FRIDAY 9TH JULY 2021 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

Customs Collect N1tn Revenue in Six Months James Emejo in Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday said it collected over N1 trillion between January and June 2021 as revenue for the federation. This represented an increase

of N290. 20 billion compared to the N713.54 billion it recorded within the same period last year. The Customs Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Joseph Attah, while addressing journalists in Abuja, said:

"Hitting the trillion-naira mark within six months is unprecedented in the service". He attributed the feat to the resolute pursuit of "what is right and willingness to adapt to changes brought about by the global health challenges

occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.” He said the agency's revenue profile had continued to be on the increase due to ongoing reforms, which exploited the potential of technology. He stated that the agency

will always be willing to break its records and to generate more revenue above the target under a favourable environment. On its enforcement duties, Attah said the agency seized a total number of 2,333 assorted

items, with duty paid value of N4.42 billion. He listed the items to include arms and ammunition, illicit drugs, and food items such as rice, vegetable oil, among Continued on page 41

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AbdulsalamiWarns Politicians,Says Defections InducingViolence,Crisis Rising conflict may truncate Nigeria's democracy in 2023, says UK Seeks urgent reforms in army, police Chuks Okocha in Abuja A former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami

Abubakar (rtd), yesterday cautioned against the frequent defections by politicians, saying it is

causing violence, crisis that overheat the polity. Abdulsalami, at the launch of the Peace and Inclusive

Security Initiative by the 36 states governors yesterday in Abuja, warned against the frequent defections by

politicians from one political party to another. He spoke against the backdrop of political

realignment by politicians ahead of the 2023 general Continued on page 42

Oba of Benin, Obaseki Set for Showdown over Looted Artefacts FG demands unconditional repatriation from Germany Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Except a compromise is reached, the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, are heading for a showdown over the impending return by Germany and the United Kingdom of artefacts stolen from the Benin Palace in 1897 during a raid by the colonial invaders. While the monarch favours the return of the artefacts to a museum to be built by the palace within its premises, or in the alternative, a museum to be built and managed by the federal and state governments, the palace believes the governor prefers a private trust to take custody of, and manage the ancient precious artworks. However, Obaseki told THISDAY that he was working on a tripartite arrangement,

involving the federal and state governments, the Oba of Benin and a private trust that would manage the artefacts on behalf of the palace and the people. “I intend to work with the Oba of Benin in an arrangement that would be led by the federal government,” he told THISDAY, accusing a palace chief, Elemai Oseni, of misinforming the revered monarch about his plans. He said he would straighten out things with the monarch on his return from Germany, where he and the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, are currently negotiating and insisting on unconditional repatriation of the artefacts. Notwithstanding, the brewing quarrel in Benin may become public knowledge today as Oba Ewuare II Continued on page 41

PDP Releases Timetable for Congresses in Lagos, Eight Others... Page5

NIGERIA WITHOUT OIL... Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Malam Mele Kyari (left), and Chief Executive Oﬃcer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Segun Awolowo, during Kyari's visit to the Export House in Abuja…recently

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

PDP Releases Timetable for Congresses in Lagos, Eight Others

Chuks Okocha in Abuja The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday approved the timetable and schedule of activities for the party congresses in its chapters in Lagos and eight other states. The eight other states are Oyo, Adamawa, Kebbi, Borno, Kogi, Osun, Kwara and Ebonyi states. A statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said in Lagos, Oyo, Adamawa, Kebbi, Borno, Kogi, Osun, and Kwara states, the tenure of the executives by Section 47(1) of the PDP Constitution (as amended) would be expiring, having been elected in 2017. The statement said in Kogi State, congresses would hold only in wards and local governments, while in Osun, congresses would hold only in some wards. However, in Ebonyi State, congresses will be conducted to elect new executives following the dissolution of the state's party structure due to political realignments occasioned by the defection

of the state Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, and others to another party. According to the timetable, the sale of nomination forms, including ad-hoc delegates forms, has been scheduled for July 26 to August 27, 2021 while the last day for the submission of forms has been fixed for September 6, 2021. By the timetable, congresses to elect ward executive councils and three ad hoc delegates have been scheduled for September 25, while congresses to elect local government executive councils and national delegates have been fixed for October 5, 2021. Similarly, the state congresses have been scheduled for October 16, 2021. The NWC also urged all members of the party and supporters nationwide, particularly in the affected states, to be guided by the official timetable and schedule of events and disregard any other document reported to have been earlier circulated by unauthorised persons. Meanwhile, the NWC, in pursuant to Section 29(2) (b) of the PDP Constitution

APC Moves to Sanction Mohammed over Parallel Secretariat in Kwara Summons minister

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State took a twist yesterday as the National Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party has summoned the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, over a parallel state secretariat opened in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. THISDAY gathered yesterday that Mohammed, who has been ordered to close down the secretariat may be sanctioned for violating the APC constitution. A faction of the party loyal to Mohammed and Senator Gbemisola Saraki has been having a running battle with another faction loyal to the state Governor, Mr. Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman. Though the leadership of the party at the national level recognises Alhaji Abdulahi Samari, who is in the same faction with the governor as party chairman, the two ministers from the state insisted that Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa remains the state chairman. The crisis, however, worsened last weekend when the Mohammed faction unveiled its secretariat in Ilorin. It was against this background that the national

secretariat sent two letters to the minister inviting him to come and explain why disciplinary measures should not be taken against him for the action. It was gathered that the minister was asked to appear in person to explain to the party leadership why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for the infraction. A party source who preferred anonymity said the minister left the party with no choice, as his action violated the party's constitution. The source said: "The minister left us no choice. His action was clearly a violation of our constitution.” The minister was instructed to close down the parallel secretariat to avoid sanctions. However, the National Secretary of the APC caretaker committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, when contacted, neither confirmed nor denied the summon. “I cannot confirm or deny what you are asking me because as you know, the honourable minister is an elder in this party and we shall accord him the respect he deserves. “The party will not allow anything to put him in disrepute. “The party, on the other hand, will not allow anybody to violate the constitution of the party.”

2017 (as amended), has also approved the appointment of a caretaker committee for the Zamfara State chapter of the party. In another statement by Ologbondiyan, Capt. Umar Bature was named as chairman, while Mr. Yusuf L. Dambazzau will serve as

secretary. Other members include Farouk Shettima Rijiya, Barmo Abdullahi Kanoma, Muhammadu Dan Gwamna Gummi, Usamatu Maharazu Marafa, Bala Mohammed Zurmi, Sani Ahmed Kaura, and Medinah Shehu, who will serve as Woman Leader. Abba

Bello is the Youth Leader. The caretaker committee will oversee the affairs of the party in Zamfara State for a period of not more than 90 days or until when a new state executive council is elected in line with the provisions of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as

amended). "All party leaders, critical stakeholders, teeming members and supporters of our party in Zamfara State are urged to remain united as we collectively reclaim our stolen governorship mandate and move Zamfara State forward," the statement added.

NETWORKING BAYELSA... Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri (left), and European Union First Counsellor/Deputy Head of Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Alexandre Gomes, during the governor's visit to the EU Common Embassy Complex in Abuja…yesterday

Onochie, at Senate Screening, Denies APC Membership Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday screened President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant on Social Media, Ms. Lauretta Onochie, for the position of national commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, there was a disagreement among members of the Senate Committee on INEC over the nomination. Onochie, whose nomination has raised controversy over her alleged partisanship and for being a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), denied her membership of the ruling party three times before the Senate committee. This was despite the fact that she deposed to an affidavit in an Abuja High court in June 2021 affirming her membership of APC. The Senate Committee on INEC, headed by Senator Kabiru Gaya, screened Onochie along with five other nominees whose names were sent to the Senate for

confirmation on October 12, 2020, by Buhari. Nominees screened along with Onochie were Prof. Muhammad Kallah (Katsina), Prof. Kunle Ajayi (Ekiti), Mr. Saidu Ahmad (Jigawa), Prof. Sani Adam (North-central) and Dr. Baba Bila (North-east). Addressing the committee, Onochie initially admitted to being a card-carrying member of APC, adding that she ceased being a member after Buhari was re-elected in 2019. She said: "I have learned over the years to stand with the constitution and due process but not on partisanship or sentiments. Since 2019, I have not had anything to do with any political organisation, including Buhari support groups. When APC was doing re-validation of party members, I did not take part in that exercise. "As I'm sitting down here, I'm not a member of any political party in this country. I've no partisanship in my blood. I have seen many petitions against my nomination not only from the

PDP but also from some APC members. I'm not partisan. They know. It is about the law. No one has any reason to fear for my nomination as INEC commissioner representing Delta. “As far as I'm concerned, I'm madam due process. That's why all the attacks. I follow due process; I follow the law." However, an affidavit dated 30th June 2021, she swore to at an FCT High Court, attached to one of the petitions against her, contradicted her claims. She deposed to the affidavit at the court in a case involving her as plaintiff and Emeka Ugwuonye (defendant). Onochie in her witness statement on oath said: "That I am also engaged in active politics and a member of Neighbourhood Watch and has also contested the local government elections under the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom. I am also a member of the All Progressives Congress and a volunteer at the Buhari Support Organisation." Onochie told the committee that Mrs. May AgbamucheMbu, a serving INEC National

Commissioner from Delta State is actually representing Cross River on the board of the electoral body. Senators Ifeanyi Ubah, Seriake Dickson, Istifanus Gyang, and Ike Ekweremadu, in their separate questions, asked Onochie again to confirm her membership of the APC, but three times, she disavowed the ruling party. However, a suggestion by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) that Onochie be placed on oath after she denied her APC membership was supported by Senator Lawal Gumau (Bauchi South). But two PDP senators, Ekweremadu and Dickson, who objected on the ground that doing so will breach Senate rules that do not allow any nominee to be put on oath during screening. Gaya upheld their objections, saying Onochie would not be placed on oath so as not to run afoul of the Senate rules. Gaya subsequently adjourned the proceedings and said the report of his panel would be submitted to the Senate next week.

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Sirika: Air Passengers Entitled to Refunds on Delayed Flights Technical hitch forces Azman Air to make air return

Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Chinedu Eze in Lagos

Aviation Minister, Senator Hadi Sirika, has disclosed that local air passengers in Nigeria who suffer flight delays at the airport for two hours or more are entitled to a refund of their full ticket value from the airline. This is coming as Azman Air flight from Lagos to Maiduguri en-route Abuja was yesterday forced to make air return when the aircraft landing gear refused to retract after take-off. Sirika has also vowed to ensure the recovery of over N37 billion owed aviation parastatals by some airlines and other critical stakeholders in the country while stressing that the aviation ministry in the last six years has released 67 air accident reports which is unprecedented in the nation's aviation history. Sirika, who featured yesterday in the weekly ministerial press briefing organised by the Presidential Communication Team at the State House, Abuja, stated that infringements to the rights of travellers, both local and international, have laid down rules and guidelines that spell rights and punishments out, just as there are punishments for travellers' violation of good behaviour. According to him, there are channels of laying complaints at the airports, which would see to it that customer rights and privileges are protected but noted that most travellers fail to take advantage of the provisions because they fail to pay attention to instructions and information hanging around airports. “On domestic flights, delay beyond one hour; carrier shall provide refreshment, make one phone call or one SMS or email. They should send you an SMS or call you to say ‘I'm sorry you are delayed for one hour. They should also give you water or Fanta. Delay for two hours and beyond, the carrier shall reimburse passengers the full value of the tickets. The delay between 10 pm to 4 am, the carrier shall provide hotel accommodation, refreshment, meal, two free calls, SMS, email and transport to and from the airport and international, it also says all of the requirements”. The minister said he will ensure the recovery of over N37 billion owed aviation parastatals by some airlines and other critical stakeholders in the country and listed the aviation parastatals being owed to include Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). "Bi-Courtney is owing FAAN N14 billion as at the last count. The operator has not paid a single dime since the time he started to run the terminal building and we have not ceased giving him electricity, water, fire cover, and so on and so forth. He hasn't paid a dime for 13 years.” The minister while commenting on the controversy surrounding the disbursement of the N5 billion COVID-19 palliative approved in 2020 to aviation stakeholders, said the point was made that airlines owing aviation parastatals should not benefit but the suggestion was turned down.

On how the government will resolve the issue with BiCourtney, the minister expressed optimism saying: “We're resolving it and we're talking with BiCourtney, we will ensure that we recover people's money and also recover the property and put it to use in accordance with the law of the land.” He attributed the frequent collapse of airlines in the country to poor management capacity, adding that the federal government has therefore decided to establish an Aviation University for the development of all-round capacity in the sector. He also disclosed that the ministry has released a total of 67 final aviation accident reports covering the period of 2007 to 2016 in government’s bid to ensure that the causes of previous airline accidents are known. On the proposed new national carrier, the minister said his ministry will present the reworked Outline Business Case (OBC) to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in the next one or two weeks for approval. According to him, the plan for the airline is on course, as the government recently launched the airline logo in the United Kingdom for the sake of exposure. Speaking on the update as regards air travels between Nigeria and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Sirika said there is no timeline for opening up of travels yet, noting that Nigeria feels Dubia was being "discriminatory against our country and it is not acceptable."

Bi-Courtney Denies Owing FAAN Meanwhile, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operator of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos Terminal Two (MMA2) in a swift response by its Spokesman, Mr. Mikail Mumuni has denied owing the FAAN any amount at all. In a statement issued last night, Mumuni said it is FAAN that owes Bi-Courtney over N200 billion by depriving it of its legitimate earnings over the past 14 years. This, he said arose by FAAN opening and operating the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), thus competing with BASL with government money in the running of the Domestic Terminal in a flagrant breach of the concession agreement. “BASL in line with the dispute resolution process contained in the agreement had an arbitration award in its favour. It also got the judgment of a High Court, six Court of Appeal judgments, and a Supreme Court judgment, all in its favour and sustained the monetary award,” he said. Mumuni stressed that the courts ruled that any debt that may be alleged against BASL by FAAN should be deducted from the credit judgment after due verification. He added that “the N14 billion debt mentioned by the aviation minister is totally inconsistent with the demand by FAAN, the body which has been liaising with BASL. Their last demand was about N1billion, which was promptly responded to by BASL stating categorically that there was no such debt.”

Mumuni argued that the minister was not properly briefed by FAAN as the company also pay its electricity bills and provides elaborate security at the terminal.

Technical Hitch Forces Azman Air to Make Air Return Meanwhile, Azman Air flight from Lagos to Maiduguri en-route Abuja was yesterday forced to make air return when the aircraft landing gear refused to retract after take-off.

THISDAY learnt that the pilot explained to passengers that the gear pin was not removed before the aircraft took off to enable the landing gear to retract so he had to return to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos so that the pin would be removed. The 10:30 flight, which took off promptly returned to base after 10 minutes and was recertified to take-off again three hours later after the gear pin was removed. But some of the passengers who were petrified by the incident decided to suspend their trip.

Eyewitness told THISDAY, “Azman Air to Maiduguri enroute Abuja made an air return to Lagos 10 minutes into the flight. The pilot explained that the nose gear did not return. Upon landing in Lagos, the engineer was called in. The pilot explained that a pin was not removed, causing the nose gear not to retract. He said the issue had, however, been resolved. But some passengers felt psychologically unable to continue with the flight and insisted on disembarking.” A pilot type-rated on Boeing 737, the aircraft type operated

by Azman Air, explained to THISDAY that what happened was that when the aircraft is on ground the gear pin is inserted on the landing gear, also known as nose wheel, so that it would not collapse but this is done most often when the aircraft is on over night parking; not when it is on a turnaround. He said that it was due to negligence that the engineer who certified the aircraft for flight and the pilot who ought to carry out a final inspection before operating the aircraft, did not notice that the gear pin was not removed.

HONOUR FOR ARISE NEWS... L-R: Director of Strategy, Gage Awards, Mr. Yomi Olaniwun; Social Media Manager, ARISE NEWS, Ms. Harim Omoruyi; Digital Editor, ARISE NEWS, Mr. Demola Ojo; and Marketing Lead, Gage Awards, Ms. Blessing Bassey, at the presentation of Online News Platform of the Year to ARISE NEWS in Lagos...recently

Global Vaccine Coalition Plans 520m Jabs for Nigeria, Others in 2021 Only 1.2% of Africans vaccinated till date Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report Managing Director of the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX), a distribution scheme for the coronavirus jabs, Aurelia Nguyen, has said that the alliance will deliver 520 million doses to Nigeria and other African countries by the end of this year, with supplies ramping up from September after delays caused by Indian export restrictions. Africa marked its worst pandemic week ever, surpassing the second wave peak during the seven days ending on July 4, 2021, rising for seven consecutive weeks since the onset of the third wave on May 3, 2021. During the week, more than 251,000 new COVID-19 cases were recorded on the continent, amounting to a 20 per cent increase over the previous week and a 12 per cent jump from the January peak, with 16 African countries now in resurgence. But after almost grinding to a halt in May and early June, vaccine deliveries from the

COVAX facility are gathering momentum, with more than 1.6 million doses delivered to Africa through COVAX in the past two weeks. So far, 66 million doses have been delivered to Africa, including 40 million doses secured through bilateral deals, 25 million COVAX-supplied doses and 800 000 doses supplied by the African Union African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team. Reuters quoted Nguyen as saying at a news conference yesterday organised by the World Health Organisation’s Africa region, that the scheme had delivered around 25 million doses to 44 African countries so far, but that she was not happy with progress. In March, the CEO of vaccine alliance Gavi, one of the organisations co-leading COVAX, had said the aim was to supply Africa, whose total population is 1.3 billion, with 720 million doses in 2021. But later that month India suspended vaccine exports, deepening problems for COVAX, which is dependent on doses from the Serum

Institute of India, which is one of the world’s largest vaccine manufacturers and has been producing AstraZeneca shots. Nguyen said COVAX had been in talks with the Indian government and Serum Institute and that it was factoring in a resumption of supplies “towards the later part of the year” although the situation was still fluid. By the end of the first quarter of 2022, COVAX aims to supply nearly 850 million vaccine doses to the African continent, which has some of the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates worldwide. The new target is enough to protect up to 30 per cent of the population of every African country that qualifies for subsidised doses under COVAX’s so-called Advance Market Commitment, Nguyen added. African countries will receive doses from COVAX’s portfolio of nine vaccines, which as well as AstraZeneca include shots developed by Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna. Addressing the same conference, South Africa-based

Professor Tulio de Oliveira, a genomics expert, said the more infectious Delta coronavirus variant was spreading rapidly throughout Africa, accounting for roughly three-quarters of the genomes sequenced on the continent recently and driving up deaths. “More than ever it’s time to increase vaccination,” he said. Africa’s top public health official, John Nkengasong, said separately that only 1.2 per cent of the continent’s population had been fully vaccinated. He said the situation in Senegal and Ghana, which are running low on COVID-19 vaccine supplies, was not unique owing to the COVAX delays, but that a U.S. donation of 15 million doses would soon start to be distributed via the facility. The African Union’s vaccine task team will also start rolling out seven million Johnson & Johnson shots next week, Nkengasong said. So far, Nigeria has only received roughly four million doses which is like a drop in the ocean for it's over 200 million people.

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2021

COMMENT

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

AN ANGEL GOES HOME

Etim Etim pays tribute to Emily Aig-Imoukhuede, pastor, administrator, and former National President of the National Council for Women Societies

he avalanche of eulogies, condolence messages and tributes pouring into the Aig-Imoukhuede family on the passing of their matriarch, Pastor Emily Aig-Imoukhuede, attest to the beautiful and accomplished life she led for almost 80 years. Her death has gripped national attention, for she was a woman of virtue, a true daughter of Zion and an angel of the Lord in many ways. Pastor (Mrs) Emily Okheren Aig-Imoukhuede was called home by the Lord peacefully in her sleep in the night of June 8, 2021 in Surrey, England. Naturally genial, amiable and kind-hearted, Pastor Emily, as she was widely known, has had a beautiful life of service to God and humanity. She was a loving mother and grandmother who loved and served the Lord till the end. Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon; former Head of Interim National government, Chief Ernest Shonekan and former President Goodluck Jonathan are among the dignitaries that have sent in powerful messages to the family. From the private sector, industrialist Aliko Dangote and bankers, including the management of Access Bank, from where the first son of the deceased retired as the chief executive seven years ago, visited the family with their soothing words of comfort. Among many national assignments, Pastor Emily was the Secretary of State for States and Local Government in the short-lived Interim National Government headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan. Before then, she was the National President of the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) between 1988 and 1993. She also served the country in many other capacities. Pastor Emily’s children and the entire Aig-Imoukhuede family are sparing no expenses in giving their mother a betting send forth. ‘’It will be a royal funeral’’, says a family member. Funeral activities have already begun with condolence visits to the family. On Tuesday next week (July 13), there will be Service of Songs in her hometown, Sabongida-Ora, and Night of Tributes in Lagos the following day. Another Service of Songs, in Lagos, is on Thursday July 15 while the funeral will be in Lagos next week Friday (July 16). She retired from active life in the last one year and spent a great deal of her time with her children and grand children. Her days were filled with prayers, quiet moments, supplications, meditations, praise and worship. She prayed fervently for her family, friends, the Church and Nigeria. Yes, Nigeria - the country she loved dearly and served most passionately in many capacities. Nigeria was on her mind all the time. She listened to messages from the US evangelist, Kenneth Hagin and the Singaporean Preacher, Joseph Prince. Her favourite TV programme was Fareed Zakari GPS, the Sunday talkshow hosted by the brilliant Indian-American journalist on CNN. Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon; former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; and former President Goodluck Jonathan have condoled with the Aig-Imoukhuede family over the death of their matriarch, Pastor Emily Aig-Imoukhuede. She was former Secretary of State (Minister) for States and Local Government Affairs died on June 8, 2021. A condolence letter jointly signed by General Yakubu Gowon and his wife, Victoria, urged the family to stay strong and be comforted

SHE FOUNDED AN NGO, THE DREAMLAND FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, TO EMPOWER PRISON INMATES AND EX-INMATES TO LIVE USEFUL LIVES SO AS NOT TO RETURN TO CRIME AFTER SERVING THEIR PRISON TERMS

knowing that she had played well her part and the family also played the roles expected of them to ensure everyday of her life was very well spent. Gowon’s letter read: “At a time like this, it’s difficult to find the right words to express the depth of the loss of such a fine-spirited woman leader who made sincere and wholesome contribution to nation-building as a former National President of the National Council for Women Societies, NCWS (1988-1993). Her voice on behalf of Nigerian women was strident and hard to ignore. Her appointment as honorable Secretary of State (junior Minister) for States and Local Government Affairs in the Federal Executive Council in 1993 affirmed that women are no pushovers. As a mother, she raised phenomenally successful children, Erekpitan, Aigboje, Kemi and Aigbovbioise who have also made indelible marks in their personal and professional callings.” The former head of state and his wife also said, “As an ordained pastor, she worked tirelessly to win souls for God’s Kingdom,” adding, “we are confident that her good works will remain an everlasting legacy of her time here on earth.” Former President Obasanjo, in his condolence letter addressed to her son, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, described the late Emily Imoukhuede as an: “illustrious daughter of Africa.” “As we mourn the passing of this illustrious daughter of Africa, we must resolve that her great labour of love shall not be in vain,” the former president said. Chief Ernest Shonekan, in whose government she served as secretary of state for States and Local Government Affairs, described her as “an elegant, very kind and good woman.” His letter partly read: “Emily and my wife, Margaret began their lifelong friendship as contemporaries at the University College lbadan, in 1951. They both distinguished themselves in their subsequent careers, with Emily as the Curator of the National Museum, and Margaret at the West African Examinations Council. Through them, our children became and have remained friends. Subsequently, they both were appointed as Trustees of the Chrisland University, Abeokuta. “I remember with fondness and gratitude a beaded walking stick she gave me on my fiftieth birthday, when she also divulged to me that I share the same birthday as one of her sons. lt was such a beautiful work of art, which I have kept to this day. ln 1993, I was privileged to work with her directly when she served in the lnterim government which I led, as the Secretary of State for States and Local Governments….” Also condoling with the Imoukhuede family, former President Jonathan in his condolence letter addressed to Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, described her as “an accomplished public servant and philanthropist.” Jonathan said her legacies and contributions to national development, especially in the health, education and energy sectors, would continue to endure. Former President Jonathan’s letter read: “I learned with deep compassion, the news of the passing on of your dear mother, Mrs. Emily Oheren Aig-Imoukhuede, to eternal glory. Your mother was very special to you and your family for which her death would have left a deep void in your heart and in the hearts of all those she dearly loved. “Please be comforted by the fact that Mrs. Aig-Imoukhuede was an accomplished public servant and philanthropist whose legacies and contributions to national development, especially in the health, education and energy sectors, will continue to endure….” Etim, a former staff of Access Bank, wrote from Abuja

LAGOS AS BEACON FOR SOUTHERN NIGERIA Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, has many things going for her, writes Ademola Adedeji

igeria is at a crossroads presently and chief among what plagues it is insecurity. Across the land, terrorism, campaign for territories, killer herdsmen, kidnappers and banditry seem to be the order of the day. And it is cause for concern for every leader and also responsible citizens. In the helplessness of the situations, leaders are challenged to forge a way out of the mess. While some of the emergencies like kidnapping and campaign for territories spread across the country, others are quite distinct to some regions. Every region has its challenges. And in the course of arresting this emergency, many stakeholders, including religious leaders have preached – with words. But it remains the duty of political leaders to propagate action. And as if waking up from a slumber, the southern governors are now coalescing ideas and resources to wage their battles to move their region forward - something the northern governors seem to have mastered. Well, it’s never too late to start a good thing. So, it was impressive watching the governors gather in Lagos on Monday to discuss governance across the south. I also commend the choice of Lagos as the secretariat for the Southern Governors Forum (SGF) as the coalition is called. Though it is not centrally located in the southern region, Lagos is undeniably not just an economic powerhouse but has become a melting pot for all Nigerians. Its place in the country is so important that if it catches cold, the likelihood of the whole nation sneezing is real. I remember watching Babajide Sanwo-Olu during his campaign for the post of Lagos governor and wondering whether he was just another stooge. But

his entry into governance has convinced me that again, Lagos is blessed with people with ideas and action. In his first year as governor, along with the normal challenges of protecting life and order as well as producing democratic goods and services, Sanwo-Olu was tested with the Covid-19 pandemic to which the state responded excellently and even became a model. The governor also responded dynamically to the ENDSARS protest which also had Lagos as the epicentre. While sadly, the protests were ultimately hijacked by hoodlums who unleashed violence on the society, the state’s effort to rein back law and order cannot be summarily discounted. Continuing in the excellence streak initiated right from the time when Bola Ahmed Tinubu was governor and practically abandoned financial-wise by the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration, Lagos now leads other states in terms of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). If Lagos were a country, it would rank among the richest countries on the African continent. Little wonder other states have not only wondered about the state’s financial success but have sent delegations to come and learn the secrets. But aside from learning how to generate more revenue, there are other things which other southern states can and should learn from Lagos. While the system of operating on the basis of ‘state of origin’ in Nigeria was useful at a time, currently, it has become somewhat antiquated and a sort of Achilles Heel for progress across the land. Unlike some states, in Lagos, opportunities such as government appointments are awarded based on merit, even though that catchment for candidates on the basis of ‘state of origin’ has not been completely discarded. There are several instances such as the recent forming of a committee to revamp the film

industry in the state. The nine-man committee comprised four Lagos State government officials and five entertainers. Curiously, all the five entertainers on the committee are non-indigenes of Lagos and there was hardly a whimper of complaints. This stems from the fact that Lagosians care more about excellence. Also, it is perhaps only in Lagos that Nigerians from other states have held prominent positions in the state’s cabinet. Examples include the current Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Samuel Egube, who incidentally has Delta as his state of origin and also a former Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ben Akabueze, who hails from Anambra State. Such welcoming gestures are largely absent in many other states outside Lagos. And when it comes to commerce, the state has ceded space for people from different parts of the country to trade. In Lagos, there are some markets dominated by traders from other states in the country. But no one really cares. This welcoming attitude is also what other states can do well to imbibe. Hence, when the southern governors chose Lagos as their secretariat, it came as little surprise. Lagos doesn’t have it all but there is nowhere comparable to Lagos. With its airports, it is easily accessible by all. There is virtually no state in the country without its presence in the state in one way or the other in the form of a liaison office. So, it was perhaps only natural for the southern governors to adopt Lagos as their secretariat. I mean, Lagos is the real deal. Though the purpose of the meeting was crucial, perhaps solemn given the grim occurrences necessitating it, I couldn’t but feel a tinge of joy watching Ondo State governor and Chairman of SGF, Rotimi

Akeredolu, inspecting a guard of honour in Lagos. Speaking on behalf of the SGF in Lagos, Akeredolu said: “The Forum reiterates its commitment to the politics of equity, fairness, and unanimously agreed that the presidency of Nigeria be rotated between southern and northern Nigeria and resolved that the next president of Nigeria should emerge from the south.” In May, the southern governors had met in Asaba to discuss among other things, how killer herdsmen have been marauding farmers. At that meeting, they had unanimously declared a ban on open grazing of cattle, a request that some elements in the federal government including President Muhammadu Buhari, opposed. However, as the Chief Security Officer in their various states, it stands to reason that such calls were indeed in their purview to make. But the matter has reached a critical stage that keeping mute is no longer an option. And at the end of the meeting on Monday, the southern governors demanded more control over security by renewing the call for State Police The governors also rejected the proposed three per cent share of the oil revenue to the host community and supported five per cent contained in the recently passed Petroleum Industry Bill. They also rejected the proposed 30 per cent share of profit for the exploration of oil and gas in the basins. And most importantly, the governors asked that in 2023, Nigeria’s president should emerge from the south. The federal government may consider the issues raised by the southern governors as tetchy but like it has been demonstrated in Lagos, good things often do not come easy. Anyway, I pray that following the Lagos example, the dreams of the southern governors are actualised.

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2021

EDITORIAL CRIMINALS AND THE EDUCATION SPACE The stakeholders could do more to secure the future of our children

he concerns expressed by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) over growing attacks on schoolchildren, as well as child abductions in Nigeria, should be taken seriously by the authorities. No fewer than 950 students have been abducted in the country since last December, according to a statement by UNICEF Executive Director, Ms. Henrietta Fore. About 500 of these children were abducted within the past six weeks. “It is not enough to condemn these crimes, not when millions of children face a worsening protection crisis,” said Fore. “Children living in these areas need concerted action to ensure that they can safely live and go to school or fetch water without fear of being attacked or taken from their families.” We agree with UNICEF on the urgent need to tackle this growing pattern of roving genocidal gangs who target schools and homes to abduct innocent children. We challenge the federal government and the authorities in many of the states WHEN PARENTS CAN concerned to do NO LONGER SEND THEIR a little more than CHILDREN OR WARDS TO the usual display of SCHOOL WITHOUT THE FEAR THAT THEY COULD BE incompetence and blame game that ABDUCTED, THE FUTURE have deepened our OF OUR COUNTRY IS IN insecurity. Indeed, JEOPARDY repeated attacks on schools in recent years have created fear in many vulnerable students and their parents, especially in some sections of the country and is affecting the attitude to education. The implication of this unfortunate state of affair is damaging and enduring. Dozens of students and ﬁve teachers were recently abducted from Federal Government College, Yauri, Kebbi State in a third of such mass kidnappings within a month. They reportedly killed one of the police ofﬁcers on duty, broke through the gate and went straight to the students’ classes.

Letters to the Editor

Meanwhile, the number of students abducted from Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna State in the early hours of Monday have been put at 121 with their captors threatening that the students would starve to death if their parents do not supply foodstuff before negotiations could begin on payment of ransom.

H 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 OGED ENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA TO SEND EMAIL: ﬁrst name.surname@thisdaylive.com

owever, while we urge the authorities to move quickly to ensure the safe return of all our children that are in captivity, including in Niger State, payment of ransom and doing deals with criminals cannot be a sustainable approach to handling a challenge that borders on law and order. When a school is under attack and students become targets, according to Manuel Fotaine, West Africa Regional Director of UNICEF, “not only are their lives shattered, the future of the nation is stolen.” When gunmen enter school premises almost at will to cart away children, government must understand that it is dealing with a serious problem. From Federal Government College, Buni Yadi where no fewer than 58 male students were brutally assassinated to Government Secondary School, Chibok where more than 100 girls are yet to be accounted for seven years after to Government Girls’ Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi where Lear Sharibu remains in captivity on account of her faith three years after her colleagues were released, these criminals not only target the most vulnerable of our citizens, there is also a calculated attempt to further polarise the country. Since we cannot afford to leave our children at the mercy of criminal gangs who are bent on truncating their future, there is an urgent need to go back to the drawing board on how to keep the schools safe. As Fore argued, “every effort must be made to reverse the spiralling protection crisis for children” who have now become sitting targets for criminal cartels. When parents can no longer send their children or wards to school without the fear that they could be abducted, the future of our country is in jeopardy.

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.

NIGERIA SHOULD EMBRACE EFFECTIVE MEDIA MONITORING

bviously, opinions are still sharply divided about what recent suspension of Twitter and other actions of the government portend for Nigerian media industry and the country at large. However, before the federal government’s controversial decisions, the industry and the nation were clearly facing a bleak future especially with persistent and mindless distribution of fabricated news reports. “Nigeria…is grappling with the fake-news epidemic spreading across the country. The problem has become so acute that the government of Africa’s most populous nation has warned that misinformation could be the greatest threat to credible elections,” The Wall Street Journal recently notes. President Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo equally share the concern. “…with the growing increase in fake news, the future of your profession is under threat and therefore you must be ready to correct this and safeguard your profession,” Buhari reportedly warns media owners and practitioners. Osinbajo, at a recent event in Lagos, adds, “almost daily, fake news or mischievously manipulated news is trafficked with the clear intent of warping the perception of reality and inducing conflict.” The heat from false news stories is also spreading faster and evidently stifling opportunities and growth in other sectors. “…84% of businesses feel threatened by fake news about their products. It’s particularly worrying for…businesses where the practice of targeted misinformation designed to harm a company’s reputation has been more acutely weaponised…,” a report cited in www.cnbcafrica.com, projects. Another report cited in www.goethe.de, claims, “the prevalence of fake news has made the fighting of diseases more complicated for Nigeria’s government and its healthcare sector.”

Interestingly, there is nothing suggesting that the promoters of fake news are backing down soon. So, what should a serious-minded government do? Turn a blind eye to the increasing threats? Initiate measures aimed at stemming the tide? The federal government settled for the latter. Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s Information Minister recently launched a campaign against fake news. The minister, during that launch, reportedly, stresses, “there is an epidemic sweeping the world. If left unchecked, it could be worse than all the plagues that world has recorded put together. It is a clear and present danger to global peace and security. It is a threat to democracy. It is the epidemic of fake news. Mixed with hate speech, it is a disaster waiting to happen.” For Tolu Ogunlesi, a media assistant to President Buhari, “... naming and shaming of members that peddle fake news” could stem the problem. Some government-funded agencies like the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, {NBC} and the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria {APCON}, are equally not leaving any stone unturned in checking the cited abuses. NBC, saddled with the regulation of the broadcasting sector, recently sanctioned some outfits for breaches. Bob Aroture, a media expert, notes, in Nigerian Law Intellectual Property Watch, the contraventions “include breaches of the rules on hateful speech, vulgar lyrics and unverifiable claims...” Available reports also indicate that APCON, vested with powers of regulating and controlling the practice of advertising in Nigeria, in all its aspects and ramifications, always “insisted on pre-exposure clearance of all advertisements in order to check all forms of abuses such as misleading statements, spurious testimonials, visual and verbal exaggerations, misleading offers, suggestion or pictures offensive to public decency.” It, however, cannot be over-stressed that the country is still in dire

need of better approaches in spotting and preventing potential fake news. The best solution, some concerned stakeholders suggest, is timely and efficient capturing of all media exposures. “Typically, individuals or organisational clients-e.g. private companies and corporations, charities, government departments and ministries…subscribe to a media monitoring service to keep track of what is being said about them, their field of operations, their competitors, or other related specified topics of interest,” notes Wikipedia. Another report, cited in nigeriang.com, reads “media monitoring tracks competitive analysis and provides intelligence information about the operations of competitors.” Media monitoring, widely credited to Romeike, a Polish newsagent who set up the first clipping agency at London in 1852, is expanding rapidly. “Spend growth of this industry has the potential to touch a value of over USD 2 billion with spend momentum that will accelerate at a CAGR of more than 10% between 2019-2024,” projects a report in procurement.spendedge.com. In Nigeria, media monitoring was not seen as a priority by most businesses until recently. “Pre-1995, media compliance in the market was said to be around 50%, causing marketers enormous headaches,” a recent report cited in www.brandcrunch. com.ng, affirms. The situation however changed with the launch of Media Monitoring Service Ltd, an independent media monitoring, research and analysis agency. The latter reportedly recognised as the industry leader, officially started operations in Nigeria, in 1995 and has since been partnering with government, businesses and individuals in ensuring that nothing is left to chance. “The information supplied by the firm has made media planning more scientific,” said Ify Kagho, a renowned branding professional. Sunday Odiaka, Lagos

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JULY 9, 2021

POLITICS

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

We Are Not As Different As Some Think Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, businessman, politician and former 2019 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Trust urges Nigerians to close ranks and continue to live together as one

n the contest for power and resources in history, people always try to outdo each other by creating divisions around race, ethnicity, or faith. People do this to enlist group support for otherwise private agenda or whip support for personal disappointment or loss, as it presently is. Sometimes when faith and ethnicity are the same, demagogue explores doctrinaire differences as it was in Europe in the 17th century, where European kings fought a 30- year war dividing themselves into Catholics or protestants between 1618 and 1648. Europe never emerged significantly as a powerhouse until it overcame that era of darkness, only then was it able to march into renaissance (Enlightenment), Industrial Revolution and Democracy. Ethnically and religiously homogeneous Somalia, whose war lords divided it along clans, has yet to escape from the ruins and darkness of her own division. Rwanda to the contrary is matching forward, having buried the ghost of hatred, making development a focus. When I was a young student both at A’ levels and the university, it was our aspiration to seek the unity of all of Africa into one country in the manner of America as espoused by Kwame Nkrumah (the first Prime Minister of Ghana), and Sekou Toure (the first President of Guinea), and other great nationalists. Some of our mentors in Nigeria, such as Alao-Aka Bashorun, worked as Pan Africanist in drafting the constitutions of many newly independent African countries, in a clime when Nigeria’s Justice Akinola Aguda served as Chief Justice of Botswana. We saw all Africans as same, and we perceived any attack on any group of Africans as an attack on the rest of us. It was in that spirit that on January 6, 1988, Rotimi Ewebiyi, Olaitan Oyerinde, Chris Ayaze, Sylvester Odion, and my humble self-all students of the University of Lagos-were arrested and detained after the massive protest we staged alongside Nigerian workers and students, following Prime Minister Thatcher of Britain’s visit. We were protesting in Nigeria against her pro-apartheid policy in South Africa. Where we are coming from is of course very far from where we are now, where people are demonstrating to break Nigeria. In the days of yore, it was unimaginable for us that there will come a time that advocacy will become fervent that we break Nigeria into separate countries. Nigeria, which we considered then as one of the small 52 states of Africajust the size of California. Everything from farming practices, pastoralist Vs farmers, differences in dressing, climate and land are being thrown in the discus to magnify our differences. The methods are even regrettably pedestrian, in what seems to be an argument that it is needless to save the unity of the country. Tragically, those who have held high offices in Nigeria at one point are stoking the current embers of disunity. The truth, very stubborn truth, is that we are the same people, more than the magnifying glasses of separatists want us to see. Nigeria may have diverse languages, but the cultures of most Nigerian ethnic groups are the same, pointing to the same roots in distant history and here is why. The cosmogony, religious rights, history and cultures of most Nigerians (Pre-colonial and Pre-Arabic influence) are largely the same, despite diversity in language. The African American scholar, Chancellor Williams has already done justice to this question in his seminar work “The Destruction of African Civilization: Great Issue of a Race.” Williams explained that two major factors account for why Africa,

though accounts for less than 3% of global trade, is home to the highest numbers of languages and dialects in the world, but same culture. These factors are first, the migration that occurred in prehistoric

times because of the dry up (desertification) of the areas of the Sahara, which was home to a previously thriving culture and life. The second was forced migration,

Time to Listen to the Agitators Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, Founder: Igbo Youth Movement calls on the authorities to engage the diﬀerent groups of separatists in a dialogue

t a time like this, I believe it is very important to remind us all, that the truth has been in the public domain for long, just that men in power chose to ignore the truth. By virtue of the fact that I have worked closely with the younger generation of my people for decades and earned their trust and respect over the years, I most humbly aver, that the solution to the agitation and the restiveness remains: Engaging the agitators, collating their grievances and presenting same to the central government. This has remained my point of disagreement with Igbo leaders. A position I have maintained for years. Building synergy with other progressive regions in the country and strongly presenting the truth: That the 1999 unitary constitution, just cannot unite, sustain, let alone grow Nigeria.(gladly, something the Southern Governors Forum woke up to recently) That the murderous herdsmen, who have so much terrorized and traumatised the nation and dislocated citizens all over the land, as if they are above the law, must be reined in, effectively contained and dealt with. We will be deceiving ourselves when we arrogantly refuse to enquire to find out the root cause of the grievances driving the agitation, just because we are afraid that addressing those grievances will uplift the much resented zone. Ignoring and shunning the agitators, only drives them crazy, deepening their anger and frustrations. We have ignored them for over two decades and that strategy hasn’t solved the problem. Demanding a list of their grievances will go a long way to resolving the issue. There’s no magic, power or strategy that will stop the agitation for secession, if

the 1999 constitution remains the ground norm, states still dependent on monthly federal allocation and unemployment continues to grow in leaps and bounds. The suffocating unitary structure, hinders economic growth, stifling development. Obstinately insisting that the troublesome and unhelpful 1999 constitution, inspired by the military, is cast in stone, and undiscardable, only deepens the fears of domination and suppression. Suggesting a hidden agenda to oppress and hold down others. The brigandage of the ruthless herdsmen in the last five years, and the shocking advice from the presidency that their victims should choose between their lives and their ancestral lands, the claim by the well armed herdsmen that every inch of Nigerian soil belongs to them, plus the inability of the security agencies to contain them, led to and enhanced the loss of faith, that drives the agitation. Nepotism, sectionalism, insecurity and maladministration only blew the lid off the boiling cauldron, granting the agitators more confidence. It’s not true that ignoring the agitators and giving them the impression that government thinks it’s infra dig to engage them because they are from a despised region, is the way to go. It isn’t true that lethal force alone will solve the problem, and the agitation will die. It is not true that the structure of Nigeria is perfect and wonderful. Our 1999 constitution, the best in the world. It is utter falsehood to assume that Nigerians will allow the vicious herdsmen occupy and take over their ancestral lands, and everybody will be applauding them. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

owing to various wars of conquest, according to Professor Williams. When people flee, they go in small bands in different directions, carrying the memory of their cultures and cosmogony, but often lose their original languages as they travel far. In Nigeria, it is possible to decipher a definite relationship in the pre-colonial and pre-Arabically influenced cultures of western and Northern Nigeria. These are presumed to be cultures whose ruling classes migrated from Meriotic Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt. The same practices in the Hausa Bori cult of worship, exists in the Sango (Yoruba) cult of worship. Similarly, the same practices are found in the Amadioha worship circle amongst the Igbos, who, though, are associated with the Bantustan stock. The details of these assumptions should have by now been a subject of a detail study in archaeology, history, linguistics, using modern technology of historical reconstruction. Cheikh Anta Diop, who I consider the most outstanding African scholar (historian, physicist, Archaeologist and Chemist) has done some pioneer work on this subject and planned a perspective for historical reconstruction of Africa cultures which establishes that Africans are essentially the same people, not different people and can live together and must ever break from been sliced into tiny groups for easy conquest. This was his preoccupation with his books. “Cultural Unity of Africa”, “Africa pre-colonial”, “The African Origin of Civilization, Myth or Reality”, “Civilization or Barbarism”. And last, “The Economic and Cultural Basis for a Federated African State”. I recommend these important works for advocates of separatism, who constantly repeat the false doctrine that “we are different people we cannot live together, let everyone go their ways.” Africans everywhere are of the same ancestry, all human beings are of the same ancestry, and so says the Bible in Act of Apostles, 17:26; “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for dwelling on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;” Let us resolve our economic and political challenges in Nigeria in the political turf. Let us keep ethnic division and religious bigotry out of it. Ethno-religious confrontation are conflicts no one can ever win, as all are always losers in that field. Nigeria is a beautiful country, the most formidable promise of the African people. It started well at independence and her people had learnt to live together peacefully well until the setback of the civil war triggered by the 1966 military coup. The fantastic testament of our peaceful co-existence and integration includes such occasions as when the mainly Christian voters of Gboko elected a Kanuri Muslim man, Abubakar Imam, to represent them in the Northern State Assembly. It includes when Chief Obafemi Awolowo campaigned for Ernest Ikoli, an Ijaw man in the Lagos elections, against a fellow Ijebu man, Akinsanya. In the early 1960’s right to the Seventies (‘70’s), Easterners like Kalu Anya served in Borno Judiciary, as well as justice Olagunju a Yoruba man from Offa, who trained many Jurists in the Sokoto Division. Today’s setbacks are not conclusive evidence of our inability to live together, but challenges we must overcome, as even the most advanced countries of the world such as United States of America, United Kingdom, Spain, and France still grapple with issues of identity. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JULY 9, 2021

PERSPECTIVE

Abiodun Warns against Empty Promises Kunle Somorin, Media Aide to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State explains his principal’s decision to stay away from the selection process for the state’s All Progressives Congress councillorship and chairmanship candidates for the impending Chido Nwangwu, Publisher, USAfricaonline.com local government elections

Zuma’s Woes and Waste of Mandela’s Legacy

laments the disgrace that former President Jacob Zuma of South Africa has brought on himself

s the story was breaking on July 7, 2021 that South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma handed himself to the police at a correctional services facility (prison), in order to begin a 15-month sentence without appeal, I was concerned like most human beings that Jacob Zuma, a 79 year-old grandfather and (former) freedom fighter, will find life very difficult inside a prison facility. On the other hand, I reflected on the unrelenting and serial acts of corrupt enrichment by some members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in privileged positions, the impoverishment of millions of its citizens; the countless abuse of the rights of both the citizens of South Africa and especially the seasonal violence and xenophobia visited upon other African residents and migrant workers in different parts of the richly blessed country. It’s sad but true that some of the notorious financial criminals who are making living difficult for those deprived peoples of South Africa rose to power under the umbrella of the African National Congress, that was Mandela’s political party. Hence, within the hour of the Zuma imprisonment breaking news, I wrote on my personal Twitter handle @Chido247 that the “Shameful swings of corruption by Zuma n his cohorts damage Madiba’s legacy! Cry, for my beloved Mandela!” You may recall that Zuma was forced to resign as President by the ANC due to blatant acts of corruption. This time, Zuma’s key problem was for contempt from his defying a court order to testify before a judicial commission investigating widespread allegations of corruption during his presidency, from 2009 to 2018. An important report by Mogomotsi Magome of the AP notes that “the judicial inquiry into corruption during his term as president has heard damning testimony from former cabinet ministers and top executives of state-owned corporations that Zuma allowed his associates, members of the Gupta family, to influence his cabinet appointments and lucrative contracts…. In a separate matter, Zuma is standing trial on charges of corruption related to a 1999 arms deal, where he allegedly received bribes from French arms manufacturer Thales. His financial adviser has already been convicted and imprisoned in that case. Zuma has had other legal woes. In 2005, he was charged with rape but was acquitted in 2006 after the court found the sexual intercourse was consensual.” Those scandalous activities and misconducts are not what Nelson Mandela and

Govan Mbeki and Walter Sisulu and Steve Biko and Miriam Makeba and Winnie Mandela and millions of others sacrificed their youth and their lives for. No! South Africa is, by most reasonable assessments, among the most endowed and beautiful countries of the world. I have been to post-apartheid South Africa twice. The first was for a technology business conference. The second was when I traveled as a part of the United States based media who covered the visit of former President Bill Clinton to Southern Africa and West Africa — during the closing days of March 27, 1998. During this period, the late, great Nelson Mandela was the President of South Africa. Without a doubt, South Africans deserve better — especially after defeating the evil of apartheid, racist and oppressive rule. Somehow, that country seems to be losing its focus, again. I explore these issues in more detail and context in my forthcoming 2021 book, ‘MLK, Mandela & Achebe: Power, Leadership and Identity’. On the Zuma tangle, one can make the case that it is the rule of law that won and carried the day. Post-apartheid South Africa had so much promise and hopes for a people and a continent in need of genuine heroes and success stories.

s Ogun state is inching towards the conduct of the local government polls, the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has called on the chairmanship and councillorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), not to make frivolous promises to the electorate. The governor made the call at a meeting with the party’s 20 chairmanship and 236 councillorship candidates at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta, on Wednesday. Abiodun admonished them to stand by their promises and work towards leaving a legacy in their various local government areas. Explaining that the meeting was held to officially flag off the LG election campaign, the Governor disclosed that the party went through tough time in choosing its representatives for the polls. He added that special precaution was taken to ensure rancour-free primaries so as not to tear the party apart. “Do not make promises you can not fulfill. Be characterised as that administration, that chairmen and councillors who fulfil their promises. “Our people do not ask for too much. What they ask for is, when you make a promise, make sure you fulfill it”, Abiodun stated. He disclosed that his decision not to be involved in picking the candidates was to ensure that all stakeholders in the party have their inputs on who emerges the party’s flag bearers in the local government election. The governor advised the party candidates to tap from the experience of the Local Government Transitional

Zuma’s key problem was for contempt from his defying a court order to testify before a judicial commission investigating widespread allegations Do not make promises of corruption during his you can not fulfill. presidency, from 2009 to Be characterised as 2018....The judicial inquiry that administration, into corruption during his that chairmen and term as President has heard councillors who fulfil damning testimony from their promises. Our former cabinet ministers and top executives of statepeople do not ask for owned corporations that too much. What they ask Zuma allowed his associates, for is, when you make members of the Gupta a promise, make sure family, to inﬂuence his you fulfill it”, Abiodun cabinet appointments and stated. He disclosed lucrative contracts…. In a that his decision separate matter, Zuma is standing trial on charges of not to be involved in corruption related to a 1999 picking the candidates arms deal, where he allegedly was to ensure that all received bribes from French stakeholders in the arms manufacturer Thales. party have their inputs In 2005, he was charged with on who emerges the rape but was acquitted in party’s flag bearers in 2006 after the court found the local government the sexual intercourse was consensual election

Chairmen, who according to him have performed excellently well in the last 20 months. “I have received good reports from the people about their performances. They have carried out repairs of schools, primary healthcare centres and embarked on electrification projects”, Abiodun noted. He pointed out that the feats recorded by the Transitional Chairmen was as a result of his promise to empower the local government administration to discharge their responsibilities in line with the constitutional provision, charging them to keep the good work till the end of their tenure. Abiodun noted that APC in the state has become bigger, saying “this was made possible by our administration’s hard, methodical and deliberate work as well as participatory and inclusive posture which attracted others to our party. “I can tell you that all members of our House of Assembly are in our party. Almost all the past governors, deputy governors in the State are with us. This is not by accident. It is the result of inclusiveness that made people from other parties to join us”, he said. While urging the party flag bearers to key into the vision and programmes of the state government and be ready to reach out to those who contested with them, Abiodun advised that the race should not be a winner takes all affair. “Work with them as they remain a vital part to your victory”, he said. The governor described his administration’s achievements in the last two years as unprecedented, saying “governance in the state has been redefined by fulfilling promises and ensuring that no section of the state has development to the detriment of others”. In his remarks, the Chairman of the Party, Yemi Sanusi, while congratulating the chairmanship candidates, noted that the meeting was to interface with all the candidates and fashion out winning ways in the coming local government election. Speaking on behalf of the Chairmen of the Local Government Transitional Committee, Semiu Lawal, thanked the governor for the opportunity given them to serve the people, while submitting that the Committees had executed more than 200 projects in the last 20 months. He expressed the readiness of the transition committee chairmen to work with the party’s candidates to ensure victory at the LG polls.

FRIDAY JULY 9, 2021 •T H I S D AY

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BUSINESSWORLD

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08024557078

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Quick Takes

Sirika Congratulates NIMET DG

OVERSIGHT VISIT

L-R: Director Legislative/Clerk, Senate Committee on Trade & Investment, Dr. Emmanuel Odo; Member, Senate Committee, Senator Elisha Abbo; Chairman, Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi; Executive Secretary/CEO, Financial Reporting Council (FRC) of Nigeria, Mr. Shuaibu Adamu Ahmed; Member, Senate Committee on Trade & Investment, Senator Tolu Adebiyi; and Director, Directorate of Accounting Standards (Public Sector), FRC, Dr. Iheanyi Anyahara, during an oversight visit by the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment to the FRC’s head oﬃce in Lagos… recently

Fraudsters Rip Off Travellers through Fake Airline Booking Accounts Chinedu Eze Many Nigerians have inadvertently booked and paid for flights on fraudulent airline sites, which are either cloned or copied to look like that of the airlines by fraudsters. In fact, it is projected that air travellers may have lost about N2 billion on such fake sites in the last five years, but as airlines strive to inform travellers about such possible sites, some continue to fall victims, especially now Internet fraud is on the increase. Spokesman of Air Peace, Stanley Olisa told THISDAY that there was a time some fraudsters manipulated the airline’s website and travellers were making payments into it.

AVIATION He explained that the fraudsters created fake Air Peace account so that when passengers book their flights they pay into the fake accounts. Under the fraudulent platforms they created their own accounts and people were going to the page to book flights and making payments. But when the airline was notified its IT team successfully blocked the fake account. The airline also notified travellers, using all media platforms about the fraudulent account. “That fake site has been halted. We have our standard media platforms. We are on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and we have our website. We also

have travel agents we partner with and in addition to those, we also have mobile app. “Besides these platforms, any other one is a sham. Such platforms should not be patronised. Travellers wishing to buy our tickets can also go to airports. We have telephone numbers on the website and email, so you can place a call to us,” Olisa explained. Also Azman Air booking website had been cloned in the past and travellers booked, bought tickets and paid to the wrong accounts and in the process lost millions of naira. A source from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) consumer protection directorate then explained that some crooks opened a fake website

named azmanair, whereas the real Azman Air airline website was airazman. So they used the website to defraud people and rip them off of millions of naira. “So if by any chance you go to the website and entered the crooks site and go ahead and make payment you will find out that you are not billed for any flight,” the official explained then. “We called Azman and told them they have to warn people and they placed advert on the pages of newspapers and other media. Then we made serious efforts to block the website, which we have now succeeded in doing,” the source also said. But Head of Communication, Continued on page 24

FG Moves to Restructure Nigeria’s Ship Registration Eromosele Abiodun The federal government has commenced moves to restructure the nation’s ship registry in a bid to ensure the utilisation of secured statutory certificates and prevent the entry of unseaworthy and sub-standard ships into the Nigerian flag. Also, the government has commenced the issuance of new certificates of ship registration while simultaneously phasing out the old permits. Ship registration is the process by which a ship is documented and given the nationality of the country to which the ship has been documented. The nationality allows a ship to travel internationally as it is proof of ownership of the vessel. Ship registration is used to

MARITIME document ships for ownership. Documentation provides definite evidence of nationality for international purposes and provides financing opportunities with the availability of preferred mortgages on documented vessels. All vessels, according to the rules of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), are expected to register under a country of their choice, the maritime administration, which in turn permits such ship to fly their flag. Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, who disclosed this in a statement said the government was restructuring the Nigerian Ship Registration Office for efficient and effective

service delivery. “We are determined to grow our national fleet and tonnage to an enviable height. We are committed to ensuring that our ship registry remains of international standard and this is why we have enhanced our certificates with more security features that would stand the test of time. “The all-encompassing process of issuance will ensure robust screening of vessels that would visit our waters,” Jamoh said. He added that the new regulation, which took effect from July 1, involves the Certificate of Nigerian Registry, Provisional Certificate of Registry, Certificate of Nigerian Registry for Bareboat Chartered Vessel, Fishing Boat and Certificate of Cabotage Ship Registry for Wholly Owned Nigerian Vessel, among others.

He disclosed that the Certificate of Cabotage Ship Registry for Bareboat Chartered Vessel; and Foreign Owned Vessels are also affected. Others, he added, are: “Certificate of Cabotage Ship Registry for Joint Venture Owned Vessel, Deletion Certificate, Bill of Sale and Transcript of Registry. “The Certificate of Mortgage to Secure Account Current and Certificate of Freedom of Encumbrance have also been changed. All existing certificates issued by the Registrar of Ships before the commencement of the new regulation remain valid and should be carried on board vessels until their expiration. But vessel owners or Masters may apply for the reissuance of their existing certificates. The Merchant Shipping Act, 2007

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has congratulated the Director-General/CEOoftheNigerianMeteorologicalAgency(NiMet), Prof.MansurBakoMatazu,onhisappointmentintotheExecutiveCouncil of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). Matazu, who is also the Permanent Representative of Nigeria with the Meteorology regulatory body, was elected at the seventy-third session of the Executive Council of theWMO.The letter signed by the Secretary-General of theWMO, Prof. PetteriTaalas congratulating the NiMetDirector-Generalstated,“Ilookforwardtoyourfutureparticipation and effective contribution to the work of the Council for the benefit of all our members. I would like to assure you of my full support as well as that of the Secretariat in the accomplishment of your new duties.” A statement from the agency, signed by the General Manager, Public Relations,MuntariIbrahim,saidtheelectionofMatazuwasoccasioned by the tremendous contributions of NiMet and by extension Nigeria, in the furtherance and propagation of the message and ideals of the scienceofmeteorologyintheWestAfricanSub-regionandthecontinent of Africa as a whole. “TheExecutiveCounciloftheWMOimplementsdecisionsoftheCongress (i.e.,thesupremebodyoftheOrganisationwhichisthegeneralassembly of delegates representing Members ofWMO).The Executive Council coordinates programmes, manages the budget, considers, and acts on resolutionsandrecommendationsfromtheRegionalAssociations(RAs) andTechnicalCommissions(TCs),studiesandmakesrecommendations on matters affecting international meteorology and other related activities,” it added.

Nomination Opens for IATA Awards

TheInternationalAirTransportAssociation(IATA)isinvitingnominations for the 2021 Diversity and Inclusion Awards. “The COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped the aviation industry’s agenda on diversity and inclusion. In fact, it has been an opportunity to redouble our eﬀorts to improve our performance. Improving our gender balance, in particular, is a top priority as seen by the growing number of signatories to the 20by2025 pledge. “The second edition of the IATA Diversity and Inclusion Awards would once again highlight exceptional work in this area. Along with honoring thoseleadingchange,theawardsaimtoinspireevengreaterurgencyin driving the changes needed to strengthen aviation with a commitment to diversity and inclusion at the industry’s highest levels of leadership,” said IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh. The awards recognise three categories of Diversity and Inclusion leadership: Inspirational Role Model Award - Recognises a woman holding a senior position within the air transport industry who has had a signiﬁcant impact on the aviation agenda through her strong contribution to business delivery, as well as her ongoing support of the diversity and inclusion agenda. Nominees are welcome from across the aviation industry. Also, the High Flyer Award recognises a young femaleaviationprofessionalundertheageof40whohasdemonstrated leadership through concrete action in favor of diversity and inclusion, makingapositiveimpactontheindustry.TheDiversity&InclusionTeam Award also recognises an airline that has seen measurable change in diversity and inclusion as a result of the work it has been doing in this area. Open to all IATA member airlines.

AFRAA Ranks Ethiopian Airlines High

Ethiopian Airlines Group has become Africa’s top airline in passenger and freight traffic retaining its leadership position in the continent. AccordingtotheAfricanAirlinesAssociation’s(AFRAA)report,Ethiopian has been ranked first by passenger and cargo traffic in 2020. Ethiopian carried500thousandtonsoffreightand5.5millionpassengersthrough its main hub, Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Commenting on the positive rating, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. TewoldeGebreMariamsaid,“Wearehonouredtocontinueourleadership evenduringtheGlobalPandemicCrisiswhichhasdevastatedtheaviation industry. This is a manifestation of our resilience and agility. We are excited about the role we played in the fight against the pandemic by continuing our much-needed air connectivity within Africa and with the rest of the world without any flight suspension.We are saving lives through air transport of medical supplies and vaccines.” Ethiopian Airlines topped the list with the highest passenger traffic transported through Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. A total of 5.5 million passengers have been transported through the airport. Of this traffic, Ethiopian transported 5.2 million passengers and the remaining passengers were transported by other airlines.

“Huge investments in the Nigerian economy should attract tax holiday in order to create incentives” the Managing Director of Mac Folly Limited,

Senator Hadi Sirika Continued on page 24

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BUSINESSWORLD FRAUDSTERS RIP OFF TRAVELLERS THROUGH FAKE AIRLINE BOOKING ACCOUNTS Dana Air, Kingsley Ezenwa, told THISDAY that whereas the airline has not experienced its website being cloned, it was job scam that it had experienced, whereby people use the name of the airline to advertise fake job vacancies and they would invite prospective candidates to Abuja for interview and ask them to pay for flight ticket. “Once you pay for flight ticket they take the money and disappear because you pay into their private account,” he said. Ezenwa explained that Dana Air has fortified website that once it is opened Dana Air advert would appear, which confirms the genuineness of the site. IT expert and Editor of Techeconomy.ng, Mr. Peter Oruka, said internet fraudsters succeed in creating fake airlines website because people do not know the original URL of those sites so the inadvertently book and pay for tickets in fake accounts. He explained that the fake ones usually look more attractive and when they open it. “So airlines should be able to tell people their original websites. It is the passengers that lose money, not the airlines. The fraudsters are interested in the credit card numbers of their victims, which they use to access their accounts. “They should buy domain names around their own site like if an airline’s website is azmanair.com, for example, it should also buy domain names like airazman.com, flyazman air etc. That way it would be difficult to create a site close to the name of the airline,” he explained.

FG MOVES TO RESTRUCTURE NIGERIA’S SHIP REGISTRATION makes it mandatory for the Originals of Certificates of Registry to be carried on board vessels at all times,” he said. He noted that issuance of these certificates was a fulfilment of Section 30 of the Merchant Shipping Act 2007, which provides, inter alia, that, “the Registrar of Ships shall on completion of the registration of a ship, issue a certificate of registration in such form as may be approved by the agency.”

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

NEWS

FG to Save N270m from Newly Installed 1.52MW Solar Grid, Says Fashola Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has said the newly installed 1.52MW solar microgrid power system at the headquarters of the ministry in Abuja and the adjoining ministry of the environment, will save the federal government N270.9 million in overheads. In addition, the minister, who spoke at the inauguration of the project in Mabushi, explained that it would further reduce the average diesel consumption by both ministries from 764,248 litres per annum to 166,825 litres every year. At the event which was attended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, who stood in for President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Ms. Amina Mohammed, Fashola stated that the power system will ensure constant electricity supply to the beneficiaries, outside of the national grid. He recalled that the project was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in March 2019, at a time the

ministry of power was part of works and housing, explaining that it is expected that the 1.52MW solar system will provide uninterrupted power supply to five blocks housing the two ministries. In addition, he stated that the project employed 382

artisans and 176 skilled workers throughout its duration, in fulfilment of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of creating jobs. “It would see to the reduction of average diesel consumption from 764,248 litres per annum to 166,825 litres per annum and

cost saving of NGN270,945,000 over 20 years and contribute towards the reduction of government operational expenses and reduction of recurrent expenditure. “It has led to the upgrade and retrofitting of our electrical appliances by replacing 400 old

Air-conditioning units with 400 new inverter-based energy efficient air-conditioning units and replacing 2600 old light fittings with energy efficient LED ones all of which are energy saving because they consume 40 per cent less energy,” the minister stressed.

STAKEHOLDERS’ ENGAGEMENT

L-R: Deputy President, Nigerian Council of Registered Brokers (NCRIB), Rotimi Edu; Vice President, Mr. Tunde Oguntade; President, Mrs. Bola Onigbogi; Acting Managing Director/CEO, Heirs Insurance Limited, Adaobi Nwakuche; Managing Director/ CEO, Heirs Life Assurance, Niyi Onifade; and Chairman, Heirs Life Assurance, Dan Okeke, at the Brokers’ Forum organised by Heirs Life Assurance and Heirs Insurance for NCRIB members held in Lagos…recently

NCS Intercepts Tramadol, Contraband worth N100m Eromosele Abiodun The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’ Owerri has announced that it intercepted tramadol and other contraband goods with a duty paid value (DPV) of N99.82 million between April and June this year. The command in a statement revealed that five suspects were arrested in connection to the seizures which included: 45 rolls containing 4,500 sachets of 225mg of royal brand of tramadol, 210 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 18

parcels of Indian Hemp, 19, 725 sachets of dizapam tablet, 98 bales of used clothing, 220 cartons of foreign tomatoes paste, 12 cartons of foreign Johnson soap, 240 pieces of used tyres, 668 pairs of used shoes, among others. The command stated that majority of the contraband were mostly intercepted along Okada-Benin/Lagos expressway Head of the command, Comptroller Yusuf Lawal, reiterated that even though smuggling is a global phenomenon it count not be

eradicated entirely. He said all hands must be on the deck so that smuggling could be reduced to its barest minimum. He commended the resilience and doggedness of his officers and men that brought about this result noting that only God knows what would have happened if the tramadol gets to the wrong hand. He said: “Imagine that happening at this trying moment in our country, the negative consequences cannot be over-emphasized. The Comptroller stated that

the seizure couldn’t have been possible without the logistics support of the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and the entire management, “as well as the media for your partnership in sensitising and educating the general public on the evil of smuggling to the nation’s economy which has led to drastic reduction of smuggling within our zone. “He further thanked our sister agencies that are always on ground giving us the necessary operational support, most especially the Nigeria Army,

Police, DSS among others and look forward to sustaining such relationship that will yield better performance in the remaining half of the year.” Lawal urged his men to always ensure professionalism and be diligent in performing their statutory responsibilities. He charged them to sustain the anti-smuggling operations by making sure all revenue leakages are blocked. He further encouraged them to keep thwarting the antics of those dare devil smugglers who used different methods of concealment for smuggling.

DPR to Unveil Strategy for Strengthening Oil, Gas Sector Peter Uzoho The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) will in the coming weeks, unveil a collaborative strategy called Maximum Economic Recovery (MER), aimed at strengthening the oil and gas industry as well as ensure the sustainability of the sector. The Director of DPR, Mr. Sarki Auwalu, announced this in his keynote address at the ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference (NOG 2021) holding in Abuja, with the theme:

“Fortifying the Nigeria’s Oil Gas Industry for Economic Growth and Stability.” Auwalu said the strategy would articulate key delivery programmes to guarantee stability, growth, and development of the industry in line with the federal government’s aspirations. “As part of our mandate to strengthen industry and ensure sustainability, the Department will be unveiling an industry collaborative strategy for Maximum Economic Recovery (MER) for the Nigeria Oil & Gas

sector within the next weeks. “This strategy will articulate key delivery programmes to guarantee stability, growth, and development of the industry in line with Government aspirations whilst leveraging the National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre (NOGEC) commissioned by Mr. President in January this year as the techno-economic resource centre to drive industry safety, value, and cost efficiency,” he said. He said as a department, the DPR would, “continue to foster collaboration, influ-

ence, facilitate, enable and promote industry growth, all for economic growth and in overriding national interest.” Auwalu further stated that the DPR would contemplate five broad areas where the nation’s oil and Gas industry needed fortification to support national economic stability and growth. He listed the five broad areas Legal, Institutional, Financial, In-sector Diversification, and Indigenous Capacity. He said with the focused leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and the

“steers” of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, the key fundamentals for industry growth were being emplaced. Auwalu said on the legal front, the long-awaited Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has just been concurrently passed by both chambers of the National Assembly and awaits harmonisation, adding that it was envisaged that the president would assent to the bill that enhances clarity in legislative, regulatory, fiscal, and administrative framework.

business. He pointed out that the solution to the scarcity and high price of maize and soybean was to increase local production through farmer participation. Iyayi explained that, if farmers can be properly trained on global best practices in feed production, individual farmers will be able to independently

make quality feeds needed for his livestock consumption. He appealed for the collaboration of IITA in this regard. The DG, PAA, Francis Toromade assured that, PAA is ready to help train farmers on global most impactful practices (MIP) in maize and soybean production with the assistance of IITA.

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Ogene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Asst. Editor, Money Market

Nume Ekeghe

Senior Correspondent

ËÒÏÏ× ÕÓØÑÌÙÖß (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) ÜÙ×ÙÝÏÖÏ ÌÓÙÎßØ (Maritime) Ë×ÏÝ ×ÏÔÙ (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor (Energy) ××ËØßÏÖ ÎÎÏÒ (Energy) Reporters

ÙÝË ÖÏÕÒßÙÑÓÏ (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

Institute, Others to Train Farmers The Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) and Premier Agribusiness Academy (PAA) have identified shortage of maize and soybean; which are the two most important ingredient used in poultry feed as the main factor crippling the poultry sector in Nigeria. Registrar / CEO, Nigeria Institute of Animal Science

(NIAS), Prof. Eustace Iyayi, while addressing stakeholders during a collaborative meeting held with Premier Agribusiness Academy (PAA) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Oyo state said, the unavailability of quality and affordable livestock feed to farmers could be attributed to

the shortfall in local production of maize and soybean in the country. According to him, it became imperative for NIAS to pay attention to livestock feed production in order to avoid livestock starvation, unprofitability and indebtedness of farmers especially those still struggling to remain in

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Reinforcing Leadership with Ultra-modern Airplanes

Onyema Stanley Olisa

When Nigeria’s leading airline, Air Peace, in 2018, announced a firm order for 30 brand new Embraer 195-E2 aircraft, some people, especially skeptics and nitpickers, took such announcement with so much grain of salt. They would have taken it as a mere ‘news making gimmick’. But little did they know that Air Peace’s founder, Allen Onyema, a visionary entrepreneur, and indeed the entire Management team of the airline had every operational initiative all planned out from the outset, to ensure the airline flies at the top of West Africa’s aviation terrain and sustains that position through consistent route expansion, strategic fleet acquisition and critical manpower development. In less than seven years of operation, Air Peace has had significant milestones and has become an industry leader in all facets of growth- route network, fleet size and workforce. Three years ago, the airline made an order for 30 ultra-modern 124-seat capacity aircraft from Brazil’s aviation giant, Embraer. 10 of these orders were activated in 2018 while additional 3 were activated at the Dubai Airshow in 2019, leaving purchase rights at 17. In the first half of 2021, Air Peace has proven its cynics wrong by taking delivery of 3 of the 13 firm orders, fresh from Embraer’s factory. The airline has also expressed readiness to receive additional five of these aeronautical wonders before this year runs out. Onyema had made the disclosure at the reception ceremony for the airline’s third brand new E195-E2 aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on June 17, 2021. Onyema also stated that the airline hopes to take delivery of all 13 firm orders by the end

of 2022, while it will activate 10 orders from the 17 purchase rights left. This implies that within the next couple of years, Nigerian and West African flying public will have about 23 brand new aircraft to fly in courtesy of Air Peace, in its unwavering drive to interconnect major cities across the African continent. The impact of these new planes is massive, especially in the areas of employment creation and further bolstering Nigeria’s image on the international aviation scene, giving her the toga of a country that can boast of an airline with several brand new aircraft, littering the skies and giving travellers an exceptional flight experience. Onyema said: “By next year, we hope to receive all the 13 airplanes we already made firm orders for and by the end of 2023, we intend to activate payment for another 10 of the aircraft brand which will bring it to 23. And we have new routes that we want to deploy the aircraft to. We have new routes that we have just opened, and more routes will still come in the coming months. We are opening Gombe very soon and our intention is to open up this country. We will also connect North East with North West and other routes. OwerriKaduna and other routes will be connected. We have been designated to so many destinations by the government. We have over 20 destinations, which is very commendable.” Aviation stakeholders have also expressed their delight over the new acquisitions by Air Peace and how such behemothic stride will help change the face of Nigeria’s aviation and earn the country more respect in the global aviation community. The Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, who described the new

acquisition of brand new planes as a ‘milestone’, maintained that what was happening in Nigeria’s aviation industry is a ‘paradigm shift’. Nuhu asserted: “Today is another milestone and a paradigm shift and this is something that I have not seen since my days at Nigerian Airways when they were purchasing the right aircraft for the right routes. Air Peace is not only buying aircraft but buying the right size aircraft for the Nigerian market. “The Embraer aircraft is the right aircraft, it breaks even with low passenger figures, your maintenance cost is low, your operational cost is low. Another factor is that the new aircraft is absolutely great for the environment, it does less pollution. I am really proud that I am Director-General of NCAA when this paradigm shift is happening. We are all here to work together to grow the industry and we have to give kudos to the entrepreneur, Allen Onyema”. The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, also stressed that the purchase of brand new aircraft by Air Peace is in consonance with Federal Government’s roadmap for the nation’s aviation industry, adding that the feat is a step in the right direction. Sirika stressed that the use of brand new planes by Nigerian carriers would change the dynamics in airlines’ profitability and sustainability, by driving down maintenance and fueling costs. Air Peace is not a national carrier but flying very high the Nigerian flag, as it is the only airline that operates international flightsUAE and South Africaand designated by the Federal Government of Nigeria to operate other multiple international destinations such as Mumbai-India, Guangzhou-China, London and Houston-US. Air Peace is propelled by its no-city-left-behind vision to provide peaceful and affordable connectivity for Nigerians using the right kind of aircraft befitting for each route. With a varied fleet of 28 aircraft, 2 international destinations, 5 regional routes and 17 domestic routes, Air Peace has tremendously demonstrated its unimpugnable capability to compete favourably with other international airlines, and only requires our collective support and that of the government to keep the pot boiling. -Olisa wrote from Lagos

As Ibom Air Expands Routes

Ibom Air aircraft Chinedu Eze Nigeria’s growing domestic carrier, Ibom Air on Monday commenced daily scheduled flights to Port Harcourt with plans to extend its operations to other destinations. The airline deployed its newly leased Airbus A220-300 in its inaugural flight to Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, bringing to six, the total number of destinations it operates in the country, which include Uyo, Lagos, Abuja, Calabar and Enugu. The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the airline, Mr. George Uriesi, said the airline’s aim is to be able to offer the promise of schedule reliability, on-time departures, and excellent service to a wider pool of domestic travellers across the country. He also said deployment of the A220-300 to Port Harcourt is apt because the state has the capacity and the flight recorded over 90 per cent load factor on the Lagos-Port Harcourt flights and even on the return flight. “Port Harcourt has capacity. First flight was about 90 per cent capacity and the return flight is the same thing. We expected that Port Harcourt would provide the kind of load factor to justify the use of this aircraft type and we need it to create more capacity for Port Harcourt passengers. “We have four or five targets as our new destinations, but the decision on where we go is always based on numbers. We want to take this opportunity to assure our passengers that safety and customer satisfaction will remain at the center of Ibom Air’s operations, and we will continue to work hard to meet and exceed your expectations, so that you continue to see us as your airline of first choice,” he said. Uriesi said Ibom Air has contributed in adding capacity to the country’s fleet of scheduled commercial airliners with the arrival of the Airbus A220-300, which has started driving down airfares. About two months ago, airfares were going as high as N80, 000 for one hour flight, but with the arrival of more aircraft the airfares are reducing. Uriesi noted that the arrival of the Airbus A220-300 came at the right time to aid the airline’s growth. He noted that beyond airlifting travellers from one place to another, the airline ought to also be a catalyst to tourism development in Akwa Ibom and already the benefits of having the airline is driving the dream of opening up the state to tourism, hospitality with associated businesses, which in turn are creating jobs and over all development of the state. ”Kudos should be given to Akwa Ibom for being bold enough to invest in airline business and made sure the investment was put in the hands of competent management, competent people who can run it and since they did that the state has benefited immensely in

so many ways. “These include hotel occupancy; access into Uyo; people can come in and go out. Particularly hotel occupancy in Uyo, you can’t even find a hotel now when you go to Uyo because people are coming into the state every day.” “So it’s a big investment and we have tried to return to the state what is expected of us. Eventually, we will return to the state, money but so far we have run it well with the resources we have been given. “People feel the state is funding the airline, the airline is funding itself, the state invested and left, the next thing we will do for the state is to give it back but so far we are giving back every day,” Uriesi said. Explaining why the airline leased the Airbus A220-300 a new generation aircraft with great range and fuel efficiency, he said it was almost forced to do so as its choice aircraft, the CRJ-900 was becoming limited in capacity due to increase in the passenger traffic on the airline’s routes. “We were almost forced to do this because the CRJ-900, our choice of aircraft have become limited in capacity. People couldn’t find seats on our flight, it was tough and so we had to bring forward our strategy to get a larger aircraft and just in the nick of time we were able to achieve that, already we have been flying for four to five days and the air plane is full, so it is justified. “By bringing these airplanes, we have already reduced our fares. You can get N24, 000/N27, 000 tickets, yeah, it has affected out tickets, our own fares have come down because of more capacity, I don’t know about other airlines,” he said. Welcoming Ibom Air to Port Harcourt, the Rivers state government commended the airline, saying that it would contribute to the development of the economy of the state, as it brings business to the oil city. Speaking on behalf of the Governor of Rivers State, the Commissioner of Transportation, Mr. Some Ginah said the aircraft type deployed by the airline was apt because Port Harcourt of recent has been experiencing increased passenger movement, as flights to and from the state are usually fully booked. ”Ibom Air will actually increase commercial activities in Rivers State because it is going to make the economy thrive. Most times when you get to the airport other airlines are not available, but with Ibom Air coming to Rivers you know you have an alternative. “For now they are starting with one flight daily but I am sure by the time they have regular flights it will increase. Port Harcourt is a business hub and I want to assure Ibom Air we have enough passengers for them to do business in Port Harcourt. It is a welcome development, it is going to boost the economy of the state because more people will come to Rivers and this will ease transportation,” Ginah said.

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Deepening Campaign for Airport Concession The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, recently made effort to sell one of government’s projects in the aviation road map, which is airport concession. Chinedu Eze writes that while majority of stakeholders have embraced the initiative, the labour unions are still kicking against it

t is still surprising that at the twilight of the Buhari administration, the issues that dogged the aviation industry at the inception of the administration are still lingering. One of these is airport concession; another is the proposed national carrier and the third is maintenance facility along with establishing a leasing company. While many stakeholders express surprise that none of these projects have been actualised more than six years into the administration of the Buhari government, it must be acknowledged that the process to realise the set goals has been on. The administration identified the aforementioned in its aviation road map with the set objective to transform the sector and made it generate more revenue for government and investors, contribute significantly in the nation’s GDP and also create more jobs. But the programme that has received more criticism is the plan to concession the airport terminals. Many airline owners support the programme because they believe that if the airport facilities are concessioned they would be upgraded, they would be professionally managed and passenger processing will take shorter time and there would be more efficient management of the terminals. Timeline During the recently held Airport Business Summit organised by NIGAV in Lagos, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika used the rostrum to further clarify on the federal government’s plan to concession the major airports. He assured that none of the over 8,000 workers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) would lose their jobs if the major airport facilities in the country are concessioned under a Public, Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. Sirika said government would use between June and August this year to finalise the programme of airport concession programme and stressed that the concession would create opportunity to engage more hands into the system, adding that there was no need to sell the people’s asset but to concession them in a way that they would be operated to generate more revenue for the country, modernise the airports and create more jobs. “We will not sell the assets that belong to 200 million people and the future generation of this country. We are not going to sell because those that were sold were lost, so we in government believe that we should hold those assets for the Nigerian people in trust. “We must make those assets better to provide the service that is needed. So, we said rather than sell out rightly, we will concession. In other words, we would give it up to someone who would operate them and make them better. We will then get more money, the people will enjoy better service, the industry grows and after certain time, the airports will come back to us,” he said. He also said the proposal of the concession would be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in February 2022, noting that all the agreements on concession was contained in the outlined proposal and it is for the interest of the people. Sirika explained that the proposal, which commenced in 2015, would be advertised this month for bidders to show interest after which qualified companies would be invited for profiling and review, adding that everything covering the process would close in August. He explained that evaluated companies would be asked to present a proposal for engagement and assured labour of dialogue to ensure that every issue concerning concession was addressed. He also assured that all on going concessions would be allowed to finish their tenure before their agreements were reviewed. Dilemma But despite the Minister’s explanations, there are still many stakeholders in the industry that are seeking for further clarifications. This is because some industry insiders believe that if the federal government had contacted World Bank’s sister organisation, International Finance

Sirika

Corporation (IFC), it would have given credibility to the programme, recalling that many years ago, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, was to be concessioned by the world body under the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration, but later the programme was aborted by the succeeding administration. Currently IFC is helping Bulgaria concession its major airport in Sofia, according to report by the member of the World Bank Group. “IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is supporting the Ministry of Transport of Bulgaria with a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement to improve Sofia Airport’s operations and services to passengers and finance significant upgrades to its infrastructure, including building a new terminal under a concession model. “The concession agreement between the Ministry of Transport and SOF Connect, a project company established by Meridian Eastern Europe Investment, which includes Munich Airport and Strabag, was signed on July 22, 2020. This is the first major airport-sector transaction to close amidst the global pandemic that has grounded many of the world´s commercial planes,” IFC reported on its website. Clarity The Managing Director of Flight Logistics Solutions, Amos Akpan told THISDAY that there are issues that government should clarify concerning the concession. “One, I do not think the agenda for the concession program has been sufficiently understood. This lack of carrying people along by publicizing an agenda leads to various misrepresentation. “Two, I believe the airports should be managed by modern strategic business modules. FAAN as presently constituted cannot manage it efficiently as a business organization. By way of illustration, most of the departments in FAAN are top heavy in management personnel. “This means you have political appointees mixed with career bureaucrats doing jobs below the functions officially designated for their office. I have seen security officers of levels nine - 12 manning entrances up to five in a shift. The reason is because security department has up to 55 assistant general managers, about 60 chief security officers and about 75 assistant chief security officers.

“These are personnel of level 10 - 15 status. This example replicates in commercial department, which is a mixture of various units not clearly demarcated but given designations to encourage recruitment by political patronage. “The big question is: Will a business driven organization retain such a bogus structure and make profit? This and other reasons make for the apprehension of the unions. The Minister has guaranteed that no personnel within his deal with the concessionaires will be retrenched. Will this guarantee be honoured after two years into the concession? The Ministry should please clarify these fears,” Akpan said. He also sought clarifications on issues concerning airport status, expected revenue targets, facility upgrade and maintenance. “We also need clarification on the following issues. What is the status of the airport at the point of concession? What is the expected status at the expiration of the concession agreement? By illustration: what is the total revenue and total cost of running the airport now? What will it be expected to be at the end of the concession? “Are there provisions for expansion/construction works for upgrades in the concession agreement? Is the concessionaire limited to facilities maintenance only? One should assume that increase in revenue generation and efficient operations should be the primary reason for concession. We must not forget that the airports should be at par with their counterparts worldwide in terms of value to airport users. “We need clarification on the status of the smaller or non major airports in this concession deal. The current FAAN has consistently maintained the position that these four major airports have supported the sustenance of the smaller airports like Ibadan, Bauchi, Akure, Calabar and others. We need to know what happens to them within and post concession period? Generally, we need information so we can support the concession, and be positioned to contribute to its implementation. The Minister is trying but we need information please,” Apkan also said. Labour After the last outing when the Minister discussed at length government’s plan about the concession, some labour leaders expressed

We will not sell the assets that belong to 200 million people and the future generation of this country. We are not going to sell because those that were sold were lost, so we in government believe that we should hold those assets for the Nigerian people in trust

support for government, but collectively, the unions officially are still opposed to the concession. Many of the airline operators, as stated earlier, from the onset supported the concession, but airport workers, especially workers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria are not convinced that their jobs would be protected when the airports are concessioned. The Chairman of Air Transport Service Senor Staff Association (ATSSAN), FAAN branch, Ahmed Musa said the stand of the labour unions, including National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), ATSSSAN and Association of Aviation Professionals (ANAP) is that they are against the concession of airports as proposed by the federal government, noting that if the federal government could give investors space to build their own facilities and manage them for a given number of period in the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement they would encourage it but frowned at the current situation that government plans to concession existing airports. “What is the stand of NUATE, ATSSSAN and ANAP on the issue of concession? From the beginning we have never minced our words in expressing our opinions against concession. “We are not for concession. As far back as 2016 when the aviation road map was rolled out and we identified the items that were selected for execution; one of it was the plan to concession four international airports. At that moment we expressed our dissatisfaction and we said no; and at every given opportunity and during the whole engagement with the Minister of Aviation, the position of the unions has been no to concession. “Looking at the circumstances that government wants to concession these airports, we consulted widely when the opportunity was given to the unions to put representatives in the aviation road map committee. I tell you, we spent more than three months discussing among ourselves. “So initially we have no intention of joining the committee but after consultation with our elders, we decided to join the committee in order to know the workings of the committee so that at the appropriate time we brief our members and take the right actions when the need arises. “And that has been helping us over time. That is why at any time after meetings we come back and brief the house. We brief our national secretariat and we call congresses. We have opposed concession and made it public that we do not support concession. “We have conducted rallies many times expressing our grievances over the way and manner they want to conduct the concession programme. We can only do that because we are part of the committee and we noticed the lacunas involved and that’s why we came back and expressed our views and take it back to the committee for readjustment,” he said. Musa said the airports belong to government and government could decide to shut them down or sell them and nobody would stop them but urged government to do the right things and also carry out the concession process in the right way. “There are options as far as concession is concerned, these include build operate and transfer, rehabilitate, operate and transfer. The method of concession is what we are concerned about. “They are trying to do rehabilitate, operate and transfer. We have given them the go ahead to do build, operate and transfer. In that manner a virgin land is given to the investors. They will build the facility; operate it at the period agreed upon then hand over to government. Within the process, from the survey to the construction and to the implementation of the programme, Nigerians are going to get jobs, capital flight will be reduced, but when you are taking finished and already completed brand new terminals and you are handing them over to investors, that is where we have concern,” he said. Musa, however, insisted that those labour leaders who support concession are doing so at their individual capacity, not representing the unions and their members. So the dilemma continues until government is able to concession the airport terminals, which hopefully would be at the time slated in 2022.

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As Apapa Gridlock Awaits Governors’ Intervention Eromosele Abiodun writes that after two separate Senate motions and the intervention of 17 governors from Southern Nigeria Apapa gridlock has become worse

n May 12 this year, Southern governors and senators expressed concern over the intractable gridlock along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway and Apapa ports environ, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to put the issue on priority list and address the situation head-on. The governors, under the platform of Southern Nigeria Governors Forum, made the call at a crucial security meeting, held at the Government House, Asaba, capital of Delta State, which had 17 of them from the South-West, South-South, and South-East geo-political zones in attendance. The need for Buhari-led federal government’s holistic intervention in Apapa chaotic perennial gridlock was one of the resolutions contained in the communique issued at the end of the meeting. The roll call at the meeting included: host Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta; Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti; Chairman, South-West Governors Forum, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo; Chairman, South-East Governors Forum, Dave Umahi, Ebonyi; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos; Seyi Makinde, Oyo; Nyesom Wike, Rivers; Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia and Dapo Abiodun, Ogun. Others were: Douye Diri, Bayelsa; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu; Willie Obiano, Anambra; Godwin Obaseki, Edo, and Benedict Ayade, Cross River. Akwa Ibom and Imo governors were represented by their deputies, Moses Ekpo and Placid Njoku respectively. Since the announcement however, no effort has been made to see through the effort to resolve the problem. Rather, the Apapa conundrum has assumed a different dimension. This is not the first time the Apapa tragedy has received attention from high quarters. On September 15, 2014, the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation had pledged to ensure that the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and the Lagos State Government collaborate to ease the traffic gridlock on the access roads to Apapa and Tin Can Ports, Lagos for the benefit of ports operators and other users. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Olugbenga Obadara, made the pledge in Lagos, when he led other Senators on the first leg of their oversight visit to the Port Terminals in Lagos. Obadara was responding to complaints by the Managing Director of Greenview Development Nigeria Limited (GDNL), Operators of Terminal E, Apapa Port, Mr. Abba Isa Bukar, that the port access roads were in deplorable condition. He said: “Containers are continually falling off trucks while in transit, damaging vehicles daily while commuters face untold hardship thus, requiring prompt government attention.” The senator said FERMA and the Lagos State Government would meet to iron out the grey areas to enable them tackle the gridlock. He noted that as the nation’s commercial hub, the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports would not be allowed to deteriorate. He said the committee embarked on the visit to know how much revenue the terminal operators were generating for the federal government and also to know their challenges with a view to getting legislative intervention to restore them. Earlier, the MD had informed the senators that since GDNL commenced operation in 2006, the company had embarked on massive infrastructural development and have ensured prompt payment of revenues accruable to government. He listed insecurity, poor access roads, lack of an enabling law, litigation and lack of basic facilities as the challenges facing the company and ports operations in general. On insecurity, he lamented the frequent attacks on the Terminal from a neighboring village, Sapokoji and called for increased security patrol by security agencies along the water front. He appealed to the legislature for the urgent enactment of the Ports and Harbour Bill to attract more investments in the maritime sector. At the ENL Consottium Limited, Operators

Apapa gridlock

of Terminals C & D, the General Manager, Mr. Mark Walsh, had also emphasised that the entire workforce was 100 percent Nigerians adding that their capacity in cargo handling and other related activities had been developed to world class standards. In his response, Obadara commended the giant strides made by the company. He urged the Bureau of public Enterprises (BPE) to review the concession agreements with the Terminal Operators to ensure that more revenues go to the Federal government. At AP Moller Terminal, the MD, Andrew Dawes informed the lawmakers that since takeover, the company had paid about $621,236,468 million to government as taxes. The Committee members also visited Lilypond Container Terminal Ijora-also managed by AP Moller and Apapa Bulk Terminal Limited (ABTL). Another Senate Motion Also, on October 21, 2015, one year after Obadara’s motion, the Lagos State government applauded the Nigerian Senate for its approval to table a motion moved by Oluremi Tinubu, a senator representing Lagos Central District, on the nerve-wracking gridlock in Apapa, Lagos, and its consequential economic and social implications for Nigeria’s commercial hub. The then Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, who gave the commendation, had expressed happiness that the development was heart-warming as it had shown that the state government’s efforts at providing solution to the notorious traffic congestion in the axis has finally caught the attention of the National Assembly. Ayorinde then lauded Tinubu for her bold step in moving the motion and galvanising her colleagues to address the gridlock and expressed the hope that the Senate would give it priority attention when it is tabled in view of the socio-economic hardships it had continued to cause residents of the state. The commissioner expressed the optimism that the intervention from the senate would go a long way to also complement other moves by the state government in finding lasting solution to the gridlock and lessen the hardship on the people. Before the Tinubu motion, the then Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, had visited Apapa and its environs to have an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and

gave directives that would ease traffic in the area. Ambode during his maiden town hall meeting also declared that the traffic gridlock on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway had been a major challenge to traffic management in the state. And as part of measures to find solution to the gridlock, the state government has appealed to the federal government to expedite action on the rehabilitation of the Tin Can Island Bridge, while on its part, has put in place a joint task force that operates round the clock to ensure that traffic situation improves along the axis. The government said it was also working on the plan to expand the capacity of the existing trailer Park at Orile to accommodate 1000 trucks from its current capacity of 350. Worsening Gridlock Despite the two separate senate motions over the last eight years and the recent governors’ intervention, the problem has become even worse with opportunists making it a multibillion-naira extortion industry. For instance, on June 7, 2021, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) lamented that over 30 toll points manned by security personnel, where bribes are allegedly being collected before trucks are allowed into the Port, had sprung up around the Apapa and Tin Can Ports. This is as the NPA has met with the Lagos State Government on strategies to tackle the persistent gridlock around that axis and measures to curb corrupt practices and alleged extortion of truck drivers by traffic and security operatives along the Lagos Ports corridor. In a statement issued by the General Manager, Strategic and Corporate Communications, NPA, Olaseni Alakija, who quoted the Acting Managing Director of NPA, Muhammed BelloKoko, as harping on the need to strengthen enforcement of traffic laws along the Apapa and Tin Can Ports roads. The statement had said that Bello-Koko told the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, NPA had been receiving several complaints of extortions, especially by security operatives, and described the menace as a hindrance to the smooth implementation of the truck call-up system. Bello-Koko, in his chat with the press, said the focus was on the alleged extortion by security operatives, adding that NPA solicited the government’s intervention to check the

Containers are continually falling off trucks while in transit, damaging vehicles daily while commuters face untold hardship thus, requiring prompt government attention

menace. He said: “At the NPA, we resolved to take the right punitive measures against any of our staff involved in this; we have moved some of them out of port locations. We will do further reviews, whoever is found involved, will be appropriately sanctioned. “Because of the involvement of several security units, many checkpoints have been created; we believe there are over 30 checkpoints within the Apapa and Tin Can Port axis. We believe that this is a major issue causing delays and a whole lot of problems, so this was one of the concerns we raised at the meetings.” He said he had issued a directive to the “ETO” Project Consultant and operator of the Lilypond Truck Transit Park(TTP) to redouble their efforts, especially on the deployment of necessary physical and IT infrastructure as well as adequate human resources, to address the gaps and complaints of a delay from Port users. He disclosed that NPA had ordered the TTP Company to immediately deploy infrastructure, so as to reduce the waiting time of trucks in and out of the Port. The acting NPA boss further said that the meeting discussed poor access roads, especially around Sunrise Bus-stop leading to the Tin Can Port. He said: “Trucks going to Tin Can now use the Apapa Port road, so no matter how much you control the traffic in Apapa, it will not be noticed.NPA has reached out to the Federal Ministry of Works, we have been speaking with the Director of Works in the State, and we have asked that they should provide some palliatives around Sunrise Bus-stop. “We were made to understand that the contract for that section of the road has just been awarded, but because of the rains, work has been delayed. There is a need for that part of the road to be graded so that the Tin-Can Port corridor will begin to enjoy some measure of free flow of traffic. “We have stakeholders like Dangote and others who have factories within the Port and each of them may need to bring in about 300 trucks daily, but it has to be done in such a way that their operations do not affect the need of other Port users.” Bello-Koko was optimistic that the renewed collaboration with the Lagos State Government would bring an end to the perennial gridlock within and around the Apapa metropolis, adding that trucks not registered would not have access to the Port. On his part, Governor Sanwo-Olu, according to the statement, was quoted as saying that the Lagos State Government would work closely with the NPA toward the success of the truck call-up system while calling on all port users to be alert to their responsibilities toward ending the gridlock in Apapa.

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Chief Sade Ogunbiyi: Embodiment of Happiness at 75

T H I S D AY •FRIDAY JULY 9, 2021

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Chief Sade Ogunbiyi: Embodiment of Happiness at 75 The Iyalode of Remoland, Chief Sade Ogunbiyi is one of the best conversationalists that any journalist can hope to meet. Ironically, she lives a very private life away from media scrutiny. Asides her duties as a traditional Queen in Remo, Ogun State, she plays golf in leading exclusive clubs in Lagos and Ogun States. She recounts some episodes in her life that made her 50-year old marriage and her life at 75 very inspirational in this rare encounter with Yinka Olatunbosun

he lush green grass on the golf course behind her was almost competing for attention. But it was not enough to distract from the witty conversation. Chief Sade Ogunbiyi is one of those Nigerians who had studied and lived abroad but still returned to their motherland for a satisfying life. She recalled that moment in history- 1977. The year that it seemed everyone wanted to be in Nigeria, the host nation for the second edition of the World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture. She was a teacher at a UN school in New York- a period where she also studied for her Master’s degree while her husband was a PhD student at the New York University. They had both met at the University of Ibadan where she studied English language. They had remained inseparable through the years. “We had always wanted to come back home. Then, we had a child and we didn’t want to raise our child in the New York environment. We took the opportunity to come. Those were really good days. Ife was solid. You know, leaving the madness of New York to the sane campus community in Ife. The quarters were fine and everything we wanted, we got. We had a big farm and it felt like living somewhere on the outskirt of somewhere abroad. It was nice. I don’t want to go into politics. But I can say that the military came in and we lost our values and the standard of education fell. People were not getting fulfilled. We had friends there who came and went back and they wished they had stayed back like we did. Those early years were tough. But then I wondered what I would go back to do in the US. I missed home all the time,’’ she said. The situation is reversed now. Most Nigerians who study abroad are not likely to return home. Chief Ogunbiyi recalled the circumstance within which they lived in New York and why the decision to return home to Nigeria was not a very difficult one. “Home is an environment where you feel accepted; where you will feel comfortable, have your friends around you and there is family. Even if you don’t have family, you have people who look up to you for things. In the US, we lived in Manhattan. I can’t recall how many times my husband was stopped on the road for being black. They would stop him and frisk him. They could say someone just committed a robbery somewhere and he fit that profile. And he would bring out his ID card from NYU to show that he was international student, a doctorate candidate and then, then would leave him. I had my own share of it even though I worked with the UN. I had one experience on a bus after leaving the school. Normally, I would just walk home. But that day, I was tired and I was carrying bags. So, I boarded a bus that would go around our neighborhood- nice neighborhood though. The driver just took a look at me and said, “This bus is not going anywhere. He said it was the last stop. I said no, that he must take me through that normal route and I would get off where I usually did. He refused and told the other passengers to come down and they did. He called for a backup and the police showed up. I was checking my students’ homework when they came in. I flung out my UN ID Card and addressed them, “Do I look like a homeless person? That’s the UN International

Shade Ogunbiyi and her husband

School. That is where I teach. I take this bus whenever I am tired. I have books to carry and then the driver said he wouldn’t take me through the route close to my home,’’ she recalled. After the awkward encounter, the policemen looked at each other. Since Ogunbiyi was a diplomatic personnel, with a diplomatic license, arresting her was not an option. Eventually, the policemen apologized and the driver took her to where she had wanted to alight. “I thought, ‘How long will I continue with that when I could come home and no one would harass me? That was then not now. I can’t say the same about not being harassed by the police in Nigeria,’’ she added. Upon her return to Nigeria, she worked at the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife at the administrative section of the institution for ten years as Principal Assistant Registrar. Since her husband left the academics and moved to Lagos to work with Guardian Newspapers, she would also relocate to Lagos where she secured another job in Lagos at a NAL Merchant Bank in Lagos as the bank’s first human resource manager between 1987 and 1995. She retired at the age of 50. From her career trajectory, it was clear that there was no time in her younger years where she was a full time housewife. But would she have wanted it? Her answer was an emphatic ‘No.’ “With all the education that I have? Fulltime house wife? I am so restless. I will drive somebody crazy and I don’t advise any lady to be full-time housewife. You could combine your housewife role with your job. A woman has to be self-sufficient. You can’t be begging

for money to buy the basics. I am not saying that you shouldn’t collect the money. The man must be a man of the house and must give you some money for housekeeping. Be independent but you don’t have to be in competition with your husband. You need to have your own life,’ she said. As she took the mantle of the Iyalode of Remo after the demise of the Chief Mrs HID Awolowo who held the position for fifty years, she realized the weight of responsibility that is attached to the status and lives to honour it. “I am the Oba Awon Obirin (that is Queen of the Women in Remo). Chief Mrs. HID Awolowo was the last Iyalode of Remo. She reigned for 50 years and the moment she died, I became the new Iyalode. I am in charge of all the women in Remo. When there are things to do, I would be there. Due to Covid-19, we haven’t been able to do much. Most of them are traders. Her shoes are quite big; oversized shoes. But I think I fit myself into it,’’ she said. After leaving full time employment, she ventured into the sale and distribution of wine. With the cumbersome if not cartel-like nature of the business, she settled fully into retirement. “I found out that the wine market was run like a cartel. If you bring in your container, you must sell to a certain group of people or you don’t get to sell them at all. All I do is wake up in the morning and play golf or swim or hang out with my friends. I started playing golf in 1995. I started in Ikoyi. I was still at NAL Merchant bank so I was entitled to the membership of two clubs. My husband was in Daily Times and then

we were members of all kinds of clubs but I wanted to have mine. So I went to Ikoyi as an ordinary member not a spouse. I did and the bank paid for it. I don’t know where I would be if I wasn’t playing golf. I was the Captain in Sagamu for ten years. It is fulfilling. You don’t have to depend on anyone to play. It is not like tennis where you’d need a partner. It is a total body exercise. By the time you walk four hours on the court, that’s a lot. It is not strenuous. I used to play squash. but I am more comfortable with golf,’’ she revealed. Although her recently held 75th birthday was quite private, she was surrounded by her loved ones including former staff of NAL Merchant Bank. She explained that her husband would also turn 75 next year and she wouldn’t want her party to overshadow his’. As she spoke glowingly of her husband, it became important to delve into the past and see how the marriage had weathered the storm. She seemed very proud of her blended family and how she and her husband have set good boundaries where love and respect co-habit. “I am not sure he decided to do that. It is not in his character to do so,’’ she said in a firm defense of her husband who expanded the union by two children. “And since I had only one at that time, it was thought to be fine. Anyway, the moment it happened, we talked. My husband and I. I told him that I had invested in this marriage. Leave? Where am I going? Leave? Are you kidding me? No. I am staying. It is going to be fifty years this year since we got married. When I counsel young ladies, I tell them that marriage is a tough thing. Fortunately, I had good parents. My parents were very supportive. But then, I don’t believe in battering a woman. Battering does not just mean beating or slapping. It can be emotional or financial. I won’t force you to stay in such marriage. But if you chose to stay, you can also carve a life for yourself. Be independent. That is my philosophy. Two parallel lines cannot meet. There is no way I would have a relationship with her. I am on my own. But I want the children to relate with themselves. If they have their choice, they won’t be where they are now. They didn’t ask to be in that kind of situation,’’ she said while explaining how her blended family works. She is very proud of her three children. A few times, she paused and showed their pictures to this reporter. In her opinion, bitterness can only destroy a family whereas love bears all things. “Your happiness depends on you. My father said ‘Don’t fight your husband. Don’t aggravate him. Let him have a home. My husband and I go out together. We are ever together. The only thing we don’t do is that we didn’t wear the same clothes. I didn’t fuss about it. I just want a happy life for myself and my children. We have a big family and I like it,’’ she said. Another thing she likes is dancing. But her status as a royalty is one consideration for not doing so publicly. She left her interviewer to figure out what else she loves as she initiated her into the culture of savouring the luxurious treat of Amala after a game at the Ikeja Golf Course. Tall and agile, Iyalode Ogunbiyi is not just engaging and kind, she is one of the most respected members of the club whether she is donating to a kitty or just simply waving at someone. It was only natural to hug her gently as she walked back into her waiting car.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͷ˜ 2021

NEWS

Reviving Eleme Kingdom’s Eroding Traditional Marriage Rites Stories by Mary Nnah The richness, beauty and uniqueness of the fast eroding traditional marital rites of Eleme people was in full display as Princess Nma Appolus Chu, daughter of HRH Appolus Chu, the Oneh-Eh Nchia X and Egbere Emere Okori, was given out in marriage to her heartthrob, Ajirioghene Ilaye, recently in Eleme, Rivers State. What played out few days before the traditional marriage ceremony proper held on Saturday, May 22 at the palace of King Appolus Chu in Ogale Eleme, was the good old days’ marriage traditional rites of Eleme people as the Egbere Emere Okori didn’t leave any stone unturned in his efforts to revive the true meaning of tradition that has almost gone into extinct in a true ambiance and radiance of royalty as Princess Nma was made to observe the all the traditional marriage rites of Eleme during her marriage ceremony. Speaking on the inspiration behind the elaborate traditional marriage rites which were observed for a few days before the main marriage ceremony, HRH Chu said, “I fear that among my people of Eleme, my generation might be the last generation that still retains a little knowledge of our custom and culture if nothing is done to address it. “My interest in this whole ceremony is to awaken the consciousness of my people, as a traditional ruler of the land and one of the custodians of the traditions and cultures of

Princess Nma performing one of the traditional rites

the land, so that we can save what we have of our culture and tradition and hand it down to the generations to come.” Chu explained further that custom and culture checkmate a people’s behaviour, enforce morality and compel them to live in peace, harmony, decency, discipline and orderliness in the overall interest and protection of the kingdom. HRH Chu who expressed sadness over the eroding culture of Eleme and African in general, noted, “one custom and way of life of the people of Eleme that has suffered severe neglect in recent times is our traditional marriage rites. More and more of our people now place more emphasis on court and Church weddings at the expense of the traditional Eleme marriage rite thereby forcing that rich cultural heritage of our people into extinction. “One doesn’t need to look far to infer that the rate of divorce and broken marriages in our society today can be attributed

to the denigration of our traditional wedding.” He said that “marriage is the institution of a new home, the continuation of the lineage of progenitors passed into descendants yet unborn. So, Eleme marriage is an affair that takes the past, present and future of the society into consideration.” Eleme traditional marriage is a very serious affair. It is one that ties not only the man and his wife, but also their families together into one. Not only that, Eleme people place such importance on the marriage institution that there is a part of the marriage rites that involves the ancestors. So, Eleme traditional marriage is quite an interesting one and involves various interesting stages that come with cultural details. Speaking on the stages involved in the Eleme traditional marriage ceremony, HRH Chu said, “The first stage is when the groomto-be and his family come with drinks to indicate their interest

in the maiden. However, there is nothing attached to the drink so that the family of the maiden is not compelled to repay the drink if they refuse the young man’s proposal. “If the man crosses the first stage, his family will be informed and invited to collect the list from where they would proceed to the next stage which is Oko-oburu Otoor, meaning knocking of door or wine carrying and on and on the different stages till the cure traditional marriage is held” he explained further It is obvious that there is an urgent need to revive Eleme traditional marriage. Firstly, is for the strong bond and family ties it builds among the new couple and their families. These ties have a way of fostering peace, brotherhood and communal spirit among the people. This is unlike the white-wedding borrowed from the West, which instils a sense of individualism in the couple. Eleme traditional marriage, on the other hand, sees the new home as a continuation of the lineage of both families and fosters a sense of belonging in the couple. Rather than feeling isolated in their new home, they feel a sense of inclusiveness and belonging to something bigger than just the husband and wife. It is this sense of belonging that encourages the newly formed home to see the need to contribute to the wellbeing and growth of the society; because they know that they have a stake in the community.

Winners Emerge at the Fifth Nourish Nigeria Competition The Nourish Nigeria Challenge, known as Nutripitch has rewarded five entrepreneurs at the 5th edition of the local elevator pitch competition, organised by Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Network. The event had glitz, glamour and funfair as the top five winners clinched various cash prizes to support their businesses. Although, 10 entrepreneurs participated at the pitch competition, five of them were rewarded for their innovative solutions to solve a need in the food systems to end malnutrition in Nigeria. The event was tagged: ‘Charting a path to engaging and supporting businesses to Act, Invest and Innovate

in Operations’, and the 10 entrepreneurs pitched their products and services in a keenly contested competition. Present at the event were dignitaries, from various walks of life, government officials and other stakeholders from Plateau, Cross Rivers, Kano and Kebbi states. Babajide Oluwase, CEO of ECOTUTU,acoldstoragesolution company emerged as the overall winner and went away with the sum of N1million cash prize.An elated Oluwase narrated his exploitsthusfar.“Wehaveidentified partners to work with and they best know where they want us to situate the cold storage solutions. The second and third prizes were N700,000 and N500,000

and this went to Kafilat Adedeji ofUfarmyOrganicsandFolashade Babatunde, CEO Poisera Nutrition, respectively. There were also equipment financing awards to two businesses including Fatima Abiola Ogunbunmi of Feetle Hospitality Services and Elizabeth Oladepo, CEO of O7 foods who both got N600, 000 each as equipment grants. Five other participants in the pitch who did not win cash or equipment grants were admonished to see the competition as a learning curve and strengthen their brands looking at the parameters used for assessing their pitch. The event also presented an opportunity for participants to

understand challenges women face in business and the possible solutions in tackling them. This was made possible through discussions from a panel session and presentation from two consultants from Cross Rivers and Plateau state, channelling the conversation on how women can be better supported to improve nutrition in their business operations. The SUN Business Network (SBN) is the private sector branch of the SUN Movement and aims to support businesses in growing the role they play in improving nutrition. It is convened globally, by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and the UN World Food Programme.

Media Personality Moet and Cousin, Nicole Abebe Set to Begin Visual Podcast, ‘Spill theTea with the Abebes’ Award winning on-air personality, Moet Abebe, is set to launch a brainchild visual podcast titled, “Spill The Tea With The Abebes” with her cousin Nicole Abebe, who is a multimedia journalist and a freelance voiceover artist. Set to air officially on Tuesday, July 27 on the podcast’s YouTube and IGTV channels, the ambitious and audacious cousins sought to curate a conversation medium that could spark various moods of interactions while serving

The Abebes

premium entertainment hence the birth of Spill the Tea with the Abebes”. Having nurtured a desire to produce organic and relatable content for a young

and vibrant demographic, the podcast centres around intriguing conversations and untouched topics as it relates to life, industry, relationships, career and more. The focus of the broadcast platform is to serve juicy yet refreshing discussions. The weekly podcast will dissect select topics using various “tea” temperatures as the catch on the type of “gist” they will be serving i.e. hot tea, cold tea, rich tea, messy tea, bitter tea, sweet tea etc.

The first season is set to feature guests like Pretty Mike, Seun Kuti, Destiny Amaka, Venita Akpofure, Yasmine Bello-Osagie, Osas Ighodaro and Sandra Ezikwesili. According to the cousins, Moet; who currently is an OAP at Soundcity FM and Nicole; who also hosts a show at BEAT FM, “Our audience is ready to be served the best of contents. They should get ready for juicy issues ranging from entertainment, fashion, music, female empowerment, awareness, gossip, and more”

GEIL Expands CSR Footprint ˾ ÓÑØÝ ØÏá Ù áÓÞÒ ÒÙÝÞ ÍÙ××ßØÓÞã

GEIL representatives in Ikuru town

Green Energy International Limited (GEIL), a leading oil and gas development company and the Operator of the Otakikpo marginal field, has signed a new ‘’Memorandum of Understanding’’ (MoU) with one of its host communities - the Ikuru Town Community. The MOU signing ceremony was witnessed and endorsed by the Rivers State Government representatives, from the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development. The MoU encompasses improved governance and administrative components that would support the delivery of development outcomes in target communities, reduce youth restiveness and promote inclusion of women and vulnerable groups. The five-year MoU covers a comprehensive operational structure that identifies key stakeholders who will act as sustainability drivers that would support the Ikuru Town community to plan and undertake implementation of projects based on their development priorities and agenda; an approach that is yielding noticeable improvement in the social performance indices. The CEO of the company, Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe confirmed its intention to conclude the installation of the LPG extraction plant and power plants within the next few months in Otakikpo which is intended to open a whole new vista of interlinked, multi-level and multi-sectoral development investments, with significant socio-economic and technological impacts. Adegbulugbe added that the company’s future expansion programs are anchored on sustaining a conducive and mutually beneficial relationship with its host community. He further used the opportunity of the occasion to provide assurance to the Ikuru community that the company is set to commence the full field development of the field which will include drilling additional wells, expanding the production facility to handle the increased production and installing the first indigenous onshore terminal with a capacity of 1 million barrels at Otakikpo. Commenting on the MoU signing, the Paramount Ruler of Ikuru Town; King A.M Ikuru, expressed appreciation to the management and staff of GEIL; for continuously supporting the building blocks of community transformation through the delivery of sustainable programmes. He added that this MoU regime is designed to improve citizen’s participation and seeks to encourage a positive alignment of locally executed MoU-projects in the community; thereby enabling Ikuru Town to evolve into a socio-economic growth pole and reference point within the Andoni LGA and Rivers State at large.

America-basedHollywoodStudiosEndorses NollywoodActionMovieA ‘ Soldier’sStory2’ When in December, 2020, the Franchise owners; Martin Gbados of Mekdoss Productions and Frankie Ogar of Frankie Ogar Films released “A Soldier’s Story II: Return from the Dead; the second part of a trilogy produced and directed by the duo respectively; movie pundits all over Africa and the media adjudged it to have surpassed any movie done out of Nollywood. In fact, it was described as the most anticipated movie of all time out of Nigeria. As a testament of the commitment of the franchise owners in advancing and projecting Nollywood to the world, the American-based Hollywood Studios; Lions Gate have released the blockbuster Nollywood Action Movie “A Soldier’s Story 2- Return from the Dead”. Hence, this sequel (A Soldier’s Story II) to the multi award winning movie (A Soldier’s Story), which emerged as the movie with the highest number of awards in 2016/2017 is now showing in America and Canada across major streaming platforms and PAY-TV like Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, Vudu, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, Comcast Xfinity, FandangoNOW, YouTube, Redbox, FlixFling, DIRECTV online and Apple TV. According to a press release sighted, Lions Gate through their affiliate Strawberry Fields Entertainment believes that Nollywood have become a major player in the movie world and this deal only goes to confirm it. Strawberry Fields Entertainment would also, apart from distributing “A Soldier’s story 2 – Return from the Dead”, fund the franchise of the next movie with budgets in the $5 million range. According to the distribution agent, the company is poised to make in-roads to Africa. It would be recalled that this most successful blockbuster out of Nigeria has an unprecedented combination of Hollywood actors; Eric Roberts, John Vogel and Berit Glaser, and Nollywood actors including veterans such as Alex Usifo, Akin Lewis, Segun Arinze, with younger ones such as Linda Ejiofor, Somkele Iyamah-Idalamah, Michelle Dede, Daniel K. Daniel, Tope Tedela, Baaj Adeuble and Sambasa Nzeribe, in addition to Chris Attoh from Ghana and Vimbai Muthinri from Zimbabwe.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͷ˜ 2021

E-TRENDS

MUSIC SHOWBIZ

…Your weekly entertainment delight

NOLLYWOOD

‘We Want to Explore Ambitious Stories from Genres Rarely Present in African Cinema’ Netflix Director of Content for Africa, Ben Amadasun tells VANESSA OBIOHA in an interview the streamer’s commitment to spotlighting the various talents in the creative industry to a global audience while building a home for the best-in-classAfrican stories

also incredibly important for us to make sure our slate or vault as you put it reflects our members’ diverse cultures and experiences, especially in the different African countries.

here was a lot of fanfare last year when Netflix announced plans to make Nigeria originals before the pandemic struck hard. What has and hasn’t changed since then? Nothing has changed. Sure the pandemic did have an impact on film production on a global scale, but we at Netflix are still committed to the Nigerian film industry. We recognise that being part of the local creative community in Nigeria/Africa also comes with responsibilities, in particular the need to develop the talent pipeline and give new voices the chance to be heard. We will continue to develop and work with the industry on initiatives such as the postproduction workshops, Realness Institute partnership for new scriptwriters. Using Nigeria as an example, how has diversity helped the Netflix brand? When we talk about diversity, it’s not just one thing. It also extends to a diversity of perspectives and ideas. One of the things we’re really proud of and excited about is that we have the opportunity to work with creators from all backgrounds and cultures, regardless of language, gender, race, or country of origin, and we get to share our platform with them so they can share their stories with the world. In Nigeria, we have built strong partnerships with a cross-section of content creators and distributors to broaden storytelling and bring joy to our members on the service. Our focus is to build the home for the best-in-class African stories, in every genre and this can only be done if we continue to grow the variety, diversity, and quality of the content offering from Nigeria. Diverse in its people as it is in its culture, Nigeria is home to a plethora of stories, histories, and heritage, that should be celebrated and enjoyed by anyone, anywhere. Netflix always has and always will celebrate the diversity that makes storytelling so powerful. Nigeria is one of our key focus markets for Netflix and we are betting big on Nigerian creatives. Generally, how are Nigerian films fairing on the platform? At the end of last year, we shared that 2020

In what other ways are you establishing your presence here? While there are no current plans to open an office in Nigeria or anywhere in Africa, we’re always looking at ways to be visible, present, and connected to the local creative industry. This ranges from a variety of ways from local industry event participation by our executives, the local partners we work with, the local business we partner, the people we work with across the value chain as we work to increase our investment in the country and its creative industry.

Ben Amadasun

showed that the world has an appetite for Nigerian content with titles made in Nigeria making to Top 10 lists in many countries around the world. The ‘most travelled’ Nigerian titles of 2020 include: ‘Òlòt ré’, ‘The Royal Hibiscus Hotel’, ‘Sugar Rush’, ‘Merry Men 2: Another Mission’, ‘It’s Her Day’, ‘Citation’, ‘The Mirror Boy, Last Flight to Abuja’, ‘The Set Up’ and ‘The Delivery Boy’. While we won’t mention any specifics or data points, what we can say is that Nollywood and Nigerian content is being enjoyed not only by Nigerian viewers but also viewers from across the world. Netﬂix to a very large extent was a lifesaver for storytellers last year. Would you say the pandemic in a way helped Nigerian storytellers and audiences embrace movie streaming? We are grateful that we have a business that has provided people with connection, escape, and comfort during a difficult time. Nigerians watched more than triple the amount of their Netflix (in viewing hours) compared to 2019. At the start of the year (pre-Covid lockdowns from Jan - Feb 2020), Nigerians spent most of their ‘TV Time’ watching titles across multiple genres.

However, from March to July, romance, kids, anime, reality, fantasy and thrillers had a surge in viewing hours, with drama, action, and comedy+stand up taking the top three spots of the most popular genres throughout the year. In terms of storytellers, in the absence of theatres, streaming services like Netflix provided an avenue for filmmakers to showcase their work but also earn revenue. Globally, we’ve released about 30 films theatrically a year for the past few years - most day-and-date and some pre-released in theatres. Theatrical releases matter to some filmmakers, and they’re also a requirement for some festivals and awards. What do you look out for when selecting Nigerian ﬁlms for your vault? We believe that great stories can come from anywhere and be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere and when it comes to selecting titles, we focus on best-in-class stories across genres that resonate strongly with our members. We believe that more people want and deserve to see their lives reflected on screen. We want to explore ambitious stories from genres rarely present in African cinema. It’s

Last year, Netﬂix took a liking to the siblings’ creatives, Ikorodu Bois. What other amazing talents have you found in the country? Nigerians are talented and creative people and Netflix sees the potential of African stories and storytellers and we want to help put the spotlight on talented local and regional filmmakers and bring their work to a global audience. As for new talents, earlier in June, we launched the development lab in partnership with Realness institute a nonprofit organization to upskill 12 creative industry professionals from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Mozambique, to be part of the inaugural three-month development lab for African Writers. Two Nigerians were selected for the Episodic Lab where they will develop their story concepts with help from expert Story Consultants and Creative Producers. The selected participants from Nigeria Include; Ayoade Adeyanju and Kehinde Joseph. Along with creative training, these writers will receive feedback from the Netflix team and at the end of the lab, each writer will have an opportunity to pitch their incubated concept to Netflix to have their series further developed for production. As part of the Development Lab, six participants were also selected for the Development Executive Traineeship (DET) to fully immerse themselves in the story development process, The talent from Nigeria Includes Ololade Okedare who will also have a chance to create potential Netflix African Original Series, because whether in Africa or beyond, we believe that great stories can come from anywhere.

The Voice Nigeria: Will the Comeback Talents Survive Another Elimination? Vanessa Obioha For the first live show of The Voice Nigeria’s third season, the coaches only saved one

talent in their respective teams, leaving the fate of others in the hands of the public. Nuel Ayo, Toeseen, Tamara, and Jeremiah who had barely

returned to the show through the Viewer’s Save found themselves up for possible elimination again. They are among the eight talents

that weren’t saved by the coaches which include KPee, Inioluwa, Anu, and Dapo. While Falz saved Naomi

Mac, Yemi Alade, Waje and Darey saved Kitay, Eazzie, and Esther respectively. The four now have an automatic ticket to the next round of

the live shows. Tomorrow will reveal who progresses to the next round or not as the public voting line closed yesterday night.

Supernova Set to Embark on Year-end Tour Vanessa Obioha Following her impressive solo debut onto the music scene, Nigerian musician Chinenye Nweke, popularly known as Supernova, returns to headline Supernova Live Concert scheduled for October 16, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. The tour, preceded by her single ‘Badder Than You’, and

Supernova

the recently released ‘Cassanova’, is directed at promoting her upcoming untitled debut album expected towards the end of the year. Supernova kicked off her career in the entertainment industry as lead singer of the teenage musical act The Lord’s Chosen Kids. Since then, she has honed her creative skills to earn the title of a respected actress and producer, sharing the big screen

with Nollywood heavyweights like Pete Edochie and Zack Orji. Supernova describes her comeback to the music scene as a fulfilling venture. “For now, I am putting movies on hold to concentrate more on the music because music is the only thing I find joy in. I derive much joy recording music than I do on movie sets.” Supernova Live Convert is a collaborative effort with Black Celebrity, an

entertainment and lifestyle magazine promoting Nigerian acts to the rest of Africa and global audience. CEO, Black Celebrity, Biletiri Babatunde, revealed that the second leg of the tour would commence in December in Benin City, Edo State. Top-billed acts for the show include musician 2Baba, comedian MC Edo Pikin, and actress Juliet Ibrahim.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͷ˜ 2021

OpralBenson,OthersTaskFGonPeace,SecurityonWorldRefugeesDay Yinka Olatunbosun The President, African Refugees Foundation (AREF), Chief Mrs Opral Benson, has tasked the federal government and Nigerians at large on promoting peace and security. Benson, who is also known as the Iya Oge of Lagos, expressed concern on the spate of insecurity across the country on the occasion to mark the 2021 World Refugee Day under the auspices of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Lagos recently. In her opening remarks, she observed that the issue of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has taken centre-stage in national discourse with the widespread insecurity nationwide. “Our image as a nation is being demeaned at an alarming rate. If we stay aloof, it is at our peril. We can no longer afford to sleep with our two eyes closed,’’ she said. Chief Benson added that the foundation is working assiduously to complement the effort of the government in tackling the crisis of irregular migration and refugees. “Today is the day for all of us to appreciate African refugees and know the contribution that this organisation has made through the years and direction that we must go to follow the refugees in Nigeria wherever they are and wherever they come from. “This is a matter of making sure that we do the best that we can to see that people who are not able to be on their own who need our assistance; that we go out there and render such assistance. “The situation is more demanding now than

Chief Opral Benson delivering her opening remarks at the event held in Lagos

it was when AREF was established. It is a very good initiative to be able to help individuals to move forward,’’ she said while fielding questions from the journalists at the event held at the newly refurbished AREF Headquarters in Surulere,

Nigerian Idol S6: The World Will Hear My Name, Says Akunna Vanessa Obioha The Nigerian Idol finalist who recently bowed out of the competition is full of gratitude for the opportunity to compete in the music reality TV show. Of the 68 contestants who entered the competition, Akunna was the only female who made it to the top three. She attributed her staying power to her “confidence and the fact that I was teachable. I could leverage my intelligence and teachability to pick up cues and apply myself to them every step of the way.” The 23-year-old Entertainment and Intellectual Property (IP) lawyer is also not ignorant of God’s grace in her life. She considers it a big factor in her journey so far. Akunna also believed she was a worthy competitor in the show, having eminently suited herself to compete at all levels. For her last performance, Akunna performed English singer Adele’s ‘Set Fire to the Rain’. That performance, according to her, was the most memorable of her journey in the contest. “The most memorable experience for me throughout my amazing journey in the contest was having the good fortune of performing ‘Set Fire to the Rain’ by Adele. I call it “good fortune” because it was the first time an evicted contestant would be having the opportunity to make a performance. “Traditionally, evicted contestants bow out of stage

Akunna

but I had the opportunity to perform a remarkable song. That was the perfect swan song; it coincided with my bowing out of the stage. I am glad that I had the privilege to showcase a memorable fire when the rain of my eviction beckoned on me. That’s an emotional and unforgettable experience.” Now that she is out of the contest, Akunna disclosed that she is set for greatness, armed with the lessons she has learnt on the show. “I have learnt some new and interesting dynamics to music in general. I have learnt sportsmanship and teamwork. I do not think it is possible to rise like the Phoenix in such a competition if you do not quickly learn and adopt the specific skills that sportsmanship and teamwork can equip you with. “Also, I have learnt to be the best version of myself. From the support of my fans, family and friends, I have learnt to believe in myself immensely. Much more than I used to.” But more importantly, Akunna is grateful for the platform and the social benefits that come with it.

Lagos. AREF had as its founding President, Late Ambassador Segun Olusola, a renowned television producer, broadcaster and diplomat who is famed for being the Executive Producer of ‘The Village Headmaster.’

The foundation was established in service to humanity especially in the areas of vocational trainings, peace advocacy, public deliberations with CSOs amongst others. To continue its tradition, Olujimi Olusola, the Chief Executive Officer for AREF reiterated the objectives of AREF and why Nigeria needs the foundation more than ever before. “We are going through a very terrible period with crises of unimaginable proportion. Now we know that this is the time for us to stand firm and collectively build this country. “And that is why we need initiatives whereby we get entrepreneurs to partner with us to train youths on social skills development. “We want to get as many as possible who are inclined to train this timid young group of Nigerians who don’t have anything to do. So, we keep them busy. “What we are doing is also what we ask other people to replicate. When AREF started, we didn’t do rescue, rehabilitation and resettlement anymore. A lot of other people have done that including churches. “We are focused now on training young people so they can they can take their skills anywhere. We are all refugees in our country now. If we don’t take appropriate action, we will not be a country anymore. We have a lot of graduates but they are not ‘skills’ graduates,’’ he said. The new Board of Trustees for the foundation include Ademola Oyinlola, Josephine Smith, Adebisi Kuforiji, Olugbenga Feyisitan, Margeret Ukegbu. The event was brought to a close with a vote of thanks delivered by Corporate Communications Consultant for AREF, Mr Wole Adeniran.

ReckittAnnouncesAkbarAliShahasNewGeneralManagerforSub-SaharanAfrica Reckitt (formerly Reckitt Benckiser), the British based leading multinational, & the makers of world-renowned brands like Dettol, Harpic, Mortein, Durex etc, has announced the appointment of AkbarAli Shah as the new General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa cluster (SSA), as well as the new Chief Executive Officer for Reckitt Nigeria. Akbar’s appointment follows the company’s global rebranding as part of its ongoing journey of transformation towards rejuvenating sustainable growth. In his capacity as General Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa cluster, he will oversee Reckitt’s business in West & East African countries, namely Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania based out of Lagos. With over 19 years of work experience in the FMCG sector and over 16 years

General Manager, Akbar Ali Shah, for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

working with Reckitt, Akbar brings a wealth of knowledge and industry expertise to his new role as General Manager, SSA. Since joining Reckitt in 2005, Akbar has held various leadership roles including Country Manager, Pakistan Country Manager, KSA, Sales Director, Regional Head of Trade Marketing in the Middle East Region, Business Development Manager Emerging Markets in North Africa and Commercial Director in Iran to mention a

few. Akbar’s appointment as the new General Manager will play an integral role in the continual success of Reckitt within the African region and steer the company towards living its purpose and providing transformation in hygiene awareness, access to its products and achievement as they aim for the pursuit of a cleaner and healthier world. Commenting on his appointment, Akbar Ali Shah said, “Reckitt is a leading multinational company that produces the world’s most trusted hygiene and health brands. “Here at Reckitt, we understand the role we play in the hygiene space and we are committed to helping everyone take the best possible care of the world we all share. “We work with relentless energy and innovation to make the best possible products to protect, heal and nurture the

millions of people who put their trust in our products. “I am humbled to continue to play a critical role at Reckitt, a company that strives to contribute to the growth, development and sustainability of the world we live in, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa where I believe I will be able to contribute my quota to achieve the overall goal of the company.” According to the company, Akbar’s appointment is also set to increase the company’s customer portfolio by developing its purpose-led brands and driving consumer-centric and digital innovation. In addition to this, the new GM is also saddled with the responsibility of directly driving business relationship management and developing strategies to increase the market share of Reckitt in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.

Navy Officers’ Wives Challenged on Financial Stability Rebecca Ejifoma With the COVID-19 pandemic bleeding the economy of the nation, members of the Navy Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA) have been challenged on achieving financial stability backed up with prudence in their homes. This was the submission of the guest speakers, Mrs. Olajumoke Oyagha and Mrs. Theresa Ijeoma, who spoke on the theme, “APrudent Woman/Financial Stability” at the one-day seminar to mark this year’s Navy Week in Lagos. For Ijeoma, the major factor to consider in this time of

pandemic is to work within one’s means. “You don’t go into unnecessary spending or debts - it’s the new normal”, she added. She further tasked the women to sit with their husbands, and their children and plan properly while harping on the importance of saving. Her words, “Learn to save from what you have. Invest in good businesses that can give you good returns”. Addressing members of NOWA and the Naval Ratings WivesAssociation (NARAWA), Oyagha, who doubles as the wife of a retired officer and

pastor, listed some elements for other women to adopt in achieving financial stability, adding that “prudence is the secret”. According to her, women can become prudent in the way they manage their finances, homes, and families, by looking at what is happening now and asking God for help. While noting that there is no way to survive the new normal without being wise, the speaker cautioned the women on watching their resources and knowing how to manage it with their families. Although Oyagha acknowledged that as women the

reality of what is happening in the market is different from what is in their hands to cater for the homes, she implored everyone to understand the situation with godly wisdom. She went ahead to describe a prudent person as one who acts or shows care for the future. And with the social and economic impact of COVID-19, she enjoined, “Control your emotions, temper and words. “Begin to put plans in place. That’s the way a prudent woman maintains her lifestyle after retirement. She anticipates and prepares accordingly,” she highlighted.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͷ˜ 2021

ART WEEKEND

…For pure art enthusiasts

Inside the World of ACI Studios A whistle stop at the ACI Studios in Lekki forecasts a promising future for multi-media production, transmedia storytelling and creatives in Nigeria. Yinka Olatunbosun reports

rom the lounge, the group consisting of journalists and creatives descended the stairs to access the main building at Afinju Concept International, ACI Studios Lekki. On the right was the piano room with a secured surround glass. On the first floor of the building, the digital studio came into view. Right opposite it was an in-house producer for the analogue studio who got up from his seat which was facing the large mixing console. The studio caters to commercial voiceovers, animations or movie soundtracks. Next, the group was led downstairs to the rehearsal studio for the screening of two short documentary movies that had been produced at the studio equipped to service as much as a 25-piece music band. The room has also been the venue of masterclasses in music and entertainment. At a media parley held at the facility last weekend, the audience included ace broadcast journalist

Interior view of ACI studio

Olisa Adibua, seasoned actor Segun Arinze and comedian, Koffi as well as theatre and film director, Bunmi Adewale who had previously done productions at the studios. The creative solution provider, ACI draws its strength from being at per with global standards while sourcing from local expertise. Makinde

Adeniran, the Chief Operating Officer, ACI Entertainment who is the current chairman, National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners Lagos described the studio as a contribution to the creative industry. “We have all the facilities here and they are not just facilities but ones aimed at ensuring that

the industry goes to the next level. There is a board in there. I doubt if there is another one in Nigeria. Apart from the audiovisual production, you can do all you have to do and still come around here to relax. We open the bar for artists to come around; do their meetings in a very serene environment for a pittance. Apart from the com-

mercial aspect of it, we believe the company must come and enhance the industry where it belongs,’’ he explained. ACI which was initially set up for music production has been around for at least eight years. In the last two or three years, the management decided to expand the scope of production to training manpower. “The CEO, Adewole Adeniyi runs another arm of ACI in America where we have a collection of experts who are ready to teach and train people. You can buy any technology and what have you to put on ground. If hands are not trained, the industry will still not grow because we have seen a whole lot of machines in Nigeria but the human ability to operate those machines and take the industry forward is not there. One of such projects that we will devise is to ensure that some universities will build professional studios for them. We go into the universities, have partnerships with them and ensure that trainers come from abroad and help them,’’ he revealed.

TravelPhotographer,AkinbodeTakesaShotatLagosinNewShow Yinka Olatunbosun Marathon-runner, Dayo Akinbode may have retired from a robust corporate career but her passion for adventure is unparalleled. The Museum Hall at Freedom Park will come alive with her fresh photography in the three-day exhibition titled, “Colours and Flavours of Lagos’’ from today till Sunday July 11. Akinbode always thinks of herself as a girl–next-door. The graduate of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering at University of Ife, is also a chartered accountant and a Supply Chain Specialist. As a management trainee in Cadbury Nigeria Plc, she rose through the ranks to become the Planning Manager. Thereafter, she was head-hunted by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company where she rose to become the Low Risk Contracting Team Lead. “I had always loved to travel and stumbled on

Hustle in the Rain

running while still working in Shell. I loved my new passion so much that I started buying off leave days in addition to the free 30 working days leave I need was entitled to annually in other to satisfy my need to travel to run marathons. I

would rather earn less and be free to travel, I reasoned. Eventually, I took an early retirement when I turned 50 to pursue my passion of running to travel and traveling to run,’’ she explained. Through the years, she had embarked on a series

of adventures documented on camera. For instance, in 2014, she joined some friends to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest lone standing mountain in the world. Prior to the pandemic, she had run marathons in 60 different

countries including the first marathon race in Yemen held in March 2020. “The highlight of every race is flying the Nigerian flag as I cross the finish line. My friends call me Run4Fun but in 2018, but I decided to do more than run for fun. The Ile-Ife Heritage Marathon was birthed and I used the platform to showcase the culture and heritage of the Nigerian Yoruba tribe,’’ she revealed. She then raised funds for the Osun State Branch of the Nigerian Red Cross under the watch of Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. The current exhibition ‘Colours and Flavours of Lagos’ is a collection of photographic prints drawn from sights encountered during her running and cycling the streets of Lagos. The works were all captured with a phone camera, giving insight into the elements that make Lagos a unique city. It includes special moments of sunrise, sunset and blue hour frozen in time and documented to be shared with generations yet unborn.

OshodiArtGalleryInaugurates‘MissArtNigeria’Contest Yinka Olatunbosun The Ikorodu-based Oshodi Art Gallery has inaugurated a beauty pageant show called ‘Miss Arts Nigeria 2021’ with the aim to empower the Nigerian lady through art, beauty and culture. A first of its kind, Miss Arts Nigeria is a cultural reawakening for female participants who are

willing to promote and learn more about their culture. The contest which is open to ladies between the ages 18 and 27 years will involve skill acquisition in the area of animation, adire making, traditional meal preparation amongst others. The contest is indeed an extension of the gallery’s preoccupation. “We will also like to in-

form stakeholders, private institutions and government parastatals that Miss Art Nigeria 2021 that is officially open for partnership both in product, monetary and service mediums. Oshodi art gallery will be using the medium to promote its various art collections to Nigeria and the rest of the world,’’ Dr. Paul Oshodi, the CEO, Oshodi Art Gal-

lery, said. He further revealed that each contestant would be required to dress in a way that reflects the culture of her state of origin and demonstrate her cooking skills. The gallery brand adviser, Nathaniel Ogunyale in his remarks described Nigerians as the most beautiful persons in the world. “Unfortunately, we don’t

harness that potential and benefit from it. We cannot survive in isolation. All the young ones identify each potential and it’s going to be a beautiful reward for the society at large,’’ he said. The winner of the Miss Arts Nigeria Pageant gets a cash prize, a brand new car while the first and second runners-up will get cash prizes as well.

OsinbajoExtols EntrepreneurialVirtuesat RovingheightsBookstore Tour Yinka Olatunbosun As part of activities to commemorate 2021’s MSME week, Rovingheights Bookstore, one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing bookselling brands played host to the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbanjo SAN on Tuesday June 22. The Vice President was accompanied by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo. His entourage was received by Adebola Eyinade, and Nike Timothy co-founder/ Managing Director and Abuja store manager respectively. The vicepresident took time to browse through the bookstore’s wellstocked shelves and engaged the staff on books by his favourite authors, most notably by theAmerican political scientist, Francis Fukuyama. Aside, an interest in nonfiction, the Vice President interest also spans literature and poetry from Northern Nigeria. He is a big fan of works by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Chibundu Onuzo author of the critically acclaimed Welcome of Lagos He also is a fan of Prof Wole Soyinka He was very keen to understand how the bookstore started operations, the process for sourcing books and the challenges associated with bookselling in Nigeria. Professor Osinbajo remarked that he loved that Rovingheights bookstore stocked a wide range of books and was especially impressed with the range of indigenous books that the bookstore carried. He commended amongst other things the ambience of the store and recommended more seating areas for senior citizens to seat whilst browsing through books, an arrangement that is reminiscent of his favourite Barnes and Nobles store where he enjoys buying and browsing through books while nursing a cup of coffee. The Vice President purchased a decent stash of books, most notably Professor Wole Soyinka’s essay ‘Intervention X.’ According to Adebola Eyinade, “Rovingheights is extremely honoured to have hosted the Vice President of Nigeria on this thoughtful visit. His visit is a validation of our belief that MSMEs are at the heart of job creation and big encouragement to a growing and ambitious bookstore chain”. We are thankful that we have a regular patron in the vice president of Nigeria and we hope that more leading will emulate his deep love for books”, she added. Rovingheight, a chain of online and brick and mortar stores stocking a wide range of books has three outlets in Lagos and Abuja. A family-owned business founded in 2016 by the trio of Adedotun, Oluwatobi and Adebola Eyinade, it has a vision to build the largest chain of profitable bookstores in Nigeria, whilst delivering quality books at the best price points to readers.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͷ˜ 2021

Pomp, Pageantry in Aba as UdeagbalaTakes over NACCIMA Presidency In Aba, Abia State, it was celebration galore as Harvard trained industrialist and Chief Executive Officer of J. Udeagbala Holdings Nigeria Limited, Ide John Udeagbala was inaugurated as the 21st President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Steel, Chiamaka Ozulumba reports

arvard trained industrialist and Chief Executive Officer of J. Udeagbala Holdings Nigeria Limited, Ide John Udeagbala was recently inaugurated as the 21st President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Steel (NACCIMA). He took over from Hajiya Saratu Iya Aliyu who successfully managed the affairs of the 60 years association in the last two years, while Otunba Dele Oye, reigned as the second National Deputy President. Udeagbala is a strong corporate player who acquired expertise and experience relevant to Corporate Management & Governance. He is a strategic thinker, planner who possesses leadership skills, with proficiency in engagement, collaboration and consultation. An astute administrator, with an uncommon understanding and appreciation of the broader policy contexts of the delivery and planning of top management functions, his high levels of performance in his various fields of endeavour has placed him in good stead for referencing. He is an economic nationalist, who reflects a high degree of integrity and standing in the community, with demonstrated values of acting in good faith, and in the best interests of the society. The 21st President of NACCIMA is an alumnus of the Harvard University School of Business Administration, USA, having successfully completed the Advanced Management Programme (1997). His is a holding name for an indigenous conglomerate comprising six subsidiaries that operate as independent enterprises, namely: Beauty Base Limited, Kitchen Vegetable Oil Ltd, Quality Pipes Industries Ltd, Dynamic Solvent Extraction Co. Ltd, Dynamic Farms Ltd, and J. Udeagbala and Sons Ltd. He won the National Productivity Merit Award (NPOM), in the Business Productivity category, in 1996. In the economic space, under which manufacturing industries operate in Nigeria, his quest for excellence earned one of his subsidiaries an award by the Central Bank of Nigeria as the Best SMEIS, 2008. He has also won the Excellence Award by the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), 2015. He has served on the board of several government establishments, and of some organised private sector enterprises. He was on the board of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) from 2009 – 2015; he was on the board of Raw Materials ResearchAnd Development Council from 2005 – 2007; he was a member of the Inter- Ministerial Committee Of Federal Government on the Influx of Foreign Goods into Nigeria 2006; Chairman, Abia State Environmental and Sanitation Committee from 2003 – 2007. He currently serves on several boards – Board Member, Nigeria Customs Service; Commissioner, Tax Appeal Tribunal – South East Zone; Director, Landmark Finance & Investment Co.Ltd; and Director, Quality Ceramics Industries Akwa Ibom State. He is a past president of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA) and Past President of the South-East Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (SECCIMA). In the traditional sphere, he is a member of Obiin-Council, an Ichie, and holds the prestigious title of “Agbalanze” and “Ide” of Ozubulu. Udeagbala’s presidency is poised to revolutionise the Organised Private Sector due to his local and international contacts, supported by a vibrant 1st National Deputy, Otunba Kelvin Dele Oye, a revered law practitioner and continental businessman. He is the Principal partner of Dele Oye &

Ide John Udeagbala

The excos with the traditional ruler of Aba before the investiture

New team and the outgoing president

New Executives

Associates who served as the 2nd Deputy President of NACCIMA in the last tenure, was inaugurated as the 1st National Deputy President while Alhaji Jani Ibrahim, came on board as 2nd National Deputy President. In his inaugural remarks, Udeagbala promised to follow through with the brilliant records of his predecessors and committed to sustaining NACCIMA’s legacy and providing creative ways to support the business community and facilitate real-time measures and innovations in favour of businesses. As the voice of Nigerian Business, the new president stated that NACCIMA will deepen its engagement with government, the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria and other stakeholders through advocacy and various platforms that will further strengthen the association’s capacity to influence policies and decisions in favor of business.

He said: “It is with great humility and a high sense of service that I address the leadership and members of the Chamber Movement, and other stakeholders, as the 21st President of the NigerianAssociation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA). “This event, which culminates in the transition from one president to another, is particularly significant as it has come close on the heels of the double celebrations of the 60th Anniversary of NACCIMA, and the NACCIMA@60 Awards held about a month ago in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. “ At that event, we honoured our deserving past leaders and other distinguished personalities who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields, and contributed significantly in various areas of our national life and at the international level. “I express my deep appreciation and admira-

tion to my predecessor in office, Hajiya Saratu Iya Aliyu. An experienced businesswoman and veteran of the chamber movement in Nigeria, her significant contributions and inspirational leadership, which were manifest during her tenure, were indeed remarkable, and have been acknowledged far and wide. She stands tall as a woman of substance. I sincerely thank her for her contributions and the continuation of the excellent tradition of past NACCIMA leaders. Special appreciation also goes to my 1st Deputy President, Otunba Dele Kelvin Oye, for the prominent role he has played in NACCIMA, especially in the past two administrations.” From its inception and records of contributions, as the Premier National Chambers of Commerce, NACCIMA has truly proven to be the voice of Nigerian Business, for over 60 years. NACCIMA, in collaboration with other members of the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria, has been consistently at the fore-front of advocacy for policies that promote operations of the private sector. The association has supported Trade Promotion through various means and facilitated the establishment of business while serving as the pathway for multinationals keen on working with Nigerian businesses. NACCIMAhas also influenced several government policies that have translated into tangible benefits for businesses, leading to growth of the national economy. There are however, challenges before the new leadership as the world still contends with the dreadful COVID-19 pandemics. Recognising this fact, Udeagbala said to the August gathering. “But let us remember that we are not completely out of the woods. There is, however, hope in the horizon of an end to the pandemic, especially with the discovery of vaccines and mass vaccination programmes. “As the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic evolve, the Chamber movement has an opportunity to further serve and help reposition the conduct of business transactions in the community in our quest for economic recovery.” All stakeholders and the entire private sector look forward to the realisation of all the programmes of Udeagbala which includes the completion of the NACCIMA Towers ongoing in Abuja. His words: “For some time now, we have struggled with our building project in Abuja. Completion of the project, the NACCIMA Towers in Abuja will be one of the priorities of my administration. This is because NACCIMA must have a befitting and visible presence in Nigeria’s capital.” He commended the Nigerian Government for its support to businesses right from the outset of the pandemic. “The various stimulus packages, to some extent, helped to cushion the negative impact of the pandemic on households and businesses. The Economic Sustainability Recovery Plan has also been of help as we have seen signs of economic recovery. “But we still need to do more to move forward as a nation. The Chambers movement must be given more opportunities and visible roles in achieving this objective. This is because we provide a National platform through which businesses across the country can be reached to make these stimulus packages and other support programmes impactful. “Chambers of Commerce across the world, through their members can be regarded to be the real creator of national wealth. They give practical meaning to the concept of Shared Prosperity across national levels and up to the grassroot level where poverty is wide spread and endemic. In this respect, I commend the Nigerian government for its immense support to the business sector through its various sectoral interventions. We will continue to be a veritable partner in this regard.”

T H I S D AY ˾ ͷ˜ 2021

METRO

…Your city life in print

Economic Challenges and Ugwuanyi’s MidasTouch Dr. Hyginus Eze We salute you for keeping Enugu State out of the news for bad reasons, And for keeping Enugu State in the news for the right reasons. (Frank Nweke Jr. October 19, 2020). At the end of the Second World War, Japan was in ruins, having been pummelled to rubbles by two atomic bombs. About a decade after Japan had transformed into an economic superpower, confidently seated as, until recently, the second largest economy in the world. How did it happen? Japan abandoned war and armament and pursued economic prosperity. And the country rose like a Phoenix from the ashes, in fact, by 1968 (barely 13 years after an atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima), Japan had risen to the position of second largest economy in the world. Russia probably has the largest armament in the world, but the per capita income of a Japanese is almost twice that of a Russian. Likewise, the Second World War tore Germany into shreds, especially economically. With Hitler gone and the War over, like Japan, Germany accepted to pursue peace, and channelled energy away from weaponry to pursue economic prosperity. By 1950 (five years after the War ended) Germany, especially Western Germany was already blossoming. The road to economic prosperity is Peace! Peace! Peace! Enugu State was definitely not in a war situation, but in 2015 when Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi assumed office as the Governor of Enugu State, the political atmosphere in Enugu was cyclonic. The State was in a cauldron of hate, rivalry and rancour. The tension was palpable. The struggle for power had been bitter and rancorous. Some party men clung to their ambitions, and refused to let go. Some of the political bigwigs even within Ugwuanyi’s own party were determined not to throw in the towel, and had sworn to ruin his Government. Ugwuanyi would not let that happen! He came to power with an economic blue-print to lead the State to prosperity. And he knew that if he was going to make headway, he must, first of all,

Governor Ugwuanyi

de-tense the State. He understood that peace was a sin qua non for development, whether at the State or National level. So, Ugwuanyi set to work building bridges. In less than one year the bitterness was gone, and was replaced by a pan-Enugu vision shared, not only by the political class across party lines, but also by the multi-ethnic groups that people the State. What followed was an economic leap that was unprecedented in the history of the State. In one clean sweep Ugwuanyi doubled the IGR of the State. In December 2020, Enugu State was voted the second-best State after Kaduna State in Accountability and Transparency in governance. In 2018, World Bank ranked Enugu State first in the South-East, and third in Nigeria, in terms of Ease of Doing Business and Business Start-Ups. Of all the thirty-six States in Nigeria, Enugu State was ranked among the six most viable States by the reputable Economic Confidential in its 2019 Annual State Viability Index (ASVI). Is it not intriguing, even mystifying that Governor Ugwuanyi was able to double the IGR of Enugu State, yet maintains a leading position among the thirty-six States, in terms of Ease of Doing Business? It indeed is, if we consider that in the

2016 Journal of Economic Perspectives, Ease of Doing Business pertains to the strategies of evolving better and simpler regulations to enable businesses to thrive. Oftentimes, an increase in IGR means an increase in taxation. So, how did Ugwuanyi manage to double the IGR of his State, and still rank first in Ease of Doing Business? A million-dollar-question! Under Ugwuanyi, Enugu State has joined the prestigious Global Start-Up Ecosystem ranking as reported by Dr Baida Ziv. Enugu became a full-fledged State in 1991, but it had never been captured in the Start-up Ecosystem ranking; Ugwuanyi made it possible for Enugu to be ranked in the 2021 global Start-up Ecosystem report. The report emerged in the middle of June 2021. Enugu is probably the only State from Nigeria, which had never been ranked before that managed to make it into the league in 2021. Ugwuanyi’s polished, smooth, easy-going exterior disguises an ultra-brilliant, keen-minded, deep-thinker. He combines exposure with native intelligence. He is a man in a class of his own. Solidly educated and armed with highquality first and second degrees in Business Administration, topped up by a plethora of professional qualifications, Ugwuanyi is at home in basically every area of life. It is his shinning intellect that he has brought to bear on governance. He plans with precision, and delivers results with pin-point accuracy. He has a bird’s eye-view of every aspect of human capital and infrastructural development. His magnificent success in economic planning is giving birth to projects that are ordinarily beyond the fiscal capacity of the State. For the first time in the history of the State, a flyover is about to become a reality at the strategic point of the popular T-Junction at Abakpa Nike. For the first time in the history of the state a housing project for civil servants comprising 750 one bedroom, two bedroom, and three bedroom bungalows with an unbelievably prolonged instalment payment plan is fasting becoming a reality near the New Market Bridge

at Onyeama. Of all the thirty-six States in Nigeria, including the FCT, Enugu State is adjudged by credible statistics to have the least number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. Ugwuanyi made it possible. The story of what Ugwuanyi has accomplished in the areas of health-care, road infrastructure, education, scholarships, SME (Small and Medium Enterprises that is generating thousands of jobs leveraging modern technology), just name them, some day the story will be told. While some States are downsizing their work-force, Ugwuanyi is employing, while some States are owing salaries, Ugwuanyi, is not only paying regularly (25th day of every month), but has also continued to pay thirteenth month salary at the end of the year since the inception of his administration. While some States are on a borrowing spree, Ugwuanyi has refused to borrow a quid, effectively managing the funds he is generating, while some States have abandoned projects littered everywhere, Ugwuanyi has no such thing. With him to begin is to finish! To say that Enugu is not a resource-based State amounts to repeating the obvious; neither is the State a beneficiary of any special revenue formula. But Ugwuanyi has a special formula: fiscal responsibility. He deploys money like a General in the battle-field deploying his soldiers for effective combat. Expectedly, therefore, Ugwuanyi has kept his State in the news for only the right reasons! Hopefully, we shall come to a point in this country when our finest men, when men who have a natural skill in dousing tension and bringing peace, when men, who live clean, exemplary, and scandal-free life, when men for whom justice, equity and fair-play is a way of life will have the opportunity to come to the centre-stage and show the world the giant we really are. Indeed our dream of a peaceful, prosperous nation is possible, but we must, as a nation, show perspicacity and discernment in recognising the leaders among us, who are our brands. t&[F XSJUFT GSPN *OEFQFOEFODF -BZPVU &OVHV

Empowering Nigerian Women in Farm Tractor Operations An integrated agricultural firm, Alluvial, in partnership with Mastercard Foundation has established the Tractor Operations Training Activity to empower 50 young women in Nigeria in farm tractor operations, writes Rebecca Ejifoma Last year, Nigeria was rated 128th out of 153 countries globally and 27th out of 53 countries in Africa on the World Bank’s Global Gender Gap Index. Also, it revealed that Nigerian women account for 41 per cent ownership of small businesses in the country with 23 million female entrepreneurs operating microbusinesses. However, these businesses operate mostly on survival mode and an after-thought if their attempts to secure a formal job is futile. Thanks to this, Nigeria has one of the highest entrepreneurship rates globally. Consequently, Alluvial and Mastercard Foundation powered the Tractor Operations Training Activity under the Alluvial Community Block Farming to up-skill these young women and enable them thrive as entrepreneurs. Its initiative is also in line with the Young Africa Works strategy of Mastercard Foundation to deliver dignified and fulfilling jobs for 10 million young Nigerians - 70 per cent of which are women - by 2030, with a focus on agriculture, digital and creative economies. Interestingly, Young Africa Works, which is Mastercard Foundation’s strategy, is focused on addressing youth unemployment and the poverty challenge in Africa. Its strategy is to secure dignified and fulfilling jobs for 30 million young people in Africa, particularly

Some of the empowered women in the farm tractor operations

women. This strategy is premised on the fact that securing employment is the way out of poverty and youth employment is an assured path to lift Africa out of dearth. Indeed, women are described as indispensable in the fight against poverty. This, the duo explained, is because an empowered woman makes a capacitated family. And because the family represents the smallest unit of society, the family gains the most when a woman is

educated and equipped. Thus, both Alluvial and MasterCard Foundation are certain that such a woman will also groom enlightened children who will grow into responsible and independent adults to contribute positively to the society. Today, this project, which will train young women to operate and run a business out of tractor operations is termed an inclusion into a male dominated field. “This is a deliberate move and is part of the vision of Alluvial Agriculture to empower and impact two million farmers across Africa over the next five years,” the organisations highlighted. According to the ESG and Commercial Manager, Alluvial Agriculture, Naona Usoroh, the training programme aims to reduce the gender gap in terms of economic enablement. “The training, which will fully sponsor 50 women, will equip these women with the skills and tools to successfully manage a tractor operations business.” She also outlined that applications for this programme are opened to young women aged 18 to 35 years who are resident in Nigeria, adding that participants are expected to undergo a three-week boot camp and those who completed the training were presented with a certificate of completion. The ESG further acknowledged that Al-

luvial Agriculture pushes to solve Africa’s food challenge through community block farming techniques. With presence across African countries, Alluvial Agriculture is said to provide support to small-scale farmers in the form of training, technology, land preparation, irrigation, input supplies and market access. This is why the need for tractor training operations has become paramount. Listing benefits of the training, Usoroh said beneficiaries would be able to access post-training work opportunities on any of Alluvial’s various community block farms where mechanisation services are required. She added: “It is interventions like the Tractor Operations Training Activity put together by corporate organisations that will create platforms for the inclusion of women into economically empowering fields,” while emphasising that this would help grow the intrinsic entrepreneurship abilities of women and encourage them to establish and scale up their businesses. Undoubtedly, this programme will not only elevat female entrepreneurs in the country, it will also with time bridge the gender gap and spur women to thrive to the pinnacle of their careers - whether formal or informal.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͷ˜ 2021

POLSCOPE

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The Loud Echoes of the Southern Governors

Canticles…. El Rufai, Kidnappers and Other Matters

El Rufai

id you hear that over 348 school children are in the hands of Bandits in Northern Nigeria in the last one month?Yet, the concerned state governors are sleeping and waking and making merry? Buhari

wice they have spoken, twice they have shaken the polity. First, it was in Asaba, Delta State (last May 11) and just last Monday, they roared again, this time in Lagos, the city they have declared as the permanent secretariat of the Southern Governors’ Forum. Only the naïve can either dismiss the 17 governors of Southern Nigeria or trifle with the points they have made. The message from the governors is as clear as crystal. And it is not far from declaring that the status quo cannot be allowed to continue. And this does not have anything to do with party affiliation or a warped sense of loyalty to some insensitive political leader. Both governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or even All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The resolve seems to be like saying, we cannot be slave to party loyalty at the expense of the lives and safety of our people. This has been expressed on all fronts. Only dull-brained people will not see the dangers ahead. Perhaps what is even more frightening is the fact that the federal government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, does not seem to appreciate or correctly interpret the implication of the gathering clouds. For a long time, the governors of the southern part of Nigeria have not had such a rousing consensus on national matters and concerns. But pushing all their partisan differences apart, they are all agreed on the issues of the safety of their people. What else is governance all about if it does not accommodate the interest, safety and well being of the people? Under President Buhari’s administration, too many things have gone wrong and unchecked in a way that they now seem to be like the normal. I am sure the southern governors were simply tired of waiting for things to change. It is even doubly worse for the APC governors. How can they convince their people that the man whom they voted for is in power and they are under the heavy burden of insecurity and hunger? How can they explain that farmers can no longer go to their farms, or that people can no longer travel freely on the highways without being harassed, kidnapped or even killed by Fulani herdsmen? How do they engage the people on any governance discourse and not talk about such danger in the polity? Yes, Nigeria is an amalgam of disparate groups and people. Since independence, it has been the responsibility of all leaders to effectively manage

Akerodolu

those differences in a way that there is a semblance of a united Nigeria. But sadly, the present administration has not been brilliant in this regard. And the consequence is that the fault lines in the country are not only getting heavily defined, but are getting bolder and deeper. There is now so much deference to primordial considerations like region and religion. There is now no pretence about fostering the narrative of a united Nigeria. That is why the Southern governors were manifestly regional in their advocacy and demands. Charity, they say, begins from home. The president has been repeatedly and publicly accused of nepotism, and rightly so. But that has not changed anything. The malaise of ethnic superiority among the Hausa/Fulani, for instance, is no longer a mere feeling, but a practical, bitter experience in the Nigerian system. It is there in the Nigerian civil service, it is there in the Army, Customs, Immigration, Airforce etc., just everywhere. A friend told me very recently that in her parastatal (under the Ministry of Transport) there are no middle-level southerners at all. What that means is that when the present crop of senior officers retire, the parastatal will be completely in the hands of people from a particular section of the country. Yet, there is an entire section of government meant to manage and project the ethos of regional balancing, called Federal Character Commission. It is instructive that the Southern governors have been forced to get united, courtesy of the dare devilry of bandits and herdsmen who have literally seized the peace and quiet of the region. Now, the fire has been lit. the flame can only be managed, not quenched. Now, irrespective of whatever the position of the various political parties, the 17 governors of the south have resolved that the presidency must come back to the South in 2023. Interestingly, some of the Middle Belt governors plus Governors Abdullahi Ganduje and Babagana Zulum of Kano and Borno States respectively, have endorsed the position of the Southern governor. This as some of the governors in the North have not only called Ortom, Ganduje and Bulum as sell-outs, they have argued that the principle of rotational presidency is not in the Nigerian constitution. Indeed, governors like Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso and even former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have all been warming up for a shot at the presidency, even as a northerner would have occupied the seat for eight full years (by 2023). The north needs the south as much as the

South needs the north. But there is a vexatious sense of arrogance among the northern political elite that seems to suggest a sense of entitlement in the Nigerian federation. The Southern governors, by their declaration, last Monday in Lagos, have declared that such cusp of arrogance can no longer be accepted. The Southern governors also declared that the new Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) being passed by the National Assembly is not only offensive to good thinking, but also inconsiderate to the host communities. They rejected the ownership structure provision infused into the Bill. How can it be explained, for instance, that states where the petroleum pipelines pass through would automatically be regarded as Oil-producing states, just so they can benefit from the proposed five or three per cent equity holding in Host Communities Trust Fund? This is hilarious and vexatious! This is not to even mention the reluctance, if not refusal of the upper chamber to raise the equity holding for host communities to five per cent like the Lower Chamber did. Yet, a wholesome 30 per cent of the fund is approved for exploration of oil in far away dry zones like Borno and behind the deserts. Some of the provisions of the PIB seek to undermine the collective intelligence of the Niger Delta region and its people. The National Assembly cannot afford to cut their nose to spite their face. Nobody tests the depth of a river with both feet at once. Rightly too, the Southern governors have argued that if indeed, they are the Chief Security Officers of the various States, as the constitution merely ascribes them, then they should be in the know before federal security agencies carry out operations in their various states. This is believed to have arisen from the dawn attack of the residence of Sunday Igboho, about a week ago. How could the DSS, for instance, have carried out such a massive attack on the home of Igboho, without the governor of the state (Oyo) having a wink of the operation? It was so heartwarming that the Southern governors have also resolved that all state Assemblies of the Southern States would have passed a law banning open grazing in their various states. The ban is expected to take effect September 1, 2021. This is regardless of the President’s search for colonial gazette of ancient grazing routes in the country. ll, the Southern governors have squared up to the president, looking him eyeball-to-eyeball, and saying, No More! This is a delicate curve in the journey to nationhood. How well Mr President negotiates this bend will determine how well the ship of state will sail therefrom. We watch. We Wait!

What do you expect the said state governors to do? They should enter the forest to look for the kidnapped children? What kind of question is that? Are you not a father? Is that what you can say in the face of this dire problem facing Northern Nigeria? Do you realise the eventual consequence on education? You want me to join you in heaping all the blames on the governors? Do you know the efforts the various state governors have been making to ensure that abducted children are safely rescued and returned? Some of you just think…. (raise his palm) Stop! Don’t typecast me. I am not among the ‘some of you….’ What we are saying is that we cannot see any effort at all. What is the outcome of this so-called effort? Imagine the 136 toddlers and infants of Tegina Islamiyyah School, in Niger State kidnapped since late May, are still in captivity. The headquarters of school pupils’ abduction seems to be in Kaduna State with a major abduction taking place every forth night.Yet the Governor, Nasir el Rufai, remains obstinate about solving the problem. You talk about efforts. What efforts? What do they do with their huge security votes? There you go again. Gov El Rufai maintains that he will not negotiate with bandits, since they have elevated kidnapping to a major lucrative going concern. He argues that negotiating and paying them ransom makes the crime a commercial venture that should be sustained. In a way his argument makes sense. Yes, the governor’s argument makes sense, but has it solved the problem? Was he not the same one who started it all in 2016 by inviting and settling the bandits? Have you asked yourself why the kidnappers seem to have all relocated to Kaduna State? Need you be told that it is all aimed at teaching El-Rufai a lesson of how not to be cocky and refractory on such sensitive matters about life and death? Who is willing to use his son or daughter to test the efﬁcacy of the strategy of the governor? When the bandits shot and killed those ﬁve abducted undergraduates from Green Field University, did ElRufai’s strategy bring back those children? Do you think it was out of normalcy that the parents of the remaining students gathered N180 million to rescue their children from the hands of the kidnappers? Yes,

N180 million! Now they have kidnapped 140 students from Bethel Baptist High School , Kaduna, on Monday. How many rivers do we have to cross to end this scourge? But for how long will a government condone this height of brigandage among its people? Are you asking me? Go and ask Gov El Rufai? And don’t forget to also ask him why he withdrew his two children from public schools? Didn’t he say even if his child was kidnapped, he would not negotiate with bandits? You can be sure no mother would allow that kind of experimentation. Don’t forget, “wisdom is profitable to direct…”, as the scripture says. You know that his children will be prime targets for the bandits, just to prove a point. So, whose child is ﬁt for this test-of- stubborness experiment? You see what the people mean by saying what is good for the goose is good for the ganders? Watch it!, you cannot accuse Gov El Rufai of being partial in the application of his principle. He merely withdrew his children from school. He did not secretly go to enroll the children in some fortified schools. In fact, he had gone ahead to close down 13 schools which he suspects are prone to attacks. So, is that the solution? He is treating the symptoms of the disease and not the disease itself. How does closing down 13 schools forestall the big buzz in the business of kidnapping school children? What are the alternatives? What are the defence strategies? What are the baits to discourage the banditry? Can the whole world not see that the hard-headedness approach is not paying off? Is there no wisdom in the saying that if you want to catch a monkey, you behave like a monkey? Those of you hell bent on defending the malaises of Gov El Rufai should tell him that when strategies are proven to be ineffective, they should be reviewed. Even if it means playing the fool, to achieve a given end, it will be adjudged a wise decision. It is called the doctrine of Necessity or even Expediency. Sticking to your guns and allowing such degree of banditry and unrest to practically seize the state, while sacking the workforce in the state civil service amidst threats of doom and danger are surely not means of ending a scourge that has come upon the people. He should be conscious of how history will judge him at the end of his tenure. We should pray for the courage to do the right things.

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͷ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

CBN Introduces Supervisory Framework for Payment Service Banks Obinna Chima The Central of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced the supervisory framework for payment service banks (PSBs) in the country. In the supervisory framework posted on its website, the banking sector regulator explained that the introduction of the PSBs was to contribute to efforts to enhance access to financial services for the unbanked population of the Nigerian economy. The PSBs are expected to leverage on technology to provide services that would be easily accessed by the unbanked population and those who are in hard-to[1]reach areas of the country. “This framework hereby

provides a set of regulations that are targeted at streamlining the operations of Payment Service Banks, ensuring transparency in their operations as well as ensuring adequate customer protection. The framework focuses on corporate governance, risks management of the PSBs, and safety of funds to the consumers of the Payment Service Banks’ products. “This framework also aims to ensure that sound risk management practices are embedded in the operations of the PSBs,” it added. According to the supervisory framework, the PSBs are also required to comply with relevant extant regulations and CBN’s prudential guidelines

and circulars which are issued periodically. It stated that the PSBs shall use the words “Payment Service Bank” in their names to differentiate them from other banks. However, the name of a PSB shall not include any word that links it to its parent company or promoter, it added. Also, the PSBs are expected to operate mostly in the rural areas and unbanked locations targeting financially excluded persons, with not less than 25 per cent financial service touch points in such rural areas as defined by the CBN from time to time; enter into direct partnership with card scheme operators, among others.

GlobalSpectrumShareholders EndorseBond Issuance Goddy Egene Shareholders of Global Spectrum Energy Services Plc (GSES) have endorsed plans to raise fresh capital funds by way of bond issuance. The shareholders, who gave the approval at the company’s 14th annual general meeting (AGM) in Lagos, expressed appreciation over the company’s performance over the years. The shareholders said it had become important that the company secured fresh funds to expand its operations by way of acquiring more owned vessels. According to them, the fresh funds would enhance the profit position of the company and enable it deliver more returns to the shareholders and value to all stakeholders.

Addressing the shareholders, the Chairman of GSES, Osahon Idemudia, said global spectrum operates in a niche area of the oil and gas industry and must continue to make investments to tap into the growing opportunities in the sector. The chairman said it was quite commendable that the company had continued to operate without any loans, but funds its operations with revenue generated from its activities. This, he said, was an indication of management efficiency which should give comfort to its investors and shareholders. The chairman noted that the company operates a mix of owned and leased vessels, but will function more profitably if it the fleet of owned vessels were significantly increased. He

added that the need for increase in the number of vessels becomes stronger as the company has now expanded its line of services to include merchant vessel escorts with potential for appreciable contribution to revenue. According to him, the merchant shipping escort service is a growing line of business that the company is currently giving new focus as it expands and diversifies its operations. As part of its effort to strengthen investor confidence, the company subjected itself to a credit rating exercise on the headline of Issuer Rating by both Agusto& Co. and Data Pro, two major credit rating agencies in the country. The two agencies respectively assigned a “BBB” and “BBB+” to GSES.

Page Financials Appoints New Board Member Funmi Ogundare Page International Financial Services Limited, one of the leading financial services institutions has received the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria confirming the appointment of Dr. Umma Wali Yar’Adua to its Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Speaking on the new appointment, the Chairman of Page Financials, Dr. Adewale Olawoyin, was quoted in a statement to have said: “Dr Yar’adua’s appointment is no mean feat based on our growth/ expansion strategy. Her expertise would be of immense value to

drive Page Financials’ mandate as Nigeria’s foremost retail financial institution, combining innovation and technology to make access to finance easy and convenient for all Nigerians. “We look forward to benefiting from her impressive wealth of experience as well as her diverse expertise in the corporate arena.” Yar’Adua holds a Bachelors’ and Masters’ Degrees from the University of Ibadan and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, respectively. She combines her unique skills as a gynecologist and obstetrician with her interest in public policy, employing her extensive clinical training and

experience to identify areas of gender inequality and to manage health risks particular to women, including maternal mortality. She has consulted extensively with both the World bank and IFC on issues relating to Women’s health and access to funding within the health sector and financial inclusion for Women. Page International Financial Services Limited is an innovative retail finance institution (Licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria) and commenced business operations in 2014, offering a range of retail and corporate products and services to suit the financial requirements of her diverse clientele.

Firm to Deepen Internet Penetration in Northern Nigeria Oluchi Chibuzor The Chief Executive Officer, Pi Sairtel, a broadband service provider, Mr. Salvation Alibor, has said the firm has concluded plan to distribute free satellite installation kits in the northern states of the country. According to the company the move was to aid access to the internet for those living and operating their business in the area. Disclosing this to journalists in Lagos, recently, Alibor explained that the initiative was part of their business social campaign to ensure that every individual across the country reach out to the world around them. Alibor, also debunked the information that Mobile Network Operators (MNO) were set to

withdraw their services to people from the northern part of the country owing to the current insecurity challenges within the region. “The World Bank says that access to broad bands would provide at least 10 per cent growth in GDP. And I believe that if we can extend it to the farthest end of this country, we can break poverty. “The market that they cannot have in their locality, they would have on the internet. “The internet for Nigerians has been an issue. I believe that the internet is the level playing field for Africans. It grants us the privilege to compete with other parts of the world on the same plain. The internet grants entrance for development,” he said.

On the sustainability of the product, Alibor said as a satellite based service firm, unlimited internet broadband was possible to its clients as well as with affordability to those that buy their products. “Our focus primarily is to provide unlimited internet broadband that is truly unlimited because a lot of competitors brand themselves as providing unlimited service. But they use Fair Access Policy (FAP) on customers that restrict the use after a period,” he added. Speaking further on the impact of the kits and why people must leverage on the opportunity to gain access to the internet, he acknowledged that internet services within the region have been unstable.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͵ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $73.58 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $75.94 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zaﬁro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͷ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Profit-taking Halts Three-day Gains on NGX Goddy Egene The bears returned to the market yesterday to halt the gain recorded from Monday to Wednesday. The bears were attracted by profit-taking in bellwether counters. Consequently, the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited All-Share Index (ASI) fell 0.08 per cent to close at 38,469.87, while market capitalisation shed N26.7 billion to be at N20 trillion.

Although Prestige Assurance Plc led the price losers’ table, profit-taking in Access Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc led to the negative close. Specifically, Prestige Assurance Plc led the 16 losers with 10 per cent, trailed by Pharma Deko Plc with 9.7 per cent. University Press Plc went down by 7.8 per cent, just as Coronation Insurance Plc and Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

dipped by 5.0 per cent and 4.6 per cent respectively. NASCON Allied Industries Plc and Access Bank Plc shed 4.1 per cent and 3.1 per cent in that order, while UBA and FCMB Group lost 2.6 per cent and 2.2 per cent. The loss by FCMB Group came despite the announcement by the group that its subsidiary, FCMB Pensions Managers Limited had acquired 60 per cent stake in AIICO Pensions Managers

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

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Limited, a subsidiary of AIICO Insurance Plc. “This is made up of 33.9 per cent stake held by AIICO Insurance Plc and 26.1 per cent stake held by other shareholders in AIICO Pensions. The acquisition makes AIICO Pensions an indirect subsidiary of FCMB Group Plc. The goal is to combine the businesses of FCMB Pensions and AIICO Pensions to build a stronger and more resilient business,” FCMB Group said.

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

Meanwhile, 12 stocks escaped from the bears recording gains. NEM Insurance Plc led with 10 per cent, trailed by Courtville Business Solutions Plc with 9.5 per cent. NAHCO Plc appreciated by 5.7 per cent, while Caverton and Transcorp Plc rose 4.4 per cent each. Other top price gainers included: Seplat Energy Plc( 2.6 per cent);Japaul Gold and Ventures Plc (2.0 per cent); UPDC (1.7 per cent) and Wema Bank Plc (1.3 per cent).

O F

Trading activity was mixed as volume traded fell by 19.5 per cent to 238.2 million shares while value traded rose by 0.8 per cent to N2.6 billion. The most traded stocks by volume were Transcorp Plc (34.4 million shares), Courtvilles (26.4 million shares), and Zenith Bank Plc (23.7 million shares) while Zenith Bank Plc (N590.3 million), GTCO (N363.0 million), and Seplat (N315.4 million) led by value.

0 8 / 0 7 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

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FRIDAY JULY 9, 2021 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY, ΁˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

PAGE FOURTY-ONE

FG Confirms Case of Delta Variant of COVID-19 in Nigeria Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government yesterday confirmed the detection of a confirmed case of COVID-19 with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, also known as lineage B.1.617.2 in Nigeria. The Delta variant is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a variant of concern, given its increased transmissibility. The variant has been detected in over 90 countries and is expected to spread to more countries. The variant has also been linked to a surge in cases in countries where it is the dominant strain

in circulation. There are ongoing studies to understand the impact of the variant on existing vaccines and therapeutics. A statement issued last night by the Head of Communications at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Yahaya Disu, said the variant was detected in a traveler to Nigeria, following the routine travel test required of all international travellers and genomic sequencing at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory, Abuja. As part of Nigeria’s COVID-19 response, NCDC said it had

been working with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), African Centre for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), and other laboratories within the national network, to carry out genomic sequencing. "This is to enable the detection of variants of concern and initiate response activities. All data on variants from Nigeria have been published on GISAID, a global mechanism for sharing sequencing data. "Given the global risk of spread of the Delta variant, positive samples from international travelers to Nigeria is sequenced

regularly," it said. NCDC added that given the high transmissibility of the Delta variant and following its detection in Nigeria, all Nigerians should ensure strict adherence to public health and social measures in place. It added: "Proven public health and social measures such as physical distancing, frequent handwashing, and proper use of face masks prevent infections and save lives. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective and offers protection against the disease". The federal government

urged states to ensure that sample collection and testing for COVID-19 is accessible to the public, adding that public settings such as schools’ with accommodation facilities, workplaces, and camps should utilise the approved Antigenbased Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for rapid testing of their population. “Although we have seen a low number of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria in the last eight weeks, it is incredibly important that we do not forget to be careful. The surge in cases in countries across the world and Africa is

an important reminder of the risk we face. Please protect yourselves and the people you love by adhering to the known public health and social measures, getting vaccinated if you are eligible and getting tested if you have symptoms,” the Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said. NCDC stated that the recommended control measures to limit the spread of the Delta variant "is to continue to be testing, following the existing public health guidance, and abiding by the current travel and public restrictions."

FIRS Engages Banks to Recover N1.82tn from MultiChoice We are discussing with tax authorities, says company James Emejo in Abuja The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has commissioned some banks to recover N1.82 trillion from the accounts of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited (MCN) and MultiChoice Africa (MCA). Preparatory to the collection of the amount, which is arrears of tax liabilities of the companies, the agency has also ordered that all local bank accounts of the two organisations, owners of pay television, DSTV, should be frozen.

FIRS Executive Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami, said yesterday that the decision to appoint the banks as agents and to freeze the accounts were due to the group’s continued refusal to grant FIRS access to its servers for audit. But in a swift response, MultiChoice Nigeria said it had the media statements made by the FIRS, but had not received any notification from the agency. “MultiChoice Nigeria respects and is comfortable that it complies with the tax laws of Nigeria. "We have been and are currently in discussion with

FIRS regarding their concerns and believe that we will be able to resolve the matter amicably,” the company added. However, Nami accused the companies of breaching all agreements and undertakings with the agency and for not responding to correspondences. Nami, in a statement by the Director, Communications and Liaison Department, FIRS, Mr. Abdullahi Ahmad, said Multichoice, "lacked data integrity and are not transparent as they continually deny FIRS access to their records."

He added that it is important that Nigeria ends all tax frauds that have been going on for too long. According to him, all companies must be held accountable and made to pay their fair share of taxes, including back duty taxes owed, especially VAT for which they are ordinarily agents of collection. He accused MultiChoice Nigeria of avoiding to give the FIRS accurate information on the number of its subscribers and income. He also accused the companies

of being involved in the underremittance of taxes, which necessitated a critical review of its tax-compliance level. The statement added that the group’s performance does not reflect in its tax obligations and compliance level in Nigeria. Nami said: "The level of non-compliance by MultiChoice Africa (MCA), the parent company of MultiChoice Nigeria (MCN) is very alarming. The parent company, which provides services to MCN, has never paid Value Added Tax (VAT) since its inception.

"The issue with tax collection in Nigeria, especially from foreign-based companies conducting businesses in Nigeria and making massive profit is frustrating and infuriating to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). "Regrettably, companies come into Nigeria just to infringe on our tax laws by indulging in tax evasion. There is no doubt that broadcasting, telecommunications, and the cable-satellite industries have changed the face of communication in Nigeria.

of the artworks. “That they are known as Benin Bronzes is already a confirmation of their source of origin (which is Benin),” Mohammed said. At a separate meeting with Maas, the minister reiterated that no conditions should be attached to the return of the artefacts. He stressed the need for the parties to commit to definite timelines for the return of the artefacts, in addition to concluding all negotiations in a very short term. He said the discussions between Nigeria and Germany on the return of the artworks were not the end of an era but rather the beginning of a new vista of stronger relations, pivoted by cultural diplomacy, between both countries. He thanked Germany for taking the lead in the global efforts to repatriate all artefacts looted from Nigeria and the African continent. “We see Germany as a leader in the efforts to take practical steps to repatriate our stolen artefacts, and we hope Germany will sustain that lead,” he said Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who was also on the Nigerian delegation said a “transformational” museum was being built-in Benin City to house the artefacts upon their return, as part of a new cultural district in the city. He said he was attending the talks to demonstrate the strong partnership involving the federal government, the (Benin) royal family and the people of Edo State. On his part, the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Mr. Yusuf Tuggar, said the issue of the repatriation of the Benin Bronzes should be seen as an opportunity to take the cooperation between Nigeria and Germany to a greater height. He commended Germany for

taking the lead in the repatriation process. Earlier, the German Minister of State for Culture, Prof. Grutters, had said: “The way we deal with the issue of Benin Bronzes is important to addressing our colonial past,” describing the issues as “an important personal concern.” She assured the Nigerian delegation that the 1,130 artefacts would be returned to Nigeria

OBA OF BENIN, OBASEKI SET FOR SHOWDOWN OVER LOOTED ARTEFACTS addresses a historic press conference, the first ever, signposting the importance he attaches to the issue. THISDAY learnt that the brewing crisis may replay the bitter aspect of the history of ancient Benin Kingdom dating back to 1897 when Britain invaded the kingdom, subdued Oba Ovonramwen, plundered and looted his palace and sent him on exile. A Benin chief named Obaseki, said to be the great-grandfather of the current governor, was apprehended by palace historians as one of those who betrayed Oba Ovonramwen and made the British expedition a success. “The current standoff, therefore, has a touch of history,” a Benin chief told THISDAY last night, pointing out: “It is significant that another Obaseki is at play on this occasion.” THISDAY gathered that following the imminence of the return of the looted artefacts by the UK, German and French governments, Obaseki came up with a grand plan to form a private trust, not owned by the state government, to take custody of the returning artefacts. His plan, it is gathered, is to have the private trust build a museum of West African Arts in Benin, the state capital, where the artefacts would be kept and curated. Legacy Restoration Trust, a private entity, THISDAY learnt, has since emerged, parading itself as the authorised custodian of the artefacts. Oba Ewuare II is said to have opposed this move on the ground that it would amount to private appropriation of the cultural heritage of his kingdom. While the monarch is said not to be opposed to the idea of the federal and state governments taking custody of the artefacts and keeping it in a museum to be built by them, he has expressed his objection to a private trust managing the ancient artworks. “Oba Ewuare’s position,” said a source, “is that at the least the artefacts should return to the palace where they were stolen, contending that the palace could on its own build a museum

where they would be kept and manage.” This position was well articulated in a statement by Benin Traditional Council dated 10th May 2021 and signed by the Secretary, Mr. Frank Irabor; and the Executive Assistant, Corporate and Legal Affairs, Mr. Denis Osaretin. Disowning Legacy Restoration Trust and Legacy and Legal Restoration Trust that it said had been parading themselves as presumptive custodians of the incoming artefacts, it said: “For categorical clarification, these individuals and groups of persons are not known nor authorised by the Oba of Benin, who is the original owner of the looted artefacts and the custodian of Benin customs and tradition. “For the avoidance of doubt, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpololokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, Oba of Benin remains the custodia Legis of all insignia, symbols and such other artefacts depicting the rich cultural heritage of the Benin people.” It said, the Oba of Benin or his duly authorised representative or body corporate, is, therefore, the only person that can have any dealings with any foreign donours or missions or any international institution over the artefacts. THISDAY learnt that following this statement, the Secretary to the State Government had conversations with the palace secretary but the meeting ended in a deadlock with both parties hugging their mutually exclusive positions. At the centre of the conflict, THISDAY has learnt, is the potentially huge financial resources that might accrue from the warehousing of the artefacts. Already, the German government is committed to an initial donation of 4.5 million Euros to the Edo Museum of West African Arts and Cultural District projected to be built in Benin City. This was revealed in a statement on Wednesday by Foreign Minister Maas, which spoke eloquently about the desire

of Germany to return the artefacts in its custody and pay adequate reparation. Obaseki too had spoken glowingly about his trust project last month after a meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, during which he sought the federal government’s help to secure the return of the artworks. Obaseki said museums had become catalysts in the evolution and development of cities. He explained: “There is a city called Bilbao in Spain, and that was the head of the Basque separatist movements many years ago. “The investment by the Guggenheim Foundation, by the Guggenheim family museum in Bilbao, has changed the economic fortunes of that city. “Today, Bilbao earns more than a billion dollars from just the presence of that museum in that city. Because everybody wants to come in to see what’s in that museum. “So, bringing back these works, this world cherished works, bringing the originals back to their home, I mean, you can imagine for years to come, people, children unborn, all over the world want to come and see these pieces.” He said his administration was designing a whole cultural district for Benin, saying that the proposed museum would be situated within the cultural district. Obaseki said: “As I speak, the planners from Latin America are in Benin City, looking at work and doing the surveys. That process should end in about August. “We believe that the museum is going to be a series of, you know, buildings, you have the pavilion where these works will be brought in initially and will be kept. “We also undertaking more archaeological excavations, and whatever we find will be kept in the pavilion. “We have a national museum that currently exists. And that’s going to be refurbished, then we have the main Edo Museum of West African Arts. And the

construction for that will take another one or two years to begin.” Oba Ewuare is, however, resisting the private trust, being promoted and led by Phillip Ihenacho, said to be Obaseki’s business partner in Afrinvest, with Victor Ehikhamenor, Enotie Ogbebor, Eric Idiahi and Babatunde Adebiyi as trustees with renowned Ghanaian architect, David Adjaye as architectural consultant. THISDAY learnt the monarch had reached out to the presidency and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, who appear to be sympathetic to the cause of having the looted artefacts returned to the palace from where they were stolen.

FG Demands Unconditional Repatriation from Germany Meanwhile, the federal government has urged Germany to ensure an unconditional return of the 1,130 Benin artefacts that were looted from Nigeria in the 19th century and domiciled in German museums. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at meetings, held on Wednesday in Berlin with German Minister of State for Culture, Prof. Monika Grutters, and Foreign Minister, Mr. Heiko Maas, said the return should be whole rather than substantial on the heel of remarks by Grutters that the European nation was ready to make “substantial return” of the 1,130 looted artefacts. He added that the issue of provenance, which has to do with the place of origin of the artefacts, should not be allowed to unduly delay the repatriation

CUSTOMS COLLECT N1TN REVENUE IN SIX MONTHS others, which could have had grave consequences on national security and the economy. He added that a total of 58 aircraft owners had complied with its directive to provide

the documents of their jets for verification. He said given the level of compliance, the deadline for the verification process had been further extended by 14 day.

from next year. She stated that the fact that Germany had twice sent delegations to Nigeria for talks over the planned repatriation indicated that both sides had moved beyond mere talks, adding that all the museums in Germany stockpiling Benin Bronzes have agreed to cooperate. Other people on the Nigerian delegation were Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monument (NCMM), Prof. Abba Tijani, and Prince Ezelekhae Ewuare, who was invited by the German government. They were later taken on a guided tour of the HumboldtForum, a royal palace-turnedmuseum in the heart of Berlin that houses art works from around the world.

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FRIDAY, ΁˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Presidency: Magu’s Eligibility for Promotion Depends on Outcome of Probe PSC elevates 24 CPs, 35 DCPs, 52 ACPs, 50 CSPs Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Presidency yesterday said the eligibility of the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, for promotion in the Nigerian Police will depend on the outcome of the panel that probed his tenure as EFCC boss. This is coming as the Police Service Commission (PSC) has confirmed the acting appointments of three Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) and also promoted many senior police officers. There had been recent reports that Magu had been penciled down for promotion from his present rank of Police Commissioner to Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) by the PSC despite the alleged adverse recommendations of the Justice Ayo Salami panel that investigated the allegations. But in a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, denying the involvement of President Muhammadu Buhari in the promotion exercise, the Presidency affirmed that Magu’s fate depends on the outcome of the investigation. It said: “We will be happy if your paper (not THISDAY) can correct the misinformation published, that President Buhari has ordered the promotion of Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Magu. “As you can see, the PDP has taken off from there, issuing one of those thoughtless press releases of theirs. President

Buhari, or any Nigerian President for that matter is not responsible for promotions in the Police. That is the business of the PSC. “In the case of the gentleman in question, who is currently under investigation, common sense dictates that his eligibility will be determined by that outcome. “The PSC could have given you the correct position on this if there was an effort to reach them.”

PSC Promotes 24 CPs, 35 DCPs, 52 ACPs, 50 CSPs Meanwhile, the PSC has confirmed the acting appointments of three Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) and also promoted many senior police officers. A statement signed by Spokesman of the Commission, Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, said the commission approved the promotion of 24 Commissioners of Police (CPs) to the next rank of Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs). It, however, declined the promotion of CP, Ibrahim Magu, former acting Chairman of EFCC. The decisions were the highpoints of the commission’s 12th Plenary Meeting held on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 6 and 7, 2021, and presided over by the Commission’s Chairman, Mr. Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police (IG). Similarly, the commission

approved the promotion of 35 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), to the rank of Commissioners (CPs), 52 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) to Deputy Commissioners (DCPs) and 46 Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) to Assistant Commissioners (ACPs). The commission also considered and approved the promotion of 10 Superintendents of Police (SPs) to the rank of CSPs, 17 DSPs to Superintendents, 139 Assistant Superintendents of Police, whose names were skipped during the last promotion, to Deputy Superintendents and nine Inspectors to Assistant Superintendents of Police. The commission declined the promotion of CP Magu, pending clearance from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the Office of the Inspector General of Police. The three DIGs whose acting appointments were confirmed by the Commission were Tijanni Baba who replaced retired DIG Aminchi Samaila Baraya for North-east; Zanna Mohammed Ibrahim, who replaced DIG Ibrahim Larmode (rtd), Northeast, and DIG Moses A. Jitoboh who replaced DIG Ogbizi Michael (rtd) for South-south. The 24 Commissioners of Police promoted to Assistant Inspectors General of Police were; Usman Nagogo, currently CP Federal Intelligence Bureau, Force Headquarters Abuja; Bala Ciroma, CP, FCT Command; Ahmad Abdurrahman, NIPPS, Jos; Adeleke Adeyinka Bode,

CP, Kebbi State Command; Muri Umar Musa, CP Kaduna State Command; Lawal Jimeta Tanko,( former COMPOL POPOL) and presently Commandant Police Academy, Wudil Kano; Dauda Abdulkarim, Commandant Police Training College, Kaduna; Usman Alhassan Belele, CP Research, and Development, Force Headquarters, Abuja; Adebola Emmanuel Longe, CP. Nasarawa State; Musa Adze, CP Anti-fraud, FCIID, Abuja; Philip Sule, former CP Ebonyi and currently CP, SPU Force Headquarters, Abuja; Usman Sule Gomna, CP Jigawa State Command; Adamu Usman, CP Niger State Command; Daniel Sokari Pedro, Deputy Commandant, Police Academy Wudil, Kano; Ahmed Mohammed Azare, CP Taraba Command; Adamu Saleh Jajeri; Maigana Alhaji Sani, CP FCIID Annex Kaduna; Audu Adamu Madaki, former CP Welfare, presently CP, Benue State; Ibrahim Sani Kaoje; NIPPS; John Ogbonnaya Amadi, CP, Airport Command; Ede Ayuba Ekpeji, CP, Kogi State Command; Mohammed Bagega, Kwara State Command; Bello Makwashi, CP Borno State Command, Buba Sanusi, CP Katsina State Command. The 35 Deputy Commissioners of Police promoted to Commissioners include; Idowu Owohunwa, Principal Staff Officer to the Inspector General of Police; Babaji Sunday, Deputy Commissioner, Operations, FCT Command, Arungwa

Udochukwu Nwazue, former DCP, Operations, FCT and currently DCP, Ops, Zone 9, Umuahia; Ayuba Elkana, DCP Ops, Zamfara State Command; Mohammed Barde, DCP CID, Borno State Command; Abdullahi Mudasiru, DCP, Force Intelligence Annex Lagos; Salisu Gedeji, DCP, Training FHQs, Abuja; Umar Mohammed Na,Isa DCP Ops, Jigawa; Musa Baba, DCP, Armament, FHQs Abuja; D.D Kromda; Chollong Gyang, DCP, CID Zamfara; and Aliyu Tafida. Others were Abubakar Lawal; Aliyu Haruna; Alhassan Aminu, Abdul Umar; Vincent Amakiri; Adewale Harry; A.M Williams; Shettima Zanna; Ebong Eribo, DCP Admin, Bayelsa State Command; Adepoju Ilori, DCP, Accounts and Budget, Force Headquarters, Okon Okon, DCP, National Defence College, Abuja; Echeng Echeng, DCP Zone 13, Ukpo; Sussan Horsfall, fomer DCP, CID, Airports Command and presently DCP, CID, Akwa Ibom State Command; Adeshina Morenkeji; Augustine Arop, former DCP, Admin, Akwa Ibom State Command and presently DCP, CID, Osun State Command and Bankole Lanre Sikiru, DCP, Interpol, Lagos, among others. The 52 Assistant Commissioners of Police promoted to Deputy Commissioners include; Akinbayo Olasunkanmi Olasoji, Area Commander, Area B, Apapa, Lagos; Bello Yahaya, ACP Ops, FIB, Abuja; Bakori A. Ibrahim, former PSO to Inspector General of Police

and presently Commandant Bayelsa State Task Force on Operation Doo Apo; Adepoju Olugbenga Adewole, Area Commander P, Alagbon Close, Lagos Sate Command; Ajide Olayinka; Alice Agba; Sadiq Idris; Mustapha Abubakar; Agbo Godwin; Aliyu Iliya; and Samuel Oke. Some of the Chief Superintendents of Police promoted to ACPs include; Ibrahim Ada Usman; Jatau Hassan Anga second in command, 23 PMF, Lagos; Benjamin Ogungbure; Elechi Raphael Nkem; Shehu Sambo, Makanjuola Abiodun and Abayomi Olugbenga Megbope. Olusegun Rafiu, Mohammed Awwal yahaya and Ben Kalio were some of the 10 Superintendents of Police promoted to Chief Superintendents, while Erhabor Orobosa Henry was one of the 17 DSPs promoted to Superintendents of Police. Deputy Commissioners of Police who were due for promotion to Commissioners of Police had earlier appeared before the Commission in Plenary where they were interviewed. The statement said the Chairman of the Commission, Smith, congratulated the beneficiaries and demanded their commitment to the service of the Nigerian nation and to operate within the laws of the land and with the fear of God. He said the commission will continue to ensure that promotions in the Police will follow due process and as and when due.

the situation worse and exacerbated the level of violence and fatalities from crime," he stated. Fayemi said between May 2011 and February 2021, over 76,000 deaths were reported by the press and tracked by the Nigeria Security Tracker (NST) – a project of the Council on Foreign Relations' Africa programme, which documents and maps violence in Nigeria that is motivated by political, economic, or social grievances. "This number also includes persons who have been killed by a state actor. In addition to the proliferation of arms is an undertone of rising ethnic conflict, with different ethnic groups subsumed in conflicts and pitched against one another," he added. He stated that the challenge is also not just an internal security problem, but on regional and continental peace and stability. According to him, mass displacement of persons from their areas of residence remains a challenge, adding that "at the end of 2019, the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) reported a total number of 2,583,000 internally displaced persons who have been affected by conflict and violence in the country." He acknowledged that the federal government has intensified efforts to tackle the insecurity and humanitarian crisis, but the serious underlying socio-economic issues meant that the solution to the problem required more than a security action. He said the COVID-19

pandemic was also changing the security landscape, adding that existing risks have been intensified while new risks have emerged, including rising social tensions, as witnessed in the #ENDSARS protests. "The new reality has seen the rise of non-state actors such as the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the Western Nigeria Security Network—also known as Amotekun—in the South-west, and several groups in the South-south region and other parts of "Ultimately, how well we respond to the security challenge depends on the level of collaboration between state and non-state actors. I believe this dialogue will help to significantly contribute to a country-wide response to the security challenge in the country among other developmental issues," he said. He explained that to consolidate on the measures taken by individual state governments and regional bodies of governors, the peace and inclusive security initiative will help establish strategic dialogues and a mechanism to stimulate collaborative responses among stakeholders on conflict and security at the federal, state and civil society level. "It is a positive initiative which I am confident will strengthen the governance arrangement for security in the country. State governments are committed to the ideals of this initiative. Many have already begun different levels of collaborative arrangements on these concerns," he said.

ABDULSALAMI WARNS POLITICIANS, SAYS DEFECTIONS INDUCING VIOLENCE, CRISIS election that has seen some of them, especially governors and lawmakers, change parties. No fewer than three governors have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) since last November when Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, left the opposition party. Others that have defected are Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, and Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Bello Matawalle. Also, at the launch of the initiative, the British High Commission in Nigeria, warned that the crisis facing Nigeria, if not quickly resolved, could destabilise the democratic process and the 2023 general election. It also called for urgent reforms in the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force, explaining that the use of the army and the police cannot resolve the security challenges facing Nigeria. It said the way forward is reconciliation, mediation, arbitration, and access to justice. Abdulsalami, represented by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, warned politicians against the frequent change of parties as it could destabilise the country. He said: "These acts of defections cause violence and overheat the polity because of a simple act of one politician. These decisions spur violence and crisis.” He also called for more

cooperation among the security agencies in tackling crimes and criminalities. He queried the deradicalisation of repentant insurgents, saying that the federal government should make open the content of deradicalisation that is given to them. In his speech, the Development Director, Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), British High Commission in Nigeria, Mr. Chris Pycroft, warned that Nigeria faces significant security challenges that could endanger the 2023 general election. He said: “There is an active insurgency in the Northeast; farmer-herder conflicts are extending across the country; resource conflicts in the Delta; tension in the South-east; and banditry in the North-west. The rise in conflict risks destabilising Nigeria's democracy in the run-up to 2023 elections. "Conflict destroys lives, destroys livelihoods, destroys hope and ambition for the future. Conflict represents an existential threat to Nigeria's unity and its development." The envoy called for reforms in the police and the army, saying: “The police and army are in urgent need of reform but the solution to Nigeria's instability does not lie in simply strengthening the police and army but rather in building an effective social contract, building federal, state, local and community-level infrastructure to manage conflict; and in giving young

people jobs and opportunities so that they have a stake in a prosperous and peaceful Nigeria." He added: "The proliferation of small arms and weapons, and the weaponisation of social media are drivers of conflict and instability. But with the right commitment, dedications and support-there are solutions." Pycroft stated that the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) recognises the important role the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) plays in setting the peace and security agenda, building state-level, and community-level structures and institutions to reduce violence and to respond to conflict and insecurity across Nigeria. He said the FCDO was keen on continuing its collaboration with and support for Nigeria in its efforts to deal with the mounting insecurity. Pycroft stated that the UK is pleased to support the governors’ initiative and is committed to continue working with them in advancing their peace and security agenda. According to him, peace and stability will be achieved when the causes of conflict in society are managed through strong, fair, and responsive governance mechanisms - whether at community, state, or federal level. "The use of the police and army will always be only part of the solution. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on reconciliation, mediation, arbitration, and access to justice - all vital components of

a vibrant, resilient, and effective social contract," he said. Chairman, Nigeria Governors' Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said Nigeria is still at the crossroads, adding that one of the key areas where there is an urgent need for consensual action is security governance. He said the escalation of violence and coordinated criminal activities had undermined the government’s authority and waned public trust in recent times. According to him, the worsening insecurity in the country is not only eroding citizens’ safety and people's means of livelihoods, but threatening the expression of the rights of all Nigerians. "The security crisis has been attributed to several factors – including an oversized population that the government is unable to cope with, a large number of poor people estimated at over 40 per cent of the population who are living below $1 per day, and indeed, desertification which has affected over 60 per cent of Nigeria's land, as drought and climate change has continued to aggravate land deterioration in the country. "While the Sahara Desert is expanding southwards, a rising Gulf of Guinea, coupled with a sinking continental shelf, threatens coastal areas. This trend has greatly impacted the source of livelihood for many Nigerians. "The proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country has also made

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2021

NEWSXTRA

Abdulsalami: Insecurity Has Set Education in the North Backward By 20Years Buhari expresses sadness over killings in Adamawa Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Laleye Dipo in Minna A former military Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) has said that insecurity has set education in the northern part of the country backward by 20 years. This is coming as President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the brutal killings of some citizens, including a vigilante leader and Village Head of Dabna, a village in Dugwaba, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State. Abdulsalami made the observation yesterday when he received ofﬁcials of the Niger State chapter of the Campaign for Democracy and Human Rights led by its state chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Jabi at his Minna uphill residence in Niger State. The former head of state noted that many children of school age can no longer go to school while those in schools are being kidnapped. “Insecurity has taken education in the north back 20 years. We are facing serious insecurity some heartless people keep kidnapping our children. forgetting that they too have children

“Will they be happy if their children are kidnapped and traumatised?” Abdulsalami queried. He also described insecurity as a major hindrance to the socioeconomic development of the country and urged that all hands must be on deck to bring it to an end. Abdulsalami also blamed the poor economic situation in the country on the effect of the COVID-19. which he said has made the states and federal governments to be handicapped ﬁnancially. “COVID-19 became a stumbling block to the world; COVID-19 brought setback to all our programmes,” he said, adding that he was locked down outside the country for over nine months, resulting in most of his plans facing setbacks. He disclosed that his institute, the Abdulsalami Institute for Peace and Conﬂict Resolution which had not functioned effectively as a result of the COVID-19 would soon bounce back to life, saying that all Nigerians are welcomed to the organisation. He commended the Campaign for Democracy in the state for embarking on the education of the people, especially on the need to know their rights and participate in elections.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has expressed sadness over the brutal killings of some citizens by Boko Haram in Dabna, a village in Dugwaba, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State. Reacting to the incident, which happened on Wednesday, President

Buhari, in a statement issued yesterday by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu said: “this level of savagery, inhumanity and reckless disregard for the sanctity of life cannot go unpunished.’’ The President directed security ofﬁcials to “redouble their efforts

and respond to these security threats promptly and decisively’’. “We can’t afford to disappoint Nigerians that have entrusted their security in our hands.’’ The President directed respective agencies under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster

Management and Social Development to immediately assess losses in the community and send support. Buhari has also raised a highpowered delegation to visit the community to convey his sympathies to the families of victims and government of Adamawa State.

Bandits Kill Two Immigration Officers in Katsina Bandits in the early hours of yesterday killed two officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). They carried out the attack around 12:05 am at Kadobe village in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State. The officers killed were Umar Bagadaza Kankara and Lawali Dutse. It was gathered that there was a gun battle between the immigration officials and bandits. Scores of bandits were reportedly killed while others sustained gunshot wounds. A soldier, who was among the reinforcement sent to the area, also sustained gunshot wounds on his thigh. He was said to be receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina. One of the immigration officers, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, said the service has a base at the village where the incident occurred. He stated that the area was usually considered safe haven for herdsmen and their animals. He said: “The herdsmen had brought their cattle there for pasture and for security, having considered

that Immigration also has a base there. “But the bandits decided to attack the place yesterday night after several efforts to do so in the past had proved abortive. “The people in the community said they also saw strange faces lurking around in the evening of the incident but they refused to alert the security on the situation’’. “When the bandits attacked, they started shooting sporadically at our men and our men fired back also. They killed two of our men, but we killed several of theirs too’. “Several of the bandits sustained gunshot wounds and were able to escape with the bodies of their slain members and also managed to rustle cows belonging to the herdsmen. “Soldiers who were in patrol on the streets had rushed to the area in reinforcement and there was serious gunfire exchange in which one soldier was shot on his thigh. ‘’The bodies of the slain officers has been handed over to their families for burial.” Spokesperson for Immigration in the state, Illyasu Kasimu, said he was not authorised to speak on the matter.

Glo Extends Pre-paid Roaming, 4G LTE Services to China, UAE Daniel Agada As part of efforts to continuously enrich the experience of subscribers to its network, national telecommunication company, Globacom, has commenced pre-paid roaming, data roaming and 4G LTE services in China and the United Arab Emirates. Globacom said in a press statement from its head office in Lagos that the commencement of the services in these countries is a continuation of its foray into different strategic locations across the world where Glo services can be enjoyed by its customers. With the development, Glo customers visiting China and UAE will have unhindered access to super fast 4G LTE and pre-paid roaming, in addition to all postpaid services which had been launched by Globacom many years ago. “We assure our customers of excellent calling and browsing services”, the company stated. China and United Arab Emirates, therefore, join other countries where

Glo customers can enjoy its prepaid and postpaid services. The rest include United Kingdom, Finland, Spain, Serbia, Sweden, Norway, Russia, Holland, France, Portugal, Poland, Switzerland, Denmark and other parts of Europe. Others in the American region include Brazil, United States, Bolivia, Cayman and Grenada, Chile, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and Paraguay. Another major Asian country where Glo subscribers will enjoy the company’s services is Japan. Glo postpaid services are available in the Asian country, and the Nigerian contingent to the forthcoming Olympic games will benefit extensively from the services. They can communicate, browse and chat with their friends and loved ones without hassles all though the summer games. The Glo postpaid services are also available in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Lebanon, Bangladesh, China, Hongkong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Singapore and South Korea. Others are Mongolia, Myanmar, Maldives, Philippines, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan and Vietnam.

FIVE HEARTY CHEERS… L-R: Company Secretary, BUA Cement, Mr. Ahmed Aliyu; Chairman, Mr. Abdul Samad Rabiu; and Managing Director, Mr. Yusuf Binji, during the BUA Cement’s 5th Annual General Meeting in Abuja …yesterday

Open Grazing to Attract Three-year Jail Term as Ogun Assembly Passes Bill Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta The Ogun State House of Assembly has passed a bill banning open grazing, and also prescribing a three-year jail term for violators. The lawmakers passed the Animal Grazing Regulation and Cattle Ranch Establishment Bill 2020 into law. They said this law would address incessant clashes between herders and famers. Title of the bill reads, “HB No.

045/OG/2021- A Law to Regulate Animal Grazing, Establishment of Cattles Ranches in Designated Grazing Areas of Ogun State and for other Matters incidental thereto and connected therewith.” The bill scaled the third reading and final passage following the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Agriculture by the Sponsor, Hon. Ganiyu Oyedeji, at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Olakunle Oluomo. Oyedeji, thereafter, moved the motion for the adoption of the

report, seconded by Hon. Olusola Adams, and supported by other lawmakers through a voice vote. The legal framework was later read and adopted clause-by-clause. Thereafter, the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff, moved the motion for the third reading as it was seconded by Hon Wahab Haruna. The Clerk of the House and Head of Legislative Services, Deji Adeyemo, took the third reading of the bill before the lawmakers. Part of a section of the bill prescribed a jail term of not less

than three years without the option of fine “including the forfeiture of the herds of cattle or livestock under his/her control to the State Government for anyone who rears, herd or grazes any livestock in any part of the State except within the permitted ranches or anyone who rears cattle or livestock outside the permitted ranches after the commencement of the law.” Responding, Oluomo directed that the Clerk to prepare a clean copy of the bill for the assent of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Gunshots as Imo Assembly Suspends Six Lawmakers Amby Uneze in Owerri. There were sporadic gunshots yesterday at the premises of the Imo State House of Assembly as the lawmakers suspended six lawmakers over what they described as alleged un-parliamentary conduct. The Speaker of the assembly, Hon. Paul Emeziem, who made the announcement at plenary said the decision was taken at the executive session. “Some members have been conducting themselves in an unparliamentary manner thereby bringing the house to ridicule. “We have thoroughly examined this issue at the executive session of the House and have resolved

that peace and order must continue to reign. “The executive session has therefore recommended the suspension of the members, who have engaged in different misconduct. “This action is in line with ensuring that the image of the house remains as it should be his while providing a functional environment and the synergy which we are required to provide to ensure all arms of government work together,” he explained. The suspended members are: Kennedy Ibeh (APC Obowo); Philip Ejiiogu (PDP Owerri North); Uche Ogbuagu (APC Ikeduru); Dominic Ezerioha (APC Oru West); Anyadike Nwosu (PDP Ezinihitte Mbaise) and Onyemaechi Njoku (APC

Ihitte Uboma). Emeziem also announced Obinna Okwarra (APC Nkwerre) as new Chief Whip to replace Dr. Arthur Egwim (APC Ideato North). He also announced that all standing committees of the House have been dissolved. However, the suspended members have kicked against the decision, describing it as illegal and undemocratic. Violence alsmost erupted when the representative of Ihitte Uboma, Hon. Onyemaechi Njoku, allegedly attempted to engage the Speaker in a fight. This resulted in sporadic gunshots by security agents while security details whisked the Speaker away. Njoku (APC Ihitte Uboma), a

member of the dissolved Ethics, Privileges and Information Committee, said their alleged misconduct was never brought to the committee. Njoku told journalists he would continue to attend plenary sessions, describing his suspension as invalid and undemocratic. On his part, Arthur Egwim (APC Ideato North) alleged that the Speaker did not follow the proper procedure in removing him as Chief Whip. According to him, there were no valid grounds for his removal as no petition was brought against him and there was no existing case of proven misconduct. Uche Ogbuagu (APC Ikeduru) argued that no Executive session was held.

Insurgency: Slain Army Commander Laid to Rest in Abuja Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The remains of the slain Army Commander, Colonel Husseini Samaila Sankara, were yesterday laid to rest at the Guards Brigade Cemetery amidst tears and emotion by relatives, colleagues and friends. Sankara died on July 1, 2021 in Abuja due to complications from injuries sustained in the North-east Theatre Operation Hadin Kai when his vehicle ran into landmines laid by insurgents on May 30, 2021.

The late senior officer was said to have completed his tour of the North-east and was about moving to the next assignment in the Northcentral before his vehicle encountered landmines along with six soldiers, who died instantly. In his tribute, the elder brother to the deceased, Shehu Jafiya, said the deceased officer had told his family his mission was accomplished not knowing he was talking about his mission on earth. He said the late senior officer would be happy in heaven if the

insurgency war, and ethnic agitations were brought to an end with the enthronement of a united Nigeria. He said the blast occurred on May 30, 2021 and Sankara was flown into Abuja on June 4, 2021. He said “Sojaman” as he was fondly called in the family finally died on July 1, 2021. Recalling his last moments with Sankara he explained that “After the blast in Borno State around Dikwa and Marte. He was first flown in an helicopter to Maiduguri where he was stabilised at the military

facility, then they moved him to Cedar Crest Hospital in Abuja.” He said: “I was at the airport to receive him and we had very extensive discussions not only one day but progressively over a week. He kept assuring us that we should not cry or be too worried that he was going to be fine. “We didn’t know he just wanted to console us by saying we should not be too worried and not cry for him. My last moments with him were indeed emotional and painful to us.”

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2021

NEWSXTRA

2023: I am Not Opposed to Zoning in Delta, Says Okowa Sylvester Idowu in Warri Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has said he is not averse to zoning of governorship of the state in 2023 contrary to insinuations in

some quarters. Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, at Government House, Asaba, yesterday, Okowa said that it was also not true that he came to power through zoning consensus as being canvassed by some

Bandits Raid Niger Village, Abduct 60 People Laleye Dipo in Minna Bandits last Tuesday morning carried out a massive raid on Manta village in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, and abducted 60 people. THISDAY was told by an eyewitness that the bandits, armed with sophisticated guns, stormed the village on about 35 motorcycles shooting sporadically to instill fears in the villagers. “They then picked up 60 of the villagers and took them on the motorcycles into the bush where

highly-placed indigenes of the state. He said that it was imperative to put the records straight in order not to mislead the people of the state and other Nigerians. “It’s not true that the Governor of this state, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, is opposed to zoning, particularly for the governorship of this state. “The times he spoke, it was loud and clear. He said that God will help Deltans to determine who will take over from him.

“But even at that, he told Deltans that at the right time, the leadership of the PDP will sit down to decide who the governor will be and after that, leave it to God to decide ultimately as he cannot play the role of God. “That has been his position; so, it’s not true that the governor is opposed to power moving to Delta Central or any other senatorial district for that matter,” Ifeajika said. He further said that the insinuations making the rounds that the governor

came to power through zoning were wrong because people from other senatorial districts participated in the primaries that brought him to power. He said that there was no time in the history of the state that any primary for governorship was allowed as an exclusive preserve of any senatorial district. “The insinuation that it was through zoning that Okowa became governor is also wrong. We are all witnesses to the primaries that brought him

to power, persons from the other senatorial districts in the state other than Delta North, participated in the exercise. “There was no time in the state, particularly in this present dispensation that any primary for governorship has been allowed to be for only one particular senatorial district. “In all the records we have, primaries had been for all comers; people from all the senatorial districts always participated in all of that.

those kidnapped were screened,” the eyewitness stated. According to the findings, 18 of the villagers were taken away by the bandits on the villagers motorcycles leaving theirs behind. The remaining 42 villagers were allowed to go, it was gathered. “They took 18 people away on our motorcycles; they promised to return on Friday (today) to take their motorcycles, threatening fire and brimstone if anyone dared touch their motorcycles. “As I speak, their motorcycles are still in the bush, and we are afraid to touch them,” the eyewitness said.

G7 Calls for Increased Humanitarian Support for North-east Michael Olugbode in Abuja Members of the G7 yesterday called for an immediate action from the international community to prevent further deterioration in the North-east region. The countries said it is imperative for the wider international community to significantly increase their humanitarian support to the region crisis. Leading other ambassadors from the G7 member countries and representatives of the World Bank, European Union, United Nations, Norway and Switzerland to a press conference to mark the official launch

of G7 Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Crises Compact in Abuja, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, said the G7 is concerned by the scale of crisis in the region and numbers of people without access to humanitarian aid. She revealed that the G7 met with the Federal Government of Nigeria, tate Governments of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States, as well as multilateral partners to launch the G7 Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Compact. Catriona said this is the first ever G7 action plan to save millions of lives from famine and humanitarian crises, including $382 million from North-east region.

Six Dead, Others Trapped As Tanker Crushes Students in Warri Sylvester Idowu in Warri At least six students were yesterday confirmed dead while others were trapped after a petrol-laden tanker crushed some students of the Army Children Primary School, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. THISDAY gathered that the students were returning from school when the tanker with registration number: MKD 582 ZD ran into them at an intersection leading to the Warri refinery road by NPA expressway. It was learnt that about six of the students were confirmed dead and taken to the morgue, while others were rushed to the Army

Hospital in Effurun Barracks for medical treatment. According to a security source, “The fuel tanker was negotiating the bend from the Warri refinery road to NPA expressway when it suddenly crushed the students who were on their way home having closed from school. “The bodies of the six students were taken away to mortuary while several others with serious injuries were taken to the Army barracks hospital for medical attention.” The Warri Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Danjuma Kpasha, confirmed the accident, adding his team was at the scene on rescue mission to remove the truck to avoid gridlock in the area.

Four Family Members Die of Food Poisoning in Kwara Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Tragedy struck yesterday as four members of the same family reportedly died of food poisoning at the Olori village in Banni community of Kwara State. The incident which took place early yesterday was confirmed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kwara State Command, Mr. Babawale Afolabi. The NSCDC spokesman said the deceased died as a result of food poisoning around 7 a.m. yesterday. He said: “We received information about the death of two children of Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar of Olori village in Banni communityUmar Mohammed, 25, and Kadir Mohammed, 18.

“They started vomiting around 4:00 am on Thursday and were rushed to the General Hospital in Igbeti, Oyo State. “They were tested and confirmed to have taken poisonous food. After few minutes, the two died in the hospital.” He further stated that as the family members were preparing to bury their corpses, one of the grandsons of Abubakar, Umar Mohammed, also died. The PRO said a team of NSCDC personnel led by the Divisional Officer, Mr. Adesina Taofeek, visited the family to condole with them. “As we were with the family members, we were told that another grandson, Bashiru Mohammed, had been rushed to another hospital, and on getting there, he was also confirmed dead in our presence,” Afolabi said.

FOCUS ON SAFETY OF WATERS… L-R: Deputy Director, Hydrography, Naval Headquarters, Commodore Sunday Atakpa; Chief of the Naval Staﬀ, Ghana Navy, Rear Admiral Issah Yakubu; Executive Secretary, Gulf of Guinea Commission, Ambassador Florentina Ukonga; Chief of the Naval Staﬀ, Nigerian Navy, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; and Naval Provost Marshal, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Kennedy Ezete, at the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference in Accra, Ghana...yesterday.

Minority Caucus Alleges Plot to Use 2022-2024 MTEF to Rig 2023 Election Udora Orizu in Abuja

The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has accused the federal government of plotting to rig the 2023 general election, following the transmission of the 2022-2024 Medium Time Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) to the House by President Muhamadu Buhari. Buhari had in the letter read by

the House Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, at plenary yesterday, while commending the lawmakers for restoring the January-December budget cycle, explained that the 2022 budget would be prepared using the approved MTEF of the National Assembly. Reacting to the letter, the Minority Leader of the House, Ndudi Elumelu, wondered why the government is not using the MTEF that’s currently in running, which ends in 2023.

He accused the Minister of Finance of indirectly helping the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig elections by going beyond 2023. According to Elumelu, “If you recall in the meeting we had during the interface with finance minister, I objected to the fact that the MTEF-FSP was put to read 2021-2024. And I said I was more particular that it appears that the minister is indirectly helping APC to rig elections by going beyond 2023. You were there and she said

it’s because it’s four years.” Responding, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Hon. James Faleke, said parameters were subject to change, adding that the government is acting within the confines of the Fiscal Responsibility Act. He said: “This has nothing to do with whether the government wants to rig 2023 election or not. I think it’s important we clear it. The government is law-abiding and it’s abiding by the provisions of Fiscal Responsibility Act.”

New King David Medical Sciences Varsity is State-owned, Ebonyi Clarifies Daniel Agada Ebonyi State Government has clarified that the recently approved King David Medical Sciences University in Uburu by the National Universities Commission (NUC) belongs to the state and not privately owned. A statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Uchenna Orji, stated that: “Contrary to the publications and insinuations of faultfinders and mischief- makers on whether or not King David University of Medical Sciences

is a private university, it must be noted that the university is a creation of the Law of Ebonyi State duly passed by the state House of Assembly and assented to by the state Governor, David Umahi, and it has a status of a public school with provisions on establishment, composition, and management.” Orji explained that the processes of project conceptualisation, execution, university establishment, approval of take-off by the NUC and the naming of King David University of Medical Sciences

after the governor by the House of Assembly were strictly in compliance with due process, principles of transparency, citizens participation and in accord with the university’s core values for excellence and godliness. He pointed out that the House of Assembly, through necessary legislative processes, passed Law No. 006 2021 to give effect to the establishment of the university designed to be a beacon of hope for the advancement of learning and enhancement of health care

delivery in the state, Nigeria and the African continent He clarified that: “Just like every other school named after notable personalities in honour of their contributions to the development of the society, the House of Assembly has deemed it fit to give honour to whom honour is due, by naming the ultra-modern 21st century state -of- the international medical university after the visionpacked governor of Ebonyi State, whose brainchild gave effect to the concept now celebrated by all.”

Yoruba Nation Rally: Lagos Invites Falana for Inquest into Lady’s Death Alex Enumah in Abuja The Lagos State Government yesterday invited Mrs. Funmi Falana for a preliminary meeting in respect of a coronary inquest into the death of a young lady killed during the Yoruba Nation rally last weekend in Lagos. The invite was in response to Falana’s call for a probe into the cause of the death of late Miss Jumoke Oyeleke. She was said to have been hit by a

stray bullet while at her aunt’s shop during the rally at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park at Ojota, Lagos. However, some reports alleged that the police were responsible for her death. Falana, who doubles as founder and chairperson of Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) on July 5, 2021, wrote to the Lagos State Government, calling for the probe of the death of Jumoke. The letter stated in part: “On July 3, 2021, the agitators for Yoruba

self-determination gathered at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, where a young trader, Jumoke Oyeleke, was hit by stray bullet and gave up the ghost. “In the light of the foregoing, we request you to use your good offices to cause a coroner’s inquest to be conducted into the tragic death of Jumoke and make appropriate recommendations pursuant to Section 15 of the Lagos State Coroner’s Law 2007, which provides that ‘an inquest shall hold whenever a coroner is

informed that the death of a deceased person within his Coroner District was a result of death in a violent, unnatural or suspicious situation’.” Three days after, the state, through a letter by the Deputy Chief Registrar, Legal, M. K. O. Fadeyi, responded to the letter and subsequently invited Falana for a meeting. The letter dated July 8, read in part: “I refer to your letter dated July 5, 2021, addressed to the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, Justice M A. Dada.

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2021

NEWSXTRA

Rescue Kidnapped Baptist Church Pastor, 121 Students, CAN Tells Buhari Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to order the military and the police to rescue Rev. Popoola David Kayode of Calvary Baptist Church, Kurmin Mashi in Kaduna State from his captors. A statement that was issued

yesterday by the General Secretary of CAN, Rev. Daramola Bade Joseph, also urged the president to do what is necessary to stop further attacks on the country by the bandits, kidnappers and terrorists. The statement said the pastor was abducted by unknown gunmen on Tuesday, July 6, a day after the abduction of 121 students of Bethel Baptist

Plateau Records 14 Deaths, 953 Cholera Cases Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Plateau State has recorded 953 cases of Cholera; 14 deaths, 910 discharged cases and 29 still receiving treatment in various health facilities across the state in recent outbreak. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nimkong Lar, disclosed this at a press briefing at the end of the state executive meeting last Wednesday evening at Government House in Jos. He said the disease, which was

High School, Damishin, Chukun Local Government also in Kaduna state. Joseph said: “Our appeal to the President, the military, the police and the Kaduna State Government is to ensure that Rev. Popoola is not murdered like the district chairman of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN) and the Chairman of CAN in Michika Local Government in Adamawa State, Rev Lawan Andimi.” He also called on the president to put an end to the bandits’ attacks on our schools and colleges that have been exposing innocent children to

psychological trauma and phobia to go to school and learn. The statement said:“Although the abducted students were about 140 but some of them reportedly escaped from their captors. The criminals who forced their way into the school about 1:00am shooting sporadically are said to be demanding for a whooping sum of N800 million and foodstuffs. “To us in the CAN, we believe that the freedom of the pastor is a litmus test for the service chiefs, especially the new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Yahaya Farouk

and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, adding that the whole world is watching whether they would live up to the expectations or not. “If the then American President, Donald Trump, could put his acts together from far away America and ordered his military to rescue only one kidnapped American in Nigeria, then, our President has no excuse not to act decisively and rescue this servant of God. Why should the government leave Nigerians to be at the mercy of the insurgents, bandits

and kidnappers?” The CAN said that the bitter truth is that no place is safe again in this country. According to CAN, it is high time the government rose up to this menace of insecurity challenges occasioned by some criminals who are operating with impunity as terrorists, killer-herdsmen, bandits and armed robbers. It added that the impression being created in the mind of the people is that the government knew these criminals but refused to bring them to book.

previously recorded in Jos North Local Government Area, later spread to 13 local government areas, requiring concerted efforts to address. He further said the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) was in the state to support in tackling the outbreak. The commissioner called residents to be cautious with the sources of the water they drink and use for domestic purposes, advising them to also handle their fruits with care to avoid becoming victims.

AIB to Release Report on Attahiru’s Plane Crash Next Week Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), yesterday said a report on the crash of a military aircraft involving the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, would be ready next week. The crash, which occurred in Kaduna in May claimed 11 people including the late Attahiru. The Commissioner, AIB, Mr. Akin Olateru, disclosed this in Abuja while releasing eight flight accident reports. The bureau, however, noted that it was uncertain if the findings would be made public by the Nigerian Air

Force (NAF). Speaking on the report of the crash, Olateru said: “Recall it’s a NAF aircraft but unfortunately it happened at the civil airport. “So, graciously the NAF felt we could be of assistance and then they commissioned us to assist in the investigation, which is ongoing and whether the NAF makes that public is not our call. “This is because it is not under the purview of the AIB. But within the next one week, for us, the preliminary report will be ready.” The bureau also said the eight latest report was the biggest haul since the establishment of AIB.

Kano Police Arrest Man Parading Himself as ACP Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Kano State Police Command has arrested a man parading himself as an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) at a hotel in Kano metropolis. The Spokesman of the Police Command, Mr. Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, told reporters that the suspect, one Mohammed Aliyu of Mariri Hotoro Quarters in Kano, was apprehended after he posed as an ACP at a hotel in Kano metropolis and requested for a room accommodation to lodge his guests who were coming from Kaduna. Kiyawa said: “On the 02/07/2021 at about 18.00 hours, credible information received revealed that one Mohammed Aliyu, ‘m’, 45 years old, of Hotoro Mariri Quarters, Kano. paraded himself as an Assistant Commissioner of Police at a hotel

in Kano metropolis. “He requested for room accommodation in order to lodge some of his guests coming from Kaduna and other parts of the country, and that he wants a discount being a Superior Police Officer of the rank of an ACP. “He also tendered a complimentary card to the Hotel Manager bearing his name as an Assistant Commissioner of Police and at the same time the Squadron Commander of 52 PMF Challawa, Kano.” But the manager of the hotel, according to the police spokesman, suspected foul and immediately informed the police, which led to the arrest of the suspect. The police spokesman said that fake documents were found in possession of the suspect bearing his picture and a name, Ibrahim Muhammad Tijjani as a medical practitioner.

HISTORIC AWARD… L-R: Chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Wale Sanusi; APC gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 general election in Oyo State, Mr. Bayo Adelabu; Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare; the Merit Award winner and Managing Director of Integrated Energy and Distribution Marketing Limited, Dr. Olusola Ayandele; his wife, Dr. Olufolayimika Ayandele; and the President of Ibadan Recreation Club, Mr. Olumakinde Oni, at the Maiden Merit Award of Ibadan Recreation Club…recently

Anambra Poll: Obiano Mocks APC, PDP over Inability to Choose Running Mates David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has mocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for showing signs of ‘unpreparedness for the task of governing the state’. The governor said two weeks after both parties held their primary elections and elected candidates, they are yet to announce their running mates, “showing that they were not prepared for the contest.” Obiano was quoted in a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlight-

enment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba, as stating that such measure of unpreparedness has given his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) an edge in the forthcoming state election. According to the statement, “The moment APGA nominated Chukwuma Charles Soludo, the internationally renowned economics professor, reformer and former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, as its governorship candidate, other parties gave up on the election. “The PDP and APC are in low spirits and disarray right now that

they cannot choose running mates two weeks after they held their controversial congresses. “Professor Soludo has announced his running mate, Dr. Onyeka Ibezim, a medical doctor and accomplished technocrat, a week after his own nomination to the applause of the state.” Adinuba further quoted Obiano as saying that there was an intense lobbying for Soludo’s running mate, with a good number of solid options, but the party helped Soludo to go for the best. “The Soludo candidacy is unstoppable, which explains why

both the PDP and the APC played every trick in the book and pulled all manner of propaganda stunts to stop Soludo from clinching the APGA ticket, but he ended up with 93.4 percent of the votes cast at the Professor Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre. “Our congress was televised live and everyone saw that the primary election was free, fair and peaceful, but neither the PDP nor the APC bothered to broadcast its events on television. “The two parties have, for all we care, given up on the November 6 gubernatorial election.”

Petrol Tanker Accident Kills Six Students in Delta Sylvester Idowu in Warri No fewer than six students of the Army Children Primary School, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State were crushed to death yesterday afternoon by a fuel-laden tanker. Confirming the incident, the acting Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State Command, DSP Bright Edafe, told journalists that six students were crushed to death, adding that “the number is tentative”.

However, the PPRO could not ascertain the whereabouts of the driver of the ill-fated tanker as of the time of filing this report THISDAY gathered that the accident occurred at around directly opposite the Gen. David Ejoor Barracks of the Nigerian Army in Effurun near Warri. Eyewitness confirmed that the students were returning from school when the tanker suddenly ran into them. Three of the deceased students were said to be siblings.

It was also gathered that some students sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to the nearby Army Hospital inside Effurun Barracks and the Central Hospital, Warri for medical attention. No fewer than 12 students were rushed to the Central Hospital Warri. Unconfirmed report said nine of them were dead on arrival while three others were reportedly referred to the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, after

being stabilised. The exact number of pupils involved in the accident was yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report. But a joint team of the Nigerian Army, Federal Road Safety Corps and other security agencies were seen making frantic efforts to recover the remaining students trapped under the tanker as a crane was drafted to the scene to pull off the tanker. Firefighters were also drafted to the scene to prevent a fire outbreak.

Buhari Offers Fresh Appointment to Jega President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, as Chairman, Governing Council of the University of Jos. The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who disclosed this while addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, said Buhari also approved

the appointment and reassignment of Chancellors to 42 federal universities. Two former Ministers, Prof Anthony Anwuka and Udoma Udo Udoma, were also appointed chairmen of governing councils. While Anwuka is to chair the council of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State, Udoma will chair the

council of Bayero University, Kano. Both Udoma and Anwuka served as ministers in the first term of Buhari. Other Chairmen of Councils are Prof Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo, University Of Abuja; Malam Adamu Fika, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria; Dr. Sonny Kuku, University Of Benin; Chief Ikechi Emenike,

University Of Nigeria; Nsukka and Ballama Manu, University Of Maiduguri. Adamu also noted that the President approved the re-constitution of Governing Councils of 23 Federal universities and Inter-University Centres (IUCs) following the expiration of their tenures since 8th May, 2021.

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2021

WORLD OF ISLAM

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Transcorp Hotels Unveils ‘Aura’ Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com for Hospitality Industry First 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah: Days of Virtue And Righteous Deeds Obinna Chima

One of Africa’s leading hospitality brands, Transcorp Hotels Plc, yesterday ofﬁcially unveiled its ‘Aura,’ a new digital platform through which people can book accommodation and restaurants. The launch of the platform which was led by Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, also had in attendance, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; the Chairman of Transcorp/Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; Hon. Ndudi Elumelu; among others. Speaking at the event, the Vice President, who narrated his experience while navigating through the App,

enjoined real estate operators and others in the hospitality business to take advantage of the opportunities it offers. “I had thought that the App was only available on Android devices; so I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is also available on Apple. So, I downloaded the App and I have it both on my phone and on my iPad. I find the dashboard quite easy to navigate. “I think many property owners would find the features most fascinating; so this would enable them to list their properties and there are terms and conditions for your property to be accepted, same for whatever other entertainment facility you may wish to put there,” Osinbajo explained.

According to him, the unique offering the digital platform offers is that by opening up for the industry, Transcorp was,“putting its huge reputation behind the service of helping customers choose the best locations, hotels, and restaurants available in Nigeria.” He listed other beneﬁts of the digital platform to include the fact that customers would be allowed to rely on the experience and judgment of world-class personnel at Transcorp in choosing hotels and restaurants. Secondly, Transcorp helps to build other smaller hospitality businesses, even those simply offering their apartments as short-lets can recommend their apartments to potential quests, she added.

I’ll Continue to Govern Osun with Fear of God, Says Oyetola Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo Workers in Osun State for the second time in less than three months yesterday openly supported Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for second term ahead of next year’s governorship contest. The workers, numbering over 10, 000 under the auspices of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), noted that a governor who stopped paying half salary, who lifted ban on their promotions and conversions after several years, who gave them minimum wage without agitation and who has continued to pay full salaries despite the challenging economic situation in the country, deserves a show of appreciation from the workers in the State; and that the only way to do that was to ensure his re-election come July, next year. They made these known during a meeting of the governor with the newly elected NULGE Executives, Council Managers and Heads of Departments in Local Government, Local Council Development Areas and

Area Offices, held at the Muti-Purpose Hall of the Local Government Civil Service Commission, State Secretariat, Abere. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), had on May 1, openly endorsed Oyetola for another term. Although the Wednesday’s event was a NULGE affair, all the three labour leaders in the state were on hand to lend their support, with the NLC chairman, Comrade Jacob Adekomi, seizing the occasion to tell the gathering to shun insinuations that the governor would go back to half salary after returning for a second term. The NLC Chairman held that with the landmark Supreme Court’s judgment, workers have the right to be partisan, saying “Oyetola remains our candidate as far as next year’s election is concerned. If he wants to go back to half salary, now is the time to do so because some states have cut down salaries of workers. This man is God-sent, he won’t change.” This is even as governor Oyetola said he would continue to govern

Tributes as Multitude Throng TB Joshua’s Lying-in-state Segun James Tributes continued yesterday at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Ikotun, Lagos, as its late Founder, Prophet TB Joshua, was laid in state. Joshua died on June 5 at the age of 57, few days to his 58 birthday. He will be buried today (Friday). The lying-in-state was part of his burial rites as announced by SCOAN. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that hundreds of people from different cultures and countries lined up yesterday to pay last respect to the SCOAN founder. The Manager of Super Sport, DSTV, Mr. Felix Awogu, told journalists at the event that Joshua had been a major ﬁnancier of sports in Nigeria. “A lot of people don’t know what

he has done for sports in Nigeria, he made us become successful in sports. He has also been a major supporter of special sports for disabled athletes in Nigeria.” The Founder of Belema Oil Producing Limited, Mr. Tein Jack-Rich, and his wife, Elizabeth, described the late prophet as a kind and great philanthropist. Pastor Modesta Montero from Ecuador said that the SCOAN founder helped his community to rebuild a school destroyed by earthquake. He said Joshua donated $400,000 to the school and built an information technology centre for the community. NAN reported that there was a large crowd outside the church premises as people waited patiently for their turns to see the prophet for the last time.

Makinde’s Security Adviser Urges Ibadan Community Leaders to Promote Peace Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Special Adviser on Security to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, has charged community leaders (otherwise known as Baales) in Ibadan land not to be found wanting in promoting peace, unity, and socio-economic development of their communities. Owoseni, who was a former Commissioner of Police, gave the admonition at the meeting of the Baales, which was initiated by the Baale of Ekotedo, Elder (Dr.) Taiye Ayorinde and was held at

the Olubadan’s Palace at Oja Oba in Ibadan. He maintained that this is not the time to demonise any ethnic group for being behind criminal activities unless they were caught in the act, urging that the bales should work hand in hand with the state government to rid the state of criminals. Owoseni assured the baales that the government would continue to see them as partners in progress because they are closer to the people. Ayorinde, in his remarks, thanked all the baales and stated that those not at the meeting would be invited for subsequent meetings.

the state with the utmost fear of God and that contrary to insinuations, all the gains so far recorded would never be reversed. He said the welfare of workers and other citizens in the State are of topmost priority to him and his Administration, adding that the show of love to him by the workers has rekindled his hope in the project called Osun and that he would do everything to take it to greater heights.

CHANGE OF NAME I formally known and address as OLAYEMI AGNES ALO, now wish to be known and address as OLAYEMI AGNES ALO-EMORWODIA. All former documents remain valid. The general public take note. I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OLUWASEYI OMOLADE AKINKUOLIE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLUWASEYI OMOLADE FASE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note. I, formerly known and addressed as OZIEGBE HAPPINESS OTIBHOR, now wish to be now known and address as EZEJI HAPPINESS OTIBHOR. All former documents remain valid. Please public take note. I, formerly known and addressed as KINGSLEY ADIMCHINOBI AKAJIAKU, now wish to be known and address as CASEY ADIMCHINOBI PATRICK. All former documents remain valid. Please public take note. I formerly known and addressed as NGOZI EZINWANNE UFONDU now wish to be known and addressed as NGOZI EZINWANNE CHUKWUEKEM. All former documents remains valid, The general public should please take note. I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEBUSOLA OYINDAMOLA AKINOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEBUSOLA OYINDAMOLA LADIPO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note. I, formerly known and addressed as MISS BOLANLE OLUFUNMILAYO ODESOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BOLANLE OLUFUNMILAYO OYEKAN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME I, GAMBO GWAMNA, my name was wrongly arranged as GWAMNA GAMBO, instead of the correct arrangement as GAMBO GWAMNA an by name GWAMNA was wrongly spelt as GOWANA henceforth my correct and proper name is GAMBO GWAMNA, and my DoB is wrongly written as 3rd of May 1967, instead of 18th February 1987. All former documents remain valid, the general public should please take note.

By: Jam’at Ihyaa Minhaaj Al-Sunnah/IslamiCity Ibn’ Abbas says about the Aayah, “Remember Allaah during the well known days,” that it refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. [This is related by al-Bukhari] Allaah swears an oath by them, and swearing an oath by something is indicative of its importance and great benefit. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning) “By the dawn; by the 10 nights” [al-Fajr 89:1-2]. Ibn Abbaas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujaahid and others of the earlier and later generations said that this refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Ibn Katheer said: “This is the correct opinion.” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 8/413] Praise be to Allaah Who has created Time and has made some times better than others, some months and days and nights better than others, when rewards are multiplied many times, as a mercy towards His slaves. This encourages them to do more righteous deeds and makes them more eager to worship Him, so that the Muslim renews his efforts to gain a greater share of reward, prepare himself for death and supply himself in readiness for the Day of Judgement. This season of worship brings many benefits, such as the opportunity to correct ones faults and make up for any shortcomings or anything that one might have missed. Every one of these special occasions involves some kind of worship through which the slaves may draw closer to Allaah, and some kind of blessing though which Allaah bestows His favour and mercy upon whomsoever He will. The happy person is the one who makes the most of these special months, days and hours and draws nearer to his Lord during these times through acts of worship; he will most likely be touched by the blessing of Allaah and will feel the joy of knowing that he is safe from the flames of Hell. [Ibn Rajab, al-Lataaif, p.8] Ibn’Abbas reports that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) said, “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days [meaning the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah].” The companions asked, “O Messenger of Allaah, not even jihad in the way of Allaah?” He said, “Not even jihad, except for the man who puts his life and wealth in danger [for Allaah’s sake] and returns with neither of them.” [This is related by the group except Muslim and an-Nasa’i] Ahmad and at-Tabarani record from Ibn’Umar that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) said, “There is no day more honorable in Allaah’s sight and no acts more beloved therein to Allaah than those in these ten days. So say tahlil (There is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah : Laa ilaaha illallaah), takbir (Allaah is the greatest

Allaahu Akbar) and tahmid (All praise is due to Allaah : alhumdulillaah) a lot [on those days].” [Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shaakir stated it is saheeh] Abu Hurairah relates that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) said, “There are no days more loved to Allaah for you to worship Him therein than the ten days of Dhul Hijja. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year and to offer salatul tahajjud (late-night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on the night of power. [i.e., Lailatul Qadr].” [This is related by at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and al-Baihaqi] Ibn’ Umar narrated that at Mina, the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) said, “Do you know what is the day today?” The people replied, “Allaah and His Messenger know it better.” He said, “It is the forbidden (sacred) day. And do you know what town is this?” They replied, “Allaah and His Messenger know it better.” He said, “This is the forbidden (sacred) town (Mecca). And do you know which month is this?” The people replied, “Allaah and His Apostle know it better.” He said, “This is the forbidden (sacred) month.” The Messenger added, “No doubt, Allaah made your blood, your properties, and your honour sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours in this month of yours in this town of yours.” Narrated Ibn’ Umar: On the Day of Nahr (10th of Dhul-Hijja), the Messenger (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) stood in between the Jamrat during his Hajj which he performed (as in the previous Hadith) and said, “This is the greatest Day (i.e. 10th of Dhul-Hijjah).” The Messenger (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) started saying repeatedly, “O Allaah! Be Witness (I have conveyed Your Message).” He then bade the people farewell. The people said, “(This is Hajjat-al-Wada).” [Bukhari 2.798] Fasting Day of Arafat Abu Qatadah reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) said, “Fasting on the day of ‘Arafah is an expiation for two years, the year preceding it and the year following it. Fasting the day of ‘Ashurah is an expiation for the year preceding it.” [This is related by “the group,” except for al-Bukhari and at-Tirmidhi] Hafsah reported, “There are five things that the Messenger (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) never abandoned: fasting the day of ‘Ashurah, fasting the [first] 10 [days of Dhul-Hijjah], fasting 3 days of every month and praying two rak’ah before the dawn prayer.” [This is related by Ahmad and an-Nasa’i] ‘Uqbah ibn’Amr reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) said, “The day of ‘Arafah, the day of sacrifice, and the

days of tashreeq are’ids for us--the people of Islam--and they are days of eating and drinking.” [This is related by “the five,” except for Ibn Majah. At-Tirmidhi grades it sahih] Abu Hurairah stated, “The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) forbade fasting on the day of’Arafah for one who is actually at ‘Arafah.” [This is related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah] At-Tirmidhi comments: “The scholars prefer that the day of ‘Arafah be fasted unless one is actually at ‘Arafah.” Takbeer It is Sunnah to say Takbeer (“Allaahu akbar”), Tahmeed (“Al-hamdu Lillaah”), Tahleel (“La ilaha ill-Allaah”) and Tasbeeh (“Subhaan Allaah”) during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, and to say it loudly in the mosque, the home, the street and every place where it is permitted to remember Allaah and mention His name out loud, as an act of worship and as a proclamation of the greatness of Allaah, may He be exalted. Men should recite these phrases out loud, and women should recite them quietly. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning) “That they might witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e., reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade, etc.), and mention the name of Allaah on appointed days, over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice)...” [al-Hajj 22:28] The majority of scholars agree that the “appointed days” are the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, because of the words of Ibn Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father), “The appointed days are the first ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah).” The Takbeer may include the words “Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, la ilaaha illAllaah; wa Allaahu akbar wa Lillaahil- hamd (Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, there is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah; Allaah is Most Great and to Allaah be praise),” as well as other phrases. Takbeer at this time is an aspect of the Sunnah that has been forgotten, especially during the early part of this period, so much so that one hardly ever hears Takbeer, except from a few people. This Takbeer should be pronounced loudly, in order to revive the Sunnah and as a reminder to the negligent. There is sound evidence that Ibn Umar and Abu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with them) used to go out in the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, reciting Takbeer, and the people would recite Takbeer when they heard them. The idea behind reminding the people to recite Takbeer is that each one should recite it individually, not in unison, as there is no basis in Sharee’ah for doing this.

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ΁˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹

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

Dare Gives Conditions for Restoration of National Sports Commission

Olawale Ajimotokan ÓØ ÌßÔË Sports Minister, Mr. Sunday Dare, has tabled conditions that must be fulęlled before the National Sports Commission (NSC) can return. He served the conditions yesterday during the public hearing for the Bill to return the National Sports Commission by the Senate Sports CommiĴee. While declaring his support for the return of the NSC, he said the revived sports commission must benchmark what obtains in other parts of the

world. He added that another option is to amend the existing Decree 34 of 1971 which is still subsisting in addition to passing a new Bill to give it Constitutional backing. "Let me thank the chairman of the Senate CommiĴee on Youth and Sports and all the CommiĴee members on behalf of all sports loving Nigerians for undertaking this public hearing. “It demonstrates your interest in the development of sports in our country. But beyond that interest is the commitment to see that necessary actions and legislations are in place to guide

sports development in Nigeria. “Amending the existing Decree 34 of 1971 which is still subsisting or promising a new bill are possible options," Dare stressed. He also added that any nation that intends to develop sports must see it as a big business. The minister said sports as business policy and orientation opens the doors for investments from the organised private sector, adding governments are not longer the sole investors in sports development. " rivate sector participation drives sports, rewards athletes, creates jobs, drives manufactur-

ing, generated revenue and contributes to the GD . “At the ministry, we have in the past 18 months been busy working with

critical stakeholders to deliver a New Sports Industry olicy (NSI ), that will change the face and fundamentals of our sports development. “It is an aĴempt to build a business model around sports in Nigeria so that like we have in North America, Europe, South Africa and other climes, Nigeria’s sports development can be driven by both government and private funds". On re-classięcation of sports, he aĜrmed that the Sports Ministry has successfully secured the re-classięcation of sports from being a mere

recreation to business. He said resident Muhammadu Buhari in Council has approved this reclassięcation of sports as a business in Nigeria, adding in principle, the policy that will drive this will soon be ready as it is in its ęnal stages. Meanwhile, the Chairman of Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) FCT chapter, Mr Bunmi Haruna has called for the inclusion of the body on NSC board. He stated this in his presentation at the Senate CommiĴee on Sports public hearing on the bill seeking to establish the National Sports Commission and the Federal Sports University, Nkalagu, Ebonyi State. “Those who should have a say in sports should be part of the National Sports Commis-

sion, NSC. Hence, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) should be included in the board,” Haruna said. “The importance of the NSC is such that we cannot resort to not include the body that acts as a bridge between the sportsmen, administrators, the people and invariably the private sector in it. Sports is business and SWAN is the vehicle on which it is sold, so neglecting SWAN in the composition of the NSC is omiĴing an important part of the commission. He also believes it is of great importance to smoothen the relationship between the director general of the commission and minister of Sports to foster beĴer working atmosphere between both parties. “We also observe that the power tussle between the Minister and the Director General, NSC was largely responsible for the scraping of the commission the last time. “So there is great need for a clear demarcation of the duties of these principal oĜcers in the new look NSC.”

State of Emergency in Japan to run till August 22 to curb further spike in the Covid spread

TOKYO 2020: Fans Barred from Olympics as Covid Emergency Declared in Japan

Sergio Ramos has sealed a two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)

Sergio Ramos Switches to PSG in Two-year Deal Sergio Ramos, the former Real Madrid stalwart considered one of the best defenders in the world, has signed a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain, the French club announced yesterday. Ramos, 35, won the Champions League four times with Real and is a World Cup winner and a two-time champion of Europe with Spain. The veteran, who has won a European record 180 caps and scored 23 goals for his country, arrives with PSG desperate to add experience to their squad for another assault on an elusive first Champions League title. PSG Sporting Director, Leonardo, has also brought in Dutch midfield star Georginio Wijnaldum from Liverpool and Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi from Italian champions Inter Milan and the club has been heavily linked with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who will line up for Italy against England in Sunday's Euro 2020 final. The Qatari-owned club also hope the significant investment will persuade France striker Kylian Mbappe to sign a new deal beyond 2022. "It's a big change in my life, a new challenge and a day I shall never forget," Ramos said in a PSG statement. "I am proud to be a part of this very ambitious project and to join a team with great players. It's a club which has already proved itself at the highest level with solid foundations. I want to continue

TRANSFER to grow with Paris and help the team win titles." PSG lauded him as one of the world's most decorated defenders, noting individual distinctions including UEFA naming him Europe's best defender in 2017 and again in 2018. "Sergio is a complete footballer, one of the best defenders in history. He is a born competitor, a leader and a great professional," said PSG

President Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who saluted Ramos' "wealth of experience and his ambitions (which) are in perfect harmony with those of the club." Ramos, who cut his teeth with Sevilla before joining Real in 2005, played almost 500 league games for Los Blancos, marshalling their defence for 16 seasons and winning LaLiga five times. He also scored some notable goals – not least his injury-time equaliser in the 2014 Champions League final against city rivals Atletico.

The Olympic Games in Japan will be held without spectators at venues in and around the capital after a spike in coronavirus infections. Olympics Minister, Tamayo Marukawa, made the announcement after talks with oĜcials and organisers yesterday. A state of emergency in Tokyo will run throughout the Games, to combat coronavirus. rime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters it would run from 12 July and remain in place until 22 August. Bars and restaurants will not be allowed to serve alcohol and must close by 20:00 (11:00 GMT). Venues in Tokyo and other areas near the capital city will not be allowed to hold events with fans during the Games.

Shaibu to Host Edo State’s Ambassador to Tokyo 2020, Adegoke The sports-loving Deputy Governor of do State, hilip Shaibu, will on Monday host the state’s Ambassador at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Enoch Olaoluwa Adegoke. The Nigerian fastest man, Adegoke whose career has taken a turn for the beĴer since he started representing Nigeria’s foremost sports destination, Edo State, is expected to arrive in Benin for the all-important meeting with Deputy Governor Shaibu. Adegoke who won the 100m gold medal, the most prestigious silverware in any games, at the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival in the

state’s red and white colours, will get both the ęnancial and moral support he needs to succeed in Tokyo from Shaibu. Meanwhile, former Captain of Team Nigeria to many Games and Championships, Yussuf Alli has commended the Deputy Governor for the initiative to support Adegoke ęnancially and otherwise. “As a former athlete who competed in many games and championships, the moral support of your government and people is a crucial morale booster. “If that moral support is now backed with cash, that will be massive. “I therefore commend

Deputy Governor Shaibu for this brilliant initiative. This kind of initiative will not only encourage Edo athletes to give their best but it will also encourage all athletes representing Nigeria in major games and championships to give their best.” Alli also commended the Edo State government for its massive investment in sports infrastructures and equipment, “Before the Obaseki/Shaibu administration in Edo State, athletes from the state had to travel elsewhere to train due to lack of facilities and equipment but thanks to the massive investment by this administration.

But stadiums in the regions of Fukushima, Miyagi and Shi£uoka will be permiĴed to have spectators up to 50% of capacity and up to 10,000 people. Coronavirus infections are rising in Tokyo as the 23 July opening ceremony edges closer. There has been widespread opposition to the Games in Japan, with calls for them to be postponed or cancelled. After meeting government oĜcials, Tokyo 2020 resident, Seiko Hashimoto, said: "It is regreĴable that we are delivering the Games in a very limited format, facing the spread of coronavirus infections. "I am sorry to those who

purchased tickets and everyone in local areas." Tokyo Governor, Yuriko Koike, said that holding Olympic events without spectators was "heart-breaking" for those who wanted to aĴend. It was not immediately clear if refunds will be made available to some or all ticketholders. Mr Suga announced the state of emergency in Tokyo earlier in the day. "Taking into consideration the eěect of coronavirus variants and not to let the infections spread again to the rest of the nation, we need to strengthen our countermeasures," the prime minister said.

Etebo Completes Watford’s Medical ahead of Loan Move

Nigeria midfielder, Oghenekaro 2016 and has won 38 caps, Peter Etebo, has undergone a scoring twice for the three-time medical with newly-promoted African champions. Named CAF's most promising Watford ahead of a move away from English rivals Stoke City. talent for 2015, Etebo was top The 25-year-old will join scorer as Nigeria won that year's the Premier League side on a African U-23 championship season-long loan with an option before he then scored four goals to buy, BBC Sport Africa has to help the Dream Team clinch Olympic bronze at Rio 2016. learnt. It will be Etebo's third loan from Stoke since he signed a fiveyear deal with them just ahead of playing for Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Last season, he was with Galatasaray, for whom he played 26 times, and his time in Turkey followed a stint in Spain with Getafe. Etebo made his international debut Oghenekaro Etebo (left) is close to Watford loan move for Nigeria in March

Friday July 9, 2021

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Kwara APC to Lai Mohammed “His continuing encouragement and support for factionalisation of the party is divisive and disruptive to the party. It is anti-party. He cannot contest the leadership of the party with the governor” – Kwara APC Elders Caucus calling for the immediate suspension of the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akin.osuntokun@thisdaylive.com

Debunking the Debunker “We have been tuned to think it is constitutions (laws) that develop a society. Constitutions can NEVER take the place of visionary, competent and patriotic leadership”. “If rapid political progress is to be made in Nigeria, it is high time we were realistic in tackling its constitutional problems” –Simon Kolawole quoting Awolowo approvingly “In my other article, I compounded things by quoting a section of the famous 1963 Constitution to debunk the fallacy that regions were granted resource control in the first republic. Mines and minerals, including oilfields, oil mining, geological surveys and natural gas, were all on the Exclusive Legislative List and squarely under the jurisdiction of the federal government” –Simon Kolawole “The 1963 Constitution Section 140, titled “Mining Royalties and Rents”, stated thus: “(1) There shall be paid by the Federation to each Region a sum equal to fifty per cent of (a) the proceeds of any ROYALTY received by the Federation in respect of any minerals extracted in that Region; and (b) any mining RENTS derived by the Federation during that year from within that Region.” –Simon Kolawole

hardly write rejoinders save to those articles specifically addressed to me. I find it even more difficult to join issues publicly with people I have close personal and fraternal relations. I consider Simon Kolawole a close friend, brother and esteemed colleague. On the occasions I cannot contain myself I take him on one on one. I have however gotten increasingly alarmed at his persistent trend of peculiar interpretation and understanding of Nigeria’s constitutional development; which is quite misleading, contradictory, ridden with distortions and unbridled egotism and panders to the perpetuation of the political status-quo. There is, of course, nothing inherently wrong in pandering to the status quo if the status quo is working. This is a point I have reiterated on several occasions summoning the wisdom of Alexander Pope to better make the case. ‘Let fools contend, what is best administered is best’. The corollary to this punditry is that we must repudiate a system the more dysfunctional and ruinous it becomes. The assumption of Alexander Pope borders on human rationality and speaks to the fact that if our basic citizen requirements are optimally satisfied there should be no basis to clamour for the change of such a blissful certainty for the unknown. If today I can drive from Abuja to Lagos on a super highway anytime of day or night; can click on the switch and the light comes on, what do I care if Nigeria is operating a unitary constitution. Indeed it is not uncommon these days, in total disgust with contemporary Nigeria, to wish the alleged ‘third term’ of Obasanjo had succeeded. By the same token, Nigerians would be raving mad if they do not repudiate a system which makes it possible for Buhari to deny

Omo-Agege the South-west the wherewithal to adequately confront a situation of total security breakdown for which the president and the constitution bear responsibility in the first place. As we speak, Amotekun is precluded from carrying arms as it aims to wrestle down the AK 47 wielding bandits. Was it not Albert Einstein who defines madness as doing the same thing and expect a different outcome. Here is Kolawole, “in one article, I argued that “true federalism” is a fallacy, that what we have are variants of federalism as no two countries practise the system the same way. Each federal constitution decides how powers are shared — with currency, diplomacy and military usually centrally controlled”. So following Kolawole’s logic, if any constitution veers off the boundaries of all the variants of federalism (the irreducible minimum) and calls itself federalism, wouldn’t it be wrong to say this is not true federalism? Before 1966, even 1983, Nigerian were not talking about true federalism, it only became an issue at the spiralling of Nigeria’s governance crisis and its correspondence with the extent of the deviation from what Nigerians adopted as federalism as elaborated in the 1960 and 1963 constitutions. Beyond Nigeria and according to Module 11 in ‘The Development of American Government’ one of the irreducible minimum of federalism is stated as follows “Although today’s federal systems vary in design, five structural characteristics are common to the United States and other federal systems around the world, including Germany and Mexico. First, all federal systems establish two levels of government, with both levels being elected by the people and each level assigned different functions” Contrary to the federalism specification above, the “federalism” that was incorporated into the 1979/1999 Constitution includes the aberration of an autonomous third level of government called the local government which came via a military dictatorship dictat in 1976. And this brings me to the

most amazing discovery from the prolific pen of Kolawole namely ”1999 CONSTITUTION WAS PRODUCED BY CIVILIANS NOT MILITARY”. And the rationale for this assertion was “On November 11,1998, Abdulsalami inaugurated the Constitution Debate Co-ordinating Committee (CDCC) to “pilot the debate, co-ordinate and collate views and recommendations canvassed by individuals and groups and submit report not later than 31 December 1998. Kolawole observes: “It was not headed by a soldier but by Justice Niki Tobi, with Dr. Suleiman Kurmo as deputy chairman. There was no single military man on the committee. They went round the country to collect memoranda from the public through town hall meetings in Benin, Enugu, Jos, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Kano, Ibadan, Lagos and Sokoto. They excluded military formations”. He continues: “Tobi said: “In the light of the memoranda and the oral presentation on the 1995 Draft Constitution, it is clear that Nigerians basically opt for the 1979 Constitution with relevant amendments. They want it, and they have copiously given their reasons for their choice in the different memoranda and oral presentations. So we have recommended to the Provisional Ruling Council the adoption of the 1979 Constitution with relevant amendments from the 1995 Draft Constitution. Abdulsalami accepted the recommendation”. First, what mattered less to Kolawole was that the Niki Tobi committee represented nobody but the individual who created it and employed the members. Yet they were charged with the task of making a constitution for Nigeria without the consent of Nigerians through a referendum or their elected representatives. Allied to the above is the simple logic that who pays the piper dictates the tune and in case anyone was in doubt, it was spelt out in the enabling decree establishing the constitution. According to the “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Promulgation) Decree No 24. “Whereas the Constitutional Debate Coordinating Committee has presented the report of its deliberations to the Provisional Ruling Council; “And whereas the Provisional Ruling Council has approved the report subject to such amendments as are deemed necessary... after necessary amendments and approval by the Provisional Ruling Council”. Save the millennials, I don’t know of any generation of Nigerians who wouldn’t have heard the Nigerian military rulers mantra of “no go areas and settled issues of the Nigerian federation” when setting off the so called constitutional conferences on their errands. As I have stated elsewhere, the role of the preceding constitutional conferences was advisory and limited by what the military rulers cited as “no go areas and settled issues”. Such no go areas included the predetermined constitutional/ political structure of 36 states and 774 local governments; the creation of the local government tier as autonomous third tier of government; the citation of Nigeria as multi religious state as against a secular state; Sharia etc And then there were the additions and substractions including the

land use act; and a centralisation, in letter and spirit, and in tandem with the command and control culture of the military institution. And whatever was decided in the conferences was subject to the vetting and approval of the military authorities. I wonder what is left of constitution making if the so called constitutional conferences were barred from reviewing the constitutional structure of the country. And there was the grave injustice Kolawole did to the memory of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He contends: “Finally, let me ruffle feathers again. Awo is being used as the poster boy of the “restructuring” campaign. He is always quoted to have said: “Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression.” Sorry, but this is a clever manipulation of Awo’s thoughts on page 48 of his book, ‘Path to Nigerian Freedom’. Under the chapter, ‘Towards Federal Union’, this is the full context: “If rapid political progress is to be made in Nigeria, it is high time we were realistic in tackling its constitutional problems. Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression. There are no ‘Nigerians’ in the same sense as there are ‘English’, ‘Welsh,’ or ‘French’.” “In truth, what Awo was advocating was nation-building. He was not asking for Oduduwa Republic. By 1968, he had this to say about the Nigerian project: ‘It is incontestable that the British not only made Nigeria, but also (handed) it to us whole on their surrender of power. But the Nigeria which they handed over to us had in it the forces of its own disintegration. It is up to contemporary Nigerian leaders to neutralise these forces, preserve the Nigerian inheritance, and make all our people free, forward-looking and prosperous. He (Awolowo) had, obviously, moved beyond the federalism debate he wrote about in 1947, but people make it look like he campaigned for federalism all his life’”. Pray how does the quoted excerpt above amount to Awolowo moving beyond the federalism debate? When it was precisely in the same 1968 in the ‘Peoples Republic’ that Awolowo reiterated what he argued in 1947: “I predict that every multi-lingual or multi-national country with a unitary constitution must either eventually have a federal constitution based on the principles which I have enunciated, or disintegrate, or be perennially afflicted with disharmony and instability.” Well I don’t know the understanding of Kolawole of the ‘restructuring campaign’ but what it means generally is the restoration of federalism (devolution and decentralisation of powers) and specifically the restoration to the spirit, if not the letter, of the 1963 constitution. Understood as such, no individual political leader better qualifies as the ‘poster boy’ of restructuring as Awolowo. And what is the relevance of ‘Oduduwa Republic’ in all this? And by the way and in order for Kolawole to better understand Awolowo and how he anticipated the susceptibility of Nigeria to today’s comprehensive failure, he actually canvassed for the insertion of the right to secession clause in the 1960 constitution.

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