Britain. “He felt very safe in Britain, and said awful things against Nigeria. We eventually got him, when he stepped out of the United Kingdom, and we sent him to court. Let him defend all that he has said there. His lawyers have access to him. Remember he jumped bail before,

how are we sure he won’t do it again, if he’s admitted to bail?” On the British prime minister’s keenness to help Nigeria in the area of security, Buhari said helping to stabilise Libya would be a pragmatic and strategic first step to the deployment of such assistance. The fall of Ghaddafi, with the active involvement of Britain, the United States, and France, unleashed armed groups on countries of the Sahel. “And they are causing havoc everywhere, as the only thing they know how to do is to shoot guns,” Buhari told Johnson. Giving an update on Boko Haram insurgency, Buhari said there was a serious effort to educate the people on the fact that only an unserious person could kill innocent people, “and say Allah Akbar (God is Great). "God is justice. You can’t take innocent souls, and ascribe it to God. And the education process is working, the people now understand Boko Haram as anti-God, and not about religion.” On his part, Johnson said he was delighted to hear the good news on trade between Britain and Nigeria. He said the UK was further reducing tariffs on some goods going to Nigeria. The prime minister described the relationship between Nigeria

and the UK as “very strong attachment,” adding, “I just want to be sure that we are doing enough. It’s a massive partnership for us, and we need to capitalise on it.” He offered condolences on some recent attacks in Nigeria, particularly, on churches. Buhari paid tribute to the memory of the victims of the Rwanda genocide and prayed for healing for the survivors. He told newsmen that the lessons from his visit were the need for Nigerians to continue to be tolerant of one another, and for the country to also preserve its own historical antecedents from the Nigeria Civil War (1967-1970). According to Buhari, “I went through all the experiences from 15 January 1966 to date. I was a governor, minister, and Head of State and went through detention. I returned to partisan politics and will finish my two terms as constitutionally allowed. We fought a 30-month bitter civil war and we killed about a million of each other. Nigeria went through this kind of terrible development process." Before departing the Memorial, Buhari wrote in the visitor’s book, “Remembering the victims of this dark history of the Rwanda Genocide, we pray that humanity will never experience this kind of hatred, wickedness and violence

toward others, because of their ethnic background, religion, and beliefs. “Nigeria is strongly committed to the prevention of mass atrocity anywhere in the world and believes that perpetrators of such crimes; and their enablers, anywhere in the world must be held accountable.” At his meeting with the Jamaican Prime Minister, Holness, Buhari said, “Our relationship dates back in time, to generations ago. Thank you for strengthening it, particularly, on the economic and political fronts." Holness noted that Nigeria had been very supportive of Jamaica, with the two countries having commercial agreements in place. He said, “The maiden flight from Lagos to Jamaica about two years ago was well received. We equally have relationships in the creative industry, sports and finance." Making reference to a recent opinion article written by Buhari, which was published in international newspapers, Holness said he agreed that the Commonwealth could be more than just a club of friends, who have affinity with the United Kingdom, “and become an economic powerhouse. All the elements are there: common language, large market, and many others. It can become a serious economic force.”

we went through. "I remember, I'm privileged to be part of the team that started the discussion around IPPIS and were able to get different sectors of the Public Service to come and have meetings and discussions with us to understand their various cadre within the field, their pay structure; their responsibilities and all these have been taken care of. "Along the line, there are some new creations and I think there are some omissions, which government is addressing, but I would not take these men complain that their deductions like that, it cannot be arbitrary. "For every deduction that is done, there is justification for that. And if there are problems, they are identified and complaints I made, that will be rectified. and quite a number of our colleagues, some may have taken lot of loans that have committed themselves, deductions are being made left, right and center. "So, I want to assure you and the person that complained to you, that government is addressing some of these problems." The DG also stated that government is silently implementing aspects of the Oransanye Report on Civil Service Reforms. He said government would soon make an announcement on the implementation of the White Paper. "On Oronsaye white paper government has been working around that.You are aware that it was implemented in good time. And over the years, there have been changes. More agencies and commissions were created which makes it necessary for government to look back and say okay, between Oronsanye White Paper and today, how many more agencies have been created? "So, that was why those committees were created. But beyond that, I want to tell you that some silent aspects of the report are being implemented silently. We're hoping that very soon we will conclude on that and the major activity will come. So, just wait for the announcement from the secretary to the government of the Federation, who is the chairman of the implementation committee of the white paper," Arabi further said.

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NEWS

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

LAUNCH OF HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY DOCUMENT... L-R: Vice President, ECOWAS Commission, Mrs. FInda Koroma; Nigeria Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, during the launch of the human capital KINGSLEY ADEBOYE development strategy document in Abuja..yesterday

NUPRC Moves to Reactivate 3,000 Oil Well Components in Bid for 3m bpd Production Komolafe gives committee 30 days to submit report on shut-in facilities Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government yesterday inaugurated a 10-man expert team to work on a report preceding the reactivation of over 3,000 shut-in oil strings which have contributed to the country’s inability to produce its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) oil quota. In the oil industry, a production string is a part of an oil well which serves as the conduit through which fluid flows from the oil

reservoir to the surface and is used to contain the liquids from contaminating the environment or eroding the other well structures. For over a year , Nigeria has been unable to drill its full OPEC allocation, defaulting by as much as between 300,000 bpd to 700,000 bpd. Last month, it fell to a record low when the country produced just a paltry 1.024 million bpd of its over 1.750 million bpd ration. But speaking during the event, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory

Commission (NUPRC), Mr Gbenga Komolafe, noted that the move had become inevitable due to shut-ins arising from oil theft and sabotage in the Niger Delta. Komolafe stated that the nation had suffered significant losses in crude oil production, especially in land and swamp terrains, a major consequence of which is the declaration of force majeure on the Bonny Oil & Gas Terminal (BOGT) and shut-in of wells from fields evacuating through the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) and

the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP). A result of the menace, he noted, is that the nation is only able to achieve about 60 per cent compliance with Technical Allowable Rate (TAR) and 72 per cent of its assigned OPEC quota. On the other hand, Komolafe stressed that the socio-economic impact of production and associated revenue losses to both government and investors had become a deep cause for concern for all stakeholders. The upstream chief executive

House Committee Faults $49m Contract to Undertake Integrity Test for Refineries Steps down electoral offences, entrepreneurship bank bills over sponsorship controversy Motion for review of judicial officers’ salaries stepped down Udora Orizu and Juliet Akoje in Abuja The House of Representatives has queried the $49 million contract awarded to Technimont to undertake integrity test for refineries across the country. Chairman of the ad hoc committee investigating the state of the country's refinery, Hon. Ganiyu Johnson, yesterday queried the company in Abuja. The contract was awarded in 2019 at $49 million by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to Technimont. The contract was for the first phase of the refurbishment of refineries across the country. He stated that the state of refineries in the country revealed that some infractions had been discovered during its investigation. He further blamed the NNPC for failure in its duty to undertake regular turn around maintenance. The lawmakers however asked both parties to submit all evidences of contract approved by the Federal Executive Council and payment proofs including the level of work

done to the committee. The committee had been engaging the NNPC and engineering company handling the contract for the $1.3 billion rehabilitation exercise of the refinery which they alleged had yielded no result. House Steps Down Electoral Offences, Entrepreneurship Bank Bills over Sponsorship Controversy Meanwhile, the House of Representatives at plenary yesterday stepped down two bills seeking investigation and prosecution of electoral offences and establishment of entrepreneurship development bank over sponsorship controversy. The lawmakers also stepped down a motion seeking for an upward review of judicial officers’ salary. The first bill titled, "Bill for an Act to Establish National Electoral Offences Commission and the Electoral Offences Tribunal to Provide for the Legal Framework for Investigation and Prosecution of Electoral Offences for the general Improvement of the Electoral Process in Nigeria;

and for Related Matters (HBs.1589, 695, 1372 and 1472)," sponsored by Hon. Aishatu Dukku, Hon. Francis Uduyok, and Hon. Kingsley Chinda was presented for second reading. The House Leader, Hon. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa whose name was also listed as a cosponsor, when called upon by the Speaker Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to lead the debate on its general principles, informed the Speaker that he could not because he wasn't

consulted by the sponsors of the Bill beforehand. "When you have a bill of this nature the leader should be consulted, I was not consulted. And my name is included," Doguwa said Raising a point of order, another lawmaker, Hon. John Dyegh told the Speaker that he had sponsored the Bill severally in previous and present Assembly, wondering why his bill was not among those consolidated.

reiterated that the development was causing a threat to national and energy security, erosion of global competitiveness and ease of doing business. In addition, he pointed out that it had also given rise to unemployment across the industry, increased conflicts due to proliferation of arms as well as a widespread Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) and community concerns. “In light of these issues and government’s production target of 3 million barrels of oil per day in three years, the NUPRC has developed regulatory initiatives and optimisation strategies aimed at decreasing this menace to the barest minimum in the short run, and eventual elimination in the long run. “The strategies involves various industry stakeholders and cuts across techno-socioeconomic and security initiatives. It is my utmost belief that the impact of these joint strategies would be felt across the industry in a few months,” he assured. Against this backdrop, Komolafe stated that the initiative to conduct an industrywide integrated study on the reactivation of shut-in strings was conceptualised in the commission and approved by him as a low hanging strategy to gain incremental production. “Our analysis shows that we have over 3,000 shut-in strings

in-country with huge potential to boost production in the short term (i.e six months), mid term (i.e one year) and long term (i.e over a year),” he declared. According to him, the committee would be saddled with the responsibilities to collect and quality-check data of all shut-in strings, evaluate the basis for shutin based on subsurface (geology and reservoir engineering) and surface considerations. In addition, the terms of reference of the committee includes , to develop an empirically driven criteria to identify candidate wells for production ramp up in the short, mid and long term. It will also prioritise candidate reservoirs/fields with the potential to increase recovery factor in the short, mid and long term and develop a robust report with action and implementation steps. “Additionally, the committee would engage industry stakeholders to get their buy-in on this strategic initiative. The committee has a one-month period effective today to conclude the study and revert to management with a robust report that will become a working document for the industry in this regard,” he noted. Komolafe said that the team lead shall report to the executive commissioner, development and production on a weekly basis for the duration of the study.

UK-funded African Initiative Invests £60m in 360 Renewable Energy Projects Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Innovate UK KTN, Global Alliance Africa Project, a United Kingdom-funded knowledgebased programme set up to provide solutions to Africa's energy challenge, yesterday said it had so far spent £60 million in over 360 projects in its areas of interest. Speaking in Abuja during the Energy Catalyst Briefing, launch and brokerage event, the Regional Lead of the Global Alliance

Africa, Sophie West, noted that the initiative was in line with its mandate to provide efficient energy solution to Africa's myriad energy challenges. She explained that this is being done through the deployment of innovative technology and business models as well as partnership with like-minded initiatives. “The Energy Catalyst, which is a programme aimed at accelerating the innovations needed to end energy poverty

on the continent, is one of the UK’s biggest energy access focused grant funding initiatives, having invested more than £60 million in over 360 projects in eight different rounds. “The programme will also leverage financial and advisory support, build strategic partnerships and uncover new insights to provide energy solutions to improve lives,” she stated. According to her, the programme will further help early-

to-late-stage innovators develop market-based technologies and business models that accelerate access to clean, modern and affordable energy in Africa, Asia and the Indo Pacific regions. West added that the event was to provide ambitious organisations a chance to learn more about the Energy Catalyst and identify or match with potential partners from bioenergy, storage, solar PV, wind, heating and cooling, clean cooking, smart grids as well as novel payment systems.

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NEWS

2ND WEST AFRICA LPG EXPO & NLPGA SUMMIT 2022... L-R: President, Nigeria Liquiﬁed Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA), Nuhu Yakubu; Deputy MD, NLNG, Olalekan Ogunleye; Deputy President, NLPGA, Felix Ekundayo; 2nd Vice President, NLPGA, Ladi Falola and GM, External Relations & Sustainable Development, NLNG, Andy Odeh at the 2nd West Africa LPG Expo & NLPGA Summit 2022 in Lagos ... yesterday

In Damning Verdict, Gencos Declare FG 'Flogging a Dead Horse' in Power Sector Query independence of regulatory agency Say sector performance back to pre-privatisation era Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The electricity Generation Companies (Gencos) in Nigeria yesterday compared the federal government’s handling of the power sector to the case of "flogging a dead horse." Coming under the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), the Gencos also queried

the appointment process to important positions in the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), hinting that it was impinging on the independence of the regulatory agency. Many Nigerians have called for a resetting of the problematic sector by cancelling the 2013 privatisation of the sector, which has not helped improved power supply despite

NNPC, Oil Firms Partner, Build Solar Powered Water Project for Bayelsa Community Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and an indigenous oil exploration company, First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited in partnership with the KEFFES Rural Development Foundation, have built a solar powered water project for the indigenes of Koluama 1 in Southern Ijaw Local Government Council of the Bayelsa state. The project was expected to provide indigenes of the benefiting community and its environs with healthy and portable water to reduce cases of water borne disease. Representative of the indigenous oil firm, First E and P, Mr. Gerald Makiri, said the solar powered water project is a pilot test that will be replicated around the host communities. He said “Fela in his popular song says water no get enemy, so, we are hoping that this water will bring unity to this community. We are hoping that as you drink from the borehole sickness will varnish, more prosperity to Koluama 1, more prosperity to the women, youths, boys and girls,” he said. Receiving the project, Chairman of KEFFES Rural Development Foundation, Matthew Sele-epri, who was represented by HRH Moses Theophilus - Kenibara VII (Amadabo of Moko-Ama Sangana Kingdom) thanked both First E and P and NNPC for the kind gesture but asked that more points should be built in the pilot scheme in Koluama 1 and be replicated across all the KEFFES communities. He pointed out that the

KEFFES is a foundation representing the eight producing communities comprising Koluama 1 and 2; Ezetu 1 and 2; Foropa, Fish Town; Ekeni; and Sangana, located along the Atlantic coastline. He noted that though the project would be the first of its kind in the KEFFES rural communities, “If you can recall that over time all our communities are surrounded with water but portable water to drink is a problem and today as God may have it First E and P has been able to do delivered on social development and so we want to appreciate first and E and P for this a very kind and a very proactive intervention. “We are still demanding that this should be replicated in all the communities and all the KEFFES host communities because that is the only way we can see the goodness of this . Let it be replicated as it is done in Koluama 1. Let it also be done for all the communities for us to see this enjoyment we are seeing today. “Since we are not reticulating that water and we can’t expect the whole community to be coming to fetch. So, we want to request that you do more of it kind”. Théophillus urged the NNPC to act fast on social interventions projects to avert protest by affected communities, saying “the NNPC joint venture each time that First E and P request something that this has to be done in the community please don’t hesitate because most often time we are being told that NNPC refuse to approve project due to join venture.”

marked increase in tariffs. Speaking on the state-owned Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Executive Secretary, APGC, Dr Joy Ogaji, insisted that all stakeholders need to devise new methods of reviving the industry, rather than deploying old strategies. “I joined (the industry) in 2011 and when I joined the same issues we are discussing now were the same issues that were being discussed then. By October 31, It will be exactly nine years post privatisation. "Privatisation was viewed with the mind that we'll get to our eldorado and now nearly nine years post-privatisation, we seem not to be close to eldorado. As a matter of fact, our assessment is that the current situation of power is back to pre-privatisation times,” she noted. Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari argued that when the sector was privatised, it was

simply handed over to political cronies of the leaders at the time. However, despite spending trillions of naira, there has also been no improvement under the current administration. Describing the power problem as endemic, Ogaji stated that issues of grid collapses, estimated billing and overbilling are all symptoms of a major problem that Nigeria must investigate, diagnose, and then find solution to. Likening the problem in the sector to what she described as the “dead horse theory”, Ogaji maintained that Nigeria cannot continue to do the same thing and expect a different result. “So, we have a dead horse in the power sector and have been trying to make this dead horse ride and in doing that, instead of coming to the realisation that the horse is dead, we have got new dead horses and joined them together and see if they can ride.

They are not riding. “We get whips and have been whipping this dead horse and because it’s dead it can’t ride. We now get consultants to come and teach us on how the dead horse can run. They can’t succeed because the horse is dead. “ Then, we now get training outside the country to go and learn how a dead horse can walk. A dead horse is dead. It cannot walk. We have brought down the standard. The privatisation documents, we have brought it low in implementation and enforcement and said if we lower the standard the dead horse can operate. It still won’t work. “Then we threaten to terminate the dead horse, but because it’s dead, it doesn't care about termination,” she said in her analysis of the problem. Stressing that the authorities must diagnose what the dead horse represents, the Gencos stressed that

it could be the government modus operandi, since the industry rules and regulations documents remain some of the best in the world. She argued that if for instance the extant law prescribes an independent sector regulator, the manner of appointment of members of the regulatory commission clearly rubbishes the law. “If According to section 34 of this book, you should get an independent regulator, now how do you get a regulator that is independent? How were they appointed? If they are politically appointed, then you don’t expect independence. “Because what we've been doing is eating our cake and then still expecting it on the table, because if you politically appointed these regulators, not adhering to Section 34, which talks of meritocracy and competitiveness in appointing them, how do you expect them to be independent?

FG Pays N600m Backlog of Conditional Cash Transfer to Vulnerable Nigerians in Four States Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has revealed that the federal government has paid the sum of N630,008,000,000 being backlog of conditional cash transfer to 62,302 vulnerable Nigerians in Edo, Enugu, Kebbi, and Ondo states. The Executive Director of ANEEJ, Mr. David Ugolor disclosed this yesterday, while addressing a press conference in Abuja. He explained that about 1.9 million Nigerians benefited from the scheme. In December 2017, Switzerland had returned $322.5 million stolen by late General Sani Abacha to the federal government. The Ministry of Finance had requested that the funds be used to finance the $500 million National Social Safety Net Program (NASSP) in the form of Conditional Cash Transfers to poor and vulnerable Nigerians. Ugolor said in 2018, ANEEJ commenced the monitoring exercise under the Monitoring of Recovered Assets in Nigeria through Transparency and

Accountability (MANTRA) project, while engaging 35 civil society organisations and over 500 monitors for the exercise in six geopolitical zones of the country. He explained that conditional cash transfer to vulnerable Nigerians was stalled for two years in Edo, Enugu, Kebbi, and Ondo, due to technical issues. The Executive Director noted that the exercise produced the first disbursement report of the $322.5 million covering the August/September 2018 payment round to beneficiaries in 19 States. Ugolor stated: "Four states: Edo, Enugu, Kebbi, and Ondo were left out of payment since 2019 owing to technical issues. ANEEJ and its partners advocated for the resolution of the issues. "Reprieve came the way of beneficiaries of the National Cash Transfer Programme in Edo, Ondo, Enugu and Kebbi States where payment has been stalled, as beneficiaries trooped out to receive their payment in designated centres across the four States." Ugolor noted that the exercise

started with screening of the beneficiaries on the 19th April 2022 at Kokani Ward in Jega Local Government Area of Kebbi State, while the payment to the beneficiaries commenced on Monday afternoon, 25th April 2022. He explained that a total of N1,920,000,000 was disbursed to 46,780 beneficiaries across six local government areas in the state. The Executive Director stressed that in Ondo State, the payment commenced on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at Oba-lle Ward in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, adding that a total of N120,544,000 was disbursed to 3,673 beneficiaries in six LGAs across the state. Ugolor said in Edo State, pre-disbursement meeting was held on 19th of April 2022, while payment to beneficiaries began on Friday 29 April 2022 at Oredo LGA, Benin City. "A total of N360, 704,000 was disbursed to 8,705 beneficiaries in 5 LGAS across the State, while payment was not done in Etsako Central LGA, one of the benefiting LGAs in the state.

"We didn't know the reason why they didn't pay that local government. We are following up. This press briefing is part of raising awareness. The delay of those four states was a result of Payment Service Provider (PSP) not able to reconcile the data of beneficiaries." Ugolor further explained that on May 4, 2022, payment eventually commenced at Owo Development Centre, Nkanu East LGA in Enugu State at 2.30pm, while a total sum of N129,560,000 was disbursed to 3,144 beneficiaries in five LGAs across the state. He said the exercise was conducted in the designated centres between May 4th and 27th, 2022 in Enugu State. Ugolor said in Kebbi, Ondo and Edo States, beneficiaries were paid backlogs covering eight months — January 2020-August 2020, saying each beneficiary received the sum of N40,000; while, the beneficiaries in Enugu State received the sum of N50,000 covering the backlogs for 10 months – January 2020-October 2020.

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

NEWS

FADAMA NG-CARES INPUT AND ASSET DISBURSEMENT TO BENEFICIARIES... L-R: Commissioner for Finance Florence, Hajia Ayobami Seriki; Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Yusuf AbdulRaheem (Beneﬁciary); and State Coordinator FADAMA Engr. (Dr) Busari Toyin Isiaka; during Kwara FADAMA NG-Cares Input and Asset Disbursement to beneﬁciaries at Oke-Oyi, Ilorin East... on Tuesday

FG: Cooking Gas Market Surpasses Initial N10bn Estimate, Grows to N100bn Says Russia-Ukraine War, rising oil prices impacting negatively on the product

Peter Uzoho The federal government has revealed that Nigeria's Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) market popularly known as cooking gas, has recorded significant growth over the years, as it now commands a market value of N100 billion, surpassing the initial N10 billion estimated some years ago. The Programme Manager, National LPG Expansion Plan, Office of the Vice President, Mr. Adedayo Adeshina, made the disclosure yesterday in Lagos, while speaking at the ongoing 2nd West Africa LPG Expo and

Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association's Summit 2022. Adeshina also blamed the unabating rise in the price of LPG in the country on numerous variables including the ongoing Russian-Ukraine War and the resultant ban on Russian oil as well as the rising oil prices, saying the situations have impacted negatively on the domestic market. Adeshina spoke just as the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) also at the event restated its commitment to commitment to supply 100 per cent of its cooking gas production to Nigerian market to

House Grills PenCom over Non-rendition of Audited Financial Accounts Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts yesterday demanded the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Director of the Budget office to furnish it with the copies of the budget of the National Pension Commission (PenCom)) from 2013 to 2022. The Committee Chairman, Hon. Wole Oke gave the directive when the Director General of PenCom, Aisha Umar, appeared before the lawmakers to respond to audit query issued by the Auditor General of the Federation (AUGF). The AuGF, Adolphus Aghughu in the query had said the Commission failed to render its audited financial accounts since 2013 till date. Addressing the lawmakers, the PenCom Director General, who was represented by Commissioner in charge of Technical, Mr. Anyim Nyerere said the Commission failed to submit its audited financial account because it did not have a board at the time under review to ratify it as required by law. According to her, PenCom had prepared the audited accounts from 2013 to 2017, which it

submitted to the Office of the Auditor General but were rejected because they had no board in place. While noting that the SGF was in charge of the budget of the Commission during the period, she said the 2018 to 2020 budgets, by which time a board was constituted, for the Commission had been approved, but yet to be submitted. The DG added that the 2021 and 2022 budgets were still at the draft stages and that they would be ready for submission within the next 30 days. The Chairman of the Committee, Oke, who excused the commission for not having a board then, however lamented that government agencies such as PenCom were being allowed by the Executive arm of government to run without boards for long periods of time. He said that it was wrong that an agency whose assets had hit N14 trillion would be managed in such a shoddy manner. Ruling, Oke said the Committee would decide the next line of action upon the receipt of the copies of its budgets for the years under review from both the SGF and the office of the Director of Budget, June 30, 2022.

boost clean energy accessibility. The price of LPG in Nigeria has maintained its upward swing since over a year ago, with many consumers abandoning the product due to its unaffordability. In some parts of the country, the price of the product has ballooned such that it now takes as high as between N10,000 to N12,000 to fill a 12.5 kilogramme LPG cylinder. Speaking at the event, Adeshina stated, "The LPG sector in Nigeria has over the years. It has grown to become a N100 billion market, from the initial estimated N10 billion market many years ago." He disclosed that, of the 1.3 million metric tones LPG consumed in the country, 65 per cent was being imported from the global market, while the balance was sourced from the domestic market through the NLNG Admitting that the price of LPG has skyrocketed both at

the international market and at the local market, he said the high price of the product was influenced by developments in the global market. Adeshina specifically blamed the unabating rise in the price of LPG in the country on numerous variables including the ongoing Russian-Ukraine War and the resultant ban on Russian oil as well as the rising oil prices, saying the situations have impacted negatively on the domestic market. Commending the NLNG for increasing its domestic supply to the current 450,000MT yearly, Adeshina said the government through the Office of the Vice President was working towards increasing domestic supply, adding that huge opportunities abound for local and foreign investors in the sector. The Deputy Managing Director of NLNG, Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, reiterated the company's commitment

to supply 100 per cent of its cooking gas production to the domestic market as part of the firm's support to the growth of the product's utilisation in the country. This, he explained, would help to reduce the health, safety and environmental risks associated with the use of other dangerous domestic fuel sources like kerosene, firewood and charcoal. Ogunleye stated that NLNG remained committed to collaborating with regulators, partners, and industry players to grow the domestic LPG market and bring cleaner energy to Nigerians. He added that through the supply of LPG, NLNG prioritised the supply of clean energy in Nigeria while working collaboratively with the government to grow LPG consumption in Nigeria as part of the national journey to a clean energy future. The deputy managing

director pointed out that domestic LPG consumption in the country has increased by 300 per cent, from about 60,000MT in 2007 to over one million MT in 2020. He stated further that the increase indicated that the Nigerian LPG domestic market was one of fastest-growing LPG markets in the world, noting that that attests to the viability of LPG as a business and its adoption by the citizenry. He said a significant stimulus to the domestic LPG was the declaration of the 'Decade of Gas' by the federal government and the support of regulators and industry stakeholders. Ogunleye stated that the declaration had created an enabling environment for investment and deliberate actions designed to ensure that Nigeria takes advantage of the global energy transition while monetising the country’s extensive gas reserves.

Buhari Honours Civil Servant for Saving Nigeria N90bn on Ajaokuta Deal Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has conferred the Presidential Merit Award on a civil servant, Umar Adamu Tsoho, whose refusal to cooperate with some contractors in suppressing vital information with promises of huge gratification saved the country the loss of N90 billion on the Ajaokuta steel project. Umar was one of the 10 officers who received the Presidential Public Service Merit Award yesterday, at the 2022 Civil Service Day Commemoration held at Abuja, for demonstrating high level of commitment and dedication to duty. The steel officer, who was on the sub-committee on Ajaokuta Project Presidential

Implementation Committee, which dealt with the liabilities of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited was honoured for considering the interest of the Ministry of Mines and the ethics of service by presenting DMO Bond Settlement Letters to the Sub-Committee which saved the country the huge loss. The federal government said his action supported the anti-corruption crusade of the president. Another awardee, Mrs. Cordelia Otuya, who is the Chief Legal Officer, Ministry of Education, was said to have successfully obtained over 50 court judgments in favour of the ministry with two of such judgements saving the ministry the payment of judgement debts amounting to N1.5 billion respectively.

The president also said his administration was working towards improving the value proposition of the civil service by setting up the Presidential Committee on salaries to harmonise salaries service-wide. The president, who was represented by the FCT Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello, expressed hope that the outcome of the committee’s work would provide the impetus for an upward review of the salaries of deserving civil servants, with the recent increase of the duty tour allowance of all civil servants as a starting point. He also launched the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 that was approved by the Federal Executive Council in December, 2021 and a Culture

Change Video. He said the Plan was in response to his directive to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to institutionalise performance management in the service, adding the federal government would spare no effort aimed at improving the competencies of officers in the civil service through training and re-training of staff. The president said joining to celebrate the Year 2022 Civil Service Day was to demonstrate his association with the on-going efforts to return the Nigerian civil service to its pride of place in delivering efficient and effective services to the Nigerian citizenry. He, however, lamented the civil service which was once strong and formidable had begun to lose its relevance in the country.

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FRIDAY JUNE 24, 2022 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY JUNE 24, 2022 • T H I S D AY

FRIDAY JUNE 24, 2022 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY JUNE 24, 2022 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JUNE 24, 2022

POLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com 08033025611 SMS ONLY

Nigeria is Faced with Serious Refugee Problem at Home and Abroad Babatunde Raji Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing, laments that the fear of more people becoming refugees in Nigeria very soon is real.

hen my friend and brother, Jimi Olusola, asked me to be the speaker at this event, I had no hesitation in accepting because he indicated that it was Papa’s 10th memorial. Although I was unaware that it was World Refugee Day and neither was I aware at the time that a book was to be presented, my mind was already invoking thoughts about refugees. When he responded to my inquiry about what he would like me to speak about by saying: “Tunde he was also your father, choose your topic,” that decided me. I was going to speak about refugees because that was Ambassador Segun Olusola’s final signature and most compelling work of art that he left us with. (Pun intended. Ambassador Olusola was an artist’s Artist). His passion, commitment, sacrifice and dedication to the cause of refugees, a compelling humanitarian undertaking to which he devoted his personal resources, mobilized others to form and to join and contribute, immersed his immediate family and friends in, was arguably his most selfless of his many undertakings while he was with us. Having now settled on my subject, a big problem then arose - What was I going to say about refugees that my audience does not already know about? After all, there are refugees everywhere so what is new? Then I thought to myself speak about the fact that he created Village Headmaster, he was Elsie Olusola’s husband and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia. While I was flirting with my options, the casual invitation by Jimi was formalized by way of a letter signed by no less a person than Chief Mrs Opral Benson, OON, the Honorary President of AREF, and on the letter was boldly printed the names of the patrons of AREF, starting from Dr. Christopher Kolade to Major General Ike Nwachukwu to Aremo Taiwo Alimi. And that stopped me dead in my tracks. These were Ambassador Olusola’s peers, many of who stood in Loco Parentis to Jimi and I. What was I going to tell them about Ambassador Olusola, Aunty Elsie, Village Headmaster or his stint in Ethiopia?; events and stories they partook of when I was in my toddling and adolescent years. In the hope therefore that I would have something worthwhile to say, I have titled my intervention HOME AND ABROAD. Around these two words and their simplest and extended meanings, I think there is sufficient elasticity to interrogate my subject, which is the issue of refugees, from multiple perspectives. I think it is too pedestrian to attempt a definition of what or who a refugee is, except that we can agree that a refugee is one who is seeking refuge, who has lost his sanctuary and in this sense his HOME and depends on the help, charity or benevolence of others. Very often for us who have a HOME to go to at the end of each day, when we return to our house as a HOME, we return to the embrace of our family as the people that make our house a HOME because they are not strangers, it is easy not to pay attention to the plight of refugees because we are far removed from it. I got quite close to the world of refugees in very unusual circumstances that provided a rude awakening, over two decades ago. It is a story I find relevant for this occasion. Please permit me to share it. It is the worst kept secret that I still attempt to play football long after my school

days and myself and a group of friends constantly indulge in veteran football as a way of keeping fit and also strengthening bonds of friendship that were struck decades ago. One day, we got an invitation for a friendly veteran match somewhere in Ogun State, in a place called Oru that I had never heard about. My recollection of the details is hazy, but my experience remains indelible. As we arrived at the destination, I saw a

sign indicating that it was a refugee camp, I cannot recollect if it was an AREF camp but my hazy memory suspects that it was. As we alighted and we were introduced, we interacted with men who looked as healthy as us. As they spoke, I immediately discerned their accent. It was distinctly Liberian (Mrs. Opral Benson has not lost hers and this is something about the place called HOME that I will come to shortly) and the first wave of reality hit me.

The conflict and war in Liberia were not as far away as we thought when we saw it on the television or read about it in the newspapers. It had come to the place we called our HOME. Not only had we sent troops there, they had sent some of our brothers and sisters to us, albeit against their will. The conflict had taken their HOME from them and sent them ABROAD against their will. Football became immediately unimportant and even though we still played, I don’t remember who won. My image of refugees before experiencing Oru, was that of poor people, people at the bottom of the pyramid, dislocated by forces of nature mudslides, earthquakes, tsunamis etc. This was different. As we interacted, I found there were lawyers like me, professionals of all capabilities who had lost everything but their lives. Their HOME has changed from the house they built in Liberia to a contrived shelter in rural Ogun State. Their family members were not necessarily their spouses and children or siblings, it was the nearest person in the boat of their tribulations. That experience was and remains numbing to me. A situation that makes me take flight, that makes all the things that we value, become minor distractions except life, and translates one from self-sufficient to totally dependent still sends chills down my spine. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Passionate Plea to Buhari on Inauguration of NDDC Board without Further Delay Charles Aberebiegha shows a strong cause for urgent intervention of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress and President Muhammadu Buhari for the inauguration of the Senate-approved Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, which appears to be a discouragement to a teeming number of people in the Niger Delta region

s has been previously predicted by watchers of unfolding events in the volatile Niger Delta region, tension seems to be reaching fever-pitch as the INEC required electoral activities leading up to the 2023 elections are happening across the federation and throwing up issues. Specifically in the Niger Delta region, a group, “Committed members of the APC from the Niger Delta Region,” led by the trio of Ebibomo Akpoebide, Menegbo Nwinuamene, and Itam Edem have, in quick succession fired two stronglyworded letters to President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the conclusion of the special conventions of the nation’s two leading parties, the PDP and APC, respectively. As if to underscore the sense of urgency that they perceive, less than 48- hours after the emergence of Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, as the Presidential candidate of the opposition PDP, this group of “Committed APC members from the Niger Delta region” sent in their first correspondence “Letter to President Buhari and the APC Leadership on the Ongoing Illegality in the NDDC and the Implications for the APC in the 2023 Elections.” In the extensive and detailed letter, complete with facts, dates and history of what has transpired in NDDC and the

region from 2015, when President Buhari took office, till date, the group raised alarm on the looming consequences of the ruling party’s ill-treatment of the region, especially what it described as the “ongoing illegality in NDDC.” Matter of fact, the group specifically cautioned that “as it stands, the APC cannot win an election in the region except the missteps in NDDC are remedied and the NDDC substantive Board is inaugurated in accordance with the law setting up the Commission.” The group in the above letter went to length to state how they believe that Senator Godswill Akpabio, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, laboured strenuously to try and subvert the collective will and

desire of the authentic stakeholders of the Niger Delta region. According to them, Chief Akpabio, a two-term governor of Akwa Ibom State and Senator until 2018 under the PDP, “came to reverse the bold moves to cement the party in the Niger Delta states. He has set the party back in many respects but we are hopeful that with concerted efforts by stakeholders we can regain our footholds before the next general election, which is very crucial. This is why we are glad that his resignation offers a chance to correct the ills and win back the trust of our people.” Continuing, the trio of Akpoebide, Nwinuamene, and Edem opined that the resignation of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Akpabio, “offers your administration the opportunity to reboot and reclaim its connection with the Niger Delta people after three years of the former Minister’s disastrous manipulation of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which has angered all stakeholders in the region. He has been especially disagreeable even in advancing the interests of the people of our region, not to talk of the damage he has done to your reputation and the All Progressives Congress (APC) among the people, especially the voting population.” NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JUNE 24, 2022

POLITICS

EPISTLES of ANTHONY KILA

Trump’s Troubles and January 6 Consciousness for Attack on American Democracy Constructive Confrontation (I) Chido Nwangwu writes about the United State House Anthony Kila stresses the need for Nigerian youth of Representatives probe of the January 6, 2021 to be equipped for possible leadership role staring them in the face insurrection at the US Capitol in Washington DC

n June 9, 2022, the U.S House of Representatives Select Committee investigating the attack of January 6, 2021 on the United States Capitol began an open hearing. At the hearings, it released some crucial and revealing interviews it has had with some key officials of government, presidential advisers, insurrectionists and other persons with operational roles on the event and issue. Essentially, the House has been looking into who, how, what and when! It is very important to note, so far, from the investigations, testimonies and electronic documents, the investigators have strongly indicated that the January 6 insurrection had the “personal knowledge and direction” of Mr. Trump. From what I have seen and read from testimonies, documents and documentaries, I believe they show evidence of coordinated actions by the instigator(s), leaders and co-conspirators, witnesses and accomplices organized to overturn, through unlawful schemes, incendiary lies and violent means, the lawful and constitutional outcome of the November 2020 presidential elections. They are/ were mainly Republicans, conservatives, radicals and nativists. In that 2020 election, their leader Trump Donald J. Trump, America’s 45th former president, was defeated — fair and square — by current president, Joseph R. Biden. On July 11, 2022, the committee will amplify its focus to fully make the case that Mr. Trump “summoned a violent mob and directed them illegally to march on the United States Capitol.” As the assault began, it all seemed so unreal. I call it existential unreality. Their zealotry and pugnacity made normal methods of protests look like some kindergarten medley of pillow fights. The head-banging clattering catastrophe and xenophobic bombast of the Trumpists were as loud as their bloody assault on police and security teams at the Capitol, at the U.S Congress. The stack of shocking photos and vile videos of the insurrectionists and their racially polarizing actions and statements are overwhelming in their lawlessness and criminal auducity. Like millions of other American citizens, I watched the brutal bravado build up. I saw them. I heard them. The Trump-speak. The taunts. The daring.

The Instigation. The Trump-speak. His Instigation. The Consequences. The Unfolding. Blood. Chants. Mayhem. Trump’s lawyer Rudy Guiliani and other “strong” and “patriotic” trouble makers demanded that those who would not join in their overreach should be put to “trial by combat”! Characters who had never taken a blow on their chin…. The bloody mayhem and largely the far right wing squads of private militia who mercilessly invaded, occupied and violated the congressional temple of American democratic faith on January 6, 2021, that Trump Day of Infamy! But the troubling and ominous goal was the toppling via violent impositions, extortion and mainpulation of the electoral sytem and laws and rules of the United States. You still ask, to what purpose? Simply; that a greedy and insatiable power monger, an ungracious, giddy, narcissistic man, a marketing genius, huckster and gang leader of sorts, will not respect the verified and statutory facts that he had been trounced by a better man of character, person of admirable decency. The American think-tank, Brookings Institute, summarized the issue, this: “with a ring of close confidants, Trump conceived and implemented unprecedented schemes to—in his own words— “overturn” the election outcome. Among the results of this “Big Lie” campaign were the terrible events of January 6, 2021—an inflection point in what we now understand was nothing less than an attempted coup.” Trump has remained in a twisted valley of rage and incredulity that an “older man” had vanquished him, the former loud-mouth of New York (now, relocated to Florida). He still cannot stand the fact of history that he’s listed as one of the few impeached presidents. While Biden played the noble role and lived up to the challenge of statesmanship, the controversial Trump became more divisive and ungracious. Trump talked up more toxic nonsense. Trump spewed more bile. He spoke more moonshine and little commonsense! Americans, a majority of Americans — especially recent immigrants find Trump loathsome. There are pockets of misguided and self-immolating Africans, especially Nigerians (at home and abroad) who still think Trump is “in agreement with some of our agenda and christian conservative values.” Makes you wonder: do they also include his, reportedly, referring to African countries as “shxt hxle countries”? On a lighter note, I acknowledge the fact that some of the co-travelers on the Trump train do go only so far in their zeal to praise the boisterous billionaire. One thing, I must say, they’ve not yet done is foolishly claim that Trump’s fries and burger are better than an Italian panini sandwich! -Dr. Nwangwu, is Founder & Publisher of the first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper on the internet, USAfricaonline.com, and established USAfrica in 1992 in Houston.

ear Readers, Today’s epistle is intended as an appeal for the development of a collective consciousness for constructive confrontation and it is aimed and directed mainly at the young people of this country and those elsewhere in the world. I have had the opportunity in other occasions to go beyond the generally accepted notion of biological youths to describe and categorise young people into the socio-economically young, and psycho emotionally young. Statistics from various sources agree that biological youths based on conventional categorization (of those aged between 15 and 35 years old) form over close to 17 percent of the Nigerian population, that is over 33 million people. This trend is about the same in Africa and most developing countries. Though underrepresented in decision making and impactful negotiating forums, statistics from various economic sources also show that this over 33 million people are also the most active in transactions and most crucial to consumption and GDP of the country. They are the main source of most business organisations daily cashflow. Suffice to note that regardless of their socio-economic positions or earnings, this segment of the country’s population called youth generally tend to spend more frequently and more than they earn partly because they earn less than the need but also because their needs require constant spending. Data also show that politically, this segment of the population tend to be vibrant as voice and chat activists active mainly in their social circles where they are lead commentators and analysts; their language tend to be informal, rude and brusque they go mainly for the person instead of the content of the message but they are passive in voting. They are described as headline readers, lovers of the absurd and extreme news, loud on social media, quick to praise or attack, swift at spreading news and images often false or out of context but rarely influential in party affairs or in voting booths. Regardless of how complete or otherwise, the description summarised above is, what also matters is that it is a description done by others of the youth, not of the youth by youth. Cultural anthropologists classify these perceptions and descriptions into two kinds: Emic and Etic. Emic is what a society or group says about itself and how it describes itself. Etic is how an observer sees a society or a group, it generalises and compares the observed with others looking for and emphasising real and functional reasons for behaviours and practices all in a context of universally constant patterns. As one can easily predict and would indeed readily observe, Emic descriptions tend to be value led and edifying, it places emphasis on uniqueness and supremacy of self and by so doing laying its claim to share and stake holding. Please note that contrary to general usage of the terms, a stakeholder is not automatically the same as a shareholder. It is in my view that it is now time for the youth in developing countries like Nigeria to deliberately develop an emic narrative of who they are. They need to develop a consciousness they can use to confront the rest of the society for constructive purposes. The most popular consciousness is the class consciousness popularised by Karl Marx and ensuing Marxists, it is however time to go beyond Marx and move towards constructive confrontation. Rather than fight or resist, it is time for the young to insist on building. What the youth of

all shades and strands in developing countries need is not better sharing formula but more opportunities: A bigger oven not a friendlier baker. Our youths need more institutions of learning where they can earn the knowledge and crafts, they need to build a life in which they can realise the potential of their talents. Many of the too few universities in Nigeria are currently on strike as you read. The youths need more productive environments that will allow them deploy their earned knowledge and acquired skills without the need to beg, bribe or become beholden to the powerful of the day. Notwithstanding all efforts and headlines, the prohibitive legal and illegal costs of setting up and above all running a business still make it difficult to become gainfully employed. Access to affordable and production linked finance is still a major obstacle. We need more financial institution that is willing and encouraged to invest in the future people. Even before one can learn, let alone trade or work, one needs to be alive, it is hence imperative for the youths to pay special attention to health and infrastructure. The youths need more hospitals and more viable means of transport and communication. Yes, I agree, to build all or even any of these, the country has to be secured and yes, I agree most people want the same things mentioned so far. This call is here directed mainly at the youths because they are the ones who have more at stake and because they are the ones who at little or no cost can lead the constructive confrontation developing and underdeveloped countries need. In simple terms and in summary, the first step is to develop a consciousness that reminds them and all others of their number and capacity. Out of the over 30 million youths in this country all that is needed is just 2 million of them that can convince just 10 people each to insist on asking those leading or intending to lead government, businesses, media and religions to focus on and present detailed plans on how to build more. There is nothing wrong in being partisan but that is not enough, what really builds a society that works for most is governance. Rather than follow a part or fight another part of the all, the youth need to learn to deliberately confront all the sides with questions and suggestions. The youths need to consciously seem themselves as those that can lead the narrative and set the agenda as the most influential segment of their society. They can and must confront the rest of the society based on the quantitative valency measurable in terms of their number in the whole population and the qualitative valency measurable by their ability to engage using their natural energy and technology. Join me if you can @anthonykila to continue these conversations. -Prof Kila is Centre Director at CIAPS Lagos. www.ciaps.org.

FRIDAY JUNE 24, 2022 •T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

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

08056356325

J U N E

S & P INDEX

2 3 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

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0.44%

FG’s Plan to Suspend Airport FZ Licences Will Discourage FDI, Experts Warn

Chinedu Eze Investors and aviation experts have warned that the recent pronouncement by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) that it would suspend issuance of licences to investors who wish to establish businesses at the airport free trade zones (FZ), would hinder the flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and discourage the berth of capital intensive manufacturing concerns that want to operate there. With proximity to the airports and insulated from taxes and other hazards faced in operating from the open market locations, there are indications that more businesses

have completed plans to open at the airport free trade zones. But last week, the Managing Director of FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu announced that his management had suspended issuance of new licenses to intending free trade zone applicants at the airport areas. Already, existing companies at the airport free trade zones include Execujet, Caverton, some airline catering companies and others. THISDAY learnt that talks have been going on between lessors and their local representative to establish aircraft spares depot at the free trade zone at the Lagos airport and this would help the airlines to save the waiting time for such spares to be

brought from overseas. Free trade zones are expected to provide benefits to investors, which include duty exemption, duty referral, duty reduction or inverted tariff, merchandise processing free (MPF) reduction, streamlined logistics, quota avoidance and other benefits. A former Director in the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), however, told THISDAY that FAAN does not have the right to issue any licence to anyone, adding that it is the duty of NEPZA to do so. But earlier report indicated that FAAN had with immediate effect suspended the issuance of licenses to applicants on the free trade zones at the nation’s airports until the conflicts

in the regulatory framework between it and the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority were resolved. While justifying the decision, Yadudu noted that at the Lagos Airport alone, there are presently two free trade zone operators, while additional two companies have applied. He explained that as “it stands today”, all the five international airports in the country have been designated as free trade zones and warned that if not well regulated, it may be a big challenge for the country in the future. Confirming Yadudu’s fears, industry operator and Managing Director of King Airlines Limited,

Senator Musa Adede, who served in various business committees relating to aviation, such as NEPZA and maritime when he represented Cross River North in the Senate between 1999 and 2003, told THISDAY that “there is proliferation of free trade zones in the country, so it is being abused by those who site their businesses there to avoid paying taxes.” Senator Adede said that if the free trade zones were effectively regulated, companies operating there would be producing goods and services purely for export. According to him, “If you sell such goods in Nigeria or provide services to Nigeria, you must pay duties.”

In a recent proposal to establish aviation free zone at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, former General Manager, Business Development, FAAN and currently, the Managing Partner, TMSS Logistics, Nuhu Adam, described free trade zones as special economic enclaves, “a country within a country” with the privilege of enjoying some remarkable incentives not available in the other parts of the host country – with the intention of encouraging rapid growth, industrialization and development of that region. “Specifically, free zones are Continued on page 20

UNIDO Targets 75 Nigerian Industries for Energy Efficiency Dike Onwuamaeze The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has declared that it would support 75 industries in Nigeria to improve their abilities on Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production (RECP) and Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE). UNIDO said this would help them to reduce energy consumption, environmental degradation and resource depletion. This was disclosed by the Country Representative and Regional

Director, UNIDO Regional Office Hub, Mr. Jean Bakole, during the, “GEF-UNIDO Industrial Energy Efficiency and Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production Capacity Building Workshop for Media Stakeholders,” which was held in Lagos State. Bakole, who was represented by UNIDO’s Environment Expert, Mr. Oluyomi Banjo, said UNIDO was implementing the Nigeria country programme, which he said had gotten approval to be transformed to a Programme for Country Partnership

(PCP). He added that the programme, which has environment and energy as its two distinct programmes, would run from 2018 to 2022. He said: “We hope to support not less than 75 industries across five sectors of food and beverages, wood and furniture, steel and metals, textile and garment and petrochemicals. We will develop the capacity of the organised private sector and develop not less than 300 Nigerian RECP-IEE experts. “UNIDO has implemented IEE in over 18 countries around the world

and has also implemented RECP in over 60 countries. This programme will create an opportunity to develop the IEE and RECP methodologies, human capacity building which will also see Nigerians being trained to a global standard as energy assessors and RECP experts. “We are hoping that this will eventually lead to the creation of National Cleaner Production Centres in the country (Nigeria), which will also promote circular economy.” According to him, “This project was collectively developed and

submitted by UNIDO on behalf of Nigeria in 2017 under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 6 Programming Circle. “It was approved for full project development in 2017 and subsequently approved for full project implementation in 2020. It may interest you to know that for the first time at UNIDO, we are having an integrated IEE and RECP in one project. “In South Africa, UNIDO’s project on IEE was recently accorded the best project of the year by the

Southern Africa Energy Efficiency Confederation. We look forward to replication records like this in Nigeria.” Bakole added that “you may wish to know that the outcome of this project is targeted at industries to develop an expert base for Nigeria, which could be exported to other countries in Africa and beyond. “This project will address to a good extent the questions on how industries can improve their efficiency, Continued on page 21

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T H U R S D AY, J U N E 2 3 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

BONDS DESCRIPTION

Price

Yield

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

109.71

8.10

108.02

10.12

106.45

10.30

120.20

10.74

113.20

10.80

Change Updated Time (%) June 16, 0.22 2022 June 16, 0.00 2022 June 16, -0.02 2022 June 16, 0.00 2022 June 16, 0.00 2022

MATURITY

Discount

Yield

OTC F X F U T U R E S

CPS

Change Updated Time (%)

NTB 14-Jul22 NTB 11Aug-22 NTB 8-Sep22 NTB 13-Oct22

3.00

3.01

-0.25 June 16, 2022

3.70

3.72

0.00 June 16, 2022

3.45

3.48

0.00 June 16, 2022

3.90

3.95

0.00 June 16, 2022

NTB 10Nov-22

3.90

3.96

0.00 June 16, 2022

MATURITY TRBH CP V 26-JUL-22 FSDH CP VI 1-AUG-22 NENL CP I 24-OCT-22 FSDH CP VII 27-OCT-22 SIBP CP III 27-OCT-22

Discount Yield 11.55 11.70 8.09

Change Updated Time (%) -0.19 June 16, 2022

8.17

-0.16 June 16, 2022

15.17 16.03

0.26 June 16, 2022

9.48

9.82

0.27 June 16, 2022

8.67

8.95

0.27 June 16, 2022

CONTRACT Current TENOR Contract Rate ($/₦) (MONTH) NGUS JUN 29 1 427.24 2022 NGUS JUL 27 428.93 2 2022 NGUS AUG 31 3 430.63 2022 NGUS SEP 28 4 432.32 2022 NGUS OCT 26 5 434.02 2022

Updated Time

June 16, 2022 June 16, 2022 June 16, 2022 June 16, 2022 June 16, 2022

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

AIR WATCH

Concession: Minister, Labour Visit Istanbul, Brasilia Airports Chinedu Eze The Aviation Minister, Senator Hadi Sirika has led a team comprising officials of the ministry, agencies and organised labour in the aviation industry on an inspection tour of two successfully concessioned airports in Turkey and Brazil The team that visited the Istanbul Airport in Turkey and the Brasilia Airport in Brazil with the Minister included the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Zaria, Captain Alkali Modibbo, the Acting Managing Director of the

Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Matthew Lawrence Pwajok, the Transaction Adviser on Airport Concession, Dr Abba Ibrahim and the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Michael Ohiani. Others are the Senior Technical Assistant to the Minister, Yusuf Anas, Special Assistant to the Minister on Administration, Ahmed Sanusi, Secretary General of the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Saidu Abdulrazak, Secretary General of NUATE, OchemeAbah, and Adenike Adesola (CSS).

According to the Minister, the essence of the visit to the two airports was to dispel all doubts and suspicion regarding the sincerity of the Federal Government in respect of the concession programme and to reassure the labour force of the inherent benefits of the programme. In a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Affairs, James Odaudu, he reiterated government’s commitment to ensuring that the principles of transparency and accountability, which have been the hallmark of the process from inception, will remain till the final delivery of the project.

A I R WATCH

Modernising Weather Equipment for Improved Air Safety

Akwaaba to Focus on Medical Tourism, Leisure Chinedu Eze The organisers of the biggest travel and tourism expo in West Africa, AKWAABA African Travel Market said the 18th edition of the event would focus more attention on medical tourism. The organisers stated this while announcing the date for the 2022 edition of the annual event. The event is billed to hold at the Convention Centre of Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, Nigeria

from 31st October to the 1st of November 2022. Organisers said they have decided to give a lot of attention to Medical Tourism and Health Insurance at the 2022 edition of the event. This is because of the increasing importance of Medical Tourism in Africa. The world is thinking about wellness and Health as in integral part of tourism. Recently, United Nations World Tourism Organization UNWTO had a joint

program with the World Health Organization WHO to streamline their strategies. According to UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, “COVID-19 showed that any crisis that threatens the health, safety and security of people, communities and the environment is also a risk to tourism itself. I am confident that strong cooperation at all levels will place health high on the tourism agenda.”

Aviation CEOs to Hold Panel Session

The Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in the Nigerian aviation industry, Dr. Wale Babalakin, the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Barr. Allen Onyema and other aviation heads, would constitute a panel of discussants at the forthcoming 26th annual conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC). The conference, which is scheduled to hold on July 28, 2022 at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, have received

the approvals of the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika and other critical stakeholders, which cut across the airline and ground handling sub-sectors. A statement by the Secretary, Planning Committee of the conference, Mr. Albinus Chiedu, mentioned the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu, the acting Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Lawrence Pwajok, and the Managing Director, Federal Airports

Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt. Rabiu Yadudu among the panelists. Others are the Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau - Nigeria (AIB-N), Akin Olateru and the CEO, Topbrass Aviation Limited, Capt. Roland Iyayi among others. The General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi would moderate the first panel, while Mr. Olumide Ohunayo, Director, Research, Zenith Travels would moderate the second panel.

NiRA Honours Institutions, Individuals Supporting .NG Growth The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the registry for .ng Internet Domain Names and maintainers of the database of names registered in the .ng country code Top Level Domain, has again honoured private and public institutions, as well as individuals, promoting .ng growth in Nigeria. The 2022 .ng Awards, the fifth in the series, was held in Lagos

recently with 22 private entities and four public institutions, as well as six individuals recognised. The winners of the 2022 .ng Awards in the various categories are as follows: .NG Company of the Year, GigaLayer Web Hosting & Domains; Best Local Hosting Company, Smart Web Nigeria Limited; Most Innovsative Service Provider Online, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC); Best

Technology Hub Website/Portal, CoLab; Best Banking or Insurance Website/Portal, Fidelity Bank Plc ; Best AgriTech Company of the year, Groupfarma; Best e-Payment Website/Portal, ALAT by Wema Bank; Digital Innovation State Government, Akwa Ibom State; Best Tertiary Institution Website/ Portal, Covenant University; Digital Innovation in Federal Government, etc.

FG’S PLAN TO SUSPEND AIRPORT FZ LICENCES WILL DISCOURAGE FDI, EXPERTS WARN geographic areas in which a governmental authority offers incentives, different from the host country’s regular policies, to companies operating in the region. Given the nature of these incentives, designated zones are often said to function as ‘growth poles’ for the region, or even beyond. They are used to attract foreign investors and boost industrialization. The pioneering role and status of the MMIA, Ikeja-Lagos as a foremost airport of repute in Nigeria and its support stature for the neighbouring states in the South-Western part of Nigeria (and her neighbouring countries) stands it out as one which will engender rapid growth of the South-West region of Nigeria and indeed the sub-Saharan African region,” Adam said. He stated that another formidable feature of all free economic zones (including the proposed MMIA, Ikeja-Lagos Free Zone) is the favourable investment climate – customs, tax, financial privileges and administrative concessions compared to the general regime operating in

the rest of the economic area or customs territory. “Owing to these special benefits and privileges, free zones encourage Foreign Direct Investment and the transfer of skills and knowledge from the different countries establishing their presence with the zone. It is our considered opinion that, besides serving as an Aviation Hub for our nation’s fledging aviation industry, it will certainly provide a hub base for the establishment of companies that will provide spare servicing parts and sundry support services for the crafts operating within the African region,” he added. At the recently concluded Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) National Aviation Conferences (FNAC) in Abuja, the General Manger, Vicven Integrated Services, Obinna Umeazo, who spoke on free trade zone, lamented the massive rots in Tinapa, a planned free trade zone for investment and export by the Cross River State government, which he said was simply abandoned due to government policy summersaults

and lack of infrastructure. Emeazo complained that the change in policy by the government had negatively impacted on the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), especially in the area of exports. “Tinapa Resort started well and so many investors were attracted by the benefits, but along the line, there was policy changes, which led to the dwindling of the growth of the resort. Everyone especially tourists go to Tinapa for shopping and enjoy their holidays. So, it is inconsistency on the part of the government. You brought out policies that attracted investors and in mid-way, you change such policy. If they have to focus on the special economic zones, we have to make it right. NEPZA must stand its feet and make it strong. The regulations must be strong. If you cannot manufacture, you cannot export. How much are you able to attract? When last did you hear about Tinapa? It is still at the elementary stage and one would have expected that it would have gone beyond that,” he said.

Chinedu Eze One of the major challenges in sustaining and improving flight safety is to ensure that safety-critical equipment and facilities are replenished and mordernised. Funding for this infrastructure has remained a protracted problem in Nigeria because of priority issues with government and competing needs, where limited resources are jostled for by projects that are programmed to be initiated or completed in various sectors of the economy. In aviation, providing modern infrastructure for aeronautical services, landing aids, accurate weather prediction and other essential needs have remained a challenge to the industry. But at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), progress is being made. Recently the management of the agency procured and installed seven automatic message dissemination platforms at Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Maiduguri, Kaduna, Enugu and Port Harcourt airports. The Director-General, NiMET, Prof. Mansur Matazu, explained during the maiden edition of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) National Aviation Conference (FNAC) held recently in Abuja that the equipment would further enhance safety of humans and equipment in the industry and ensure accuracy in information dissemination. Matazu in the paper, ‘Enhancing Aviation Safety for Sustainable Development: The Role of NiMET,’ said that the same automatic message dissemination platforms would be procured for Sokoto and Katsina airports in the coming months. According to Matazu, NiMET also has upper air stations at Abuja, Enugu, Lagos, Kano, Maiduguri, Jos, Calabar and Yola. He explained that the agency has also procured and installed 10 NiMet-Earth network lightening detecting and Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) stations in Abuja, Lagos, Benin, Sokoto, Kano, Maiduguri, Ilorin, Yola, Enugu and Port Harcourt airports. AWOS is a fully configuration airport weather system that provides continuous, real time information and reports on airport weather conditions. NiMET, he explained further, has six radar stations in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Yola, Maiduguri, Kano and Lagos airports. “Prevention of weather occurrences is beyond human’s technological thrust. It took scientists and industry experts a great deal of effort over many years to understand the complexity of many weather phenomenonslike windshear and others. Early warning and detection mechanisms have proven to be the only dependable solution to the hazards of weather and climate. “In NiMet we work round the clock to provide continuous weather information. This weather information is perishable and must be consumed at the right time. We therefore encourage all our stakeholders, especially pilots and the flying crews to take advantage of our products and services and ensure safety of lives and property at

our airports and en-route destinations,” the director general said. He also appealed to stakeholders in every spheres of the economy, especially aviation to take advantage of the agency’s mobile app and website for regular information on seasonal climate predictions, maintaining that this would go a long way to save unnecessary losses. He explained that NiMet had moved from just generating forecasts to producing forecasts with implications. “Our clients and stakeholders are not only foretold but also forewarned of likely impacts of the predicted weather and climate events. In aviation, weather and climate information provides a safe and safe way of executing our activities in order to minimise risks, save lives and avert losses,” he added. In order to reduce the risk of negative weather phenomenon like low level windshear system and other possible moving weather system, NiMETinstalled critical equipment, which are very sensitive and capital intensive like Doppler radar system, Runway Visual Range (RVR) across all our 24 airports and specifically for the four major airports, we have independent weather forecast offices. “Some of these instruments have sensors installed in them, even at airports that have perimeter fences, we have very serious challenges of vandalisation and I will give an example of this. Low Level WindshearAlert System (LLWAS) has eight sensors, if more than three are down, it will not give a clear picture of the windshear and this is a major hazard to aircraft either landing or taking off. “But, we came up with a model of integrating communities around in securing some of these installations and I can tell you since I came onboard, I instituted a task team on airport operations and parts of the task team, we have our safety officers who now engage the neighbouringhosting communities, involving them in securing the equipment. We provide them with some incentives and welfare to communities to help us to do that,” he said. He also explained that NiMET came up with an alternative method of monitoring and forecasting these windshear without using a sensor;rather, it uses a Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) system. “Since I came onboard, we have spent a lot of money in upgrading our Numerical Weather Prediction Department with the assistance of Weather Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and out of these, we have what is called Satellite Milecasting Facility and this milecasting is giving us a diagnostic analysis any cloud over Nigeria and we believe we can detect also the possibility of potential of any airport of being affected by windshear. “So, we are complementing these two and it is giving us a very clear result. In the first phase, we are earmarking 10 airports and out of the 10 airports, three have been addressed now and we are doing the other two in the next two weeks. We intend to cover the 10 airports before the end of the year and by the first quarter of next year; we are going to address the remaining airports,” he said.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

Recovery, Profitability of Airlines Post COVID-19 Recovering from COVID-19 economic meltdown to the struggle with high price of aviation fuel due to the Ukrainian war, the International Air Transport Association, has expressed hope that the desire to travel and the removal of last travel restrictions will propel airlines to bounce back to profitability, writes Chinedu Eze

t the unveiling of the 78th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit on Monday in Doha, Qatar, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said the measures put in place by airlines and governments would speed up the recovery of the air transport sector and make airlines profitable again, after the devastating effect of COVID-19 pandemic and the current impediment, the Ukrainian-Russian war, which has led to the spiral of oil prices in the international market. In projecting its outlook for the airline industry in 2022 financial performance, IATA stated that the industry losses are expected to reduce to -$9.7 billion (improved from the October 2021 forecast for an $11.6 billion loss) for a net loss margin of -1.2 per cent, which is a huge improvement from losses of $137.7 billion (-36.0 per cent net margin) in 2020 and $42.1 billion (-8.3 per cent net margin) in 2021. Industry-wide profitability in 2023 appears within reach with North America already expected to deliver an $8.8 billion profit in 2022, adding that efficiency gains and improving yields are helping airlines to reduce losses even with rising labor and fuel costs (the latter driven by over 40 per cent increase in the world oil price and a widening crack spread this year). IATA also said that industry optimism and commitment to emissions reductions are evident in the expected net delivery of over 1,200 aircraft in 2022, noting that strong pent-up demand, the lifting of travel restrictions in most markets, low unemployment in most countries, and expanded personal savings are fueling a resurgence in demand that would see passenger numbers reach 83 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in 2022. It noted that despite economic challenges, cargo volumes are expected to set a record high of 68.4 million tonnes in 2022. “Airlines are resilient. People are flying in ever greater numbers. And cargo is performing well against a backdrop of growing economic uncertainty. Losses will be cut to $9.7 billion this year and profitability is on the horizon for 2023. It is a time for optimism, even if there are still challenges on costs, particularly fuel, and some lingering restrictions in a few key markets,” said IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh.

AIRLINES’ PROGRESS

IATA said airlines’ revenues are rising as COVID-19 restrictions ease and people return to travel, stating that the challenge for 2022 is to keep costs under control. “The reduction in losses is the result of hard work to keep costs under control as the industry ramps up. The improvement in the financial outlook comes from holding costs to a 44 per cent increase while revenues increased 55 per cent. As the industry returns to more normal levels of production and with high fuel costs likely to stay for a while, profitability will depend on continued cost control. And that encompasses the value chain. Our suppliers, including airports and air navigation service providers, need to be as focused

on controlling costs as their customers to support the industry’s recovery,” said Walsh. IATA disclosed that Industry revenues are expected to reach $782 billion (+54.5 per cent in 2021), 93.3 per cent of 2019 levels. Flights operated in 2022 are expected to total 33.8 million, which is 86.9 per cent of 2019 levels (38.9 million flights). “Passenger revenues are expected to account for $498 billion of industry revenues, more than double the $239 billion generated in 2021. Scheduled passenger numbers are expected to reach 3.8 billion, with revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) growing 97.6 per cent compared with 2021, reaching 82.4 per cent of 2019 traffic. As pent-up demand is released with the easing of travel restrictions, yields are expected to rise 5.6 per cent. That follows a yield evolution of -9.1 percent in 2020 and +3.8 percent in 2021,” Walsh added. IATA said that cargo revenue is expected to account for $191 billion of industry revenues. That is down slightly from the $204 billion recorded in 2021, but nearly double the $100 billion achieved in 2019. Overall, the industry is expected to carry over 68 million tonnes of cargo in 2022, which is a record high. As the trading environment softens slightly, cargo yields are expected to fall 10.4 per cent compared with 2021. That only partially reverses the yield increases of 52.5 per cent in 2020 and 24.2 per cent in 2021.

EXPENSES

According to IATA, overall expenses are expected to rise to $796 billion. That is a 44 per cent increase on 2021, which reflects both the costs of supporting larger operations and the cost of inflation in some key items. These include fuel: At $192 billion, fuel is the industry’s largest cost item in 2022 (24 per cent of overall costs, up from 19 per cent in 2021). This is based on an expected average price for Brent crude of $101.2/barrel and $125.5 for jet kerosene. Airlines are expected to consume 321billion liters of fuel in 2022 compared with the 359 billion liters consumed in 2019. “War in Ukraine is keeping prices for Brent crude oil high. Nonetheless, fuel will account for about a quarter of costs in 2022. A particular feature of this year’s fuel market is the high spread between crude and jet fuel prices. This jet crack spread remains well above historical norms, mostly owing to capacity constraints at refineries. Under-investments in this area could mean that the spread remains elevated into 2023. At the same time, high oil and fuel prices are likely to see airlines improve their fuel efficiency—both through the use of more efficient aircraft and through operational decisions,” Walsh said. IATA said labour is the second highest operational cost item for airlines, noting that direct employment in the sector is expected to reach 2.7 million, up 4.3

per cent on 2021 as the industry rebuilds from the significant decline in activity in 2020. Employment is still, however, somewhat below the 2.93 million jobs in 2019 and is expected to remain below this level for some time. Unit labor costs are expected to be 12.2-cents/available tonne kilometer (ATK) in 2022, which is essentially backto 2019 levels when it was 12.3 cents/ATK. IATA also said the time required to recruit, train, complete security / background checks, and perform other necessary processes before staff are “job-ready” is presenting a challenge for the industry in 2022, remarking that in some cases, employment delays may act as a constraint on an airline’s ability to meet passenger demand. “In countries where the economic recovery from the pandemic has been swift and the unemployment rate is low, tight labor markets and skill shortages are likely to contribute to upward pressure on wages. The industry’s wage bill is expected to reach $173 billion in 2022, up 7.9 per cent in 2021, and disproportionate to the 4.3 per cent increase in total jobs.”

OTHER FACTORS

IATA observed that the global macroeconomic backdrop is critical for the industry outlook, stating that the forecast incorporates an assumption for solid global GDP growth of 3.4 per cent in 2022, down from the strong 5.8 per cent rebound last year. It disclosed that inflation has risen and is expected to remain elevated throughout 2022, waning over the course of 2023, adding that while nominal interest rates are rising, real interest rates are expected to remain low or negative for a sustained period.

CHALLENGES

IATA identified challenges that might mar the projections, which include war in Ukraine, saying, “The impact of the war in Ukraine on aviation pales compared with the unfolding humanitarian tragedy. The outlook assumes that the war in Ukraine will not escalate beyond its borders. Among the many negative impacts of an escalation for aviation, rising fuel costs and a dampening demand due to lowered consumer sentiment would be paramount. This would also affect passenger throughput, as IATA said that combined, the Russian international market, Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova accounted for 2.3 per cent of global traffic in 2021. In addition, about 7 per cent of international passenger traffic (RPK) would normally transit Russian airspace (2021 data), which is now closed to many operators, mostly on long-haul routes between Asia and Europe or North America, adding that there are significantly higher costs for re-routing for those carriers affected.

In the area of cargo, IATA said that just under 1 per cent of global freight traffic originated in or is transited through Russia and Ukraine, noting that the greater impact is in the specialised area of heavy-weight cargo where Russia and Ukraine are the market leaders, and the corresponding capacity loss would be difficult to replace, adding that about 19 per cent of international cargo shipments (CTKs) transits through Russian airspace (2021 data), remarking that carriers impacted by sanctions face higher costs for re-routing.

INFLATION AND EXCHANGE RATE

IATA frowned at the fact that interest rates are rising as central banks combat inflation. “Aside from those carrying debt (who will see inflation devaluing their debts), inflation is harmful and has the economic dampening effect of a tax by reducing purchasing power. There is downside risk to this outlook should inflation continue to rise, and central banks continue to hike interest rates. “Moreover, the record strength of the US dollar, if it continues, will have a negative impact as a strong US dollar is growth dampening in general. It increases the local-currency price of all USD-denominated debt, and adds to the burden of paying for USDdenominated fuel imports as well,” IATA stated.

RESPONSE TO COVID-19

IATA said that the underlying demand for travel is strong, but government responses to COVID-19 tended to ignore World Health Organisation advice that border closures are not an effective means of controlling the spread of a virus. The outlook assumes that strong and growing population immunity to COVID-19 means there will not be a repeat of these policy mistakes. There is, however, downside risk should governments return to knee-jerk border-closing responses to future outbreaks. “Governments must have learned their lessons from the COVID-19 crisis. Border closures create economic pain but deliver little in terms of controlling the spread of the virus. With high levels of population immunity, advanced treatment methods, and surveillance procedures, the risks of COVID-19 can be managed. At present, there are no circumstances where the human and economic costs of further COVID-19 border closures could be justified,” said Walsh. IATA also noted that China’s domestic market alone accounted for about 10 per cent of global traffic in 2019. This outlook assumes a gradual easing of COVID-19 restrictions in the second half of 2022. An earlier move away from China’s zero COVID policy would, of course, improve the outlook for the industry. “A prolonged implementation of the COVID-19 policy will continue to depress the world’s second largest domestic market and wreak havoc with global supply chains,” IATA noted.

UNIDO TARGETS 75 NIGERIAN INDUSTRIES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY increase profitability, operate at international best standards, comply with regulations and maintain improved relationship with policy makers.” Furthermore, he said a pilot financing RECP-IEE scheme would be executed through the Bank of Industry (BoI) of Nigeria and issue around ISO 50000 and 14001 would be executed through the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). The Chief Risk Officer of BoI, Mr.

Ezekiel Oseni, noted that availability of energy was one of the major challenges facing manufacturers in Nigeria and hoped that the IEE will help to lower their cost of production, “and have positive multiplier effects across the value chain. It would also help in promoting cleaner environment in line with SDGs.” The Director General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, in his welcome address during the

workshop, specifically appreciated the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and UNIDO for initiating the entire project that would support the solution of energy challenges in the country. Ajayi-Kadir, who was represented by Director, Corporate Services Division of MAN, Mr. Ambrose Oruche, said the GEF-UNIDO IEE and RECP project would provide a credible energy platform that Nigerian industries could explore to narrow

the energy gap in the country. He said: “Unfortunately, the Nigerian industrial sector has suffered very limited energy supply at exorbitant cost; notwithstanding the implications on competitiveness.” The Representative of the IEE Working Group at the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mr. Oluwayemi Fabiyi, said, during the workshop that it is important to note that Nigeria greatly needs

to improve its energy efficiency, especially for the industries. Fabiyi said: “Competitive/ efficient use of obtainable energy not only makes power more available for consumption it also helps to minimise and avoid environmental pollution mitigate climate change and increase productivity.” He said the project was slated to commence in 2020 but due to COVID pandemic and restriction it fully commenced in mid-2021.

The Deputy Director and Group Head, Electrical Electronics of SON, Mr. Alewu Cherry Achema, who was represented by Mr. Timi Michael, charged stakeholders “to embrace these concepts so that policies and guidelines that encourage energy efficiency can be developed and implemented,” adding that “incentives are being planned towards encouraging many companies in Nigeria to buy into these initiatives.”

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Need for Transparency, Accountability in Nigeria’s Extractive Sector With the passing of the Petroleum Industry Bill into law barely a year ago, the need for speed, transparency and accountability in the implementation process of the act in the Nigerian Extractive Sector was the major concern of stakeholders present at the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) consultative forum of ‘Legal Framework Review in Extractive Sector,’ organised on by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in Lagos State. Sunday Ehigiator reports

n August 16, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) 2021 into law, providing a legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian petroleum industry, the development of host communities, and related matters. Further to this, the Presidency approved a nine-member steering committee to ensure the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) with an implementation structure comprising a steering committee and an implementation working group, and a coordinating secretariat. While steering committee had the job of effective and timely implementation of the law in the course of transition to the new petroleum industry envisaged in the reform program and ensuring that the new institutions created have the full capability to deliver on their mandate under the new legislation, the implementation working group and coordinating secretariat had the onerous task of developing the briefs (including model contracts and regulations) that would be presented to the steering committee for consideration and approval within a 12-month duration. The Act is expected to promote transparency and accountability in extractive sector governance, eliminate regulatory/legal hurdles, attract critical investments, unlock financial resources, accelerate local content development, and enhance employment, among other opportunities. However, to unlock and maximise the potential of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), there is a need for the political will for a consistent implementation of the provisions of the law and continuous engagement and consultations with all stakeholders for the unflinching support necessary for the success of the law. Commendably, recent steps have been made towards fulfilling the statutory prescription in the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry through the consultative forum for regulations held in April 2022, as a critical milestone in the implementation of the PIA. Worried that the implementation has been foot dragging, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the national chapter of Transparency International in Nigeria, on behalf of the Accountability in Extractive Sector (AES) Cluster within the framework of the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project being implemented by Palladium with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), recently convened a forum in Lagos to ascertain progress in the PIA implementation process; identify possible factors, actions and inactions that have contributed to delays; and to contribute to the advancement of the effective implementation in the extractive sector. The forum which harnessed necessary inputs from various stakeholders provided a review and further clarification for six draft regulations to harness necessary inputs to further clarify six draft

regulations including, the Nigerian upstream Fee and Rent Regulations, the Petroleum Licensing Round Regulations, the Domestic Gas Delivery Obligations Regulations, the Nigeria Conversion Regulations, and the Nigeria Royalty Regulations and the Nigeria Host Community Regulations, and the eventual firming up of the final regulations for use. Beyond this milestone achieved, it was the expressed hope of stakeholders at the SCALE consultative forum that deliberate efforts were made by the relevant government body to fast-track the implementation of the law in a manner that best achieves the PIA objectives in line with the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians whose lives will be impacted by the consequences of the decisions and actions of responsible state actors. Among participants at the consultative forum were Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and some members from host communities in attendance. In his opening remarks, CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Rafsanjani said the stakeholders considered the consultative forum important as a to remind the nation about an obligation of the government to make the PIA work for the benefit of the Nigerian people and to also ensure that the objectives of the act were fully complied with. According to him, “The other objective is to see that is supposed to benefit under this new act are taken care of and their entitlements fully implemented because that would go a long way in de-escalating tension, violence, and gross injustice that communities have continued to suffer as a result of the extractive activities. “A lot of these communities have been devastated and their means of livelihood destroyed. Therefore this act is an attempt to address and rewrite the wrongs and if there is a slow implementation, it would create the impression that some people do not want the status quo to change. Also, the sector needs a reform to be able to stamp out corruption in the sector.” Rafsanjani noted that with the new act, the stakeholders believe that a lot of lapses and opportunities for corruption and looting in the sector, including oil theft would have been sufficiently addressed. He said it will equally improve and increase the productivity and efficiency in the oil sector, as it was a shame that Nigeria, despite being an oil-producing country, yet suffers conditions far more terrible than those countries who don’t produce oil. “We want to see Nigeria utilizing the natural resources that God has given it. We cannot continue to have oil and our

communities being destroyed, with poverty on the increase in the land, and yet, we keep subsidizing corruption.” Rafsanjani said subsidy was a complete corruption that is still going on which Nigeria will suffer gravely from if it doesn’t discontinue its financing. “This is why CISLAC is working with relevant government agencies, especially the committee saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the PIA framework is implemented. “We also urge them to engage communities and other stakeholders, and the media in their activities so that Nigerians can appreciate what they are doing and understand their obvious challenges. “If there is no public engagement, Nigerians would still believe that it is the same old way of doing things. Hence they need to intensify the process and also engage all relevant stakeholders in the industry especially the host communities so that Nigerians can see how much progress is being achieved with this law. “It’s not just enough to have the law. Yes, we struggled for it for 20 years, but we cannot afford to have a dormant law.” He, therefore, commended the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) for the good job it was doing. According to him, it was through NEITI that CSOs were able to know how many companies are paying taxes. He said that it was also through NEITI’s records that many companies avoiding tax payments were revealed. “We can know that so much was going on in the extractive sector and more transparency has been created through NEITI records. “The natural resources are supposed to help in providing more blessings for our country. But due to corruption, natural resources have become a ‘curse’ to our country. This is not good, especially as Nigeria has marked five decades of exploration and this oil has not helped in addressing poverty. “It has not helped in improving or creating more industries or infrastructure that we are supposed to use as seen in other countries where oil has brought development. In our own country, it has brought more misery; it has exposed more people to corruption. It has also institutionalised laziness” he said. Speaking on the expectations of host communities from the implementation of the PIA, representative of HRM Oduosa of the Utagba-Ogbe Kingdom, Delta State Nigeria, High Chief, Dennis Ejechi expressed concerns on the impact of the activities of oil companies on neighbouring communities to host communities, which according to him were not given recognition in the PIA. He likewise expressed concerns about the environmental effect of gas flaring, transparency and competence of auditors in charge of the Oil Company’s account,

and how to rightfully determine the 3 per cent ascribed to be paid to host communities by the oil companies as recommended by the PIA, and the company’s compliance level to the dictates of the PIA. Giving assurances to the host communities and other stakeholders at the forum on the effectiveness of the implementation to cover every concern, while also providing stakeholders with an update on the PIA implementation process on behalf of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), NUPRC Executive Commissioner, Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning, Dr. Kelechi Ofoegbu revealed that draft model licenses, licensing conditions and model contracts for the PIA implementation have been finalized and presented to the industry for input He equally revealed that the Petroleum Prospecting Licenses (PPLs) are scheduled to be presented to the successful awardees from the Marginal Fields Bid Round 2020 on 28 June 2022, even as Host Community Development Trust Regulations will also be unveiled on that date to give guidance to Operators. On delineation of acreage, he said discussions were ongoing with the industry operators, and sizing was being done to comply with the PIA 2021 requirement of a grid system based on the Universal Traverse Mercator. “Delineation is a necessary precursor to the issuance of PPLs and PMLs as prescribed by the PIA 2021,” he noted. Speaking on the role of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in the implementation of the PIA, Technical Assistant to the Executive Chairman FIRS, Femi Olarinde, said FIRS was responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of chapter 4 of the Act as it was related to taxes. He said FIRS was also saddled with the task of assessing and collecting hydrocarbon taxes, companies’ income tax, and education taxes from the oil and gas industry. “The commission is also to determine and collect royalties, signature bonus and related payments of production shares, profit oil from the upstream petroleum sector. “We are also the authority to determine and collect all related payments from downstream and midstream sectors of the industry including gas flare penalty. And all monies collected (taxes, royalties, profit oil, signature bonuses, etc) from the petroleum industry due to the government shall be timely transferred to the Federation account.” Earlier during her welcome address, Director of Finance and Administration, SCALE, Domini Madugu, said the consultation engagement was to help in the area of capacity building by CSOs in Nigeria. According to her, SCALE has the mandate to build the capacity of the CSOs in Nigeria so that they can push policy reforms in all sectors in the country. She said that SCALE had been working with 17 organisations of CSOs across the country.

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY JUNE 2022 Friday24, June 24, 2022 Vol 27. No 9938 TR

See page 24 OF NIGERIA OIL EXPORTS AND FUEL CRISIS The country must explore other avenues to make the economy viable, argues FELIX OLADEJI See page 24 WHAT HAVE FATHERS INVENTED? Our students should be modelled after successful men, writes OKELLO OCULI See page 25

DAY OF THE SEAFARERS OBIAGELI CHUMA-UGBO celebrates Nigerian seafarers on their international day See page 25

EDITORIAL RISING CASES OF SUDDEN DEATH

See page 26

& RE A S O

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

ANAMBRA, SOLUDO AND SECURITY CHALLENGES PAT ONUKWULI canvasses transparency in security operations

UT H

The questionable nomination of the president of the Senate and the former Senate minority leader is unlawful, writes BOLAJI ADEBIYI

WOBBLING ADAMU, AKPABIO AND LAWAN A few days ago, Abdullahi Adamu, the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, met with his party’s caucus in the National Assembly and expressed worries about the haemorrhaging in the federal legislature. His worries were real. Since the conclusion of the primaries earlier in the month, many of the APC legislators, including Yahaya Abdullahi, its leader of the Senate, have crossed the carpet in protest of what they called unfair treatment by the party hierarchy. While some of the legislators failed in their bid for return tickets, others lost their aspirations to pick up the ticket for the governorship. The problem was not just that they lost out, many of them complained about the manipulation of the nomination process by the party hierarchy, which they claimed tilted victory in favour of their opponents. It would be easy to accuse them of an entitlement mentality. But in fairness to the complainants, ample evidence of underhand GHDOLQJV DERXQGV DQG $GDPX·V ÀQJHUV were seen everywhere. )RU LQVWDQFH LQ KLV HͿRUW WR LPSRVH D SUHVLGHQWLDO FDQGLGDWH RI KLV FKRLFH KH ÀUVW deterred the primaries’ processes, refusing to name the convention sub-committees till three days before the event. Even when the balance of forces forced him to so do, he made a last-minute gambit of announcing Ahmad Lawan, the president of the Senate, as the consensus candidate of the party to the National Working Committee, none of which over 20 other members he had consulted. Adamu, a lawyer, made the move in spite of the clear provision of Section 84 (9) of the Electoral Act 2022 which requires the written consent of all cleared contestants to support a consensus candidate. Perhaps, if other contestants, including Bola Tinubu, the eventual winner, did not have the capacity to resist, Adamu would have had his way. The fact of the matter though is that Tinubu might have successfully resisted the attempt to bully him, others in the lower rungs were not that well-resourced to challenge the leadership hence the exodus. Meanwhile, $GDPX·V ÀUH ÀJKWLQJ HͿRUWV DUH ERXQG WR be in vain not because it is coming late but because he has persisted in his manipulative tendencies. When he submitted the list of the party’s candidates at the close of nominations by the Independent National Electoral Commission, two names instantly became FRQWURYHUVLDO 7KH ÀUVW ZDV /DZDQ KLV favourite presidential aspirant. The other was Godswill Akpabio, the ubiquitous and voluble former minister of Niger Delta $ͿDLUV ZKR KDG DOVR SDUWLFLSDWHG LQ WKH presidential nomination run. None of them participated in the senatorial primaries that

LAWAN

ADAMU

AKPABIO were conducted before the presidential nomination convention. Again, Adamu in including the names of non-participants in the senatorial primaries RQ WKH OLVW RI FDQGLGDWHV RͿHQGHG WKH HOHFWRUDO law. Section 84(1) of the electoral law makes the holding of primaries for the purpose of QRPLQDWLQJ FDQGLGDWHV IRU HOHFWLYH R΀FHV FRPSXOVRU\ 7KH HͿHFW RI WKLV VHFWLRQ LV WKDW only persons nominated at validly convened primaries can be listed as a candidate of the party. At the time the senatorial primaries for Yobe North Senatorial District of the APC were held on 28th May 2022 Lawan was vigorously pursuing his presidential DPELWLRQ LQ $EXMD OHDYLQJ WKH ÀHOG IRU RQH Bashir Machina to clinch the ticket. Akpabio did the same thing and Ekpo Udom, a retired deputy inspector-general of police, picked up his Akwa Ibom North-west Senatorial district ticket. Faced with stout resistance from the

lawful holders of the party’s mandates, the APC hierarchy attempted a manipulative remedial measure, at least in the case of Akwa Ibom North-west Senatorial district. It, in a notice, dated 7th June 2022 and addressed to the state chairman of the party, by Iyiola Omisore, the national secretary, scheduled repeat primaries for 9th June 2022. That was the last date for all nomination primaries as set by INEC. The claim now is that Akpabio won that contest. If the party hierarchy thought it was being smart, it was dead wrong as it failed to take cognisance of the requirement of Sections 82 (1) of the law, which mandates parties to give a 21-day notice of a congress for the purpose of nominating a candidate for an elective R΀FH WR ,1(& $QG 6HFWLRQ PDNHV it mandatory for INEC to monitor such a congress. So, Omisore’s notice is defective on two counts, neither was it addressed to INEC nor was it in compliance with the 21 days requirement. These defects, according to Section 82 (5) made congress a nullity. Although the party leadership pretended to be complying with the law in the case of Akpabio, it was, however, blatant in the matter of Lawan, telling no one at which congress he was nominated. While INEC had been clear that Akpabio would not be admitted into the senatorial race because of the obvious non-compliance with the law, it has yet to make a pronouncement on Lawan’s bid. The closest was a WhatsApp group commentary by Mohammed Haruna, a national commissioner of INEC, who argued that parties were entitled to nominate WKHLU FDQGLGDWHV ZLWKLQ D VSHFLÀF SHULRG RI time, and could make changes so long as they complied with the submission threshold. That, at best, was his personal opinion. Even at that, not a few commentators, particularly senior lawyers have dismissed his intervention as lacking clarity about the law. Under the law, substitution can only occur if a validly nominated candidate voluntarily withdraws in writing. If that happens, parties are to conduct fresh SULPDULHV WR ÀOO WKH YDFDQF\ VR FUHDWHG 7KLV did not happen in instant cases. Rather, the two original candidates are resisting their unlawful substitution. The days ahead would be interesting as INEC would be expected to make a categorical statement on the matter. Whichever way INEC goes, its persistent calls on political parties to obey rules, particularly LQ WKH FRQGXFW RI WKHLU LQWHUQDO DͿDLUV FDQQRW be overstated as Lawan and Akpabio engage in the impossibility of eating their cake and still having it. Adebiyi, the managing editor of THISDAY Newspapers, writes from bolaji.adebiyi@ thisdaylive.com

2 24

T H I S D AY

FRIDAY JUNE 24, 2022

The country must explore other avenues to make the economy viable, argues FELIX OLADEJI PAT ONUKWULI canvasses transparency in security operations

ANAMBRA, SOLUDO AND SECURITY CHALLENGES Anambra State, like many states in Nigeria today, has been enmeshed in serious security challenges. Since the middle of 2021, there has been an increase in protests and demonstrations in Southeast Nigeria part of which was the Mondays “Sit at Home” protests coupled with several attacks and targeted killings, especially of law enforcement personnel. Hoodlums and criminal elements described as “unknown gunmen” have continued to wreak havoc in Anambra and its environs. These marauders have been burning down public buildings, killing, maiming, and thoughtlessly kidnapping scores of innocent citizens. The height being the gruesome murder and beheading

of Hon. Okechukwu Okoye, member representing Aguata II State Constituency in Anambra State House of Assembly. Number one priority of any government should be security. Security includes protection of societal fabric, and safety of citizens’ lives and property. The state should protect people against malicious threats and guarantee a secure environment. Security LV FULWLFDO EHFDXVH LW DͿHFWV DOO DVSHFWV RI economic and social development. Security is a sine-qua-non to the realisation of human rights. Peace and security are often used to imply a synergy or complementary condition that is absent, when violence DQG FRQÁLFW SHUYDGH D VRFLHW\ $FFRUGLQJ to the revered Nelson Mandela, safety and security do not just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. Accordingly, quality of security provided is a deliberate choice by the state. Prof. Chukwuma Soludo at his inauguration as Governor on March 17, 2022, pledged that eradicating insecurity in Anambra was going to be top priority of his government. Towards the realisation of this, he made moves to settle warring factions, RͿHUHG DPQHVW\ WR UHSHQWDQW SURVFULEHG Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) PHPEHUV DQG PDGH RͿHUV WR XQLWH DOO stakeholders to foster developments. He went on to declare full-scale battle against the so-called unknown gunmen and other criminal elements. He put together a Joint Security Taskforce comprising the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), and local Vigilantes to rid the state of these undesirable elements. These security measures put in place by his administration have been recording some

measures of success, especially within Anambra South Senatorial Zone where there is dusk to dawn restrictions in most Local Government Areas. Several nefarious camps within the area alleged to be belonging to these killers are said to have been destroyed. $QDPEUD 3ROLFH 3XEOLF 5HODWLRQV 2΀FHU DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, recently in an interview said that the Joint Security Task force is making rapid progress. According to him about nine shrines used by these gunmen and arsonists to force natives into oath taking have also been destroyed and such natives, who act as informants to the gunmen under police custody. Ostensibly, in the face of, these successes recorded by the Joint Security Taskforce, LW ZRXOG EH GL΀FXOW WR FULWLFLVH WKHLU operations. However, restoration of peace and security should not be an end in itself, rather a means to an end. There must be due process and ethical rules of engagement. Operations of these security agencies must be transparent. Any case of extra-judicial killing must be investigated, and appropriate punishment meted out to any perpetrator no matter how highly placed. This is the only way to safeguard SXEOLF FRQÀGHQFH LQ WKHLU RSHUDWLRQV These agencies must adopt security delivery by consent. They should derive WKHLU OHJLWLPDF\ WKURXJK SXEOLF FRQÀGHQFH rather than sheer brute force. Well-meaning individuals and citizens should only be frightened of hoodlums and not security taskforces created by the state and funded by taxpayers’ money. If the government and its security agencies cannot be criticised for avoidable deaths then, what is the point of democracy? The pains and anger resulting from the extra-judicial killing of RQH 8FKHQQD 8GRK $NDQND LQ $EDWHWH on Monday June 20, 2022, by members of the Anambra State Joint Security Taskforce based at Ogidi is still very palpable in Abatete community. It was said that the \RXQJ 8GR ZDV GUHVVHG LQ EODFN DWWLUH DQG looked like an unknown gunman. He was chased by the members of the Taskforce and he ran for almost half a kilometer for his dear life. He was said to have run into someone’s premises and lay prostrate before the security team caught up with him and fatally shot him. This has since provoked anger and pain in his friends, family, compatriots and indeed any person with a feel of humanity. The question is why fatally shoot an unarmed person, who is already lying prostrate? Is the Joint Security Taskforce’s modus operandi shoot to kill or shoot to maim or shoot to put out of action? This also raises concern about the training, doctrine and professionalism of members of the Joint Security Taskforce. Indeed, Soludo should hear about this and take necessary action to restore the damaged faith and FRQÀGHQFH RI V\PSDWKLVHUV DQG ZHOO wishers. There should also be propitiation and compensation for this singular killing. It is still early in the day for Soludo, as his administration would mark only 100 days LQ R΀FH E\ 6DWXUGD\ -XQH Dr. Onukwuli writes from patonukwuli2003@yahoo.co.uk

OF NIGERIA OIL EXPORTS AND FUEL CRISIS There has been an increasing call for fuel subsidy reforms globally as policy-makers have expressed concerns regarding the H΀FDF\ RI VXFK SURJUDPPHV DV ZHOO DV LWV LPSOLFDWLRQV IRU ÀVFDO VXVWDLQDELOLW\ Oil plays important roles in the Nigerian economy, contributing about a third of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the 1980s and 1990s. Although its share of the economy has waned in the subsequent decades due to declining oil prices and the changing structure of the economy, the oil and gas sector still accounts for about 11.2 per cent of the GDP in the current decade. Also, the contribution of oil to government revenue has remained quite high, increasing from 70.2 per cent during the 1980s to about 80.0 per cent in the last decade. In terms of trade, oil accounts for about 93.1 per cent of exports and 24.4 per cent of imports during the period 2010-2018. Against this backdrop, several research have investigated the macroeconomic impacts of oil price shocks on the Nigerian HFRQRP\ $PRQJVW RWKHU HͿHFWV LW KDV been shown that oil price shocks generate VLJQLÀFDQW LPSOLFDWLRQV IRU RXWSXW SULFHV exchange rate, government revenues, interest rates and external reserves. However, there are several challenges facing the Nigerian oil and gas industry. 7KHVH FKDOOHQJHV PD\ EH GL΀FXOW WR VROYH without a change to the 1999 Constitution of the country. According to an overview of the petroleum industry bill (2009), some of the major elements of these challenges LQFOXGH HͿHFWLYH SURJUHVVLYH SHWUROHXP ÀVFDO V\VWHPV WKH RZQHUVKLS RI UHVRXUFHV and the exclusive rights of the Nigerian government to allow the exploration and development of petroleum resources in Nigeria, funding options for NOC and joint venture operations, an authentic indigenous participation in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, continual membership of Nigeria in OPEC and the rules of law and institutional empowerment. $Q HͿHFWLYH DQG VWDEOH ÀVFDO V\VWHP basically the Nigerian constitution is the principle that guides the development of underlying petroleum resource and the allocation of revenue generated from the extraction of minerals. Beyond this FRQVWLWXWLRQDO IRXQGDWLRQ WKH ÀVFDO WHUPV that govern some of the operational and production or revenue sharing aspects of SHWUROHXP ÀVFDO V\VWHPV LQ WKH FRXQWU\ are mainly predetermined via the national OHJLVODWLRQ +RZHYHU WKH QRQ ÀVFDO instruments are subject to negotiation; this is where some of the political uncertainties DQG ULVN FDQ EH TXDQWLÀHG 8QGRXEWHGO\ 1LJHULD·V SHWUROHXP ÀVFDO DJUHHPHQWV 3)$ is good enough to improve the country’s economy to a maximum potential. However, it is suggested that the type of contract provided is not as essential as the terms negotiated and the design of the contract. Authentic Indigenous Participation Issue: several policies have been implemented since the inception of the oil industry. The purpose of these policies is to accomplish an increase of home participation in the oil business. Over the years, oil blocks have been awarded WR LQGLJHQRXV ÀUPV EXW TXLWH D IHZ RI WKHVH ÀUPV DUH DXWKHQWLF $OVR WKH LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ of the local content development policy may

be argued to be irrelevant. This is due to the unavailability of technical expertise, KXPDQ VNLOOV DQG LQDGHTXDWH ÀQDQFLDO intermediation. Resource Ownership and Control: the exclusive ownership of oil resources by the federal government in Nigeria may create ‘undue leakages in the economy’. This exclusive ownership has also LQFUHDVHG FRUUXSWLRQ WKH LQH΀FLHQF\ LQ petroleum block allocation mechanisms, and limited transparency. The meaningful impact of petroleum taxation policies cannot be felt in petroleum producing regions in a sustainable way due to the

existing rule of resource ownership. This is considered to be an underlying factor ZKLFK SHUSHWXDWHV FRQÁLFW RI LQWHUHVWV among stakeholders in the Niger Delta region. This has also resulted in several damages to Nigeria’s economy. Institutional and Human Capital Development: there are allegations that there are inadequately skilled oil and gas professionals in the international community of the oil and gas industry. 7KLV KDV EHHQ WKH UHDVRQ IRU WKH ÁRRGLQJ of foreign petroleum professionals and contractors into the country. Petroleum policy, the petroleum policy formulation process by the National Assembly is another challenge to the oil industry. There is also inadequate human capacity and infrastructure to independently evaluate the policy acts that govern the oil and gas sector. Funding options for the National oil company, there is substantial funding requirements for JVA operations from the Nigerian government. The government spent about $3.7 billion on the JVA upstream investments from the year 2002 to 2006. The estimated projected annual funding needs for JV operations ranges between $11 billion and $13 billion from the year 2007 to 201l. This evidence strongly suggests that the national government has received enough revenue above its original investment. /RZ RLO SULFHV DUH OLNHO\ WR VLJQLÀFDQWO\ LQÁXHQFH WKH RFFXUUHQFH RI LQÁDWLRQ LQ RLO producing countries. If the decline in oil prices is largely driven by supply factors, it is estimated that a 45% decrease in oil prices will increase global GDP by 0.7 to 0.8% in the medium term. Oladeji writes from Lagos

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY JUNE 24, 2022

OBIAGELI CHUMA-UGBO celebrates Nigerian seafarers on their international day Our students should be modelled after successful men, writes OKELLO OCULI

WHAT HAVE FATHERS INVENTED? The United States of America has had two presidents who shared limited experiences of grooming by FATHERS. Bill Clinton’s father drowned. His mother was pregnant with him. Baby Clinton missed being cuddled by a father; and looks into each other’s eyes. The drunken man who married his widowed mother missed shooting Clinton totally dead by a narrowness engineered by Guardian Angels. Barack Obama last saw his Kenyan father when older Obama visited Hawaii. He was a doctoral student of Economics at Harvard University. That training would get him murdered for opposing the government of President Daniel arap Moi borrowing a

Political parties could recruit students as campaign workers at local, state and federal levels with the National Orientation Agency and INEC as facilitating and funding agencies World Bank loan. His son would never see him again. He graduated from Harvard Law School. The lad spent teenage years without clapping eyes and mouths with his father. Perhaps the absence of their fathers helped them get to the presidency of America. Their fathers ‘INVENTED’ paternal absence and approval probably drove both men to long and struggle for the highest paternal approval: roars by American people in moments of their political adulation. More concrete factors were INVENTIONS by visionary men and interventions by strong women in their lives. Obama had a mother who was determined to have her son walk on the Harvard. She would wake the little boy at Indonesia’s tropical predawn to pump lessons into his sleepy head to ensure that he would cross over barriers to top American colleges. In later life a strong Black woman political activist led him over roadblocks into attitudes of defeat nurtured into poor African-Americans by White racism. Like Black boys in HAWAI who beat White middle class culture out of him on the rough tackles of games of Basketball, this streetwise woman mistress of Black slum culture beat out of him Harvard’s ways of thinking and social relations. Clinton’s grandmother insisted on his school grades ensuring his inclusion among boys that simulated sessions of Congress. As a School ‘SENATOR’ he travelled to Washington DC and became DWWDFKHG WR 6HQDWRU )XOEULJKW·V 2΀FH His fatherly invention of a demand that Clinton read scores of daily newspapers, and select relevant items, gave Clinton wide knowledge of American and international DͿDLUV )RU D ODG IURP D EDFNZDUG 6WDWH WKDW knowledge later gave him easy passage into a prestigious college in Washington, DC. The men who invented this leadership

breeding scheme were Clinton’s surrogate fathers. The men who invented the Harvard Law Review and the prestige attached to being its editor, were surrogate fathers of Barack Obama These American models are worth considering for possible adaptation. The ‘’NOT TOO YOUNG TO GOVERN’ law could examine the research-based policy development and presentation in ‘’MOCK OAU SUMMIT’ at Ahmadu Bello University; and ‘SIMULATION OF AN ASSEMBLY OF THE AFRICAN UNION’ by GIRL PRESIDENTS of PAN-AFRICA CLUB at ANGLICAN GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL, in Abuja. Attachment of students to Senators is a good candidate. America’s founding leaders linked democratic politics to the level of information available to legislators and citizens. Accordingly, the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS was invented. In 2012 it had the largest collection of books, with 34,538,878. Houston Public Library which was ranked at number 100 among ‘’the Nation’s Largest Libraries’’, held 3,061,773 volumes. In Nigeria the ‘’National Library has only 27 branches serving a largely illiterate population with ‘’poor reading habits’’; employing ‘’inadequate and QRQ SURJUHVVLYH·· VWDͿ ZRUNLQJ ZLWK ‘’dilapidated facilities’’, and poor funding. The data on the total number of volumes held in these branches is not available. Political parties could recruit students as campaign workers at local, state and federal levels with the National Orientation Agency and INEC as facilitating and funding agencies. )HDUV E\ FRORQLDO R΀FLDOV RI FRPPXQLW\ groups for enforcing moral codes; organising collective farming activities; initiating male and female age-groups into DGXOWKRRG KDYH EHHQ UHSODFHG E\ R΀FLDO LQGLͿHUHQFH DQG ODFN RI LPDJLQDWLRQ Political opportunists have adopted them into armed thugs for rigging elections; trading in illegal drugs; kidnapping persons to extort money as ransom, and killing villagers to drive them from land rich in minerals, including: diamond, gold, oil and fertile soils These are not inventions for developing civic virtues in youths. Nigeria and Tanzania invented NATIONAL SERVICE Schemes for graduates of Tertiary education. The African Union should consider implementing the wider vision of participants from each Member State converging in EACH STATE, thereby constituting a ‘Trans-Africa Guest SERVING Unit’. On 18th June, 2022, ‘GIRL PRESIDENTS’ of African Countries presented a SIMULATION of an ASSEMBLY of the African Union in celebration of Africa Day; post-humours honouring of two creative PAN-AFRICANISTS: Dr. Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem and Professor Abubakar Momoh. Ambassador JOE KESHI (rtd), a distinguished Nigerian diplomat, and father ÀJXUH SUDLVHG WKH *,5/ 35(6,'(176 DV DQ invention that is heart-lifting energy against Nigeria’s season of parasitic imports, violence and gloom. Prof Oculi ZULWHV IURP $EXMD

DAY OF THE SEAFARERS Another 25th of June has come! This is a day no one in the world should forget but somehow the day is still slipping under the radar. This special day has been dedicated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to celebrate every seafarer in the world, in fact the day has been set to make HYHU\RQH LQ WKLV ÀHOG IHHO WUXO\ VSHFLDO The 2022 Day of The Seafarers (DoTs) RͿHUV XV DQRWKHU RSSRUWXQLW\ WR EHDP our searchlight on the activities of these special people who help us connect all the dots in our maritime activities. This year’s theme “your voyage-then and now, share your journey” focuses on the challenges and progresses of seafaring profession and how these people have been able to navigate through every obstacle they face to make us comfortable and make a living for themselves. According to the IMO, every seafarer LV GLͿHUHQW EXW WKH\ DOO IDFH VLPLODU challenges. The 2022 DoTs campaign with its theme focuses on the seafarers’ voyages, what it includes and how it has evolved over time and what remains at the hearts of seafarer’s reality. According to the United Nation’s maritime organ, this campaign gives seafarers a chance to share what resonates with them currently, whether it’s the crew change crisis being unresolved or the future technology. This year’s theme truly emphasizes that these gentlemen and ladies make a lot of VDFULÀFH IRU XV DURXQG WKH ZRUOG DQG LW further reinforces the need to protect these special beings as they sometimes pay the supreme price during the discharge of their duties. Which other profession would have been super active during the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe? As a matter of fact seafarers became strained during these period more than ever as number of countries including Nigeria came up with so many policies to protect them, knowing their importance in the logistics chain in other to provide Covid 19 vaccines and palliatives across the globe. What goes through their minds while navigating deadly storms is what no one can phantom but being friends with some of them and having the opportunity of few of my seafarer friends share their personal experience makes me feel these should be the highest paying job in the world. These are people who sometimes do not see their families more than twice in a year facing a lot of health challenges onboard which also includes depression and also being suicidal at times. Just imagine living in your workplace for three months with the attendant dangers they face just to make the world go round. It is true that every seafarer is unique, they face similar challenges but they also IDFH GLͿHUHQW FKDOOHQJHV DQG WKLV PDNHV the profession a unique one. This year’s celebration would create an opportunity for unveiling some of the challenges they face which sometimes go unreported or under reported as the power of the social media would be harnessed and they have been encouraged to take the advantage to upload their voyages in what I term the “good, bad and ugly” terms. Surely there DUH HQRUPRXV EHQHÀWV LQ EHLQJ D VHDIDUHU because of the unique opportunity of travelling round the globe, seafarers also earn in foreign currencies and most times payment is in line with international

standards except their uploads reveals otherwise which will be interesting to know but the ugly part of the uploads should be what the world should take QRWH RI DQG ÀQG ZD\V RI DGGUHVVLQJ WKHP It is important to state that Nigeria has never treated the issues relating to the welfare of seafarers with kid’s glove. A case in point still remains the era of the COVID-19 pandemic where various notices were issued to ameliorate their stress knowing fully well that crew changes within the period was a challenge and so the Dr. Bashir Jamoh-led Nigerian Maritime Administration and

Safety Agency (NIMASA) came up with so many notices to guide the operations of the seafarers in order to ensure no chain in the maritime industry is broken. Again to note what the NIMASA administration has been doing well in relations to seafarers development, the Jamoh-led administration has rejuvenated the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) programme to make it all encompassing by securing seatime berth for all cadets that had been enrolled for the programme in the best maritime institutions globally. It is worth saying that this had previously been the challenge of the programme before the Jamoh-led administration came on board. 7KH 1,0$6$ '*·V WLPH LQ R΀FH KDV witnessed the registration of 589 cadets with various Maritime Administration IRU &HUWLÀFDWH RI &RPSHWHQF\ &R& examination and another 234 Cadets are already assigned to various maritime training institutes in the process of boarding various vessels for sea time training. There is also the recruitment of 200 cadets into third phase of the programme termed NSDP Terra these potential seafarers are already settled in India and Greece. These are no mean feat and the headship of NIMASA should be commended for being dogged to ensure Nigeria becomes a world producer of seafarers just like The Philippines. According to Dr. Jamoh while talking about the NSDP terra “we have redesigned NSDP to cater for the previous gaps and every cadet enrolled in any school across the world would have the opportunity of seatime and so you can call this a total package”. Chuma-Ugbo LV D &KLHI 3XEOLF 5HODWLRQV 2΀FHU ZLWK 1LJHULDQ 0DULWLPH $GPLQLVWUDWLRQ 6DIHW\ $JHQF\

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T H I S D AY

FRIDAY JUNE 24, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

RISING CASES OF SUDDEN DEATH There is need to create awareness on causes of cardiac arrest

he death last week of veteran journalist and Head of Human Security and Civil Society at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Raheemat Momodu has once again raised the issue of rising number of Nigerians who suddenly die without explanation. Momodu was said to be attending a meeting when she slumped and was rushed to the hospital. But she never made it. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. While there may be QR DFFXUDWH ÀJXUHV WKH JURZLQJ UDWH RI XQH[SHFWHG natural deaths in Nigeria is worrying. We commiserate with the family of Momodu even as we ask the health authorities to pay more attention to this phenomenon in our country. In recent years, many young professionals and politicians have lost their lives to sudden death. The stories are the same: While engaged in a productive activity, they slump and die sometimes before they reach the hospital. And we hear of these cases only because the victims are prominent citizens. Several of such deaths are recorded across the country on daily basis. At a recent sensitisation SURJUDPPH RQ KHDOWK LVVXHV WKH R΀FH RI WKH +HDG RI the Civil Service of the Federation expressed worries over rising cases of stroke and fatalities, especially among civil servants in the country. But so many questions remain unaddressed: What are the causes of unexpected natural deaths, often called sudden death syndrome? What are the predisposing symptoms? Sudden death is said to occur when a clot suddenly FXWV RͿ WKH EORRG ÁRZ WKXV SUHYHQWLQJ R[\JHQ IURP getting to the heart. This ultimately results in the loss of heart muscle. Renowned cardiologist and Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) boss, Kingsley Akinroye, GHÀQHV VXGGHQ GHDWK DV DQ ´XQH[SHFWHG QDWXUDO GHDWK due to cardiovascular disease, which occurs within one hour of the onset of symptoms.” He said a major SURSRUWLRQ RI VXGGHQ GHDWK ´LV RI FDUGLDF KHDUW origin.”

The explanation chimes with that of another cardiologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba, Amam Mbakwem. According to the professor, the causes are majorly from cardiovascular disease: either a massive heart attack or abnormal electrical activities in the heart which could be either YHU\ IDVW FKDRWLF DQG LQHͿHFWLYH DEUXSW FHVVDWLRQ RI electrical activity. Meanwhile, research carried out in many of the country’s universities and beyond have also established that heart failure occurs more in males than in females, while the major cause of heart failure among young people is genetic. An autopsy review of sudden unexpected deaths in a suburban Nigerian population published recently in the journal, ‘Population Health Metrics’, revealed that cardiovascular, respiratory, central nervous system, and cancer-related causes were the major causes. The review further said that hypertension-related disorders ´FRQVWLWXWHG D ODUJH SURSRUWLRQ RI FDVHVµ HVSHFLDOO\ LQ people over 40 years, whereas infectious diseases are more common below this age. It argues that since majority of these deaths occur outside the hospital VHWWLQJ ´LW LV LPSHUDWLYH WKDW DSSURSULDWH SXEOLF KHDOWK strategies be developed to address these issues.” To address the increasing rate of Nigerians dying from this preventable disease, awareness about the condition needs to be promoted among Nigerians, particularly those in the age bracket of 15 – 45 years. Most experts believe that Nigerians should be more health conscious and do routine medical checks. A healthy lifestyle is also highly recommended. People DUH DGYLVHG WR HDW ULJKW UHGXFH H[FHVVLYH UHÀQHG VXJDU their salt and fat intake while increasing their vegetable and fruit intake. Besides, they must stop smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, reduce weight and exercise regularly. These are not foolproof measures, but they will surely help in reducing the scourge of sudden death that is assuming an epidemic proportion in Nigeria.

Most experts believe that Nigerians should be more health conscious and do routine medical checks. A healthy lifestyle is also highly recommended

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

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

Letters to the Editor

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LETTERS NIGERIANS AREN’T TAKING ELECTIONS SERIOUSLY As a binge watcher of presidential debates, I must have ZDWFKHG KXQGUHGV RI GLͿHUHQW GHEDWHV URXQG WKH ZRUOG DQG one really stood out for me. It was the Kennedy VS Nixon ÀUVW GHEDWH LQ WKH V ZKHUH .HQQHG\ DUWLFXODWHG KLV JRDO for Americans. A lot of people claim that, that debate won the elections for Kennedy because it was purely driven by the issues and he showed an understanding for the issues bedeviling America. Also the Abiola VS Tofa debate, leading up to the June 12, 93 elections in Nigeria clearly showed that Abiola understood the issues better than Tofa. It must be stated that politics apart from the theatrics, is about providing solutions to the issues on the minds of people. A leader that cannot provide solutions will never do well. I must reiterate my sadness at the current political season in Nigeria; for me I see clearly that both the electorate and the leaders are not concerned about the issues. I must repeat issue-based politics is the only politics that can bring results in Nigeria. Our country is currently inundated with massive insecurity and economic woes, our debt levels are rising and subsidies are destroying our means of livelihood. The subsidies that the government hitherto called a scam has now become the big elephant in the room. Our economic mismanagement has become a genocide to

our economic fortunes. Nigeria is struggling to stand but the shocking thing is that the followers don’t get it. Ask any supporter why do you support a candidate, they cannot tell you why, they will only say I like him. I once organized a focus group and I discovered that most Nigerians don’t even know the issues, so if we have an electorate that don’t know the issues how can we vote wisely? The candidates have resolved to play on the fact that the electorates are not aware of the issues. It has to be said they KDYH GHOLEHUDWHO\ WDNHQ WKH FDPSDLJQ RͿ LVVXHV EDVHG SROLtics to showmanship, watching the campaign season in Nigeria is like watching Big Brother Africa-it’s all drama. I write because I fear if we don’t bring the issues to the fore and debate about solutions we might not get the right candidate. Currently with the strike by oil marketers, I expect robust debate on solutions to hike in fuel price and removal of subsidies by the candidates but all is see is long motorcades and outlandish parties to celebrate their small wins as they look forward to the big wins. I must repeat elections matter and it’s serious business but Nigerians aren’t taking it seriously. Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail.com

ATMS, BANKS AND TORN NAIRA NOTES It has now become a regular occurrence for a person to make a withdrawal from the ATM and the ATM dispenses dirty and torn naira notes. On one occasion, I visited the UBA branch located on 23 road, Festac Town, to make a withdrawal. When the ATM dispensed the money, I received a bad note, which was WRUQ , FRPSODLQHG WR WKH EDQN VWDͿ ZKR ZDV SUHVHQW DW WKH $70 FHQWUH EXW KH claimed nothing was wrong with the money. I then tried to use it for transportation, and the transporters refused to collect the money, except for one who reluctantly accepted it eventually. On more than one occasion, I have experienced receiving bad, dirty and torn Naira notes from other banks ATMs. The experience can be very annoying, and for example, with the most recent occurrence just some days ago, on a Saturday morning, I complained to the security guard about receiving a torn Naira note the tear being on the number area of the #1,000 note. The security guard asked me to come back on Monday to resolve the issue. So, I would like to use this medium to complain about bank ATMs dispensing, bad Naira notes. Imagine a scenario where someone needs to use the money he withdraws from an ATM for some urgent expenses, such as for food, medications, transportation, or something else. He withdraws the money successfully, EXW ÀQGV RXW WKDW WKH PRQH\ LV EDG :KDW VKRXOG WKH SHUVRQ GR" +RZ FDQ KH wait till the beginning of the next working week to report the bad currency note issued by the bank’s ATM? Daniel Ighakpe FESTAC Town, Lagos

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FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

NEWS Sterling Alternative Finance Introduces Altinvest See page 29

ETRENDS World Music Day: NCC Emphasises the Need to Curb Exploitation of Music See page 30

ART WEEKEND Art Education, Value Creation as Cornerstone at New Gemini Art Gallery See page 31

LIFE CAPPA Felicitates with Chima Williams over Goldman Environmental Prize Award See page 32

POLSCOPE Lawan: Adamu Works the Magic Again See page 33

Lady Roseline Inisiagho: Group Features Editor: CHIEMELIE EZEOBI chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com

07010510430

An Octogenarian’s Four Decade Trajectory in Grooming Stars

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͲ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

COVER

Lady Roseline Inisiagho: An Octogenarian’s Four Decade Trajectory in Grooming Stars ÜÓ×ËÜã ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ÍÜËÎÖÏ ÙØ áÒÓÍÒ ÞÒÏ ÐÙÜ×ËÞÓàÏ ãÏËÜÝ ÙÐ ÍÒÓÖÎÜÏØ ËÜÏ ÐÙßØÎÏÎ˛ ÙÜ ËÎã ÙÝÏÖÓØÏ ØÓÝÓËÑÒÙ˜ ÐÙØÎÖã ÍËÖÖÏÎ ßØÞÓÏ ÙÝÏ ÞÒÏØ˜ ÞÒÏ ØÏÏÎ ÞÙ ÒÏÖÚ ÑÜÙÙ× ÞÒÙÝÏ ÌÖÙÙ×ÓØÑ ÝÞËÜÝ ÓØʮßÏØÍÏÎ ÞÒÏ ÏÝÞËÌÖÓÝÒ×ÏØÞ ÙÐ ßØÞÓÏ ÙÝÏ ÜÙßÚ ÙÐ ÍÒÙÙÖÝ ÓØ ÑÒÙÜÙÕÏ˜ ËÜÜÓ˜ ÏÖÞË ÞËÞÏ˜ ͕͑ ãÏËÜÝ ËÑÙ˛ ÒÏØ ÝÒÏ ÌÏÑËØ˜ ÒÏÜÝ áËÝ ÙØÏ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÐÏá ÚÜÓàËÞÏ ÝÍÒÙÙÖÝ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÜÏÑÓÙØ ËØÎ áÓÞÒ ÒÏÜ ×ÙʵÙ ÙÐ ˫ ÙÜÕ˜ ÖËã ËØÎ ÜËãˬ˜ ÝÒÏ ÒËÝ ÍÒßÜØÏÎ ÙßÞ ÚßÚÓÖÝ áÒÙ ËÜÏ ÚÜÙÎßÍÞÓàÏ ×Ï×ÌÏÜÝ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÝÙÍÓÏÞã˛ Ù×Ï ßØÏ ͓͙˜ ͓͓͓͑˜ ÞÒÏ ÚÜÙÚÜÓÏÞÜÏÝÝ áÓÖÖ ÔÙÓØ ÞÒÏ ÍÞÙÑÏØËÜÓËØ ÍÖßÌ˜ Ë ×ÓÖÏÝÞÙØÏ ÝÒÏ ÓÝ ÞÒËØÕÐßÖ ÐÙÜ˛ ÒËÜÓØÑ ÒÏÜ ÖÓÐÏ˪Ý ÔÙßÜØÏã áÓÞÒ Sylvester Idowu˜ ÝÒÏ áÏØÞ ÎÙáØ ×Ï×ÙÜã ÖËØÏ ÙØ ÒÙá ÝÒÏ ßÝÏÎ ÞÙ ÎÜÓàÏ ÒÏÜ ÑÜÏÏØ ÓÍÕ Ú àËØ ÜÙßØÎ ×ËØã ÝÞÜÏÏÞÝ ÙÐ ËÜÜÓ ˜ ÚÓÍÕÓØÑ ËØÎ ÎÜÙÚÚÓØÑ ÒÏÜ ÝÍÒÙÙÖ ÍÒÓÖÎÜÏØ ËØÎ ÒÙá ßØÞÓÏ ÙÝÏ ÍÒÙÙÖÝ˜ ÞÒÏØ àÏÜã ÐË×ÙßÝ ÐÙÜ ÛßËÖÓÞã ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ˜ ÒËÝ ÚÜÙÎßÍÏÎ ÞÒÙßÝËØÎÝ ÙÐ ÍÒÓÖÎÜÏØ˜ ×ËØã ÙÐ áÒÙ× ËÜÏ ÞÙÎËã˜ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÍÙ××ËØÎÓØÑ ÒÏÓÑÒÞÝ ÙÐ ×ËØã ÙÜÑËØÓÝËÞÓÙØÝ Looking back, what are the most memorable experience of your life? Is it about the training given by your parents, the school experience or the children God has given you? That’s number one, I was privileged to be given proper training by my parents who were devoted Catholics. I and my children are still Catholics till today. Again, God has blessed me with good children and they are all educated. Then I’m not always sick so we have to thank God for keeping me hail and healthy and blessing me with wonderful children.

You have been a great educational entrepreneur, what were the challenges you faced while setting up your school? can’t remember any challenge that confronted me while setting up the school except for the usual problem of funds while setting up a business. Getting pupils was not much of a problem then because Auntie Rose Schools was amongst the first few sets of private schools in the 80s when it was set up.

Can you tell us about your school? I just want to thank God I’m able to build the schools out of passion. I grew the schools to become a brand then. The school is still up and doing but not as before. The competition is so high now but we are still keeping the schools floating. My daughter is always helping me physically and financially, in fact she is the one overseeing the running of the schools now. All my children always put their effort in what I’m doing.

What do you consider the saddest moment of your life? I can’t remember anything that happened in the past that I will consider as sad. One thing is that I don’t allow things to disturb me. Once I see anything that is not good for me, I pray over it and move on. You have lived to 80, what makes you happy now? What makes me happy most is that I know God and I always call Him in every difficulty. I am also happy seeing my children and those that passed through my schools. Infact, I have those who passed through our schools that are doing well across the country and in the diaspora. I always feel happy when I come across them or any of them visits me. Their successes gives me great joy. Some of them are going to be part of my 80th birthday celebration.

You are an educationist and you were trained at a Teacher’s Training College, but with the kind of education you had at that time, can you compare it with the education system we operate now? We had the best of training during our time. Reason being that we had dedicated teachers. Government was up and doing too but a lot has changed now. Government is not as committed as it used to be then. Also we don’t have committed teachers now. The parents are also not helping matters. They now storm schools to fight teachers who try to discipline their wards. This can never happen during our time. It takes parents and teachers to mould children but that’s lacking nowadays. In the present day Nigeria, the educational system has collapsed. There is no morality in our children. What advice do you have for those in authority and parents? The government should put the right policies in place to revitalise our educational systems . They should also put the welfare of the teachers uppermost in their focus on education in other to get the best results. As for parents, they should be patient with the children because some parents are always flogging their children which is not good. Advise your child and be patient with them. They will learn from you. Constant flogging is not the best way of bringing up children. Advise them, show them love. Can you share what background was like?

your

Inisiagho

My father, Eruteya, was from Urovi in Abraka while my mother, Adede, was from Oriah in Abraka. I was born in 1942. I have been a teacher throughout my life. Though, my father died long time ago before my mother. I’ve being staying in Warri since I got married.

But do you feel happy you are celebrating your 80th birthday? Yes, I have to thank God. I grew up with so many people around me. Some have gone to answer their God and many are still privileged like me. To live up to 80 years is a privilege. So, I thank God for giving me the Grace.

Where did you school? I went to primary school in Oriah in How do you intend to celebrate Abraka and later to Teacher Training your birthday? College also in Abraka. I always thank God everyday of At 80years of age, how do you my life but I want to specially thank God for my life on 28th of June when feel? I don’t know how I feel, the only I will be 80 years. I will thank God thing is that my movement is not for His care, mercy and love and for as fast as it used to be. The things keeping me to this age by celebrating I used to do, I can’t do them again it in the Catholic Church. now.

If you should have the opportunity to come back to this world again, what will be your wish? I will want to come back as a Nigerian and through my parents. I will want them to bring me up again in their usual disciplinary approach. That helped me a lot while growing. Again, I will want God to give me back my children and finally, I will want to be an educationalist. What advise do you have for the younger generation? I will advice them to be honest, gentle and loving. They should have self confidence in whatever they do and do what’s right and just always. If you are Holy and clean, God will help you and you don’t feel worry. As for me, I only surrender everything to God and He is always helping me. Tell us more about your husband? He died a long time ago. I can’t remember much about him again except that he was a disciplinarian and a devout Catholic.

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NEWS

Sterling Alternative Finance Introduces Altinvest Stories by Mary Nnah Sterling Alternative Finance has announced the launch of Nigeria’s first ethical Investment platform, Altinvest. This announcement was made known during a media parley held by the bank recently to launch its investment platform. The non-interest arm of Sterling bank plc, Sterling Alternative Finance disclosed that AltInvest is aimed at changing the investment world, with a key focus on real sectors in the economy by helping its partners create impact in the economy even as they build wealth without compromising their ethics. The numerous investment options listed on the App are centered on diverse real sectors such as Agriculture, Real Estate, among others, all of which are focused on wealth creation, capital appreciation for investors, and supporting economic activities directed toward inclusion, growth, and development. The investment app also boasts of the digitisation and automation of investment advisory services,

real-time portfolio monitoring, and seamless investment placement in a variety of asset classes. Speaking on the uniqueness of the App, Mohammed Yunusa, Director of Digital Products and Innovations, Sterling Alternative Finance reiterated that users on the digital investment platform invest in the financial market through the real sector and are assured of personal wealth growth. He said ‘We do investments differently on AltInvest. We ensure we bring your investment’s vision to life by providing the backstory of what our users, whom we consider partners, are investing in, as well as providing a certificate of ownership on that particular investment opportunity, which secures investment.” Speaking further about the Altinvest App, Olatunji Olabisi, Chief Information Officer, Sterling Alternative Finance in his remarks described the app as being equipped with the best technology and assured of its efficiency and top-notch security. In his comments, he said “The app has gone through

rigorous testing to ensure users’ investments are well-secure. The app also prides itself on having a user-friendly interface which makes investing easier and more accessible for the user. “The app also has generous educational resources with details on each of your investment choices. This way, prospective users do not have to know the A-Z on investment before signing up on Altinvest’’. Furthermore, when speaking on how the bank mitigates against risks for retail investors, Lukman Adekola, Group Head, Corporate and Investments Banking Solutions, Sterling Alternative Finance explained that due diligence has been carried out to hedge against volatility. In his remarks, Abubakar Sulieman, Managing Director, Sterling Bank Plc, said “We are extremely excited about our latest product offering, Altinvest. For us as a brand, we are committed to constantly creating value for our partners and stakeholders and I am optimistic that our new offering, Altinvest, will aid in our drive to expand financial

inclusion by ensuring that more people have access to finance and investment solutions.” He added “We become our partners’ representatives at the table where wealth is being created. AltInvest is the first ethical investment platform with a focus on investments in the real sector, to aid with financing economic activities geared towards inclusion, growth, and development. This product aims to solve the problem of investors who are averse to investing in conventional financial instruments, due to beliefs and values. AltInvest is available for download on the Google Play Store and Apple Store. Sterling Alternative Finance is the non-interest arm of Sterling Bank Plc that allows customers to bank and transact at 0 zero per cent interest. Sterling Alternative Finance boasts of various product offerings and solutions such as Alt Mall, Alt Drive, and Alt Power, amongst other various diverse and innovative solutions.

OLUYINKA DAVIDS’ ‘PRIM & PROPER’ SET FOR JULY 1ST

Oluyinka Davids’ ‘Prim & Proper series stars Oluyinka Davids, a Quintessential Nigerian Filmmaker and cinematographer, is set to premiere his new reality series titled, ‘Prim and Proper’, on July 1st, 2022 on MoodBox TV. The series which is created, produced and directed by US-based Oluyinka Davids focuses on the reality of living in America from an immigrant point of view. According to the Davids, the series is meant to expose so many things that concern immigrants and to also let people know that life in the US is not all that rosy. “We are looking at issues from an immigrant perspective, especially in Nigeria, where a great number of people want to ‘Japa’ (leave the country) but are they ready for the hurdles? The creative director, iFocus Pictures added that he wants to inform and at the same time educate his viewers through the online reality series. He said: “We are premiering the Pilot Episode on July 1st on YouTube (MoodBox TV). The series tells the story of two main characters; Yemi Balz and Nkem Mbamalu. Yemi is the guy extroverted prim and proper chic; has a good grasp of the Nigerian culture, is English speaking, yet very fluent in Yoruba and pidgin slang works with the US army but has dreams to become a TV show host. Nkem is the introverted Prim and Proper best friend kinda babe to Yemi. She’s an IT professional, extremely supportive of Yemi’s dreams and aspirations in life, kindhearted, and considerate to a fault such that she gets screwed for wanting to help others too much. Yemi of course is the voice of reason/Shine ya eye. Segun Ajayi is Yemi’s friend and Edo Charles is Nkem’s friend. Davids who is known for making good films that tell African stories assured that the series will be an eye-opener, exciting and informative.

AFRISAFE ANNOUNCES $2,000 PRIZE FOR JOURNALISTS AltInvest... Lukman Adekola, Abubakar Suleiman, Mohammed Yunusa and Olatunji Olabisi

Key Stakeholders Converge to Promote the Nigerian Leather Sector To further drive growth within the Nigerian leather sector whilst also educating and creating maximum visibility for leading leather players across Africa, key stakeholders spread across Sub-SaharanAfrica gathered at the just concluded Lagos Leather Fair (LLF) 5th edition to discuss the road map to the future of the leather industry. The two-day event which sought to reiterate the potential economic impact of the leather sector on the Nigerian economy had in attendance over 2000 key stakeholders including the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo, Ex-Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, and members from several Federal Ministries, Bank of Industry, Trade bodies, financial institutions, Leather designers, players in the leather ecosystem as well as local and international investors. Speaking at the fair, the Convener of the Lagos Leather Fair, Femi Olayebi, expressed her delight

about the large gathering and the quality of conversations had at the fair. She said, “It has been a delight for us to once again hold a physical edition of Lagos Leather Fair, and we are extremely pleased with the success recorded. The crowds poured in across the two-day event in droves, and it is a testament to the value that the finished leather goods sector for the wider industry if properly harnessed.” “For five years now, we have constantly provided a platform for leather and lifestyle enthusiasts and industry players to come together, to enhance visibility for the industry, whilst also championing conversations on how to move the industry forward. “This year, despite the impact of the pandemic, we have seen that industry players have continues to hone their craftsmanship, their skills, and their innovation, to drive the shift that we need to make the

industry’s potential a reality. “We are glad to have created this platform to showcase some of the country’s wins and economic prosperity. Some exhibitors who have been with us from the very first edition have now metamorphosed into an international phenomenon, driving a positive Made-inNigeria narrative on the global stage.” She noted further that stakeholders in the industry are determined to continue to seek out ways to pull all the necessary thought leaders, policymakers, and key players together to keep changing the narrative and advancing the necessary conversations. Commending the organisers, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo, said, “Over the past five years, they have created a solid platform where everyone within the leather ecosystem can meet up and hold conversations on how to move the industry forward.

“The result of this has become very visible with the growing attention gained by the industry and increased collaboration amongst players. For us as a ministry, we will continuously drive support till the potential of the leather industry is fully harnessed in Nigeria.” The fair also featured masterclass conversations that addressed the challenges of cross-border payments for SMEs, the role of the AFCFTA in aiding intra-African, and ways to enhance growth for businesses within the leather industry. Speakers were drawn from all sectors of the economy across finance, policy, manufacturing, and consultancy. With the massive potential hidden within the hide and skin manufacturing sector and its impact on Nigeria’s economy, the Lagos Leather Fair has continued to lead the conversation aimed at changing the narrative within the industry across Nigeria and Africa at large.

Organisers of the Africa Safety Award for Excellence (AfriSAFE) have announced a $2,000 prize for the grand winner of the AfriSAFE Journalist award category, which seeks to recognise outstanding journalistic work that covers broad issues in the Occupational, Health, Safety, and Environment (0HSE) industry. This was disclosed yesterday by the Chairman of the AfriSAFE Board, Dr. Afe Mayowa. Dr. Afe who stated that it was in line with the body’s bid to support excellent reporting and throw light on salient issues confronting various sectors as regards Safety and Health, opined that: “The grand winner of this category will receive $2000; runners-up will be eligible for other product support by notable brands”. “The winning article, story, or column must be newsworthy, thoroughly investigated, and succinctly cover salient issues arising in the society”. In the same vein, the Chief Coordinator of AfriSAFE Femi Da-silva declared that nomination is now open for AfriSAFE 2022 which will recognise and celebrate organisations and individuals that have displayed a verifiable commitment to the health, safety, environment, and well-being of their workplaces and the community at large. Nominations can be made via www.afrisafe.org and will end on July 18, while the award ceremony will be held on November 12 in Lagos Nigeria. Da-Silva added that the theme of this year is, “Man in the Mirror”, inspired by the late Michael Jackson’s hit song. “The theme is about making a change and realising that it has to start with you! It simply drives home the message that SAFETY is You! SAFETY is Me; Safety is our responsibility.” “It informs how we are each responsible for our safety and the safety of people around us”, he said. AfriSAFE is sponsored by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the world’s largest chartered membership body for safety and health professionals; Hybrid Group, Combined Training Solutions, Eximia Realty, and Surveillance Fire Ltd, among other supporters.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͲ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

E-TRENDS BURNA BOY AND THE CASE OF ‘CONVENIENT ACTIVISM’

Iyke Bede Since the news of the shooting at Cubana Club in Lagos which allegedly found police escorts attached to the Afro-fusion artist Burna Boy complicit, the essence of his social activism has been subjected to scrutiny. These reservations are voiced mainly on social media platforms such as Twitter where fans and critics freely drown each other with their opinions. With empowering songs like ‘Monsters’ — released as the second single off his highly successful ‘Twice As Tall’ — that speaks to colonial oppression, as well as his specially penned track that addresses the Lekki tollgate incident consequent from the #EndSARS protest, it’s quite easy to conclude that the impassioned singer prioritises the message of social justice, a cause that the new crop of artists in Nigeria tried to associate itself, given the popularity of the Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti who to date is not only revered for advocating for social justice and equality through his songs but led the way in the fight for the emancipation of the citizenry. Although controversy trails Burna Boy’s career, somehow it has inscribed the bad boy persona on his character, a seemingly lovable trait by today’s standards of the entertainment industry. Yet he manages to reaffirm his stance on social activism through his music until the latest shooting.

NET HONOURS INTRODUCES 15 NEW CATEGORIES ID Africa, the owners of Netng and organiser of NET Honours People Choice Awards, has announced the introduction of 15 New categories. The new voting categories are Most Popular DJ, Most Popular Dancer/ Video Vixen, Most Popular Music Producer, Breakout Artiste of the Year - (Comedy), Social Content Creator of the Year, Most Popular Video Director (Music Video/Skit), Most Popular Fandom (Music), Most Popular Fandom (BBNaija), Most Popular Celebrity Stylist, Most Popular Designer, Most Popular Photographer, Breakout Actor of the Year, Breakout Actress of the Year, Breakout Artiste of the Year (Male), Breakout Artiste of the Year (Female). “NET Honours provides useful data on popular culture trends and the interests of urban youth inAfrica. The platform is a valuable source of insights for brands, organisations and governments that are trying to understand young Africans and their digital media consumption habits,” says Femi Falodun, the CEO of Info Digital Africa (ID Africa), owners of Netng, Neusroom, 234Star, and Orin. The additions bring the total number of categories to 35. The audience data-based awards will hold on Friday, July 1, 2022

…Your weekly entertainment delight

NOLLYWOOD

World Music Day: NCC Emphasises the Need to Curb Exploitation of Music Stories by Vanessa Obioha

Burna Boy

MUSIC SHOWBIZ

As the world marked World Music Day, celebrated annually on June 21, the Director-General of the Nigerian Copying Commission (NCC), John Asein appealed that music be exploited in a responsible manner that guarantees the sustainable growth of the industry and benefits the musician. In a statement, Asein noted that the current technologies that have changed the way music is made and consumed speak to the theme of this year’s celebration which is ‘Music at Intersections’ “With the possibilities offered by digital manipulation, music has also become susceptible to all forms of exploitation and raw material for other creative works. The theme for this year, “Music at Intersections” succinctly captures this delicate web,” the statement read. Asein’s position reiterated the value of music in today’s fast-paced world. Oftentimes, society limits music worth to just another form of art or entertainment. Of course, music serves as our collective cultural identity but in Asein’s words, it is an economic commodity that should benefit the right owners as much as it gives pleasure to its listeners.

crimes, musicians can also increase the return on the physical and intellectual investments that go into the creation of good music. In this regard, Asein expressed delight in the recent passage by the Senate of a new Copyright Bill which should “help troubleshoot some of the problems identified at the intersections, such as the new technologies, digital manipulations, unconventional business models, regulatory issues and the imperatives for better collective management of rights, effective sanctions against infringements and appropriate support structures.” He added that “the copyright system remains a veritable tool for easing friction on the tracks on which music runs. For music to play seamlessly and adequately reward investors at every intersection, it is important to have a functional, responsive and supportive copyright system that not only protects rights but also promotes licensing and the secondary exploitation of rights in a fair and equitable manner.” Marking this year’s celebration, the body reiterated its commitment NCC’s Director-General John Asein to continually work with various intersections of music, particularly But in a situation where the creators creativity will continue to grow. the CMOs to help bridge the gaps Therefore, with bodies like the NCC, between the volume of usage and are poorly enlightened on the value of their works, exploitation of their armed by the law to curb copyright royalty collections.

Project X to Create Systems for Future Indigenous Photographers

NIGERIAN BREWERIES RETAINS FLAVOUR, YUL, PHYNO AS BRAND AMBASSADORS Mary Nnah

L-R: Emmanuel Oyeleke, Aham Ibeleme, Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Yagazie Eguare, Don Barber and Isaac Emokpae at the Project X initiative held recently in Lagos

Iyke Bede

Three alumni photographers of The Future Enterprise Support Scheme (TFESS) class of 2012, Aham Ibeleme, Emmanuel Oyeleke, and Yagazie Eguare recently collaborated for the launch of Project X, an initiative targeting burgeoning indigenous photographers. According to the conveners, the two-day programme was curated to inspire, coach, and empower the next generation of photographers through structured training, mentorship, and exceptional experiences. A 10-year commemorative event marking their first contact at TFESS, they return to provide a system that ensures efficiency in processes by harnessing the insight of already established photographers who have proven their mettle in photography and have even branched off to conquer other professional fields. Through a panel session themed ‘Positioning Your Craft — Scaling and Sustainability’ moderated by Eguare, award-winning photographer Kelechi Amadi-Obi; renowned photographer Ha-

keem Salaam; Founder, Poshclick Portraiture, Jokotade Shonowo; and creative entrepreneur Onye Ubanatu, imparted attendees with career nuggets toward actualising their dream career. Amadi-Obi elucidated the need for young creatives to strategically develop set skills, build a clientele list, prioritise learning on the job, and scale for maximum remuneration. “You need to have the product first. I spend quite a good amount of time getting my product where I want it to be. With photography, image-making and content creation, we call ourselves creative entrepreneurs. It’s not a factory where you get one formula and you start marketing while selling the same product. As a creative entrepreneur, you will have the burden of constantly being innovative. For me, the first thing I do is to scale my creativity.” Speaking on his collection ‘Power’ that speaks to the authority of variousAfrican cultures, Ibeleme said: “The works that I create are placed in the sphere of modernist art, in hopes of making visible what is overlooked in the historicising of African cultures.

It was all glamour, glitz, and funfair at the Head of Office of Nigerian Breweries Plc in Iganmu as the trio of Flavour N’abania, Yul Edochie and Phyno renewed their brand ambassador contracts with Life Continental Lager Beer. As a leading South Eastern beer brand that is promoting Igbo Hi-Life music, beliefs, tradition, and cultural values of Igbos, Life continental Lager beer has also been at the forefront of stimulating the progress of its consumers through its numerous grassroots initiatives. Speaking during the press conference, the Senior Brand Manager, Life Continental Lager Beer,AishatAnaekwe, stated that “Life Continental Beer pioneered regional brewing in Nigeria and has maintained leadership in the South-east region’s booming market for decades. “Today, we are excited to announce the renewal contract with Flavour, Phyno, and Yul Edochie. This collaboration with Life Continental Lager Beer underscores the brand’s dedication to the Igbo values of industriousness, resourcefulness, and enterprise – values that Flavour, Yul, and Phyno aptly embody. “ Just as Life Continental Beer defines the Igbo in every consumer, these three successful and industrious entertainers exude the qualities which exemplify the typical Igbo man.” The deal which was signed at the Nigerian Breweries Plc corporate head office in Lagos is to run for two years during which Flavour, Yul, and Phyno will appear in Life Continental Beer advertising and marketing campaigns. They will also feature in the brand’s online assets and make special appearances at events and activations. According to Flavour N’nabania, the new deal shows that Hi-Life music is paving the way in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Mo Abudu

MO ABUDU, OTHERS TO SPEAK AT DURBAN FILMMART Nigerian media mogul and CEO of EbonyLife Group, Mo Abudu will be joining other big players from different parts of the continent to speak at the Durban FilmMart (DFM) scheduled for July 22-31. The Durban Film Institute which organises the event in a statement said the speakers will share their expertise and experiences in the fields of production, development, marketing, distribution, representation, and animation, at the DFM Conversations. “The DFM Conversation series serve as the FilmMart’s keynote address platform,” said Magdalene Reddy, DFM General Manager. “It is an honour for the DFM to host some of the industry’s respected professionals as they unpack their journeys, lessons learned and the culture that drives their work.” The programme which will run from July 22 to 26, will have Abudu provide insights into her multifaceted work which have garnered her accolade after accolade. Emmy-nominated director Mike de Steve; Netflix’s Head of Film for Sub-Saharan Africa, Tendeka Matatu; MP Talent Agent, Dana Sims; and Nicola Ofoego, a member of European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (EAVE) will also be speaking at the DFM Conversations.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͲ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

ART WEEKEND

…For pure art enthusiasts

Art Education, Value Creation as Cornerstone at New Gemini Art Gallery In an encounter with Raphael Akinnire, the founder and director, Gemini Art Gallery, Lagos Island, the art dealer revealed how the new gallery would change the script for arts engagement in Nigeria and beyond. Yinka Olatunbosun reports

he value of a work of art is sacrosanct in any artist-gallery conversation. Hence, it was no surprise to find –albeit midway into the press engagement- at Gemini Art Gallery talks about creating proper market value for artists’ works and improving the quality of art education in communities. The journey of establishing the gallery began two decades ago but finally came to a fruition in the pandemic year. The global health crisis in 2020 couldn’t stop the will behind creating a space for artists to grow, interact and impact their world. While reflecting on the vision of the gallery, the director and founder, Gemini Art Gallery, Raphael Akinnire revealed that age would not be a barrier in art promotion. “We want to work with the young and old,’’ he declared. “Right now, we are working on a project in secondary schools to inculcate art into young minds. A lot of young people don’t have that art appreciation. They tend to focus on ways to make money fast. But for me, my connection with artists is rooted in education. That’s what is lacking in the education sector. We have a lot of people who can draw very well. They are good with draftsmanship. They don’t have a background in art history. That’s why some works lack content. The artists who sell their works for as much as $1m do so because of the content behind it. In the heart of Onikan rests this gallery that showcases artistic treasures from the

likes of Bruce Onobrakpeya, Wale Alimi, Samson and Rotimi Akinloye, Emmanuel Dudu, John Ogbeta, Donald Onuoha, George Edozie, Bob Nosa, Duke Asidere and others. For Akinnire, artists should be committed to documenting the period. “The lockdown to an artist is one of the best moments,’’ he observed. “It didn’t affect me negatively. It only structured my thinking. These are the things that people should talk about. Artists should document the period. In Nigeria, only a few artists did something during that period. It happened but no one wanted to talk about it. And it is our problem. That’s where education comes in, we need to document our time. Bruce Onobrakpeya has taken Nigerian art to a global stage. We need to think global. We have the platform to get what we want.’’ There’s no gainsaying that technology is changing methods of art sales and ownership. With the introduction of crypto art, the rules of engagement for artwork ownership is being altered. When Akinnire was asked if this is no threat to the local market for art, he responded: “What we are doing is a global business. If we need the tech to support what we are doing, then we need to embrace it. That is all we need. That’s what makes it easier for all to be in contact outside our boundaries. If we can remove ethnic rivalry, we are good people. The boundaries are what the internet is here to break.’’ On the possibility of future residencies, Akinnire hinted that a project in Ajegunle would be kicked off by the gallery that would involve all the artists in the community, both established and emerging.

One of the paintings at the gallery

Onobrakpeya at 90: A Season of Celebration Looms Yinka Olatunbosun A season of celebration looms for the quintessential artist, environmentalist and art educator, Bruce Onobrakpeya as he marks his 90th birthday this year. At a recent press briefing in his Lagos studio, the planning committee for the celebrations revealed the series of events slated for the yearlong programme. Starting from June 24 in Abeokuta, an exhibition of drawings, mixed media and serigraphs by Olatunbosun Ojo would be held side-byside with the commemoration of Onobrakpeya at 90 in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art, Oke Mosan. From August 4 to 6, the Bruce Onobrakpeya at 90 conference would be held at Onobrakpeya Art Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State with support from Urhobo Historical Society. The 24th Harmattan Workshop August Retreat which will start from August 7 to 20 has the theme “Bruce at 90: Probing Art on the Flip Side.” In Abuja, the celebration will be held at Merit House, University of Abuja, in the form of lectures and exhibitions of artworks. To give back to the art community, a gala night and fundraiser to raise funds for building classes at

Afro-jazz Artist, Duro Ikujenyo Performs at World Music Day Fest with Alliance Francaise Yinka Olatunbosun

Onobrakpeya

Agbarha-Otor will take place at a later to be announced venue sometime in October. For the 2022 edition of the Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF), Onobrakoeya will be honoured with a series of conversations as well as mentoring sessions from November 14 to 20. Mudare Onobrakpeya, the first son of the celebrated pioneering artist of the Zaria Rebel fame, described his father as a cultural icon,

revealing why the celebration is significant. “Baba’s works are among the most collected in almost all the countries in the world. His career span has made him a very important cultural icon in our discourse. He is a very important part of Nigerian history and the elite group Mbari Club in Ibadan. He was part of the FESTAC. “In the 80s, he made his mark as a social commen-

tator on the environmental degradation and ecological challenges in the Niger-Delta. We are celebrating him because his art offers hope,” he said. Sharing his sentiments, Engr. Tayo Adetunbi, the co-owner of Orisun Gallery in Abuja who set off the celebrations for Onobrakpeya in Abuja also eulogised the legendary artist. “Baba is a loving man and a caring father. People like him cannot die. His works keep living,” he said.

The celebration will continue in Atlanta in April 2023 when the High Museum in Atlanta showcases the ‘Christian Art of Bruce Onobrakpeya.’ These artworks mostly produced in 1968 will feature some black and white illustrations of prominent bible characters and events from the artist’s perspective. A few masterpieces like ‘The Stations of the Cross’ and ‘Last Supper’ will be featured by the curator of African Art, Lauren Baeza.

As part of the World Music Day Festival 2022 organised at the Institut francais du Nigeria, the Afro-jazz artist Duro Ikujenyo and the age of Aquarius band will perform. The festival which runs from June 21 to 26 will take place at the Institut Francais du Nigeria Abuja while Friday June 24 will see a jam session and open stage with local musicians in Abuja, and a performance by Duro Ikujenyo and the 7-piece Aquarius band. Duro Ikujenyo, famed for being a former pianist with the legendary Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti will also be performing tracks from his new album titled ‘Black and White Oha.’ The World music day originated from France and is now being celebrated all over the world. This year, it will be hosted in over 700 venues globally. Music, being a great tool of documenting, communicating and fostering unity and cultural advancement dates back to thousands of years in human civilizations.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͲ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

LIFE

CAPPA Felicitates with Chima Williams over Goldman Environmental Prize Award

orporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has described the award of the Goldman Environmental Prize 2022, to Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) Chima Williams as well-deserved. In a statement issued by CAPPA Director of Programmes, Philip Jakpor, Williams along with six other recipients were named in the 2022 award ceremony which was awarded virtually because of the COVID 19 pandemic and broadcast online earlier today May 25, 2022. The Goldman Environmental Prize is an award that honors the achievements and leadership of grassroots environmental activists from around the world. The Prize recognises individuals for their sustained significant efforts in protecting the environment. The award given to recognized individual leaders from different continents seeks to inspire other ordinary people to take extraordinary actions to protect the natural world. Williams is the third Nigerian to receive the award after the late Ken Saro-Wiwa and Odigha Odigha received it in 1995 and 2003 respectively. Williams was recognized for his role in the legal quest for environmental justice. He worked with the four fishersfolks from the three communities in the Niger Delta that held Royal Dutch Shell accountable for the oil spills and environmental damage on Oruma, Goi and Ikot Ada Udo communities. He was also on the legal team that litigated the action over gas flaring in the Iwherekan community in the case of Jonah Gbemre versus Shell in 2005. CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi said: “The award of the Goldman Environmental Prize to Chima Williams serves as encouragement to individuals, groups, and communities even beyond the Niger Delta that are fighting environmental injustices. The environmental justice community hails this announcement” “The recognition of Williams is a testament of his doggedness in the quest to hold corporations like Shell accountable for environmental

Williams recklessness that they think they can get away with.” A statement released by the Goldman Environmental Foundation listed other winners to include Niwat Roykaew from Thailand;

Marjan Minnessma the Netherlands; Juliet Vincent, Australia; Nalleli Cobo, United States and Alex Luciatante and Alexandra Narvaez, Ecuador. The Goldman prize was inaugurated in

1989 and awarded annually to environmental heroes from each of the world’s six inhabited continental regions. To date, 213 winners have been honoured including 95 women from 93 nations.

Good Night Our Sango, The Ultimate Revolutionary

S - Segun Sango, born Segun Aderemi, wrote his own epitaph. He dreamt the working class socialist revolution; he spoke and worked for it; and he lived an exemplary life of a true revolutionist. Both in theory and praxis, he was a Nigerian version of truly dedicated worldclass revolutionaries who built cadres across generations. A man of steel, he was strong in illness, such that he lived for years with debilitating illness. But the unquantifiable love and care of his wife, a good and kind hearted comrade in her own special regard, was also a most significant factor. Thank you Tinu. Yes, Segun Sango, our founding General Secretary of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM); chief inspirer and foundational leader of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN); former leader and Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the National Conscience Party (NCP); erstwhile students’ movement fighter and strong anti-military and anti-capitalist pro-democracy – a real hero of Nigeria’s democracy, has passed on. Yes, Segun Sango, former National Mobilisation Officer of the Joint Action Forum (JAF) and former committee member of Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO), and a regular at the front lines of protests and demonstrations - against fuel price hike and subsidy removal, against annulment of June 12 election, against military rule, against education commercialisation, etc, etc, has taken a final bow. From May to May – he came to the world 64 years ago from the Modakeke warrior nationality on May 7, 1958 and took a bow in the evening of Monday May 23, 2022. Our paths were inseparable since we met at Great Ife – University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, in our first year in the 1980/81 session; the University from which he graduated with Bachelor of Arts in Law before proceeding to the Law School. He was a pro-people

Lawyer. Being a best friend, confidant, trusted ally, family friend and many more, I owe Segun Sango loads of gratitude for whatever contributions I have made to humanity in my career as a students’ unionist, prodemocracy, working class and left wing activist. Which was why I dedicated my book: Fela: Yesterday’s Message as Today’s Reality, to him five years ago. Sango was of course a foremost fan and authority on Fela. Other comrades and the radical and revolutionary movement owe him lots of gratitude too. The Segun Sango tribute will be in volumes. If he had gotten the chance to say a last word before taking the last breath, it would have been by way of social commentary on the trending news of the Accountant General’s theft of N80billion. He would have said: ‘Nigeria ni irue tile sele; ki eeyan kan ji N80 billion.....ani e lee make e under capitalism ‘ (Only in Nigeria would that happen, one person stealing N80billion. You people can’t make it under capitalism). A chapter of mourning but also of celebration of an impactful life, whose shining example will glow for long, has opened. I penned this after myself and two other DSM comrades - Taiwo Hassan (Soweto) and Peluola Adewale (Pelad) departed the TOS funeral homes at LASUTH, where the remains of Sango were deposited very early this morning, and now lie in wait for heroic burial. We mourn. We say GOOD NIGHT SANGO....And aren’t you a real Sango? You exited as it rained and thundered! We celebrate an ultimate revolutionary. We say: THANK YOU SANGO....you never betrayed your individual and collective principles. You were a working class, socialist and masses General who never deserted the battle front. In death, you will continue to inspire us.

Segun Sango

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͲ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

POLSCOPE Canticles…. Lawan: Adamu Works How Many More Rivers the Magic Again Do We Have to Cross? áÓÞÒ ÎÎã ÎÓàáÜÓ ÏÎÎã˛ÙÎÓàáÜÓ̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×˜ ͸΀͸ͽ ͻ͸; ΁ͻͽ;

id you hear the selfappraisal of President Muhammadu Buhari declaring that he has made Nigeria better than he met it in 2015? Yes-o, I heard and read the vexatious assertions. They are not only misleading, but very provocative. How can anybody claim that life is better now than it was in 2015?

But can you fault some of the things he said he has achieved? Can you deny the non-existence of his many legacy projects?

Abdullahi Adamu

rdinarily, there should be a strong connection between having hoary hair and having honour. That explains why, in a community, whenever there are naughty issues to be resolved, the elders are invited to intervene, believing that the elders will speak the truth and ensure justice is done. But consistently, we seem to be seeing the opposite of this virtue in the barely three-month-old leadership of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu. He was elected only last March. In three months, Senator Adamu has practically shaken the table several times. Barely a month after he was elected, we suddenly saw photographs of heavily-loaded Ghana-Must-Go bags in his house, while he held discussion with one of the presidential aspirants at the time. Nobody could say for sure what the content of the bags were. It was however enough to say it was quite suggestive of something ignoble. But somehow, the story was managed away from sustained public scrutiny. The jarred explanation was that Adamu had just hired a personal photographer who was “too zealous” and eager to demonstrate competence. The next time we heard from Adamu was the rounds of postponements of pre-primary election activities, one of the reasons the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was compelled to shift the deadline for party primaries by nine days. This was after he had disorganised the zoning arrangement of the party which had earlier exclusively zoned the party’s presidential slot to the Southern part of the country. When Adamu came on board, he managed to convince President Mohammadu Buhari that the position should be thrown open. That was how and when the likes of the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, the Jigawa State governor, Mohammed Badaru and former Zamfara State governor, Ahmed Sani Yerima, all got into the presidential race, thus confusing the polity. Perhaps what was far more intriguing was how, few days to the presidential primaries, early this month, Senator Adamu suddenly announced that President Buhari had endorsed Ahmad Lawan as the presidential consensus candidate of the party. The Adamu announcement came against the backdrop of the resolution of the Northern Governors’ forum that, in

pursuit of fairness and equity, power should shift to the south, thus a Southerner should emerge as the party’s presidential candidate. But Adamu was bent on complicating the process. He unilaterally announced that Lawan, from Yobe State, a far-flung North East state, had been endorsed by Mr President. Alas, it was a lie. A Black lie! It took the determination of all the APC governors, who drove to Adamu’s house to confront him, to discover that the National Chairman was merely flying a kite. A dangerous kite. A kite that could scatter the party. Many believe that the matter was allowed to die because it was damn too close to the party’s presidential primary. As it happened, the APC presidential primary was held between June 6 and 8. Ahmad Lawan was among the thirteen aspirants who contested the election. He Polled 152 votes, to come fourth. The Presidential primary came last. All other primaries for elective offices had held before June 6. That of the senatorial contest held on May 21, according to the INEC timetable. Perhaps in anticipation of the success of the “coup” he planned with Senator Adamu, Lawan had concentrated his efforts on the presidential race. We however now hear that he had secretly arranged a “placeholder” ( a new political lexicon) candidate for his Yobe-north senatorial district. The man who emerged as the APC senatorial candidate for Yobe-North (when the primary was legally and openly held) is Bashir Machina, having scored 289 votes. But Lawan, determined to eat his cake and still have it, had arranged that Machina will stand in the gap for him, in case the presidential plot does not work out, then he would revert to take up the senatorial ticket. As it happened, the presidential plan failed, and so Lawan headed back home to take over from Machina. But the latter believed Lawan came too late. He has already begun to enjoy and savour the status of a senatorial candidate. He was no longer willing to step down for Lawan. But Lawan will not hear any of that “trash”. He is determined and desperate to retain his seat in the National Assembly, 23 years after he had been in the parliament, by hook

or by crook. Many are wondering whether the parliamentarian representation in that district is the birthright of Ahmad Lawan. If he had done 23 full years of unbroken representation, is it not just fair and equitable to allow others to also represent the district in the upper House? However, Mr Machina will not bulge. He insists he remains the APC senatorial candidate for Yobe North and that he is not going to surrender his certificate. Hear him: “I did not withdraw for anybody, and will not withdraw because that is a matter of right. Removing my name, I consider it very undemocratic, illegal and of course, inhuman” But despite his insistence, Adamu is back with his electoral magic again. He wants to wangle Ahmad Lawan’s name into the list, even when Lawan did not contest the senatorial election in his Yobe State. He has in fact, removed Machina’s name and unilaterally replaced it with Ahmad Lawan’s and submitted same to INEC, in clear breach of the law, propriety and the ethos of justice. Worse still, Adamu is now claiming that Lawan contested the Senatorial primary in Yobe north. Really? Who conducted that primary wherein Lawan emerged? Who were his fellow contestants? What did he score? Adamu, it appears, is determined to be an old and irresponsible liar. He is a lawyer. But must he also be a liar? Confronted by journalists in Ekiti, he described the replacement of Machina’s name with Lawan’s as “negativities”. What does he mean by that? What happened to Lawan also happened to Godswill Akpabio. If Akpabio’s name will not be supplanted for the real person who won the primary contest in Akwa Ibom, why will Lawan’s own be different. Gov Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, who also wanted to run for the presidency under the PDP had a similar plot, but was smart enough to discontinue his presidential race and got the placeholder to step down for him before the deadline. Adamu should not be allowed to damage the APC. At nearly 76, he should be a go-to elder when there is a problem in the party, not one to be generating and spreading infamy and mischief like a social media activist.

Legacy projects my foot! People are dying of hunger and insecurity and you are talking about 2nd Niger bridge. Is it not those who have life that will use the bridge? Or the so-called many internal roads and inter-state roads, are they meant for ghosts? The roads are for the living. Besides, do you know that our debt profile has now increased to over six trillion Naira? Do you know what we are owing China? What kind of country is this? They say we have spent over N4 trillion in subsidizing fuel importation, yet, we cannot find petrol to buy. Seven years after, the Buhari government can neither build new refineries nor fix the existing ones. We are the only OPEC country that imports refined petroleum products. Diesel is now selling for over N800 per litre. Industries are shutting down as production cost hits the roof. Banks and even Supreme Court justices are cutting down operation time because of the exorbitant cost of running diesel generators. Every year, Aso Rock, the very seat of the federal government, budgets billions of Naira for generator expenses. Are we a normal people? For the fifth time this year alone, national electricity grid has collapsed, as if it is standing on plastic feet. Power generation has dropped to less than 10 megawatts for a country of over 200 million people. Do you think we are normal? And you say Nigeria is better off today? How do we expect investors in such an environment? Who made that assessment? Look, you don’t understand what is happening. Do you know there are millions of Nigerians who don’t know how they will get their dinner tonight? Do you know how many hundreds of thousands of Nigerian youths are jobless university graduates? Why do you think the #EndSARS protest of 2020 resonated so loudly across Nigeria? In 2015, how much was a bag of rice? We were buying it between N15,000 and N1700 per bag. Today, after our CBN has supposedly granted local farmers huge loans to grow the same rice, that same bag of rice now is over N30,000. At the time Buhari took over in 2015, a US Dollar was exchanging for N160/$. Today it is about N610/$. There is hunger in the land. Cost of living is terribly beyond the reach of millions of Nigerians. Instead of creating the promised 3 million jobs per year, over 5 million Nigerians have lost their jobs in the last seven years. (Raising his hands like a traffic controller) Hey, Stop there! Jobs were lost because of COVID-19 pandemic. It was all over the world, it was not peculiar to Nigeria. In fact, many countries have not recovered from the global effect of that afﬂiction. So, leave Buhari out of this. How convenient! Do you remember that Nigeria was already in a state of economic coma before the outbreak of the pandemic? Anybody who claims life is better now is an enemy of the country. If you even discount every other thing, the fact that thousands of people have been killed and people are being unsafe even in their homes, you will know that we

Buhari

are damn worse off than we were in 2015. We have simply jumped from frying pan to an acidic fire, under the Buhari administration, and you are here claiming that life is better. What are the indices of that claim? Look, as I speak, 50 of the passengers kidnapped since March 28 in the Abuja—Kaduna train attack are still in the bush. They are now being threatened by snakes and scorpions. Nine of them are said to have died in captivity. And you say life is now better? Is there any week we do not hear of mindless killings and abductions? Is that the sign of being better? Churches are being bombed here and there.And every now and then, there is a standing claim of “Mr President has directed the Service Chiefs to do XYZ”. When those instructions are not carried out, what are the repercussions? Can’t you see we are not making any progress as a people? Unless you are rich enough to send your children to private universities, public universities can no longer guarantee successful completion of varsity education. What a country! This is no to talk of the offensive miasma of corruption, where just one man could steal N80 billion unchecked.... Has our suffering not increased geometrically? How many more rivers of sorrow and hardship do we have to cross before we will experience thralldom? You must not dabble into classiﬁed security matters. It is not an acrossthe-counter issue. It is a complex matter beyond the national boundaries. It is a problem that stretches from here to the Sahel region. Security matter is everybody’s matter. All hands must be on deck. It did not start with the Buhari administration. It did not start today and will not just go by tomorrow. After all, the Chibok Girls’ kidnap did not occur under the Buhari administration. And did you not even hear that the military rescued another two of the Chibok girls last Wednesday? Government is on it.The train attack victims will be released. Buhari is hopeful that all the issues will be resolved before he hands over. Hmmmmm, you know what they call delusion? Look, the rain fell, rain water did not fill the bucket; is it the dew that will fill the bucket? A man had seven years to tackle a problem but he practically kept sleeping on duty, is it now that it is quarter to go that he will solve the problems? Don’t deceive yourself, it is clear Buhari was a mistake. A national mistake! Nigerians cannot wait for May next year for him to go back to his goats and cattle in Daura, so we can have our country back. Regular politicians have failed us. Irregular politicians like Buhari have even failed us all the more. That is why many people are deeply disenchanted with these same old politicians who promise nothing and do nothing, but empty the treasury. Thankfully, the message of a New Nigeria is breaking and bursting every corner of the country. It is resonating. Nigerians, especially the youth want their country back, from those who have dealt so harshly with us over the years.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

FG, Germany Synergize to Ensure Security of Local, Foreign Investors Esther Oluku A Delegate of the German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria, Ms. Kathrina Felgenhauer, has said that talks with the federal government to secure the assets and interests of Local and foreign investors are ongoing. Felgenhauer made the disclosure at a press briefing in Lagos yesterday to announce the second edition of the West African Clean Energy and Environment (WACEE) Trade Fair and Conference 2022. Felgenhauer stated that although the conference would not focus on addressing the general security challenges currently being experienced in the country, conversations bothering

on security of Investments for local and foreign investors are “still ongoing”. Felgenhauer also expressed optimism on the success and impact of the event noting that hosting a physical event, which called together investors and innovators from around the West Africa subregion and the world at large was novel. “This is a new experience for us even though the Delegation of the German Industry and Commerce has been in Nigeria for the last forty years. We had plans to bring WACEE, which began in Ghana to Lagos in 2020 but because of the Covid situation, we were unable to have a physical event.

This edition will be our first ever physical event in Lagos. It would be holding here in Lagos at the Landmark Center, physically and online”, she said. Speaking on behalf of the Commercial Section of the Austrian Embassy, the Commercial Attaché, Mr. Hannes Scheiner, stated that as part of it’s support for the Fair, Austrian companies are committed to participating. On his part, the Acting Consul General for Germany in Lagos, Mr. Marton Köver, noted that the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria is optimistic about the business potential of the Nigerian market and would continue to spread the word on the endless possibilities available in Nigeria.

GCR Accords Sundry Foods A-(NG) and A2 (NG), National Credit Ratings Leading Foods Services Company in Nigeria, Sundry Foods Limited (SFL) has been accorded the national scale long-term and short-term Issuer ratings of A(NG) and A2 (NG),respectively by international rating agency, Global Credit Ratings (GCR). SFL’s Head, Marketing, Mr Nduka Mokwunye, said in a statement that the affirmation of the company’s national credit ratings by GCR was contained in the latest reportof the credit rating agency. ‘’GCR Ratings (“GCR”) has affirmed the national scale long-term and short-term Issuer ratings of A-(NG) and A2(NG), respectively assigned to Sundry

Foods Limited (“Sundry Foods” or “the Company”). Concurrently, GCR has affirmed the national scale long-term Issue rating of A-(NG)accorded to Sundry Foods Funding SPV Plc’s N2.5bn Series 1 Bonds. The Outlook on the rating has been revised to Positive,’’ the statement said quoting GCR report. In arriving at its decision, GCR reiterated that the company has sustained a strong earnings trajectory over the review period even as it said that SFL’s revenue almost doubled and outperformed budget. ‘’This was underpinned by growing customer patronage

and higher prices across business segments. Despite persistent inflationary pressure and the recent surge in energy cost, efficient cost control saw EBITDA margin improve to 18.6% in FY21 and 26% during 1Q FY22 (FY20:17.8%),’’ GCR said. GCR further explained that the Sundry Foods’ competitive position is supported by its well-entrenched brands within the fast-expanding Nigerian quick service restaurant sector, notingthat the company rolled out additional 40 outlets over the last 12 months to May 2022, bringing its total outlets to 145 across 11 States, thus enhancing market share.

Stakeholders Harps on Enhanced Risk Management at Government, Banks Nume Ekeghe The Chairman Access Bank, Mrs. Ajoritsedere Awosika has advised that risk management practices should be upheld not just within the private sectors but a factor to be considered at the federal level when planning the federal budget. This was also the opinion of the Chairman Board of Trustees, Risk Management Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) Ms. Folakemi Fatogbe who both spoke at RIMAN’s 21st annual conference where risk professionals gathered to discuss ‘Sustainable and Enterprise Risk Mangemegent:2022 and Beyond.’ Awosika said: “We look forward to a time in Nigeria, where the budget will be put to test by an organisation like RIMAN to de-risk the budget

for the country in order to prefer solutions and to be very sensitive to those issues that go wrong.” “Risk exists in all socioeconomic matters, environment, governance, and so on. So, and when I you about budgetary I mean that the budget is the soul of the implementation and management of the people in getting specifics to be done for them. So in carrying out these activities, there are risks associated with them. So I’m saying, RIMAN should take a position where they partner with the government to monitor and evaluate and bring out the risk, negative or positive, the challenges and how to overcome them so that we’re able to get outcomes and impact that the budgets ab initio set out to achieve.” On risk management practices for banks, she added: “The idea of

sustainability certification should be taken very seriously by the banks. Access bank have it and also issues of risk management must be a fulcrum of looking at all the other areas in the bank not just credits, but in audits and other management issues. There are reputational risks because of actions or inactions. So you can see it’s all-encompassing, and that should be the order of the day towards good governance at the banking level or at the government level or the private sectors in any of the sectors wherever we need that.” Fatogbe said: “Sustainability is very, very important right now because there’s so many things at risk. And sustainability is important because it talks about how institutions how countries can actually succeed and succeed for the majority of their people.”

DKK Partners Announces Africa Expansion DKK Partners an emerging markets (EM) foreign exchange (FX) liquidity provider, has announced a major expansion in Africa as the company’s revenues surpass £63m - up from £3m the previous year. In a statement, the company said the record growth, fuelled by high demand for DKK’s suite of services, including FX risk management, access to deep liquidity pools, and local collections, will see four new offices opened overseas in the Middle East and across Pan Africa

in addition to the company’s headquarters in Mayfair, London. “As well as the opening of new local offices, the team has increased its headcount from five to 15 fulltime staff, unveiled a new brand identity and announced with plans for further senior hires and local country managers in the coming months, “it stated. Commenting, Co-founder of DKK Partners, Dominic Duru, said: “It’s been an incredible year for our business, and with demand for our services surging, the time has come to

open one-the-ground offices across key territories to give customers direct access to the very best consultancy. As we enter a new cycle of growth, we’re planning to make major investments in our platform, products and services as well as hire seasoned industry experts to further develop and grow our brand. Being of African heritage I am honoured to be able to give something back pushing our economic inclusion philosophy within emerging markets which are dear to DKK’s values”

L-R:Civil Society Organisation Desk Oﬃcer, Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr. Mohammed Lawal; Director of Finance,Strengthening Civic Advocacy Local Engagement (SCALE), Mrs. Domini Maduhu; Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), Mr. Auwal Ibrahim Musa; Executive Commissioner Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning, NUPRC, Dr. Kelechi Ofoegbu; and Representative of the HRM Oduosa of UtagbaOgbe Kingdom, Delta State, Chief.Dennis Ejechi, at the Consultative forum on legal framework ETOP UKUTT review in Extractive Sector organised by CISLAC in Lagos...recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT MONDAY MAY 30, 2022

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $118.84 a barrel on Friday, compared with $116.50 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zaﬁro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

MARKET NEWS

Shareholders Tackle CWG Management over Dividend Payout Kayode Tokede The shareholders of CWG plc, yesterday in Lagos requested of the board and management to consider dividend payout following an impressive 2021 financial year growth in revenue that impacted on N449.64million profit before tax from N443.15million reported in 2020. Speaking at the company’s 17th

Annual General Meeting (AGM), the national coordinator of passionate shareholders of Nigeria, Mr. Abayomi Adebayo noted that the company reported an impressive growth in revenue that impacted on profit before tax He hinted that, “What the impressive 2021 financial year results, I believe very soon, dividend will be paid to shareholders.” Another shareholder at the

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

meeting, Alhaja Ikudaisi commended the management for posting impressive 2021 results, demanding to know when the management is going to reward shareholders who invested in the company. According to her, “One important aspect is missing in the company’s 2021 financial statement and that is dividend payout to shareholders.” “How soon are shareholders

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

expecting a dividend payout?” she questioned. Responding, the Chairman, CWG Plc, Phillip Obioha, said, “The trend at where the company is coming; the losses and where we are now, you will see it is telling a good story. We are almost at the end of turning the company around. “The Group Managing Director and his team have done a

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

great job in the turnaround of the company to where we are now. No matter how small it’s, we are determined to declare a dividend to shareholders. As long as we continue to have growth, we should be able to pay a dividend to shareholders.” He noted that the company is having problem with foreign exchange scarcity, stressing that a lot of initial controls are put in

O F

place to minimum the losses He added that, “There are hedging structures and other things that have been used to minimize the company’s exposure in foreign exchange losses.” According to him, the financial performance in 2021, was borne out of the various strategic initiatives, growth and expansion of the group’s products in payment systems and platforms.

2 3 / 0 6 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

Friday, June 24, 2022

Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index fell byGains 14bps6bps The dŚŝƐĚĂǇ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞǆ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďǇ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ The Thisday Afrinvest 40 index gained 6bps to

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

at 1,674.89 ŝŶĚĞǆ points due to sell-pressure ZENITH (-0.6%), Ϯ͕ϰϮϰ͘ϯϮ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ on ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ WAPCO (-1.3%), and UBA (-0.7%). These stocks cumula-

MTNN (+3.8%), FBNH (+9.8%), and ETI ;нϮ͘ϭйͿ͘

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůǇ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘

ƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůǇ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϭ͘ϳй ŽĨ

Current Price

Ticker

the index. ASI up 11bps as DANGCEM Gains 3.3%

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ Performance ĚĂǇ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ASIŝŶ up 0.5% ,KEz&>KhZ Bullish Persists... (+9.8%), E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, (+0.7%) bol-

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ŝƚƐ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ stered ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ the local bourse as the All-

performance as the benchmark index rose 0.5% Share

index

rose

5 Zenith Bank PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC 8 FBN Holdings Plc 9 Lafarge Africa PLC

MTNN (+9.8%),ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ and UBN ;нϲ͘ϮйͿ͘ proved (+3.9%), to -1.8% FBNH while ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌŽƐĞ ďǇ

10 Access Holdings PLC 11 United Bank for Africa PLC

േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚǇ ǁĂƐ ŵŝǆĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůǇ͕ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϮϬ͘ϴй

12 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 13 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďǇ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ value

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďǇ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ The most traded stocks

grew by േϭϯϬ͘ϮďŶ ƚŽ േϮϳ͘ϴƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚǇ by volume were dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, (11.1m

dampened as volume and value traded;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ dipped ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> Ϯ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ ϭϬ͘ϲй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ƚŽ ϮϮϯ͘Ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďǇ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

14 SEPLAT Energy PLC 15 Ecobank Transnational Inc

Bearish Sector Performance

30.7% 142.4%

ROA

P/E

5.3x

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

P/BV

21.9%

5.7%

0.0%

46.0%

81.4%

18.2%

6.2%

229.50

3.8%

7.9%

16.5%

105.6%

13.9%

14.5x

17.9x

5.7%

71.90

0.0%

6.0%

7.2%

23.3%

12.1%

27.0x

6.1x

3.7%

20.95

-0.2%

4.3%

-19.4%

19.8%

3.2%

3.4x

0.7x

14.3%

29.0%

0.8x

6.4%

12.1%

36.8%

1.2% 6.9%

21.60

-1.6%

4.2%

-14.1%

20.6%

2.6%

2.7x

0.5x

14.4%

275.00

0.0%

3.9%

7.0%

37.7%

16.4%

12.4x

4.5x

7.4%

8.0%

1,400.00

0.0%

2.6%

-10.1%

112.8%

16.1%

24.3x

28.3x

3.6%

4.1%

10.10

9.8%

2.5%

-11.4%

20.1%

1.9%

2.2x

0.4x

3.6%

45.8%

27.00

0.0%

3.1%

12.7%

15.5%

11.1%

7.3x

1.1x

7.4%

13.7%

9.50

0.0%

2.3%

2.2%

17.9%

1.6%

2.1x

0.3x

7.4%

48.2%

7.45

-0.7%

1.7%

-7.5%

15.6%

1.4%

2.1x

0.3x

13.3%

46.8%

32.50

0.0%

1.2%

-9.7%

15.6%

2.1%

6.9x

1.1x

9.2%

14.6%

62.50

-1.6%

1.6%

25.0%

10.5%

3.9%

26.9x

2.7x

2.6%

3.7%

1,290.00

0.0%

2.6%

98.5%

7.5%

3.6%

13.2x

1.0x

3.2%

7.6%

9.70

2.1%

1.3%

11.5%

18.4%

1.0%

2.1x

0.4x

6.9%

48.2%

16 International Brew eries PLC 17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC 18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc 23 United Capital PLC 24 Guinness Nigeria PLC

േϮ͘ϵďŶ͘

0.06%

ROE

1,732.40

3 BUA Cement Plc 4 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC

ƚŽ ϱϭ͕ϲϭϴ͘ϳϯ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůǇ͕ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ 11bps to 39,550.36 points. zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ

;ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůǇ͗ ϮϬ͘ϯйͿ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ

2424.32

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

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

5.70

0.9%

1.1%

15.2%

-9.9%

-3.4%

193.50

0.0%

1.2%

36.3%

43.6%

25.5%

10.1x

4.2x

4.1%

9.9%

32.75

-0.5%

0.9%

15.5%

15.9%

4.5%

5.0x

0.8x

6.6%

19.9% 38.8%

1.1x

-9.4%

3.39

3.0%

0.7%

32.9%

13.3%

1.2%

2.6x

0.3x

10.4%

2.04

0.0%

0.4%

-12.1%

2.9%

0.9%

19.5x

0.6x

12.3%

5.1%

16.15

0.9%

0.4%

-7.2%

16.7%

6.6%

8.7x

1.4x

6.2%

11.5%

10.7%

1.1%

3.50

0.0%

0.4%

17.1%

12.25

-2.0%

0.4%

23.7%

90.50

0.0%

0.7%

132.1%

1.25

-2.3%

0.3%

30.2%

17.8%

8.1%

13.5x

0.3x

5.7%

3.1x

12.4%

2.2x

0.5%

0.5x

1.6%

7.4%

Bullish Sector Performance

25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 26 Presco PLC

165.00

-9.8%

0.5%

87.9%

7.7x

4.6x

4.0%

Across our coverage sectors, performance was

27 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 28 AIICO Insurance PLC

11.75

0.0%

0.2%

-11.0%

18.5%

5.7%

11.8x

2.1x

3.4%

8.5%

0.65

0.0%

0.2%

-7.1%

21.1%

3.6%

26.4x

0.6x

3.1%

3.8%

bullish as 4 indices gained, 1 lost whileƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ the IndusŝŶĚĞǆ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ

29 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 30 Custodian and Allied Insurance

234.50

0.0%

0.2%

5.7%

1.7x

8.3%

7.00

0.0%

0.2%

-11.4%

19.5%

5.5%

4.1x

0.8x

7.1%

24.3%

er 'ŽŽĚƐ Insurance down 4.6% and and trial GoodsĂŶĚŝŶĚĞǆ ĐůŽƐĞĚ indices, ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ AFR-ICT

31 Vitafoam Nigeria PLC 32 Unilever Nigeria PLC

22.50

0.0%

0.2%

0.0%

50.3%

19.0%

4.2x

2.1x

7.2%

23.9%

14.50

-2.0%

0.1%

0.0%

8.8%

5.4%

28.4x

1.2x

3.4%

3.5%

ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚ-ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> (Insurance indices led the advancers, up 1.1% and

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 34 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

26.90

0.0%

0.2%

20.4%

18.1%

2.3%

6.0x

0.8x

9.2%

16.7%

6.1%

0.7%

9.5x

0.7x

Across sectors under our coverage, performance was

bearish as 4 indices lost, 1 index gained ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &Z-/ d

9.1%),

hE/> s Z

(-3.5%),

>/E< ^^hZ

(-6.4%),

Ϭ͘ϳй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ DdEE

35 Oando PLC 36 Wema Bank PLC

;нϯ͘ϵйͿ͕ ,/W> ;нϴ͘ϬйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ t W/ ;Ϯ͘ϱйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝͲ

37 NEM Insurance PLC 38 Sterling Bank PLC

ůĂƌůǇ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ K E K ;нϯ͘ϱйͿ͕ Z Ks ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K (-0.8%), ŝŶ E/d, (-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͘

39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

and D E^ Z (-Ϯ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ

ing indices fell by Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůů-

ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞǆ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ ;нϭ͘ϵйͿ͕ d/ ;нϮ͘ϭйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h E ;нϲ͘ϮйͿ ĚƌŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ er, & Gas up and 1.8% driven by higher priceby 0.5% appreciaOil ĂŶŬŝŶŐ indices and

ƟŽŶ in E' D (+3.3%).

Ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ͘ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ Consumer Goods index was the sole loser, down 0.3% due /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

ƚŽ ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ;-ϭ͘ϲйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ hE/> s Z ;/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďǇ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ

Ϯ͘ϬйͿ͘

;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ 1.6x ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯǆ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ stocks

Outlook

6.00

6.2%

0.1%

1.7%

5.90

3.5%

0.1%

33.5%

10.6% -152.4%

3.15

0.0%

337.5%

15.7%

0.9%

11.6x

1.7x

7.8%

8.6%

3.64

0.0%

0.1%

-19.1%

22.3%

12.9%

3.8x

0.7x

6.0%

26.6%

3.0x

0.3x

6.6%

33.3%

1.52

-1.3%

0.1%

0.7%

10.3%

1.0%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

-17.7%

-4.1%

6.25

0.0%

16.2%

1.8x

-9.5%

1.0x

1.1%

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

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

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

FB NH

10.10

9.8%

M B EN EF IT

40.1

0.0%

F T N C OC OA

0.35

9.4%

OA N D O

28.5

3.5%

C H IP LC

0.67

8.1%

FCM B

24.5

0.0%

LIVEST OC K

1.54

6.9%

A C C ESSC OR P

24.1

0.0%

UB N

6.00

6.2%

FB NH

12.4

9.8%

P R EST IGE

0.40

5.3%

Z EN IT H B A N K

9.4

-1.6%

7.2

-0.2%

229.50

3.8%

GT C O

J A P A ULGOLD

0.29

3.6%

T R A N SC OR P

6.3

-2.3%

OA N D O

5.90

3.5%

UB A

6.2

-0.7%

F ID ELIT YB K

3.39

3.0%

UC A P

4.9

-2.0%

M TNN

12.9%

advanced while 15 stocks declined. MRS (+9.9%), MAY-

breadth, weakened to LASACO -0.06 from 0.03x 18 while ABCTRANS (-8.3%), (-6.7%), and asLIVESTOCK (-4.8%) ledϮϮ losers. Previous day,ϲϵ weĐůŽƐĞĚ expect ŇĂƚ͘ the ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͕ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝǆĞĚ͕ ĂƐ earnings season

Today, we expect a bearish performance on the gradually winds up.

ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ǁĞĂŬ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͘

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

T o p 10 L o s e r s

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ BAKER (+9.8%), and HONYFLOUR (+9.8%) ďǇ led ŵĂƌŬĞƚ gainers T ic k er A C A D EM Y ELLA H LA KES

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

1.17

-10.0%

P R ESC O

383.2

-9.8%

-10.0%

M TNN

372.9

3.8%

3.96 2.20

-9.8%

A IR T ELA F R I

303.2

0.0%

165.00

-9.8%

A C C ESSC OR P

229.0

0.0%

M EYER

2.52

-9.7%

Z EN IT H B A N K

205.0

-1.6%

J OH N H OLT

0.58

-9.4%

OA N D O

168.9

3.5% -0.2%

ET R A N Z A C T P R ESC O

NP FM CRFB K

1.65

-8.3%

GT C O

150.8

M A YB A KER

3.66

-8.0%

D A N GC EM

139.3

0.0%

121.8

9.8%

121.8

0.0%

R T B R ISC OE

0.48

-7.7%

FB NH

R EGA LIN S

0.26

-7.1%

SEP LA T

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 22June-2022, unless otherwise stated.

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 193.84 194.99 14.93% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 6.32% Nigeria International Debt Fund 319.80 319.80 4.86% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 105.93 107.08 7.35% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.08% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.69 3.75 4.25% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 4.87% Anchoria Equity Fund 147.51 149.16 5.93% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.20 1.20 5.35% info@anchoriaam.com ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 21.80 22.46 7.47% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 509.13 524.48 12.85% ARM Ethical Fund 43.22 44.53 10.95% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.06 1.07 -1.66% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.04 1.05 2.91% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.31% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 105.86 105.86 8.72% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,117.82 1,117.82 11.78% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.13 2.13 7.45% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.35 2.40 18.87% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalﬁf@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,015.20 1,015.20 4.42% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.05 1.05 4.09% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.15% Paramount Equity Fund 19.91 20.26 14.12% Women's Investment Fund 151.29 152.17 6.19% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.25% Cordros Milestone Fund 135.40 136.31 8.61% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 109.94 109.94 5.10% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 4.76% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 5.98% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,163.06 1,176.77 -0.11% EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.03% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.05 1.05 8.52% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.06 1.06 16.21% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 102.62 102.62 4.55% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1466.49 1466.49 10.62% FBN Balanced Fund 195.65 197.03 11.64% FBN Halal Fund 120.64 120.64 10.15% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.83% FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) 124.27 124.27 5.73% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 167.08 169.25 9.89% 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 4.74% Legacy Debt Fund 3.96 3.96 -1.09% Legacy Equity Fund 1.95 1.98 11.92% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.23 1.23 1.89% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

4,193.38 3,571.47 100.00

4,254.40 3,571.47 100.00

16.30% 6.27% 8.09%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.10 1.10 3.92% 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 N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A 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 1.58 1.60 11.13% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,173.32 1,173.32 4.65% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 12.54 12.60 14.68% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 8.21% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 102.52 102.52 7.83% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 7.96% 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 N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 128.59 131.45 8.68% 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 1.04 1.04 8.54% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,690.46 3,732.49 -2.18% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 239.38 239.38 0.22% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.49 1.51 -0.66% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 321.34 321.34 0.32% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 276.52 280.42 0.00% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.67% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 12,478.73 12,651.28 -1.37% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.32 1.32 0.32% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.71 118.71 0.19% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 110.05 110.05 0.54% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 1.02 1.05 13.29% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.45 1.47 9.13% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.16 1.18 10.84% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.06 1.06 3.44% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.89 0.00 3.09% United Capital Eurobond Fund 121.54 0.00 2.60% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.72% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.90 14.04 5.44% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 16.40 16.58 12.24% Zenith Income Fund 22.72 22.72 3.48% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.94% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 3.89 3.99 -2.92% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 6.27 6.37 7.27% Vetiva Grifﬁn 30 Exchange Traded Fund 18.88 19.08 6.75% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.83% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 21.46 21.66 7.35% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 154.03 156.03 -2.35%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

117.02 51.68

3.38% 1.63%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.99 143.58 113.14 17.10 16.40

15.09 147.05 115.57 17.20 16.50

7.13% -4.95% -4.83% 21.61% 5.37%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.55

12.10%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

FRIDAY JUNE 24, 2022 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY JUNE 24, 2022 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

NEWSXTRA

OSUN CAMPAIGN COUNCIL REVVING TO GO... L-R: Deputy National Chairman (North), All Progressives Congress (APC), Aljahi Abubakar Kyari; Governor of Kano State and Co-Chairman, Osun state campaign council, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje; APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and National Secretary of the APC Senator Iyiola Omisore, during the inauguration of the Osun State Governorship Campaign Council Committee, at the Party's National Secretariat in Abuja...yesterday ENOCK REUBEN

Osun 2022: My Tolerance Level for Failure is Zero, Adamu Tells Campaign Council Says APC prepared for PDP's 'money bag' candidate Insists he doesn't care if opposition complains, APC must retain Osun It will be conclusive this time around, Ganduje vows Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, says the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, under his leadership, has zero tolerance for failure. Adamu said this yesterday at the APC national secretariat in Abuja during the inauguration of 86-member National Campaign Council for the Osun State governorship election, scheduled for July 26. The APC national chairman said as far as the Osun State governorship

election was concerned, the campaign council should do whatever it takes within the law to win the election, saying he doesn’t care if the opposition complains. He said having won the Ekiti State governorship election, held recently, the next hurdle, which the party must cross, was the Osun election. Adamu told the campaign council, "You will recall that about a week ago, we faced the challenge posed by the Ekiti State gubernatorial election and by the grace of God, we emerged in flying colours. "The next hurdle we have to

N25.7bn Fraud: Appeal Court Affirms Conviction of Ex-Bank PHB MD, Atuche, Others Reduces jail term to eight years, discharges wife Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, yesterday upheld the conviction of a former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB Plc, Francis Atuche, as well as the bank’s former Chief Financial Officer, Ugo Anyanwu. Atuche and his co-convict, Anyanwu, had approached the appellate court to set aside their conviction by Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on June 16, 2021 over a N25.7 billion fraud. The panel, comprising Justices Sadiq Umar, Adebukola Banjoko and Kayode Bada, while resolving all issues in the appeal in favour of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), except the sentencing, also clarified that Atuche's jail term was 12 years concurrently, rather than the120 years, handed down by the lower court, if calculated consecutively. Also, the panel reduced Anyanwu's jail term from 10 years to eight years and affirmed the discharge and acquittal of Atuche's wife, Elizabeth. A statement by EFCC stated that an abridged ruling read by Justice Umar, the three-man panel upheld the EFCC's arguments and

unanimously dismissed the appeal. In 2021, Justice Okunnu, while sentencing Atuche and Anyanwu, had upheld the arguments of the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro. About three years after their arraignment by the EFCC in 2011, they had approached the Court of Appeal, to challenge their trial by the lower court for lack of jurisdiction. But in a judgment delivered in September 2016, the court had ordered Justice Okunnu to hands-off the trial, but did not quash the numbers of counts against the defendants. Consequently, the EFCC had approached the Supreme Court to set aside the judgment and order a trial in the matter. In its judgment, the apex court directed that the case be returned to Justice Okunnu for continuation of trial. While the trial lasted, Pinheiro opposed Atuche’s contention that the funds in dispute were loaned and not stolen. Delivering judgment, Justice Okunnu had held that “The first and third defendants did not debunk the evidence of the prosecution that the loans were used to purchase shares. They rather contended that the monies granted as loan could be used for whatever purposes.” The trial court, therefore, sentenced Atuche and Anyanwu, but acquitted Atuche’s wife.

confront with all vigour, with all strength that we can muster, is the forthcoming Osun State governorship election. Ekiti was very easy, but I want to get everyone ready; Osun will be more difficult for us, because, one, Osun is bigger by population, bigger by number of local governments and even every local government has unique characteristic problem that we will face." Adamu said he had been informed that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ademola Adeleke, was a “moneybag”, but assured the people that APC would be ready for him. According to the national chairman, "I was told that the governorship candidate of the opposition is a moneybag. So, we must be prepared to face him eyeball to eyeball. We are going there to win and that plan to win, the ability to executive the plan rests with the leadership that this council is going to provide in the campaign efforts.

"I urge you to leave no stone unturned. I urge you to go there and do whatever is doable in the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Electoral law to win. My tolerance level and this National Working Committee’S level for failure is really really zero. "Most of you have been statesmen in your own right, the offices you held before today, but for this exercise, take off the big guns, take off the creepy suits and go down the trench and bring that victory we want." He warned members of the campaign council not to come back to the party crying, saying there is no room for failure. He added, "Nobody should come back to us crying, failure is not our own by the grace of God. Whatever it takes within the laws of the land, I said go for it, win the election. Let them go complain, let them go wherever, let's win the election. We have no apologies whatsoever for

this posture.” Adamu said the Ekiti and Osun elections were critical to the general election in 2023. He stated, "It will go in our credentials that we have the winning track record. This National Working Committee that you elected, we have a commitment. What we mean by the commitment is the 2023 general election facing us. We have to face it squarely. There's no option to wining the national election and these state elections are, like I said, forebears to the national election. We must show those who love us by showing those who are our adversaries in the strongest possible way that we are in control. "No apologies to anybody; we are the party in government; we are the party ruling the country today, no apologies for anybody. The reality is Nigerians chose APC and we will do everything we can to retain this position of envy. “Now, we have determined as a

party, who will be our flag bearer in the forthcoming presidential election in 2023. "We have Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as our presidential candidate. You all know that. So, these elections are first steps we are taking towards victory in 2023. We must not play with this. We start preparing for these now. “The challenge, everybody's arrow is pointing at us, so we must show our capacity to bear the pressure and move out forces forward to victory. We are winning the battle of the states, but the real war to be won is the presidential election in 2023. And I do hope that we will not spare efforts to ensure that we come back victorious." Co-chair of the campaign council and Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, assured the people that the Osun election would be conclusive this time around, saying the campaign team would ensure that the party achieves victory.

Anambra Killings: House Seeks FG Intervention, Calls for Disarmament of Persons Carrying Unlicensed Guns Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to address some of the underlying factors causing unrest and violence in the south-east and urgently set in motion the process of disarming different unlicensed persons carrying guns in the region and other parts of the country. This is with the aim of enthroning a safe environment and polity towards the general elections. The House also urged the Heads of Security Agencies to work towards security of lives and property by embracing Early Warning and Early Response Mechanism to collaborate with focal security agencies in sharing of intelligence information. It further urged the federal government to urgently intervene in the rescue mission of Anambra State by extending financial

support and other strategic logistics to enable the adequately contain the wave of insecurity in the state. The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance on the need to stabilise the polity in the south east as a build up to the 2023 general election, sponsored by Hon. Dozie Nwankwo, at yesterday’s plenary. Moving the motion, Nwankwo lamented that the recently concluded party primaries further exposed the polity to the activities of the miscreants who terrorise the region, striking at will and retreating unchallenged. Though he said insecurity cuts across the nation, he noted thst the south-east, particularly Anambra Staté, in recent times has been facing security challenges. He noted the giant strides made by Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, to reduce the activities of the activities of unknown gunmen in Anambra

State since assuming office through diplomatic means and other intervention strategies using part of the lean resources of the state. He said that between June 2020 — April 2022, about 8,455 people's lives had been wasted in the zone under reference on account of insecurity and requires to be nipped in the bud. He said, "he believes that with the heightened socio-economic and political activities across the nation, commensurate measures require to be put in place to keep the polity conducive enough for the citizens to actively participate in all these activities particularly in the zone without molestations or fears. Worried that with the elitist crave far political power, poor responses from the security agencies to emergencies become more manifest owing to their numerous challenge. "Alarmed that challenges spanning from lack of sufficient

equipment to corruption in the system, lack of strategic deployment, thereby worsening the integrity and efficiency of the security agencies in the face of increased spate of banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, cultism, ritual killing and worst of all, political killings. “Also mindful of the fact that with the heightened tempo of socio-economic and political activities, the polity must be kept safe and conducive for the citizens to freely participate in the electoral and other activities to achieve the long term result of stable polity." Adopting the motion, the House mandated its Committee on information and technology to liaise with the Ministry of information & Culture and National Orientation Agency to embark on public awareness campaigns and sensitization exercises and report back within 3 weeks for further legislative action.

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

NEWS

MUSEUM FOR PROFESSOR WOLE ALAKIJA... L-R: Provost, College of Medicine, Lagos State University, Professor Mobolji Oludara; former Staﬀ of the CHPH, Dr (Mrs.) Temilola Mosanya; Foundation Provost of the CHPH, Prof. Wole Alakija; CEO, JLT Skin Clinic, Lagos, Dr Ladi Alakija; Head of Department, CHPH, Dr. (Mrs) Modupe Akinyinka; former Director General, NIIA, Lagos, and Prof. Bola A. Akinterinwa, during the Naming of Community Health ABAYOMI AKINYELE and Primary Healthcare Department’s Museum after Professor Wole Alakija at LASUCOM, Ikeja… yesterday

Abducted Abuja-Kaduna Train Passengers’ Families Urge Security Agencies to Intensify Efforts to Release 50 Still in Captivity John Shiklam in Kaduna Families of the abducted passengers in the March 28, Abuja- Kaduna train that was attacked by terrorists have urged security agencies to hasten the process of ensuring the safe release of the remaining 50 victims still being held captive by terrorists as directed by the President Muhammadu Buhari. The terrorists had attacked the Abuja-Kaduna bound passenger train, killed eight people, injured many, while 62 others were abducted. One of the victims was released after a ransom of N100 million was reportedly paid to the terrorists. On June 11, 2022, the terrorists released 11 of the 61 victims following negotiations. However, addressing journalists in Kaduna yesterday, spokesman

of the families of the victims, Dr. Abdulfatai Jimoh, called on security agencies to hasten the process of releasing the remaining 50 hostages as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari. He said the families and relations of the victims would be extremely happy if the presidential directive was given accelerated action that results in a positive outcome. Jimoh said: “Since this dark day of 28th March 2022 only 11 people out of the abducted citizens have been reunited with their families leaving behind 50 innocent Nigerians in the hands of their abductors under horrible conditions of living. “Our hearts were gladdened on Tuesday, 21 June 2022 when Mr. President issued fresh orders to security chiefs to spare no effort in freeing the remaining 50 hostages

Benin Traditional Council Flays Edo Govt’s Withdrawal of Criminal Charges against Ogiamen Chieftaincy Claimant Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City. Benin Chiefs and Enigies yesterday took exception to the withdrawal of criminal charges by Edo State Government against Arisco Rich Osemwingie, who is laying claims to the Ogiamien chieftaincy title in Benin Kingdom. Addressing newsmen in Benin City, the Benin Palace Chiefs and Enigies led by the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe said, "the Benin's both at home and in the diaspora have been very angry over the withdrawal of the criminal case against the said Rich Arisco Osemwingie and one other." Igbe who frowned at the withdrawal of the case by the Edo state government via a publication from the office of the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, noted that the Osemwingie was not an Ogiamien. "We want to hereby state categorically, that the said Mr. Rich Arisco Osemwingie is not Ogiamien. He has no locus standi to claim or be addressed as Ogiamien neither has he any right to the title of Ogiamien of Benin Kingdom. We are told that his relationship with the Ogiamien family is maternal and not paternal, hence he has no right to, or say, in

the Ogiamien chieftaincy title." Igbe said. The Iyase noted that there was no proper consultation with the Oba of Benin Palace before the withdrawal of the criminal case. He further stated that Chief Osarobo Ogiamien, remains the existing Ogiamien of Benin Kingdom, stressing that, the family of Ogiamien has not informed the Palace of his demise. "We, the Benin Chiefs and Enigies will like to reiterate that the said Mr. Rich Arisco Osemwingie and one other committed a sacrilegious offence against the Benin Customs and Traditions and have been adjudged enemies of the Benin Palace and the Benin people in general. "The Edo state government has withdrawn the said criminal charges against Mr. Rich Arisco Osemwingie, but after due consideration, we hereby demand that Mr. Rich Arisco Osemwingie should tender unreserved apology to the Benin people in at least three (3) national newspaper and pledge his unalloyed loyalty to our only and indivisible Benin Throne, which is the Oba of Benin. This apology should be Made within a reasonable time."he said.

alive and in the shortest time possible. “Our joy will know no bounds if this presidential directive is given accelerated action that results in a positive outcome.” He lamented that those still in captivity were, “living under horrendous conditions, many of them are sick with poor medical care in addition to poor nutrition, environmental hazards and more frighteningly living in perpetual

fear of threat to life.” He said, “These conditions have led to deteriorating health status – both physical and psychological of the hostages and it calls for urgent rescue efforts.” Jimoh said families of the captives have been going through trauma and harrowing experience with some already in depression with thoughts of committing suicide. “We cannot wait to see the

end of this nightmare. While we had expected all the women and children (22 people in total) held hostage to have been released in the first phase of the negotiation with the abductors, we are glad to receive the 11 persons now rescued, but our joy will only be complete when all abductees regain their freedom,” he said. He commended the efforts of the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, Heads of Security Agencies,

the Presidential Committee, institutions, organisations and individuals who had collectively worked tirelessly for the success of the first phase of negotiation. “We learnt that negotiations are ongoing for the second phase and we hope and pray that this phase will be final phase to bring this sad incident to a joyful closure with the release of the remaining 50 captives and in the shortest time possible,” Jimoh said.

Obi: I Won't Fight Soludo's Govt David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Former Anambra State governor, and presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi has said that he would not engage in war of words with the current governor of the state, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo. Obi was reacting to controversy trailing shares he bought with Anambra State government funds with Sabmiller breweries, as part of his savings for the state, during his tenure. There has been controversy over the true worth of the shares bought by Obi, with some supporters of Obi inflating the worth of the shares, to give Obi credit. But in a statement, the Anambra State government

clarified that the true worth of the shares depended on the current exchange rate of the dollars, while also saying that the shares were worth $3.7million or $5.7million in the parallel market, and this is far less the inflated worth. But Obi while reacting to the development through his media aide, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, yesterday denied that the fake news on the inflated worth of the shares did not emanate from him. He told Soludo to purge his mind of the perception that the Labour Party presidential candidate was fighting his government, stating that on the contrary, Obi was ready to work to ensure his success. Obienyem while addressing Soludo urged him to differentiate between comments from

supporters of Obi from those of Obi's media office, saying: "Anyone fighting Soludo at this early stage of his tenure is simply being inconsiderate and insensitive, I urge you to always sieve everyday reactions by people from the reaction from Mr. Obi’s official camp. "Anybody supporting Obi that fights you is on his own. I say this with all sincerity, especially knowing the brief I personally received from Mr. Peter Obi on this. Obi is ready to offer any support that will redeem our state and set it on the path of progress again." The statement added: "When the news of the multiplication of Obi’s investment in SABMiller was published, I knew it did not come from you. I personally

made it clear that it was not circulated by Obi’s Media, but probably by one of the youths, not under our control, but eager to throw in anything that glorified their hero – Obi." Speaking about the recent clarification on the true worth of the shares, Obienyem said: "I read the recent rebuttal by your Commissioner on the subject, what do I say about it? I only want to assure you that the Obi’s camp is supporting you. We want you to succeed and cannot be part of any plot against you. "Some people are angry because we have chosen to identify with you; it is about time they realised that our only interest is recovering the eight years of retrogression."

PDP, Guild of Editors Condole THISDAY/Arise Group Chairman over Mum’s Death Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday commiserated with the Chairman and Editorin-Chief of THISDAY/Arise News Channel, Prince Nduka Obaigbena over the death of his mother and highly revered Matriarch of the Obaigbena family, Princess Margaret Obaigbena. In a statement, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, stated that the late Obaigbena was a patriotic Nigerian, a highly resourceful personality with exceptional courage, industry, love and commitment, who committed herself to the care and wellbeing of others and lived as a fountain of inspiration for all those who came in contact with her. Also in a statement signed by the General Secretary, Iyobosa

Uwugiaren, on behalf of the standing committee and members of the Guild of Editors, the NGE said although it is natural to mourn the death of a loved one, “in the case of the passing of your mother, all we feel is the celebration of her worthy 87 years of impactful the legacies that positive touched many lives.” The PDP added: "As a Chief Nursing Officer and later Special Adviser to three Delta State Governors, Princess Obaigbena selflessly dedicated her resources, energy and expertise towards the welfare of Nigerians and the development of our nation. "Our party believes that Prince Nduka Obaigbena’s unique sense of patriotism, resilience, courage, diligence, industry and uncommon dedication to the unity, stability and development of our dear nation stem from

values and virtues he imbibed from his dear mother," the PDP stated. The opposition party further stated that Nduka Obaigbena played key role in revolutionising the media industry, noting that he was using the stable of THISDAY/Arise Group to effectively inform Nigerians and fearlessly champion democratic tenets of constitutional order, credible elections, justice, freedom, fairness, equality, mutual respect, accountability in governance and strict adherence to the rule of law. The PDP also condole the Royal Family of Owa Kingdom as well as the government and people of Delta State for the great loss.

Guild of Editors Condole with Obaigbena The Nigeria Guild of Editors

(NGE) in their own statement also noted that rising to the peak of her carrier as Chief Nursing Officer of old Bendel State, which became Delta State, revealed that the woman was reputed to be a diligent health worker who went the extra mile to care for the sick and the needy. The statement said: “We note with pride that the mother of our senior colleague, who is also a fellow of our organisation, served her people meritoriously as a special adviser to three successive governors of Delta State. We extend our sympathies to the Obaigbena Royal Family and the Royal Family of Owa Kingdom. We ask God in His infinite mercies to rest Mama blissfully in His bosom and grant you and your siblings the fortitude to bear this painful loss. Please take heart.”

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

NEWSXTRA

FLAG OFF CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEMBE-BRASS ROAD PROJECT... L-R: Amanyanabo of Opu-Nembe, King Josiah Biobelemoye; Amanyanabo of Nembe, King Edmund Daukoru; Director of Highways (South-south), Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr. Godwin Eke, who represented the Minister; and Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, during the ﬂag oﬀ of construction of the Nembe-Brass road project…yesterday

Rousing Welcome as Asaba Shuts Down for Okowa I’m an Igbo man in Delta State, insists PDP VP candidate Kingsley Nwezeh, Adedayo Adewale in Abuja, OmonJulius Onabu in Asaba and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos Asaba, the Delta State capital, was for about eight hours practically shutdown as the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the state government organised a grand reception for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of the state, who formally returned "home" since receiving the PDP ticket as vice-presidential candidate and running mate to the Presidential candidate of the party for the 2023 general election, former vice-president Atiku Abubakar. But speaking at the reception, Okowa thanked God, the party leaders, Atiku and the people for their loyalty and support, assuring them that with the Atiku-Okowa presidential ticket, the PDP

was set to execute its mission to rescue Nigeria from the maladministration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023. He said he only accepted to be Atiku Abubakar's running mate, because he was convinced that the PDP's presidential standard bearer had a comprehensive blueprint to effectively address the fundamental challenges confronting Nigeria, including revival of the nation's economy and youth unemployment. According to Okowa, the former vice-president in the Olusegun Obasanjo government, has been voicing concerns about restructuring of the country for over 35 years, since 1986. He appealed to Nigerians to remain resilient and trust God that the much-awaited national salvation was on the horizon with the anticipated victory of

Adamu Threatens Machina over Yobe Senate Seat, Warns Him to Tread with Caution Says APC hasn’t broken any law substituting his name Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, yesterday, resorted to subtle threats against Mr. Bashir Machina, the man who won the party’s primary for Yobe North Senate seat, when the current occupant of the office and Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, went in chase of the presidential ticket. Adamu, who warned Machina to tread with caution, especially, that his comments were becoming overbearing, said delisting Machina’s name from the list of names submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was in order. Machina had won the party’s ticket for Yobe North Senatorial District, but the party substituted his name with Lawan’s after the senate president could not clinch the presidential ticket. Speaking with the BBC Hausa, Adamu said, the party leadership

violated no law in substituting Machina’s name for Lawan. Although the APC had attached a ‘Letter of Withdrawal’ to the expression of interest and nomination forms, which it mandated every aspirant to sign, Machina, however denied ever signing it. Thus, in a direct message to Machina, who has insisted on recovering his ticket, Adamu said, “Machina should be very careful. I will advise him to tread carefully; his comments are becoming too overbearing and I will advise him to be careful. To the best of my knowledge as the national chairman, we didn’t violate any law in substituting his name.” Also, addressing the gale of defections currently unsettling the ruling APC, Adamu, who took full responsibility for the developing crisis, said the defection incidents were not peculiar to the APC alone, but blamed the media for allegedly exaggerating the crisis.

the PDP in next year's general election, saying the rescuing process would depend very much on the Nigerian youths and women. "We understand that we have to build the economy of this nation," the governor noted, saying the youths and women should obtain their PVCs, because of the crucial role they would play in eliminating problems like prolonged strike by lecturers in the nation's higher educational institutions, by voting the Atiku and Okowa. "I have no doubt that Atiku-Okowa is ticket of hope that will rescue Nigeria. God

has endorsed it, so let us be resilient. God wants to use the youths, so appeal to our youths, don't get carried away by empty promises of those who are merely talking.” Meanwhile, speaking in an interview with Channels TV, Okowa, who said his emergence as the vicepresidential candidate of the party was by the grace of God, insisted he was an Igbo man in Delta State. He said himself and Atiku would bring a vast wealth of governance experience to the table and hit the ground running by initiating wide ranging economic reforms.

He said with Atiku’s wealth of experience as a former vicepresident and head of the privatisation programme of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration, he would bring to the table a vast governance experience to steer the ship of state to fruition, adding that he was also offering his experience in government, having served at all tiers of government, notably, local government, state and federal levels of government. He said the inability of the ruling APC to pick a vice presidential candidate was a palpable sign of confusion, stressing that, contrary to the

belief in some quarters that he betrayed the South-east's long drawn quest for the presidency, the time for a president from the zone will come. "I am an Igbo man in Delta State. South-east has a right of agitation. The North-east also has a right to agitation. North-east has not had the presidency too. Both zones feel they are entitled to the presidency. Both the South-east and North-east lay claim to the presidency, which is not wrong. As the South-east continues to agitate for the presidency, a time will come when the Igbo man will be president," he said.

Fuel Scarcity: NNPC Must Address Profiteering at Private Depots, Says IPMAN Peter Uzoho in Lagos and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano As the ongoing petrol scarcity bites harder, a factional national leadership of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, (IPMAN) has urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to intervene and address the profiteering activities of depots owners under the umbrella of Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN). The factional National President of IPMAN, Mr Debo Ahmed and the National Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Ukadike made the call in a joint statement issued yesterday. They also disowned another factional National President of the association, Mr. Chinedu Okoronkwo, who had warned IPMAN members not to sell petrol above the N165 per litre approved pump price. This was just as the National Association of Road Transport Operators (NARTO) also disowned the Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP) for equally warning marketers not to sell petrol above N165 per litre. However, the two IPMAN national officers in the statement issued yesterday, expressed concern over the sale of petrol to members of IPMAN above the government's approved template of N148, which they noted was inimical to their survival. While agreeing that IPMAN

marketers should stick to the government approved price of N165 per litre at retail outlets across the country, the officers called on the NNPC to save their members from the excesses of DAPPMAN. The statement said, "The government is doing nothing about the private depots that are violating the system by selling higher. IPMAN members had suffered a lot in the hands of private depot owners. "We appreciate the efforts of NNPC to make product available but you cannot rob Peter to pay Paul. We have really suffered a lot of setback based on the cost of diesel. "We aren't saying there is nonavailability of petroleum products, but what is available isn't sufficient The cost of diesel has also increased. These two factors have led to profiteering at tank farms, whereby marketers buy petroleum products at the rate of N169, to N170 above government controlled pump price. "These non-availability has led to profiteering from the hands of Products Depots Operations along the coastal areas. We are also finding it difficult to move products from Lagos- Kano- Kaduna since we are heavily dependent on private depot owners since they are located along the coastal areas." IPMAN contended that after looking at all these factors, it now costs close to N700,000 to move petroleum products from Lagos to Kano, since they are at the mercy of the private depot owners. According to the statement, it was becoming increasingly difficult for

marketers to sell petroleum products with this little margin. They argued that it was easy for marketers to move products from NNPC depots and sell at N165, adding that they were getting the product at N160 instead of the approved N148, from private depot tank farm owners. The IPMAN statement added, "There is no way a marketer will use N5 to sell petroleum products. It isn't viable, considering the cost of maintenance of the filling station and also cost of fund. "The price of a litre of diesel is very huge and we are borrowing these funds from commercial banks. We want to use this opportunity to tell NNPC on behalf of marketers to ensure that we have sufficient products. "These products are being sold to private depots at government approved rates, not above N148.00. If they can't stick to approved template, they should close down those tank farms selling above what government has stipulated." The IPMAN officials, however, criticised Okoronkwo for speaking on behalf of the association, saying he has no authority to speak on behalf of IPMAN as he was not the president of the body. Also disowning ADITOP, the National Chairman of NARTO, Alhaji Lawal Othman, dismissed the claim by the National Chairman of ADITOP, Alhaji Mohammed Danzaki, saying the group was nonexistent as he maintained that only NARTO was known to players

in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry. Danzaki and Okoronkwo had on Wednesday warned marketers against selling petrol above the government's approved N165 per litre at the pumps Meanwhile, the factional president, Okoronkwo, yesterday revealed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) had threatened to sanction private depot owners who sell the product above the federal government's approved ex-depot price of N148.17 per litre. Okoronkwo disclosed this while speaking to reporters in a telephone interview in Kano, yesterday. He said the NNPC issued the warning after a meeting with the officials of the IPMAN in Abuja on Wednesday, saying the NNPC had threatened to stop giving supply to private depot owners who continue to violate the order. "Henceforth any depot owner who continues to sell the product above the approved ex-depot price will be blacklisted and sanctioned as the government would not fold its arms and allow such unpatriotic depot owners to continue to exploit people," Okoronkwo quoted the NNPC officials as saying. Okoronkwo commended the NNPC for taking necessary steps to check the excesses of the private depot owners and urged NMDPRA to ensure total compliance with the NNPC directive so as to return normalcy in the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

TRIBUTE

Sango, A Professional Revolutionary Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika Comrades, of death, all mankind can be certain. In the memorable words of that great American humanist and agnostic, Robert Ingersoll at the grave of his brother, a “… wreck at last must mark the end of each and all. And every life, no matter if its every hour is rich with love and every moment jeweled with a joy, will at its close, become a tragedy as sad and deep and dark as can be woven of the warp and woof of mystery and death”! However, we gather today, not to wonder at the mystery of death and lament about the desolation of the grave but in celebration of a life lived joyfully and without regret in toil for a glorious dawn for the wretched of the earth. On the23rd day of May 2022, our friend and comrade, Segun Aderemi breathed his last. He was 64 years old. More than forty of those years went into the toil. And though it appears that we are not closer to achieving his revolutionary goal today than he was when he began his toil, this occasion affords us an opportunity to look back at his life and seek inspiration from his deeds. I will highlight a few here. I cannot remember exactly my first meeting with this splendid being. I remember, however, my first consciousness of his specialness; his difference from the regular crowd of Marxisminspired student radicals. The regular pattern, for petty-bourgeois radicals, was that you go to the university; come across radical ideas; join-in; acquire and throw some ‘isms’ all over the place; grow a wild beard; participate in some social-rattling activities of students and students unions; then graduate; get a job; hopefully settle down into a petty-bourgeois life; marry; rear children; and sometimes, if there are occasions for it, make some radical noises. You might even go into politics, where you distinguish yourself from the regular crowd by spewing revolutionary quotes. Sango studied law at the University of Ife, where I first made his acquaintance in the student Marxist group, the Alliance of Progressive Students (ALPS). Many before him had graduated and followed the pattern I described above. For instance, those that qualified as lawyers and still wished to maintain an air of radicalism became, in popular parlance, “Peoples’ Law!” (that is, they take-up popular, sometimes unpopular causes, especially for indigent clients). It was what was expected. It was what happened. But for Sango, Marxism was not a fad. The idea of the social revolution was real, and he meant to see it attained in his lifetime. Hitherto, he had been immersed in the activities of ALPS within the small cocoon of the academic community. ALPS was, first and foremost, a Marxism study group of, and for students at the University of Ife. Its revolutionary activities had essentially been propagating Marxism among the student populace, intervening in student union politics and orientating the student union towards mass struggle, which was mainly the promotion and protection of the right to state-funded education at all levels of education. In this, it coordinated with similar groups in other higher institutions (starting from A-Level colleges). This was under the auspices of the loose coalition named Patriotic Youth Movement of Nigeria (PYMN). So, as he inched close to graduating and leaving the cocoon of student activism, his thoughts were taken over by worries of about what would become of his Marxism and revolutionary training. He would arrive at a clear vision of what that should be; the role of professional revolutionary. He wasn’t going to be a professional lawyer, a “Peoples’ Law!”, which was the most revolutionary precept he could see from those that went ahead of him. He was going to be a professional revolutionary. From him I heard that phrase “professional revolutionary” for the first time ever, and it was intriguing in its novelty strangeness to the younger minds of my cohort of ALPS recruits. He was going to sacrifice his prospect of petty-bourgeois life for the hard one of organizing the revolution. As he explained it, there was already a good number of ex-student comrades in paying jobs and professions who by reason of the demands of their jobs were left with no time to spare for the work of organizing the revolution. The revolution required a newspaper and full-time organisers and agitators. The idea was that those in paying jobs will contribute to support those engaged in full-time revolutionary work. The revolutionary work would, at the initial stage, concentrate on

Segun Sango development of revolutionary cadre, propagating the idea of the revolution among the working classes, engaging in agitational and organizational support work in every mass movement of the people, mainstreaming the financial and other support requirement of the work among the masses. One other important thing in the development of his life as a revolutionary at the time was his chance discovery of an alternative explanation of Nazism (National Socialism) which Hitler and his henchmen built on the false foundation of being a movement of the working masses. Our staple had been from the Soviet era publications of the behemoth, Progress Books. The franchisee of these books was that giant of the workers movement in Nigeria, the Marxist intellectual, Comrade Ola Oni. Compared to now, the age of the internet where at a press of a button anyone could get access to any publication and different thoughts on any subject or issue of interest, that time was like the dark age. All our study of Marxism was majorly based on the classics from the Soviet state approved philosophers - Karl Marx, Frederich Engels, Plekhanov, Vladmir Lenin, Bukharin and the like (even, Stalin and his henchmen). So, our ALPS group of the time, as part of our propagation of Marxism to the larger student populace, used to organise an annual book fair of Marxist literature and publications in science and other academic books from the then Eastern bloc of Europe. Our supply of books came entirely from Comrade Ola Oni’s franchise of Progress Books. He allowed us to sell these books at a small margin and use the profit to fund the activities of our group. So, Comrade Ola Oni’s house and book distribution centre at Ibadan was a place frequented by student organisers of ALPS. On one of such forays to Ola Oni’s bookshop, his attention was caught by one book in an obscure and dusty corner. It was Trotsky’s ‘The Struggle Against Fascism in Germany’. Out of mere curiosity, he picked up the book and started reading. There, stark naked before him, page to page till the end, were answers to many of the questions we had always interrogated in our study and debate on Nazism in our ALPS seminars. He enthusiastically recommended the book to the leading cadres of our student group, principally Muyiwa Osunkoya (now Muyiwa Adebanjo), Taye Abiodun, Bunmi Oyewole (now JCA), Lanre Arogundade, Olumide Akanmu (‘Olu Akanmu’, in his current career as a very successful banker), etc. The exposition of the role of the Soviet state and its leaders, principally Stalin, in the growth of Nazism and suppression of the real workers movement in Germany did not sit down well

with some of the comrades for whom the USSR and its satellite states in Eastern Europe served as beckon of socialist future. But Sango and a core of ALPS associates (Muyiwa, Lanre, Akanmu) were not to be held down by the Soviet tradition of Marxism by which they had been trained. They would explore everything explorable; question everything theoretical, every dogma; search for knowledge about scientific socialism, including critiques, without fear of where it might lead them, even if abandonment of socialism. It was a completely new vista that propelled interest in other works of the same writer. Gradually, the promise but eventual degeneration of the Soviet states as projections of the hopes and aspirations that the working classes invested in the October 1917 workers revolution in Russia, became, at once, inescapable and explainable in scientific socialist terms. Whilst acknowledging that the Soviet states represented progress for the working masses compared to their pre-soviet conditions, it was also clear that it was under the throes of bureaucratic degeneration. Lessons of history must be learnt so that we don’t end up repeating it. His revolutionary, if you like, brave inquisitiveness eventually led him and his closest collaborators to a clearer ideological vision of the revolution for which he was prepared to spend and sacrifice his life as a full-timer. Yes, to workers revolution, but no to soviet-style bureaucratization; yes, to workers internationalism and international solidarity of the working masses, absolute no to socialism in one country! And so with a clear ideological vision and of his own role, he set about living his life, the life that has now come to an end. Was he fulfilled, seeing now, as I previously noted, that it seems we are not closer today to socialist revolution in Nigeria than we were when he embarked on that journey? Well, if he were able to rise now and address us, I would hear him say, “Comrades, despair not! If the course is right, then we fulfill our historical roles by working towards it! Historical and dialectical materialism teaches us that when the fruit is ripe enough to fall from the tree, it will! Stay the course, comrades, keep moving!” Many a times he had encouraged me with words of this nature, when in my low moments I wonder whether we labour not in vain. With him, I have seen high moments of our efforts, and I have seen many low moments of it. Having thrown himself headlong into developing a core of revolutionary cadres, we’ve unfortunately lost a lot of investment in these cadres. Some lost hope and wanted a way out; some wanted to be generals in their

own inconsequential army within our relatively inconsequential larger left movement in Nigeria. On each and every occasion these elements brew-up schism in order to give the colouration of ideological disagreement to their actual but hidden ambition. Each time one leaves, and I lament, he instead throws himself afresh into developing new cadres. He would not be daunted. He used to say that what I referred to as lost investments would prove, at the right time, not to be so. He was wont to encourage me to snap out of my feeling of loss by reminding me that Lenin also fell a similar sense of loss when Trotsky, desperate for the unity of the nascent Russian Social-Democratic Workers Party, seemingly cast his lot with the Menshevik faction, against his instinctive revolutionary nature. However, when the call of revolution came, pseudorevolutionary nature of menshevism was in clear display. Trotsky heard the call loud and clear, and he recognized the moment because he was genuine in his quest as a revolutionary. This would later prove prescient during our NCP days (i.e. the National Conscience Party, founded and led for a time by that epochal character, the instinctive revolutionary, Gani Fawehinmi) when in the fervor of the social momentum we were able to create, a lot of those I had lamented about losing (including one of the most important persons with whom he worked at the early stage to build our forces, Muyiwa Adebanjo, who had left to become a pentecostalist) heard the call loud and clear. They did return and contribute immensely to our efforts in that party. Of course they petered off again when the ebb of that movement flowed to its stop. Years after that, Sango used this to illustrate his optimism, and the point that his work has not, cannot and will never be in vain! His work is uncompleted; his dream of seeing with his own eyes the dawn of the Revolution unfulfilled in his lifetime; the task of building the socialist society a thing that he can no longer contribute to. We, who still live, are left with this task. He has not left us this task without a clear pathway. Let us remain on that pathway. Through all high and low ebbs of the revolutionary cause and course, with every dent we make on the formidable armour of blood-sucking capitalism, in every defeat we may suffer in the mortal struggle of the working masses against their capitalist expropriators, let us remain steady and focused as Sango was till he took his last breath. To us, the members of DSM, let us remain encouraged by the fact that by the natural law of gravity, the fruit will fall from the tree when it is ripened enough; by the dialectics of historical materialism, capitalism will fall. Recently, a soldier in our rank of revolutionaries published an article titled “Sowore: The One-Man Show!”. To illustrate one of the points he was making in the article, he quoted how Ursula Le Guin put this same point in a speech she gave during the National Books Awards in 2014, thus: “We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable; so did divine right of kings …. Power can be resisted and changed by human beings; resistance and change often begin in art; and very often in our art – the art of words”. In our own case, in addition to words, our own art includes the clarity of the revolutionary idea and organizational praxis left to us by my and our dear friend, comrade and revolutionary leader, Segun Aderemi, known to the public as “Segun Sango’ or ‘S.S.’. Death has parted him from us, and so he’s taken his leave of us, having acquitted himself creditably on the side of Right, in the mortal struggle between Right and Wrong! With emotion, we who believed in the rightness of the cause for which he lived, now bid him bye. To our comrades of the CWI (Campaign for Workers International), we thank you for all the efforts made towards finding medical succor for Sango. We also thank all left elements in this country, too numerous to mention one by one, who reached out with helping hands to his family throughout the period of his ill-health. To his children, Omotola, Babatunde and Olasubomi, we express our condolences and thank them for the gift that their father was to us and the working and struggling masses of this country and worldwide. To his wife Tinu, the ‘Oya’ to our Sango, whose lot it has been to take care of him 24/7 in the last few years after he was struck down by the health challenge to which he has now finally succumbed, we can only say a big thank you that comes from the innermost depths of our appreciative hearts! You are a rarity!

FRIDAY JUNE 24, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Police Service Commission Lists Ways to Reform Force Meets with EU, ECOWAS

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Alhaji Musiliu Smith, yesterday listed funding, quality weaponry, information communication and technology (ICT) training and development among others as requirements that would usher in an efficient and effective police force. At a meeting with the European Union(EU) delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Smith, a retired Inspector-General of Police, called for adequate funding for the Nigeria Police Force to ensure a successful police reforms in the country. A statement by the PSC said the delegation (police expert mission) led by Mr. Hendrickson Dyean, came to find out how the commission, with its oversight constitutional responsibility over the police, was making inputs into the presidential police reform roadmap and how donors could also support the programme.

The chairman noted that adequate funding of the police as well as the PSC, the statutory civilian oversight body of the Nigeria Police Force will enhance the

efficiency and effectiveness of the police establishment. He also noted that police reforms should also include training and retraining of officers, provision of decent

and comfortable barrack accommodation, effective mobility (transportation) and provision of adequate quality weaponry. He said it should also

accommodate efficient and effective communication gadgets, uncompromising recruitment process and good Police and community relations amongst others.

The PSC chairman maintained that if all these requirements were put in place, crime prevention response rate by the police will be swift, effective and efficient.

MOVING AGAINST CORRUPTION…

LR:Member,BoardofTrustees,CharteredInstituteofForensicandCertifiedFraudExaminersofNigeria(CIFCFEN),HajiyaFatimaMuhammaduBuhari;Consultant,UnitedNationsOfficeonDrugsandCrime(UNODC),Lilian Ekeanyanwu; Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau(CCB),Prof. Mohammed Isah; President and Chairman of Council CIFCFEN, Dr. Iliyasu Gashinbaki; Chairman, Nigerian Postal Service(NIPOST), Barr. Maimuna Yahaya Abubakar,andSecondDeputyPresident,CIFCFEN,Prof.SuleimanAruwa,duringthepublicpresentationofCIFCFENCountryReportonNationalAnti-corruptionStrategy(NACS)2017-2021in Abuja…recently

Kwara Records First Confirmed Gunmen Kill Paramount Ruler, Chairman in Bayelsa Community Case of Monkey Pox Olusegun Samuel inYenagoa

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Kwara State Government has announced that it has recorded the first case of monkey pox disease in the state. The Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Raji Rasaq, declared this in Ilorin in a public statement he issued yesterday. The statement reads: “The first confirmed case in Kwara State involves a 29-year-old Nigerian driver who developed symptoms of fever, generalised rash, and weakness in the last two weeks and had been under

our surveillance. “There were contact with the wife and four neighbours with similar symptoms where he lives at Gbugbu in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State. All of which have been resolved by the health team. “The patient has been on admission in the last one week because of suspicion of monkey pox and has also been under strict monitoring by the surveillance and clinical team.” Rasaq added that “currently, the patient is improving and stable in the ward.

Lawyer: Why I Dressed in My Religious Attire to Supreme Court Alex EnumahinAbuja

Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Mr. Malcom Omirhobo, was the cynosure of all eyes, when he decked himself in the full traditional attire of an “Olokun priest” to attend yesterday’s proceedings at the Supreme Court. His appearance, which was not only dramatic, caused commotions for some moments even as the court had to rise for some moments after he gained access and sat inside the courtroom of the apex court. Omirhobo, has however explained that his appearance at yesterday’s proceedings was fully in line with his religious beliefs and injunctions. The rights activists, who claimed

to be a traditionalist, disclosed that following the judgment of the apex court last week which allowed for the use of hijab in schools and other public places, paving the way for people to reflect their various religions he was at liberty to reflect his own religion. Omirhobo, further told journalists at the Supreme Court that it was within his fundamental human rights to so dressed to the Supreme Court which is a public place as per of exercising the rights as enshrined in the Constitution and ruled by the Supreme Court in the recent judgment that allowed all Nigerians to express their way of worship and the use of hijab in schools and public places.

Ambrose Alli Varsity: Suspension of Union Activities Not Witch-hunt, Says Obaseki Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the government’s decision to suspend all union activities across state-owned institutions of higher learning was not aimed at witch-hunting anyone but to protect the interest of students in the state. The decision followed the protest by students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, over the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), after which the government directed all cadre of staff to report to their duty posts immediately.

Obaseki, while addressing veteran labour leaders, who were on a courtesy visit, at the Government House, Benin City, said the workers’ decision to down tools was not justifiable given that the state government, had been up and doing in meeting her financial obligations to the school and its workers. He noted that their action amounts to injustice against the students, whose peers were having unbroken academic calendar in private and other state-owned universities across the country.

Palpable fear and tension has enveloped residents of the oil rich Kalaba/Okordia community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State over the killing of their Paramount Ruler, Mr. Francis Kolubo, and the Chairman of Community Development Committee (CDC), Mr. Samuel Oburo, by unknown gunmen.

Though the real reasons for the killings have not been made known, the gory killings of the paramount ruler and the CDC Chairman may not be unconnected to the lingering chieftaincy dispute and their alleged opposition to plans by some crude oil thieves to set up a bunkering camp in the area. THISDAY gathered that while the deceased paramount ruler

was abducted from his palace on Sunday to an unknown destination where he was dealt several machete blows, particularly a deadly cut on the back of his neck close to the spinal cord. The CDC chairman was dragged out of his house and brutally killed in his backyard. While a source claimed that the deceased traditional ruler had been at loggerhead with some

prominent indigenes over the move to conduct election that would produce a successor to the thrown due to the rotational agreement after four-year tenure. It was further gathered that all efforts to conduct an election after the Community Election Committee had sold forms and screened two persons were frustrated by the deceased monarch.

A’Ibom Advised on Implementation of Criminal Justice Law Okon Bassey in Uyo

A human rights group, COMPPART Foundation for Justice and Peacebuilding (CFJP), has called on the Akwa Ibom State Government to establish a monitoring committee to ensure effective implementation of the laws in the state. The group lauded the state government for public presentation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in the state.

The Executive Director of the organisation, Mr. Saviour Akpan, in a letter to the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, commended the state Governor, Udom Emmanuel’s administration for adopting the Administration of Criminal Justice Law. He stressed that the law, when fully implemented, would strengthen public confidence in the justice system and security institutions, reduce or eradicate practices of jungle justice as a

result of lack of public confidence in the justice system. The letter read in part: “We are writing most respectfully to record our appreciation and to also congratulate you, the state governor and the Speaker of state House of Assembly over the final gazetted copy and public presentation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, ACJL2022 of the state. “We are happy that Akwa Ibom State today under your able leadership as the Attorney

General and Commissioner for Justice is counted among states that have in place an Administration of Criminal Justice Law and extension to other related matters in the courts of the state. “With the lofty purpose of the law, we urge most respectfully not to wait for ‘local circumstances’ permission before hitting the ground running towards a sincere and non-discriminatory implementation of this law in the state.

Ozekhome Urges Estate Surveyors to Shun Corrupt Practices Blessing Ibunge in PortHarcourt Human rights activist and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, has advised members of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) to shun corrupt practices in delivering their job to the society. Ozekhome warned that just like other professions, NIESV can be liable to legal actions if found culpable in doing their job.

The SAN gave the advice yesterday in his keynote speech at the 52nd annual conference of the institution with the theme: ‘Cities of the Future: Development, Infrastructure and Sustainability’. In his over 70 page-paper presentation, Ozekhome said: “The problem of corruption can be seen in your organisation like it is in any other organisation. “When you are doing your job, you are not immune to being sued, and your

defense is not going to be that ‘I just valued the land’. Planning that has been given to you to estimate without a corresponding professional advice can lead to your personal culpability as an individual and a company. “You can never be excluded from negligence. You will be held liable in an offence related to your profession. Even under the Advance Fee Fraud Act, the criminal code, there are areas where you would be held liable

for malfeasance and bridge of trust.” He recommended that NIESV must thrive hard to champion the cause of creating awareness on their core competency areas to make the profession different from others. Ozekhome added: “You must ensure that building and managing our cities is put in the forefront. You must ensure that there is training and retraining of your members and people who work with you.

Commission for Refugees Launches Library for IDPs

The Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) yesterday launched a library for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Waru,Abuja, for the purpose of educating persons of concerns and giving them a high sense of belonging. Tagged:” Readers are Leaders,” the library, according to the NCFMI, is a bold step in advancing its Project Educate All. The Honourable Federal

Commissioner, NCFRMI, Imaam Suliaman-Ibrahim, the Project Educate All’, has been conceived in line with the Commission’s work plan to address the growing challenge and learning needs of displaced persons as well as to ensure accelerated learning in emergency setting in line with global practices. Ms Sulaiman-Ibrahim added that the launch of this phase of the project was in partnership with ‘I Am The Future of Nigeria’ and will complement the transitional

learning centres that would further enhance the reading and fast-track learning for pupils in camps and host communities. Renee and Zara Okocha, children of the famous soccer star, Jay Jay Okocha, are the founder of the NGO called ‘I Am the Future of Nigeria Youth Initiative’ (IFON) and authors of over 56 picture books targeting first readers. She applauded the resilience of IDPs, the teachers, Head Master, IDP leaders, parents of the pupils, and added that it is our jobs to

ensure that these children become the best version of themselves and we can only do so by encouraging them to read in order to lead. She thanked President Muhammadu and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq for their unflinching support for strengthening humanitarian policies and interventionist response programmes and projects, in the particular interest of all persons of concern and the Nation at large.

FRIDAY JUNE 24, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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COVID-19, Economic Meltdown Not Justifiable Excuse for Unemployment, Says Keyamo

Kuni Tyessi ÓØ ÌßÔË

The Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has stated that the lockdown and lack of productivity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is not enough excuse for the high rate of unemployment bedeviling the Nigerian economy at the moment. Keyamo said the skills sector, which should be a prerogative in unlocking employment, should be encouraged as government has provided an enabling environment for skills acquisition and self-employment. Speaking at the 2022 Annual Public Lecture of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Keyamo said that constant power supply for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is needed to enable businesses to thrive. “No justifiable excuse for the very high rate of unemployment that we have. The global trend we had, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the fact that we have a global melt down, even all the

economies of the world are going through a lot, is still not an excuse because we are a very rich country. We should be able to harness our natural resources to provide jobs for our people. “What we are trying to do is to look at the skills sector. That is the key to unlock unemployment market in Nigeria. If we are waiting for the orthodox method of employment, where we have to create spaces in public institutions, then we are not in tune with what is happening globally. All over the world, the greatest money earners are those who have skills,” he said. In his keynote address, Professor of Development Economics and Data Analytics, Professor Bongo Adi, said that the rate of import as compared to that of export has continued to be huge burden for the economy and external reserves, noting that the inability to export enough goods and services means the country is in deficit. Adi who spoke on the theme “External Reserves Dynamics and Governance Challenges,” said that dearth of technology

and competent human resources in the country have continued to be a huge problem. He said that Nigeria has become a dumping ground for all manner

of stuff from all over the world, adding that “we only sell petroleum and the queues have returned. We do not have the capacity to process our fuel. Rather than

external reserves growing, we have depletion.” wHe recalled that the country could boast of $69 billion external reserves during the administration

of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration 12 years ago because micro economy management was the formula used in building the external reserves.’

COMMITTED TO NIGERIA…

L-R: Senior Vice President and General Manager, BIC Middle East and Africa, Mr. Peter Van de Broeck; General Manager, BIC Middle East, North Africa, West and Central Africa, Mr. Abderahmane Fall; and General Manager, BIC Nigeria, Mr. Guillame Groues, at the media brieﬁng on BIC’s commitment to the Nigerian market in Lagos… yesterday ETOP UKUTT

Emenike Inaugurates Amotekun Arrests Suspects Connected with Owo Attack Harmonisation Team for Abia APC Fidelis David ÓØ ÕßÜÏ

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia A 12-member harmonisation team has been constituted for the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to further sustain the peace the party is currently enjoying following the recent reconciliation of warring groups. The governorship candidate of the party, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, who inaugurated the Harmonisation Committee, named Senator Chris Adighije as Chairman with Rt. Hon.

Nkeiruka Onyejeocha serving as Secretary. Other members of the Committee are: Engr.Chris Okpechi, Hon. Emeka Wogu, Rt. Hon. Emeka Atuma, Rt. Hon. Ben Kalu, Hon. Chidi Avadja, Mr. Fabian Okonkwo, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa, Hon. Ben Godson, Engr. Solomon Alozie, and Hon. Ikenna Anyalewechi. Chief Emenike had pledged after his election as governorship candidate, on May 26, 2022 “to lead one united APC to victory in Abia State” and followed it up with the reconciliation meeting last Saturday.

Osun Declares Friday Workfree for PVC Collection Yinka Kolawole ÓØ ÝÙÑÌÙ Osun State Government has declared June 24 as work-free day to enable civil servants who are yet to collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) to do so ahead of the July 16 gubernatorial election in the state. In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prince Wole Oyebamiji, the state hovernment harped on the importance of the PVC to the performance of

their civic responsibility. The statement read in part: “The Osun State Government acknowledges the importance of workers in democratic process, and is aware that the only way workers can give life to their aspiration for a worker-friendly government is through their votes. “The government does not want anyone to miss out on the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right, especially as it affects their overall wellbeing and the security of their future.

NEDC Launches Education Fund, Scholarship Portal in Gombe Segun Awofadeji ÓØ Ù×ÌÏ The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has launched its Education Endowment Fund as well as a scholarship portal. The NEDC also launched a block of three classrooms in Government Day Comprehensive Junior Secondary School, Kwami, Kwami Local Government Area as a pilot scheme that would be replicated in each of the 11 Local Government Areas in Gombe State. A new set of 500 KVA

generator was also donated to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe while 500 units of houses under construction at the Western Byepass, was also inspected. Gombe State Governor, Mr. Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya, who was represented at the launch yesterday by his Deputy Governor, Mr. Manasseh Daniel Jatau, appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for establishing the NEDC which has been contributing immensely in improving the lives of citizens in the region.

The Commander of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, yesterday confirmed that a number of suspects have been arrested in connection with the June 5 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, which claimed 40 lives. Adeleye gave the confirmation while parading 71suspects arrested for various criminal offences ranging from kidnapping, armed

robbery, human trafficking, stealing, snatching of motorbikes among others. Adeleye said: “A number of people have been arrested in connection with the Owo attack and I am telling you for free that the last vehicle they used before they jumped into the bush has been recovered. We pursued them to that point and we are still pursuing them, we will get to the root of it. “We want to reassure the good people of Ondo State that we will not rest until we get to the bottom

of the matter and riding the state of criminal elements.” He assured that the corps, in collaboration with sister security agencies, has intensified efforts to get to the root of the mischievous act. He noted that there is ongoing synergy among Amotekun corps in the entire South-west region to prevent a repeat of the attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo. He explained that the 71 suspects paraded were part of its landmark achievements for the month of June.

He said: “The suspects being paraded were arrested within the last one month for crimes ranging from armed robbery, cattle rustling, kidnapping and fraud. These 71 suspects were picked while committing offences and others were tracked to their hideouts in the forest. “Also we have been able to break a cartel that specialises in stealing and dismantling motorbikes (Okada). We have over 30 motorbikes recovered during a one-day operation.

Makinde: We ‘ll Continue to Make Oyo Peaceful, Attractive Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, yesterday assured all stakeholders that his administration will continue to maintain the religious harmony and peaceful co-existence despite the religious diversity in the state. The governor, while receiving the members of Nigeria Inter- religious Council (NIREC), led by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the President, Christian

Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence, Rev. Dr. Supo Ayokunle, at the Executive Council Chambers, Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan, said that Oyo State has remained peaceful, despite its diversity. He appreciated NIREC for taking their quarterly meeting to the State in honour of the President of CAN, Rev. Ayokunle. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the

governor as saying that the meeting was coming at the right time, particularly as the general election is knocking on the door. He said: “What you stand for is what Nigeria needs especially at this time that election is approaching. I know that conversation will take both ethnic and religious colorations. That is why we have been hearing of Muslim-Christian ticket, Muslim-Muslim ticket and

all of that. “Before we did the national convention (of the PDP), we were looking at where the presidential candidate would emerge from – maybe from the South, East, West or North or somewhere in the middle. And even after the emergence of the candidates, discussions have been around the support for either the candidate from Yorubaland or whether the Northerners will support their own candidate.

APC National Women Leader Seeks Chinese Support for Female Candidates The National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Betta Edu, has called on the Chinese Government to support women seeking elective offices in 2023 as the country’s contributions towards deepening democracy in Nigeria. Edu stated this this at a roundtable hosted by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, CUI Jianchun, aimed at creating a

symphony between political parties in Nigeria and the Communist party in China for shared experiences. She restated the resolve of the APC to continually mainstream women and includes them in playing significant roles in governance and nation building. The women leader also acknowledged the unique roles women had played in the past and in the current dispensation, noting that women’s capacities

can be further enhanced if they get the needed support from both the Chinese government and other developmental partners. She said: “It is very important to note at this point that several women have played very significant roles in Nigeria nation building but this can be improved if we are supported. “This can be improved if we are given a voice at all levels, from the grassroots all the

way to the top and of course as it concerns every policy and decision made, given us that place on the table to make our inputs. “We said this because we want you to be specific in supporting women. We are going into the next general election and we want China to support women in the various parties that are running to emerge victorious in their elections.

Absence of Registered Pharmacists in Health Insurance Worries Edo Association Adibe Emenyonu ÓØ ÏØÓØ ÓÞã The Edo State chapter of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), yesterday bemoaned the absence of registered pharmacists in the Edo Health Insurance Scheme,(EDOHIS), especially in the private accredited hospitals and clinics designated to implement the scheme. Speaking in Benin City at the

2022 Summit of ACPN, Edo State chapter, with the theme: “The Indispensable Role of Community Pharmacy in Health Insurance Towards Attaining Universal Health Coverage”, Chairman, Edo State ACPN, Mr. Duke Otite, noted that as laudable as the EDOHIS interventionist programme is, “its implementation is not all inclusive.” Otite, who recalled the case of

the 34-year old Mrs Aibangbee Rose, a mother of four, and a previously non-hypertensive patient, who was prescribed for by a physician “Tab Liptor 10mg daily x 1/12”, but an auxiliary nurse in a private clinic dispensed “Tab lisiofil 10mg daily for four days” and almost died before physicians at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, rescued her from hypotensive state, noted

that such a scenario would have been avoided if the private clinic had a registered pharmacist in its employ. Otite said: “In government accredited hospitals settings, the NHIS guidelines for obtaining healthcare from the scheme is followed as the government provided the retinue of professionals including pharmacist providing care.

FRIDAY JUNE 24, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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PDP Slams APC over Plots to Emasculate the Judiciary, Charges Judges to be Firm Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said a recent protest letter by Justices of the Supreme Court to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Mohammed, has further confirmed the furtive plots by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to emasculate the judiciary in a bid to foist a fascist system and subvert the will of Nigerians in the 2023 general election. The PDP said the failure of the CJN to address the

weighty issues contained in the said letter revealed that there was a systemic design by the APC-government to ensure that the judiciary was stifled and handicapped to deliver on its constitutional duty as an independent arm of government. According to a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP stated that, “Our Party holds as outrageous that instead of personally addressing the issues raised, the CJN rather allowed his media aide to respond to the revered Justices

of the Supreme Court via a press statement in a manner that shows impunity and utter disregard to the Justices and the Institution of the Judiciary. ‘The evidence of this systemic emasculation of the Judiciary is manifest in the unrelenting intimidation and harassment of judges; the vicious midnight attacks, orchestrated and unlawful removal of judicial officers and disabling of the independence of the judiciary by the APC administration,” the opposition party stated.

2023: House Member Faults APC’s Attempt to Substitute His Name

Adedayo AkinwaleinAbuja

A member of the House of Representatives Committee and House Committee Chair on Climate Change, Chief Sam Onuigbo, has raised the alarm over alleged attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to substitute his name with one Emeka Atuma. Onuigbo stated this while addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja, following the recent attempts by the ruling party to upload on the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) names of

aspirants that did not participate in valid primaries. He stated categorically that the attempt to supplant genuine winners of party’s primaries was tantamount to political gangsterism. “We were supposed to hold the primaries on May 28th, which was the date announced by APC national headquarters in the notice for the primary. But, due to some bottlenecks, the chairman of the panel from Abuja, Hon. Izu Okeke, consulted with all of us and resolved, let’s do this tomorrow, so as to overcome the bottlenecks. “So, by the next day, we had the election and at the end of the

day, I won. I defeated my closest opponent, Chief Henry Ikoh, by 157 to 152 votes. That was it. The Electoral Panel submitted their report signed by all five members to the office of the National Organising Secretary. “They listed those of us who were returned or elected as candidates for the three senatorial zones, namely, Chief Sam Onuigbo for Abia Central, Senator Orji Uzo Kalu, Abia North and Blessing Nwagba Abia for Abia South. The office of the National Organising Secretary received the result and acknowledge it,” Onuigbo stated.

Baptist Church Decries Hardship, Corrupt Electoral Process Onyebuchi Ezigbo inAbuja Baptist Church has expressed worry over what it described as unbearable high cost of living in country. Regarding the ongoing processes leading to the next year’s general election, the church said that what happened recently during the party primaries leaves a very bad taste in the mouth. Addressing journalists in Abuja as part of the opening of the 7th Annual Session of the Church Conference yesterday, President, FCT Baptist Conference, Rev. Dr. Dogara Raphael Gwana, said the Nigerian market and economy are practically at the rooftops with both the rich and the poor all crying.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as ONYEULO CHIKADIBIA AUGUSTINA now wish to be known and addressed as ENUJEKWUTE CHIKADIBIA AUGUSTINA. AII former documents remain valid. General public should take note. I, formerly known and addressed as EMEKA HECTOR AKWUAKA now wish to be known and addressed as EMEKA CALLISTUS AKWUAKA. All former documents remain Valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS TOMISIN DEBORAH ALLIU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. TOMISIN DEBORAH AKINSETE. All former documents remain Valid. General public should take note. I, formerly known and addressed as MISS JULIET ONYINYECHUKWU EZE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JULIET ONYINYECHUKWU OSAZEE-DAN. All former documents remain Valid. General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as BAGUDU HADIZA MAMI now wish to be known and addressed as BAGUDU HADIZA. All former documents remain valid, General public and bank bvn should take note.

“The cost of living in Nigeria today has become nearly unbearable. All facets of the Nigerian market and economy are practically at the rooftops. Everyone, both the rich and the poor are crying. This is so because the Nigerian society is a consuming society not a producing one,” he said.

Gwana said that it is regrettable that Nigerians at the moment depending on importation for virtually everything they consume in this country. The governments at the state levels don’t put in any efforts in establishing factories or reviving the ones that have gone moribund.

Chukwuka Monye to Strengthen Volunteers Network The second runner-up in the just concluded presidential primaries on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform, Chukwuka Monye, has dismissed his defection speculations, stressing that he is currently working on strengthening the network of volunteers he has built. Source close to the 42-year-old Oxford and Harvard-trained social innovator, said Monye who is considered the new and strategic politician represents a new breed of nation builders, is working on strengthening the network of volunteers he has built before the primaries. Monye was said to have had a virtual call while abroad on a working holiday recently with

coordinators who led the extensive national network of volunteers. During the call, Monye was said to have reminded his team that politics is about effectiveness and that the network can only be effective if it is further strengthened. “It is important for us to separate our emotions from strategy and whilst love for our great nation is not negotiable, we need to be logical in our strategy and approach for midwifing the transformation we want to see. “Having weighed several options on my next steps, I am proud to say that loyalty to my nation is at the forefront of every decision that I make,” Monye was quoted to have said.

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

The Spirituality of Hajj (5) By: Spahic Omer/IslamiCity (continued from last week)

TAWAF Due to all this, plus the supplication of Ibrahim that the believing human hearts incline towards it, the Ka’bah is dearly loved and longed for. Because it signifies the result of a direct heavenly initiative and involvement, the Ka’bah’s intrinsic charm and beauty are beyond description. Lost for words, while watching, touching, or circumambulating it, most people tend to give in to the stream of profuse, albeit incommunicable spiritual, psychological and even intellectual emotions the circumstances generate. As if they sense that being silent and self-effacing, acknowledging the supernatural and divine overarching character of the Ka’bah - while juxtaposing it with their flaws, inadequacies and this - worldliness - is the best and most profitable mood. Any other approach is set to divest visitors and worshippers of some of the boons they have come for and were instinctively looking forward to procuring. Feeling hopeless, some people resort to closing their eyes and trying to “watch” and “embrace” the Ka’bah rather by means of their elated hearts and ecstatic souls. That way, all the inapt and under the circumstances “impairing” physical senses are temporarily shut, and through that metaphysical God-granted capacity that graces each and every human creature, one’s self is attempted to be elevated to a higher spiritual vintage point from where the Ka’bah could be “seen” and experienced better. Losing completely oneself inside the spiritual domains of the Ka’bah, it goes without saying, is the best way for a person to find and experience the quintessence of his own being, existence as a whole and the Ka’bah phenomenon itself. If the Ka’bah is sanctified, so is its tawaf and the atmosphere the latter generates. As a result, a person performing tawaf must be cleansed of all major and minor physical impurities. He must be up to the task. Not only that; the Prophet (pbuh) said that tawaf around the Ka’bah is similar to Salat (prayer) except that people can talk during it. “So whoever talks in it, then let him not say but good.” Thus, just like in Salat, a person making tawaf is expected to “face” the Ka’bah and to capitalize on the opportunity to advance towards his ultimate destiny. All this is intended to optimize the function of the Ka’bah and its tawaf, and to prepare the people for things to come. It is interesting to note that despite everything, there is no particular dhikr (remembrance of God) for tawaf. A pilgrim may read the Qur’an or say any dhikr he wants. This is important because dhikr, supplications and reciting the Qur’an should be placed in the service of aiding and boosting one’s experience of tawaf. People come from diverse religious, intellectual and socio-cultural backgrounds, hence there should be no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. What is inspiring and motivating for some, it is not so much for others. People should feel free and have recourse to any dhikr, supplications and Qur’an recitation templates they want and feel can improve their knowledge and experiences. There are yet those who prefer contemplation – the activities of the mind and the soul at the expense of the tongue - above everything else. What is important is that the dimensions of a pilgrim – the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual – stay together and in unison work towards the same ends. A pilgrim is at loss if his dimensions are fragmented and incoherent, clouding his awareness and marring his sensations. It is inappropriate – as it happens all the time unfortunately – that upon pilgrims certain dhikr, supplications and Qur’an reading patterns are rigidly imposed. Those pilgrims are navigated through the tawaf tide and asked to say or recite what they neither know nor understand. They blindly cling to it believing that such is the way and so, is the exclusive virtue. Those people and their instructors are the proponents of deadening formalism and ritualism, which is a small manifestation of a much larger problem (the tip of the iceberg). For them, tawaf and the rest of Hajj are merely a set of dry and superficially meaningful ceremonies. The object is just to do, not really comprehend and live through the events. They travel through the tawaf stream like a traveller who sleeps through his night journey. He wakes up when everything is over. In tawaf a pilgrim wears the upper sheet of ihram in such a way that it goes under his right armpit and over the left, exposing thus the right shoulder. Of the seven circles around the Ka’bah, a pilgrim should hasten, or jog, during the first three and walk during the remaining four circles. There is a historical reason for this, which persisted in order for the subsequent generations of Muslims to share a form and a feeling similar to that observed and felt by early Muslims. A companion of the Prophet (pbuh), Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas, reported that when the Prophet (pbuh)

and a company of Muslims came from Madinah to Makkah to perform ‘Umrah (the lesser pilgrimage) they were weakened somewhat by the fever in Madinah. Makkah was still in the hands of the polytheistic Quraysh and they wanted to employ this as a propaganda material against Muslims. They used to say to their countrymen: “People weakened with fever have come to you and they are afflicted with evil.” Allah informed the Prophet (pbuh) about this and he commanded the Muslims to jog through the first three circuits of tawaf. It is believed that the same reason was behind exposing their right shoulders. The Prophet (pbuh) wanted to show the Quraysh that the opposite of what they were alleging was true. The initiative, without a doubt, was part of psychological warfare. Having witnessed the spectacle, the Quraysh said: “Are those the people you said are weak because of the fever? They are stronger and sturdier than us.” The Prophet (pbuh) did not instruct the Muslims to jog all through the seven circuits of tawah lest they overexert themselves. The way tawaf is performed remains a sign of strength and endurance ever since. It is reminiscent of life struggles that await believers in their lives. As the followers of the truth, their tests will not end, in that Satan and his armies never sleep. Therefore, jihad (a comprehensive struggle to make the Word of God supreme) should be the top priority of believers and they should be ever ready. Their life interests, activities, possessions and even the ways they dress and behave ought to serve as the testaments of their inner state. The Prophet (pbuh) said: “The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, although both are good. Strive for that which will benefit you, seek the help of Allah, and do not feel helpless.” One should not forget the importance of following in the footsteps of and emulating the example of the Prophet (pbuh). Such is an unmistaken sign of true faith. ‘Umar bin al-Khattab said: “There is no reason for us to do ramal (i.e. jogging during the first three circles of tawaf) except that we wanted to show off before the pagans, and now Allah has destroyed them. Nevertheless, the Prophet did that and we do not want to leave it.” As a rule, Hajj rituals, big and small – yet all Islamic rites and ceremonies - are learned from the Prophet (pbuh) exclusively. He himself used to lay emphasis on that throughout his Hajj. Once he said: “Take your rituals from me. I do not know whether I will be able to perform another Hajj after this one.” As per a report narrated by Imam al-Bukhari, Abdul-Malik bin Marwan wrote to al-Hajjaj that he should follow the companion ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar in all the ceremonies of Hajj. He did so because Abdullah bin ‘Umar was well-known for following the Prophet (pbuh) in the minutest details. He was al-Hajjaj’s sure thing in matters of uncertainty. Following Abdullah bin ‘Umar was tantamount to following the Prophet (pbuh). Parenthetically, scholars are almost unanimous that revealing the right shoulder and jogging through the first three rounds of tawaf (ramal) is required only during the first tawaf of Hajj, which is tawaf al-qudum (tawaf of arrival). Such is the first thing a pilgrim does upon his arrival in Makkah and in the Holy Mosque. With it he greets the place and occasion – and is greeted by them. He announces his arrival and readiness to engage in the impending tasks. He demonstrates that he is sufficiently healthy and strong. Revealing the right shoulder and doing the ramal is not required during the subsequent tawaf al-ifadah (tawaf of visiting), tawaf al-wida’ (farewell tawaf) and the voluntary tawaf. In these three types of tawaf pilgrims wear their regular clothes, hence especially revealing the right shoulder becomes unrealistic. The above lessons should likewise be imparted to pilgrims as part of their Hajj education, motivation and guidance. They are to be galvanized thus, prompting them to pledge to spend the remainder of their lives not merely as the servants, but also as soldiers of the truth. They can do that right during tawaf and in the vicinity of the Ka’bah, or at any stage of the revolutionary experience of Hajj. The lessons have the potential to enhance pilgrims’ sense of purpose. Their sense of time, place and history will also be brought into focus, revealing and further augmenting their belonging to the universal community of believers moving across times, lands and ideas. Fulfilling their human need of feeling that they belong will go a long way towards the opening of new avenues for the enrichment of pilgrims and of their confidence-building. As a sign of this crowning virtue of belonging, a pilgrim, having completed tawaf, offers a two-rak’ah (unit) prayer at the station of Prophet Ibrahim – the father of prophets and an ummah (a total nation, leader and model). Not to speak of the fact – in respect of quantity - that one prayer in the Holy Mosque (al-Masjid al-Haram) is better than one hundred thousand prayers elsewhere, as revealed by the Prophet (pbuh). Next, a pilgrim moves on to perform sa’y. To Be Continued

FRIDAY, JU ͺͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS

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

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

FG Bows to Pressures, Rescinds Ban on International Basketball

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Federal Government succumbed to pressures from concerned stakeholders after it lifted the twoyear international ban on Nigeria basketball. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, addressed the media yesterday on the shifting of position. The development will now pave the way for reinstatement of Nigeria to the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Australia from September 22- October 1, 2022after the ticket had been withdrawn and given to Mali. Abubakar admitted that the ministry reconsidered its position after the factional President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) board, Ahmadu Musa Kida wrote a letter of appeal dated June 17, 2022, addressed to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare. Abubakar said the arbitration by concerned stakeholders, former Nigerian international basketball players and well meaning Nigerians for solutions to the imbroglio triggered the decision. He said in the letter of appeal, Musa Kida among other things apologised to Mr President and the Minister over the embarrassment the developments around basketball and the conduct of some stakeholders has brought upon Nigeria. “The letter appealed to the minister to use his good offices to approach

President Buhari for the reversal of the two-year withdrawal of Nigeria from international basketball competitions. “The appeal letter also critically gave some key undertakings: to immediately set in motion the process of status review or constitutional amendments from stakeholders as collated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development;

World’s football governing body, FIFA, yesterday released its ranking for June, with the Super Eagles now rated fourth on the continent and 31st globally, meaning the three-time African champions dropped by one step both in the continent and at the world stage. Nigeria’s perfect win record in the opening stages of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers did not push Super Eagles up the global ranking. The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations champions were previously ranked 30th globally and third in Africa, behind only top-ranking Senegal and second-place Morocco. But the Super Eagles dropped a step down to make room for Tunisia, as the Carthage Eagles are now 30th in the world and third on the continent. Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions complete the top five ranking teams in Africa. Surprisingly, Nigeria’s victories

approached President Buhari to update him of the latest development. He added that a number of significant developments have occurred since the Presidential approval withdrawing Nigeria from international basketball competition for two years. “President Buhari, being one that is committed to youth development and desirous of ensuring that they

are availed all opportunities in sports and other endeavours, considered the appeal and in the overriding spirit of national interest, love for youth and in order to avoid sending basketball into a long period of suspension when NBBF has now committed to resolution of the issues which precipitated the withdrawal in the first place has approved the return of Nigeria to international basketball

immediately”. He said sports federations hold such positions in trust for the government and people of Nigeria under the direct supervision of the Minister of Youth and Sports, adding must respect Nigerian laws and authority governing various sectors failure of which he said will attract sanctions. He noted the laws of Nigeria cannot be subjugated to any other law.

D’Tigress...fate in the balance after FIBA handed their World Cup ticket to Mali following Nigeria’s withdrawal from international basketball for two years

Super Eagles Suffer Drop in June FIFA Ranking Femi Solaja

to set up a high-powered team to reconcile all contending parties in the basketball family at home and abroad and a commitment to work with the Ministry in the governance of basketball among other things. Above all, the compliance of NBBF to the issues at stake made this possible,” Abubakar noted. He said upon review of the prevailing situation, the Ministry

in their last two competitive matches failed to boost their status. The Super Eagles defeated Sierra Leone 2-1 in Abuja to kick off the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on a winning note. Napoli’s Victor Osimhen then scored four to power the Jose Peseiro-led team to a historic 10-0 win over Sao Tome and Principe in Morocco four days later. Nigeria’s recent two international friendly matches, however, appeared to have affected the national team’s standing. The three-time AFCON champions lost to both Mexico and Ecuador, 2-1 and 1-0 respectively in the United States. Elsewhere, former world champions Brazil retain their place at the top of the standings, having replaced Belgium in March. Belgium, Argentina, France, and England make up the top five.

Super Eagles slumped in June FIFA ranking despite record win against São Tomé & Principe and Sierra Leone

Spartak Moscow Declare Victor Moses AWOL Former Nigerian star fails to return for pre-season Former Chelsea star, Victor Moses, has gone AWOL at Russian Premier League club Spartak Moscow after his summer vacation. According to the official website of Spartak Moscow, the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner with the Super Eagles has yet to resume pre-season training with the club after his holiday. The Nigerian winger on Wednesday, failed to resume for pre-season training as expected. The Russian Premier League club have set up camp in Tarasovka ahead of the new season with all the players in training camp except Moses. “Midfielder Victor Moses did not arrive at the team’s location. The club finds out the circumstances of this decision. The contract with the Nigerian player is not suspended,” reads a statement on the club’s website.

The 22-time Soviet Top League and Russian Premier League champions revealed that they are investigating the circumstances of his decision not to report for pre-season training. Moses initially joined Spartak Moscow on loan in October 2020 before the transfer was made permanent the following season. Overall, the midfielder has appeared in 53 matches across all competitions for the Redand-Whites, scoring seven goals while registering nine assists. The Crystal Palace Academy product intended to return to the Premier League three months ago but the transfer was not allowed to happen. Moses played a pivotal role in Spartak Moscow winning the 2022 Russian Cup, starring in a 2-1 victory over city rivals Dynamo.

Victor Moses...gone on AWOL at Spartak Moscow

Rainoil Restates Commitment to Service and Staff Wellbeing Rainoil Limited, a leading integrated energy company operating in the downstream sector has once again shown its commitment in promoting healthy living, fitness, and bonding among its employees as it kicks starts its 25th anniversary with sports day in Lagos. The Rainoil Sport Day was part of the brand’s celebration which invariable supports staff fitness, competitiveness, motivation, team spirit, Increased brain power, and bonding to ensure they perform better in the workplace. It is also aimed at encouraging

togetherness and peace, with the participation of staff grouped as team integrity and team excellence, and participation of a novelty match between Rainoil and Eterna Plc, a sister company. Rainoil Sports Day is one out of various events slated for the anniversary. Speaking with newsmen at the event, the Group Managing Director of Rainoil Ltd., Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie reiterated that the company was not only committed to the development of the petroleum downstream value chain, which is critical to Nigeria’s economic growth but

also devoted to the growth of its employees, who he termed as the company’s greatest assets. According to him, promoting fitness is one of the most beneficial choices any employer can make to encourage their workers to reach their full potential, also the sports day provides bonding moment that allows them to get to work out with other colleagues while taking a break from their job. According to him, “I am highly excited today about the events lined up to celebrate our 25 years in operation. As you can see a good number of our

staff are here today to be part of the sports and that shows their readiness to be industrious, because it is only a fit mind can be productive. “As a matter of fact, this is 25 years of great fete, we are careful to return all the glory to God who has been our help thus far, because statistics has shown that 80 percent of companies don’t survive beyond the first five years of its establishment. Rainoil organises on annual basis, Rainoil annual tennis tournament which takes place in either Ikoyi Club or Lagos Country Club Ikeja.

Friday June 24, 2022

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Price: N250

MISSILE APBN to FG “The economic losses due to the high cost of diesel is massive. Inﬂation is very high, many companies, factories and airlines have or are at the verge of shutting down due to unsustainable cost of fuel. The issue of insecurity has remained a major concern to us. The nation’s economy is being stunted, and may not attract the much needed investments…”–President of Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Akin Oyegbola, telling the government.

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akinosuntokun@thisdaylive.com

After the Coup that Failed T

he dominant theme of the All Progressive Congress, APC’s presidential primaries was the unravelling of buhari’s supremacy reinforced by the ease and speed with which it was accomplished. His imperial presidency could not have prepared us for the spectre of helplessness and disarray he projected at a most critical moment. Let us go back and take a second look at the calendar, leading, (in byzantine twist and turns) to the primaries in which Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected the APC presidential standard bearer. On May 31st, Buhari assembled the APC governors and made a singular request “In keeping with the established internal policies of the party and as we approach the convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023”. Consistent with this solicitation, on June 6th “The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, announced the Senate president, Ahmed Lawan as the consensus candidate during the NWC meeting held on Monday at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja. Adamu, it was gathered, informed the NWC members that the choice of Lawan was reached in consultation with President Muhammadu Buhari”. At the eventide of the same day Buhari disowned the solicitation he requested from the governors to be granted the sole discretion to choose the presidential candidate of the party.That something had gone criticality amiss was indicated in the somewhat disoriented, incoherent and tortuous language he conveyed the disclaimer. “You were elected as I was. Have a clear mind as I have. God gave us the chance; we have no reason to complain. We must be ready to take pain as we take the joy. Allow the delegates to decide.The party must participate; nobody will appoint anybody”. Ordinarily, given his appalling record in office, he should not be in a position to have a veto power over who and who should not be his successor. Contrariwise, if has had a successful tour of office, he would have had considerable leverage and it would have been commensurately difficult for the governors to defy him. As recently recapitulated by a critical observer “Buhari’s claim that he has caused improvements in the lives of Nigerians is rubbing salt on our injuries.There is absolutely no doubt that the condition he inherited is much better than what obtains today. Insecurity has worsened, the economy has collapsed. Corruption has also worsened. External debt stands at 41tln from 7tln in 2015. Over 80% of farms in the North are not being cultivated due to insecurity”. Vice president Yemi Osinbajo was no doubt speaking to an audience of one (and may have no impact on

Tinubu his prospects at the APC primaries anyway) but he terribly irked Nigerians with his foot in the mouth campaign pitch that he was going to continue with the buhari legacy. Perhaps in the fullness of time the whole story of this episode will be known. Suffice to say that his defeat in the momentary supremacist struggle between him and the northern governors on the choice of the presidential candidate, Buhari has had his ego deflated. As the drama of the night unfolded, neither him nor his hatchet man (the party chairman) looked particularly cheerful. They looked pitifully forlorn and the body language conveyed was more a display of mourning and less a celebration of what was going on.. I have worked with presidents before and have studied quite a few. It is next to impossible to imagine a scenario in which a conspicuous proxy party chairman will have the audacity to announce a selected candidate without the buy in of his paymaster. In the light of his unambiguous demand to be granted sole discretion to name his successor, I have absolutely no reason to disbelieve that the announcement of Ahmed Lawan as the consensus candidate was at the bidding of Buhari. Further indication was the President’s indifference to the list of five names subsequently given to him to vet by the northern governors.They did not give him a blank cheque and his liberty to act was circumscribed by the exclusively southerners list imposed on him comprising Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti State), Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation, and Governor Dave Umahi. In like manner, there could be no reading of the Tinubu outburst in Abeòkúta other than throwing the gauntlet for a showdown with buhari in the conviction that he was no longer in contention for the presidential flag

bearer of the APC. I know of no president, let alone the winner takes all buhari who is not interested in who succeeds him. Feigning indifference, (after shooting down his request for reciprocity), at the shortlist of the five aspirants presented to him is not a good omen for whoever emerges as the victorious candidate. It was apparent that he only became indifferent when his preferred choice, Lawan, did not make the shortlist. If he is not enthusiastic, which he clearly is not, about Tinubu’s emergence, then he would by commission or omission play the spoiler role. Notionally if he had to choose between party and ethno-regional identity, between APC and fulani muslim parapò, there is little doubt on the option he would choose. And therein lies the recourse to the Atiku Abubakar option. In his own famous logic-why would he prefer those who gave him three per cent support to those who gave him ninety seven per cent. We have had the benefit of seven years to ascertain the authencity of this proclamation and let us not forget that vengefulness is a duty and obligation by presidents like Buhari. On the other side of the ring is who the Yoruba call ajantala alias Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Ajántala is the spirit being who, despite being a clumsy physical weakling, keeps winning the relay race in near impossible situations. Most certainly, his victory at the APC primaries caught me flat footed. If he became the victor after he had written himself off and regardless of buhari’s disposition, why could he not go ahead to win the ultimate prize? There has been a lot of speculations on his health status. And those who believe in the infinite capacity of the northern political elite for evil conspiracies have been whispering a replay of the Umar Yar’adua prototype as the ulterior motive of his northern backers. Nonetheless, the reality today is that Buhari has not had his way concerning Tinubu and met this watelooo at the behest of the northern governors collective. This being the case and to put it in the idiom of one of his proteges, he may been effectively retired as the godfather of northern hegemony politics. In a manner of speaking, the Buhari meltdown apes his ouster as military head of state in 1985. He wanted to deal a bad card to a military colleague who played a crucial role in the coup that brought him to office in 1984.The army caucus who cooked the soup to which he was invited to have the first taste (led by General Ibrahim Babangida) remonstrated with him to reconsider his decision to no avail. Hence the recourse to asking him to step aside. As a general without an army he was taken out as one would swat off a nuisance fly. Often, Nigerian politics is synonymous with the management or mismanagement of Northern hegemony. It would have amounted to the height of the mismanagement of this custody were buhari to have had his wish for Lawan to become the APC presidential candidate. In this understanding, his northern governors rebellious proteges, are by the same token

deemed as demonstrating enlightened self interest in upholding the power rotation convention. As I have often asserted, northern hegemony per se is not the problem of Nigeria. The problem is its primitive abuse and misuse by leading political actors like Buhari. It was this potential abuse that the APC northern governors precluded by following through on the convention of presidential power rotation between the North and the South. When intelligence sources reported that buhari had bought into the proposal for orchestrating the emergence of Lawan or the Jigawa state governor Badaru as the party presidential candidate I had argued ‘It used to be the case that a northern proxy from the south (as president) reinforced with a stranglehold on the national assembly is deemed sufficient guarantee for the subsistence of northern hegemony. But like Oliver Twist the managers keep coming for more until there is nothing left to give’. If the governors saved the day by seizing the initiative from the president, they are looking to stoke another mismanagement of northern hegemony with the contemplation of a Muslim Muslim presidential ticket, pairing Tinubu with a northern muslim running mate. It is true that extremist religious intolerance in Nigeria has manifested in the last three decades than at any comparable period in Nigeria’s history. It has both national and international dimensions. According to professor Moses Ochonu “There is a problem of extremism in the north.The source of religious extremism in the North is partly doctrinal and partly socioeconomic.There are certain doctrines and ideologies that have made their way historically into northern Nigeria and have been left to fester and thrive.” Internationally, universal spike in religious identity politics is theoretically attributable to the ‘end of history’ thesis postulated by the American political scientist, Francis Fukuyama. He argued that the end of the ideological polarisation predicated cold war era in 1989 “marks the end-point of mankind’s ideological evolution and the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government.” Since nature abhors vacuum it was the ensuing vacuum created by the termination of this ideological polarisation that cultural wars especially the Christian /Islamic bifurcation came to fill. Hence the near universal intensification of militant and aggressive Islam. To this general background, Nigeria cannot be an exception. It was still early days in the global evolution of this trend in 1993 when the Muslim Muslim presidential ticket of Moshood Abiola and Babagana Kingibe was widely acceptable to Nigerians. Contextually this precedence is nonetheless incomparable to the deliberate weaponisation of Islamic identity to win votes. In the interim, a lot of water has passed under the bridge. Of the lot none is more toxic than the overlapping mixture of Boko Haram /ISWAP / a rogue Fulani militia crowned with the aggravation of buhari’s divisive politics.

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