FRIDAY 10TH JULY 2020

South Africa Overtakes Nigeria in Cost of Borrowing Dike Onwuamaeze with agency report South Africans now pay more than Nigerians to borrow in local currency, Bloomberg said in a report.

It reported that this is a sign of South Africa’s fiscal woes

because for the first time ever, the country is paying more to borrow in its local currency than Nigeria, rated four steps lower at Moody’s Investors Service.

Yields on South African rand bonds have climbed more than a percentage point since the

beginning of June after the government boosted issuance to plug a fiscal deficit forecast to swell to more than 15 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this year.

Nigerian yields have dropped in tandem with most emerging-market peers,

benefiting from a wall of monetary stimulus and a risk-on mood as governments around the globe start easing COVID-19 restrictions, the report added. Average bond yield in the country stood at 8.1 per cent as of last Friday.

The International Monetary

Fund (IMF) last month further revised downwards, growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for 2020 from -1.6 per cent to -3.2 per cent due to the effect of lockdowns on economies in the region.

It noted that oil producing countries such as Nigeria

and Angola in the continent have been badly hit by the pandemic and had revised Nigeria’s growth forecast for 2020 to -5.4 per cent, from -3.4 per cent.

Also, South Africa recently Continued on page 9

NNPC Remits N219bn to FAAC in April... Page 8 Friday 10 July, 2020 Vol 25. No 9223. Price: N250

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Panel Quizzes Top EFCC Officials as Magu’s Interrogation Enters Fourth Day Demands files of cases, forfeited assets’ register, cash releases since 2015 My house not searched by anti-graft agency, says Abdusalami Abubakar Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The presidential panel probing alleged corrupt practices against the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, yesterday widened the scope of its investigation, quizzing the commission's Secretary, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, and other directors of the commission.

The EFCC's top officials appeared before the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel investigating the 21-point allegation of financial impropriety and fund diversion levelled against Magu, whose interrogation entered the fourth day yesterday.

THISDAY learnt that the panel summoned the top management officers from the Continued on page 9

Osinbajo Seeks to Clear Name, Petitions IG on Alleged N4bn Bribe Davidson Iriekpen Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has written the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, demanding an investigation into an allegation that he collected N4 billion in slush money from the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

(EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

The petition, dated July 8, 2020, is titled, ‘Criminal Defamation of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), GCON

by Jackson Ude.’ The vice president said Ude was in the habit of publishing Continued on page 9

REPOSITIONING THE ECONOMY...

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during the virtual meeting of the National Economic Council in Abuja...yesterday

godwin omoigui

Ondo Deputy Gov: Assembly Asks CJ to Compose Probe Panel... Page 5

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NEWS Ondo Deputy Gov: Assembly Asks CJ to Compose Probe Panel

Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Ajayi, lawmakers bicker over service of removal notice Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and James Sowole in Akure The Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun, has asked the Chief Judge, Justice Olanrewaju Akeredolu, to set up a seven-man panel to investigate the allegation of gross misconduct levelled against the deputy governor, Mr. Agboola Ajayi.

The letter asking the chief judge to compose the committee was dated July 7, 2020 and received July 9, 2020.

Oleyelogun said his request was in line with Section 188 (5) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The letter read: "By the resolution of the House today pursuant to Section 188 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended it was resolved that the allegations be investigated forthwith.

"It is in line with the above that we request that you set up the seven-man panel to conduct the investigation as resolved by the honourable House and the panel, shall soon as possible, report back to the House."

Ajayi, Lawmakers Bicker over Service of Removal Notice Meanwhile there was controversy yesterday over the service of notice of removal on the deputy governor.

The removal process commenced on Tuesday, when a motion signed by 14 members of the Assembly, seeking the removal of the deputy governor was passed.

However, nine lawmakers that opposed the motion have written to the Chief Judge to dissociate themselves from the process.

The bid to impeach Ajayi, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is part of the political undercurrents in the state ahead of the October governorship election.

The Assembly had on Tuesday directed the Clerk, Mr. Bode Adeyelu, to serve the deputy governor the notice of removal after 14 out of 26 members of the House of Assembly voted that he should defend himself against allegations of gross misconduct against him.

But while the deputy governor insisted that he had not received any notice from the legislature, the Assembly said the notice had been served.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Babatope Okeowo, said yesterday that his boss was yet to receive the notice, over 72 hours after the resolution of the lawmakers.

However, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Gbenga Omole, said the legislature had served Ajayi through the clerk with a proof of service.

Though a legal practitioner, Mr. Idowu Mafimisebi, however, said the deputy governor must be served personally and not by proxy.

THISDAY gathered that the clerk had delivered the notice of allegation in a letter with reference ODHA/98/253/97 dated July 7, 2020.

The letter sighted by THISDAY showed that the notice was received with a stamp "Office of The Deputy Governor, Ondo State of Nigeria, Akure."

The letter was entitled: “Notice of Allegation of Gross Misconduct Against Honourable Alfred Agboola Ajayi, Deputy Governor, Ondo State.

Nine Lawmakers Write CJ Nine members of the assembly have written a letter to Justice Akeredolu dissociating themselves from the ongoing plans to remove the deputy governor.

The lawmakers are: the suspended Deputy Speaker, Hon. Iroju Ogundeji; Hon. Jamiu Sulaiman Maito; Hon. Rasheed Olalekan Elegbeleye; Hon. Tomide Leonard Akinribido; and Hon. Samuel Edamisan Ademola.

Others are: Hon. Favour Semilore Tomomewo; Hon. Festus Akingbaso; Hon. Adewale Williams Adewinle and Hon. Torhukerhijo Success.

In their open letter, the lawmakers said they were

notifying the chief judge that they were opposed to the plan to remove the deputy governor.

APC Faction Rejects Indirect Primary Meanwhile, a faction of APC in the state has warned the national leadership of the party against adopting indirect primary to pick the party's governorship candidate on July 20.

The factional Chairman of the party, Hon. Henry Olutuja, while addressing journalists at the party’s secretariat in Abuja yesterday, said some governorship aspirants would boycott the primary if the indirect mode was adopted.

He also accused Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode

Fayemi, of plotting to impose the incumbent Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, on the state by pushing for indirect primary.

Olutuja noted that out of 12 aspirants vying for the governorship ticket, 10 are working with his faction as the authentic APC executive in the state, adding that five of those aspirants came from Owo, the same local government area with Akeredolu.

He added that in the letter written by his faction to the current leadership of the party dated June 25, 2020 with ref.

No. APC/NHDO/19/013 to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), notifying it of the primary, it did not state the mode of the primary to be adopted.

Olutuja said it was important to consider the mode of primary to be adopted considering the pending litigation on the legality or otherwise of the process that produced the two executives committees.

He advised that the option of "direct primary be considered and must be adopted" in the interest of equity, fairness and justice, so that the outcome of the pending suit No. FHC/AK/ CS/10/2019 would not affect the validity of the governorship primary to be conducted on July 20, 2020.

“Our leaders need to be reminded that direct primary election was held to determine the party flag bearer at Lagos, Osun and Edo states where crisis within the party were considered limited.”

TRAINED FOR THE FUTURE...

L-R: An unnamed participant; Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Maj. Gen. Martins Enedu; and Commandant, AVM Kingsley Lar, during the presentation of awards to participants at the passing out ceremony of trainees in Lagos…yesterday

PDP, Ize-Iyamu in Slur Campaigns over Edo Election Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Edo State, Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu, engaged in a verbal duel yesterday over the governorship election in the state, with the main opposition party accusing the APC and its candidate of plotting to rig the election.

But in a response, Ize-Iyamu described as shameful and lack of tact, PDP’s decision to field the incumbent Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, it had roundly condemned as a non-achiever as governor, as its candidate.

PDP yesterday upbraided the APC for plotting to use fabrications in a section of the media to arm-twist the Independent National

Electoral Commission (INEC) to manipulate the election to favour Ize-Iyamu.

The party said in sponsoring fake reports that PDP leaders were putting pressure on INEC’s Chairman, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, on the election, the APC had exposed its hopelessness over its rejection by the Edo people and was seeking to blackmail the commission.

According to the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, "Whereas we understand APC’s despondency over the soaring popularity of our party and candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki, the APC is worsening its woes by sponsoring fabrications against the expressed will of the people of Edo state to re-elect Governor Obaseki in the September election."

He added that the APC by

now should know that people will resist any alleged by the party to rig the election.

"Our party counsels the APC to blame nobody but themselves for having a discredited nomination process and being stuck with a blighted candidate, who has now become a symbol of a direct affront by corrupt political godfathers and cabal to the will, ability and liberty of the people of Edo state to chose their own leader," the PDP said.

According to it, the APC should blame itself for presenting a candidate who was exposed by the party’s former national chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, as a person of questionable character, a treasury looter, acid bather, rusticated student; a politician, who is only good for “night meetings” and unfit to hold office as governor of

Edo State.”

PDP explained that the APC should also hold Oshiomhole responsible for indicting its candidate as a "fake pastor" that started carrying the Holy Bible because he could not practice as a lawyer.

Also, the main opposition party said it was disgraceful 73 days to the election, all the APC could offer was blackmail against PDP leaders, after its plans to derail the election had been exposed.

"It is common knowledge among Nigerians that characters being paraded by the APC as the face of their campaign in Edo State were foisted into office through rigging, bloodletting and manipulation of election results," it stated.

The PDP, in reference to Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, who

chairs the APC campaign committee for Edo State, said Nigerians knew how the “Gandollar” election was driven by mercenaries from neighbouring countries who disrupted electoral processes and inflicted injuries and pain on the people.

Ize-Iyamu described as shameful and lack of tact, the PDP’s decision to field Obaseki it had condemned as a non-achiever as governor of Edo State.

In an earlier statement issued by Mr. John Mayaki, the Director of Communications and Media, of his Campaign Organisation, Ize-Iyamu said it was confusing that "today, the PDP is singing Godwin Obaseki’s praise, claiming he is the almighty, the saint, the blameless after parading him as a failure who deceived the courts and INEC with counterfeit credentials.

According to him, “The same PDP dragged Obaseki before a Federal High Court, pointing out the inconsistencies in his academic records, seeking judicial order to stop him from assessing the corridors of government.

"Today, the PDP says Obaseki has initiated programmes and policies in Edo State when only a few weeks ago, before their tax collectors were settled, the party branded the embattled governor a complete failure who reversed the growth and development of Edo State.

"The naked truth is that the PDP has neither plan nor strategy for winning this election or to lead Edo State. They, therefore, resort to the only one thing that works for failures: excuses and mudslinging.

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NEWS

NNPC Remits N219bn to FAAC in April Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday said it remitted about N219.16 billion to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in April.

The corporation had earlier stated that it paid about N1.7 trillion to FAAC between February 2019 and February 2020.

The national oil company also reported an increase of

19.14 per cent in the average daily natural gas supply to power plants, which translates to 788 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd), equivalent to power generation of 2,873MW. In a statement by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, the NNPC explained that the figures were contained in the corporation's Monthly Financial and Operations Report (MFOR) for April.

DHQ: Fleeing Terrorists Migrating to North-west

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The military yesterday raised the alarm that fleeing insurgents from the North-east have begun to migrate to the North-west with sophisticated weapons.

It said the terrorists were metamorphosing into armed bandits following sustained artillery bombardment and air strikes mounted by the military.

At a briefing in Abuja, Coordinator of the Directorate of Defence Media Operations (CDDMO), Major General John Enenche, said having turned criminality to an industry and business, insurgents were migrating from North-east to Northwest.

He said the insurgents were moving with sophisticated weapons, including antiaircraft weapons.

Enenche noted that the insurgents migrating to North-west operated with AK 47 rifles, but had now acquired sophisticated weaponry like PKT, a caliber of weapon capable of bringing down an aircraft flying at low altitude and other anti-aircraft guns.

The coordinator said that the Armed Forces of Nigeria was studying the situation in North-west with a view to evolving a potent strategy that would arrest the ugly development.

On the successes recorded against the criminal elements, Enenche said, "The Armed Forces of Nigeria has continued its major operations across the country with renewed vigour and attendant successes.

"During the period under review, troops’ encounters with the criminal elements resulted in the destruction of their structures and equipment as well as the capture of arms and ammunition" He said, "gallant troops also rescued some hostages with some criminal elements surrendering to the troops.

The ground troops of Operation Lafiya Dole had no fewer than 17 encounters with the BHT/ISWAP criminals in the North-east theatre of operation.

"These encounters resulted in the killing of 75 BHT/ISWAP fighters, the capture of large arms and ammunition, as well as

vehicles and equipment", he said.

He asserted that some criminal elements and 35 captives were rescued while four of their fighters surrendered to troops.

The DDMO said from June 2 to 3, 2020, the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole conducted comprehensive precision strikes to mark the launching of its subsidiary Operation Long Reach II on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest in Borno State.

The massive air strikes resulted in the obliteration of insurgent structures used as meeting venue at Mainyakare village on the fringes of Sambisa Forest, stating that in the process, several of their fighters were neutralised.

He added that in continuation of intensive clearance operation in the North-west zone of the country, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji continued to record tremendous successes against the bandits.

He said that troops killed 58 armed bandits in Katsina and Zamfara states with others escaping with gunshot wounds, stressing that three repentant bandits embraced peace and surrendered to the troops with their arms and ammunition.

Enenche also said the maritime component of Operation Delta Safe specifically, Nigerian Navy Ship, Delta and Pathfinder impounded 565,000 litres of suspected illegally refined diesel in Opumami community and Opuedebubor Creek in Warri South LGA of Delta State as well Mejikiri, Buguma in Asari Toru LGA of Rivers State.

According to him, "Troops of Sector 1 Operation Delta Safe in conjunction with Forward Operating Base Escravos have deactivated all Illegal Refining Sites (IRS) identified within Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) pipeline general area.

"During the operations, a total of 17 Illegal Refining Sites (IRS) were deactivated at Agor-Illa Warri southwest LGA while 30,000 litres of illegally refined AGO and 125.7 barrels of stolen crude oil were impounded", he said.

“The 57th edition of the MFOR indicated that in April 2020, NNPC remitted the sum of N219.16 billion to the Federation Account, reflecting the naira proceeds from the sale of domestic crude oil and gas. In terms of dollar receipts, an export receipt of $193.05 million was recorded in April 2020,” it said.

According to the report, which dwelt extensively on the corporation’s fresh attention to gas, a total of 226.51billion cubic feet (BCF) of natural gas was produced in April 2020, translating to an average daily production of 7,786.17 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd).

“The figure indicated an increase of 3.73 per cent at 226.51BCF, compared

to output in March 2020.

Out of this figure, a total of 136.44BCF of gas was commercialised, consisting of 36.99BCF and 99.45BCF for the domestic and export market, respectively.

“Out of the 1,233.01mmscfd of gas supplied to the domestic market in April 2020, about 787.70mmscfd, representing 63.88 per cent, was supplied to gas-fired power plants, while the balance of 445.31mmscfd or 36.12 per cent was supplied to other industries.

“Similarly, for the period of April 2019 to April 2020, an average of 1,184.29mmscfd of gas was supplied to the domestic market, comprising an average of 677.87mmscfd or (57.24 per cent) as gas supply to the power plants and 506.42 mmscfd or (42.76

per cent) as gas supply to industries,” it added.

The NNPC noted that from April 2019 to April 2020, a total of 3,082.91BCF of gas was produced, representing an average daily production of 7,857.18mmscfd during the period.

It said period-to-date production from Joint Ventures (JVs), Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) and NPDC contributed about 69.57 per cent, 21.46 per cent and 8.97 per cent respectively to the total national gas production.

The report also indicated that in the downstream sector, a total of 0.94 billion litres of petrol, translating to 31.37mn litres/day, was supplied for the month, adding that the corporation has continued to diligently

monitor the daily stock of petrol to achieve smooth distribution of petroleum products and zero fuel queue across the nation.

In the period under review, the corporation said 65 vandalised pipeline points were reported, a marked increase from the 19 points recorded in March.

It said the Atlas CoveMosimi stretch accounted for 55 per cent, while MosimiOre recorded 22 per cent and other locations made up for the remaining 23 per cent.

The statement stated that the NNPC remained committed to sustaining effective communication with stakeholders through publication of its Monthly Financial and Operations reports on its website and in national dailies.

POLICING THE COMMUNITY...

L-R: Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, Mr. Ahmad Abdurrahman; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Deputy Inspector General of Police, ICT, Mr. Celestine Okoye; and former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, during the inauguration of Enugu State Community Policing Advisory Committee in Enugu…yesterday

FG Generates N52.3tn Tax Revenue in 19 Years

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

The federal government generated a total tax revenue of N52.3 trillion in the last 19 years (20002019), according to a policy brief released by OXFAM in collaboration with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC).

Oxfam is a confederation of 20 international organisations focusing on the alleviation of global poverty while CISLAC is non-governmental, legislative advocacy, information-sharing and research organisation.

The document titled: 'Policy Brief on Effective Public Finance Manage Roadmap in Nigeria' observed that there have been consistent gaps in Nigeria’s tax projections vis-à-vis actual generation over the years.

It noted that in 2015, 2016,

2017, 2018 and 2019, tax projections were N4.572 trillion, N4.200 trillion, N4.888 trillion, N6.747 trillion and N8.802 trillion respectively while actual generation were N3.741 trillion, N3.307 trillion, N4.027 trillion, N5.320 trillion, and N5.623 trillion, respectively.

Citing the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) report on crude oil sales, the brief stated that Nigeria earned $1 trillion from oil revenue since 1999, adding that many factors were responsible for ineffectiveness of public finance in the country.

These include poor domestic resource mobilisation, obsolete laws and regulations, weak public institutions, corruption and leakages in public procurement process and low tax revenue as well

as over-dependence on oil revenue with a high level of market volatility.

At an interactive session on policies, gaps and alternatives in fiscal transparency yesterday in Abuja, the Programme Manager, CISLAC, Mr. Chinedu Bassey, said public procurement is fraught with corruption, wondering why the same item is procured (usually inflated) at different prices by various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

Public procurement, he noted, is replete with contract racketeering, embezzlement, bribery and fraud in the bidding process.

Transparency International (TI), using procurement as one of the indices for assessing country corruption level in 2019, ranked Nigeria 146 out of 180 least corrupt countries, implying that Nigeria is among the most

corrupt countries in the world.

In another study on 'Nigeria Public Finance Management Roadmap', a tripartite contribution between government, civil society organisations and the private sector, corruption in Nigeria is estimated to cost up to 37 per cent of GDP, if not dealt with immediately.

The study was carried out under the Strategic Partnership Financing for Development, a joint project of CISLAC Nigeria and OXFAM country office in Nigeria and funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Supporting Civil Society Strengthening and Influencing.

The programme is being implemented across Cambodia, Nigeria, Niger, Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel (OPTI), Morocco, Pakistan, Uganda and Vietnam.

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17 Political Parties to Participate in Ondo Guber Election Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that 17 out of the 18 registered political parties had notified the commission of their intention to conduct their primary election ahead of the October 10 governorship election in Ondo State.

The 17 political parties that have notified INEC of their primary election have also subscribed to conduct an indirect primary election.

The APC will conduct its primary governorship election on July 20, while the PDP will conduct the primary governorship election between July 22 and 23.

According to a statement by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Voter Education and Information, Mr. Festus Okocha, the electoral body said, "a total of 17 of the 18 registered political parties notified the Independent

National Electoral Commission (INEC) of their intention to conduct party primaries for the Ondo State governorship election fixed for the October 10, 2020".

The INEC National Commissioner further said that only the Boot Party that did not give any notification of its intention to conduct primary for the Ondo State governorship election.

Okoye said this is in compliance with Section 85 (1) of the Electoral Act, which makes it mandatory for registered political parties to give the commission at least 21 days’ notice of any congress or meeting convened for the purpose of nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified in the Act. He said that the details of the political parties and their calendar of congresses/ primaries (including dates and modes of primaries) have been published on the commission’s website

and social media platforms.

According to him, "by Section 87 (2) of the Electoral Act, political parties have the exclusive discretion to determine the procedure for the nomination of candidates which shall be by direct or indirect primaries and all the 17 political parties notified the commission of their intention to conduct indirect primaries for the nomination of their candidates".

The INEC national commissioner said that the political parties are reminded that they are required to submit a comprehensive list of all the delegates eligible to participate in the primaries at least seven days before the scheduled date.

He said that the INEC portal for uploading nomination forms will open on July 21, and close at 6pm on July 28, 2020, adding, "We urge political parties not to wait till the last day before submitting the names of their nominated candidates.

According to Okoye, "political parties must observe all the health protocols and guidelines made available to them by the commission, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the state government. They must also enforce the policy of “No Mask, No Voting” in their primaries" Okoye said that for Edo State governorship election, that only 14 political parties conducted primaries and nominated their candidates for the election holding on Saturday, September 19, 2020.

He said that going by the timetable and schedule of activities for the election, campaign by political parties in public commenced on June 21, 2020 and ends on September 17, 2020, that is, 24 hours before polling day as enshrined in Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as emended).

The INEC national

commissioner reminded political parties that in canvassing for votes, they must comply with the commission’s policy on conducting elections in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the regulations and guidelines governing same, insisting that political parties must also comply with the guidelines issued by health authorities.

"At the same time, parties are enjoined to conduct issue-based campaigns in accordance with the regulations and guidelines issued by the commission", Okoye explained.

He said that the political parties should appeal to their supporters to shun inflammatory rhetoric and disruptive behaviours capable of breaching the peace, explaining that the election is an opportunity for the people of Edo State to choose among the 14 candidates in the contest.

Okoye said that the

commission is concerned that as campaigns begin, campaign councils rather than candidates and party manifestoes are taking centre stage.

He stated that the election should be a contest of ideas and programmes for the people of Edo people to make informed decisions for the development of their state.

On the Nasarawa State by-election, INEC said that two political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have conducted their primaries and nominated candidates using the dedicated portal for the Nasarawa Central State Constituency by-election.

He also said that the personal particulars, including academic qualifications of the candidates have been pasted in the INEC Nasarawa Local Government Area (LGA) office in Nasarawa State and uploaded on the commission’s website.

(Nigerians and foreigners) that our client is a dishonest and disloyal public officer and consequently unfit for the position of Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he is occupying.

“We are of the view that unless an action for criminal defamation is commenced against the said Mr. Jackson Ude, he will continue to use his social media platform to publish materials that are false and criminally defamatory of our client’s reputation.

“In view of the above, we humbly request that you cause the above allegations made against our client to be investigated and if the

suggested investigation confirms our complaint of the falsehood of these allegations, to initiate criminal proceedings pursuant to the provisions of Sections 391-395 of the Penal Code Act for criminal defamation against the said Jackson Ude." Osinbajo also frowned on Ude’s Twitter publication where he again accused him of corruption.

“HushBajo.

N4billion.

The Ghana investment.

Okechukwu Enelamah the errand boy. The secretly recorded night vigil prayers at the Villa Chapel. The letter of resignation written for Buhari in Tunis by Tinubu/ Osinabjo while Ba was sick.

The scheming to take over, etc. This na pay back,” the tweet read.

The tweet was said to have been shared on several social media platforms to make the vice president appear like a “dishonest and disloyal public officer and consequently unfit for the position of the vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which he is occupying,” the petition said.

The lawyer asked the IG to investigate the allegations and if the purveyor was found guilty, the police should initiate criminal proceedings against Ude and his platform to restrain them from future ‘false publications.’

2020 pre-COVID–19 projection if the virus has a substantial impact over a short period.

“The pandemic and its economic consequences are expected to trigger expansionary fiscal policy responses across all categories of economies in Africa. The implied expansionary fiscal stance would further widen fiscal deficits in the continent.

“This worsening fiscal position would be the result

of above-the-line increases in budgetary outlay on COVID–19 related health spending, unemployment benefits, targeted wage subsidies and direct transfers, and tax cuts and deferrals,” it stated.

The AEO also showed that countries in Africa would witness higher debt-to-GDP ratios, which are projected to increase further by up to 10 percentage points beyond the

pre-COVID trajectory in 2020 and 2021.

It also predicted that remittances and foreign direct investment could plunge due to job losses abroad and wane in investors’ confidence.

The AfDB also advised African governments with fiscal space to help businesses and households to stay afloat through targeted temporary tax relief, cash transfers and hardship allowances.

But in a short reaction to Abdusalami’s rebuttal, Adeniyi said: “Gen. Abdulsalami called me to explain that he had no problem with Magu and that the house in question was a guest house and it was by mistake. Mrs. Daisy Danjuma also called me earlier in the day. She confirmed they recently purchased a plane to replace the old one but that there was no EFCC problem with the cheque which she said she signed.

She also said her husband never complained about Magu.

“I think the problem is that some readers are interpreting my anecdote to mean that both Danjuma and Abdulsalami had anything to do with the travails of Magu. I made no such claim in my column.”

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OSINBAJO SEEKS TO CLEAR NAME, PETITIONS IG ON ALLEGED N4BN BRIBE malicious articles against his person and attached printed copies of some of the blogger’s reports to the petition.

Osinbajo said the articles were defamatory and capable of bringing him to ridicule before members of the public.

He called on the IG to investigate the blogger with a view to prosecuting him for criminal defamation.

An online platform run by Ude, a former Director of Strategy and Communications under President Goodluck Jonathan administration, on July 8, published that Magu embezzled over N39 billion and gave Osinbajo N4 billion for a soft landing.

The report claimed that unnamed sources within the panel investigating Magu “exposed the vice president’s involvement in the scandal.”

“Specifically, Magu was said to have mentioned a N4 billion that he released to the VP based on directives the very day the president left the country for the United Kingdom on medical treatment,” part of the report read.

In an earlier statement, Osinbajo’s spokesperson, Mr. Laolu Akande, had described the claims as “false and baseless fabrications.”

Osinbajo in the petition to the IG through his lawyer, Mr. Taiwo Osipitan, said

the report was untrue and defamatory.

He also copied the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, in the petition.

The petition read in part: “On the 8th of July 2020, Mr. Ude wrote and published on his website materials/ stories which are criminally defamatory of our client.

We have the instructions of our client that the said publications are injuriously false in every respect.

“These vicious and malicious publications are meant to achieve one objective only, to present to his readership and others

SOUTH AFRICA OVERTAKES NIGERIA IN COST OF BORROWING lost its Moody’s Investment Services investment-grade credit rating more than 25 years after it was first awarded as it grapples with a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the virus.

Moody’s now assesses the nation’s foreign- and local-currency debt at Ba1, one level below investment grade, due to, “continuing deterioration in fiscal strength and structurally very weak

growth,” in the country.

South Africa, Africa’s most-industrialised economy, is stuck in the longest downward cycle since at least 1945 with business confidence that’s at the lowest in more than two decades and almost a third of the labour force unemployed, according to a Reuters report.

“Unreliable electricity supply, persistent weak business confidence and investment as

well as long-standing structural labour market rigidities continue to constrain South Africa’s economic growth,” Moody’s had stated.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) in its African Economic Outlook (AEO) 2020 Supplement, which was released this week, projected that real GDP in the continent would contract by 1.7 per cent in 2020, dropping by 5.6 percentage points from January

PANEL QUIZZES TOP EFCC OFFICIALS AS MAGU’S INTERROGATION ENTERS FOURTH DAY commission to narrate all they knew about the allegations against their embattled boss.

At the end of their conversation, the panel was said to have directed the directors and sectional heads in the EFCC to produce files of cases handled since 2015, including forfeited assets’ register and all cash releases within seven days.

Magu was brought before the panel at 10a.m. yesterday morning from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) where he has been detained since Monday as his appearance before the panel entered the fourth day.

It was learnt that Magu appeared before the panel yesterday, accompanied by his lawyer and former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kanu Agabi (SAN). Incidentally, Agabi was the AGF when EFCC was established.

My House Not Searched by Anti-graft Agency, Says Abdusalami Abubakar Meanwhile, a former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, yesterday refuted a suggestion by Chairman, THISDAY Editorial Board, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, in his column in yesterday’s edition of the newspaper, that his house was searched by the EFCC on the instruction of Magu.

In a statement by his Military Assistant, Capt. J. Mfon, and made available to THISDAY last night, Abubakar said his residence

had never been searched by either the anti-graft agency or any other security agency.

He stated: “The attention of His Excellency General A. A. Abubakar has been drawn to reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) searched his house in Minna, Niger State, on the orders of its Acting Chairman, CP Ibrahim Magu, and HE feels the need to put the record straight: His house has never been searched by either the EFCC or any security agency.

“However, sometimes in 2017 operatives of the commission from Kano zone came to Minna to search a house in Tunga.

The team ended up at His Excellency's Guest House in Minna and told the security officers on duty that they had instructions from their zonal

head to search the property.

“The officers said since the numbering of houses in Tunga was haphazard, it must be a case of mistaken identity. When CP Magu was contacted, he said he was not aware of the operation.

Thereafter, the EFCC team from Kano left. His Excellency's understanding is that they realised they came to the wrong address.

However, no search was conducted in the guest house.

“His Excellency, as a rule, does not comment on media publications directed at or concerning him. He has taken this step in view of the reactions these reports are generating. His Excellency felt the need to provide this important clarification due to the ongoing media frenzy insinuating His Excellency's role in Magu's issue.”

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FRIDAY JULY 10, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Police Inspector Kills Motorcyclist over Face Mask in Imo Amby Uneze in Owerri A 27-year-old man was allegedly killed at the popular Banana Junction in Amaifeke town, near Orlu, in Imo State, by an Inspector of Police attached to the Orlu Division.

The inspector was among

a team of policemen who mounted road block in that area and used the opportunity to enforce the wearing of face masks in compliance with directive of the state government to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The deceased, who was

Nigeria’s COVID-19 Cases Rise By 499 to 30,748 Martins Ifijeh Nigeria has recorded 499 new cases of COVID-19, bringing to 30,748 the number of confirmed cases in the country.

Announcing this yesterday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said Lagos recorded 157 new cases; Edo, 59; Ondo, 56; Oyo, 31; Akwa Ibom, 22; Borno, 21; Plateau, 19; Kaduna and Katsina, 18 each;

wear face masks were not impounded.

“When this argument was going on, the inspector for unknown reasons, shot him at close range and the man died instantly, forcing the policemen to enter their vehicle and ran away,” an eyewitness said.

The incident caused unrest in the town as residents trooped out to protest the killing. It was gathered that policemen manning the Headquarters of Orlu Local Government Area

quickly removed their uniforms and disguised as civilians.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Isaac Akinmoyede, confirmed the incident via a telephone conversation, saying that one of the officers was wounded with a knife by the angry mob.

Akinmoyede said: “The situation is being managed. It is true that a policeman killed a man but the situation is not out of control. People whose loved one was killed have a right to

be angry. One policeman that was knifed is in a hospital as we speak.

“I have told all the parties to remain calm. The situation will be handled. I have instructed the area commander to ensure that normalcy is returned.

Justice will be served in the matter.”

He assured that the triggerhappy inspector and all the persons involved in the incident would be arrested and prosecuted

Bayelsa and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 17 each; Delta, 14; Kano, 11; Rivers, 10; Enugu, eight; Ogun, six; Kwara, four; Imo, three; Nasarawa and Osun, two each; while Abia, Ekiti, Niger and Yobe states recorded one each.

It said: “Nigeria has recorded 30,748 cases of COVID-19.

12,546 persons have been discharged, while 689 have died.”

Again, Gunmen Kill Two Naval Officers in Kogi Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

alleged to have hailed from the nearby Okporo community, was carrying a passenger and was not putting on a face mask when the inspector stopped him.

Sources at the scene of the incident alleged that the man was asked to pay some amount of money before he would be allowed to depart with his motorcycle. But the deceased insisted that he would not pay because the motor cycles of other riders who did not

SET FOR HIGHER RETURNS...

Barely six days after an Army Captain, GSM Abubakar was gruesomely murdered by suspected kidnappers along Lokoja- Okene highway in Kogi State, suspected gunmen have also killed a male and female naval officers in the state.

The incident occurred at about 6pm yesterday along the Lokoja - Okene highway when the suspected gunmen shot the duo in their Sienna Toyota bus .

The Kogi State Commissioner of Police CP, Ayuba Ede who confirmed the incident, said the two naval officers were killed along Okene -Lokoja highway.

Ayuba explained that he had sent the operatives of the state police command to the scene of the incident to ascertain details of

where the victims were coming from and where they were L-R: Africa’s richest man and Chairman, Dangote Sugar Plc, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Acting .Managing Director, Dangote Sugar Plc, Mr. Ravindra heading to before the incident The Commissioner of Police Singh Singhvi; Non-Executive Director, Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi, (SAN) ,and Non-Executive Director, Mr. Olakunle Alake, at the Dangote Sugar said that the details of the Plc’s Extra Ordinary General Meeting held in Lagos ...yesterday incident could not be ascertained immediately, stressing that details would be made public later.

National Assembly on plans to Ahmed while briefing of September this year.

It would be recalled that Deji Elumoye in Abuja submit the 2021-2023 Medium principal officers of the Senate “This for us is a journey Abubakar was killed by the suspected kidnappers, who also President Muhammadu Buhari Term Expenditure Framework and House of Representatives towards ensuring that the abducted his mother, wife and will today sign into law the and Fiscal Strategy Paper led by the President of the progress that we have made revised 2020 N10.8 trillion (MTEF/FSP) later this month. Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, as a collective to return the fiscal children.

She stated that in keeping and the Speaker, Hon. Femi year to January – December is The whereabouts of the late budget passed last month by army officer’s mother, wife and the National Assembly, the strictly with the January – Gbajabiamila, added that maintained for the 2021 budget Minister of Finance, Budget December budget cycle, the Buhari had given directives as well. children were still unknown.

“The President has directed Abubakar was travelling to the and National Planning, Mrs. president will tomorrow (Friday) for the ministry to expedite sign into law, the revised N10.8 action on next year’s budget that we must deliver the budget Armed Forces Command and Zainab Ahmed, has said.

The minister who made trillion budget for the year estimates to enable him present to the National Assembly by the Staff College, Jaji, in company with his wife and mother to the disclosure yesterday also 2020 passed by the National the 2021 budget proposal to the end of September,” the finance National Assembly by the end minister said. participate in this year’s junior met with the leadership of the Assembly in June. officers’ course when bandits opened fire on them, killing the army officer on the stop.

A former Group General Manager at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in charge of Crude Oil Marketing yesterday told a Federal High Court in Lagos how he delivered 12 padlocked bags containing $70 million to an Abuja-based banker on the instructions of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Testifying before the court as an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness in the going trial of a former Executive Director, First Bank Plc, Mr. Dauda Lawal, the witness further claimed that he delivered money to the Abuja banker, one Charles, in the front of Dume Supermarket in Abuja.

Lawal was docked before the court by the anti-graft agency on money laundering charges.

The former bank boss was specifically accused of handling $25 million out of a total of

$153 million, which Mrs. AlisonMadueke allegedly doled out to influence the 2015 general election.

The ex-NNPC official, while being led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, said he personally delivered the cash-loaded bags to the Abuja banker, one Charles, in the front of Dume Supermarket in Abuja.

The witness also alleged, “My lord, as I can remember, shortly before the 2015 elections, it was the norm for heads of subsidiaries (of the NNPC) to be invited for undisclosed briefing of activities of their departments to the minister. At the end of such briefing, the then Minster of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, gave me a GSM number in respect of one Charles, whom I had never met, with a clear instruction that I should convey 12 padlocked bags to the said Charles.

Buhari to Sign Revised 2020 Budget Today

Police Parade Suspected Killers of Six Policemen in Ondo Bank Robberies Ex-NNPC Boss Reveals Ekiti, bank in Ileoluji, between N500,000 and N400,000. in Gwagwalada Area Council.

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Idonre and Oye Ekiti in Ondo One AK 47 and pump action He said “a detachment of How $70m was Given The Police Force Headquarters microfinance and Ekiti states. rifles were recovered from them. police operatives from the Parading the suspects in Another suspected arms Command’s Special Antiyesterday paraded armed to Ex-banker robbery suspects responsible Abuja, Force PRO, and Deputy dealer, Usman Garba, who Kidnapping Squad on another for the killing of six policemen during the robbery of three banks in Ekiti and Ondo states.

Police also paraded 29 crime suspects linked to various offences, including fraud, arms smuggling and cybercrime even as the FCT Police Command launched a manhunt for kidnappers in Abaji Area Council.

The suspects are :Tubosu Ojo; Adeniyi Olubajo, 46; and Dele Ariyo, 44. They were arrested for the robbery of two new generation banks and a

Commissioner of Police (DCP), Frank Mba, said the robbery suspects killed six policemen during the robbery operation.

One of the suspects, Victor Ojo, who led the gang, admitted that they killed two policemen each in the three banks after they fired at the police and they returned fire.

“I blamed my boys for firing at police because police fired at my leg. We killed six of them during the operation,” he said.

The suspect said he got N1 million, while others received

specialised in smuggling arms to armed bandits, was arrested in Mararaba with 34 Rounds of ammunition.

Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command has launched an operation to rescue some persons who were kidnapped in the early hours of yesterday in Abaji.

A statement by the PPRO, Anjuguri Manzah, assured FCT residents of its commitment to rescue the victims unhurt and arrest the suspects.

He said the command arrested two kidnap suspects

operation arrested two suspected kidnappers at Tungan Maje forest in Gwagwalada Area Council.

“The suspects, Abdullahi Mohammed ‘m’ 29 years and Adamu Musa ‘m’ 26 years, were arrested in possession of one fabricated revolver pistol with the capacity to discharge AK47 ammunition, one Dane gun, eight rounds of 7.62mm live ammunitions and one Itel phone, which have been recovered as exhibits. The investigation is ongoing”, he said.

Buhari Mourns Ivorian Prime Minister Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja lamented the death of Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly of Cote d’Ivoire and a candidate for October’s presidential election.

Presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, said Buhari, in a condolence message to Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara and the government and people of Cote d ‘Ivoire, observed that the prime minister, who breathed his last in the line

of duty at a cabinet meeting, left behind a void not only in his country but also in the West African sub-region which had looked up to him as an emerging leader for the new times. ‘’His leadership, political and business acumen, working in

support of President Ouattara, epitomise the success story of the economy and the return of peace and stability after the crises Cote d’Ivoire passed through. ‘’May God bless his soul and further unify the country and its people, ‘’ Buhari said.

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͮ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

COMMENT

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

BUNI, ZULUM AND THE NORTH-EAST Better days lie ahead for Yobe and Borno States, writes Abdullahi Bego

T

he geographically more contiguous part of the North-east to the Lake Chad Basin – namely Borno and Yobe States – had seen wrenching socio-economic and environmental challenges that stretched several decades. Along with the Boko Haram terrorist insurgency, which has tapered off somewhat but has yet to peter out, these challenges have upended the lives and livelihoods of people in the two states in ways that continue to unfold to this day. Let me begin with a recollection of some of these challenges from nearly 20 years ago.

On August 13 2003, February 21 2004, and March 20 2004, for instance, the Daily Trust and Weekly Trust (now called Daily Trust on Saturday) ran lead investigative stories I wrote as the newspapers’ regional editor in Maiduguri titled “Lake Chad Basin: Life as the Lake Shrinks”, “Lake Chad: Politics of Oil and Neglect”, and “Oil in Lake Chad: Is Kupolokun Playing Politics?” respectively. The stories were part of a series of reports spanning several months that took me across many communities in Borno and Yobe States and to the shores of the Lake Chad, as well as twice to the Chadian capital, Ndjamena.

The reports were an attempt to understand – and highlight – the impact of the receding of the Lake Chad to less than 30 percent of its original size on the socio-economic wellbeing of the over 28 million people who depended on it for their livelihood across Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Central African republics.

Their emphasis being on the Nigerian sector of the Lake Chad Basin, the reports reflected voices from local communities and from the politically more informed sections of society that alleged ‘neglect’ by successive administrations in the country not only in ‘failing’ to mitigate the impacts of the receding of the Lake Chad but also for failure to resume oil exploration in the area at a time that the Republic of Chad had struck oil in commercial quantities in its own sector of the Lake Chad Basin.

“A humanitarian and environmental disaster, with wide ranging socioeconomic implications, is sweeping across the Nigerian sector of the Lake Chad Basin”, the lead story titled Lake Chad: Politics of Oil and Neglect noted. “The Lake, which is the fourth largest in Africa, continues to shrink, making thousands of farming and fishing communities to migrate out of the area. In addition, the refusal to resume oil exploration by the federal government has effectively sealed off the fate of this naturally endowed region.

“According to statistics from the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), which coordinates the use of the Lake Chad among its catchment areas of Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Central Africa, Nigeria has the highest population within the conventional Basin. It has about 18 million people, followed only by Chad Republic with nearly seven million. A high percentage of the population in the Nigerian sector are fishermen and farmers who use the waters of the Lake Chad, round the year, to engage in fishing and (largely) subsistence agriculture. They grow cowpea, onions, tomatoes, beans, etc., which generate a lot of income and plug the holes of unemployment…

“As things stand now, most of the vast agricultural land in the area is not being put to use because of insufficient waters and farm inputs, as the Chad Basin Development Authority (CBDA), which is designed to significantly increase food and cash crop production through the development of large scale modern irrigation and drainage infrastructure, has crumbled in the face of years of neglect”.

Before and since these stories were published 17 years ago, these two states have also grappled with effort not only to re-tool agriculture but also to provide qualitative education to their people and address the challenge

WHAT THE TWO GOVERNORS WITHIN THEIR FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE – AND WHAT THEIR PREDECESSORS HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS – CLEARLY REDOUND TO THE FACT THAT WHILE IT MAY STILL BE YEARS AWAY FROM ADDRESSING CHRONIC SOCIOECONOMIC ILLS THAT HAVE PLAGUED THE PEOPLE FOR LONG, AN ERA OF HOPE AND RESURGENCE IS CLEARLY UNDERWAY.

of youth unemployment. And from 10 years ago, the situation got murkier and became compounded with the Boko Haram insurgency.

Unfortunately, when it first began in the early 2000s as ‘Taliban’ in the Kanamma area of Yobe State, Boko Haram was not treated with the firmness, and nuance, and appropriate case-definition deserving of an emergent terrorist threat. From 2009, following the killing of its leader, Muhammad Yusuf, Boko Haram metamorphosed into a monster that has largely continued to this day.

It is true that in over 10 years since it started as a terrorist insurgency, Boko Haram had displaced more people and possibly wreaked more economic havoc than the receding of the Lake Chad has. As everyone knows, its campaign of despicable violence has led hundreds of thousands of people to lose their lives and livelihoods and thousands more to become maimed for life. But between the environmental disaster that was the receding of the Lake Chad and Boko Haram as a security and humanitarian disaster, almost every person living in Borno and Yobe States has had their share of intimate personal loss.

But while this continues to hold true across the two states, it is not out-and-out gloom and doom. The spectre of violence and the sores of years of socio-economic problems might have tasked the patience of everyone in Borno and Yobe States, but a resilient political leadership is now arguably to the rescue and an awfully long and painful past is steadily being painted over.

It started with former Governors Gaidam and Shettima before their successors – Buni and Zulum – picked the button. Paradoxically, Gaidam’s and Shettima’s leadership was put to the test – and shone the brightest – at the tempest of the Boko Haram crisis. Both leaders went over and beyond the call of duty to give their time and attention and the resources of their states to the effort to restore peace and security.

At a time that a former government at the center was accused of being negligent and cavalier about the Boko Haram crisis, Gaidam and Shettima mobilised their populations and deployed their states’ monthly earnings to help the security agencies in their states to confront the threat posed by the insurgents.

And while they were at it, the two leaders – each at his own pace and in his own style – executed wide ranging projects and programmes that reversed decades of underdevelopment and gave people hope of a brighter future. As a result of their effort, agriculture, education, healthcare, water supply, and the civil service, amongst other sectors, all made significant progress in the two states.

Governors Buni and Zulum have taken after Gaidam and Shettima at a time of great economic uncertainty for the country. Old wounds, including Boko Haram, have festered. The ranks of the poor and the job-seeking have swelled. And public expectation from elected leaders has never been greater. What the two governors have done in Yobe and Borno States within their first year in office – and what their predecessors have done over the last eight years – clearly redound to the fact that while it may still be years away from addressing chronic socio-economic ills that have plagued the people for long, an era of hope and resurgence is clearly underway. In a few years from now, I make bold to say, the ‘North-East’, in the sense in which people refer to Yobe and Borno States, will no longer be an outlier in the nation’s development calculus. Instead, it will be a force to reckon with, a force backed by a retrofitted and professionally managed agricultural sector and an ascendant economic outlook.

Bego is the Yobe State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture

FOR OSHIOMHOLE, IT’S NOT A REQUIEM Patrick Obahiagbon áÜÓÞÏÝ ÞÒËÞ ÎË×Ý ÝÒÓÙ×ÒÙÖÏ ÒËÝ ÏËÜØÏÎ ÒÓÝ ÚÖËÍÏ ÓØ ÒÓÝÞÙÜã

O

n Thursday, June 25, 2020, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) held in the bowel of Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. At the meeting, President Muhammadu Buhari, among other issues, recommended that the National Working Committee (NWC) be dissolved in the light of the many centrifugal forces pushing the party to several dangerous directions and precipices. That advice was carried and a caretaker committee was emplaced in its stead.

In the light of the chaotic and conflicted background leading up to the NEC meeting, foisted on the party by agents of revisionism and prebendalism, a red card for the NWC was not within my contemplation as an option; yet, who in that meeting could have suggested a contrary line of action to the President’s? You know, the President is the leader of the party and perhaps, largely, the only person that could be vouched for as neutral in the leadership intrigues and crisis. There were hidden masquerades everywhere.

To be fair to President Buhari, he had tried to rein in the revanchist and philistine forces whose conservative teeth were set on edges from day one by the reformist politics and policies by the enigmatic Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. As expected, the event has been interpreted in several perspectives. One, Senator Bola Tinubu and his rumoured presidential ambition have been dealt a seeming deathly blow. The assumption behind this reasoning is that the former party chairman, Comrade Oshiomhole, is a protégé of Tinubu.

Two, that for Adams Oshiomhole, it was a

disastrous crash that may have possibly sent him on an impromptu retirement from politics. Indeed, Senator Tinubu and his tendencies within the APC may have suffered a temporary setback but I dare pontificate that the man is too strategic and resilient to be wasted by a single masterstroke. Those who have followed his politics will readily admit that his adversaries are merely celebrating a pyrrhic victory. In short, the Jagaban can take care of himself!

Those who think that Oshiomhole has been disgraced out of office, perhaps, are also not good students of party politics in the country. They do not understand the eggs a national party chairman has to walk on every day to carry out his assignments. This might not have been how the Comrade had scripted his egress as the chairman of APC, but human beings can only wish. The forces that pushed Oshiomhole out are still the same forces that have been forcing out chairmen of the ruling party since the return of democracy in 1999.

Once a national chairman emerges in any of the ruling parties, be it APC or PDP, such a chairman must learn to become a willing tool in the hands of two distinct but very powerful forces.

On one side of this divide are the governors and on the other side is the leviathan silhouette embedded in the presidency which may not necessarily be the president. The longevity of any chairman in office is largely determined by his ability to maintain a delicate balance between these two forces. Once a sizable number of the governors agree with that leviathan presidential silhouette on their discomfiture with any particular chairman, he begins to skate on thin ice.

In his two-term tenure as president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo dethroned three party chairmen- Solomon Lar, Barnabas Gemade and Audu Ogbeh.

There was no way Comrade Oshiomhole was not going to have a dialectical roforofo with entrenched Machiavellian and Mephistophelian political forces given his Oto Von Bismarck determination to stamp democratic authority in the running of party affairs and thus wean it from the asphyxiating and expansionist ozone of entrenched forces. We ought to understand that remaining as party chairman is not dependent on his good performance alone. It also depends humongously on how other stakeholders are willing to drop their egoistic and megalomaniacal habiliments for the greater interest of the party and the nation but a majority of the governors, (certainly not all of them) on their part, in my opinion, have become the greatest impediments since 1999, to any democratic consolidation in the land. Once elected, they assume the powers of an emperor, deciding who can become anything in their states.

State governors appoint new state party chairmen if the ones they met are not malleable; they put members of the state assembly in their chest pockets; nominate ministers and other federal appointees; hand-pick candidates for all the elective positions in their parties; and if the national chairman of their party objects, then they congregate at the coven of their Governors’ Forum to table his matter.

Oshiomhole, being a former governor and particularly because he had genuine and coruscating intentions to cleanse the Augean stables, had perhaps,

thought that his sincerity of purpose would be a leverage for him in dealing with his former colleagues; but not exactly so because he was living ahead of his time and age. Entrenched forces of conservatism were not yet ready for a gadfly and revolutionary party administrator in his mould, bent and predilection.

Bamanga Tukur, a former PDP national chairman and others have also had their story to tell even though for varied factors. What has been a common denominator has been the misreading of the viciousness of this new power centre in Nigerian politics. Tukur, as a former governor and an elder statesman must have said to himself, “surely they will respect me if not for anything, my age”. So, he tried to clip their wings and started with Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State and the fire started.

Tukur forgot the unspoken code in the PDP, which is “don’t dare the governors”. In the PDP, as it were, if a governor complains that he wants to take your wife, the NWC will support him to take your wife and add your daughter as well. Turkur did not know this.

Oshiomhole certainly knew but he was single-minded to undertake the rescue mission in the APC without caring whose ox was gored. While for Tukur, it was their tragic flaw.; not so for Oshiomhole whose gravitas, recusancy, capacity to take up the gauntlet with the spirit of a practised salamander set him apart.

But for the president, it would have taken Armageddon to displace him from the top of Mount Olympus where he was already sizing up the oppositional elements like a victorious conquistador.

Hon. Obahiagbon wrote from Benin City

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020

EDITORIAL MENACE OF PLASTICS IN NIGERIA The authorities could do more to protect the environment

S

cientists have raised global concern that plastics pose unimaginable danger to humanity and may reach crisis levels unless deliberate actions are taken to reverse the trend. The warning is particularly important for Nigeria since it is believed that plastic bags that are used daily can take between 10 to a thousand years to decompose, while plastic bottles can take 450 years or more. Yet, because single-use plastics are light, strong, can be shaped easily and cheap to produce, they litter the entire national landscape today. And as hazardous as that is for the future of our country, nobody seems to be paying attention.

According to experts, the process of manufacturing plastics and its disposal through burning/incineration is harmful to workers and that it does not decompose makes farming cumbersome and kills livestock. Also, studies show that single-use plastics are harmful to the environment and have suggested that manufacturers of plastics can switch to reusable products because single-use plastics’ waste can take up to 1000 years to NIGERIA SHOULD TAKE decompose in landfills/ A POSITIVE POSITION ON THE ERADICATION OF dumpsites. Eighty per cent of litters, PLASTIC POLLUTION IN according to the United THE OVERALL INTEREST Nations Environment OF OUR PEOPLE AND Programme (UNEP), FUTURE GENERATIONS are plastics, and they may constitute more of foreign materials in the sea than marine mammals by year 2050, and this would eventually lead to the destruction of sea life, and adversely alter the ecosystem and human race.

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) believes the disposal of plastic waste needs to be handled with urgency and that everyone has a critical role to play in mitigating the issue at the household, national, regional and global levels.

With worldwide awareness and action for the protection

Letters to the Editor

of the environment, there is an urgent need for government at all levels to trigger actions that would control the production and use of plastics that are not reusable or cannot decompose. Nigeria’s environment is polluted by all manner of plastics–from the straw for sipping beverages to those used for packaging and storage. The nagging question that keeps cropping up is: what can be done about this menace that neither the society nor the authorities seem to be paying attention to?

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

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

verybody in either a household, office or neighbourhood in the country has various types of plastics that are not recycleable/reusable and which at end-of-life are littered on the streets, caught in fences and trees, dumped in drains, rivers and lagoons, the ocean and all manner of places where they cannot biodegrade (decompose). This is where the problem lies. The federal government, we understand, only made a feeble attempt to ‘mark’ the World Environment Day at the Presidential Villa in Abuja but not even a whisper of what was discussed got out of the four walls of the room where the meeting took place. Naturally, no event took place in all the offices of the Federal Ministry of Environment in the states for undisclosed reasons.

The federal government needs to take concrete actions to protect the environment and rid it of plastics as some African countries have done by placing a ban on plastic bags, which are the most commonly used form of plastics.

Some of the African countries that have banned plastic bags include Benin Republic, Cameroon, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Morocco, Mozambique, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, Madagascar, Senegal, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Tunisia and Kenya while Botswana and South Africa introduced high levies on plastic bags.

This has led to many retailers charging a fee on plastic bags and consequently a reduction in its use in both countries.

Nigeria should also take a positive position on the eradication of plastic pollution in the overall interest of our people and future generations.

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

Remembering Melford Okilo

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t is 12 years since Senator Melford Okilo passed on. Okilo who was the first elected Civilian Governor of the old Rivers State died on 5th July, 2008 after a protracted illness.

As family, friends and political associates of Chief Okilo mark his exit, it is imperative to once again remember the unique attributes, achievements and uncommon legacies of the man who even in death, is still acknowledged as one of the greatest leaders and political figures that ever emerged from the Niger Delta. Apart from Okilo, Chief Harold Dappa Biriye, Prof. Eyo Ita, Dr Egbert Udo Udoma, Okoi Arikpo, Ken Saro Wiwa and Isaac Adaka Boro were also great sons of the Niger Delta whose lives remain inseparable from the history of their people.

Melford Obiene Okilo was born on 30th November, 1933 in the serene riverine community of Emakalakala in Ogbia Kingdom in present day Bayelsa State. His home town is less than two kilometers away from Location 001, Nigeria’s first commercial oil well. His life, indeed, was a history of the triumph of the human spirit over adversities and challenges. Okilo was born to peasant parents. He rose from grass to grace and left indelible marks in teaching, philosophy, law, business, civil service, religion and the politics of Nigeria.

Commenting on Chief Okilo’s background and the challenges he encountered on his journey to the top, Nigeria’s former President and Okilo’s, kinsman, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan states: “His story strikes a particularly strong cord with me. Aside from coming from the same background as Chief Okilo, his sojourn from the back waters of the Niger Delta, through countless personal challenges, political travails and triumphs, right up to the national stage, mirrors my own story from a ‘shoe less childhood’ to the highest office in the Land”.

The story of the life and times of Okilo is one that should interest the present and future generations of Nigerians, particularly the youth who are challenged by unemployment and lack of opportunities for growth

in the system. A child who once dropped out of school due to the inability of his parents to pay his school fees, later rose to become an accomplished teacher, lawyer, businessman, clergy, councilor, member, Federal House of Representatives, minister, governor and senator.

After completing his primary school education at St. Michael Primary School, Oloibiri and professional qualification as a teacher at St Paul Teacher Training College, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Okilo taught in some primary schools in the riverine areas and in May, 1956 joined the Eastern Nigeria Judiciary as a court clerk and interpreter. The period he spent as a teacher in village schools and court interpreter enabled him experience the squalor, poverty, neglect and environmental degradation confronting the Niger Delta people. What Okilo witnessed in the Niger Delta spurred him to dedicate his life to the service of his people and humanity In 1956, Shell struck oil at Oloibiri in Bayelsa State. Okilo was then a court interpreter. He saw how the people were dispossessed of their land without adequate compensation. This pathetic situation moved Okilo to mobilize the people to establish The Oloibiri Land owners Association which became a platform for agitating for better compensation for those whose land was acquired for oil exploitation.

Okilo’s struggles in this regard at Oloibiri and its environs endeared him to the riverine people and made them see him as a leader to trust, a patronage he enjoyed throughout his political career.

As Nigeria approached independence from Britain in 1960, there were apprehensions as to whether the country would survive as one united and indivisible nation. The amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates into one country by Lord Lugard in 1914, brought together over 250 ethnic groups with mutually antagonistic interests into one country. The divisions were deep and the fears were real. Okilo emerged as one of the politicians that worked assiduously to hold Nigeria together despite the differences among her people.

Iboro Ige-Edaba, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

COVID-19: Listen To Experts

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he Associated Press reported that President Donald Trump campaign event in Tulsa in June could have been a cause or contributor to a surge of new cases. Are we surprised?

Although I have no medical knowledge beyond high school science and Dr Google, there are some things that seem obvious.

Viruses spread fast and everywhere; viruses are not racist as they infect anyone; viruses do not discriminate by age, any age, even 74- year- old presidents, could get it although it seems to hit older people harder.

Staying away from other people makes it harder to spread, going to a crowded event makes it easier for the virus to spread although fortunately only just over 6,000 attended the Tulsa event. Masks will help to stop the spread, but do not guarantee safety.

Quack medicine is dangerous. Vaccinations are good. That’s not too complicated is it? This virus has a name COVID-19.

The 19 refers to the year it started, not the number of times it has occurred. Doctors and nurses are extremely overworked.

These are also simple points that seem to be beyond the ability of some people to understand or accept. People should listen to Dr Fauci and each countries local equivalents, as often the quiet voice from a real expert is the one that is speaking sense.

By the way Mr Trump, three million cases does not put America in a “good place”.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JULY 10, 2020

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POLITICS

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

On Track to Record Great Achievements Allison Abanum highlights some of the landmark decisions that validates the widely held notion that Governor Douye Diri is on course to bring a new lease of life to Bayelsa State

N

ature, a ruthlessly effective force is a perfect example of the undeniable parallel drawn between time and quality. A maize plant takes a relatively smaller time to germinate, mature and bear fruits. It produces lovely corn cubs useful in so many ways in its season. The plant itself dries away in hope that the field is cleared again to be impregnated with new seeds carrying the hopes of the next harvest. A mango plant on the other hand takes very a long time to germinate, mature and become a full-grown tree ready to bear fruit. Often times quite frustrating for a farmer that doesn’t understand the marvelous process unfolding before him.

In due time, the mango tree brings forth delicious fruits also useful in its season but more importantly the tree itself still stands tall and even still growing in size and vigour. Only needing to bloom again and again in due seasons. This is due to the work done underground by nature, which took a considerable time before launching out a plant that would have strong roots capable to stand the test of time and various conditions.

The Douye Diri-led government in Bayelsa state understands this relationship between time and quality and only trusts the good people of Bayelsa to be that farmer that understands the process unfolding.

There is assurance of a superb work going on underground to facilitate a manifestation of quality results that will stand the test of time. Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives, William A. Foster rightly declares.

Surely it is upon this premise that Governor Diri has chosen to lead a legacy of carefully planned and executed projects.

This need has necessitated profitable dialogue with investors from various industries to make them see why Bayelsa is best for beneficial investments. Although these moves are getting increasingly tasking considering the challenges we face at the moment, the government is unrelenting and there are indications of positivity coming out of these talks as Bayelsa prepares to be open to a world of immense opportunities and development.

One basic prerequisite for investment, growth and development is security.

Governor Douye Diri understood this priority early on, that is why checkmating the problem of insecurity was one of the first play made on the chess of board of governance. The security status of the state has improved tremendously in such a short time. Reduction in crime and violence is a testimony clearly given. Upon resumption of office, the miracle Governor through his inaugural speech, clearly stated the need and moved for reconciliation of any and all aggrieved bodies for the good of the state.

This was made practical as he has used his good office to facilitate reconciliation between clashing clans, communities and bodies within the state.

Indeed, this administration has shown it is not just all bravado but well equipped with a penchant for practical action. This is showed when the governor timely stepped in to broker peace between Agudama and Akenfa communities after a stir up of serious quarrels over land matters, The government through the Chief of Staff, Chief Benson Agadaga also mediated between a community in Ekeremor local government and a neighboring community in Delta state which were on the verge of serious communal crisis.

The swift intervention of government in the clashes between cult groups in the environs of Agudama - Epie community, is another show of commitment to a safer

Bayelsa as brewing tensions and unrest was extinguished and the masterminds arrested. Further commitment to ensure a security of life and properties is displayed

in the administrations move to significantly improve the ‘Doo Akpor’, the state owned arm of the police force with some security hardware and stipends to boost morale as

Hurdles Before Obaseki’s Bid for a Second Term Osaro Akpata, a political analyst, submits that it may be a hard task for Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State to clear all the obstacles on his way to re-election

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hree weeks ago, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State started what may be seen as the process of clearing the impediments for his re-election as governor of the state by announcing that he has moved from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); few days after he was disqualified by the APC screening committee for the Edo State governorship election.

Mr. Obaseki’s disqualification, climaxed what is seen as a long-run battle between the governor and immediate past APC National Chairman and a former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole.

Obaseki’s disqualification was occasioned by damning discrepancies in the certificates presented and also the difference in the names contained in his NYSC certificate dated 6th August 1980. The committee observed that he bears the name “Obasek” Godwin, different from Obaseki, a factor the committee believes could compromise its chances in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo. Such errors have cost the APC some states in the past. No serious political party would risk the potential implications of such grave error in an attempt to please its members.

Although Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu made his disqualification from the contest look like a witch-hunt by what they often describe as godfatherism orchestrated

by Comrade Oshiomole, it is clear that the APC was not ready to take any chance and allow itself to be a willing tool to win the election for an another party, bearing in mind its experience in Zamfara and Bayelsa states.

“In our interaction with issues raised, we concluded that his HSC and NYSC certificates were defective and based on the party’s constitution, this has made us to recommend that candidate, Obaseki, is not eligible to participate in the election,” chairman of the committee, Prof. Jonathan

Ayuba stated.

Governor Obaseki’s spokesman, Crusoe Osagie described the outcome of the screening as a mockery of democratic process, which he claims Comrade Oshiomhole administered and superintended over in the APC. “It has been an unfortunate, disheartening and dreadful spectacle,” Osagie said. While Osagie saw Obaseki’s disqualification as open show of shame, illegality and travesty of justice, he failed to see the obvious.

When Obaseki was disqualified by the APC screening committee for the next governorship election and he eventually left the party in his desperation to clinch to power, not a few people said Obaseki was in for a serious trouble because without Oshiomhole and the APC that brought him to office in 2016, he is arguably one of the most unpopular candidates in the coming election.

If you ask those who have been watching the turn of events in Edo state between 2007 when Oshiomhole was first elected as governor of the state and the role he played in the election of Obaseki in 2016, they will likely tell you that winning the September 2020 governorship is one of the unlikely achievements for Obaseki. He faces great hurdles that are most likely to stop him from coming back as governor of the state in September.

It may look like pitching tent with the PDP offers him some semblance of stability or leeway to succeed in the coming election.

But in the real sense of it, Obaseki’s ambition is like a house built on nothing. Beyond the fact that making Obaseki their candidate has emerged as an albatross for the PDP, Obaseki is currently like a general without a troop. He has no political structure to drive his ambition.

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

well as the donation of buses and financial support to the Bayelsa state vigilante service to help carry out their duties effectively.

Peace and stability are magnet for investments and development all of which will surely manifest in due time. The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership. Governor Douye Diri has made it clear and with emphasis that he is not interested in building powerful people but powerful institutions. This clearly indicates a yearning for quality and long-lasting works that will stand the test of time.

Many will agree that the challenges posed by the current situation globally, makes it a tricky and hard time to be in charge of anything whatsoever, but where others only see stumbling blocks, strategic leaders see opportunity to impact. The Governor has seemingly chosen to walk on this path as witnessed in his moves to put smiles on the face of Bayelsans through social and civil service reforms, human capacity development and welfare management.

This is demonstrated in the allocation of plots of land to 1000 civil servants and despite various unwanted court case distractions from aggrieved parties, this administration has refused to be derailed in trying to carry out it’s given mandate and come through on the promises made in its campaign manifesto where the governor clearly mentioned that he wants to promote welfare, prosperity and ultimately make Bayelsans happy and rejoice. The civil service reforms that has ensured prompt payment of salaries and payment of owed gratuities to retirees is the first steps to fulfil the promise of happy faces with a whole lot of smiling faces in the horizon.

Despite the challenges offered by the current pandemic ravaging the world, the administration has assured that quality tests, quality control measures and decisions are being worked on to drive the infrastructural revolution mapped out for the state. Being one who understands the relationship between time and quality, the Douye Diri-led administration is only interested in getting the best hands to carry out these infrastructural projects intended to create employment, ease livelihoods, generate revenue and foster development.

Policies and works that will last the test of time and provide maximum benefits even to generations to come are on the offering.

Bayelsa state is set for greater things.

The locomotive of qualitative projects and works is already set in motion as seen in the commencement of construction work on the Tombia-Etegwe Flyover project aimed at boosting connectivity and ease of movement. The government through the government house Chief of Staff has also indicated concrete proposals for a railway that will move from Agge Seaport to Kano in the North and he further hinted that such massive project has the potential to engage over three thousand workers in the state in gainful employment. These are a few hints of the infrastructural boom coming to Bayelsa state.

The manner in which the COVID-19 crisis is handled in the state is commendable already but this administration is not relenting as deliberations are on-going with key stakeholders. The Governor is in dialogue with both principal religious organizations and trade unions to have a synchronized effort to truly surmount the challenges posed by this pandemic. Measures to ease the hardship evident this period are still rolling out in full force as the government remains committed to better the welfare of the good people of Bayelsa.

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

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JULY 10, 2020

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PERSPECTIVE VIEW FROM

AMERICA

chido@usafricaonline.com@Chido247

Trump’s Misguided War on Immigrant Students

EPISTLES of ANTHONY KILA

MKO: A capsule of Humanity

Anthony Kila recalls the life and times of one of the most charismatic and richest Africans, Chief Moshood Abiola, particularly how his Chido Nwangwu, Founder and Publisher of Internet newspaper, intervention changed the direction of politics in Nigeria profoundly USAfricaonline.com posits that the decision of the Donald Trump ear Readers This week marks the 22nd administration to deny American visa to certain categories of anniversary of the passing students will severely affect Nigerian and African students away of MKO Abiola. We must

D

O

n Monday, July 6, 2020, at the instruction of the Trump White House, the Federal Student and Exchange Visitor Programme announced that, “The U.S. Department of State will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools and/or programmes that are fully online for the fall semester nor will U.S. Customs and Border Protection permit these students to enter the United States.” It added that “Active students currently in the United States enrolled in such programmes must depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction to remain in lawful status…. If not, they may face immigration consequences including, but not limited to, the initiation of removal proceedings.”

With that announcement, the likelihood of the deportation, in government lawyers’ language carefully baptized in neutral phraseology as “the initiation of removal proceedings” became immediate and traumatizing factors in their lives.

It adds to the list of xenophobia and spoken words, fundamentally, against almost all forms of immigration by President Donald Trump. He’s opposed to, and has suspended the H1-B and L-1 visas.

What ever President Trump’s motivations might be, I do know and believe that his actions and decisions on this issue

I have witnessed and participated in the engaging digital genius of the diversity of talents shown by some of these individuals during my first attendance as a member of the BBC-PRI World Technology Forum, in San Francisco, in 1993.

It is through those visas that Apple or Google or Microsoft, legally, sponsors the exceptionally gifted and hard-working computational sciences programmers who power

are strategically misguided. They do not serve the interests of the United States in this competitive high tech environment.

And, you ask why?

My answer is simple: both visas are the building blocks from where all of the largest technology corporations, here in the United States of America, attract and hire some of the world’s most intelligent mobile technologies, ioTs, social media, data and algorithms experts and students.

I have witnessed and participated in the engaging digital genius of the diversity of talents shown by some of these individuals during my first attendance as a member of the BBC-PRI World Technology Forum, in San Francisco, in 1993.

It is through those visas that Apple or Google or Microsoft, legally, sponsors the exceptionally gifted and hard-working computational sciences programmers who power the Amazon juggernaut in Seattle and the Googleplex in Mountain View. They make things “happen” inside, around Silicon Valley, Half Moon Bay, Cupertino, Menlo Park, San Francisco; far away in my nearby city of Austin Texas; and continents away in Mumbai, India etc.

I have been to all these tech cities, except Mumbai; and I’ve learned a lot.

These students who come to the promising shores of the U.S will study in person or online via Zoom or FaceTime to fulfill and feed their quest for education.

It was the great statesmen and icon Nelson Mandela who said that “education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation.”

Without any doubt, such is the power of education.

The most potent instruments of indoctrination, propaganda and persuasion are, organically, rooted into the systematics of formal or informal education.

Hence, in the early 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, American colleges, organizations and individuals offered scholarships to many students who will turn out to become the new leaders of their countries.

Around the centers of power and influence in Washington DC, being “Americantrained” technocrat, ordinarily, gave such a person a contextual, advantageous consideration.

There was competition between the east and the west; between communist, socialist countries and the capitalist, relatively free market forces driven economies over Who will offer more scholarships and educational opportunities.

In a practical sense, Nigerian and African students will be severely affected, as much as the long-term business and acculturation interests of the United States by this quixotic, self-serving, diversionary action by Donald J. Trump, the deliberately divisive man; a President who is stuck in the outdated shibboleths of confederacy and the loaded, nakedly racist vernacular of degradation and subjugation of mainly persons of African descendants and recent immigrants.

How did “God’s own country” get to this unusual, giddy and vulgar twists in its modern history?

stop to reflect on the man.

The late MKO Abiola is by all standards an unforgettable person and personality. In his Nigeria, he ultimately became unforgettable as a billionaire that won what is regarded the fairest and freest election of a complex and chaotic State struggling and perhaps ultimately incapable of becoming a nation. Abiola is now linked to June 12, a date that refuses to go in spite of all past attempts to demystify and devalue its importance.

June 12 is a Nigerian story that Africa and the rest of the world can learn from.

MKO Abiola is a story about humanity. In remembering him this week, we cannot but notice that in one man and in one life lies a full life with all the complexities and contradiction of humanity.

Just like in a book on humanity, the life of Abiola is made up chapters about most fragments of humanity. From cradle to grave, the man’s life had outstanding episodes about humanity and each episode is presented in contradictory terms.

As if to teach all a lesson about how nothing is absolutely certain and how everything is possible in life, MKO Abiola left the world as President that did not preside, a known winner that was not declared thus after convincingly winning right in front of the whole world. To become such winner, he ticked all the proverbial boxes, dinned and wined with all the right people and made friends in high and low places and his web of connection covered every corner of his country but alas his friendship and connection was not enough to give him his ultimate desire, rather he got death.

In life, Abiola was also popular for his wit.

Associates, adversaries and the general public remember MKO for his witty now memorable quotes such as “You cannot shave the head in the absence of the owner” or his “If you want something from a dwarf, stoop low to his level. It does not reduce your own height. Whenever you rise up, you will be taller than him”. A philosopher you would think, maybe, but certainly not by training. The man was a trained to count, he studied Accountancy that is not even the icing on the cake: The man was a stutterer! Think about it, even God had to give the great

June 12 is a Nigerian story that Africa and the rest of the world can learn from.

MKO Abiola is a story about humanity. In remembering him this week, we cannot but notice that in one man and in one life lies a full life with all the complexities and contradiction of humanity

Moses a Aaron for speaking and by so making Aaron perhaps the forefather of spokespersons.

In his life MKO was a man of the establishment, a dealer and inside man.

He was one of the favorite targets of the legendary Fela Kuti who openly helped popularized the idea that MKO was a CIA agent and collaborator of imperialist power. Yet the man is known to most American activists and Africanists as a leader and major financier of the Reparation Movement. He was the billionaire that stood on a Social Democratic Platform where he showed deep understanding of the yearning of the poor and cogent solutions to their problem. What a mix.

The London based editor of Inside Nigeria sent me a clip of MKO singing at a party he hosted in Ikeja, Lagos. Yes, MKO was a party man and a healthy hedonist that was the soul of any party he attended and yet when it came to professional affairs MKO’s contributions were deep, detailed, innovative and his arguments convincing. A lady’s man who got away with getting more and more of the most of gentle sex. The inclusive fertile generous lover spread his care and conquer to everyone religion across the globe and he was known as such, and yet till date there are no known stories of women that totally rejected him. His many children were offered the best education money could buy or at least went to the best schools Let us face it, few men can manage such feat. I will not stop here to probe if you are envious or curious.

It is difficult to talk about MKO without talking about money, he had a lot of it and he spent in a way few can do. He effortlessly gave to churches and mosques and he was at home with traditional leaders and priests. To date, it is difficult to think of anyone that has amassed so much chieftaincy tittles like Abiola did, it does not get more royal than that and yet MKO Abiola was not born into royalty or wealth. In fact, he was not only born poor, but typical of MKO, he was exceptional poor. Like in a fable he truly came from rags to riches.

The wood seller that became bank owner and telecoms mogul, publisher, shipping magnet and so and so forth.

The lofty heights he attained in life look even higher when we remember that he was not even given much chance when he came to the world on Tuesday 24th August 1937: Seven days after he was born, some of the name they gave him was Kashimawo, translatable as “let’s wait and see’ As a fellow Abiku, let me say for MKO we have seen and we continue to see.

-Professor Kila can be reached at @ anthonykila

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FRIDAY JULY 10, 2020 •T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͮ, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

ͱ ˜ Ͱ ͮ Ͱ ͮ MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

REPO 21.50 % 23.50 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

22 % 25 % 28 %

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

568.88 % 0.84 % 1.04 %

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE 1.04 % YEAR TO DATE 18.19 %

EXCHANGE RATE N361/1US DOLLAR* ̩

Quick Takes QuarantineMeasuresThreatenAviationRestart

STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIP

L-R: Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman and Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Hassan Bello, during the Maiden Meeting of Heads of Government Parastatals in the Maritime Sector in Lagos…recently

Agencies Collaborate for Improved Maritime Sector Regulation Eromosele Abiodun Federal government agencies in the maritime sector have agreed to synergies for effective regulation of the industry.

The agencies include: Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Inland Water Ways Authority (NIWA) and Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron.

Speaking at a meeting, the Executive Secretary of the NSC, Hassan Bello, said the initiative was a well-intended move for the agencies to create synergy in the maritime industry.

The sustainability of the synergy, he said was key to efforts to move the maritime industry forward.

“There are a lot of things that we are doing differently

MARITIME and if we come together this will mean effective delivery of programs. We are looking at issues on port operations and also legal issues. For the port operations, we are working assiduously to see that we have 24 hours port operations. We are also looking at digitalisation of port processes. Transactions should be digital so that we have contact less ports, paperless port and we hope that by first quarter of next year we will achieve 98 per cent of our port digitalisation plan.

“This will remove a lot of contacts we the consequence of having open and transparent process. This will go also a long way to see that we are competitive because Nigeria as a country is competing with other ports in the West and

Central African region.

“We are also looking at the issue of evacuation and delivery of cargo to the port. We have depended on one mode of transportation, which has had disastrous consequences and now we are looking at inland waterways of barges, rail and the road,” he said.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman, said improved synergy was the way forward for the industry.

“We are here to commence the improved synergy between the heads of all government agencies in the maritime industry. We have decided to hold monthly meetings between all the agencies. Today we held our maiden meeting, we have present the heads of the NSC, NPA, NIMASA, NIWA and MAN. We will have the meeting in the next four months and

after then quarterly.

“The purpose of the meeting is to improve synergy between agencies; we have noted that our operation needs to have improved synergy as it is required. We have had various aspects of overlapping functions that we feel that the CEOs are the ones that will be able to put heads together to address those areas of overlaps.

“We have several initiatives that all agencies have that we need to share amongst ourselves for us to have improved operational opportunities within the maritime industry.

“Why we have always had synergies we feel that bringing it to this level is what is required to make the supervision of the maritime industry easier to the supervising ministry and also our relationship with the Continued on page 20

Air Travellers Reveal COVID-19 Concerns Chinedu Eze Apprehension and skepticism are expected to continue to define air travel due to coronavirus pandemic, as nations adopt protocols to protect their citizens.

For instance, about two weeks ago it was announced that EU excluded Nigerians from travelling to countries under the union due to the COVID-19 fears, stating that Nigeria was not doing enough testing.

The implication of that on air travel, industry observers explained was that major carrier that have at least 86 per cent of international travel from Nigeria like Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways and other European carriers would not operate in Nigeria and airlift Nigerians

AVIATION to their operational hubs in Europe.

According to industry stakeholders, this could totally disrupt flight operations and would also determine when the federal government would give approval for international flights.

“The major foreign airlines that operate are based in Europe. I know that those airlines need the Nigerian passengers because they make huge revenue from Nigeria; so those airlines will be pressing their governments at home, while Nigeria will also be making negotiations with EU,” an operator told THISDAY. On COVID-19 fears by passengers, the International Air Transport Association

(IATA) has released public opinion research showing the willingness to travel being tempered by concerns over the risks of catching the virus during air travel.

The IATA report stated that the industry’s re-start plans should address passenger’s main concerns, which include crowded places on the way to the airport, in the airport terminal, during processing, sitting next to someone who might be infected, breathing the air in the airplane and using airport restrooms.

“Travellers are taking precautions to protect themselves from COVID-19 with 77 per cent saying that they are washing their hands more frequently, 71 per cent avoiding large meetings and 67 per cent having worn a facemask in public.

“Some 58 per cent of those

surveyed said that they have avoided air travel, with 33 per cent suggesting that they will avoid travel in future as a continued measure to reduce the risk of catching COVID-19,” IATA stated.

When asked to rank the top three measures that would make them feel safer, 37 per cent cited COVID-19 screening at departure airports, 34 per cent agreed with mandatory wearing of facemasks and 33 per cent noted social distancing measures on aircraft.

IATA said the passengers displayed a willingness to play a role in keeping flying safe by undergoing temperature checks (43 per cent), wearing a mask during travel (42 per cent), checking -in online to minimise

TheInternationalAirTransportAssociation(IATA)hasurgedgovernmentsin AfricaandtheMiddleEast(AME)toimplementalternativestoquarantineon arrivalthatwouldalloweconomiestore-startwhileavoidingtheimportation ofCOVID-19cases.

Thebodysaidgovernment-imposedquarantinemeasuresin36countries across Africa and the Middle East (AME) account for 40 per cent of all quarantinemeasuresglobally.Withover80percentoftravelersunwilling to travel when quarantine is required, the impact of these measures is thatcountriesremaininlockdowneveniftheirbordersareopen,itnoted.

“ItiscriticalthatAMEgovernmentsimplementalternativestoquarantine measures. AME has the highest number of countries in the world with government-imposedquarantinemeasuresonarrivingpassengers.

“Theregioniseffectivelyincompletelockdownwiththetravelandtourism sectorshuttered.Thisisdetrimentalinaregionwhere8.6millionpeople dependonaviationfortheirlivelihoods,”saidIATA’sRegionalVicePresident forAfricaandtheMiddleEast,MuhammadAlbakri.

IATA proposed a layering of measures to protect public health while re-startingaviation,focusedintwoareas:Reducingtheriskofimported casesviatravelers.

Italsodiscouragedsymptomaticpassengersfromtravelingwithairlines offeringflexibilitytopassengerswhoneedtoadjusttheirschedule.

It,however,calledforpublichealthriskmitigationmeasuressuchashealth screeningbygovernmentsintheformofhealthdeclarations,addingthat COVID-19testingfortravelersfromcountriesperceivedtobe“higher-risk” whenaccurateandfasttestingshouldbeavailableatscale.

“Implementingalayeredapproachshouldgivegovernmentstheconfidence to open borders without quarantine, and passengers the confidence to fly.Airconnectivityiscriticaltoeconomicandsustainabledevelopment inandacrossAME,”saidAlbakri.

Lufthansa to Sack 22,000 Employees

German airline Lufthansa has said it will have to slash 22,000 full-time jobs as it predicts a muted recovery in demand for travel following the coronaviruspandemic.

“The recovery in demand in the air transport sector will be slow in the foreseeablefuture,”theairlinesaid.

Thegroupwouldoperateabout100lessaircraftafterthecrisis,leadingto “atotalof22,000fewerfull-timepositionsintheLufthansaGroup,halfof theminGermany”.Thepostsmakeup16percentoftheLufthansaGroup’s totalworkforceof135,000.

The airline said however that it would look at how it could use schemes for shorter work hours and other crisis arrangements to avoid outright redundancies.

Lufthansa, like its peers, has been brought to its knees by restrictions introducedtocurbthespreadofthecoronavirus.

Around700ofthegroup’s763aircraftweregroundedatthepeakofthe lockdownsanditwasforcedtoplace87,000workersongovernment-backed shorterhoursschemes.

Lufthansa’s supervisory board last week approved a nine-billion-euro bailout deal from the German government after the company posted a first-quarternetlossof2.1billioneuros($2.3billion).

ThebailoutwouldseetheGermangovernmenttakea20-percentstakein thegroup,withanoptiononafurtherfivepercentplusonesharetoblock hostiletakeovers.TheairlinehasalsolostitsplaceonFrankfurt’sDax30 indexafteritssharepricecollapsed.

“Without a significant reduction in personnel costs during the crisis, we will miss the opportunity of a better restart from the crisis and risk the Lufthansa Group emerging from the crisis significantly weakened,” said Michael Niggemann, who heads the airline’s human resources and legal affairsdepartments.

BA Moves Gatwick Flights to Heathrow

British Airways has announced that it would be switching many shorthaulflightsfromitssecond-biggestbase,GatwickAirport,toHeathrow inJuly.Passengersbookedontheaffectedflights,aswellasBAflightcrew employedattheSussexhub,arebeinginformedofthemove.Theairlinehas alreadywarnedthatitmayabandonGatwickpermanently,ordrastically cutitsoperationsthere.Forthreedecades,Gatwickhasbeenthebasefor BA’s leisure-focused routes, including Mediterranean, Caribbean, Latin AmericanandIndianOceandestinations.

BritishAirwayshasamajorityoftheslotsatHeathrowairport.Fortherest ofthesummerseason–whichendsinOctober–itwilluseonlyafraction ofthemforamuch-reducedinternationalnetwork.

The Independent reported that it has made test bookings on a range of traditionalGatwickroutes,includingAlicante,Faro,JerseyandVenice,and foundJulydeparturesarefromHeathrow.

“We have some protocols that need to be done but in every contest we (Aero) are ready to start anytime from now” CEO, Aero Contractors,

Captain Ado Sanusi Continued on page 20

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BUSINESSWORLD AGENCIES COLLABORATE FOR IMPROVED MARITIME SECTOR REGULATION National Assembly committees that supervise our activity,� she stated.

On his part, the Director General of NIMASA, Bahir Jamoh, said the effort would ensure that decisions that hitherto used to take months to achieve through emails and other correspondence would now take few days. “The interesting part of this synergy is that you can see the distances of our offices is not more than five kilometers each but many times decisions using mails and other types of correspondences will take not less than 6 months to conclude those decisions. “From our deliberations it was quite clear from the last visit of the MD of NPA to NIMASA we have decided on so many issues that has to do with national development. “Some of the issues have to do with wrecks removal, we observed an overlapping functions on the issues where the NIMASA, NIWA and the NPA have overlapping functions in terms of our own act where each act provides and gives responsibility of each other. Many times, we could not decide who is responsible for what and at the end of the day nothings done, “he said.

AIR TRAVELLERS REVEAL COVID-19 CONCERNS interactions at the airport (40 per cent); taking a COVID-19 test prior to travel (39 per cent); and sanitising their seating area (38 per cent). “People are clearly concerned about COVID-19 when traveling. But they are also reassured by the practical measures being introduced by governments and the industry under the Take-off guidance developed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). “These include mask wearing, the introduction of contactless technology in travel processes and screening measures. This tells us that we are on the right track to restoring confidence in travel. “But it will take time. To have maximum effect, it is critical that governments deploy these measures globally,� said IATA’s Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Ogene

Comms/e-Business Editor

NEWS

Southerners Dominate Our Managerial Positions, Says NPA Stories by Eromosele Abiodun The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has described the allegation of lop-sided appointments in the agency as malicious and a calculated attempt to bring the name of the authority to disrepute.

The NPA, in a statement, reiterated its commitment to the principles of the federal character, stating that it is guided by fairness, equity and the laws of Nigeria in all its operations.

Details released by the agency showed that of the total of 302 managerial positions in the authority, 179 positions are headed by staff from southern part of Nigeria, leaving the north with 123 managers.

The NPA described the allegation as unfounded and untrue, stating that the appointment and promotion of General Managers (GMs) and Assistant General Managers (AGMs) are routinely guided by vacancy, exigencies, seniority, competence and strict application of Federal Character Principle in order to ensure equity and even distribution of positions in the organisation.

An online news medium had accused the Hadiza Bala-Usman led management of NPA of appointing 17 GMs in favour of the north as against six from the south out of a total of 23 GM positions, insinuating breach of the Federal

Character Principle, ethnicism and religious consideration as basis for appointment in the organisation.

However, in reaction, the NPA in a statement signed by its General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Jatto Adams explained: “GMs are usually appointed from the pool of AGMs who would ordinarily have been in the service of the Authority for long enough to

have acquired significant experience in every aspect of the NPA’s operations. “Records at the moment show that while some zones may have fewer representation in GM cadre, they have higher representation in the two other most senior roles of AGMs and Principal Managers.�

It maintained that the southern part of Nigeria is leading in managerial positions with 179

appointments against 123 from the north.

Analysis of the geo-political representation of data showed that the South West is leading with 75 positions, followed

by South-south, which has 54 managerial positions; and South-east coming third place with 50 positions. North-central has 45 positions; North-east, 44 and North-west, 34.

NPA further explained that of

the total 228 Principal Managers, South-west dominates the ladder with 60 positions; South-south, 43; South-east, 36, while Northcentral leads the northern table with 36 positions; North-east, 27 and North-west 26.

On the AGM cadre, the South-west leads with13 positions; South-south,10; South-east,10 while the North-east leads the northern chart with 10; North-central,6 and North-west, 3 positions.

UNITED AGAINST COVID-19

L-R: Team, Lead, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Rapid Response, Lagos, Dr. Kola Jinadu; CEO, ACT Foundation, Osayi Alile; MD/CEO, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, and Deputy Director, NCDC, Lagos oďŹƒce, Mrs. Babatunde Olajumoke, at the presentation of test kits and medical laboratory equipment to NCDC in Lagos...recently

Clarion Terminal Grants Importers Waiver to Clear Containers Following the reopening of its terminal by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the management of Clarion Bonded Terminal, has announced that it has granted its customers four days waiver to ensure evacuation of trapped containers from the terminal.

The Legal Adviser of the company, Mr. Emmanuel Osonwa, made this known to newsmen in Lagos on the sideline of the company’s management courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) in Lagos.

Osonwa said the waiver was to ameliorate the suffering of its customers whose containers were trapped when Kirikiri Lighter

Terminal (KLT) command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) sealed up the terminal in June.

He said that as at the time of sealing the terminal, they had close to 4,000 containers and had no prior notice of closure of the terminal.

He said that the Controller KLT Customs Command on June 11 came and alleged that illegal activities were going on in the terminal and that Clarion did not have approval from the NCS to operate the bonded terminal.

Osonwa said the terminal was sealed and the Customs Command wrote a letter to their headquarters that they had sealed the terminal pending the directive

on what should be done.

He said the KLT Customs Command noted that the terminal was only directed to handle empty container transaction.

Osonwa said after investigations were carried out, which started from June 11 till July 3, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company was given a clean bill.

Consequently, he said that on July 4, the terminal was unsealed for business and, “all workers moved back to ensure that customers’ containers were evacuated.�

This, he explained, necessitated the granting of waiver to help those who had concluded their

papers clear their containers. “This was done to enable customers who are ready to move their containers to do so. Nobody was called to pay any demurrage but you know that some customers will go and `sleep’ and so we notified them to come and take delivery of their containers. Those that were ready before the sealing will not pay any demurrage. Those of them that have not paid any duty will not fall into the ambit of people that are exempted. “From the day the terminal was sealed to the day it was opened, we are giving additional four days because it will not be practicable for some people to

tidy up what they should have done before the sealing of the terminal. “Since opening on July 3, we worked July 4 and 5 and we are operating 24 hours to ensure that customers move their containers out,� he said.

Osonwa noted that the management wanted to assure the customers that they were still doing their timely and expeditious job before this happened, urging them to be mindful of ‘Act of Princes’.

He described the `Act of Princes’ as a term in maritime, one of the points that could lead to `force majeure’ in any contract in maritime shipping.

NSC Targets Full Digitalisation of Nigerian Ports by 2021 The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has announced that it is perfecting plans to ensure that cargo clearing processes and all other port transactions are carried out online by first quarter (Q1) of 2021.

The Executive Secretary of the NSC, Hassan Bello, who disclosed this in a chat with newsmen in Lagos, said Nigerian port is presently operating at 65 per cent digital.

However, he said there are certain transactions such as bill of lading and other invoicing

that are not generated online.

Bello, who noted that most of the terminals and shipping companies are already doing 85 per cent of their transactions online, said there is need for every operator to come onboard because the outbreak of Covid-19 has shown that it is very dangerous for people to gather at the terminals. “We are meeting with shipping companies, terminal operators and the banks to harmonise and integrate the cargo clearing processes at ports. We need to

make our port efficient that is why we believe that an importer can stay in the comfort of his or her office to exit his cargo without having to be physically present at the port.�

Scanning of containers, he added, is also more efficient and less dangerous than 100 percent physical examination of cargo adding that with the outbreak of Coronavirus, digital port would lessen the exposure of the port to the spread of the virus. “Digitalisation also reduces

corruption, if you don’t physically interact with officials and do your transactions electronically, it would reduce corruption in the system. It would be much cheaper, more efficient and Nigerian port would become more competitive, if shippers do more of online transactions,� he said.

On port congestion, Bello, who noted that Covid-19 has disrupted the logistics chain, said that lack of space at the port is very dangerous because it signals congestion both at the seaside

and at the terminal. “There are lots of cargoes that are abandoned at ports and they are ought to be auctioned. We would suggest to Nigeria Customs Service to do on-the-spot auctioning without taking those goods out of the port. Most of them are expired goods and we have to help the terminal operators to clear the ports so that ships could come in on a better timing rather than 50 days waiting time that shows inefficiency, and is uneconomical,� he said.

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Ă‹Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă— Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂŒĂ™Ă–Ă&#x; (Advertising) Correspondents

Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x; äĂ? (Aviation) ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor (Energy) Reporters

Ă&#x;Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă?Ă‘Ă’Ă? (Money Market) Ă™Ă?Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă•Ă’Ă&#x;ÙÑÓĂ? (ICT)

Kwara Fish Farmers Seek Govt Intervention Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Kwara State Chairman of Fish Farmers Association, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, has called on the state government to come to their aid over low

patronage being experienced by his members as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Buhari made the call in Ilorin, while speaking on the state of the nation.

He said over 90 per cent of

farmers find it very difficult to sell their fishes because of the restriction on movements of vehicle into some states as well as closure of places where most of these fishes are consumed.

While thanking the state

governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his efforts to expand fish markets in the state, Buhari sought his intervention on the losses the farmers had suffered during the lockdown period.

He added: “Kwara state fish farmers association uses this medium to show appreciation to Governor for the foresight and timely intervention on the expansion of fish markets in the state.

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NAMA Upgrades Search, Rescue Facilities Stories by Chinedu Eze The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has procured sophisticated search and rescue equipment to boost its aeronautical search and rescue capability across the Nigerian airspace.

The agency said the equipment which are being distributed among the nation’s Rescue Coordination Centers (Lagos and Kano) and Rescue Sub centers (Abuja, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Enugu, Ilorin and Sokoto) include plotting facilities, communication facilities, medical supplies and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) documents among others. “The plotting equipment includes workstations (for digital plotting) and topographical maps for manual plotting). Communication equipment include very high frequency (VHF) radios, high frequency (HF) radios, megaphones as well as Search and Rescue dedicated satellite telephones which can work outside a

network area. “ICAO documents include IAMSAR Manual Volume 1,2 and 3 as well as Annex 12 Search and Rescue Preparation Manual. Other items procured include multifunctional photocopiers, laptops, printers, professional torchlights, status boards, computer desktops and personal locator beacons,� the agency disclosed.

Speaking about the development the Managing Director of NAMA, Capt.

Fola Akinkuotu said the agency took steps to procure the equipment in order to enhance its preparedness and efficiency in search and rescue coordination in the event of any occurrence, especially given that the airports were about to be reopened to commercial activities. “For instance the workstations which came with software applications for digital and faster plotting will aid our personnel in precisely locating where an incident or accident occurred,� he said.

Akinkuotu also revealed that in addition to the facility upgrade, the agency recently recruited experienced Search Mission Coordinators to be on 24 hours watch at both the Rescue Coordination Centers and Rescue Subcenters, saying that dedicated telephone numbers and email addresses of the above search and rescue centers have been published in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP). “So, having beefed up the capacity of Search and Rescue unit at the two Rescue Coordination Centers and at the six Rescue Sub-centers in the country, NAMA is more prepared than ever before in terms of human capacity as well as equipment upgrade. “Also, note that in the last couple of years, the agency has trained different categories of critical personnel both in Nigeria and outside the country in Search and Rescue Coordinator courses in line with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs),� the NAMA boss also said.

Overland Airways to Resume Flights July 15 Overland Airways has announced the resumption of its flight services with effect from July 15, 2020, following the lifting of the federal government’s suspension of flight operations in the country imposed as part of efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

According to the Chief Operating Officer of the airline, Mrs. Aanu Benson: “Overland Airways assures our esteemed customers of pleasures of flying as we are implementing safety and health protocols advised by health and regulatory authorities. “These protocols include but are not limited to taking of passengers’ temperature

readings, ensuring the wearing of face masks and other protective equipment by passengers and staff on board our aircraft, maintenance of physical distance at the check-in and boarding lines, and regular disinfection of our aircraft. It will be Clean Crew, Clean Aircraft and Clean Passengers with safety as priority.�

Overland said in view of the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, it is also offering passengers the opportunity to utilise their tickets after the lockdown by extending the validity of passengers’ unused tickets affected by the pandemic. “As we envisage a slow pre-boarding process due to the need for the airports

authority to ensure safety of passengers, we call on our esteemed passengers to arrive at the airports in good time for their flights and to cooperate with our ground staff to ensure a seamless flight experience. “While assuring our patrons of our usual excellent customer service, we wish to express our gratitude to the Federal and State Governments, health workers and others in the frontline of the fight to contain the spread of the Coronavirus Pandemic�, says Mrs. Benson.

Overland Airways would recommence flights to Abuja, Akure, Lagos, Ibadan, Ilorin and Jalingo routes.

Emirates to Fly A380 to London Heathrow, Paris Emirates said its A380 aircraft would begin serving travellers on flights to London Heathrow and Paris starting from 15th of July.

This marks the return of Emirates’ flagship aircraft on scheduled services since the pandemic forced the temporary grounding of the airline’s passenger fleet in March.

Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Chief Operating Officer said: “The A380 remains a popular aircraft amongst our customers and it offers many unique on-board features. We are delighted to bring it back into the skies to serve our customers on flights to London and Paris from 15 July, and we are

looking forward to gradually introduce our A380 into more destinations according to the travel demand on specific destinations. “The Emirates A380 experience remains unique in the industry, and even though we’ve modified services onboard for the health and safety of our crew and customers, we are confident that our customers would welcome flying again in this quiet, comfortable aircraft.�

In addition, Emirates has announced that it would commence flights for travellers to Dhaka (from 24 June), and Munich (from 15 July), adding to its growing network.

This followed the announcement earlier in the

week, that Dubai would re-open to business and leisure visitors from July 7, with new air travel protocols that facilitate travel for UAE citizens, residents and tourists while safeguarding the health and safety of travellers and communities.

Emirates currently offers flights to over 40 cities, with safe and convenient connections to, from, and through its Dubai hub for customers travelling between the Asia Pacific, the Gulf, Europe and the Americas.

Flights to Dhaka and Munich would be operated with an Emirates Boeing 777300ER aircraft, and can be booked on emirates.com or via travel agents.

Stakeholders Foresee Boost in Economic Activities with Flight Resumption

Chinedu Eze Aviation industry stakeholders have expressed optimism that the resumption of domestic flight operations will kick-start nation’s economy.

According them, this is because entrepreneurs and business leaders move by the fastest means possible and air travel is the only provider of such mode of travelling in Nigeria.

The Director of Flight Operations of Air Peace, Captain Victor Egonu, told THISDAY that the safest means of travelling in Nigeria is by air, which remains the most secure in the country, noting that the economy would only begin to breathe when decision makers and movers and shakers of the society begin to travel.

The stakeholders also expressed hope that international travel would soon be approved by government saying because Nigeria is an import-oriented country, the economy may not be fully galvanised without international travel.

They also noted that international travel feed domestic flights without which local air service would be under served.

The Chairman, Airline and Passenger Joint Committee (APJC) and immediate past President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), Bankole Bernard, told THISDAY that eventually there would be large turnout of travellers at the airports, but noted that the first few days would not record heavy traffic. “There will be high demand of air travel. I already have people making request for tickets for Lagos-Abuja. They want to fly; even I myself want to travel.

You see, for business to happen there must be movements and movement cannot be done by road. “Movement and time consciousness is one of the critical things that business people pay attention to. What is the easiest thing for me to get to Abuja to do the business I want to do and come back? “All the hotels in Abuja are suffering because nobody is coming there to sleep.

So by the time flights resume, every other business will pick up. So it has a multiplier effect on other industries. “So we are looking forward to see flight resume. And to let you know a lot of people are waiting for that to happen.�

Bernard said the load factor might start from a projected 25 per cent to 35

per cent passenger load factor, picking up with time. “Remember that in the aviation industry the airline plans ahead because these flights are scheduled. Now we want to say that yes, I don’t want to go ahead and plan for a month and it will take place. “What if tomorrow the government says you cannot fly again, it means all the provisions made will have been disrupted. So we too want to see it kick off, by tomorrow you will see a low turnout, as it should be which is expected. “But if we know that after tomorrow the first flight has taken off then I know that by Thursday I can get another, then everybody start to plan. “I see at the initial stage of a 25 per cent passenger load that will kick off by next week I see that figure doubled.

Because people and now confident that truly our airspace has been opened. “And I am soliciting with the government that international flight should resume almost immediately after we must have tested the domestic flight to see how well we have been able to manage it. “Maybe the government can open international flight in two weeks’ time.

Why are we doing this? Remember Nigeria is an import dependent country, because of poor electricity level of manufacturing is still very low. “And there is absolutely nothing wrong in us depending on other countries to produce those things for us until we are able to become self-reliant in that regard. But till then, allow our people to travel out to be able to bring in their goods. “So international flight needs to resume in earnest so that people are able to move around as soon as possible.

We really desire international flight to resume on or before the end of the month to compliment the domestic carriers.

This is because either you like it or not, the international flight feed the domestic as well. “The foreigners that have gone out will feel comfortable to come back. Like I said to you, Nigeria is a gold mine and everybody will love to be where you know that the business is good. “The environment might not be so fantastic but the business there is good. So that is what we are looking forward to,� Bernard who is also the Group Managing Director of Finchglow Group said.

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Bankole: Concession’ll Remove Political Interference from Airports The Group Managing Director, Finchglow Group, a travel and aviation development company, Mr. Bankole Bernard, in this interview says concession of the airports will attract international funding to upgrade, modernise the facilities as well as remove political interference in the management process. Chinedu Eze brings the excerpts:

W

hat is your view about concession of airports?

Simply explained, an airport concession involves the transfer of the responsibility of management and development of the airport to a private operator, while the ultimate ownership remains with the government. Where we are in Nigeria, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), there are predictions that developing countries, including Nigeria, will see a surge in air transport in the next 15 - 20 years. However, with this predicted growth in air transport, many of these countries including Nigeria do not have the facilities to manage the expected traffic. This situation perfectly describes Nigeria. With the country’s situation of having limited resources to expand its airports, the best option in view is the concession of our airports as rightly raised by the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2018, Nigeria’s air passenger traffic inched up by three per cent with a total number of 14.82million travellers, as against 14.26 million in 2017. In 2019, the passenger traffic in the first half of the year hit 8.48 million compared to 7.56 million in 2018. With passenger traffic growing at that pace, even though we have seen some setback due to the COVID-19, air transport will soon rebound and the expansion of our airports should be a focus area. In a material published by the International Air Transport Association on Balanced Concession for Airports in 2018, the global body pointed out what we must consider to make our airports work. Some of the areas that should be critically checked are as follows: selection of airport concessionaires, determinants of concession length, concession payments and charges, super-profit protection, consultation processes, capital planning and execution and continual improvement and airport service quality. Benefits of concession include the development of the airports to world-class standard, proper management and accountability, removal of government or political interference in the activities of the airport. It would also give room for technology and advancement, customer satisfaction and economic growth at the airport and the government can focus on other areas with its limited resources. So, the truth is that the aviation industry is a very sensitive one and everywhere around the world we have seen aviation take some countries to their new haven economically. Aviation has helped them build a better economy and for a country like Nigeria, we cannot be left out in using aviation to develop our economy. This will enable us reduce the level of dependence on oil as it were. So based on this, the Hon. Minister of Aviation has injected some fresh hands into the aviation industry, which has changed the industry positively. So the idea of concessioning is a fantastic one. But people do not understand what concession is all about. Concessioning does not mean transfer of ownership. The ownership of our airports still remains in the coffers of the government. The only thing that is being transferred is the responsibility of management of those airports. So let us conveniently separate it, ownership remains with the government, but the responsibility of the management of those airports is now in the hands of reputable technocrats that understand the industry very well. So when the concessioning is given to reputable hands then they will deliver better service to the travellers, better service in the industry, and better service even to the regulators.

When we talk about concessioning, are we talking about giving the entirety of the airport out? No. We are talking about some of the things at the airport. For instance the

do you think it is going be an easy sell at the council? It is not going to be an easy sell at the council. We in the aviation industry need to rally round the Minister, give him the relevant support; the council members will just give it a nod without further delay.

But when we have selfish people within the system that pollute the minds of some of the members at the federal executive council, it will be a difficult to sell. That is making them to see the negative part than the positive part. I have heard a lot of criticism about the concessioning that was given to Dr. Wale Babalakin’s company, BASL, but guess what; nobody appreciates the benefit and the good management of that particular concessioning.

Like you and I said, it is still far better off than most of our airports that are managed by government. Why? Because it has been given to a technocrat to manage, someone that understands what airport management is all about.

Bernard

airport terminal, which is what most travellers or users get to see, they do not get to see how the runway works. They do not get to see the management of the navigation aids. Those are sensitive things that should be in the hands of the regulator because that is back-end. So concessioning needs to be properly explained to the common man for him to appreciate what it is. It means that it becomes more profitable and more user friendly for everyone.

Are you not surprised that even the aviation workers and their various unions are very much against this and will you say that they don’t know of this perspective that you just raised now?

Now let me come from the perspective of the unions; even the unions too are stakeholders in the industry. The union is like a child, now when you tell a child to stop playing rough or not to play with certain gadgets, it might be harmful but the child might not know.

So more than often the unions are not well informed on the position. All they are saying is that there is going to be layoff of workers, they stand not to benefit like they were and what have you. But tell me today, MMA2 (built and being managed by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) are there still no workers there? Are they not getting their entitlement? Are they not better paid?

Concessioning will guaranty win-win for everybody, including the investors that has dropped the money. Then government can use money available to develop less patronised airports around the country. So, our airports should be given to the technocrats that can manage them better and make them more profitable. And the government stands to benefit at the end of the day. I will give you an instance; you might not consider it as concessioning but look at it this way. The IGR (internal generated revenue), for each of these states in Nigeria. Those governors that have embraced PPE (Private Public Partnership), they have boosted their IGR. Like Lagos State now is generating between N50 billion and N70 billion monthly.

When Bola Tinubu was there as the first governor, they were getting about N5 billion monthly and they thought they had done well.

Babatunde Fashola made it N25 billion and Akinwunmi Ambode took it up. So it will continue to go up because of the efficiency

that has been brought into it. That is what the union needs to understand. They are in a better position when the airports are concessioned.

There is another argument that for the federal government to provide jobs in the aviation industry, the airports have to be modernised and that the current union leaders and those who have put up 25 years in service should be retired so that more jobs would be created for the younger ones. What do you think?

The truth is the same way we are bringing rejuvenation into the industry and make it technology savvy and friendly, it is the same way the unions need to rejuvenate. You will find out that in the union we have those that are old and their thinking remains archaic. So, employing technology into how things are done is like a challenge to their existence. Whereas they have got it all twisted and they have got it all wrong. If they understand better, trust me, and the only way they can understand better is to allow the younger ones even take up the unions of those bodies.

Do you see self-interest in all of this?

Definitely, and there is no doubt about it.

We must understand that when you have done your tenure let other people come in, but they continue to rotate older hands in that circle and you see that the circle is just within themselves. They need to allow younger people come into it, just the way I took over the position of NANTA (the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies). I brought a lot of vitality into it, fresh energy, fresh ideas and things changed and them everybody got to know value and the worth of NANTA. So the unions need to take that same step for things to get better.

Looking at the concession and the entire roadmap that the Minister initiated in 2016, it is taking long for any of it to be actualised, what do you say about this?

We must understand that when the Minister came up with the roadmap, remember that the Minister too will have to go through the federal executive council to be able to put it across to the President as well as the council members to buy into that idea. So if he is not getting the relevant support from the industry,

Some industry stakeholders are apprehensive about the concession programme because they feel it would not be transparently done. Some of them insists that it should be given to local investors. What is your reaction to that?

Yes, I might say that concessioning, one of the key benefits of it is the fact that we must identify those that have capacity to do it. We are glad that Wale Babalakin was tried out; it wasn’t easy because there was no pre-knowledge of it. So he struggled at the initial stage until he was able to bring in experts who are foreigners to manage it for him before he could get it right. And if we are talking about indigenous hand, do we have anyone that has been able to manage it well? Why are we concessioning in the first place? What are we trying to achieve with concessioning? The whole idea is to make the airport profitable, and viable for use. So if that is it, then we must look for the best of hands that can manage it for us. I want to correct this at this point, the world is a global village and Nigeria will not be exempted. Tim Clarke is not an Emirati but he is managing the biggest airline in the world, which is Emirates. Why didn’t they say that they must give it to an Emirati to manage? I think we need to get that mentality out of our heads.

Now, even if it is concessioned to a foreigner, there are conditions or labour laws, which means that indigenous workers must work with the foreigner that has brought huge investment into your country. Because at the end of the day it is that huge investment that we are interested in, so that such funds can be diverted into other airports that are lying fallow and are not productive. So we can now use those funds to develop them better and then start to use it. So that is what is necessary.

For probity and proper accountability or even to re-assure the new set of investors that will come in, don’t you think the concession process should have started with the resolution of BASL, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) imbroglio over the terms of concession of MMA2?

Let me say at this point that those technicalities will definitely be addressed. The Minister is enlightened, exposed and he is a respecter of law as well. He will not violate all those agreements; he will ensure that those agreements are well natured and respected. I will give you an instance, when the idea of a national carrier was pushed forward; the ex-staff of Nigerian Airways were they not settled? They were settled. But initially they were making so much noise but when they were settled none of them came out to say they have been settled.

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŽËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

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New Dawn at NPA Eromosele Abiodun writes on the significance of appointing Akin Ricketts into the board of the Nigerian Ports Authority

Bala-Usman

S

takeholders in the nation’s bourgeoning maritime sector are excited about the new board members recently appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari for the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

In particular, the appointment of Chief Akin Ricketts as the Chairman of the NPA Board is seen by several operators and investors as a deliberate effort by the president to deepen the reforms already started by the current management of the NPA led by the Managing Director, Hadiza Bala-Usman.

Persons familiar with the sector insist that the combination Ricketts and Bala-Usman is a masterstroke of sorts in the bid to leverage the goodwill and the buy-in of diverse interests and competences in the maritime sector and beyond, to broaden the reforms.

It is no secret that since assuming office about four years ago, as the first female (and the youngest ever) MD of the NPA, Bala-Usman speedily reinvigorated and repositioned the nation’s ports, a veritable alternative source of foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria at a time of rapidly declining income from the traditional source – oil and gas export. In record time, under Bala-Usman the much-desired culture of transparency and accountability was instituted in the once opaque administration of the nation’s ports authority. Determined to wean NPA of its history of corruption, indolence, ineptitude and sharp practices, shortly after assuming office, the Bala-Usman administration introduced the tracking of the budget and finances of NPA by signing an agreement with the budget tracking and transparency organisation, making the NPA the first government-controlled revenue generating agency in the country to open its books and accounts to the civil society and the public for monitoring and scrutiny.

In line with the strategic agenda of ridding the NPA of corruption and stem huge revenue losses, Bala-Usman insisted on the dogged and uncompromising adherence to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy of the federal government. Indeed, the administration uncovered and exposed the fact that about N11.2 billion that belong to NPA were still domiciled in commercial banks in clear contravention of extant financial policy of the federal government. It was similarly discovered that about six million Euros, being revenue generated by the NPA that should have been remitted into the Federation Account, were illegally held in separate accounts in a number of commercial banks and another $23 million was also found in another commercial bank. Being a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-corruption, Bala-Usman was expectedly resolute about redressing the inherited tardiness in the financial accounting processes in NPA. Of course the scattered funds of the authority have since been properly accounted for and

Rickett turned over to the Single Treasury Account of the Federal Government.

Ease of Doing Business Equally placed on the front burner of the reform efforts at the NPA was the resolve to improve the ease of doing business in the nation’s ports in line with the up-to-date global practices and pursuant to the Executive Order signed by the then Acting President, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. On this score, the NPA management team commenced the review of the Exclusive Port Concession policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria, which is about 10 years old. A critical component of this review was the freeing up of the nation’s seaports from the suffocating grip (as well as the whims and caprices) of a few powerful operators who have been enjoying operational monopoly under the less than transparent Exclusive Concession Agreement. This old system clearly negates the globally acclaimed standards in a free market economy; and worse still, verifiable facts have severally shown that this old system of monopoly and unfair benefit encouraged corruption and huge loss of revenue that is accruable to the Federal Government through the NPA. For example, under the old order of monopolistic concession, some terminal operators were known to have colluded with some highranking, albeit corrupt, NPA officials to create a cartel that ensured that all oil and gas cargoes were directed to their terminals alone under the exclusive concession agreement.

However, with the termination of monopoly under the Exclusive Concession Agreement, all qualified port operators with requisite capacity can now compete favourably and on a uniformed footing for cargoes to be discharged at their terminals.

The NPA is now enhancing Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings through the introduction of fast track desks for easy export of solid minerals and agricultural products in the country’s seaports. This move alone has reduced to a reasonable level the time it takes for miners and farmers to export their products through the ports. This is just a few of the numerous reforms that have been introduced by the Bala-Usman administration at the NPA. As would be expected, the series of reforms that Bala-Usman introduced at the NPA ruffled very big feathers. Formidable and entrenched interests seem to have been speedily routed and dislodged from the nation’s ports; the monopolists who have for decades been raking in huge income and yielding very little to the federal government, are expectedly enraged and are fighting back ferociously on all fronts. In her own peculiar way, Bala-Usman has also been resisting the punches being thrown at her. However, credible sources said President Buhari believes that the MD of NPA needs help hence the appointment of

Ricketts to support Bala-Usman at NPA. Like most reform-minded persons, Bala-Usman, may have in some instances thrown the baby out with the bathwater. It is feared that the MD of NPA may have consciously or unconsciously made too many enemies and a number of them may have started coalescing to haunt not just the operations of the Port but indeed the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Securing buy-in of stakeholders To this end, it is believed that Ricketts’ job at NPA is already cut out for him: to secure the all-important buy-in of critical stakeholders in the on-going reforms in the nation’s Ports. “The current NPA management under Bala-Usman has done very well but she needs to be strengthened. The President believes Ricketts will provide that much needed buffer for Bala-Usman. Ricketts came highly recommended and so he was carefully selected by President Buhri to play that role,�a Director in the Federal Ministry of Transportation confided.

On this score, people who know Ricketts have said President Buhari has placed a round peg in a round hole. Ricketts, they added, would not bend the rules for you, he somehow manages to win you to his side most of the time. “He will be bringing on board the NPA, colossal experience in virtually all human endevours: maritime, construction, farming, procurement in the nation’s oil and gas sector, media and strategic communication, politics and public administration and much more, said a maritime expert.

Like someone recently noted, it is fortuitous that President Buhari is returning Ricketts to the sea where several generations of Ricketts bestrode like colossus for several decades. “The Ricketts have a long history with the ports which dates back over a century and Akin Ricketts, a third generation Ricketts, may just be fulfilling his destiny with this new appointment as board chairman of the NPA,�the maritime expert stated.

The rich history of the Ricketts family’s involvement in the nation’s maritime sector started from an African-American Missionary to the Congo, Rev. John Edward Ricketts, a black Baptist minister from Stewart Town, Jamaica, who was born in 1857 in the Caribbean Island of Jamaica. The Ricketts family pioneered indigenous water transportation services in Nigeria and stayed in the business for almost a century. Akin Ricketts is a third generation Ricketts. “At a point, the Ricketts fleet had about 14 boats, which were given exotic names like Charity, Endeavour, Harmony, Duty, Labour, Tax (a double decker), and Service, and the routes included Epe, Ikorodu, Okitipupa, and Sapele,� Ricketts recalled. “There were no roads, so people relied more

on water transport to get from their locations to the markets especially. Our ferries were a large percentage of the vessels in operation.

When the Lagos-Ikorodu road was opened in 1952, people found the travel time shorter, and there was a gradual shift; expectedly, the company’s income began to dip. It wound down its operations in 1964,�he said.

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in his home State, Cross Rivers State, Ricketts enjoys huge following in the state, especially the Ugep community where he was conferred with the revered traditional title of ObolNkama 1 of Ugep over three decades ago. The traditional title means the ‘defender’, ‘protector’ and ‘provider’ based on his populist philosophical slogan of his political genealogy as grandson of Late Chief (Sir) Noel Ofem, the first paramount ruler of Old Yakurr and member of the House of Chiefs representing Old Abakaliki Province in the Eastern Region. “My late grandfather was a staunch political associate of First Republic President, Dr. NnamdiAzikiwe and also worked closely with political heavyweights like Chief Michael Okpara, Eze (Dr.) Sir Francis Ibiam, MbonuEjike, among others,� Ricketts disclosed.

Mandate at NPA Reflecting on his mandate at the NPA, Ricketts is unequivocal about his resolve to help deepen the on-going reforms at the NPA with a view to improving efficiency and broadening the income generating capacity of the nation’s Ports. “In line with the determination of Mr. President to expand the country’s economic base, an efficient and effective port system is needed where all stakeholders are confident about receiving prompt and seamless attention, where vessels berth efficiently and cargo are evacuated smoothly. This is more so when we consider the size of Nigeria’s economy, its population and the prime position that it holds on the African continent as well as the global maritime space. It is therefore the determination of the new Board to ensure the continuous improvement of the state of equipment at the ports, ensuring the effective management of channel depths as well as the constant upgrading of port infrastructure,�Ricketts said.

Reputedly incorruptible and firm, Ricketts served as the Commissioner for Information in Cross Rivers State under Governor Liyel Imoke. He, however, crossed over to the ruling All Progressives Congress where he successfully secured the party’s ticket for the Cross Rivers State Central Senatorial District in the last general elections. Said to be widely connected, stakeholders in the maritime sector are confident that Ricketts will bring his enormous goodwill to bear as the NPA set out to deepen on-going reforms in the nation’s ports authority.

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FRIDAY JULY 10, 2020 •T H I S D AY

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS METRO THISLIFE ART WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com 07010510430

Steven Olayinka: Clergy and Philanthropist

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COVER

Steven Olayinka: Clergy and Philanthropist For Senior Pastor of Water Spring Christian Center, Lotun, United Kingdom, Pastor Steven Olayinka, his foray into the ministry has not been without its fair share of challenges-from surviving a near-death robbery in Lagos to battling an‘insurance scam’leveled against him. In this interview with SUNDAY EHIGIATOR, the clergy-cum-philanthropist revealed how his journey as a clergyman started

W

hendidyourministry as a clergy start?

I have been in ministry for a long time. I grew up in Nigeria and all my life have always been in the ministry.

How about your academic background?

My first degree I read banking and finance until God called me after my degree so I had to proceed to Ambrose University in Canada where I had my Master of Art in Leadership and Ministry. So after that, the ministry started in 2013 and I have served in different ministry before that time, but Water Spring Christian Center started in 2013 and up till date the lord has been helping us.

How has the ministry been faring since 2013?

Very fine, our core value is to transform life and there have been lots of testimonies up till date. People have been touched, lives have been changed and the Lord had put us in the UK where people travel all over the world to come to the ministry, that’s what we are doing right now.

How was it, transitioning into ministry?

Well, you really have no choice when God is calling you; you have no choice because I was actually doing well in the bank. I had to resign from the bank before I traveled to Canada to attend seminary. Even when I finished seminary, I wasn’t really sure, I had to come back to Nigeria after finishing my course in Canada.

I came to Nigeria thinking I wanted to start a business, so I started oil and gas business and I was doing well. I had tankers and I was supplying many filling stations and I was making money, with people working for me.

But it came to a point, God started fighting me. Everywhere I go, they will tell me you have to work for God but one thing that made the turning moment in my life was one day, a prophet called me and said ‘this is going to be the last time I will be asking you to release yourself to the ministry’.

So, two days after I was about to change my mind, and I was driving along Ilupeju at Anthony, going to Gbagada, then armed robbers came and they just stepped out from motorcycles and came close to me without asking anything. One of the guys just shot me at a very close range.

At that point, I thought I was dead, but eventually by the time I regained my conscious, I saw the bullet in the car and I saw that the bullet had been deflected just through my pocket and the bullet dropped in the car. It has never happened. Even the police at that scene followed me to church for thanksgiving. They told me they don’t know what I have done for God to have spared my life, but this has never happened.

I was actually going to church to meet my pastor then Dr. Imosewa. As I got to his office, he said, without me talking to him first, ‘God told me as you were coming in, I speared you because you are an instrument’.

And that was the turning moment, at that point I had no choice to go back to my calling and then I had to pray and asked God where he wants me to lead. He then said my ministry will be in the UK. That time I was settled in Nigeria doing well, so I had to move to UK, fortunately my wife lives in the UK, so I went to the UK, and that was how we started the business.

Pastor Olayinka

What has been your most challenging moment so far in the ministry?

Talking of challenging moments, there have been a lots of challenging moment in my life, but there’s one particular one which happened. I recall, a particular good friend of mine who was dying and then I prayed to God bitterly and the Lord said, Stephen his time has come and I am calling him home.

So I had to call his wife and I told his wife that God said he’s calling him home; imagine how his wife will react to that and few minutes later, he gave up the ghost. That’s one of the challenges because I love the man very well.

The other challenging moment happened in 2019, which I will never forget. I saw it as an attack over my ministry and this thing started from 2015 but didn’t materialise until 2019.

Every year, I come to Nigeria for a conference and then each time when am going back, I have three luggage worth over 30kg of print items, stationeries for the church.

So at that point I was going back to the UK and then I got to the International Airport, I pulled my muscle.

When I got home the following day, I went to the hospital to complained to my doctor and then my doctor gave me pain killer and then two days after that time, the thing went of. That was in 2015. A month later, I was driving and I came out of the church in the evening, because then, I was still doing IT consulting job. Each time I leave the office, I go to the church as that’s my main calling.

But then, I had to provide for my family, because the church is not paying salary. Immediately, I drove out of the church, that very day, on a very narrow street, one guy was actually putting something in the car and he didn’t watch me coming, then, he opened the door of his car and that crushed

my car, right from the bonnet up to the boot.

The car was insured, and we exchanged details, then I went to the police station, which they gave me police report and then based on the pain, which I sustained on my neck and on my back due to the accident, the police advised me to go to the hospital.

So I went to the hospital, and complained to my doctor, he attended to me and gave me some pain killer as well, but it wasn’t responding so he actually recommended me based on the information I gave to him, he recommended me for a physiotherapy, which went on for about three months.

However, it came to a point where my physiotherapist wanted to inject me, then I suddenly realised that I was in the deliverance ministry, why do I want to go to this whole faithless journey. So I asked him to stop. He asked me if I don’t want to take the injection, I should go for exercise and I started praying.

Eventually God healed me.

As at that point, living in the UK, I have an insurance on my car and when things like that happened it’s not your fault, definitely you have to report to the insurance company and then based on the insurance standard you have to make a claim.

So I spoke to the insurance lawyer and they actually made a claim, and put the claim in. As at that time, I had to resign from my IT job and started receiving treatment, but unfortunately for me the doctor that attended to me forgot to put it on his record that he was treating me as a result of the accident.

So in 2017, the insurance company requested for my medical details and then I gave them the permission to go to the NHS so that they can obtain the details as I have nothing to hide.

However, by the time they pulled out my records, that was when I realised that the doctor forgot to put in his narration that he was

treating me because of the accident and even sent me for physiotherapy.

So knowing insurance company so well, as they are also looking for faults, in order not to pay, they picked that up and thought I was making a false claim. As it looked like they were treating me for the muscle injury I had when I returned from Nigeria in previous month and that escalated into something else.

And when they realised that I am a pastor, they starting blowing things out of proportion.

Knowing my reputation was being brought into the picture, I had to tell them to stop the claims.

So the insurance company stopped the claim, but even though they have stopped the claims, they will not let me be. I stopped the claims without collecting a dime from them, and they will not let me be.

They took me to Magistrate court in Newton UK, and the case was dismissed about three times, still, they will not let me be. At some point, they took me again to the High Court in London that was in 2019, and they were claiming the sum of 31,000 pounds from me; and this was a case I did not collect a dime from them.

It was a whole lot of struggle because it looks like they wanted to spoil my image.

And as a pastor over there, people just don’t want to know the truth, the moment they paint a pastor as fraudulent, they take it for it. They wanted to put me in jail but weren’t able to, because the judge looking at the case, actually told me that he has seen my records and saw I was a community leader, and have never had any problem.

But at some point, my lawyer had to agree with them, when they promised to remove the case from the court, but deceived us to plead guilty in return. But unfortunately, it was a trick; it was after my lawyer made me to sign guilty, that they now proceeded.

How has life been afterwards?

Well, after then, nothing has changed about me. I have put that all behind me and I am still in the ministry doing well.

A lot has been said about the COVID-19 pandemic, especially by popular men of God, what would you have to say about it?

If you look at the world, people have shifted from the way of God. People have shifted their attention away from God. God is not happy with us. I believed that what is happening, God want to show us that he’s still God. Remember what happened to the Egyptians that God was sending some form of plagues to destroy them when they did not want the Israelites to leave the Egypt.

This is just a sign that God of the old is still the God of present, so He can still do something about that. God just wanted us to know that He’s still in control that if He wants to wipe off this whole world, it won’t cost Him anything. But when I prayed, I realised that this pandemic will go very soon.

It is going to go very soon, it’s just to shake the world to know that He’s not respecting everybody; ministers, celebrities all of them they are being tested positive. He is not a respecter of anybody, Who is Pastor Stephen outside church?

Well, I am a loving husband and a good father. The number one ministry is my family.

I love them, I love my wife. I am a family man. I love my family so much. When I am not in church, I am a loving caring father to my children and husband to my wife.

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PERSPECTIVE

Brutalised Enugu Maid and Ugwuanyi’s Ceaseless Philanthropies Samson Ezea

I

t was renowned poet and Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, who said that the man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny.

Yes many men and women have died. Others are still dying in the face of tranny. Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, a father figure to all, has always lived up to the expectations in the face of tranny or challenges, without minding whose ox is gored.

He has demonstrated, preached, lived and upheld it over the years, even before his foray into partisan politics. With his entry into politics and rise in positions, he expanded it. He became more famous and synonymous with philanthropy, magnanimity and welfarism, which some mischief makers often misconstrue as profligacy or wastage.

Ugwuanyi’s swift and prompt response to the ordeal of the Enugu brutalised maid, Miss Nneoma Nnadi in the hand of her foster parent is nothing, but typical of him.

A continuation of his ceaseless caring and philanthropies towards the needy and downtrodden at every critical time.

Providing succour and lifeline to the brutalised and traumatised little girl, Ugwuanyi, has not only approved the award of scholarship up to university level to her, but has also directed the state scholarship board to implement the approval with immediate effect. This is reassuring and pragmatic.

In addition to the earlier directive to the State Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development to provide and fully pay for the best available medical care for the child, Ugwuanyi has further directed the immediate release of financial support to the family of the child for their upkeep”.

He has equally directed the State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Miletus Eze to liaise with the Nigeria Police and ensure that the suspects are brought to justice timely.

With these, there is no doubt that better future has been secured for Nneoma, while justice will be done on her matter, especially with the parading and charging of the culprits, Mr and Mrs Ifeanyi Jude Ozougwu to court and remanding them in correctional centre at Nsukka for further directive from the Attorney-General. This has made it a State matter and relieved Nneoma’s parent the burden of hiring lawyer, paying legal fees and others.

For those who were surprised by Ugwuanyi’s passion and concern for Nneoma’s ordeal, that has been his nature and style of governance. He hates injustice and suffering, thus he made social justice one of his administration’s key agenda since 2015.

It would be recalled that in December last year, there were two fire incidents at Ugboezeji, Abakpa-Nike and Filling Station in Trans Ekulu, where many people were affected.

Upon receiving the news of the inferno at Ugboezeji, a suburb in Abakpa Nike, Ugwuanyi quickly dispatched government delegation led by the Speaker, House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edwin Ubosi to sympathise with the victims, which include three widows and two other tenants. Consequently, Governor Ugwuanyi in his usual philanthropic disposition gave the five tenants of the burnt building N500,000 each and the landlord received N1 million. The victims, who could not hide their joy visited the Government House on a Thank-you visit to the governor.

Speaking during the visit, the daughter of the late landlord of the burnt property, Priscillia Aniekwe, thanked the governor for rescuing them with the cash donations.

One of the victims, a widow, Mrs Nneka Onyekwelu said: “we are happy for what our God fearing governor has done for us. Let

Enugu State Commissioner for Women and Gender Affairs, Princess Peace Nnaji, during her visit to the brutalised minor, Miss Nneoma Nnadi at the ESUT Hospital, Parklane, Enugu

is always there for his people”.

Also not left out are three victims, who lost their two tricycles and bus in another fire incident at a filling station in Trans Ekulu, which was caused by the spark of light by the nozzle of a truck that was discharging gas at the station. The governor had during his visit to the scene of the inferno assured the victims that he would replace their burnt tricycles and bus. Some days later, the victims were invited to Government House, Enugu, where they were handed over two brand new tricycles and one bus by the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, Mrs Nkechi Eneh on behalf of the governor. Expressing his joy, one of the victims, John Obalezi said: ”We are here because the governor visited when our bus and tricycles got burnt at the filling station and asked us not to cry again that he will wipe our tears. We are here because he invited us today and gave a brand new bus and two tricycles as he promised.”

Similarly, the bus driver, Sunday Ugwu said: I am very happy. Today is the happiest day of my life. I did know that I will get my burnt bus replaced .”

“Of utmost importance in Governor Ugwuanyi’s immediate and kind gestures to the poor victims of the inferno who were almost hopeless is that he has saved souls.

The governor has given hope to the hopeless and turned their Yuletide and New Year celebrations from bleak to bright.

“It is only a handy and accessible governor like Ugwuanyi that can promptly visit the scene of the incidents, identify the victims and quickly assist them. In most cases, it is either things or funds meant to assist such victims got diverted or held up in bureaucratic bottlenecks, all in a bid to frustrate the beneficiaries. That was not the case with the victims of Enugu Xmas fire incidents.”

This humanitarian approach, selfless services and swift responses to helpless victims of natural disaster and others in Enugu is Ugwuanyi’s routine and tradition since he assumed office as governor.

The brutalised little girl, Miss Nneoma Nnadi’s own is just one of such Ugwuanyi’s countless timely interventions and assistance to the needy in a trying times. It is not new.

It is not political. It is innate in him.

Brutalised and traumatised Miss Nneoma Nnadi

Almighty God bless him. We had lost hope, when everything we had got burnt and our

governor came to our rescue immediately.

What a caring and people’s governor that

t&[FB XSPUF GSPN *OEFQFOEFODF -BZPVU &OVHV

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŽËœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

CEOs Harp on Adoption of Technology for Risk Mgt Hamid Ayodeji Some chief executive officers (CEOs) have stressed the need for firms to adopt digital tools in measuring and monitoring risks in their organisations.

They gave the advice recently, during the third edition of the third session of the Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Economic and Business webinar, titled: “Risk Management and Diversification in a VUCA Environment.�

The CEO, FMDQ Group, Mr. Bola Onadele, emphasised the need for the adoption of technology via the adoption of digital tools to measure and monitor risk, complemented by competent

risk management teams tasked with managing and reporting the risks.

He advised that corporates and institutions putting together a risk strategy should always start at a macro level and then drill downwards using the investors’ philosophy, corporate architecture, leadership framework and business strategy as the guiding principles.

On his part, the CEO, RMB Nigeria and West Africa, Mr. Michael Larbie, said: “We believe Nigerian businesses can become resilient and sustainable by adopting strategies to adapt to and manage risk.�

The session focused on how

Nigerian businesses can respond, proactively prepare for and thrive in a volatile, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) environment.

In her contribution, the CEO, Emerging Africa Capital Group, Toyin Sanni, listed some attractive alternative investments such as commercial and corporate bonds by investment grade issuers, as well as sub national bonds as options for investors.

According to her, to propel economic growth in the country, medium to long-term solutions are needed, which include reducing the dependence on foreign products and the dependence on oil.

UBA Introduces New Naira Credit Card The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has introduced a new Naira Credit Card for its customers.

The bank explained in a statement that with the new naira credit card, customers whose salary accounts have been domiciled with the bank for a minimum of three months and are employees of corporates under UBA’s approved counterparty list with minimum net monthly income of N250,000 are in for a stress-free business and personal lifestyle.

They would be qualified to access up to N3 million credit, with extremely flexible repayment plans of as low as 10 per cent of their monthly outstanding due.

According to the bank, customers aged between 18 and 57years, who apply for the UBA credit card would also enjoy easy access to funds with a revolving line of credit and up to 45 days interest free credit, flexible repayment options; discounts at select merchant locations including restaurants, boutiques, among other mouth-watering benefits.

The UBA credit card also allow

ATM withdrawals in Nigeria or abroad wherever the Visa logo is displayed while allowing ease of payment of goods and services locally and Internationally on PoS/WEB terminals where the Visa logo is displayed.

UBA’s Group Head, Digital Banking, Sampson Aneke, said as a bank that is interested in the welfare of Nigerians, “UBA is always on the forefront of developing products and services aimed at creating wealth, easing living conditions and meeting the needs of its customers all over the world.�

He added: “At UBA, we recognise that access to credit is fundamental to the creation of wealth and value in the economy.

Unfortunately, the country has been challenged in this regard with only about two per cent of the population presently having access to bank loans. “It is in addressing these developmental and household challenges that the bank has in recent times developed and introduced a number of unique lending products to the market, with the latest being the innova-

tive UBA credit card.�

Aneke who spoke about all the benefits that the banks’ customers would enjoy from the credit card explained that the UBA Credit card is currently available as Visa Gold card with a card limit of between N75,000 to N1,000,000 and Visa Platinum card with a limit of between N1,000,001 to N3,000,000 and can be used locally and internationally at any ATM or POS outlet which has the Visa logo, WEB (online), and POS terminals. “There is an interest free period of 45 days on POS/Web transactions provided 100 per cent repayment is made on the repayment due date and customers are entitled to 30 per cent (annualised) of their monthly salary as credit card limit subject to the existing Debt Service Ratio (DSR). “The monthly repayment cycle will run from the 15th of every month to the 15th of the next month and the credit card statement showing transactions details within the period and the amount due for repayment will be sent to the cardholders’ registered email address,� Aneke said.

Access Moves to Acquire Zambian Bank Access Bank Plc has notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) of plan by its Zambian subsidiary to acquire Cavmont Bank Limited, a subsidiary of Capmont Capital.

In a notice published on the NSE website that was signed by signed by the Company Secretary, Access Bank, Sunday Ekwochi, the bank stated: “There can be no certainty that a transaction will be agreed, nor as to the terms of any

such agreement. The completion of a transaction would be subject to formal regulatory approvals. “Access Bank will update the market as appropriate and in accordance with its’ disclosure obligations. Accordingly, shareholders are advised to exercise caution when dealing in Access Bank’s securities until a full announcement is made.�

Access Bank currently has six subsidiaries across Africa,

namely DR Congo; Gambia; Ghana; Rwanda; Sierra Leone; and Zambia, including the UK. Access Bank recently acquired the Transnational Bank Limited of Kenya. The deal which took place last year, came exactly seven months after the bank had successfully consummated a business combination deal with the defunct Diamond Bank would see the bank expand its footprint in Africa.

UAC Restaurants Support COVID-19 Fight Mr. Bigg’s alongside UAC Restaurants Pizza brand, Debonairs Pizza, recently supported frontline health workers and traders within the Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos.

The move was to mark the first combo store anniversary situated in Northwest filling station near Victoria Garden City, Lekki Lagos.

The Ikota Primary Health Care Centre, Lekki and Orisunmi Baare Olumegbon Market, Ajah were two public places visited by Mr Bigg’s and Debonairs Pizza team to donate products and facemasks.

The first combo store was commissioned on July 9, 2019, followed by the second combo store at Amuwo Odofin’s on September 30, 2019.

UAC Restaurants’ Mr. Bigg’s

and Debonairs Pizza also donated Mr. Bigg’s meals, Debonairs Pizza’s Snackie and facemasks to staff and patients of the Ikota Primary Health Care Centre, Lekki.

In the same vein, Branded facemasks alongside pastry products were distributed to traders and shoppers at the Orisunmi Baare Olumegbon Market, Ajah to celebrate the first anniversary of the combo store located within Northwest filling station by VGC in Lekki.

While thanking the health care centre management and the market leaders for welcoming the brands, the UAC Restaurants’ marketing services manager, Mrs. Eustesia Ogunsusi said the brand

was excited to identify with the market operators. “We have recognised the critical role you have played during this uncertain time and we are not unaware of the risk you face in protecting others, hence we have come here today to say ‘thank you,� she said.

Speaking to the market leaders and shoppers at the Orisunmi Baare Olumegbon Market Ajah, Mrs. Ogunsusi reiterated the importance of wearing facemask and urged the traders and shoppers to adhere strictly to the government protocol by wearing facemask at the public space as well as maintaining social and physical distancing.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

SEPTEMBER 2019 Money Supply (M3)

35,029,779.72

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

7,374,356.91

Money Supply (M2)

27,655,422.82

-- Quasi Money

116,533,891.21

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,121,531.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,625,047.69

---- Demand Deposits

9,496,483.91

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

13,911,335.83

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

21,118,443.89

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

35,918,179.45

---- Credit to Government (Net)

10,452,199.38

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

11,007,422.79

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

25,465,980.07

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-14,799,735.56

--Other Assets Net

7,000,253.07

Reserve Money (Base Money

2,005,600.83

--Currency in Circulation

4,677,530.81

--Banks Reserves

317,121.43

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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

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OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT WEDNESDAY, 8 ULY 2020

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $43.44 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $43.15 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

29

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͮ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

MARKET NEWS

Afrinvest Bullish on MTN, Airtel Africa Shares Goddy Egene Analysts at Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited have made case for investing in the shares of MTN Nigeria Plc and Airtel Africa Plc, saying their current prices are undervalued. In report obtained

by THISDAY, Afrinvest said the telecommunications sector in Nigeria remains the fastest growing, the most resilient and the largest contributor to the economy’s growth.

They noted that despite this, the sector is not at its full capacity yet, given weak broadband penetration at 37.8 per cent and the huge prospects for mobile money under the right regulatory framework. They noted that these opportunities drive their optimistic outlook for the sector despite weak macroeconomic conditions.

According to the analysts, the major pressure point for the

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

industry has been regulation, with NCC’s heavy regulatory fines and policies to ensure fair competition restraining the growth of some major players. “ Similarly, regulation has restricted the expansion into other business lines with strong prospects such as financial services, unlike in markets like Kenya and South Africa.

We believe the speed and flexibility of regulation would shape the trajectory of growth

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

and investment in the sector,” they said.

They noted MTNN and Airtel Africa Plc have market share of subscribers at 37.3 per cent and 27.2 per cent respectively.

The two companies have also continued to invest in telecommunications infrastructure to boost capacity and deliver superior services to customers, with annual capital expenditure of about N617.4 billion and N580.7 billion respectively over

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

the past three years.

“With regulators loosening previously rigid rules and providing to telcos an even better opportunity to deliver financial services, we see another pathway for strong growth reminiscent of historical levels in the medium-term. The immediate worry is the unprecedented economic crunch brought by the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, which could affect 2020 earnings. However,

O F

the industry is expected to remain resilient as the digital economy has boomed during the lockdown implemented to fight the pandemic,” Afrinvest said.

It said that in its analysis shows that that MTNN (10.6x) and Airtel Africa (4.0x) are undervalued with an average P/E multiple of 7.3x compared with BRICS markets such as Brazil (11.6x), Russia (13.3x), India (13.4x), China (48.5x) and South Africa (12.5x).

0 8 / 0 7 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

30

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

FMDQ Exchange Admits Axxela Funding 1 Plc’s N11.5bn Bond Goddy Egene FMDQ Holdings Plc, through its subsidiary, FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited has admitted for listing on its

platform, the Axxela Funding 1 Plc N11.50billion Series 1 Bond under its N50 billion Bond Programme. Axxela Funding 1 Plc is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) incorporated by Axxela

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

Limited to raise funds through the issuance of debt securities in the domestic capital market.

Axxela Limited, owned by Helios Investment Partners, is a natural gas shipping

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 08Jul-2020, unless otherwise stated.

company on the West African Gas Pipeline, providing unique energy solutions with presence in Nigeria and gas export operations inneighbouring West African countries.

FMDQ explained that the admittance of the Axxela bond is testament to the opportunities which the debt capital market avails to corporates in diverse

business areas and further, to the potential of the market to support stakeholders effectively even as they carry on their activities in the face of the pandemic.

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 117.69 118.77 -7.78% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 2.90% Nigeria International Debt Fund 336.06 336.06 14.23% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.92 0.92 1.68% ACAP Income Funds 0.78 0.78 9.60% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.41% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.86 2.92 16.04% 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 5.84% Anchoria Equity Fund 96.02 96.34 -6.15% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.30 1.30 12.31% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 14.12 14.55 -7.81% ARM Discovery Fund 334.58 344.67 -3.14% ARM Ethical Fund 30.05 30.95 3.32% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.91% 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 92.54 93.19 -3.68% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.06% 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 2.16 2.16 24.70% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 1.80 1.82 -5.17% 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 N/A N/A N/A Paramount Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Women's Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 5.10% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 98.41 98.64 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 100.58 100.82 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 101.33 101.33 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.75% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.91 0.92 -1.94% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.54 1.54 16.15% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,362.79 1,364.09 11.83% FBN Balanced Fund 148.07 149.10 0.85% FBN Money Market Fund 106.88 106.90 6.88% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 100.00 100.00 4.83% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 117.58 118.12 1.31% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 113.81 115.00 -12.54% 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 4.35% Legacy Debt Fund 3.78 3.78 3.51% Legacy Equity Fund 1.09 1.11 -4.12% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.11 1.11 2.66% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,078.27 3,110.09 1.20% Coral Income Fund 3,184.15 3,184.15 3.53% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 4.42% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.60% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.24 2.28 2.24% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 8.89% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 147.19 147.75 2.63% 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 1.22 1.24 4.53% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,138.14 1,138.14 5.52% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.39 1.41 13.62% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.98 12.03 6.26% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.56% PACAM Equity Fund 1.03 1.04 PACAM EuroBond Fund 106.98 109.34 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 108.00 111.49 1.32% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 5.14% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 -0.08% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.15% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -0.57% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 0.18% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 -1.10% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.19% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -1.14% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 0.11% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.18 118.18 0.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.13 1.15 -5.87% United Capital Bond Fund 1.83 1.83 5.58% United Capital Equity Fund 0.64 0.65 -9.57% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.37% United Capital Eurobond Fund 115.79 115.79 3.53% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.06 1.07 -2.54% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 10.08 10.20 -1.94% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.69 11.77 0.45% Zenith Income Fund 24.37 24.37 9.47% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.36%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

116.13 53.10

3.64% 2.02%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.86 84.10 65.80

8.96 85.92 66.97

1.77% -1.02% -0.32%

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

2.81 4.10 11.11 1.00 10.84 197.68

2.85 4.18 11.21 1.00 11.04 199.68

-20.61% -30.40% -8.22% 5.28% 4.30% 4.53%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.29

16.90%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2020 • T H I S D AY

31

˾ FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020

32

WORLD OF ISLAM

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

The Genesis of Knowing ‘Him’ By: Tbd-Sayyed Mohamed Muhsin/IslamiCity It has been a few months since we started accommodating quite a few habits as new normal in our routines. Can we consider this gravest situation as an intensive course designed by the Almighty for disciplining our souls? Are there any silver linings in the dark clouds as tribulations are believed to be one of the reasons of human existence on earth? The Quran sheds light on this aspect; “We shall certainly put you to the test in order to appraise your state and to see who among you are struggling strenuously and enduring patiently” (al-Quran, 47: 31).

Let’s reflect on what God wants us to acquire from this dreadful global crisis in many decades.

Though novel pandemic poses severe disorder to the world, it can also be reasonably perceived that pre-pandemic world order was also in grave disorder and affected with infectious ethical viruses if we look from the perspective that human beings treated each other with unpardonable injustice, they endangered lives of several species and posed severe threats to ecosystem. If so, did we move our world from that of God who is compassionate (Rahim) and kind (Latif) to that of the Avenger (Muntaqim) and Dominator (Qahhar)?

Two wings of a believer are made of hope (raja’) and fear (khawf) and the harmony between them leads to a possibly beautiful balance in life.

Somehow it could be enlightened as “hope for the best and prepare for the worst.” 2020 batch of humankind literally are experiencing the inevitability of this equilibrium. In the spiraling fear of a deadly pandemic, we hoped for safe survival on the grounds of Allah’s will and our precaution. Once again, we are assured that the only predictable thing about this world is that it is entirely unpredictable. Prophet’s advice is “Be in this world as though a stranger or traveler” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6416).

Allahu Akbar (Allah is the greatest) is a frequent phrase used by Muslims in various contexts. Even in the face of calamity, Muslims are asked to say, “We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return” (al-Quran, 2: 156). It simultaneously accentuates the inimitable sovereignty of Allah and the inherent vulnerability of human beings. The Quran says, “Allah wishes to lighten your burdens because humans have been created weak by nature” (al-Quran, 4: 28). Here, a virus that is too tiny to see caused the whole world to shut down and wreaked havoc on many aspects of life across the globe, the fact that evidently beams light on the limited human capacity and necessity of Super Power to rely on. Undoubtedly, the power of the

so-called ‘super-powers’ of the modern world is loudly questioned this time than ever before.

From a general perspective, the whole world participated in fasting in 2020 as they were purposefully refraining from several harmful things and were extra-cautious in their choices and preferences. Absent-minded people’s risk was not trivial. Lockdown seemed like a gift, as doors of several distractions and worldly pleasures were closed and a believer enjoyed peaceful detachment, clear-heartedness, and days of solitary retreat. Our houses were brought to life by prayer, recitation, and online classes. Self-isolation helps us avoid infecting others with our poor character, and then it does the same for us from others.

Our prayers are seed and their fruits are to be sprouted in our lives. For example, harvest of fasting is God’s consciousness (taqwah) which is a profound closeness to God and awareness about His uninterrupted surveillance. “O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was for those before you, so perhaps you will become God’s conscious” (al-Quran, 2: 183). We can’t get the exact result of our fasting in this world; nonetheless, signs of result can be estimated by the degree of taqwah in post-Ramadan days. Thus, we can gauge if we have benefited from fasting more than just thirst and hunger.

Luqman educated his son on some outcomes of prayer which should be reflected if prayer is performed properly. “O my dear son! Establish prayer, encourage what is good and forbid what is evil, and endure patiently whatever befalls you.

Surely this is a resolve to aspire to” (al-Quran, 31: 17). This verse revolves around three dimensions of a believer’s life which are prayer, care for others, and patience. If prayer buds its fruit in the form of care for others via advice, it is expected to hit by obstacles that must be fought against by patience.

Amid fast and unrest life, we got a pause to take a breath and to make sure everything is alright, and we are on the right track. In the road of life, it may propel many to relearn the faith and to double-check signboards to avoid speeding through the wrong route. We are in a voyage, seeking Him, the Supreme Answerer (al-Mujib), navigating our faith and action.

Yes, our ship is worship to sail on. Definitely work is worship if it is in seeking Him. Allah says, “Call upon Me, I will respond to you” (al-Quran, 40: 60). Any mindful effort for seeking ‘Him’ is the genesis of knowing ‘Him,’ which is guaranteed of positive result because the reflection is from ‘Him’ who never breaks any promises. Allah says, “If you come to me walking, I will come to you running” (Sahih Muslim 2687).

It is Not the First Time Hajj Has Been Disrupted By: Ken Chitwood/IslamiCity Hajj cancellation due to coronavirus is not the first time plague has disrupted the Muslim pilgrimage Saudi Arabia has effectively canceled the hajj for most of the world’s Muslims, saying the obligatory pilgrimage to Mecca will be “very limited” this year due to the coronavirus. Only pilgrims residing in Saudi Arabia may attend the event, which begins in late July.

Earlier this year, Saudi authorities had indicated that this decision might be coming and had also halted travel to holy sites as part of the umrah, the “lesser pilgrimage” that takes place throughout the year.

A dramatically scaled down hajj will be a massive economic hit for the country and many businesses globally, such as the hajj travel industry. Millions of Muslims visit the Saudi kingdom each year, and the pilgrimage has not been canceled since the founding of the Saudi Kingdom in 1932.

But as a scholar of global Islam, I have encountered many instances in the more than 1,400-year history of the pilgrimage when its planning had to be altered due to armed conflicts, disease or just plain politics.

Here are just a few.

Armed conflicts One of the earliest significant interruptions of the hajj took place in A.D. 930, when a sect of Ismailis, a minority Shiite community, known as the Qarmatians raided Mecca because they believed the hajj to be a pagan ritual.

Hajj was suspended until the Abbasids, a dynasty that ruled over a vast empire stretching across North Africa, the Middle East to modern-day India from A.D. 750-1258, paid a ransom for its return over 20 years later.

Political disputes Political disagreements and conflict have often meant that pilgrims from certain places were kept from performing hajj because of lack of protection along overland routes into the Hijaz, the region in the west of Saudi Arabia where both Mecca and Medina are located.

In A.D. 983, the rulers of Baghdad and Egypt were at war. The Fatimid rulers of Egypt claimed to be the true leaders of Islam and opposed the rule of the Abbasid dynasty in Iraq and Syria. Their political

tug-of-war kept various pilgrims from Mecca and Medina for eight years, until A.D. 991.

Then, during the fall of the Fatimids in A.D. 1168, Egyptians could not enter the Hijaz. It is also said that no one from Baghdad performed hajj for years after the city fell to Mongol invasion in A.D. 1258.

Many years later, Napoleon’s military incursions aimed at checking British colonial influence in the region prevented many pilgrims from hajj between A.D. 1798 and 1801.

Diseases and hajj Much like the present, diseases and other natural calamities have also come in the way of the pilgrimage.

There are reports that the first time an epidemic of any kind caused hajj to be canceled was an outbreak of plague in A.D. 967. And drought and famine caused the Fatimid ruler to cancel overland hajj routes in A.D. 1048.

Cholera outbreaks in multiple years throughout the 19th century claimed thousands of pilgrims’ lives during the hajj. One cholera outbreak in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in 1858 forced thousands of Egyptians to flee to Egypt’s Red Sea border, where they were quarantined before being allowed back in.

Indeed, for much of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, cholera remained a “perennial threat” and caused frequent disruption to the annual hajj.

Recent years In more recent years, too, the pilgrimage has been disrupted for many similar reasons.

In 2012 and 2013 Saudi authorities encouraged the ill and the elderly not to undertake the pilgrimage amid concerns over Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS. Contemporary geopolitics and human rights issues have also played a role in who was able to perform the pilgrimage.

While the decision to cancel the hajj will surely disappoint Muslims looking to perform the pilgrimage, many among them have been sharing online a relevant hadith – a tradition reporting the sayings and practice of the prophet Muhammad – that provides guidance about traveling during a time of an epidemic: “If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place.”

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Edo APC Ward Chairman Expresses No Regrets over Oshiomhole’s Suspension Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward 10 of Etsako West Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo

State, Mr. Stephen Oshawo, whose chapter suspended the former National Chairman of the party, Mr. Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, which eventually led to his removal from office,

Nigerians Detained in Lebanon to Return This Week Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has disclosed that Nigerians who are held captive in Lebanon and prevented from leaving the country would return to Nigeria within this week.

Among those held captive in Lebanon is Ms. Temitope Ariwolo, a 31-year-old female Nigerian, who was abused by her employers in Lebanon.

This was disclosed yesterday by the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Tolulope Sadipe, while addressing journalists at the end of a closed door meeting with the Lebanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Houssam Diab, at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

Sadipe restated that the

Lebanese and the Nigerian community would always stand together to ensure that justice and respect for human lives are prioritised while the two countries would work together to bring modern day slavery to an end.

She also said that the House would use the opportunity to verify the allegation that a Lebanese is held in Ilorin on charges of human trafficking.

She said: ‘’You will be invited on the day Temitope arrive and you will see that this is not eye service and not just Temitope, that flight is bringing in ladies who want to come home and we will continue to bring home those who want to come home.

The Lebanese government is promising us now that it will ensure our girls work in very humane circumstances.’

FIRS Stamp: NIPOST Workers Issue Three-week Strike Ultimatum Onyebuchi Ezigbo inAbuja Workers of Nigerian Post and Telecommunications (NIPOST) have given the federal government a 21-day ultimatum within which to address their grievances or face industrial action.

The workers are protesting against the printing of stamps by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), describing it as usurpation of their duties.

The workers under the aegis of Senior Staff of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) said the federal government should facilitate an urgent meeting of stakeholders in order to arrive at an amicable resolution of the issues.

Addressing a press conference

in Abuja yesterday, the General Secretary of SSASCGOC, Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi, said many Nigerians have stopped purchasing adhesive stamps from NIPOST. He threatened that SSASCGOC may report Nigeria to the International Postal Union “as we can no longer tolerate lip service at the expense of good governance which is the bedrock of development.”

Olorunfemi said: “To this end, we are calling on the federal government to facilitate an urgent meeting among NIPOST, FIRS, SSASCGOC and other stakeholders in order to arrive at an amicable resolution. Failure to do this within 21 days from July 9, 2020, we shall have no other option than to direct all our members in NIPOST to withdraw their services.

400 Health Workers Test Positive for COVID-19, Says JOHESU Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja More than 400 health workers on the frontline of the battle against COVID-19 have tested positive for the virus, the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has said.

National Chairman of JOHESU, Mr. Josiah Biobelemoye disclosed this yesterday during the distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to its state councils in Abuja.

Biobelemoye noted that despite the increase in infections, health workers would not relent in protecting Nigerians.

He noted the situation

on ground called for drastic solutions, hence the decision of the union to take it upon itself to distribute PPEs to its members.

“Since the outbreak of COVID- 19, over 400 members of JOHESU have been infected by coronavirus, we also need to support our own members who are working and sacrificing their lives for the generality of Nigerians, “Biobelemoye stated.

Among PPE to be distributed across 38 state councils of the union include, 50,000 pieces of face masks, 15,200 pieces of sanitisers, 2,000 pieces of disinfectants and 1,200 pieces of hand wash.

yesterday, said he has no regrets over his actions.

Oshawo stated this in Benin City, while receiving an award of honour for good governance as an outstanding political icon of the year, given to him by the Chief Executive Officer of Mega House Entertainment, Goodluck Osama Ogbeide.

He said: “The truth is that, when the former government (Oshiomhole) was in power as the governor of the state, I was insider. I was the chairman in ward 10. I suffered many things and nobody knew me or recognised me.

“As a chairman of the governor’s ward as he was then, I couldn’t receive my

gratuity as a pensioner. I was not able to get my pension for eight months but when Godwin Obaseki came in, it didn’t take him up to a month, he paid my gratuity and not only me but all the pensioners in Edo State.

“There is nobody he is owes and if you are retiring today, next month you are receiving your pension. So, I have much to say which makes me to believe in him”, he said.

Oshawo who denied facing any threat from his home, noted “I just came back from home yesterday because of this award. I have been at home for more than a week now. When comrade Goodluck called me yesterday to say this was going

to happen in Benin, that is why I came and if not, I would have been at home by now. Nobody drove me from my home. I stayed in my home, I worked in my home.”

He added that suspending the national chairman of the party in his ward has made him more popular.

“I believe in God and I don’t know if anybody is threatening me but the pressure is political.

“I don’t have any personal pressure from any quarters but I don’t know my enemies and I don’t know if somebody is planning. You know when David killed Goliath, people were singing that David killed 10,000 while Saul killed 1,000.

“People were not happy.

So, if people are praising me like this man has done, I know other people will not be happy because it made it to become the David and that they are singing that I killed thousands of people because I eliminated godfatherism.

“So, those who are under that level will not be happy with me while those who know that I have come out to liberate them, they will be happy with me and praise me.

“So, I am very happy for what is going on. There is no pressure from any quarters at all, neither is there any threat from any quarters,” he explained.

DEEPENING INTERNET PENETRATION......

L-R: Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Kashifu Abdullahi Inuwa; Managing Director, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Dr. Abimbola Alale; Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami; Chairman, National Broadband Plan Implementation Steering Committee, Mr. Ubale Maska; and Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Muhammad Abubakar; during the Inauguration of the Implementation Steering Committee of the National Broadband Plan (2020-2025), in Abuja... .yesterday

Shareholders Endorse Merger of Dangote, Savannah Sugar In a bid to enhance production capacity and further increase its market share, shareholders of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc (DSR) have given the nod for the formal takeover of Savannah Sugar Company Limited (SSCL).

Shareholders of DSR during their Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), which was preceded by the 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM), voted in favour of merger of the two companies as the sub-sahara Africa’s largest sugar refining firm embarked on the next stage of its backward integration plan to revolutionise the sugar sub-sector

of the nation’s economy.

Chairman of the company and Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote said the DSR, a top tier player in the industry with installed capacity to produce 1.44 million metric tonnes per annum, would be leveraging on the savannah sugar’s sugarcane production capacity to enhance its production capacity.

According to him, Savannah Sugar has 32,000 hectares of land available for cultivation of sugar cane as well as milling capacity of 50,000 tonnes of sugar per annum, adding that with the merger, further investments would be

made to increase SSCL land under cultivation.

Dangote explained that the DSR board considered the merger as fair and reasonable and believed that it would provide strategic opportunities and benefits for the company, employees and other stakeholders as the new company would be operating from the position of increased access to capital and then higher profitability.

He listed some of the benefits of the merger as consolidation of the assets, intellectual property rights, operations, and business dealings of the SSCL into the

DSR; eliminating cost inefficiencies arising from duplication of resources and processes and improving efficiency through more focused management of resources and positioning it as the biggest integrated sugar producer in Nigeria.

He explained that necessary approvals have been given by all concerned regulatory authorities and that the merger would positively alter the sugar sectorial landscape as the federal government’s backward integration policy would be better implemented by the company.

APC Adopts Indirect Primary for Ondo Gubernatorial Poll James Sowole in Akure The Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday confirmed that indirect mode of primary would be adopted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the July 20 governorship primary in Ondo State.

The commission also

confirmed that indirect primary would be used by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the state governorship election.

PDP will hold its primary on July 22 while APC would hold its primary on July 22, 2020, as INEC has fixed between July 2 and July 27 for political parties to pick candidates for the October 10, 2020, governorship

polls in Ondo State.

The mode of the primaries to be adopted by the APC had generated a lot of controversies as majority of the 12 aspirants preferred direct primary while the incumbent state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, said he would be ready for any mode of primaries either direct or indirect.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Rufus Akeju, told journalists in his office in Akure during an interview that the indirect mode of primary was communicated to INEC through a letter from the APC national secretariat.

Akeju noted that all the 17 political parties would adopt indirect primary system.

COVID-19: UK to Resume Visa Applications in Nigeria The British High Commission in Nigeria has said it will soon begin to receive visa applications from Nigerians willing to travel to the United Kingdom.

The commission noted that Nigerians hoping to visit the UK could do so once international flights resume in Nigeria.

The federal government had

in March shut the country’s airspace to domestic and international flights as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, domestic flights resumed on Wednesday.

In a statement issued yesterday, the British High Commission in Abuja said visa application centres, which were initially suspended due

to the pandemic would reopen “when it is safe to do”.

The statement read, “We know there are many Nigerian nationals hoping to travel to the UK when flights resume, both for employment and to see family members.

“UKVI are working closely with TSL contact, our commercial partner, to reopen visa application centres

that were suspended due to COVID-19.

“UK visa application centres are reopening in phased manner globally when it is safe to do so and when we can operate an effective service.

“TSL contact are putting appropriate measures in place and working hard to reopen in Nigeria. We will share details of when VACs will reopen soon.”

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Govs Consolidate Efforts to Gradually Open Economy Chuks Okocha in Abuja At the end of their 13th virtual conference, the state governors last Wednesday endorsed the work of Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa-led committee to consolidate measures to gradually open the formal and informal sectors of the economy.

This was one of the high points of their meeting as contained in the communique signed by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

According to the communique, they “endorse the work of the Kaduna State El-Rufai committee and resolved to engage with the Vice President and Chairman of the National Economic Council, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to facilitate states’ representation in the implementation committee of the Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan. Members also advocated for the need to revitalise Nigeria’s Mortgage Bank to support the government’s ambitious housing programme, as well as the importance of the N2 trillion Nigeria Infrastructure

Investment Fund to stimulate the economy.” The governors also agreed to collaborate with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and FERMA to ensure the implementation of the 5 percent user charge on the pump price of petrol and the international vehicle transit charge to better fund road projects in Nigeria.

According to the governors, “Although the second corruption survey focused on federal government agencies, members resolved to collaborate with UNODC to strengthen public complaints mechanisms across state MDAs given that state institutions, businesses and households are affected by bribe-seeking among public sector officials.”

The governors agreed to collaborate with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to support the implementation of the National Gas Expansion Programme through a state-wide adoption of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG); easing gas pipeline right of way applications, and encouraging the micro stove assembly for small businesses, including facilitating

PDP Kicks against Jigawa LG Caretaker Committees

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday declared the purported composition and inauguration of ‘unauthorised’ caretaker committees in the 27 local government areas in Jigawa State as illegal, null and void.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP called on all party leaders, members and supporters in the state and the country at large to disregard the purported caretaker committees as they do not have the mandate and approval of the party at any

level.

According to a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, the NWC directed the North-west Zonal Working Committee of the party to immediately take charge and supervise the activities of the Jigawa State caretaker committee.

The NWC assured all members of the party in the state and urged them to remain calm and continue to work with the zonal working committee as it coordinates the activities of the state caretaker committee.

Group Canvasses Retention of APC National Chairmanship in South-south As the All Progressives Congress (APC) gets set for its national convention to elect members of its National Working Committee (NWC), a non- governmental organisation (NGO), Power Arc Media (PAM), has canvassed the retention of the party’s position of the National Chairman in the South-south geopolitical zone.

The Power Arc Media, an advocate of unity for development in the country, is of the view that retaining the chairmanship of the APC in the South-south zone will engender peace, unity and harmony in the party.

The former National Chairman of the party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, and his predecessor, Mr. John Odigie- Oyegun, are both from the South-south zone but insinuation is rife among some influential APC blocs to move the chairmanship position out of the South-south zone.

The Power Arc Media, in a statement by its Director of Operations, Mr. Tedd Avindigh, reasoned that such a move would create disharmony, disaffection and may adversely

affect the already troubled party.

Taking the national chairmanship position out of South-south zone at this time, it argued, would create a sense of loss and would ultimately be counterproductive to the party.

In the spirit of fairness, equity, justice and even development, the group stressed that the position of APC national chairman should remain in the South-south geopolitical zone.

The group said: “It was the wisdom of the stakeholders of the party to zone the office of the national chairman of the party to the entire south and to South-south geopolitical zone in particular after the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to among other things create unity and national cohesion.

“If the agitation by the Southeast geopolitical zone to have a shot at the number one position in 2023 is sustained and the South-west zone already had the vice-presidential slot for eight years, it is only logical that the South-south zone retains the position of the national

training for gas operators.

They stated that given the rise in the community spread of coronavirus cases with mild or no symptom, state governments are encouraged to ramp up testing to curb the spread of the virus especially among those with preexisting conditions and the elderly.

The communique of the

meeting resolved that the World Bank Regional Disease Surveillance Systems Enhancement (REDISSE) programme which is a US$100 million COVID-19 support from the federal government to fund health mitigation measures across states, “came at a critical time as the impact of COVID-19 prolongs, and when state governments prepare for the reopening of

the economy,” adding that it will support broader mitigation measures required to ensure seamless easing of the lockdown across states.

According to the communique, “The new strategy rolled out by the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) will address the spread of the pandemic. And local government areas with high burden of diseases

(hotspot) have been identified and targeted with interventions such as increased testing, and promotion of non-pharmaceutical intervention, including hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, mandatory masking in public and partial or total lockdown. The PTF will reach out and work with the governors of the respective states to implement the strategy.”

BREAKTHROUGH IN PANDEMIC TEST...

L-R: Special Adviser to the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Abduhadi Abdulahi; Acting Director General, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Alex Akpan; Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono; and Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya ENOCK REUBEN Onu, during the press briefing on post validation of RNASWIFT Extraction kit-A in Abuja...yesterday

Metering Gap: Discos Seek Massive CBN-funded Rollout Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Electricity distribution companies (Discos) yesterday called for a massive meter rollout project to be funded by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure customers are adequately served before the full take-off of the proposed Service Reflective

Tariff (SRT) scheduled for the first quarter of next year.

The umbrella body of the Discos, the Association of Electricity Distributors (ANED), in a statement, noted that one of their representatives, the Managing Director of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Mr. Ernest

Mupwaya, made the call when he appeared before the House of Representatives.

Speaking on behalf of the Discos at the House of Representatives’ public hearing on the power sector, he argued that historically, the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) provision in Nigeria’s electricity tariff had

been inadequate to cover the cost of metering customers.

“Over the years, there has been insufficient investment in customer metering due, largely, to inadequate MYTO CAPEX and uneconomic tariff. The approved CAPEX for Discos has never been adequate for comprehensive metering.

Again Niger Workers Reject Salary Cut, Go Spiritual Laleye Dipo In Minna Rising from an emergency meeting held at the Labour House in Minna, Niger State, yesterday, the state workers have again rejected the planned slash in their salaries by the state government, just as the organised labour said it would

organise “special prayer session to seek divine intervention in the matter.”

The state government had last week informed labour that it will slash salaries of civil servants by 30 percent and those of local government workers by 40 percent blaming it’s decision on poor revenue receipt from

the Federation Account.

In a communique issued at the end of the emergency meeting which was made available to journalists yesterday evening, labour said: “It has also rejected any form of renegotiation of salaries as it is not in tandem with any extant laws of the land.

“The session cautioned Niger State Government to shun the temptation to post slashed salaries to the accounts of the state civil servants, else the organised labour in the state will be left with no other option than to mobilise its members to immediately commence an indefinite strike.”

Kaduna Declares State of Emergency on Water, Sanitation John Shiklam in Kaduna The Kaduna State Government has declared a state of emergency in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector to enable it attain the national goal of making Nigeria Open Defecation Free (ODF) by the year 2025.

In a statement issued yesterday, the spokesman to

the state Governor, Nasir, ElRufai, Muyiwa Adekeye, said the emergency would enable the state to build on the success of the Sanitation, Hygiene and Water in Nigeria (SHAWNII) programme.

According to Adekeye, significant progress is being recorded in ridding Kaduna State of open defecation, noting that “Jaba Local Government

Area has been validated by UNICEF as having attained ODF status.’’

“As at May 2020, 2,269 communities in the state have attained UNICEF ODF status.

This was achieved through the implementation of relevant WASH projects and consistent sensitisation of communities.”

It added that steps were being taken to achieve state-wide

ODF status across the 23 local government areas in the state.

Adekeye said further that “the state government places priority on the provision of clean and safe water and promotion of basic hygiene, which, according to him, is central to delivering quality health care and life expectancy which are important human development indices.

Kogi Doctors Urge FG to Address Demands of FMC Workers Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kogi State chapter, has called on the federal government, through its various organs to urgently address the demands of the Joint Action Congress (JAC) of Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Lokoja to save the state health sector from collapsing.

A statement signed by the state Chairman of NMA, Dr. Kabiru Zubair, yesterday in

Lokoja, also enjoined the federal government to intervene and resolve the issues between the Kogi State Government and NCDC to enable mutual peace in the management of COVID-19 in the state.

The JAC FMC Lokoja, comprising all various unions and professional associations, including Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), National Association of

Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) and others, had on July 1, 2020, embarked on industrial action after the hospital was invaded by hoodlums.

The JAC members embarked on the indefinite strike citing threat to their lives among others. ‘’It is now one week since July 1, 2020, when FMC Lokoja was closed down following its invasion by yet-to-be-identified

hoodlums, who breached the hospital security, destroyed property and essential materials, and went away with some.

“NMA is calling on the federal and state government to take decisive steps in bringing the perpetrators of the hospital invasion to justice, ensuring adequate security for the staff of the hospital, and providing NCDC certified testing facility within the centre, while also making available adequate PPEs.

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Senate Faults NDDC’s N3.14bn Relief Funds for Staff, Police Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate has faulted the expenses of N3.14 billion made by the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to provide COVID-19 palliatives to its staff that numbered more than 4,000 workers and the police commands in the nine oil producing states.

This is just as the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC accused the leadership of the National Assembly Joint committee on Niger Delta Affairs of meddling in the financial affairs of the commission.

The commission also declared

that no single kobo was missing in its account since inception of the current IMC on February 19, 2020.

The Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi-led Ad-hoc committee probing the alleged financial recklessness in the NDDC queried why huge amount of money was given to workers of the commission as relief for COVID-19 pandemic.

Adetunbi raised the issue during a public hearing and wondered why N10 million was given to a single staff as COVID-19 relief fund without the person testing positive to the virus.

He said: “From the financial statements and documents

forwarded to this committee from your office as regards expenditure carried out between October 29, 2019 and May 31, 2020, monies expended on COVID-19 pandemic relief are mind boggling.

“N3.14 billion was spent on COVID-19 pandemic as relief funds out of the total expenditure of N81.495 billion

spent by both the IMC that was led by Mrs. Gbene Nunieh as Managing Director between October 29, 2019 and February 18, 2020 and the current IMC that is led by Professor Pondei between February 19, 2020 and May 31, 2020.

“Highly disturbing is the fact that based on the records of payment of such funds, a

whopping N10 million was given to a single staff while two other staffers collected N7 million each.

“Other payments as reliefs against the pandemic are N3 million given to each of 148 other staffers; N1.5 million each to 157 other category of staffers; N1 million each to 497 others and N600,000.00 each to the last

category of 464 other staffers.

“Also included in the COVID-19 pandemic relief, as clearly stated in your submitted financial documents, is N475 million given to the police high command for purchase of face masks and hand sanitisers for men and officers across the nine states in the Niger Delta Region.”

NEC Demands Establishment of Testing Centres in Each State

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

The virtual National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja yesterday demanded the creation of COVID-19 testing centres in each of the 36 states of the federation.

NEC, which comprises the 36 state governors and notable government officials such as economic managers, also hailed the report of the Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC) chaired by Osinbajo, promising to collaborate with the federal government on its implementation.

At a virtual briefing at the end of the meeting, Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, presented highlights of the interim report of the NEC’s Adhoc Committee set up by the council to interface with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

Okowa’s committee, according to the summary of the briefing made available to reporters by Osinbajo’s media aide, Mr. Laolu Akande, last night, recommended “that there should be rapid testing, tracing, isolation and treatment, and the NCDC and PTF should provide each state with laboratory

testing facilities and ensure effective sample collection.”

He also said the committee recommended the need for the Minister of Health, Dr. Osage Ehanire, to “ensure the continuous provision of all essential health services in order to ensure that people do not die from other diseases needlessly.”

The governor also said the committee demanded the provisions of operating guidelines to states to enable them domesticate such guidelines in accordance with norms and traditions of each state particularly on the opening of public places.

“The Presidential Task Force (PTF) should provide the operating guidelines to the States to enable them domesticate same given their peculiarities, norms and traditions, especially in opening of markets, religious places and schools etc.,” he said.

According to the governor, the committee also recommended that the health hazard workers’ allowance proposed by the Federal Ministry of Health should not be imposed on states but should rather be presented to them with guidance that will assist each state in negotiating with its health workers according to its ability.

A PARTY IN CRISIS...

Factional Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Hon. Henry Olatuja (left), and factional Secretary, Dr. Akin Ogunshakin, during a press conference to kick against the planned indirect primary option in upcoming party’s primary election in the state, at the APC headquarters in Abuja ...yesterday ENOCK REUBEN

MAN Commends CBN’s Forex Unification, Seeks Protection Dike Onwuamaeze The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has expressed its support for the recent move by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to unify the official exchange rate and called on the apex bank to put a measure in place to minimise the pain on the manufacturing sector.

The association said that the central bank should consider the “outstanding obligations of manufacturers from the second quarter 2019 till date given at N345 to a dollar prior to unification and allow such to be settled at between N330 and N360 per dollar to enable banks to redeem these obligations to foreign suppliers

of the manufacturers. Otherwise, many manufacturing factories may close and CBN stimulus packages to the manufacturing sector will suffer a huge setback as cash flow crunch becomes the order of the day.”

It said that the unification of the exchange rate came at the right time, particularly now that the economic outlook is

gloomy in light of the impact of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic that has culminated in uninspiring macroeconomic situations.

MAN added that the apex bank should “develop appropriate implementation strategy that will engender a successful transition from the current multiple windows to a single efficient one.

Kwara Gov Reads Riot Act to Bandits Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Kwara State Governor, Mr. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has warned that his administration would not tolerate the activities of suspected killer gangs that have made life unbearable for other residents of the state.

The governor’s warning came on the heels of invasion of some

communities in Baruten Local Government Council Area of the state by some killer gangs that have terrorised innocent residents of the area.

A statement issued in Ilorin yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye, said that the gangs were dislodged by a detachment of the Nigerian

Army.

The statement reads: “While the state government welcomes every Nigerian who wishes to make a decent living in Kwara, there would be zero tolerance for any individual or group of individuals that make life unbearable for others,” adding that the criminal gangs reportedly came from a

neighbouring state and camped in a forest in Baruten.

The statement commended the Nigerian Army for helping to rid the area of the suspected criminals and urged members of the public to be vigilant and always willing to volunteer information in record time in order to continue to keep Kwara safe.

by guests during the burial ceremonial of Abba Kyari in April, confirmed his status yesterday at the Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, where he is currently receiving treatment.

He revealed that he decided to undergo a test to confirm his status after he began to

experience feverish conditions 12 days ago, and when the test came out, it was positive.

Kawu advised Nigerians to come to terms with the reality that COVID-19 is real and can indeed be fatal.

“I want every Nigerians, like I have always told them in the media, to know that

coronavirus is real and anybody can be infected, especially those of us at the frontline. The disease can be fatal, and it is important that everyone follows all the extant guidelines of hand washing or sanitising, maintain social distancing, wearing of facial coverings and staying at home,” he said.

FG Inaugurates Committee on National Broadband FCTA Health Secretary Tests Positive for COVID-19 The federal government has inaugurated the Steering and Implementation Committee for the National Broadband Policy to drive the digital economy policy of the current administration.

It charged the committee members to deliver on the agenda of achieving for Nigeria 70 per cent broadband penetration by the year 2025.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, who inaugurated the committee in his office in Abuja, said work had already started on the National Broadband Plan as the country has attained 40.18 per cent broadband penetration.

He said the Committee headed by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Ubale Maska, has the responsibility of engaging critical stakeholders within the nation’s

telecom ecosystem to ensure the smooth implementation of the policy documents of the National Broadband Policy.

Pantami said: “This committee has the mandate to ensure that 90 per cent of Nigeria population has access to broadband, while it is also expected that the country achieve 70 per cent broadband penetration by year 2025. The increase in broadband will also bring about increase in the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of the country. So our economic will grow by either seven per cent increase in GDP or 10 per cent.

“The time we started this, the broadband penetration was 31 per cent but based on the report released by the NCC just last week, the broadband penetration now is 40.18 percent.

Within that period, we achieved almost 10 percent of broadband penetration in less than a year.

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) acting Secretary of the Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr. Mohammed Kawu, has tested positive for COVID-19.

Kawu, who admitted violation of safety protocols

Group Accuses Anambra Govt of Arm-twisting Monarchs to Endorse Zoning A Pan-Igbo Youth Organisation, the Anambra Ekunie, has accused the Anambra State Government and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) of coaxing traditional rulers in the state to queue behind their quest for the successor of Anambra State Governor, Mr. Willie Obiano, to come from Anambra South Senatorial District.

The group alleged that the state government has practically threatened to depose any traditional ruler who would fail to support APGA’s zoning of the governorship to the southern part of the state.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the President of the Anambra Ekunie, Dr. Ifeanyi Achusi, alleged that the

State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs and the Special Adviser on Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, have been mandated to whip every traditional ruler to line.

Achusi alleged that traditional rulers that have publicly rejected the purported zoning of the governorship position have been marked

for admonishment.

The group disclosed that a meeting of traditional rulers would be called soon by the state government where 90 traditional rulers, consisting of 30 representing from each of the three zones, would be forced to sign a communique endorsing the zoning of the governorship position to Anambra South.

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UN SDGs: Solution 17, THISDAY, Others Partner for Success Peter Uzoho The International Board of Global Actors and Business for Sustainability (ENTREPS) has joined forces with the Creative Youth Community Development Initiative (CYCDI) and THISDAY Group to promote Climate Action Enterprises in Africa through Solution17 for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The three organisations signed agreement to promote youth engagement through a structured model that will drive massive youth engagement to develop solutions to human-centered problems in Nigeria and within the continent of Africa.

Solution 17 for SDG, founded

by CYCDI, is an innovative and inclusive model developed by to engage young people to produce SDGs-based solutions that can be implemented locally and are relevant to tackling problems that will clearly accelerate the achievement of the global goals by 2030.

Belgium-based ENTREPS

is a global network of active authorities, business actors, associations, researchers, diplomats, innovators, public figures and influential citizens committed together to sustainability and good governance.

Speaking on the collaboration, ENTREPS President, Joaquin Velazquez-Boston, said “as co-founder of this initiative, our organisation will be responsible and represent it before governments (such as the United Nations, The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the European Union Institutions, the African Union...) and main Global Actors, playing the role of ‘Global Ambassador’ of Solution17 for SDGs in meetings, congresses, summits, signing of agreements and others.

“In addition, we will facilitate the full participation of Solution17 at the 5th Global Entreps Awards and 5Gcitizens International Congress; this will help showcase the solutions, innovation enterprises developed

by youth in Nigeria and the continent of Africa. We are passionate about this project and we are ready to kick start the project with Solution17 for Climate Action in Covenant University.”

A United Nations SDG Action Award winner, CYCDI is a Nigerian non-governmental organisation incorporated to promote SDGs towards the achievement of agenda 2030 through active education, creative, innovation and entrepreneurship development in children, youth and women in Africa.

‘For many years, Africa has externalised their solution, look away from her strength and concentrate on old solutions to new problem with the same mindset! We are changing the narrative with sustainable interventions,” Founder and CEO of CYCDI, Foluke Michael, said.

“Our concept is to develop sustainable solutions to solve

various Africa problems with the overall mission to take local responsibility to solve global issues. This feat cannot be achieved without building sustainable partnerships; this is why we are excited about our existing partnership with THISDAY Group; and now with ENTREPS. The partnership will further strengthen us to support our various youth platforms to build enterprises for social impact and profit via Solution17 for SDGs,” Foluke added.

THISDAY is a foremost media organisation in Africa, incorporated as THISDAY Media Group and ARISE News Channel. It is Nigeria’s most authoritative news media available on all platforms for the political, business, professional and diplomatic elite and broader middle classes while serving as the meeting point of new ideas, culture and technology for the aspirational and millennials.

The newspaper is a public

trust dedicated to the pursuit of truth and reason covering a range of issues from breaking news to politics, business, the markets, the arts, sports and community to the crossroads of people and society.

Managing Editor of THISDAY, Mr. Eniola Bello, said, “for us at THISDAY, we believe in the power of the media to throw lights on positive developments that could never have seen the light of the day. Partnering the promoters of the Solutions 17 project was deliberate as we see the great impact the project would make if given the necessary push. We are committing to playing role as the media power. We are even more excited that with the coming on Board of Entreps, the whole project would get the global attention it deserves” Solution17 for Climate Action which began with registration in Covenant University in February 2020, followed by interview,

selection exercise, training, global movement against climate crisis, presentation of finalists and pitch to the presidency will admit the finalists and their team for training, project development, and sustainable business creation at the Solution17 Virtual Reality Innovation Hub by July 10, 2020.

Also, the 17 finalists will be presented to world leaders in New York by September 2020. This will be followed by product development and project replication across the continent of Africa. Each participant is expected to train 17 young innovators across Nigeria under the Train-The-Trainer Entrepreneurship Network Marketing (ENM) Module.

The project outcome will be unveiled later in the year at the ‘African Youth Summit in Covenant University’, a youth dialogue for global cooperation on ‘The Future We Want’ to commemorate the United Nations 75th anniversary.

RCCG Sacks Pastor over Attempt to Commit Adultery The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has sacked an Assistant Pastor of the church in Akure, Ondo State, Mr. Gideon Bakare.

The church also relieved him of all ministerial duties in the mission.

Bakare was recently accused of attempting to sleep with a woman in her matrimonial home in Akure.

In a viral video, the pastor was seen naked as the church member sat beside him while her family filmed the incident.

The woman, in the video, accused Bakare of wanting to sleep with her, as the cleric begged for mercy.

She also threatened to call his wife to see what he had done.

Bakare had been allegedly pestering the woman for a relationship, and she decided to play along and set him up.

He removed his clothes while with the woman at her house when her family members came in. The RCCG, in a statement by the Head, Media, and Public Relations, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, yesterday said the church dissociated itself from the immoral act.

He described it as “completely contrary to the core values, doctrines, beliefs and practices of the RCCG and the undiluted word of God.”

ENHANCING JUSTICE DELIVERY....

L-R: President of Oyo State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice A A Aderemi; Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Rauf Olaniyan; Governor Seyi Makinde; Speaker, state House of Assembly, Hon. Debo Ogundoyin ; state Chief Judge, Justice Munta Abimbola; and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Oyewo Oyelowo, during the inauguration of Family Court of Oyo State in Ibadan...yesterday

Fayemi, Ambode, Others COVID-19: Ngige Seeks More Assistance for Africa Celebrate Ayorinde at 50 Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Many Nigerians in the public sector, media, arts and tourism industry yesterday poured encomiums on the former Lagos State Commissioner of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, as he clocked the golden age of 50.

Ayorinde, who has been described by many as a committed man of culture and an exemplary journalist, was also honoured with a pan-African zoom webinar conference with the theme: Close the gap - For African Tourism to Reboot, Revive and Refocus.

Extolling the celebrant’s virtues, Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, recalled Ayorinde’s admirable coverage of arts and culture as a young journalist, carving a niche for himself “as a first rate literary critic and an art historian.”

In a letter he personally signed, Fayemi said: “You not only brought class and panache to art and culture journalism, you also made your pages an encyclopedia of literary intelligence, and

became widely respected by arts and culture enthusiasts.

One is particularly proud of your consistent commitment to the defence of professional integrity in your role as a journalist, editor and media manager.

In his tribute, former governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, under whom Ayorinde served as commissioner, described him as “a fine gentleman and a brother who is more than a friend.

“I personally attest to your mental dexterity as exemplified in your numerous contributions and achievements during our administration in Lagos State.”

Similarly, the of Minister of Information, Culture and Tourosm, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while congratulating Ayorinde during the virtual stakeholders’ conference held today in his honour, said his time at the helm of Lagos tourism had significant impact on the state’s tourism landmark project.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige yesterday appealed for international aid and stimulus package for African countries to enhance their capacity to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic period and afterwards.

Ngige made the appeal while speaking on behalf of the African region at the Constituent’s Day of the Global

Summit on COVID-19 and the World of Work, which was organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Delivering the Nigeria/ Africa statement at the summit attended virtually, Ngige said the pandemic was described as one of the most dangerous challenges of our world by the United Nations scribe because of the severe health and associated socio-economic consequences over the first half of the year 2020.

The labour minister regretted that families, local communities, states and regions have come under unprecedented challenges that reversed their common economic growth and progress like never before.

In a statement by his Media Aide, Emmanuel Nzomiwu, the minister spoke of the immense potential of the African region, which he said accounts for about 17 percent of the world’s population and 60 percent of uncultivated arable land, but

with only three percent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) According to Ngige, “Almost all institutions have been subjected to intense pressures, exposing our common vulnerability and the need for one another.

“Africa’s swift response to the pandemic holds lessons for other regions as reported cases are lower than were feared, even as many countries complained of lower testing challenges.

Nasarawa Commissioner Tests Positive for COVID-19 Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia The Nasarawa State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Abdulkarim Kana, he

has tested positive for COVID-19 The state commissioner for health, Mr. Yahaya Ahmed, confirmed the incident to THISDAY in a telephone

interview in Lafia, the state capital.

He said: “I can confirm that.

However he is in self- isolation at home and is in a stable and

clear condition. We are taking care of him.”

The Attorney General is a member of the state task force on COVID-19.

PDP Expands South-west Zonal Caretaker Committee Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approved the expansion of the recently constituted South West Zonal Caretaker Committee (SWZCC) of the party.

The approval of the

expansion by the NWC, according to the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, was in pursuant to Sections 29 (2)(b) and 31(2)(e) of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended).

Ologbondiyan said that the additional members of

the SWZCC are Mr. Julius Akinsola (Oyo); Mr. Martins Olutade Abiloye (Ondo); Mr. Kazeem Adio (Osun) and Mr. Mustapha Sikiru (Ogun).

He said that the caretaker committee would pilot the affairs of the party in the South West Zone for a period not exceeding three months (90) days as prescribed by

section 32(2)(e) of the party’s constitution.

The NWC repeated its call on all leaders and members of the party in the zone to continue to work in harmony, especially as the party join forces with the people of Ondo State for a successful governorship election in September.

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2020 Ëž T H I S D AY

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Drama as Lebanese Ambassador Walks out on House Committee Lebanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Houssam Diab, yesterday walked out on the members of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Diaspora Affairs.

The ambassador was said to have arrived at the meeting venue around 11 am, but met journalists and some other government officials, including the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada.

The Cable reported that the meeting was meant to discuss issues around the maltreatment of

Nigerians in Lebanon, especially one Temitope Arowolo, who is in detention in the country for alleged attempted murder of her master and allegations of theft.

It was gathered that the ambassador had expected the meeting to be held closed-door, and as the meeting was about to start, he got up and walked out.

Reacting, the Chairman of the committee, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe said she was shocked that the “ambassador will just get up and walk out

on us.�

Some other members of the committee, however, went after the ambassador, and later, held a closed door session.

Akande-Sadipe said the meeting was cordial, and the walk-out was a misunderstanding. “It was an informal meeting because the ambassador was

nice enough to join us at the meeting. There is no law that says he has to be here today, but because he has an interest in the joint relationship between Nigeria and Lebanon,� she said. “It was a misunderstanding, it meant to be an informal meeting and the ambassador was not aware that even when

we have our informal meeting is documented. Because of the law of diplomacy, he wasn’t expecting to have media there and it was immediately resolved that it was going to be an executive session. The minister apologised on behalf of foreign affairs and he apologised on behalf of the country and the Embassy of

Lebanon. “This meeting today has further reiterated the Lebanese community and the Nigerian community we always stand together to ensure that justice and respect for human lives is a priority and we will work together to bring modern-day slavery to an end.�

Sylva: FG Never Promised Permanent Low Petrol Prices Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva, yesterday took a swipe at persons and organisations mounting opposition against the recent hike in the prices of petrol, describing the reactions to the increase as misguided.

In a statement issued in Abuja,

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and address as MUTIAT MOJISOLA OLA, now wish to be known and address as MUTIAT MOJISOLA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and address as PATIENCE ELISHA, now wish to be known and address as PATIENCE ELISHA MADAKI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I. Formerly Known and addressed as DANLAMI ADAMU, now wish to be known and addressed as MANZO MOHAMMED. All documents remain valid. The general Public to take note.

I. Formerly Known and addressed as OLAGUNJU CHIDIOGO GLADYS, now wish to be known and addressed as UDEJI CHIDIOGO GLADYS. All documents remain valid. The general public to take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ENEMO FAITH ONYINYE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. EZENNIA FAITH ONYINYE. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as MISS SNOHTI MARIA WUREH. Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SNOHTI MARIA WUREH - OBIAGO. All documents remain valid. The general public to take note.

I formerly known and addressed as BETSEOBONG SYLVANUS NTEYEN now want to be known and addressed as SAMUEL SYLVANUS NTEYEN. All former documents remain valid.

N Power Nigeria Limited and the general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME 7KLV LV WR FRQÂżUP WKDW WKH EHDUHU RI WKHVH names EKPO GODSWILL PETER and JAMES GODSWILL PETER refer to one and the same person. Henceforth, the bearer wishes to be known and addressed as JAMES GODSWILL PETER. All documents remain valid. Ecobank plc & the general public to take note

the minister emphasised that the federal government never promised that low fuel prices will stay forever, insisting that Nigeria had been unable to attract investment to the oil and gas sector because of the burden of fuel subsidy.

He argued that the government needed to free up the investment space so that what is happening in the aviation and banking sectors could also be obtained in the petroleum industry.

Describing the resistance to the new pump prices of N43.80 as that of ‘unscrupulous middlemen,’ who would want the status quo to remain, the minister maintained that the current deregulation of the downstream sector would free up trillions of naira to invest in infrastructure.

According to him, the impact of the increase in prices would be mitigated when the auto-gas scheme, which will provide Nigerians with alternative sources of fuel and at lower costs come on-stream.

SUPPORTING HEALTHCARE...

L-R: Reproductive Health Coordinator, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Victoria Omoera; South West Regional Manager, Marie Stopes International Organisation Nigeria  (MSION), Mr. Abimbola Faloye; Director, Family Health and Nutrition, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Folasade Oludara; and Regional Sales Manager, MSION, Dr. Odabor Ejumudo, during the donation of  Misoclear X 10 Pills to the Lagos State Ministry of Health in Alausa...yesterday

Rape: Kano Police Threaten to Prosecute Uncompleted Buildings’ Owners The Kano State Police Command has threatened to prosecute owners of uncompleted buildings in the state following a rise in case of rape, especially in the ancient city.

The police had recently disclosed that 33.3 per cent of rape cases recorded in the state was perpetrated in uncompleted

buildings Speaking yesterday with journalists in Kano, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, said with the worrisome statistics on rape, the command had deployed its men on patrol and surveillance to unoccupied buildings in Kano and its environs to tackle the

ugly trend. “We are warning the general public that henceforth, any rape case perpetrated in an uncompleted building, the owner will be charged as an accomplice. “Our investigation has shown that 33.3 per cent of rape cases were perpetrated in uncompleted buildings in this state.

“The figure has shown that children and minors are mostly raped in uncompleted buildings in the state. “All owners of uncompleted buildings in the state have been advised to quickly complete the structures or cover them in a way that criminals will not have access into the places,� he said.

NAPTIP Uzodinma after Me, My Family, Okorocha Alleges Rescues 1,489 Victims in Kano Ibrahim Shuaibu inKano The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Kano State zonal office yesterday said 1,489 people have been rescued within four years.

The Zonal Commander of the agency, Mr. Shehu Umar, told journalists yesterday that no fewer than 116 human traffickers have been arrested, said the command received 1,516 cases which involved 1,014 human trafficking acts which involved both internal and external.

Umar explained that the cases included 117 child abuse, 75 child labour, 109 sexual abuse, 13 rape cases and 188 other cases on Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP Act) from 2016 to July 2020, including 473 males and 1,028 females.

He revealed that the command received 8,777 deportees that arrived in Kano through the MAKIA, which included 3,708 males and 5,069 females. “The command arrested 91 male suspects, 25 female suspects, rescued 1,022 females, 467 male victims between the ages of six and 25 within the period under review.

A former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has raised the alarm that the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma is after him and his family.

Okorocha’s media aide, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, in a statement issued yesterday, said that Uzodinma’s ongoing probe

Some percentage increase to petroleum and other minerals’ producing states can be accommodated, up to a maximum of 5%, bringing the total on account of derivation principle to 18%.

The sharing formula between the federal and states governments should be reviewed in favour of state governments. States (inclusive of local governments) should be entitled to a maximum of 60% and the federal government no more than 40%. This is taking into account the recommendation that power and responsibilities be devolved from the federal to the state governments.

Equitable access to services by federal establishments (spread) as well as to employment/ recruitment by federal establishments (access) must be guaranteed by policies and in practice to bring to the barest minimum feelings and perceptions of exclusion, marginalization and discrimination on account

of Okorocha’s administration was targeted at humiliating him.

According to him, reports that a court declined his request to stop his probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were untrue. The statement reads in part, “Quickly, we want to state that the court presided over by

Justice Ahmed Mohammed did not decline or refused to stop the probe of Senator Rochas Okorocha by EFCC and the Imo State Government.

If that report was true, the court would not have again adjourned to Tuesday, July 14, 2020, when the court would decide on the orders sought

TOWARDS RESTRUCTURING OF NIGERIA of region, religion and/or ethnic and communal identities.

The federal character principle needs to be retained and strengthened. Identified challenges in its implementation must be redressed. Other global good practices in affirmative action and securing equality of opportunity, which drive inclusiveness and address marginalization in diverse societies should be identified and adapted (not wholesale adoption!).

Ways and means of making Chapter Two of the Constitution, on Directive Principles of State Policy, justiciable should be explored and entrenched in practice.

Ultimately, we need to realize that mere constitutional provisions do not by themselves ensure a stable and efficacious federal arrangement. These have to be backed by good leadership and good, accountable, responsible and responsible governance, that is guided in practice by the rule of law enshrined in the Constitution.

Therefore, the challenging task

of nurturing a democratic political culture and electoral integrity has to be pursued vigorously accompanying the processes of restructuring the federation.

Addressing the imbalances and inequities identifiable in the current Nigerian federal system is long overdue. Better late than never and the time is aptly now. In doing this, we must discard both the wishful thinking that “Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable� and the idealistic and romantic notions of “ Only on True federalism we stand�.

No federal arrangement is perfect and accepted by all in it. For countries, which are diverse in complex and intricate ethno-religious mosaics, such as Nigeria, federalism is the only game in town, which can be continuously improved upon.

We can do this by removing all the distortions, which have accumulated in our short history, and by bringing and adapting, as value-additions, global good practices from other relatively

by Okorocha.“The most exciting thing that happened in the court on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, was that the judge extracted oral undertaking from the lawyer that represented the AttorneyGeneral of the State, Mr Joseph Matthew, that the panel would not sit again during the pendency of the matter.�

more stable federal systems.

Learning how countries with more complex diversity than ours, such as India manage to stabilize their federal arrangement, can help us in no small measure to address our own challenges.

By working hard and rationally, scientifically, to remove all the distortions in our federal system we would have a better functioning federation, with only the states as federating units; with local governments subsumed under the states; without creating regions (either in addition to states or by merging states); with substantial devolution of power, responsibilities and resources from the federal government to the states; and with mechanisms of ensuring greater equality of opportunity for all and affirmative action for inclusiveness of the marginalized, minorities and discriminated against groups in the country. r1SPGFTTPS +FHB JT PG UIF %FQBSUNFOU PG 1PMJUJDBM 4DJFODF #BZFSP 6OJWFSTJUZ ,BOP

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FRIDAYSPORTS

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

Rivers Angels Deny Oluehi, Nwabuoku’s Transfers to Spain Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Rivers Angels, the parent club of Super Falcons duo of Tochukwu Oluehi and Evelyn Nwabuoku have denied reports that the two Nigerian stars have been released for any Spanish club.

The goalkeeper and the midfielder were recently announced to have joined Spanish side, Pozoalbense

but the Port Harcourt-based NWPL champions insisted yesterday that the duo have ‘existing contracts’ with them.

According to goal.com, the Super Falcons star players are on the books of Rivers Angels for at least six years, winning several domestic titles, including the 2019 Nigeria Women’s Premier League amid past moves abroad.

However, the Reto Iberdrola outfit announced the signing

UFC 251

‘Nigerian Nightmare’ Usman Takes on Masvidal in Abu Dhabi It’s the fight the world wants to see, and in just hours from now MMA fans will watch (2am Sunday morning) on as Nigera-born Kamaru Usman looks to defend his welterweight title and defeat arch rival American Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251 on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.

The fight will be aired live on SuperSport on SS 11 and SS Maximo from 2am Sunday.

After Masvidal’s public dispute with the UFC last month, very few expected the 35-year-old to step in and take on the formidable Usman on six days’ notice, following the withdrawal of Gilbert Burns after the Brazilian tested positive for Covid-19.

But to the surprise of many fans and pundits alike, the UFC and Masvidal managed to thrash out a deal that appeased all parties, and now the UFC has a late replacement main event that hasn’t generated as much excitement since Nate Diaz stepped in to fight Conor McGregor at UFC 196.

And that is in part down to the unrelenting trash talk and verbal sparring that Usman and Masvidal have engaged in that has sent fans into bedlam on social media.

Earlier this year, video footage emerged of the pair coming face-to-face at the Superbowl in Miami, where Masvidal is from.

The welterweights had to be separated amid a slur of insults and threats to do harm upon one another.

Yet trash talk and social media chat doesn’t have the same effect when the two foes in question aren’t equally

matched. And in Usman and Masvidal, this is a fight that could genuinely go either way.

Responding to the BMF title potentially being up for grabs at UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, Usman told TMZ Sports: “That’s my (expletive), absolutely.

“They’re saying it’s a “BMF” – they’re really considering this a real title, kind of an interim thing or whatever.

“They’re really considering this a title. So you know, yes – after I go out there and beat his a** and ragdoll him, that (expletive) is coming home with me so I can throw it in my closet,” boasts Auchi, Edo State-born Usman.

However, ‘Gamebred’ Masvidal himself is already looking ahead to a potential bout against Nate Diaz or Stephen Thompson after this weekend’s fight.

The 35-year-old, who claimed the ‘Baddest Mother F*****’ belt (BMF) against Diaz in November, has even posted images of himself on Instagram ‘negotiating’ on the phone and taking a coronavirus test.

Masvidal claimed the money he was originally offered for fighting Usman was only half of what he got for the Diaz fight.

That purse was then matched, but Masvidal wanted more, as well as a higher cut of the pay-per-view revenue but despite the disagreement, Masvidal has saved Dana White’s show this weekend by stepping in.

UFC President White has not actually yet confirmed whether the ‘BMF’ title will be up for grabs when the

FACT-FILE KAMARU USMAN

JORGE MASVIDAL

Age: 33 Height: 6ft Reach: 76 inches Record: 16-1-0 Wins: 16 - By knockout: 7 - By submission: 1 - By decision: 8 Draws: 0 Losses: 1

Age: 35 Height: 5ft 11in Reach: 74 inches Record: 35-13-0 Wins: 35 - By knockout: 16 - By submission: 2 - By decision: 17 Draws: 0 Losses: 13

of Rivers Angels midfielder Nwabuoku two weeks ago before the recent announcement of goalkeeper Oluehi’s acquisition on Wednesday.

Following the reported signings of the Nigerian duo, the Port Harcourt outfit has moved to refute claims of the players’ transfer, noting that they have not been contacted by the Spanish club.

“This is to inform the general public that news making the rounds about two of our players; Evelyn Nwabuoku and Tochukwu Oluehi signing for a Spanish Reto Iberdrola club Pozoalbense is misleading and inaccurate,” the club’s spokesperson, Jessica Amadi, told the media in Port Harcourt

yesterday. “As of Thursday, July 9, 2020, Nwabuoku and Oluehi remain bonafide players of Rivers Angels FC with existing contracts with us.

“Neither the said club nor its representatives have contacted anyone from here and hearing that they have announced the signing of our players is highly disrespectful and unethical.”

“If and when both players secure any deals from teams in Europe, Rivers Angels FC will most definitely communicate it to the world via our various platforms but for now, neither has signed anything with anyone.

“We urge everyone to take note of this statement intended to set things right

Oluehi

Nwabuoku

as they should be,” concludes the to move out of the country due statement from Rivers Angels. to the coronavirus lockdown of The Super Falcons duo are yet international flights from Nigeria.

Masvidal (left) and Usman....intriguing clash in Abu Dhabi

Imama Amapakabo Joins Abia Warriors In the bid to fortify the team ahead of the new Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) season, Abia Warriors have announced the signing of former a Nigeria Under-23 Coach, Imama Amapakabo.

The Abia State owned team confirmed Amapakabo’s appointment via their Twitter handle on Thursday afternoon.

“Abia Warriors and Coach Imama Amapakabo agree terms as new head coach ahead of the new season,” the club wrote on Twitter.

The coach who earned his stripes starting out as Nigeria’s reserved goalkeeper of the Golden Eaglets squad that won the maiden edition of the FIFA U-16 World Cup in

China in 1985 has coached Rivers United, Enugu Rangers and El Kanemi Warriors.

It was at the Flying Antelopes in Enugu that Amapakabo had his finest moment as a coach, after guiding the Enugu-based club to win the 2016 NPFL title, their first championship since 1982.

The 50-year-old gaffer served

as assistant to Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr and was appointed head coach of the home-based Eagles and the U-23 Eagles.

Unfortunately, his sojourn to the national team as coach was fraught with missteps and unexplained failures to warrant his return to familiar forte in club football.

English FA Probes ‘Dehumanising’ Comments on Akinfenwa Football Association are investigating claims by Adebayo Akinfenwa that he was referred to as a ‘fat water buffalo’ by a Fleetwood Town representative during their League One play-off tie.

The Wycombe Wanderers striker appeared against Joey Barton’s side on Monday night, helping his side earn a

2-2 draw and a 6-3 aggregate victory on home soil in the play-off semi-final.

But the 38-year-old later admitted the night was one of mixed emotions, with the joy of reaching the play-off final soured by apparent remarks from the opposition that left him ‘dehumanised’.

It is unknown if the

allegation concerns a member of Fleetwood’s playing or coaching staff.

Wycombe are aware of the incident and have offered their support to Akinfenwa.

According to UK’sThe Telegraph, an FA spokesperson said: “We have been made aware of the allegations and will be investigating the matter.”

Akinfenwa took to Twitter to reveal his experiences of suffering racial abuse, highlighting how much more needs to be done to eradicate it from society.

He said: “Monday night was one of the highlights of my career with Wycombe so far as we secured our place in the League One Play-Off Final at Wembley.

“Pep Clotet has this evening left his position as head coach. He was due to step down at the season’s end but it was mutually agreed that he should relinquish the role immediately.

“The board would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Pep for his efforts during the

past two years.

“We will be making no further comment at this time.”

Meanwhile, Swansea manager Steve Cooper has backed Rhian Brewster to remain the man for the big occasion after he started his side’s comeback at St Andrew’s.

Pep Leaves City Pep Clotet has left his position as Birmingham head coach after the club’s 3-1 home defeat to Swansea.

The 43-year-old was due to step down at the end of the season, but a 10th Championship match without a win brought his departure forward.

Birmingham are 17th in the table, four points above the relegation zone with four matches to play.

Clotet did not speak to the media after the loss to the Swans and his exit was announced just after 11pm.

A Birmingham statement read:

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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Price: N250

MISSILE

PDP to APC “It is common knowledge among Nigerians that characters being paraded by the APC as the face of their campaign in Edo State were foisted into office through rigging, bloodletting and manipulation of election results” – The Peoples Democratic Party questioning the integrity of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Edo State, Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

ATTAHIRUJEGA GUEST COLUMNIST

Towards Restructuring of Nigeria

T

here is currently an upsurge of passionate demands for “restructuring”, “true federalism” and “actualization of the sovereign state of Biafra”.

These demands are intricately intertwined and interconnected, and so vociferous that they are overheating the polity.

Sooner than later, these matters have to be addressed squarely but dispassionately. The challenge is on how to address the issue of restructuring the Nigerian federal system without upsetting the apple-chart; that is, how to add value to the structure and systemic efficacy of the federal arrangement, without unleashing instability occasioned by the mobilization of ethnic, regional and religious sentiments and identities.

Federalism is supposed to be “a model of political accommodation and power sharing, as well as a cure for micro-nationalism”.

The Nigerian experience has shown that our federal arrangement has not ensured a stable political accommodation and it has not ensured equitable power and resources sharing.

And, instead of curing micro-nationalism, it has fanned the embers of its conflagration.

Some things are clear.

The demands for secession cannot be wished away, and Nigeria’s unity and continued stay as one indivisible country should not be taken for granted. Statements like: “Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable” or “Nigeria’s continued stay as one country is not negotiable” are factually incorrect, wishful thinking and politically abhorrent to those making the demands; these should therefore be avoided, indeed stopped.

On the other hand, Nigeria has come such a long way since 1914 that it would be easier to renegotiate the strengthening of the federation through devolution of power, resources and responsibilities, than to go the route of “separation” and secession.

Secession and separation from the federal republic of Nigeria has far greater costs and consequences for all concerned (those seeking to separate and those from whom are being separated) than remaining under a restructured federal system. Thus, it is in the enlightened self-interest of Nigeria and all Nigerians to sheath the swords of secession, and wear the garb of political accommodation and appropriate and sincere power and resources sharing.

In any case, there is no perfect federal arrangement anywhere in the world. There is nothing in essence, called “true federalism”.

Federalism is a lived experience, continuously changing and seeking for improvement.

No doubt, Nigeria’s need for a “reformed, revitalized, decentralized and democratized federal system” is long over due. We should therefore begin to soberly interrogate some pertinent questions. For example, what should “restructuring” of the Nigerian federation entail?

How can this “restructuring” best be brought about, and through which mechanisms and processes?

Is there anything called “true federalism”?

If so what is it?

How should revenues to the federation be collected and shared?

Who should collected them and how?

President Muhammadu Buhari

Why Restructuring is Necessary Three reasons can be adduced as to why some form of restructuring needs to be undertaken, as soon as is possible, in order to improve upon the current nature and operations of the Nigerian federal system; so as to improve the structure and systemic efficacy of the federation.

The 1999 Constitution, which was hurriedly put together and enacted by the General Abdulsalam Abubakar military regime, was not a product of appropriate inclusiveness and consultation. As a result, it has many inadequacies and flaws, from which our brand of federal arrangement suffers. Although some amendments have been effected to the constitution, the key issues affecting the federal structure have not been touched; but they cannot be ignored indefinitely.

A long period of military rule has resulted in the concentration of power and resources in the central and federal government to the disadvantage of the states, which are the federating units. This has in turn made the contest for political power to occupy federal organs very intense, as capturing federal government is perceived as ensuring control of tremendous power, influence and resources.

In an ethno-religiously diverse country, centralization and concentration of power and resources at the center generates conflict-

Addressing the imbalances and inequities identifiable in the current Nigerian federal system is long overdue. Better late than never and the time is aptly now

ridden competition for the control of power at the center.

Only a judicious and equitable deconcentration and reallocation of power and resources from the center to the other federating units can de-escalate tension and smoothen hierarchical and horizontal relations in the federation. In reality, the 1999 Constitution has concentrated too much power and resources in the hands of the federal government, as a comparison of the exclusive and residual lists clearly shows; in this regard the uniqueness or exceptional character of the Nigerian federal arrangement is glaring. Powers, which are traditionally the preserve of the federating units (states, regions, provinces) are in Nigeria handed over either exclusively to the federal government, or are shared concurrently by the federal government and the states.

A dispassionate review of the 1999 Constitution would help to resolve many if not all the thorny outstanding issues.

Severe inequities were introduced and entrenched over time, especially on account of the prebendal politics under civil rule, and the divide and rule tactics under military rule, especially the mobilization of ethnicity, religion and other primordial interests by those who hold and exercise power at the federal level.

The federal character (equalizing or equal opportunity) principle was introduced to address inequities associated with employment into federal establishments. In practice, many challenges have remained with the implementation of the federal character principle.

Recommendations The following recommendations covering the structure, power sharing and resources and revenue allocation are offered for further reflection.

Nigeria should revert to the two-tier system: Federal and States (Local Government Areas (LGAs) as subsumed under the states).

It would be unrealistic, if not impossible to revert to a regional structure similar to what was in Nigeria’s past history. The pressures that led to the creation of states would not tolerate collapsing or regrouping those states to regions.

Nigeria is probably the only federal system with constitutionally recognized three tiers: Federal, State and Local Government Areas.

This aberration was created under military rule. We should revert to a two tier federal system, with LGAs subsumed under states or regions.

Nigeria should have a short federal exclusive list, consisting of Foreign Affairs, National defense and security, Commerce and Currency. We should have a short concurrent list, consisting of Policing, taxation and tertiary education/health. Whatever isn’t listed belongs to the residual powers of the states, on which federal government would have only broad regulatory and incentivizing roles.

Specifically, certain powers and responsibilities, which in most stable federations are invested in the federal government, should continue to be retained by the Nigerian federal government. These

are in respect of national security, defense, armed forces, foreign affairs, currency and monetary policies and commerce (banking, inter-state economic relations, etc.).

All others, except a few like policing and tertiary education/health, which can be on the concurrent list, can be consigned to the states, with regulatory and incentivizing responsibilities reserved for the federal government.

Henceforth, no creation of additional states should be entertained. And no merger of existing states, except by referendum in which two- thirds majority have voted yes. The question of unviability of some of the existing states can be redressed by the decrease in federal revenues, the increase in the share of federally collected revenues to the states; diversified revenue base for the states, good accountable governance and increased capacity and competence by the states in collecting taxes and levies in their jurisdiction.

Local government, structure, processes and funding, should be the responsibility of each state. A state can have power to create more or merge existing local governments, through a referendum in which two-thirds majority have voted yes. But the local government system must be democratic in form and in content, with constitutional guarantees for this.

Under no circumstances should the merger or reconfiguration of existing states into regions as federating units, akin to what obtained in the past, be contemplated. If that is what some romantically refer to as “true federalism”, it is just that: romantic and idealistic and terribly unrealistic in this age and time. Adding regions to the existing components would be unwieldy, expensive and operationally complex if not disruptive; and merging or converting existing states into regions would be even more problematic operationally and politically, and would essentially revive claims and perceptions of marginalization, discrimination and domination, which creation of states had hoped to redress.

Making revenue generation and distribution more judicious and equitable would solve the current challenges of fiscal federalism in Nigeria and make creation of regions unnecessary.

To strengthen the efficacy of the Nigerian federal system, revenue sources need to be diversified; the sharing formula need to be reviewed to devolve more resources to the states; federal tax base should be reduced and that of the states increased; and a more equitable and judicious formula should be introduced in respect of petroleum and solid mineral resources, which should be in favour of the producing states; and also in favour of the states viz-a-viz the federal government.

States should diversify their revenue base, and should pursue other, additional, sources of taxation, especially tenement and property taxation, levies on cigarettes, environmental pollution/degradation, etc., to expand their revenue base. The porous and unaccountable nature of revenue collection at the state and local levels also needs to be sanitized and made more transparent and accountable.

Continued on page 37

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