THURSDAY 14TH JULY 2022

MOMAN Advocates Gradual Removal of Petrol Subsidy to Minimise Resultant Shock Insists policy not sustainable, killing businesses

Peter Uzoho

With the federal government and Nigerians grappling with the double whammy of ballooning subsidy spending, unabating petrol scarcity and queues in the country, petro-

leum products marketers under the aegis of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) have advised the government to end the subsidy regime by adopting a gradual removal approach.

Insisting that petrol subsidy

payment was no longer sustainable and was killing marketers' business, MOMAN explained that adopting a phased removal approach, which would require adjusting upward, the price of petrol little by little, would ensure that

consumers were protected against the attendant shocks.

The Chairman of MOMAN and Managing Director of Ardova Plc, Mr. Olumide Adeosun, relayed the association's suggestion yesterday, during a virtual capacity build-

ing workshop organised by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for oil marketers and journalists.

In the last few months, Nigerians have been grappling with the challenge of getting petrol to fuel

their cars, to power their generators, among others, and Abuja, Lagos and other cities have been the most hit in the fuel crisis due to the closure of some filling stations.

Continued on page 48

UN: Nigeria Not on Track to Attaining Sustainable Development Goals... Page 5 Thursday 14 July, 2022 Vol 27. No 9956. Price: N250

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N1.12trn Needed to Pay Proposed ASUU, Varsity Workers’ Wage Increase, FG Reveals... Page 6

Ganduje Replies Lawal, Says No Compulsion in Religion Masari declares security under Buhari has Improved Emir of Daura to President: Your critics will criticise your successor I’m bequeathing education, values to my kids, commander-in-chief explains Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

The government of Abdullahi Ganduje in Kano State, yesterday, replied a former Secretary to the

Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, that the Ganduje Foundation, a philanthropic

organisation, was being used to force Christians to join Islam, saying there was no compulsion in faith.

This is as the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, after repeatedly instigating self-defence

in view of the deteriorating security Continued on page 48

Adamu: Christians Have Nothing to Fear, Muslim-Muslim Ticket Reflects Nigeria’s Reality Says it's an act of God Faith aside, work stops on president’s table, Akeredolu maintains APC’s presidential combination stands rejected, PFN insists Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale, Sunday Aborisade in Abuja, John Shiklam in Kaduna, Fidelis David in Akure, Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti and Francis Sardauna in Katsina National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, yesterday, allayed the fears of Christians over the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, saying it was a reflection of the current political reality in the country.

He, however, reiterated that the

Christians have nothing to fear over the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as running mate to the party's presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, because the Muslim-Muslim pairing was an act of God. At the same time, the Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has allayed concerns over the Muslim-Muslim ticket, saying it has nothing to do with performance since the faith of Continued on page 48

Atiku, Okowa, PDP Governors Storm Osogbo Today for Adeleke... Page50

TESTING CENSUS READINESS… L-R: Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari; President Muhammadu Buhari; Chairman, National Population Commission, Nasir Isa Kwarra; Federal Commissioner, Almu Bala Banye; Enumerator Officer, Mrs. Abidatu Abdullahi, and Data Manager, Mr. Abdullahi Gaduwama, during a trial PHOTO: SUNDAY AGHAEZE Census exercise by the National Population Commission in Daura Katsina State

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

NEWS

TITAN MANAGEMENT TRUST BANK VISITS SANWO-OLU...

L-R: Chief Risk Officer, Titan Trust Bank Limited, Mr. Chineye Uga; Lagos Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Lere Odusote; Titan Trust Bank Head of Treasury, Mr. Uche Ugboh; Acting Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Adaeze Udensi; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Head, Corporate Banking, Tomilola Onasanya; Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Sam Egube; Account General/Permanent Secretary, State Treasury Office, Dr. Shefiu Muritala and the Bank’s Head of Product and Propositions, Mr. Ejikeme Ohalete, during a courtesy visit to the Governor at Lagos House, Marina,...yesterday

UN: Nigeria Not on Track to Attaining Sustainable Development Goals Insists 100m people still living below poverty line Economic productivity key to poverty alleviation, says Sterling Bank MD James Emejo in Abuja The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Mathias Schmale yesterday said Nigeria currently lags behind in terms of reaching many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 targets.

The UN scribe said the country’s population of over 150 million has majority living on less than N370 per day, quoting data from the World Bank.

He said though lifting the people above the poverty line cannot be done quickly, the government must act within the short and medium term to ensure that vulnerable Nigerians were protected in an effective and innovative way including cash transfer programmes and other social protection schemes.

Speaking at the opening of the maiden Africa Social Impact Summit

(ASIS) with the theme: “Rethink, Rebuild, Recover: Accelerating Growth for the SDGs”, which was hosted by the Sterling One Foundation in Abuja, Schmale said even though there are significant challenges to the attainment of the 2030 agenda, which was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, Nigeria was already lagging behind before the dual obstacles.

This was just as the Managing Director/Chief Executive, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, insisted that wealth generation and economic prosperity remained crucial to solving the poverty challenge in the country.

He maintained that government must promote economic growth by supporting the private sector to create jobs, adding, “as that growth happens, we must then take that part of the resources to attend to

FG Shortlists 14 Directors for Accountant-General's Job Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The federal government has shortlisted 14 Directors on Grade Level 17 in the Federal Civil Service for the position of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation (AGF) which has been vacant since the suspension of the substantive AGF, Ahmad Idris over an allegation of N80 billion fraud.

A circular signed by the Director (Administration), Mariya A. D. Rufai from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation disclosed this.

The circular was received by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, on July 6, 2022.

Those shortlisted for the position included Muhammad Murtala Saleh, Chizea Onochie Peter, and Lydia Jafiya Shehu from the office of the AGF. Others were Bakre Modupe Julianah (Ministry of Police Affairs), Danladi Comfort Zakowi (NSCDC), Abah George Fidelis (Nigeria Immigration), Omachi

Raymond Omenka (Ministry of Interior), and lbrahim Saadiyya Jibo (National Boundary Commission).

The list also included Mohammed Aminu YarAbba (Federal Fire Service), Samuel A. Waziri (Ministry of Agric and Rural Development), Mahmud Adam Kambari (North East Development Commission), Mohammed Magaji M. Doho (Federal Ministry of Education), Mufutahu Bukolah (Federal Ministry of Transportation), and Yusuf Abdullahi Musa II (Fed. Min. Information and Culture).

The federal government recently sacked Mr. Chukwuyere Anamekwe who was acting AGF when Idris was removed and replaced with a former Director of Treasury Single Account (TSA), Mr. Okolieaboh Ezeoke Sylvis. This followed a statement by him that the government was borrowing to pay salaries.

Anamekwe, who had been acting since May 22, 2022, was also being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

those left behind.”

Schmale, however, pointed out that about 100 million vulnerable Nigerians currently live below the poverty line, adding that, “We need to do things to protect them while backing the winner; there are successful businesses, there are successful government initiatives and so it is the right mixture of protecting the poor and backing the winners who are doing well for the country and the continent”.

The UN resident coordinator said given that Africa was predicted to have a staggering 830 million young people by 2050, the challenge was to create an enabling environment for them to reach their potential and become a blessing rather than a curse to the continent.

He said, “From our point of view, this should be viewed as a blessing rather than a curse for the continent - one that can power its economies and societies to greater heights.”

However, reaping the benefits of what is often referred to as the youth dividend is not guaranteed; the potential of young people must

be cultivated and supported. Like all of us, the young also face the headwinds of challenging megatrends such as climate change, biodiversity loss, the fourth industrial revolution, and growing inequality.”

Schmale said, “It is imperative that support and subsidies aimed at making life more bearable for the poor really do reach them and that significant adjustment are made when they don’t.”

According to him, impactful development also required investment in quality education for all and affordable primary healthcare, pointing out that inclusive social impact could only be achieved through the right mix of sustainable economic growth, social protection, and a conducive environment that includes basic health and educational services for all.

He stressed that the government must identify truly transformative initiatives that would catalyse tangible changes in the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians given that Nigeria and the continent, in general, are currently tracking behind in efforts to attain the SDGs.

He added, “Before the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, Nigeria was already lagging behind in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“So the importance of this event is to take time to rethink, recalibrate, revise on how to get there and I think the way to get there is all about collaborative partnerships between the private sector, government, employers, and trade unions.

“And also to do two things, one is to protect the vulnerable. There will always be people who lose out and currently, almost 100 million people in Nigeria live below the poverty line. So we cannot talk about economic growth and think that those 100 million will quickly be lifted out of poverty.

“I think the spirit is there, the abilities are there – it is a very educative society and they just need to be given the opportunity. And you know the famous saying that 'don’t give people fish, teach them how to fish'. In Nigeria, people know how to fish, they just need to be given the opportunity.”

Speaking further, Suleiman however, noted that the summit had been able to appreciate the concept of, “using investment to drive social impact to the fore, the same way we have all kinds of summits trying to promote business development; we want to bring people together who are trying to surf for the SDGs and make them work together.”

He said, “I think it is important for us to recognise that for us to solve poverty, we have to also solve for prosperity. It means Nigeria must pay attention to the things that would lead to the growth of wealth as well because it is from the wealth that is created from higher productivity that we will have the resources for those that are being left behind.

“A lot of people would meet here for the first time, some have met before, they will start working together while some are already working together and they will accelerate what they are doing. There is a place to bring government, NGOs, private sector, businesses together to solve the same problem.”

Absence of Billionaire Kidnapper, Evans Stalls £223,000 Ransom Repayment Suit Wale Igbintade Absence of the convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a. Evans, yesterday stalled a suit filed against him by a kidnapped victim, Chief Donatus Duru.

The claimant, had in 2018 filed the suit before a Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, He is demanding for return of the sum of 223,000 Pounds he allegedly paid as ransom while in the custody of the kidnap kingpin.

The claimant is also demanding for the sum of N50 million as damages.

When the case was called on yesterday, the defendant counsel, Mr Amobi Nzelu, told the court that on the last proceeding, June

29, the court had granted his application to become the counsel for the defendant.

Nzelu, said thereafter he wrote a letter to the court asking that the comptroller of prisons be directed to produce the defendant in court.

The defendant counsel said he was surprised that the defendant was not produced in court.

However, claimant's counsel, Mr. D. O. Obiora, reminded the court that the case was adjourned for the defendant to open his case.

Obiora expressed dissatisfaction that a copy of the letter written by the defendant to the court was not served on him.

“We are parties in this suit, we should be given a copy of the letter,” he said The defendant counsel, how-

ever, said it was an oversight and was not done to hurt the claimant.

Therefore, the trial judge, Justice Kayode Ogunjobi, said the letter written for the defendant to be produced in court was not acted upon by the court's registrar.

He said the case would not go on because the defendant was not present in court.

He, however, adjourned the case to October 12, 2022, for the defence to open its case.

Evans was initially represented by a lawyer in March 2019, and was accorded every opportunity to defend the suit but failed to do so.

However, when the claimant closed his case on March 3, 2022, the defendant came back seeking leave of court to defend himself.

According to Evans he has been in prison custody since August 2017, and was not aware of the pendency of the action.

He stated that he became aware of the suit in 2019, when he was already out of time to file his defence.

He said immediately he became aware of the suit, he contracted a lawyer to defend him.

The defendant added that sometime in March, he was informed that his former lawyer had ceased to represent him and had not filed a statement of defence.

Justice Ogunjobi had in his ruling held that the principle of fair hearing demanded that the defendant be given opportunity to defend himself.

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NEWS

UNVEILING THIRD CYCLE OF PROJECT 40AT40 IVF GRANTS...

L-R:Board Member, Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation, Dr. Ade Adeyemi-Bero; Managing Director, AT3 Resources, Mrs. Tosin Adefeko; Chairman, Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo; Executive Secretary, Mrs. Grace Ogunniyi, and Ibidunni's brother, Mr. Dare Ajayi, during a press conference to announce the roll out of the third cycle of Project 40at40 IVF grants held in Lagos...yesterday

N1.12trn Needed to Pay Proposed ASUU, Varsity Workers’ Wage Increase, FG Reveals Ngige: No agreement with lecturers yet Investment in education pays best dividend, says Atiku, urges FG, ASUU to end dispute Chuks Okocha and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government has said the proposal made by the Prof. Limi Briggs-led Committee in relation to the demands by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions in universities would gulp N1.12 trillion to implement.

Also, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has said contrary to claims by ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, there is currently no collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between it and the union awaiting signing by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The disclosure by Ngige came just as former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said investment in education pays the best dividend than any other form of investment.

Ngige, in a statement signed by the Deputy Director Press and Public Relations in the Ministry, Olajide Oshundun, said having rounded off its work, the Briggs Committee had proposed 109 -185 per cent increase in the university wage structure.

It explained that based on the recommendation, federal government would incur, "an additional N560 billion as salaries alone, on top of the present N412 billion, less

all other allowances such as earned academic allowances and fringe benefits, teaching allowance, field trip responsibility and post-graduate supervision allowances, and hazard allowances which were to gulp another N170 billion."

The statement added: "In all, the sum of N1.12 trillion will be needed to pay the salaries and allowances of university lecturers and other staff in the university system."

Ngige stated that at present, the wage bill of the university staff and their colleagues in teaching health systems gulp nearly 50 per cent of the total federal government staff personnel cost/wages.

“Recall too that the staff of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education have also placed their wage review in the front burner since two months ago," he said.

While explaining how the Briggs Committee reached at the proposed wage increase, Ngige said what happened was that ASUU insisted that relevant advisory ministries and agencies should recuse themselves from the sitting of the Committee, accusing them of non-cooperation.

"All alone with the Prof Briggs Committee, ASUU started fixing their salaries and allowances to the exclusion of the statutory government ministries and agencies that manage the entire annual finances of government, budget and fiscal policies and the Office of the Head of Service that is in charge of ensuring that public service rules and

regulations are not undermined in any condition of service offered to public officers in the universities.

“Because of this exclusion engineered by ASUU, and the arising complaints to the Chief of Staff to the President and the Minister of labour and Employment by the concerned MADs , the Chief of Staff and the Minister of Labour set up an inter-Ministerial/Agency sub Committee comprising the affected MDA’s under the Minister of State Budget and Planning to quickly look into Prof. Briggs Committee report which to all intents and purpose was still a proposal in June 2022 at the government side meeting.

“This assignment was to be

completed with the Presidential Committee on Salaries and Wages and given two weeks to come up with their recommendation," he said.

Ngige said based on the foregoing, no agreement had been reached between the federal government, ASUU and other university unions on the renegotiation of their salaries and allowances(wages).

He said the Chief of Staff to the president and himself had set up an inter-Ministerial/Agency subcommittee comprising the affected MDA’s under the Minister of State Budget and Planning to quickly look into the Briggs Committee report which to all intents and purposes was still a proposal as of June 2022, at the government

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Representatives and leaders of the Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria (AFAN) who are victims of the Shell Bonga Oil Spill of 2011, yesterday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on multinational oil giants in the region to put an end to the environmental degradation and pollution in the Niger Delta.

The representatives of AFAN from the five Niger Delta States namely, Ondo, Eso, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom, while speaking

at a press conference in Benin City, Edo State, also lamented that the continuous effect of the activities of the oil companies have not only destroyed their main source of livelihood, but also posed a serious health hazards to the people.

Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria and winner of the 2022 Goldman Environment Prize for Africa, Chima Williams, in a letter to Buhari on behalf of the group acknowledged what he described as the positive steps of the president in environmental protection and

We're poised to chase PDP from Govt House, says APC candidate Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs under the President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Godsday Orubebe has been named the Director-General, Delta State of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation.

The Deputy President of the Senate and Delta APC Governorship Candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, unveiled the former minister, the Director, Communications and Media Strategy, Delta APC Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation, Mr. Ima Niboro, in a statement yesterday.

Orubebe had about three weeks ago announced his resignation from

the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after initial denial of his intention to dump the main opposition party for the ruling party.

His congratulatory message to the former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his emergence as the 2023 APC Presidential Candidate, shortly after defecting, heralded the Ijaw politician's arrival at his new party in June.

However, the statement quoted Omo-Agege to have said: "Orubebe is bringing on board a towering wealth of experience, and shall oversee all ramifications of the campaign for the mandate of Deltans in the 2023 governorship elections.

“Orubebe shall, side by side

necessary in view of the deluge of deliberate misinformation being dished out to Nigerians by the President of ASUU, Prof.

Osodeke as well as his branch leaders, calling on President Buhari to sign an agreement which they claimed to have reached with the federal government.

“We wish therefore to inform Nigerians that there is no such CBA that has been reached between the federal government, ASUU and other university unions on the renegotiation of their salaries and allowances(wages). What is in existence is a proposal,” the minister added.

Continued online

Fishermen Seek FG's Intervention over Shell Bonga Oil Spill

Delta 2023: Ex-minister, Orubebe Named DG, Omo-Agege Gubernatorial Campaign Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

side meeting.

The minister however said the Presidential Committee on Salaries and Wages has finished the review of the Nimi Briggs proposal and would shortly submit same to the president.

"This clears every doubt that there is an agreement before the president waiting for his signature.

There is none," he said.

Ngige further said any CBA produced between unions and the federal government would not be signed by the president, but by the government negotiating team and MDAs led by the direct employer with the conciliating ministry witnessing.

“This clarification has become

with me, lead critical engagements and drive consultations, and by his renowned robustness, up the ante for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Together with the rest of the team, we shall show PDP the way out of Government House come May 29, 2023."

While expressing confidence that his appointment would strengthen the state APC campaign organisation, Omo-Agege noted that, “when news of Elder Godsday Orubebe’s resignation from the PDP filtered in, June, our campaign organisation applauded him for toeing the path of progress and enjoined him to pitch tent with progressives in the APC, and help in the task of taking

over Government House come 2023.

"He will be bringing to our campaign organisation his vast reach at the grassroots, as well as at the state and federal levels, having been a supervisory councillor and chairman of Burutu Local Government Area, a state party chairman, and a two-time minister of the federal republic."

The statement further said that, "Orubebe was born June 6th, 1959 at Ogbobagbene in Burutu Local Government Area in Delta State. He attended the University of Lagos, where he earned a B.Sc. in Political Science in 1985. He later attended Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, where he obtained a master's degree in International Relations.

preservation over the years.

Chima recalled that in 2016, Buhari while addressing the opening meeting on 'Taking Climate Action for Sustainable Development,' in New York, co-hosted by Nigeria and the United Nation's Environment Programme (UNEP), had signed the Paris Agreement, where he had committed Nigeria to reducing, "Green House Gas Emissions Unconditionally by 20 Per cent."

According to him, the president had also in 2017 adopted the "Economic Recovery and Growth Plan which among others stated the position of Nigeria government on how to raise resources from the otherwise wasted associated gas through flaring by petroleum industry players to further reduce the hazardous impacts of gas flaring and increase revenue base for the nation.

Chima further noted that in 2018 - 2021, the Buhari-led government enacted the "Flare Gas (Prevention of Waste and Pollution) policy prohibiting gas flaring, signing into law the "Nigerian Climate Change Act," which provides the strategic focus of the country in combating climate change; a development he said showed the seriousness of the present administration in reducing green house emissions and combating climate change which is one of the key drivers of environmental degradation and harvoc in Nigeria.

He said though some of the positive steps had given the assurance of the administration's zeal to address issues of environmental degradation, pollution and climate,

more efforts were needed to fastrack the issues arising from these laws.

The Executive Director of ERA/ FoRN, therefore, appealed to the president to ensure that petroleum extractive companies are compelled to live up to their responsibility of restoring the Nigerian Environment and paying compensation to victims of their operations.

"Mr President, I want to use this medium to appeal to you to use your good offices and as a caring father to bring all the parties together including all the petroleum extractive companies, such as Shell, Exxon Mobil , Nigerian Agip Oil Company and Total Energy and the victims of their operations, relevant government agencies and authorities to discuss workable solutions to the environmental despoliation arising from their operational methodologies in the country.

"A situation where we currently have the multinational oil companies running away from their responsibilities of restoring the Nigerian environment the way it was before their extractive adventures and restituting citizens whose livelihoods pattern have been either distorted or dislodged by the dislocation of their societal fabrics in the name of divestment should also be addressed and discouraged untill the needful is done.

"I believe that as a listening father, you will bring succour to the downtrodden masses of Nigerians especially the Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria members, who are majorly victims of the Shell Bonga Oil Spill of 2011 before your administration winds up."

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A SOLIDARITY VISIT TO UGWUANYI… L-R: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency, Chief Engr. Vita Abba, and former Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Dr. Dan Shere, when the people of Nsukka Local Government Area paid a Thank-you/Solidarity visit to the governor in Enugu… yesterday

NPC Accredits Buhari as Trial Census Commences Nationwide President urges officials to return accurate, verifiable and dependable data Deji Elumoye in Abuja The first phase of the 2023 Census which is the trial House listing and House numbering took off officially in selected local government areas of the country yesterday, with President Muhammadu Buhari endorsing the exercise.

He also urged census officials to justify the confidence the government reposed in them by returning accurate, verifiable and dependable data.

To mark the commencement of the exercise, the National Population Commission (NPC) accredited Buhari at his country home in Daura, Katsina State.

The president while speaking to the NPC team led by the Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra said: “I am happy you have started the process, and congratulations. I know this will require a lot of time, skill and stamina."

After the digital capturing, the chairman explained the modalities and technicalities of the Population and Housing Census to the president.

Kwarra said Buhari had been designated number one on the list, from Daura, Katsina, and his house was also the first.

According to him, the trial which commenced with the President followed the conclusion of the

training of the field functionaries for the Trial Census exercise who would begin the fieldwork of the Trial Census from 13th to 30th July, 2022, in the selected Enumeration Areas and Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the 36 States of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He said the Trial Census, also known as the, “census dress rehearsal,” was one of the pre-census activities to evaluate all aspects of the census operation before the main census on a limited scale.

“It is a process in which all census operations are tested in a detailed and comprehensive manner to assess the level of preparedness of

the Commission to conduct the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

“The Trial Census shall cover a total of 7681 Enumeration Areas (EAs) in the 36 States and the FCT. Six LGAs have been selected from the six selected States in the six geo-political zones of the country for full population enumeration while forty-five EAs in nine LGAs cutting across three senatorial districts were selected from each of the thirty States and the FCT for enumeration,” he added.

The Trial Census fieldwork includes, building numbering and household listing from 13th to 15th July, 2022; validation of EA frame from 16th to 18th July, 2022;

Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation Announces Third Cycle of IVF Grants Dike Onwuamaeze The Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation (IIF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has announced the third cycle of its Project 40at40 in furtherance of its annual In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) grant.

This announcement was made at a press conference held in Lagos, yesterday.

The Project 40at40 was born upon the demise of the Late Mrs. Ibidunni Olajumoke Ituah-Ighodalo whose birthday wish was to give 40 couples, 40 IVF grants on her 40th birthday.

Ibidunni Ighodalo foundation was founded in 2016, as an initiative founded to support waiting couples especially with regard to easing the financial burden that comes with pursuing fertility treatments that could give them a chance at fulfilling their dreams of parenthood.

The Ibidunni Ighodalo foundation (IIF) grant was set up to ensure that those dreams become a reality through giving couplesin-waiting the chance to become parents by assisted reproduction, IVF and other fertility treatments.

This initiative is a posthumous realisation of the founder’s wish with her husband, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo championing the cause to ensure that his late wife’s dream is fulfilled. The project, in its third year, customarily commences on Ibidunni’s posthumous birthday anniversary on July 19, 2022.

The foundation, in collaboration

with renowned fertility medical partners have administered IVF treatments to 80 recipients since inception.

Beneficiaries of the first and second cycle resulted in 10 babies thus far with many others currently undergoing their gestation period.

Speaking at the media briefing, the Chairman of the foundation, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, while sharing the success stories said: “We are glad to announce that for the maiden cycle in 2020, we had 9 new births, including a set of triplets. For the year 2021, we have a baby already, nine pregnancies while four are still undergoing

treatment.”

For him, being able to help people, support and give them hope was the driving force of the initiative.

He announced the foundation’s new initiatives ‘Ibidunni Life Store’ and ‘Ibidunni Ighodalo Entrepreneurial Network’, a mentoring and digital learning platform for the young to inspire, engage and equip aspiring entrepreneurs on self-leadership, entrepreneurship, and the benefits of creating wealth the right way.

On her part, the Executive Secretary of the foundation, Grace Ogunniyi while speaking about

the registration confirmed that the portal would be open on July 19.

She also made a clarion call for support.

“We are hoping to have more babies from the 2021 set and for this new cycle, we’ll like people to also partner with us financially and we are grateful to those who have supported us so far,” she added.

The foundation is totally committed to keeping hope alive and helping struggling families ease their way into parenthood.

The official website of the foundation is open to applications for couples.

Appeal Court Didn’t Order Sublicencing, MultiChoice Lawyer Insists Lawyers to pay television giants, MultiChoice Nigeria have described as incorrect some media reports suggesting that the Court of Appeal ordered the company to sub-licence some of its channels to Metro Digital Limited, a cable television service provider.

In a disclaimer issued on yesterday, the Principal Partner, C.O Pinheiro and Co. Law Practice, legal representatives of MultiChoice Nigeria, Toyin Pinheiro, stated that the said reports were a misrepresentation of the judgment of the court delivered yesterday.

It stated: “It is a misrepresenta-

tion of the judgment of the Court of Appeal Port Harcourt Division delivered on the 13th of July 2022.

The court only directed the National Broadcasting Commission (the 2nd Respondent) to constitute a panel within 21 days to look into the complaints of Metro Digital Limited.

“The Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, dismissed the reliefs prayed by Metro Digital Limited seeking to compel MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to sub-licence some channels to Metro Digital Limited.

“The general public is hereby

informed to disregard the incorrect reportage,” Metro Digital Limited had approached a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt after MultiChoice turned down its request for the sublicencing of some of its channels on the ground that it does not own the rights to the channels and programmes for which the request was made.

Last year, Metro Digital’s case was dismissed by the Federal High Court on the ground that it was unable to contradict MultiChoice’s claim that it does not own the rights to the content requested.

person’s enumeration from 19th to 25th July, 2022; and enumeration mop up from 26th to 30th July, 2022.

As part of the exercise, Enumerators are expected to visit all residential and non-residential buildings within the selected Enumeration Areas and number the buildings and enumerate members

of households in the buildings.

At the end of the trial census exercise, the NPC expects to take away lessons on their chosen methodology, work load, challenges of data collection in peculiar areas and the education as well as the adequacy of the preparation of their enumerators.

Air Peace Breaks Record with High Load Factor on Inaugural Flight to China Chinedu Eze Air Peace yesterday recorded full load factor of 240 passengers on its inaugural flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to Guangzhou, China.

This was also as the airline disclosed plans to code-share with Asian carriers to distribute passengers to other destinations outside Guangzhou, China.

The airline operated the flight with one of its flagship aircract, Boeing B777 aircraft.

Speaking during the inaugural flight, Air Peace Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide said the airline added the China destination and Asia to its network of continents, with the commencement of initial one-weekly flight to Guangzhou-China.

Olajide said the Chinese airspace is not new to the carrier, as it had successfully operated several evacuation/special flights to the country at different times in the past, especially in 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown.

"So, we’re going into China, not as newcomers, but as an airline that is technically and operationally acclimatised with the Chinese terrain.

"The flying public, especially those that fly the Guangzhou route, should expect best-in-class flight experience, which is characteristic of the Air Peace brand. We’re not stopping with Guangzhou- India is next and Israel is in the works," she said.

According to her, also planned for subsequent launch are Malabo in Equatorial Guinea and Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of

Congo, stressing that Air Peace would continue to grow its route network as well as modernise its fleet strategically.

She said the carrier would have an interline arrangement with Asian carriers to help Air Peace carry passengers from Guangzhou to Shanghai and Beijing.

She also hinted that the Consultant was open for more people to travel to China from Nigeria, following the lift on travel restrictions put by Chinese government before now.

Olajide hinted that when Air Peace set out for the trajectory in 2014, they envisaged an airline that would create massive employment for Nigerians and reduce the burden of air travel for Nigerians, and by extension, Africans, through the provision of affordable and peaceful connectivity across cities and continents.

She added that Air Peace has kept to this vision of providing seamless connections and expanding existing network to accommodate the evolving air travel needs of the flying public.

"Air Peace currently boasts of a network of twenty domestic routes, seven regional routes and two international destinations, including Dubai and Johannesburg.

"As we kick off the Guangzhou route today, we must appreciate the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Ministry of Aviation, the Chinese government, our partners, and other stakeholders for making this possible. We promise to work harmoniously with all relevant aviation actors to ensure this new route is maximised," she said.

THURSDAY JULY 14, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JULY 14, 2022

POLITICS

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

‘INEC not Bound to Publish Candidates’ Names’

INEC national commissioner in charge of Information, Festus Okoye, speaks to Chuks Okocha on the nation’s electoral process, political parties’ primaries and submission of candidates names to the Commission. Excerpts:

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hat are the issues in political party primaries and the nomination of candidates?

Political party primaries and the nomination of candidates for various elective positions are governed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, the Regulations, Guidelines and Manuals of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as the constitutions, rules and regulations of the different political parties.

In carrying out its regulatory activities, it is constitutionally and legally imperative that the regulatory body must remain impartial, above board and act within the confines and ambit of the constitution and the law both in its monitoring activities and application of the law. Fidelity to the electoral legal framework is paramount in constitutional democracies founded as they are, on the rule of law and due process.

Therefore, an Electoral Management Body and in this particular instance the Independent National Electoral Commission must, on no account, much less on the basis of perceived infractions of the law by candidates and political parties, seek to exercise the powers donated to other agencies or organs of government by the constitution and the law.

Basically, the Constitution as well as the Electoral Act have assigned and delineated the powers of the Commission in the conduct of party primaries and the nomination of candidates. The roles assigned to the Commission are limited as the conduct of party primaries is basically and fundamentally within the domestic realm of political parties subject to their observing the tenets of the Constitution and the law. In other words, the law expects political parties to be democratic and act democratically in the conduct of their Congresses, Conventions, Meetings and Primaries.

The Constitution and the law expects and obligates political parties to abide by and respect their own rules, procedures and guidelines in the conduct of their primaries and nomination of candidates. The law and the Constitution does not permit the electoral management body to micromanage them. The law only mandates the Commission to monitor the conduct of the congresses, conventions, meetings and primaries, and to ensure that their activities are conducted in accordance with the Timetable and Schedule of Activities released by the Commission as well as the constitutive legal instruments guiding and regulating elections.

Can the Commission on its own disqualify a candidate or forcefully remove the name of any candidate nominated by a political party?

Who determines the validity or otherwise of party primaries? Is the Commission constitutionally and legally permitted to reject the list and personal particulars submitted by political parties?

These are the germane issues and a clear understanding and resolution of the issues requires an examination of the powers of the Commission in relation to the conduct of Congresses, Conventions and Primaries by Political Parties.

Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 makes it mandatory that every registered political party shall give to the Commission at least 21days notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the purpose of “merger” and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified in the Act. Section 82(5) of the Act is clear on the consequences of non-compliance with the provisions of section 82(1) of the Act. The failure of a political party to notify the Commission of the conduct of activities listed in section 82(1) of the Act shall render the convention, congress, conference or meeting invalid. This is clear and needs no further elucidation.

Political parties understand this and the 18 registered political parties complied with the statutory notice required under section 82(1) of the Act. The further implication of failure of a

Okoye

political party to notify the Commission of the conduct of its congresses, conventions and primaries is that the National Chairman of the offending political party will be denied the access code to the Commission’s nomination portal and the party will not be in a position to upload the list and personal particulars of any candidate.

In terms of the conduct of party primaries, the Electoral Act 2022 makes provision for three modes of primaries. A political Party may elect to conduct direct or indirect primaries. Aparty may also decide to conduct its primaries using the consensus mode. The mode of primaries is exclusively at the discretion of the political parties and the Commission does not dictate to political parties which mode to choose.

Is it constitutional for a political party to indicate it’s mood of primary election and later abandon it for another?

A political party cannot indicate the conduct of its primaries by one mode and turn around to use a different mode. The Commission must be given the mandatory seven-day notice of any change in the venue, timing and mode of primaries. It is therefore mandatory for political parties seeking to nominate candidates for elections under the Act to hold primaries for aspirants to all elective positions, which shall be monitored by the Commission.

For direct primaries, all registered

members of the party shall vote for aspirants of their choice at a designated center at each ward of the Federation.

Indirect primaries are run through delegates while the consensus option requires the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the position indicating their voluntary withdrawal from the race and their endorsement of the consensus candidate. Where a political party is unable to secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the purpose of the consensus candidate, it shall revert to the choice of direct or indirect primaries for the nomination of candidates for the aforesaid elective positions.

What then are the consequences of noncompliance with these provisions?

A political party that fails to give the Commission the required 21days notice of its intention to conduct primaries and goes ahead to conduct “primaries” has removed itself from the ambit of the law and has disqualified itself from nominating candidates for the various elective positions. In other words, failure of political party to notify the Commission of its intention to conduct congresses, conventions, conferences or primaries renders such an exercise invalid. A political party that elects to conduct primaries outside the designated constituency for the conduct of primaries for the different constituencies has disqualified itself and is not expected to field candidates for the constituencies involved. At the end of political party primaries, the National Chairman and National Secretary of political parties that conducted valid primaries are legally bound to submit to the Independent National Electoral Commission the names of candidates with the highest number of votes as the candidate of the party.

An aspirant that complains that any of the

The Commission is therefore not obligated to publish the personal particulars of a nominated candidate where the political party did not conduct primaries or where a political party conducted primaries and the name of a candidate that did not participate in the primaries was uploaded. The candidate may sneak in undetected and this is where the responsibility of the aggrieved aspirants or candidates sets in

provisions of the Act and the guidelines of a political party has not been complied with in the selection or nomination of a candidate of a political party may utilize the provisions of section 84(14) of the Act and approach the Federal High Court for redress. In other words, where a political party fails to comply with the provisions of the Act in the conduct of its primaries, its candidate for election shall not be included in the election for the particular position in contention. At this point, all those that present themselves before their political parties are aspirants. Section 152 of the Act defines an “aspirant” as a person who aspires or seeks or strives to contest an election to a political office. It is the responsibility of the Commission to monitor the conduct of the primaries but it remains the exclusive responsibility of the parties to conduct their primaries.

The Commission monitors the primaries and issues its report, which is available to individuals, political parties and other stakeholders in the electoral process.

In other words, any individual can apply for the report of the Commission and it can be used in litigation.

A political party may submit the name and personal particulars of a candidate that did not meet the requisite constitutional and legal threshold and this may not be detected at the initial stage. But the submission under section 29(1) of the Electoral Act is only the beginning of due process and not the final list of candidates standing nominated. By section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, the Commission shall, within seven days of the receipt of the personal particulars of the candidate, publish it in the constituency where the candidate intends to contest the election.

After the conduct of primaries, those that emerge transmute to candidates. Section 152 of the Act provides that a candidate “means a person who has secured the nomination of a political party to contest an election for any elective office”. These are the persons whose names are submitted to the Commission as the candidates of the political party.

At the end of the primaries, a political party may elect not to submit the name of any of its candidates to the electoral management body. They are not constitutionally and legally obligated to sponsor candidates to all elective positions. For the national elections, a political party that conducted party primaries is required to submit the names of its Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates, 109 Senatorial Candidates and 360 House of Representatives Candidates.

Section 29(1) of the Act makes it mandatory that political parties shall forward to the Commission the list and personal particulars of candidates that emerged from valid primaries.

Hence, at the conclusion of primaries, political parties retreat to their offices to compile the list of their candidates and their affidavits. Some of the political parties use the opportunity to resolve their disputes before the period for the submission of the list of candidates as prescribed by law and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities as released by the Commission.

Thereafter, the Commission makes available to the National Chairman of the registered political parties an access code to the Candidates Nomination Portal for the upload of nominated candidates. The National Chairman and National Secretary of each party shall jointly sign the covering letter for the upload of the list and personal particulars of the nominated candidates.

The Commission is not involved in the upload.

It is the responsibility of the political parties to generate and upload the list and personal particulars of candidates from their offices or operational centers. At this point, it is impossible for the Commission to know the names that will be forwarded by the political parties.

The expectation is that political parties shall submit the names of candidates that emerged from validly conducted primaries.

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

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JULY 14, 2022

POLITICS

Mutfwang: Plateau ‘ll Be Safer with Me as Governor In this interview with Seriki Adinoyi, PDP Governorship candidate in the 2023 governorship poll in Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, says his priority if elected Governor will be to make the state safe again for the citizenry

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with the delegates? We contested free and fair primary elections, which is evident in the distribution of votes.

But the grievances arising from the APC was that of manipulation of the delegates list. The list was kept secret from the contestants. In APC you can talk of imposition because there is a sitting Governor who wields power, and also got the local government chairmen to be able to control the delegates.

There was also the question of whether delegates’ elections held in the first place, which is becoming a subject of litigation even. In fact, most of the aspirants allegedly walked out of the congress. So the grievances emanated from the process that led to the primaries.

But I can tell you that for us in PDP, there has not been a single petition. The appeal committee sent to Plateau went back empty handed without a single petition.

hat will be the first challenge you would want to tackle in the state if you become the Governor?

The issue of insecurity will be the first thing I would want to tackle as the Governor of the state. The entire country is under siege with the recent attack on Kuje prison.

In Plateau, despite all that the government has been saying about bringing peace, we all know that it’s a graveyard peace.

Particularly in Jos, where people hurry back to their homes when day gets dark.

My priority will be how to rework the entire security system, and maximize the resources we have on ground to secure our people.

How do you intend to rework the security?

The truth is that a comprehensive plan on how to tackle security is not what should be discussed on the pages of the newspaper for obvious reasons. But I can tell you that having served as a local government chairman in the state; I will be approaching it from the point of practical experience.

There are two aspects of security; kinetic and non-kinetic dimensions. But clearly, one of the key things will be uplifting the spirit of the security personnel as a major focus. The security personnel have to be able to trust that the leader is interested in their own welfare. Come to think of it, these are human beings that put their lives at risk. But when they see that the leader himself does not place premium on their welfare, and take them for granted, I tell you, they will be demoralized. As at this moment, I can tell you that a lot of security personnel on the Plateau are demoralised.

Beyond that, there are specifics that will be considered in dealing with security on the Plateau, and these include intelligent gathering. During the tenure of Governor Jonah Jang, the federal government gave permit for the state to set up an intelligence gathering security outfit called Operation Rainbow, and I worked with them while I was local government chairman, and I witnessed the tremendous benefits they could bring on the table, especially in the area of intelligence gathering, as it helped us to be proactive. Unfortunately, Operation Rainbow has practically died.

One of the reasons perhaps is inadequate funding, which brings me back to the issue of welfare of the personnel. I will look for a way to revive the Operation Rainbow.

We have to be able to engage vigilante groups within communities. Today, the communities are left to themselves.

The roles of traditional institutions too are very vital in managing security in their communities. We must also deal with vices that corrupt and distract the youths; proliferation of drugs and alcoholism. This is because the youth have to be alive and alert to secure their communities as vigilante groups. Deployment of technology too is another way, and we are already having suggestions on how to go about this.

How do you intend to manage Plateau diversity and plurality if elected as Governor?

For me, having stayed out of Plateau for a good number of years before returning home gives me a bit of a detached perspective to look at things more objectively. One of my key objectives as governor will be to become a rallying point for our people in the state. We need to harness our strength.

Therefore unity becomes a key priority for me. One of the corner stones for unity is that everybody must trust and lookup to the leader, and I intend to be that kind of leader. I can tell you that they will trust you when they see your disposition to justice, equity, and inclusiveness. So, managing diversity is not impossible.

On indigenes and settlers, we have to look at the reality of the 21st century mov-

Mutfwang

ing forward. We cannot wish anybody away. The only thing we can do is how to find the most acceptable way that we can live together peacefully and acceptably, respecting boundaries and making sure that people also have a sense of belonging that allows them to at least pursue their reasonable expectations. I intend to be fair, I intend to be just, I intend to be equitable. But we must of course operate within the boundaries of the law. We cannot take laws into our hands.

What efforts have you made to reconcile aspirants that were aggrieved after the primaries?

That became one of my immediate priorities when I emerged as candidate of the party, and I swung into action by visiting the core governorship contestants one by one.

Some had called to congratulate me, but all the same I went round to see them, and I was able to visit most of them, as much as it was convenient for us. To the glory of God, I was able to visit most of them. At the last count, it was only about two or three of them that I could

not visit, but I called them and we spoke on phone. So, out of the 18 persons that contested with me, I have visited about 14 or 15 of them, and we were able to have meaningful discussion. Those that I could not visit in their houses we were able to meet and interact. For the governorship contestants, this is the effort I have made.

For those that contested other positions, like Senate and House of Representatives, the party chairman and I met with them for a total of about five hours, and we spoke extensively. We have also met at several fora.

Just yesterday, Baba Jang also met in his house with those that contested governorship position. A good number turned up.

The ones that could not make it as a result of short notice tendered apologies.

I have also personally reached out to Lt General Jeremiah Useni. I had visited him two days after I won the primaries. I also paid him another visit just as recent as last Monday.

The difference between the APC and PDP is that the grievances that emanated from their primaries are not the same; for the PDP, even though one can’t adjudge the primaries as perfect, the grievances are more or less normal grievances of losing at party primaries. Some accused Baba Jang of imposing me. But that in itself is contradictory because what they meant by imposition is that he is effectively in control of the party. How could he have imposed me when he had no interactions

One of the key things will be uplifting the spirit of the security personnel as a major focus. The security personnel have to be able to trust that the leader is interested in their own welfare. Come to think of it, these are human beings that put their lives at risk. But when they see that the leader himself does not place premium on their welfare, and take them for granted, I tell you, they will be demoralized. As at this moment, I can tell you that a lot of security personnel on the Plateau are demoralised

How much consultation did you make at arriving at the choice of your running mate?

Consultation is very relative; you don’t consult for this kind of thing on the pages of the Newspapers or radio station. One thing we did was a strategic decision to zone the position to Plateau North senatorial zone, and also to micro-zone it to the Berom ethnic nationality.

After much consultation with critical stakeholders, we decided to go with the women voting block on the Plateau. One of the reasons we decided to go with the women voting block is this, it’s a very large block, and cuts across the entire state.

Women particularly don’t vote on the basis of ethnicity, they will hardly vote even on the basis of religion. For them, gender is a point of solidarity, and we decided therefore to pick a woman.

I must however say that there are people that are important enough to have been consulted, which we couldn’t consult.

Honestly, it was not deliberate. But at least our consultation was wide and extensive.

It is true that we may not have consulted enough. It was not meant to sideline them at all; it’s just that it was difficult to reach out to all, more so that the exercise was time bound.

Once we zeroed in on the women, we consulted on the choice of persons from the immediate catchment area it was zoned to, and the name of my running mate, Mrs. Josephine Piyo, came out consistently and highly recommended.

Now, I am glad to say we made a choice of a woman of dignity, with a wealth of experience, having served in the state House of Assembly. She had also been a party official and as a Special Adviser to Baba Jang during his first tenure. She also served as an elected local government chairperson. So she is a woman of pedigree in her own right. She is a mother and grandmother. I am glad to tell you that for every attack I have received over her choice, I have probably received over five commendations. I have received commendation over her choice from across the entire state and the country, and even outside the country. Some got disappointed because they had hoped that either they or their supporters would be chosen.

How much support are you getting from your Mangu Local Government Area?

Since my emergence, the support has been massive. This is to be expected; with the population of Mangu within the contest of Plateau State, this is the first time that somebody of Mangu extraction is picking the governorship ticket of a major political party. So the people are excited and enthusiastic because they believe that we can do it, and make Mangu proud by bringing good governance to Plateau. The enthusiasm goes beyond the local government to people of Mangu extraction outside the state, across Nigeria.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2022

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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Amplifying Mental Health Awareness on Digital Space The need to avoid stigmatising persons living with mental disorders is the force behind Africavoiceshq.com, an online media dedicated to spreading awareness on mental health. The publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Ademiluyi Anthony Adesola and his partner on the campaign project, Chibuzo Emelogu spoke with Yinka Olatunbosun on the initiative and their future plans

L-R: Founder and Editor-in-Chief Africa VoiceHQ, Ademiluyi Anthony Adesola; Consultant Psychiatrist, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr. Stephen Oluwaniyi; and Chibuzo Emelogu at a meeting in Lagos

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demiluyi Anthony Adesola, a graduate of English and Literary Studies at the University of Lagos was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2005. This was a life-changing discovery as he had to deal with stigmatisation that always seemed to accompany it. Initially, it was a struggle for him in the first few years.

Those are the delicate years. It has been reported that suicides are closely related to psychiatric disease, with depression, substance use disorders and psychosis.

Persons with mental illness often perceive negative attitudes among the general public and experience discrimination in their everyday life. Many who attempt suicide are those who feel stigmatised by people around them. Mental health stigma can come from family, friends, coworkers, and society at large.

Sadly, stigma against a person living with a mental health condition can make his or her condition worse and make it hard to recover.

A person may also be less likely to seek help if they live with stigma.

In this electronic chat, Ademiluyi revealed some of his personal struggles. “I have been stigmatised by family and friends which has made me more or less hide in my closet and engage in acts of self-pity. Things changed in February this year when I noticed a gap in mental health reportage in Nigeria. “ The subject is still being discussed in hush tones and it’s largely a taboo. I decided in partnership with my friend Chibuzo Emelogu to tell human interests stories around the subject in order to give a loud voice to mental health patients in Africa to speak up on the issue,’’ he said.

Although he keeps winning the personal battle with stigma, he noted that many other mental health patients still isolate themselves, due to low self-esteem, feelings of hopelessness, while dealing with discrimination.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. It could affect anyone: a family member, a friend, a colleague or a neighbour. A sudden change in one’s mental state can happen due to change in circumstances.

Many who die by suicide had personal histories of mental health crisis.

“The high rate of suicide was also a motivating factor as we feel that suicide can be prevented if more love is shown to the patients and our

own unique way of showing this love is by creating a platform for patients to boldly air their views and we give room for those who wish not to disclose their real identities as we understand the harsh reality of the societal backlash,’’ he continued.

In addition to social media handles, Ademiluyi and his friend have taken the mental health awareness campaign to radio stations and psychiatric homes.

“We have received support from some mental health experts both at home and abroad who write for us on mental health issues from an expert’s perspective. Some local and foreign NGOs on mental health have also reached out to us too. A couple of mental health professionals have sent supportive messages to us,’’ he added.

Although he and his friend are strengthened by the positive comments on their website, he looks forward to building a strong brand that is recognised as promoting the cause for mental health patients.

“We are not looking at becoming the next Linda Ikeji or Nairaland; our satisfaction is that our niche audience gives us feedback from time to time on some of our stories and articles. That for us is highly satisfying.”

His project partner, Chibuzo Emelogu is a dub poet who believes in poetry as a very effective tool in combating mental health challenges.

“It is akin to music which is the food for troubled and happy souls,’’ he explained.

“Poetry especially when performed is a soothing balm to many mentally challenged people. Permit me to go Biblical.

“After the rejection of King Saul by God, an evil spirit possessed him. He only got relief when David sang to his heart’s delight in the palace.’’

Describing Ademiluyi as a ‘good friend and brother,’ Emelogu revealed that upon his friend’s diagnosis, he still excelled academically and even secured some good jobs. Right now, the need to cultivate strategic partnership for the mental health awareness campaign is on the front burner for both of them.

“We want to strike strategic partnerships with celebrities both in Nigeria and the diaspora who have an interest in mental health, corporate bodies who back mental health initiatives and international donor agencies who support mental health initiatives,” he said.

The vision of Africa Voices Hq is to report human interest stories from the 54 countries of the African Continent as well as the Diaspora as it affects Africans. In future, the digital media will have bureau offices in Lagos, Abuja, Accra, Abidjan, Pretoria, Nairobi, Kampala, Cairo, London, Berlin, Paris, Washington DC, New York, California, Ottawa, Toronto, Canberra and Abu Dhabi.

“We also hope to do advocacy work by lobbying western countries and large pharmaceutical companies for the provision of free drugs to the indigent African mental health patients. HIV drugs have been free in Nigeria since 2006 as a result of the noble work done by HIV activists and we believe that the expensive antipsychotics should either be free as well or at least

“The high rate of suicide was also a motivating factor as we feel that suicide can be prevented if more love is shown to the patients and our own unique way of showing this love is by creating a platform for patients to boldly air their views and we give room for those who wish not to disclose their real identities as we understand the harsh reality of the societal backlash”

highly subsidised.

“We are concerned that many impoverished patients relapse simply because they cannot afford these drugs. We will ultimately add advocacy to our work so that we can live up to our slogan of being the voice for the mentally challenged in Africa,” he explained.

The website was launched in February this year with the aim to de-stigmatise the ailment as mental illness that is manageable.

“We get stories from mentally challenged outpatients of the different psychiatric hospitals in Nigeria and have their permission to publish them with anonymous identities. We also get well informed articles on mental health from my partner who doubles as the Editor-in-Chief and mental health experts like psychiatrists and psychologists.

“We also have a team of freelance journalists all across the country who file stories for us from the outpatients,” Emelogu revealed.

The non-profit website will depend on donations, grants, the sale of shirts with anti-stigmatisation messages with a strategic partnership with celebrities, performance poetry concerts to amplify the message of love for the mentally challenged.

“We intend to build a full-fledged centre that will give warmth to the mentally challenged in some key cities in the country starting from Lagos. There will be regular poetry readings and we will train some of the outpatients with skills that will make them take advantage of employment opportunities in the gig economy as poverty eradication or reduction is key for the patients to effectively live with the mental health challenge.

“We also plan to influence the public policy in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world with regards to mental health, share free food and medications to some of the indigent patients so that they can always be mentally stable and contribute towards society,” he said.

Africa Voices HQ is in the process of setting up an Editorial Advisory Board comprising many seasoned psychiatrists based at home and in the diaspora to give an editorial direction.

“Dr. John Akinbote, a Chicago based psychiatrist and academic and Prof Taiwo Sheikh of Ahmadu Bello University are on the Editorial Board and we are talking to many others as well. The board will be formally launched soon.

“We are also in serious talks with some international donor agencies and mental health startups based abroad for a partnership,” he said.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2022

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NEWS

Helicobacter And Microbiota Study Group Commends Richen, Seeks More Support

FERTILITY

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

DELAYED EJACULATION PART 2

L-R: Dr. Mohamed Alboraie, Secretary-General, AHMSG, Prof. Charles Onyekwere, Board member AHMSG, Prof. Stella Smith, founding President, AHMSG and Prof. Babatunde Salako, Director-General, NIMR

L L -R: first row: Dr. R. Ugiagbe, Dr. M. Alboraie, Mrs. T. Jolaiya, Prof. C. Onyekwere, Prof. S. Smith, Prof. J. Otegbayo, Prof. R. Ndip, Dr. J. Hyasinta, Prof. R. Gunturu. Back row: Prof. M. Setshedi, Dr. A. Ajayi, Dr. Y. Dieye, Prof. D. Ndububa, Mrs. T Asemota Precious Ugwuzor The board members and the founding President of the African Helicobacter and Microbiota Study Group (AHMSG), Prof Stella Smith (FAS) has commended Richen Medical Science Group, Equipment manufacturer for Helicobacter pylori treatment and management the major supporter.

This, they said, is towards the actualisation of the Corporate mission, goal and philosophy of AHMSG and particularly towards the public presentation of the study group to stakeholders in the health sector in Nigeria, Africa and the world In general.

Prof Smith, who made these commendations at the official closing of the intensive three-day workshop of the Group at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba Lagos Nigeria, stated that the commendation became necessary because it will be un-African and unappreciative not to commend Richen for the support.

Prof Smith said: “I wish to commend them for their support because they believe in forging appropriate diagnosis and management of Helicobacter pylori in Africa.

“As the platinum sponsor of the European Helicobacter and Microbiota Study Group (EHMSG) since 2015 and they have also in addition reached out to other Study Groups as their main aim is to reduce morbidity and mortality of H. pylori infection globally.”

Explaining further, for appro-

priate treatment and management of H. pylori issues, instruments such as Urea breath test and H. pylori Stool Antigen test are both essential for diagnosis and management of H. pylori infections.

She further stressed that “the right procedures, instruments for the management of H. pylori were essential to the treatment because H. pylori produces copious amounts of urease enzymes and after a few minutes of taking a carbon 13 labelled urea, into the stomach, it converts into ammonia and carbon dioxide and the level of carbon dioxide that the patient exhales is measured and this helps to determine whether H. pylori is present or not.

“The Urea Breath Test instrument helps to diagnose H. pylori.

It has the highest sensitivity of non- invasive method of testing especially in our environment after testing with the urea Breath Test instrument, if it is positive for H. pylori, the gastroenterologist prescribes drugs and instructs the patients to comeback after four weeks for another check for the eradication of the H. pylori.

“This is not usually done in most countries in Africa and that is one if the areas our group wants to look into by setting Guidelines for Africa.”

Another primary instrument is the stool antigen test which measures active H. pylori in the stool. This is slightly less sensitive than the Urea Breath Test but either can be used in our laboratories for the appropriate diagnosis of patients.

Reiterating the issues that bother on H. pylori as a neglected pathogen in Africa, Smith explained that as a group, AHMSG is formulating guidelines for the accurate diagnosis and management of H. pylori and its associated complications in Africa.

Furthermore, she said that more attention has over time has been given to malaria, HIV/AIDS, TB, maternal and child health and in recent times Ebola and COVID-19. This does not imply that H. pylori is not ravaging and causing a lot of health challenges on the continent.

“It has been reported that 50 per cent of the world’s population are infected with H. pylori with people of different races and regions around the world having varying levels of severity and pathological outcomes.

“In a review we published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology 2019, on ‘Infections with H. pylori and Challenges encountered in Africa’, it was revealed that the prevalence of H. pylori was as high as 80 per cent.”

This data could be higher because some regions lack actual prevalence data, sequel to the fact that there was no African guidelines as compared to the Maastricht V/Florence Consensus, Europe; American College of Gastroenterology, ACG, Clinical guideline; Toronto Consensus, Chinese National Consensus etc.

Hence the formation and presentation of the AHMSG with the support from EHMSG and Richen Medical Force.

ast week, we started a topic on Delayed Ejaculation. We discussed its causes, complications, types, signs and symptoms. This week, we will conclude with its diagnosis and how to overcome delayed ejaculation.

Diagnosisof Delayed Ejaculation Some men with delayed ejaculation require 30 minutes or more of sexual stimulation before they can have an orgasm and ejaculate while some may be unable to ejaculate at all, condition known as, anejaculation.

When all other health conditions have been ruled out, delayed ejaculation is diagnosed when a person has a significant delay or infrequency of achieving ejaculation during most sexual encounters for 6 months or more. If the delay is causing you distress or frustration, or if you have to stop sexual activity due to loss of erection, physical irritation or fatigue you are most likely experiencing delayed ejaculation.

To make an initial diagnosis, a physical examination and explanation of your symptoms are required. More testing may be required if a chronic health problem is suspected as the underlying cause. These examinations will look for infections, hormonal imbalances, and other issues. Some tests to indicate underlying problems may include: t 1IZTJDBM FYBNJOBUJPO – this entails a thorough examination of your penis and testicles by a qualified doctor. t#MPPE UFTUT – blood samples may be drawn and sent to the lab to look for signs of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, low testosterone levels, and other health issues. t 6SJOF UFTU VSJOBMZTJT – this is used to detect diabetes, infection, and other underlying medical conditions.

HOW TO OVERCOME DELAYED EJACULATION? Treatment for delayed ejaculation is determined by the underlying cause. If achieving orgasm has become a problem or experiencing delayed ejaculation have been a lifelong problem, the doctor may refer you to a specialist, such as a doctor who specializes in male genital problems (urologist) to determine if it is a structural birth defect, or a doctor who specializes in the hormonal systems (endocrinologist), or a doctor who diagnoses and treats mental health problems (psychiatrist).

Finding information on how to overcome delayed ejaculation can be difficult because there is no drug specifically approved for the treatment of delayed ejaculation, despite the fact that this condition poses a serious threat to a man’s sex life. However, some of these effective tips and treatments may be utilized for faster ejaculations during sex. $POTJEFS .FEJDBUJPO 4JEF &GGFDUT It is critical to begin investigation by targeting the source of your problem rather than experimenting with various methods. Some

medications have side effects that affect a man’s performance in the bedroom, such as lowering libido or causing delays in ejaculation.

According to Medical News Today, medications used to treat anxiety symptoms and high blood pressure, as well as some antidepressants, can cause delayed ejaculations.Treating illicit drug use and alcoholism may also help. One type of therapy is to look for inpatient or outpatient recovery programs.

(FU 5FTUFE 'PS %JBCFUFT Diabetes is a dangerous disease that causes blood sugar levels to rise leading tonumerous long-term negative effects on the human body, including blood vessel damage, which affects the brain, heart, and legs.Furthermore, diabetes causes nerve damage, which can reduce the sensitivity of a man’s penis, resulting in delayed ejaculation. Managing diabetes is possible and may be one of the best solutions for delayed ejaculation.

-FTT .BTUVSCBUJPO Masturbation and sexual intercourse with a partner provide a different type of sexual stimulation. Many men who masturbate excessively have discovered that it takes them longer to reach orgasm when having sex with a partner. This is often due to the fact that they have grown accustomed to the sensation of masturbation, and the fact that they are not masturbating but rather engaging in sexual intercourse may feel too foreign to them, making it difficult to reach climax.

4FF " 5IFSBQJTU Therapy, in addition to medication, may be an excellent solution, especially if one of your symptoms is delayed ejaculations. A therapist can help you address various sexual issues such as delayed ejaculations as a side effect of their mental health concerns. Furthermore, if you have intermittent or persistent delayed ejaculation, you should reassure your sexual partner. Your partner may believe that your inability to reach climax indicates a loss of sexual interest.

Discuss your condition with your partner in an open and honest manner. When couples work together as a team, treatment is often more successful.Depression, anxiety, and fears that cause or perpetuate delayed ejaculation can all be treated with psychological counseling.

CONCLUSION Delayed ejaculation can have serious consequences for a man’s sexual life, but there is little information on how to treat it because most articles on common sexual disorders in men focus on premature ejaculation instead.

The type of treatment and the cause of the delayed ejaculation determine the success of treatment. Each person will have unique requirements and outcomes.

Anyone who is concerned about their sexual function should consult a doctor and, if necessary, a mental health professional in order to determine the best course of action.

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THURSDAY JULY 14, 2022 •T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2022

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

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

08056356325

J U L Y

S & P INDEX

1 3 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

MTN, Globacom Lead in Mobile Infrastructure Deployment, 21st Century Frontrunner in Fixed Infrastructure Deployment

Emma Okonji MTN Nigeria and Globacom Limited are leading in mobile infrastructure deployment in the telecoms sector, while 21st Century Technology is leading in the fixed infrastructure space, a recent statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed The statistics is in line with another statistics released last week

by NCC, which discussed the level of infrastructure deployment in the telecom sector, ahead of 5G

network rollout in Nigeria next month.

The statistics on mobile infrastructure, which chronicled infrastructure deployment among mobile operators between 2020 and 2021, revealed as at December 2021, the total Base Stations owned by mobile telecom operating companies increased to 38,123 from 36,998 in December, 2020 across all states of the federation, representing an increase of 3.04 per cent from the previous year.

As at December 2021, the total on land fiber deployment was

47,128.7km as against 43,898.8km in year 2020. From the statistics, MTN topped the list of mobile network operators that deployed fibre on land, followed by Globacom.

As at December 2021, MTN deployed 14,612km fibre on land; GLO deployed 13,233km; Airtel deployed 14,454km; EMTS, which trades as 9mobile, 4,650km and ntel deployed 180km fibre optic cable on land across the country, totaling 47,128.7km.

For submarine cable deployment, as at December,2021, the total submarine fiber deployment in

kilometre was 27,818.3km as against 25,128.3km in year 2020.

This is an increase of 10.7 per cent within the year under consideration .The submarine fiber deployment by four mobile operators, shows that MTN deployed 17,934km of submarine cable across the country, while Globacom deployed 9,800km; and Airtel deployed 14km and ntel deployed 70km, totaling 27,818.3km.

A further analysis of the fibre optics deployed illustrates that a total of 74,947km of fibre was deployed as at December, 2021 for both on-land and submarine.

Of the total 74,947km that was deployed for both on-land and submarine deployment, 47,128.7km was on-land while 27,818.3km was submarine. MTN had the largest on-land and submarine deployment of 14,612km and 17,934km respectively as at December, 2021, followed by Globacom with 9,800km for submarine deployment and 13,233km on land respectively.

The statistics, which also showed microwave radio deployment among mobile network operators, explained that as at December

2021, mobile operators had deployed a total of 290,626km of microwave radio links as against the 289,424.99km of microwave radio links reported for 2020, which is an increment of 0.41 per cent.

For the fixed telephony operators’ year-end performance report on fixed infrastructure deployment as at December 2021, theNCC statistics showed that 21st Century Technology topped the list, followed by ipNX. In addition to the four fixed Continued on page 22

NCC Assures Internet Service Providers of Sustainable Policies, Regulation Emma Okonji The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country of sustainable policies and regulation that will help them remain in business and become more competitive.

NCC also called on Internet Service Providers to ensure quality delivery of internet services for stronger and better connectivity.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, gave the assurance during the

Telecom Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF), organised by Business Remarks in Lagos recently, with the theme: ‘Examining the Nigerian Internet Service Providers (ISPs) Viability in a Digitised Environment.’

According to Danbatta, “The National Policy on Digitisation as well as the National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 can only be facilitated through Internet Service Provision and its implementation can make Nigeria compete favorably in the world economy.

“In other to achieve the National Policy on Digitisation as well as

the National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 mandate, the Nigerian Communications Commission as at March 2022 has licensed 756 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) out of which 188 ISPs are active, while the total subscriber for data services in Nigeria as at February 2022 stood at 144, 059,086.”

Danbatta however said some ISPs were inactive and he listed some of the challenges that have made some ISPs inactive to include: Anticompetition issues; Standardizing the price of bandwidth; Need to open different Spectrum Bands

(32GHz, 42GHz and 60GHz) for last mile internet access; Low Internet access in the Northern region of the country due to security challenges; Challenges of Right of Way (RoW) and conclusion of standardisation with state governments.

Others include: Multiple Taxation; Deployment of Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) compatible to all service providers; Lack of Company Corporate Code of Governance and Lack of Code of Practice for Internet Service Provision.

Expressing his views during a panel session, the Chief Executive

Officer of Dotmac Technologies, Mr. Micheal Ayoade, tasked the Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) for more advocacy that would address issues militating against their survival and growth in the ISP industry.

According to Ayoade, “ISPs are charged a higher rate than others for Right of Way (RoW) in most states.” Using Lagos State as an example, he said license operators pay a cheaper rate compared to ISPs who are charged ten times more than the agreed N145 per linear metre rate for RoW.

Managing Director at MangoNet Integrated Technologies, Mr. Tony Emoekpere, said the ISPs sub-sector had been too fragmented to scale up.

“Local content is a real challenge.

The telecommunications business is a long-term investment, which requires continuous investment and pressure to upgrade infrastructure,” Emoekpere said.

Convener, TSSF and Managing Editor, Business Remarks, Bukola Olanrewaju, in her opening speech, said: “Over the years, studies have Continued on page 22

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT W E D N E S D AY, J U LY 1 3 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

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

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10.92

120.08

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10.88

Change Updated Time (%) 8, 0.00 July 2022 8, 0.00 July 2022 8, 0.22 July 2022 8, 0.00 July 2022 8, 0.00 July 2022

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NTB 11Aug-22 NTB 8-Sep22 NTB 13-Oct22 NTB 10Nov-22

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NTB 26-Jan23

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

Discount Yield

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18.91 19.09

0.02 July 8, 2022

15.28 15.43

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19.45 20.64

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13.71 14.30

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12.91 13.44

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CONTRACT Current TENOR Contract Rate ($/₦) (MONTH) NGUS JUL 27 1 429.51 2022 NGUS AUG 31 431.36 2 2022 NGUS SEP 28 3 433.21 2022 NGUS OCT 26 4 435.06 2022 NGUS NOV 30 5 436.92 2022

Updated Time

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THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Implications of Child Marriage A report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has projected that Nigeria will have 29 million child brides by 2050, if the right measures are not put in place, writes Ugo Aliogo

A

report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has projected that Nigeria will have 29 million child brides by 2050.

The report which was contained in a document titled: ‘Situation Analysis of Children in Nigeria: Ensuring equitable and sustainable realisation of child rights in Nigeria,’ was launched recently by the federal government in conjunction with UNICEF. The report puts Nigeria’s current number of child brides at 22 million, which it said represents 40 per cent of such cases in West and Central Africa.

It further predicted that seven million more child brides will be added by 2050.

THE STATISTICS

Citing the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2013, the report revealed that 58.2 per cent of Nigerian girls get married before they turn 18 years old.

It also stated that although a comparison of data from 2013 to 2017 revealed a drop in child marriage in Nigeria, while describing the rate of decline as modest.

It said the country ranked among those with the slowest declining rates of child marriage in West and Central Africa.

“The rate of decline is also not enough to significantly reduce child marriage in Nigeria under current conditions. Even if efforts are redoubled, Nigeria will add about seven million child brides by 2050. This is because the statistically observed decline will be upended by population growth and the prevalence of child marriage in some regions and cultures, erasing whatever little progress is made in reducing child marriage in Nigeria,” the report said.

The report noted that by 2018, the percentage of women marrying before the age of 18 had dropped from 48 per cent to 43 per cent, while the percentage of women aged 15-19 marrying before the age of 15 had dropped from 12 per cent to 8 per cent.

EXPERT VIEW

To provide deeper context to the issue, THISDAY spoke to the Country Director, Centre for Development of Democracy (CDD), Idayat Hassan, who stated that the report highlights the existing challenges faced by the Nigerian girl-child, and underpins that

stagnant growth and development despite the availability of laws such as the constitution of Nigeria as well as the Child’s Rights Act, which was passed into law in 2003 and has been adopted in 24 out of the 36 states across the country.

She hinted that the projected number on the rise of child brides highlighted in the report clearly shows that several girls will be out of school by the year 2050.

Hassan stated that beyond the increase in the number of females that are out of school, there are also health implications, especially child mortality.

She disclosed that many of the child brides have not yet acquired adequate health knowledge therefore, endangering themselves and their children, adding that child brides may not be mature enough to properly offer parental guidance to their children, “this implies security, especially in the northwest and northeast and is some other pocket cases in other regions that is battling insecurity.”

According to her, “The relevance of having this data shows us the exact figures and challenges we are facing. This projection highlights that we currently have 22 million girls outside of school due to early marriages, in addition to the projection made in the report Nigeria will have approximately 30 million girls out of school by the year 2050. This is in line with sustainable development goal four which looks to ensure that all girls and boys complete free primary and secondary schooling by 2030. It also aims to provide equal access to affordable vocational training, eliminate gender and wealth disparities, and achieve universal access to quality higher education. It can be further emphasized that this statistic poses a great danger to the fundamental human rights of the girl child in Nigeria.

“Curbing the challenge of child marriage is both a legal and enforcement issue. Although the Nigerian government has tried to stamp out child marriage with the enactment of the Child Rights Act of 2003, the practice of child marriage is still prevalent among the HausaFulani tribe (predominantly Muslim) who occupy Northern Nigeria and where Sharia

law is in force. While the Child “Rights Act has sharp teeth, it has no bite because each state in Nigeria has to enact the Act under its state laws before it is enforceable. This means that a social injustice such as child marriage can be practised in a state that is yet to pass the Child Rights Act as domestic law. Another dimension to the prevalence of child marriage is the laxity with which the Nigerian Government treats female education. The government has not shown the required commitment to the pursuit of basic education.”

UNFPA VIEWPOINT

In the recently launched 2022 State of the World Population Report titled: ‘The Case for Action in the Neglected Crisis of Unintended Pregnancy’, by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), it was revealed that in 54 developing countries with data, the majority of first births to girls under the age of 18 occur within a marriage or union, according to a new, previously unpublished, analysis from the United Nations Population Division.

The report also noted that countries in Central and Southern Asia and in Northern Africa and Western Asia most consistently show high proportions of marital births.

According to the report, “Many young brides are expected to bear children or demonstrate their fertility early in their marriage, in which case pregnancy occurs soon after marriage. But we also know pregnancy can be a driver of child marriage, owing to cultural beliefs or gender-stereotyped attitudes about childbearing and wedlock, premarital sex, family honour and lack of access to sexual and reproductive health services including safe abortion. Women and girls married as adolescents tend to have less education, less household and economic power and less mobility than unmarried adolescents and older women.”

WAY FORWARD

The report, however, proffered ways by which the increase can be mitigated, saying Nigeria has to overcome some challenges to effectively reduce child marriage.

These issues include numerous states in the federation failing to domesticate the child rights act (CRA), especially in the northern part of the country).

It also noted that the federal government’s failure to legislate and enforce 18 years as the minimum age for those seeking a constitutionally recognised marriage, is a factor.

Hassan argued that at a national level, child marriage contributes to population growth by increasing fertility.

She further explained that the report estimates that a girl marrying at 13 will have on average 26 per cent more children over her lifetime than if she had married at 18 or later, adding that the report has a national impact by placing an increased burden on basic services.

The CDD Country Director, remarked that in interrogating the rationale it can be said that some of the reasons for such high rates of child marriage were found to be a lack of access to education, economic opportunity, and health services, particularly for girls, alongside severe poverty and weak legal and enforcement mechanisms.

Continuing, she said: “Child marriage is not a healthy practice as it has many effects on a girl’s health such as an increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases, cervical cancer, malaria, death during childbirth, and obstetric fistulas.

Girls’ offspring are at increased risk for premature birth and death as neonates, infants, or children.

Finally, on this last question on who is to be blamed, I believe all 3 stakeholders should be held responsible at equal parameters, religion has played its part in not opposing child marriage as sharia law gives them a religious backing to it, also on the part of the family. I believe a sense of ownership and responsibility falls on the family based on the bounds of morals, no matter the challenges being faced in giving out a child for early marriage there is zero justification.

And on the part of the government, its lack of internal mechanism and its failure to implement its policies to protect the vulnerable is key and the lack of shared political will to combat this problem as some of them are the perpetrators of this act points them in the forefront to he be held accountable.”

NCC ASSURES INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS OF SUSTAINABLE POLICIES, REGULATION shown that the licence renewal rate of ISPs in Nigeria continues to drop, even as others take up the licence. In view of the critical need

of internet connectivity for the digital economy and for mass digitalisation of Nigeria, the role of ISPs is central also for uptake of internet of things

(IoT). “Internet Service Providers in the Nigerian telecommunications industry have been struggling to stay afloat due to challenges confronting

their market to remain in business, expand operations and post profit every financial year.”

The event witnessed the

sponsorship and participation of the NCC, Skymax Integrated Network Limited, IPNX, eStream Networks, WTES

Projects Limited, MangoNet Integrated Technologies, FibreOne Broadband, Dotmac Technologies, ICSL, NITDA, among others.

MTN, GLOBACOM LEAD IN MOBILE INFRASTRUCTURE DEPLOYMENT, 21ST CENTURY FRONTRUNNER IN FIXED INFRASTRUCTURE DEPLOYMENT network companies, which were reported in 2020, in 2021 four more companies were added, which include Inq. Digital (formerly Vodacom), Swift Telephone

Network, Spectranet and Big Picture; making it a total of eight fixed network companies that were presented in the statistics.

According to the NCC statistics,

for Base Stations deployment, as at December 2021, a total of 165 base stations were recorded, indicating an increase of 57 per cent from 2020 where 105 base Stations were

recorded.

For fibre optics deployment, as at December 2021, 21st Century deployed 9,000km on land and 33km submarine while ipNX

deployed 2,076km on land. In total a sum of 11,077km was deployed for on-land fibre optics and 33km submarine fibre optics.

In the area of microwave

radio deployment in the fixed network segment, 21st Century and IpNX, jointly reported 315km in microwave radio deployment for 2021, the NCC statistics said.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2022

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BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

Payment Systems: Imperatives of Adopting NQR Payment Clement Nwoji

T

he launch of the NQR Code on March 16, 2021, by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS) in partnership with the Nigeria Financial Industry, constitutes one of the seamless non-contact digital means of financial transactions meant not only to deepen the cashless economy but also to further enhance financial stability in Nigeria. It is not surprising then why banks, Money Market Operators, other financial institutions, merchants, payment service solution providers and forward-looking individuals have since embraced it because of its sterling qualities and advantages.

The security and safety of using the NQR payment option in financial transactions stem from the fact that as an indigenous secure QRCode-Based payments and collections solution, it is powered by NIBSS on behalf of the Financial Services Industry while being regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which released the operational guidelines/framework in January 2021 ahead of the launch on March 15, 2021. NQR payment solution is primarily designed for merchants and customers to facilitate hitch-free receipts and payments for goods and services in Nigeria as well as promoting P2P payment.

According to NIBSS, the account-based transaction platform unifies all available closed QR code schemes in the country for consistent user experience and acceleration of digital adoption. It is easier, better and simpler to effect contactless transactions with the NQR. In addition, this platform gives instant time value for money for merchants.

Historical information affirmed that the reliability, safety and trust reposed on NIBSS in the operation of the NQR platform on behalf of the financial sector is guaranteed by its long-standing successes in secured digital technology. Incorporated in 1993 and commenced operation in June 1994, NIBSS has operational experience of almost three decades and “has put in place modern world class infrastructures for handling Inter Bank payments to ensure Interoperability and Interconnectivity across the Nigerian Payment Industry. Further, “NIBSS operation is supported with the best Information, Communication and Technology infrastructure for Automated Online operations as well as effective

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele information and data transmission security practices to deliver world class payment/ settlement services. Operational and Credit Risks in funds transfer across financial institutions are adequately mitigated by NIBSS operations.”

The requirement for an individual, be it a merchant or customer to effect transactions using the NQR payment solution is a smart phone supported by internet connectivity to Scan and Pay. NQR is also available on USSD for feature phone users. As a merchant, there are three easy steps to enroll; contact your bank to register, generate your unique NQR code and present the Code to customers to Scan and Pay. This gives you instant value.

To pay with NQR, there are four simple steps to get started: Login into your mobile Banking app on your smartphone, locate and click on “Payments” and select ‘QR Payment”, then

Scan the QR Code provided by the merchant.

After confirming the beneficiary’s name and amount, input your PIN and the merchant receives value instantly. In addition to merchant and customer transactions, NQR payment is useful in paying bills like school fees etc and for person- to- person (P2P) money transfers; the procedure follows the same simple pattern/ process.

The attraction to use NQR is further hinged on the least transaction cost users incur. In addition, with the use of NQR, merchants/ sellers and customers/buyers of goods and services are afforded many advantages over the use of other e-payment platforms. Some of the advantages include zero cost of onboarding the platform, immediate notification on transactions made, absence of dispute on transactions effected as reconciliation is

instantaneous which gives instant time value for money for business owners to enable them plan efficiently, and execute financial decisions that translates to business growth.

The Managing Director/CEO of the NIBSS, Premier Oiwoh has once noted that the essence of the NQR Solution is to deepen financial inclusion and further stimulate the cashless Society. For him, the use of NQR code is not restricted to the educated and urban dwellers. It also serves the needs of the uneducated and rural dwellers in as much as the person can operate his or her Banks mobile App. or can use the USSD option. According to Oiwoh, some of the unique attributes of NQR is the simplicity. It is available across all the Banks and the ability for one to maintain secrecy of his or her account number since all that is required is to scan the NQR code, authenticate, pay and the receiver gets instant value.

Speaking at the official launch of the NQR Payment Solution in March 2021, he emphasised that this platform will reduce cost of access to financial services to the banking populace, it will deepen and further drive financial inclusion. He added that the NQR Payment Solution is based on the EMV® QR Code Specification with high security, flexibility and customizability. It is API-driven and provides local and global interoperability in line with the goal to ensure that the Payment Solution is internationally recognised and accepted.

To guarantee user friendly and security, the CBN provided the regulatory guidance for the operation of NQR code through its framework ahead of the launch. The apex bank ensured the adoption of appropriate QR code standards for safe and efficient payments system in Nigeria.

The emphasis by the CBN that “QR Code Payments implementation in Nigeria shall support account, wallet, card and token-based QR Code Operations is of particular interest in the regulatory guideline.

The takeaway from this, is the assurance that apart from laying the security and safety foundations for the seamless and minimal cost in the use of NQR code, the CBN constantly keeps an eagle eye on the operations of the platform to ensure that the objectives are not derailed. t $MFNFOU /XPKJ JT B CVTJOFTT QVCMJD BGGBJST BOBMZTU CBTFE JO "CVKB

Strengthening Relationship with Consumers A few Nigerian companies are consistently pushing the narrative that brand loyalty can be guaranteed through a reward system to satisfy customers’ expectation, as demonstrated by the recent move by Dangote Cement Plc to reward consumers with N1billion. Raheem Akingbolu reports.

G

lobally, customer reward and promotions have been identified as marketing strategies to reinforce existing relationships between organisations and customers. The primary reason is to ensure brand loyalty and generate profit.

The deployment of these strategies by organisations is with the understanding that consumer loyalty is pre-requisite for success in a highly competitive environment like Nigeria’s market. But more important to customer reward and promotions is the drive of value and trust.

Until recently in Nigeria’s market, promotion activities were believed to be the exclusive marketing tool of the players in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), but this is fast changing with the players in the Telecom, Real Estate, Banking and Manufacturing sectors leveraging promotion to drive sales.

Perhaps more than any business organizations in the country, the management of the Dangote Cement Plc, is a trailblazer in this regard, considering the volume of investment it has voted into promotion in recent years. It would be recalled that towards the end of 2015, the company did something unusual in the market when it unveiled a promotion that was worth N300million to support its product.

At the beginning, many analysts dismissed it as nothing but a marketing gimmick but within a month, many millionaires emerged and by the end of the promotion, Dangote hadn’t only changed the game, it had raised the bar in the market.

BECOMING MULTI-MILLIONAIRE

Again, in an unprecedented manner, rather than waiting till the end of the year when all the media usually go abuzz and consumers are sucked into the frenzy of reward programmes and promotional offers by producers of goods and services in the country, Dangote Cement had last week rolled out N1 billion worth of promotion for its teaming patrons.

The promo is tagged ‘Spell Dangote and become a multi-millionaire.’

The promo, which was launched in Lagos in the presence of regulators from the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, is expected to offer life-changing prizes, which will have immense economic value to the loyal consumers.

According to the company, Dangote Cement Bag of Goodies Promo Season 3, which runs from July 5 to October 31, 2022, promises to be a blast as there are over 32.3 million mouth-watering prizes to be won, including television sets, refrigerators, rechargeable fans, 2KVA generators, and millions of airtime gifts of major networks in Nigeria.

Interestingly, the company also indicated that every single bag of Dangote Cement to be produced daily through the promo period will contain scratch cards for various gifts to be won by consumers.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Michel Puchercos stated that the Bag of Goodies Promo series is designed to continuously reward loyal Consumers who have stayed faithful and remained the backbone in the cement business. He said these consumers have contributed in no small measure to make Dangote range of cement products the first choice for construction purposes across the country.

Puchercos explained: “We are offering lifechanging prizes, which have immense economic value as they can be used to kick-start small scale businesses. These prizes are targeted to help many families recover from the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic, which adversely affected their sources of livelihood.”

Giving details about the promo, National Sales Director, Dangote Cement, Funmi Sanni, described the promo as a huge investment aimed at rewarding new and existing consumers, “especially in these trying times of our nationhood with the much needed financial and material palliatives.”

She said the promo is also targeted at stimulating the economy that has been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and global energy crisis to move towards much needed recovery especially in the construction/real estate industry sector.

She explained: “To emerge as one of the lucky winners, all you need to do is to pick out the scratch card inserted in the bag; scratch the panel at the back of the card to reveal what you have won; go to any of the over 200 redemption centers to collect an instant prize.

Collect cards, spell D-A-N-G-O-T-E and win a

star prize of N1 million instantly. Additionally, if you find an eagle in one of the letters, you will automatically win N5 million.”

Sanni said N125 million worth of prizes are expected to be won monthly, among which there will be 25 multi-millionaires. “The good thing about this promo is that a consumer stands the chance of winning N1 million repeatedly. There is no limit to the number of times you are expected to win. All you should do is to continue to buy Dangote Cement.”

Validating the promo, the Head, Lagos Office, Federal Competition, and Consumer Protection Commission, Mrs. Susie Onwuka commended Dangote Cement for giving back to consumers through the Bag of Goodies promo.

“Dangote has always fulfilled its promises to the consumers of its product. Our duty at the agency is to protect the rights of the consumers.

Dangote Cement has lived up to expectations,” she said.

Director, Inventory and operations, National Lottery Regulation Commission, Mr. Obi Iregbu said Dangote Cement Promo has always been massive and impressive. “This Season 3 promo is bigger than Season 1 and 2 past promos. I want Dangote to continue to add value to the lives of the consumers of its product. In so doing, the company is also helping to boost economic activities in Nigeria,” he said.

The Group Managing Director, Mr. Puchercos further stated that: “Testimonies abound from the previous winners in Bag of Goodies Season 2 Promo. Onwemere Anselm, a winner from Ihiala, Anambra State invested his million-naira prize money in starting a new business. Today he has opened three shops in different locations.

Opara Augustine from Imo State invested the prize money in his block-moulding business. He is buying more bags of cement which translates into more blocks and better sales. Edet Udeme from Delta State acquired a motorcycle to increase mobility in reaching more cement customers.

Yahaya Isah Abdullahi from Kano State expanded his business, as he buys more bags of cement for sale rather than depending on credit grants from distributors. He has more capital to run his businesses.”

Puchercos said the company has a wide range of gifts and rewards for consumers of the Dangote Cement brand in this new promo. “We are expecting over 500 consumers to emerge as millionaires in the promo, and we have made the process of winning as easy as possible,” he added.

He noted that the promo is open to all consumers of Dangote Cement products, while redemption of the gift items will be at the company’s depots, regional offices, and at specially selected wholesale outlets in areas that are distant from the company’s depots and offices.

SUSTAINING BRAND LOYALTY

For any brand, it is important to sustain the already built brand loyalty and create new ones.

This is what Dangote, which has maintained prime position in the manufacturing sector for decades in the Cement market, appears to be doing with a pan Nigeria consumer reward.

This is the best time for patrons of Dangote Cement brand because in the next 3 months, the company would be producing millionaires daily among its customers for participating in the ongoing promotion initiated to strengthen their relationship. According to THISDAY independent investigation, the initiative is already boosting the profile of the brand in the market place as new customers are coming on board to be part of the promotional activities.

MARKETING MIX

After advertising and experiential marketing, promotion is another major marketing tool used by business owners to connect consumers. However, promotion has a dual advantage because it doesn’t only drive sales, it also rewards consumers.

At the moment, many analysts are wondering why handlers of the cement brand still take it up a notch through innovative relationship strategies with their consumers, despite the huge investments of the group in marketing and distribution. But the company had succinctly stated at the unveiling of the promotions that it was conceptualised to reward their patrons and appreciate their loyalties.

According to the company, the promotion, which at the end would produce 25 multi-millionaires, was conceived to reward patrons of the brand in the market.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

‘Digital Skills Development Will Change African Narrative’ Elev8’s Africa Regional Director, Dr. Rutendo Hwindingwi and its Nigeria Country Manager, John Nsikak, speak about the need to change the Africa narrative from consuming nations to producing nations, though digital skills training. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts: What is your view about African digital transformation that is designed to bridge the existing digital divide between Africa and the rest of the world, and what is the role of Elev8 to address the situation? lev8 is bridging the digital divide by equipping the young and older youths with digital skills at a time when African is searching for digital skills growth that will enable the continent participate in the global economy with regards to digital opportunities.

Our focus is to create digital leaders across the African continent. Digital is the lever that Africans can use to catch up with the rest of the world.

E

Digital transformation is sweeping across continents, but the African continent is yet to feel much of the impact. What can be done to deepen digital transformation across African countries?

Again, our value preposition is about bridging the digital gap, and we do that by creating digital capabilities among people so that people are able to solve the challenge of digital transformation.

Taking an example from the healthcare sector for instance, you will notice that the one major challenge in that sector, is about the challenge of good medical facilities in remote parts of African countries. But with access to mobile devices and applications, the medical doctors can through telemedicine, have contact with people in far distant and remote places and have patients attended to even from remote locations, and that is the power of digital transformation. So governments across Africa must invest in the technology that will drive digital transformation. Governments must also invest in people because the people must be digitally skilled to use emerging technologies to drive digital transformation in order to bring the benefits of digital transformation closer to the African people. So digital transformation is about using technology to address challenges and create opportunities.

What is the key focus of Elev8 and what are its value propositions?

At Elev8, we are focused on equipping people with digital skills. We have since realised that technology is playing a key component in driving economic growth through industrialisation and human capital development. COVID has thought everyone globally to leverage more of technology across all sectors of the global economy, be it in health, Agritech, Edutech, Fintech, e-Commerce, manufacturing, telecommunications among other sectors. We train people on employability skills.

One of our unique value proposition though our partnerships with Microsoft and other partners, is that we have the capability of understanding the requirements of what the market needs from the skill perspective and in scaling the perspective.

We work with startups and innovation hubs and use technology to scale up because the future of economic growth in Africa is industrialisation around Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and startups.

So Elev8 is a multinational organisation that is focused on re-skilling and upscaling digital capacity and talents in people in order to address the needs of Africa and the world at large.

It has been projected that one billion jobs would be transformed globally by 2030. As a global digital scaling partner that bridges digital skills gap, how will Elev8 contribute to the one billion global job transformation?

Africa’s GDP is plus or minus 3 per cent of global GDP, so our economy in Africa is collectively small.

It has been projected that by 2050, 40 per cent of the world’s youth is going to come from Africa because Africa has huge population of youths, which people sometime calls the demographic dividend of Africa. The truth is that if jobs are not created fir the growing large population of youths in Africa, they will become social time bomb that is waiting to explode. The beauty of digital skills, is that if the youths are equipped with digital skills, they will not only have the opportunity to work with the skills in Africa, but can have the opportunity to work anywhere in the world and be paid in foreign currency. So with that, Africa can export skills set to foreign countries. So we have a core value to train African youths on digital skills and help the population of young people to take advantage of the available digital skills jobs to contribute to global economy.

Hwindingwi

Nsikak

Elev8 is determined to partner with organisations to train people on digital skills.

So Elev8 is developing human capacity to transform the one billion jobs by 2030. Africa is rich in arable land, mineral resources, but poor in digital skills acquisition and Elev8 is building the African capacity workplace that will covert her rich arable land and huge mineral resources to commercial value for themselves and for the African continent.

So the huge population of African youths is a blessing for Africa and Elev8 is building the digital skills among the youths that will transform the African economy.

How is Elev8 leveraging emerging technologies like Cloud, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Internet of Things among others to upskill and re-skill the workforce of tomorrow?

We design learning journeys that helps organisations deliver outcomes and achieve their set goals. Aside leveraging emerging technologies like cloud, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data and Internet of Things (IoTs) among others, for our business, we also build competencies to transfer the knowledge in emerging technologies to the trainees. So, yes we leverage emerging technologies and we also transfer same knowledge to our trainees.

Emerging technologies are projected to cut down on traditional jobs and also create new technology skills jobs. What in your views are the best ways to develop capacities that will handle the new tech savvy jobs that will be created from emerging technologies?

Several years back, people used camels for transportation and movement of goods from one location to another. Years after, cars were invented and used for transportation and for movement of goods from one location to another. At the initial stage when cars were invented, those that invested in camels for transportation, felt threatened that jobs will be lost, but contrary to that, new kind of jobs were created and when the old traditional jobs with camels were cut down. In the present day world, people have evolved with the emergence of new technologies because new demands are growing. So innovation started long ago and the world is still innovating with the emergence of new technologies.

Today the world has evolved to the extent that medical doctors can treat their patients from distant and remote locations, using Artificial Intelligence that is embedded in telemedicine.

So as technology is cutting down on traditional jobs, it is also creating new digital jobs for those who have the digital skills. For us as Elev8, we are adopting emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, in order to unlearn the things of the past and and flow with the new opportunities that emerging technologies bring.

What are your plans to grow Information Technology talents in Nigeria and other African countries?

Elev8 has massive programmes running that are targeted at the masses. We have partnership arrangements with multi-national companies like Microsoft, where we train software developers across African countries. In Nigeria alone we are looking at about 500,000 developers that will come from Nigeria. So we are doing is to re-skill and upscale people by building capacities in software development. We have physical office in Nigeria, from where we carry out our training and capacity building programmes. By so doing, we support the Nigerian economy by working with partners to train Nigerians.

As a global digital scaling partner, who are your partners that will help in re-skilling and up-skilling of digital talents in Nigeria and how effective are they?

We have global partners like Microsoft, MicroFocus, and other great brands of international repute, which I will not want to mention in this interview. As a global company that Elv8 is, these global partners are happy to work with us to deliver on our mandate to re-skill and upscale digital talents. What we are doing is to create digital skills for the future. Most countries of the world understand the need for digital skills and they are being proactive by creating digital competencies and training people to handle such competencies because they have realised that there will be a need for such digital competencies tomorrow.

These are the things we do and we hope to replicate it in Nigeria and other African countries.

Elev8 in 2021, promised to upskill over 1,000 Nigerian businesses to meet global technology adoption and digital transformation. To what extent has this been achieved?

The training has been ongoing and we keep to our promises at Elev8. We have been in Nigeria for some few years now and we have been developing digital skills among businesses and individuals. In the last three months in Nigeria, have upskilled more than 125 persons with digital skills, in one programme alone, which of course excludes what we are doing with corporate industry within the same period.

Tell us about the success stories of your training programmes and how they have impacted on individuals, organisations and economies in Nigeria and globally?

Our training programmes have impacted on individuals, organisations and economies in different ways. For the individuals, it has impacted in the area of employability, especially for the young generation of people. People

graduate from schools with intellectual skills, which most times, are not employable skills. So what we do is to re-skill them with digital skills that will make them employable. For those who are already working, we train them in current digital skills to upscale their skills. The truth is that technology is evolving by the day and staff of organisations need to be abreast of current digital skills.

From organisational perspective, we have impacted organisations with our digital skills training. The greatest asset of any organisation, are the people who are the staff of the organisation, which is the human capital. The beauty of technology is that technology is an enabler and organisations must know this. The value we bring to organisations, is making them understand that the strength of any organisation is the people working in the organisation and not the technology itself. It is good to invest in technology, but investing in people who will use the technology is very important and a blend of both will have a perfect result to organisations. From an economy perspective, our training have impacted economies so much so that if you bring all the three perspectives together, individuals, organisations and economy, you will find out that we have actually impacted economies. Analysts have said that economies do not grow by consumption, but by production, manufacturing and industrialisation, which our trainings seek to address. African countries have always been at the consuming end, but with digital skills development, Elev8 will change change the narrative from consuming continent to producing continent.

Aside the delivery of core digital skills, what is Elev8 doing to address the challenges of soft skills, which are also needed for individual and organisational growth?

At Elev8, we try to crate a balance between digital skills and soft skills. We also refer to soft skills as power skills, which are the basic skills that are centred around work team, leadership skills and emotional intelligence. These skills are very powerful to complement the core digital skills, which are sometimes referred to as technical skills. We are aware that developing digital skills alone without soft skills will not deliver the right values. So there is convergence between digital skills and soft skills and we recognise the convergence and we train people on both the digital skills and soft skills. The truth is that every business and individual must be digitally transformed. It is either they transform themselves or they will be transformed by market forces, based on new demands.

As technology is advancing, cyberattacks are also on the increase, and pulling down institutions. What is the solution and way forward?

Every development comes with its opportunities and challenges. In every technology development, where data is involved, there will always be side attraction about cyberattacks. Even with cyberattacks, we all know that wealth is knowledge and data is also knowledge. So we just need to be proactive to address the challenges of cyberattacks.

The only way to address cyberattacks is to develop new policies and legislation that will control such attacks, using technology. Cyberattacks is not just an African challenge, but a global challenge and we must address it collectively.

So again, the need to train, re-skill and upskill people with digital skills, will go a long way in engaging the youths and discouraging them from hacking and gaining unauthorised access to people and organisations’s data and system, just to steal and destroy.

What is your view about the readiness of Nigerian youths to learn digital skills and their resilience to re-skilling and up-scaling?

We must say say we are proud of the Nigerian youths for their resilience and willingness to learn new digital skills. Nigerian youths are enterprising and willing to learn. We just concluded class of 120 Nigerian youths and we impressed by their zeal and performances. Nigeria is listed among the top countries in cryptocurrency adoption and Nigerian youths are the ones driving that initiative. They are ready to push the boundaries and create values for themselves.

Elev8 is impressed with Nigerian youths and we are willing and ready to take them from where they are, to where that want to be.

THURSDAY JULY 14, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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26

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͲ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

FEATURES

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

NCS, ICRC and the Multi-billion Dollar E-customs Project Controversy Rebecca Ejifoma reports on the current controversy behind the multi-billion dollar project for Nigeria Customs Service initially awarded to Messrs E. Customs HC Projects Nigeria Limited for a concessionary period of 20 years, in which the government was projected to earn about $176 billion during the period. However, the approval of same project to another company without seeming due process has thrown the project in cul-de-sac

W

hen the concept of the multibillion dollar e-project for the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) was thought of, it was received well in all quarters. But the conceptualisation is yet to materialise because of the ongoing controversy over approval of the $3.1 billion Customs modernisation project to another party said to be completely different from the one approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

For stakeholders, it was hard to rationalise why the African Finance Corporation and Huawei Technologies Company Ltd have found themselves mired in unfolding controversy arising from a phantom concession agreement for the modernisation. They opined that in side-tracking due process and best practices, it has thrown the E-Customs project in a cul-de-sac.

With the recourse to litigation by the parties involved in the project, many are of the opinion that President Muhammadu Buhari may have been misled to override an approval granted by the Federal Executive Council, FEC, where he presided in September, 2020.

FEC RATIFICATION On Wednesday, September 2, 2020, the FEC ratified the modernisation project with specific directives to implement full automation of all the Nigeria Custom’s business processes and procedures through the development and implementation of a robust and secure ICT platform.

This entailed complete systems integration with the current ICT platform; development and implementation of modern customs border stations, airports and marine posts.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who presented the memo approving the E-Customs project, explained that the concession was awarded in favour of Messrs E. Customs HC Projects Nigeria Limited for a concessionary period of 20 years. It was projected that government will earn about $176 billion during the period.

“So, council today ratified Mr. President’s approval for the PPP concession for a 20-year period to Messrs E. Customs HC Project Limited as a concessionaire for the delivery of customs modernisation project.

"This is a project that will not have an immediate cost to the government, the investors are providing all of the financing and this revenue will be deployed in three phases and they will look over the investment in the concessionary period of 20 years.

“The key point is that it is not costing the federal government one thing, the $3.1 billion being proposed will be sourced by the sponsors and the partners” the minister clarified.

THREAT TO VISION This lofty vision is now threatened by a plot to scheme out the approved concessionaire, Messrs E. Customs HC Project Limited and replace it will an entity registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission on April 5, 2022, just two months ago which has Umar –Ajijola Jummai Zainab as one of directors and shareholders.

POSERS For the concessionaire, the poser for them was how did the NCS and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, (ICRC) convince President Buhari to approve and replace one company with another outside any known law in Nigeria?

The sore points were captured in a letter dated April 25, 2022, by the Managing Director of Bionica Technologies, Alhaji Umar TankoKuta to the ICRC: “Following the emergence of a document which is neither a product of negotiation of the parties during their approved negotiation nor a document that was officially approved by the FEC, a meeting was scheduled at the instance of the Acting Director General of the ICRC, JAM Ohiani inviting the stakeholders to discuss the E-Customs Project.

“We observed that the key stakeholders of the E-Customs Project which is a Presidential Initiative on Customs Modernisation were not present at the meeting supposedly of stakeholders.

"Our enquiry at the meeting revealed that

NCS Comptroller General, Hameed Ali the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the custodian of the approved Concession Agreement as well as E-Customs HC Ltd, the approved Concessionaire of this project were not invited.

"The issued directives of the Acting Director General of the ICRC was not intended to authenticate the legal copy of the Concession Agreement that was approved in September 2020 by FEC. Rather, the directives were geared towards validating the tampered document.

“Despite the issues raised as regards the conduct of Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh of ICRC in our letter dated 12th April, 2022, he was given the platform to make a presentation about the E-Customs Project which indicates that the ICRC has abandoned their statutory mandate as independent regulator and have assumed the contrived role of transaction adviser to the parties.

“As we stated in our letter to Nigeria Customs Service dated 31st March, 2022, the only lawful draft Concession Agreement is the one that was negotiated between the Federal Government team [led by the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs B. Aber and Late Mr Tampi Kupsar Wudapba, together with Government’s transaction advisory team (legal, technical and financial advisers) and officials of the Nigerian Customs Service], the Huawei consortium [led by Mr. Umar Tanko-Kuta of Bionica Technologies WA Ltd together with the Consortium’s legal, financial and technical advisers] and the lenders AFC and First Bank) between October 2018 and May 2019.

“The product of the approved negotiations was the Draft Concession Agreement that was submitted to the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and vetted by the Federal Ministry of Justice in December, 2019 and approved by FEC in September, 2020. Any other version that we are requested to comment on is ultra vires as it does not represent the negotiated

terms and conditions of the parties as approved by FEC.” Copies of the letter were sent to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Minister for Finance, Budget and National Planning.

Rather than address issues raised above, the ICRC two days later despatched an “Update on the e-custom project” in what now appears to be a distortion of fact detailing series of meetings held to ratify an agreement and the fact that “the AGF reviewed and finalised the concession agreements as directed by the FEC and conveyed his approval to execute it to the NCS on the 14 of February, 2022.”

Ohiani, now rewarded with a substantive appointment, recommended that “the implementation of the project should proceed without delay and that members of the consortium except Bionica Technologies should be directed to form a Special Purpose Vehicle for the implementation of the project and to execute the finalised concession agreement as approved by the AGF.” PETITION TO AGF His update was sent to the SGF, the Minister of Finance, the AGF and the Comptroller General of Customs.

Indeed, Bionica Technologies, the lead developer of the project raised several red flags, warning of the surreptitious steps taken by NCS and ICRC to undermine the earlier agreement sanctioned by FEC. Based on the stance adopted by ICRC aka NCS, Bionica said they had to write a letter on April 25, 2022, to the the AGF, referring to several correspondences detailing the role played by the chief law office of the country to carry out the instructions of the President and the FEC. The letter reads thus: "we were highly surprised, bewildered and in a state of dilemma when we learnt that the draft Concession Agreement, negotiated and

approved by the HAGF (subject to observation/comments contained in your letter, which observations were duly incorporated in the revised draft Agreement) and forwarded to the HMF in December 2019 was re-opened

by NCS, a parastatal under the FMOF and sent back to your office for review.

“We find it strange, unconventional and against Civil Service ethics and due process that a draft Agreement already vetted and approved by the FGN’s highest law officer (HAGF), forwarded to the HMF, (the author of the letter requesting HAGF’s vetting and approval of the draft Agreement) was sent back to your office for a second review and second approval for reasons best known to the authority asking for review.

“At this juncture, it is pertinent to ask whether it is acceptable and lawful for NCS - a parastatal under the FMOF to just wake up one day and decide that it was not in agreement with the review carried out by the Chief Law officer to the Federal Government and therefore the reviewed Agreement should be sent back to the approving officer to de-approve, carry out a second review and re-approve what he had earlier approved. Was NCS acting on the directive of the HMF? “It is worthy of note that as at this moment, the HMF is the custodian of the original approval conveyed to her by HAGF in December 2019 whilst NCS is having another approval of February 2022. There were no directives from the approving authorities that the original draft Concession Agreement for execution made pursuant to HAGF’s approval should be re-negotiated or substituted.

“The NCS substituted the earlier Concession Agreement as approved in December 2019 which featured material amendments and changes to certain boiler plate clauses which were agreed during the negotiation in 2019.

The ICRC which is a regulatory agency seems to have assumed the role of the transaction advisers by actions at the meetings where we consistently made it clear that this draft Concession Agreement had already passed through due process and could not be subjected to another review.”

In another letter to the SGF on May 24, 2022, Bionica Technologies alleged that “the ICRC connived with others to undermine FEC’s authority by attempting to substitute the negotiated terms and conditions approved by FEC with a corrupted version of the Concession Agreement which was neither negotiated by the parties nor approved by FEC. At every meeting of the project since FEC approval was obtained where ICRC was represented

by Mr. Jobson Ewalefoh, he claimed that FEC approval to this project is subject to approval by the ICRC.” CG CUSTOM'S REACTION But on May 23, 2022, the CG, Customs wrote the President, by-passing the AGF, the Minister of Finance and the SGF. He told the President that Bionica Technologies rejected the concession agreement “vetted and approved” by the AGF. He said other stakeholders were ready to execute the contentious agreement and perform their roles in the implementation of the project.

Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali, rtd, told the President that Bionica “formally wrote” to inform Customs, ICRC and other stakeholders of its rejection of the concession agreement and withdrawal from further participation at meetings scheduled by the NCS and the ICRC. He further described Bionica’s attitude as contentious and recalcitrant and that the company rejected the agreement drawn by the AGF and declined to proceed.

Against any known law, Ali asked the President to approve that the project proceed under a Special Purpose Vehicle designated as Trade Modernisation Project Limited with the exclusion of Bionica Technologies, by implication overriding the approval granted by FEC in September, 2022.

Also, when contacted by THISDAY, the NCS Spokesperson, DC Timi Bomodi said since the matter was already in court, it would be prejudice to discuss the supposed controversy the project has generated.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY JULYJuly 14, 2022 Thursday 14, 2022 Vol 27. No 9956 TR

& RE A S O

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

INTERROGATING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR THE RECORDS Nigeria is in dire need of fundamental restructuring, argues UZOCHUKWU OKAFOR

UT H

MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE urges the electorate to vote in effective and capable leaders who will remake the system

WHAT WILL SAVE NIGERIANS NOW?

See page 28

OSUN GUBER AND OYETOLA’S MANDATE ABIODUN KOMOLAFE contends that the Gboyega Oyetola administration has done remarkably well See page 28 CHIDOKA: NO EASY MARK AT 51 PAT ONUKWULI pays tribute to Osita Chidoka, former Minister of Aviation See page 29 LAGOS, RAINS AND FLOODING The culture of proper waste disposal and regular clearing of drainages could help in stemming the floods, writes TAYO OGUNBIYI See page 29

EDITORIAL ON THE ONDO FAITH TRAVESTY

See page 30

There is hardly any Nigerian who does not know that these are not the best of times for the fatherland. In the midst of overwhelming bad news, particularly the devaluation of human life and pervading insecurity, even persons who usually are optimists are moving rapidly to the opposite side. Many who had expectations for national rejuvenation have since succumbed to disillusionment and fear.

The quest for salvation is, expectedly, going on actively in the minds of citizens. This title could easily have read, “Who Will Save Nigeria Now?” For most people, the answer would most probably be twofold: God and JRYHUQPHQW R΀FLDOV Only very few Nigerians do not profess one or two of the three major religions in the country namely, Christianity, Islam and WUDGLWLRQDO $IULFDQ UHOLJLRQ ZLWK WKH ÀUVW WZR being monotheistic. Evidences abound to demonstrate our devotion - at least nominally - to the Almighty. Ubiquitous and imposing structures that serve as places of worship, including government-sponsored National Ecumenical Centre and National Mosque in the heart of the Federal Capital Territory.

Regular and expensive pilgrimages to Mecca and Jerusalem. Teeming crowds that attend services, Juma’at and special programmes.

Boisterous prayer meetings held at daytime and night. Palpable zeal to defend the faiths, sometimes violently. Clerics who have thrown away caution and added plenty of politics to their sermons. So, seeing God as the one who can deliver the country from its troubles is always in the estimation of the populace.

But I am convinced that God does overtime here, often intervening even in matters that ordinarily should be resolved through the application of the intellect and other faculties he bestowed on mankind from the beginning.

The other leg is government as the entity empowered by the constitution to primarily enable the country for optimal welfare and protection of lives and property. In saner societies, it is the right of the people to look up to holders of political authority for their general wellbeing, having elected them in WKH ÀUVW SODFH +HUH KRZHYHU DFFRXQWDELOLW\ VHQVLWLYLW\ DQG VHOÁHVV VHUYLFH LQ SXEOLF R΀FHV have become vanishing virtues. Sadly, in many cases, those attributes have been replaced with cheap excuses, indiscretion, ineptitude, callousness and greed. The Nigerian now ÀQGV KLPVHOI LQ D GLOHPPD D KROH LQ ZKLFK there appears to be no light. The present state of things has clearly worsened with time. And playing the ostrich cannot be a reasonable escape route.

The signs of the systematic deterioration of our social fabric are all there in the open for both the discerning and unschooled to see.

These developments have coalesced into an acidic atmosphere that smells of blood and threats of more bloodshed. Going through a one-year chronicle of what could be considered DV KLJK SURÀOH PRVW DXGDFLRXV RSHUDWLRQV

of bandits, kidnappers and terrorists would FRQÀUP WKDW D RQFH UHODWLYHO\ SHDFHIXO nation has become besieged and, God forbid, overwhelmed. Unless one lives in incurable denial, the reasons to worry at this point are undeniable. In July last year, bandits who had already taken root in the north west gunned down a military aircraft in Zamfara State.

The murderous gangsters were never found.

In the following month, unknown gunmen invaded the elite Nigerian Defence Academy LQ .DGXQD NLOOLQJ WZR VHQLRU R΀FHUV DQG abducting another one. ,Q 0DUFK WKLV \HDU EDQGLWV LW LV GL΀FXOW making distinctions between them and terrorists) forced their way into the Kaduna International Airport, leaving at least one fatality behind and obstructing activities there for long. It was in the same month that the Ansaru group bombed an Abuja-Kaduna train, causing the death of eight persons, wounding some and kidnapping others.

Dozens of the abductees are still in captivity.

Two months ago, the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Samuel Kanu-Uche, was kidnapped in Abia State. According to him, LW ZDV *RG·V JUDFH WKDW SUHVHUYHG KLV OLIH +H was released after N100 million exchanged hands. Last month, it was the turn of Owo in Ondo State to witness the brazen brutality of the fearsome non-state actors when not less than 40 worshippers were murdered inside Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral on a fateful Sunday morning. Just before June ended, a battalion of soldiers and other security personnel were ambushed, sending majority of them to their graves early. Tuesday last week, the presidential advance team was viciously attacked in Dutsinma in Katsina State by these roving gunmen. That blatant rogue mission was only a preamble to the invasion of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Kuje, an Abuja suburb, clinically achieving death, destruction and jailbreak. The sheer magnitude and tactfulness of the operation that involved 300 men on motorcycles have compounded the apprehension of Nigerians about the readiness of the numerous military and para-military institutions to guarantee

Nigerians may not have the liver to invade the seat of government the way Sri Lankans have just done but they have enough energy, largely latent at the moment, to act decisively in voting the right persons and ensuring that they stay on course

their safety.

The poser is, who has failed the people, God or government? Surely God has not.

The administration? Many compatriots ZRXOG UHVSRQG LQ WKH D΀UPDWLYH 1HYHU WR EH ignored, however, is the fact that successive governments, not only the current one, have failed to deliver in critical areas; except that WKH GHJUHHV GLͿHU 2QH DVSHFW WKDW LV RIWHQ overlooked is the mindset of the people.

Marcus Garvey, legendary Jamaican political activist and leading light of the Movement for African Redemption in the last century, captured this condition in his historic speech in WLWOHG ´7KH :RUN 7KDW +DV %HHQ 'RQH µ It reads in part: “We are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery because whilst others might free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind. Mind is your only ruler, sovereign. The man who is not able to develop and use his mind is bound to be the slave of the other man who uses his mind….”

Those words on marble, popularised by Bob Marley’s music, “Redemption Song”, should engage the hearts and minds of Nigerians, many of whom have continued to be enslaved by primordial sentiments and mediocrity. In the race towards next year’s general election, nothing seems to have changed in the reasoning and actions of the people. Same old arguments and alignments and we expect true change. What stops the electorate from going for quality men and women who can lead the way out of the progressive mess the country is in? Virtually every component of life is DͿHFWHG E\ SROLWLFDO OHDGHUVKLS DW YDULRXV levels, including security decisions and tactics.

Choosing those who occupy critical positions and making them accountable are, therefore, non-negotiable. Nigerians are not helpless, I insist. They may not have the liver to invade the seat of government the way Sri Lankans have just done but they have enough energy, largely latent at the moment, to act decisively in voting the right persons and ensuring that they stay on course.

My appeal to President Muhammadu %XKDUL ÀQDOO\ +H KDV D VHQVH RI KXPRXU , hear. Last Monday, he heartily declared in Daura: “I am eager to go. I can tell you it has been tough. I am grateful to God that people DSSUHFLDWH WKH SHUVRQDO VDFULÀFHV ZH KDYH been making. By this time next year, I would have made the most out of the two terms, and (in) the remaining months, I will do my best.

In 10 to 11 months, I will come here. I have a better house in Kaduna but it is too close to Abuja.” Not so fast, Sir. While I do not agree with those who feel you have accomplished nothing, the nation indeed is in a desperate situation. Properly managing this transition period and giving Nigerians something to hope for should be your preoccupation now, not thoughts of retirement.

Dr Ekpe is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

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T H I S D AY

THURSDAY JULY 14, 2022

Nigeria is in dire need of fundamental restructuring, argues UZOCHUKWU OKAFOR

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ABIODUN KOMOLAFE contends that the Gboyega Oyetola administration has done remarkably well

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY JULY 14, 2022

The culture of proper waste disposal and regular clearing of drainages could help in stemming the floods, writes TAYO OGUNBIYI

PAT ONUKWULI pays tribute to Osita Chidoka, former Minister of Aviation

CHIDOKA: NO EASY MARK AT 51 He easily comes across as brilliant and urbane. This may not be the impression of everybody around him, especially those opposed to his politics. But it is well time to admit the fact because beyond the hubbub of resisting it, his genius is stark.

Osita Chidoka is a cut above his peers.

He is bold and decisive. He betrays deep intellectual appreciation of issues, most of the time. He is good at what he does

and does not shy away from taking on challenges no matter how enormous. He brims with ideas and knows how to put them into practice.

7KHUH LV VX΀FLHQW SURRI RI WKLV ZLWK his appointment to the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Ministry of Aviation, especially the former. Barely one month to his 36th birthday, he was appointed to the headship of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) where he was saddled with responsibility of managing the safety of Nigerians on the road and contending with road hogs on the wheel. His assumption of duty did not come quite easy. The Corps 0DUVKDO ² KLV SUHGHFHVVRU LQ R΀FH GHFOLQHG handing over to the “small boy”, Osita.

He opted to assign that responsibility to his second in command. Not thinking GLͿHUHQWO\ IURP KLV ERVV WKH 'HSXW\ Corps Marshal also hedged, calling in “sick two hours to the event”. In the end, the handover was done and Chidoka buckled down to brass tacks.

Seven years after, and with his nose to the grindstone, he did not just transform the Corps into a responsive and reputable RUJDQLVDWLRQ EXW KH KDG LW VKRUQ RͿ placidity and squalidness. He had before this time, had a taste of management as a head of a national committee and member RI PDQ\ RWKHUV FRQWULEXWLQJ VLJQLÀFDQWO\ to national development through service.

He had served as Team Leader, Committee for the Drafting of the National Policy on Non-motorised Form of Transportation in Nigeria, member Committee for Review of the Abuja Master Plan and Assistant Secretary Committee for the 1999 Military to Civilian Handover, etc. Prior to this, he was personal assistant to Minister of Works and Housing as well as Minister of Transport.

He was also in the Presidency as Special Assistant to the Adviser to the President on Legal Matters.

By 2014, Chidoka’s personal stock had gone up with the presidency and he came highly recommended. He was subsequently appointed Minister of Aviation. He held

this position until 2015 when his party, the People’s Democratic Party lost control of the central government to the All-Progressives Congress. His years in the FRSC were glorious and beyond his achievements there which included, but not limited to modernizing the organisation through digitalisation of its software, increase of WKH VWDͿ VWUHQJWK IURP WR erection of the Lokogoma Housing Estate, establishment of Safeline Micro Finance Bank, building of the FRSC Academy, building of two new number plate factories, etc., he led the organization to win many awards.

Under his watch the FRSC became the ÀUVW ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW DJHQF\ WR EHFRPH ,62 FHUWLÀHG ZRQ 3ULQFH 0LFKDHO of Kent Award, National Productivity Award with the World Bank recognising it as the Best Example for Road Safety Management in Africa among others. With WKHVH DFKLHYHPHQWV ÀUPO\ LQ KLV NLWW\ interspersed occasionally with recognitions within and outside Nigeria, Chidoka was up for bigger responsibility, and it came with his appointment as Minister of Aviation.

It is important to state here that all these happened within the period of his youth.

And to his credit, even with all the idealism RI \RXWK KH PDQDJHG WKH WZR R΀FHV DEO\ ZHOO PX΀QJ QHLWKHU DQG OHDYLQJ ERWK ZLWK his reputation intact.

2Q WKH VXUIDFH OHDYLQJ DQ R΀FH RU R΀FHV with untainted reputation may not provoke any interest after all “with enough courage”, wrote writer Margaret Mitchell, “you can do without a reputation”. However, in a clime where courage is rare among youths and keeping a good reputation a hard nut to crack, an ounce of the latter is priceless. Over the years, Chidoka has played issue-based SROLWLFV PDLQWDLQLQJ GLJQLÀHG VWDQG RQ national question. Very few of his colleague ministers still command attention almost eight years after. With no want of ideas, he writes profusely on good governance and advocates for a liveable society. He cuts an image of an elder statesman – one who sets great store by experience even as he is still within the precinct of youth. As stated above even from his time as Corps Marshal and Minister no time did, he did not allow the idealism of youth or its twin spirit of adventurism to get in the way he KDQGOHG ERWK R΀FHV +H VDZ ZHOO DKHDG RI his time and worked hard to improve his environment.

In 2017, he ran for the governorship election of his state. Though he lost to exGovernor Willie Obiano, but not a few people still remember how he debated his colleagues. He has continued to impress his listeners with his speech delivery and captivates his readers with lucid writings.

He is an advocate of the triple values of Uchu, Uche and Egwuchukwu which embody Igbo virtues of diligence, prudence and trustworthiness. These core values shape his political ideology that is founded on veracity. +H FDQ EH ÀHUFHO\ KRQHVW ZKHQ articulating what he considers to be truth that liberates. Although some will argue that truth is relative and has many dimensions.

Dr. Onukwuli ZULWHV IURP SDWRQXNZXOL #\DKRR FR XN

LAGOS, RAINS AND FLOODING Of late, the rains have been pouring ceaselessly in Lagos with attendant concerns. It is, thus, vital to put certain things into proper perspective to enhance residents’ understanding of related issues and most importantly intimate them with helpful safety tips.

7KH ÀUVW WKLQJ WR FRQVLGHU LV WKH topography of Lagos. A critical feature of Lagos topography is that it is essentially made up of low-lying terrain up to 0.4 percent below the sea level. Naturally, this constitutes a huge drainage challenge for the state.

If this is put alongside the volume of rain being experienced lately, it might EH GL΀FXOW WR UXOH RXW ÁDVK ÁRRGLQJ especially in some areas.

Second is the fact that experts across the world have earlier declared that the intensity of this year’s rains will be much more than what we had in the past. For instance, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had earlier predicted “extended rains of three to eight days for areas in and around Adamawa, Ogun, Edo, Niger Delta and low-lying areas such as Lagos.

Recent developments have authenticated this position, especially about the volume of rains being experienced across the country.

Third is the challenge of global warmingdeforestation, greenhouse gasses emission DQG LWV GDPDJLQJ HͿHFWV RQ WKH ZRUOG ,Q recent times, millions of people across the ZRUOG KDYH EHHQ DͿHFWHG E\ GHDGO\ ÁRRGV resulting from torrential rains in China, Australia, Japan, United States of America, Indonesia and Brazil, among others.

All of these experiences are largely traceable to global warming-induced climate change, which is posing major threats to lives, food security and businesses across the world.

Understanding the danger of global warming to its environment, the state government has been in the forefront of combating the challenge in the country.

It has held several international global warming conferences in addition to making several advocacy campaigns on the subject in recent times.

Fourth, being a natural occurrence, ÁRRGLQJ RIWHQ GHÀHV VFLHQWLÀF VROXWLRQV Clearly, public safety and good sense FDOO IRU VFLHQWLÀF UHVSRQVH WR ÁRRGLQJ However, while upgrading environmental infrastructure is important, engineering À[HV DORQH ZLOO QRW VX΀FH According to renowned ecologists Donald Hey and Nancy Philippi, despite the massive construction of levees throughout the upper Mississippi Basin during the 20th century, annual average ÁRRG GDPDJH GXULQJ WKDW WLPH PRUH WKDQ doubled.

Consequently, what is needed across the globe is a comprehensive plan to add ecological infrastructure to complement HQJLQHHULQJ LQIUDVWUXFWXUH VSHFLÀFDOO\ to expand wetlands and re-activate ÁRRGSODLQV WR PLWLJDWH IXWXUH ÁRRG ULVNV Furthermore, it is important to emphasise that in-spite of government and other critical stakeholders’ preparedness at PLWLJDWLQJ WKH HͿHFWV RI KHDY\ GRZQSRXU in the state, the impact might not be fully

felt except everyone shun negative SUDFWLFHV WKDW FRXOG SURPRWH ÁRRGLQJ For instance, some illegal waste agents being patronized by a few residents indiscriminately dump refuse in canals and large drainage channels.

This often results in blockage of free ÁRZ RI ZDVWHZDWHU UHVXOWLQJ LQ ÁDVK

ÁRRGLQJ ZKHQHYHU LW UDLQV 7KLV LV RIWHQ rampant in markets and other commercial centers as well densely populated areas RI WKH VWDWH 2IWHQWLPHV WKH HͿHFWV RI VXFK SRRU VDQLWDU\ KDELWV RQ DͿHFWHG UHVLGHQWV DUH XQTXDQWLÀDEOH DQG GHYDVWDWLQJ Some have been rendered homeless and miserable, no thanks to human induced environmental hazards. Thus, we all need to fully embrace the culture of proper waste disposal, comply with building regulations, tap into alternative energy use, and pay necessary attention to sanitation issues among others.

In order to appropriately educate the citizens on proper means of coping during periods on intense rainfall, NGOs, Community Development Associations, the media, members of the Civil Society and all well-meaning individuals and groups in the state need to collaborate with the state government to achieve the required attitudinal change towards the environment.

At present, the government is combining public enlightenment strategies to sensitize Lagosians on this development and has taken the time to SURͿHU VROXWLRQV VR WKDW WKH UDLQV EHLQJ currently experienced will not have GHYDVWDWLQJ HͿHFWV RQ OLYHV DQG SURSHUW\ 6LPLODUO\ HͿRUWV DUH EHLQJ PDGH WR pursue suitable policy on the environment in order to create and ensure a cleaner, healthier and sustainable environment that will promote economic growth as well as the citizenry’s well-being.

As always, the government is committed to a cleaner environment and quality public health through implementation of community based VROLG ZDVWH PDQDJHPHQW ÁRRG FRQWURO vegetal control and high standard of home and personal hygiene, sanitation, control of environment pollution (air, ZDWHU DQG QRLVH EHDXWLÀFDWLRQ DQG advertisement control.

Ogunbiyi LV 'HSXW\ 'LUHFWRU 3XEOLF $ͿDLUV 0LQLVWU\ RI ,QIRUPDWLRQ DQG 6WUDWHJ\ $ODXVD ,NHMD

30 4

T H I S D AY

THURSDAY JULY 14, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

ON THE ONDO FAITH TRAVESTY Many church goers are increasingly being manipulated by their so-called pastors

A

discouraging criminal abuse and infringing on the total of 77 persons, including 26 children, rights of citizens to hold beliefs and worship freely.

ZHUH UHFHQWO\ UHVFXHG E\ SROLFH R΀FHUV <HW ZH PXVW VWUHVV WKDW ZRUVKLS LV GLͿHUHQW IURP from the basement of a church in Ondo willful mass submission to captivity based on foolish State. Josiah Peters, assistant pastor of manipulation of faith. where the persons were discovered, The Ondo State police command has its case clearly said the decision to keep people in cut out in this matter. Child abuse on such a massive the church was in obedience to an instruction from scale is criminal to that industrial scale as well. There God. “We were having seven days meeting on God’s is an additional aspect that seems to have escaped instruction, that we should lock the gate and be with our scrutiny as a public. All sorts of architectural him for seven days,” he said. More distressing is that monstrosities have been allowed as church buildings. the highly indoctrinated worshippers reportedly We doubt that the authorities have ever worried refused to leave the about the appropriateness vicinity of the police of these structures for station where their pastor While men of God should do the duty of showing their purely religious purposes. is being detained.

An expansive basement The Ondo incident congregations the right way to salvation, the state must remain that can take as many as raises questions as to 77 people underground is whether there is a mental vigilant in protecting the citizens from infractions and abuses of somewhat suspect. health aspect to some However, we understand the rights of innocent people of the abuses being that the government may committed in the name not have known about the of religion all over the T H I S D AY basement. For years, building professionals have tried country. The vice grip of ignorance is undeniable.

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU without success, to convince the National Assembly The power of superstition transferred from our DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA to pass the Bill for a National Building Code that will primordial cultures is equally a lingering curse. But MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO regulate the nation’s construction sector. The absence DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU there is also the more insidious criminal exploitation CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI of a building code is the reason states government of these weaknesses by a new crop of crude faith EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN charge fees for the conversion of buildings, including merchants of all hues. In the process, vulnerable MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI residential, to suit what the applicant wants. This is people are being stripped of cash, sexual favours and THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE called ‘Change of House Use’. If we have a code in subjected to degrading and dehumanising treatment place, then it will be illegal to worship in a building DV TXDOLÀFDWLRQV IRU VDOYDWLRQ not designed for use as a church. As it is, only the Mass imprisonment of vulnerable citizens including T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D owners of the building, and the church leaders knew children under the dubious pretense that they are EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA about the basement or catacombs.

GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, on their way to heaven is an exploitation of faith to ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI In all, critical stakeholders must help to escort our deny innocent citizens their freedom under whatever DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, society away from a mindset that accepts criminality guise. This is a criminal infraction that deserves to ANTHONY OGEDENGBE in the name of religion. While men of God should be punished to the full extent of the law. The route DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI do the duty of showing their congregations the right SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH to preventing more of this scope of infraction in the ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI way to salvation, the state must remain vigilant in name of religion is basically one of increased public CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI protecting the citizens from infractions and abuses enlightenment. But the strategy needs to be carefully DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO of the rights of innocent people. Ultimately, the ends nuanced to straddle the delicate balance between TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com of a responsible state and those of organised religion

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

LETTERS

SLEEPWALKING TO SRI LANKA Continued from the backpage Finally, let’s return to Sri Lanka where political corruption is rife. One family essentially runs the country, though protesters may have put an end to that. On assuming power, President Rajapaska brought in his brother, Chamal Rajapaksa from the United States where he UHVLGHG DV D FLWL]HQ DQG LQVWDOOHG KLP ÀUVW DV 6UL /DQND·V defence secretary before eventually elevating him to the position of Prime Minister. His other brother, Basil RaMDSDVND DOVR DQ $PHULFDQ FLWL]HQ ZDV ÀUVW DSSRLQWHG a senior adviser to the president before making him Finance Minister. And then you have Namal Rajapaska as Sports Minister. Meanwhile, to speak against this brazen nepotism and corruption in the country is to be targeted DV D ¶WUDLWRU· E\ D OHDGHU ZKR UXOHG ZLWK DQ LURQ ÀVW DQG brooked little or no dissent.

Yesterday, the in-your-face state capture by the Rajapaskas came to an abrupt end when the president once celebrated as a national hero for helping bring an end to 6UL /DQND·V FLYLO ZDU GXULQJ KLV ÀUVW WHUP LQ ÁHG

his country in disgrace. As at the time of sending in my column last night, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, appointed acting president to avoid a constitutional crisis, was battling with protesters who had invaded and taken RYHU KLV R΀FH Nigeria and the South Asian countries may have different histories, but it is obvious that most of the excesses that led to the crisis in Sri Lanka are also with us. And so are the socioeconomic challenges gradually pushing ordinary Nigerians to the brink. On Monday at his country home in Daura, President Buhari told visiting governors that he was already looking forward to leaving R΀FH GHVFULELQJ KLV SUHVLGHQWLDO MRE DV EHLQJ WRXJK %XW considering the existential pressures that daily confront them, a majority of Nigerians would not mind changing places with him.

On the whole, I am quite aware of the assumption that Nigerians are docile, fractionalized by identities and therefore insulated from the convulsions we witness elsewhere. I beg to disagree. The earlier authorities dispense with the delusional thinking that what is happening in

Sri Lanka cannot happen here, the better for our country.

7KH FDVFDGH RI IDFWRUV LQFOXGLQJ VSLUDOLQJ LQÁDWLRQ FROlapse of the electricity grid, endless fuel scarcity, state of insecurity amid growing political mercantilism are more likely to unite than divide the ordinary Nigerians when push comes to shove.

What the authorities must understand is that people united by the threat of starvation, insecurity and total hopelessness could become an uncontrollable angry mob like those in the streets of Colombo. As we saw with the EndSARS protest two years ago, the days of docility and complacency are clearly numbered, even here. The scenes in Sri Lanka are therefore urgent warning signals to those in authority in Nigeria. And the message LV VLPSOH 7KH SRPSRXV SRVWXULQJ RI R΀FLDOGRP FDQQRW assuage the anger of an endangered and hungry people.

I hope the relevant authorities are paying attention!

Olusegun Adeniyi, Abuja

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

ASHON Boss Tasks Investors on Risk Management Kayode Tokede The Chairman, Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr Sam Onukwue, has urged Investors to take advantage of opportunities that abound in the Nigerian financial market despite the continuous state of uncertainty.

Onukwue, who spoke on some media reports that investors are facing bleak future in the second half of 2022, following continuous macroeconomic vagaries, supply chain disruptions arising from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, drop in production and trade growth, rising higher energy, food prices, and inflation among others said there would always be investment opportunities.

According to him, regardless of the state of uncertainties in the global financial markets, investors that take sound in-

vestment advice from certified securities dealers, commonly called stockbrokers can enjoy superior return on investment on constant basis.

Onukwue lamented that many investors often lose huge amount of money by relying on their own intuition or consulting unqualified investment advisers.

He explained that investment in any asset class required a lot of variables, including an investor ’s investment objective, risk tolerance, sources of funds and time horizon, among others.

“Investment is a trade off of risk and return, whereby an investor aspires to post highest return at lowest risk. This is achievable if proper analysis is done by certified investment advisers. Our AssociationASHON shall continue to engage investors on the need to work closely with

stockbrokers for sound investment advice. We are not saying that there are no risks. Even asset classes that are believed to be risk free contend with inflation risk, exchange rate risk and a host of others. What we are saying is that risk can be managed to ensure superior returns.

“In every risky situation, there are opportunities. The same applies to investment.

It is all about understanding and deploying appropriate investment strategy. It’s not a game of one-size-fits all.

Contacting a professional investment adviser is in itself a risk management strategy.

Investment professionals profile their clients as a precondition for advice on the appropriate investment opportunities. “ There shall always be challenges as long as human beings exist. This doesn’t mean that one cannot post superior return on investment.

MARKET INDICATORS

PatrickGold Bank Launches Digital Banking Platform Kemi Olaitan ÓØ ÌËÎËØ PatrickGold Micro Finance Bank, has launched a digital banking platform, GetriPay, to promote the ease of financial inclusion for the populace.

The new platform launched alongside GetriSave, promised a big boost in ease of fund transfer, bills payment, loan accessibility, savings and transaction rewards.

The Chairman of the bank, Olutosin Bamiduro, while speaking at the launching, said customers who download GetriPay on Google Play and Apple Store would use same login details for GetriSave to

experience the best of banking with unique speed.

According to him, “For the record, we are here to revolutionise digital banking with amazing rewards for our customers and we will prove this to Nigerians.

“On GetriPay, our customers have numerous benefits which include instant sign-up bonus, charge-free cable subscription payment, whooping cash-back on every airtime purchase and free physical ATM cards with no withdrawal charge on all Zenith Bank ATMs and three free withdrawals on other banks’ ATM. “Customers would also enjoy

15 free transfers monthly to any Nigerian banks alongside free fund transfers from accumulated points. With GetriSave, anyone can achieve their saving goals and earn up to 13% interest with our different packages. We also give loyalty rewards on savings every 30 days.”

The PatrickGold Micro Finance Bank, licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and with deposits insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDDC), has as its partners Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc, Interswitch, Zenith Bank and Flutterwave, among others.

MTNF Invests N1bn in Nigerian Musical Talent in 16 Years MTN Foundation has invested close to N1bn in the past 16 years in the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON). The Chairman, MTN Foundation, Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi revealed this during the 15th MTNF-MUSON Graduation Concert held at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, recently.

Speaking at the graduation concert, Adelusi-Adeluyi said, “MTN entered into a partnership with the Musical Society of Nigeria in 2006 and since then, we have not looked back. So far, we have expended nearly N1bn to make sure that the objectives of the MUSON centre are achieved.”

In partnership with MUSON, MTN Foundation provides scholarships to 30 eligible musically talented youth annually. The scholarship grant covers tuition, books and transportation and

more over a two-year period.

Upon graduation, each recipient is awarded an internationally recognised Diploma in Music

by MUSON. According to a report published

by KPMG, it was revealed that the Nigerian music sector’s revenue grew from 26 million US dollars in 2014 to 34 million dollars in 2018. This figure is expected to grow to 44 million dollars by 2023. Speaking to the 2022 class, Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi (OFR) mni assured them that their future will be guaranteed if they continue to hone their musical skills and talents.

Recently, the MTN Foundation donated a modern music studio and musical equipment worth nearly 100m to the MUSON School of Music. The donation included a modern fully-equipped

music studio; 30 laptops; one unit of Professional 4 and a half Octaves Marimba, custom series; 1 unit of Malltech 4.0 Octave Bob Becker Ragtime Xylophone; 1 unit of Viscount Unico 400 Organ – A 3 manual organ with 32 notes pedalboard, 56 Register Tabs plus 7 Orchestral Registers; 4 Units of Stentor “Conservatoire” Violin; 3 Units of Armstrong USA Trumpets and 3 units of Essex EUP-116 Upright Piano.

The MTN Foundation, through its youth empowerment initiative, continues to support young creative talents. Since 2006, the Foundation has fully funded and developed over 350 music scholars through scholarship awards for a two-year diploma at the MUSON School of Music

Stakeholders Urged to Guard Against Harmful Heavy Metals in Raw Material Sourcing Oluchi Chibuzor The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Society of Cosmetic Scientists Nigeria, (NICOS) have warned industry players to guard against harmful heavy metals in their raw materials sourcing by ensuring they insist on consumer-friendly formulation.

This is to allow for transparency and healthy sustainable

product formulation for consumers of cosmetics products and for reliable and credible supplier chain documentation.

Delivering her speech at NICOS’ annual conference held recently, the President of NICOS, Grace Abamba, said Covid 19 made it possible for anyone not to never underestimate the importance of their industry.

“In the middle of the

challenges we face in our daily lives, the fuel scarcity, the Ukraine-Russia conflict which is affecting everywhere in the world, perhaps advancing standards in cosmetics and personal care seems somewhat less important, “she said.

She explained that they have seen double-digit growth in most categories except bath and shower slowing down with falling sales of sanitizers.

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT MONDAY MAY 30, 2022

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $118.84 a barrel on Friday, compared with $116.50 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2022

MARKET NEWS

Stock Market Depreciates by N90.14bn After Two-day Sallah Break

Kayode Tokede

Opening the holiday shortened week over Sallah celebration, the stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited yesterday (NGX) commenced active trading this week with investors profit-taking in 25 stocks against 11 gainers that eventually down the market by N90.14billion.

One of the indicators used in measuring stock market

performance, the market capitalisation dropped by 0.32per cent or N90.14billion to close yesterday at N27.713trillion from N27.803trillion the stock market opened for trading.

Consequently, the NGX All-Share Index also depreciated by 0.32 per cent or 167.16 basis points to close at 51,390.25 basis points from 51,557.41 basis points the stock market opened for trading.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

The sector performances of indices on the NGX were mixed as the Consumer Goods Index appreciated by 0.31 per cent to 616.99basis points and Banking Index added 0.05 per cent to close at 398.18basis points, while the Oil and Gas and Industrial good indices depreciated by 0.01 per cent and 0.04 per cent to close at 540.74basis points 2,117.01 basis points, respectively.

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

The stock market performance was negative as the losses printed in Multiverse Plc that dropped by 10 per cent or N0.21 to close at N1.89 and Redstarex that depreciated by 9.82 per cent or N0.27 to close at N2.48. Other losers are: Cutix that down by 8.33 per cent or 0.20 to close at N2.20; Unity Bank that depreciated by 8.16 or N0.04 to close at N0.45 and Livestock that dipped by

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

7.97 per cent or N0.11 to close ar N1.27 per share.

This offset the gains by CWG when its price appreciated by 10 per cent or N0.08 to close at N0.88, while Caverton added 9.84 per cent or N0.12 to close at N1.34.

In addition to gainers: Academy Press added 9.52 per cent or N0.18 to close at N2.07, while RTBriscoe gained 8.82 per dent or N0.03 to close at N0.37 and

O F

International Breweries added 7.41 per cent or N0.40 to close at N5.80.

In terms of activity levels, total volume and value increased by 73 per cent and 22per cent respectively, as investors exchanged about 199million units of shares worth N2.18billion. Guaranty Trust Holdings Plc (GTCO) was the most actively traded stock with about 51million units of shares worth about N1billion.

1 3 / 0 7 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

46

THURSDAY, ͹ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

Thursday, July 14, 2022

dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ /ŶĚĞdž ^ŚĞĚƐ ϭϲďƉƐ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ŝŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ϭϲďƉƐ ƚŽ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

Ăƚ ϭ͕ϲϳϰ͘ϴϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͕ Ϯ͕ϰϮϮ͘ϯϴ ŝŶĚĞdž ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ hͲ t W K ;Ͳϭ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h ;ͲϬ͘ϳйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂͲ

D Ed ;Ͳϯ͘ϲйͿ͕ ^^ KZW ;ͲϮ͘ϭйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘

h ;ͲϬ͘ϳйͿ͘ ƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ

ĨŽƌ ϵ͘ϳй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

^/ ƵƉ ϭϭďƉƐ ĂƐ E' D 'ĂŝŶƐ ϯ͘ϯй

WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ ĞĂƌƐ ZĞƐƵŵĞ͘​͘​͘ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ Ϭ͘ϯй

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

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

5 Zenith Bank PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC 7 Lafarge Africa PLC

ƐƚĞƌĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůůͲ

ƐƵŵĞĚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ŽŶ Ă ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ŶŽƚĞ ĨŽůůŽǁͲ ŝŶĚĞdž

ƌŽƐĞ

1,732.20

ďLJ

ŝŶŐ ƐĞůů ŽŶ h D Ed ϭϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ϯϵ͕ϱϱϬ͘ϯϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ;Ͳϯ͘ϲйͿ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ Ͳ ŝŵͲ

8 FBN Holdings Plc 9 Nestle Nigeria PLC

^^ KZW ;ͲϮ͘ϭйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ WZ ^ K ;Ͳϰ͘ϬйͿ͘ Ɛ ƐƵĐŚ͕ ƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ Ͳϭ͘ϴй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ

10 SEPLAT Energy PLC 11 Access Holdings PLC

േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ŝŶĚĞdž ƐŚĞĚ Ϭ͘ϯй ƚŽ ϱϭ͕ϯϵϬ͘Ϯϱ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ

ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͕ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ϮϬ͘ϯй

-0.16% 0.0%

ROE

30.6% 142.2% 45.7%

81.4%

ROA

P/E

20.2%

4.1%

0.0%

18.2%

6.2%

8.0%

16.9%

0.1%

105.6%

13.9%

14.6x

18.0x

5.7%

5.8%

3.4%

-3.6%

23.3%

12.1%

26.1x

5.9x

3.8%

3.8%

20.40

0.0%

4.2%

-21.5%

-0.5%

19.8%

3.2%

3.4x

0.7x

14.7%

29.8% 35.4%

22.45

2.0%

4.4%

-10.7%

3.5%

20.6%

2.6%

2.8x

0.5x

13.7%

0.0%

3.9%

7.0%

0.0%

37.7%

16.4%

12.4x

4.5x

7.4%

8.0%

26.00

0.0%

2.9%

8.6%

-1.5%

15.5%

11.1%

7.0x

1.1x

7.7%

14.2%

10.70

0.9%

2.5%

-6.1%

-7.8%

20.1%

1.9%

2.3x

0.4x

3.3%

43.3%

0.0%

2.6%

-10.1%

0.0%

112.8%

16.1%

24.3x

28.3x

3.6%

4.1%

1,300.50

0.0%

2.6%

100.1%

0.0%

7.5%

3.6%

13.1x

1.0x

3.2%

7.6%

9.30

-2.1%

2.2%

0.0%

0.0%

17.9%

1.6%

2.0x

0.3x

7.4%

49.2%

7.50

-0.7%

1.7%

-6.8%

0.7%

15.6%

1.4%

2.2x

0.3x

13.2%

46.5%

55.85

0.0%

1.4%

11.7%

-5.0%

10.5%

3.9%

24.1x

2.4x

3.0%

4.2%

216.90

0.0%

1.5%

52.7%

0.0%

43.6%

25.5%

11.3x

4.8x

4.1%

8.8%

1.3%

21.8%

0.0%

18.4%

1.0%

2.2x

0.4x

6.3%

44.9%

7.1x

1.1x

8.9%

14.1%

0.7x

6.6%

20.1% 41.4%

33.55

0.0%

1.3%

-6.8%

0.0%

15.6%

2.1%

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

17 International Brew eries PLC 18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

5.80

7.4%

1.1%

17.2%

-7.9%

-9.9%

-3.4%

32.50

0.0%

0.9%

14.6%

0.0%

15.9%

4.5%

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Guinness Nigeria PLC 21 Presco PLC

ĂŶĚ ʬϮ͘ϮďŶ͘ ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

24 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC 25 United Capital PLC 26 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŽƵƌ ƉƵƌǀŝĞǁ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ

29 Cadbury Nigeria PLC 30 UAC of Nigeria PLC

Ğƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ǁŚŝůĞ ϰ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĂƐ ϯ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ Ϯ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ

31 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 32 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ &ZͲ/ d ŝŶĚĞdž ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ

33 Custodian and Allied Insurance 34 Unilever Nigeria PLC

ϵ͘ϭйͿ͕

ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞƌƐ͕ ƵƉ ϯϭďƉƐ

35 Jaiz Bank PLC 36 Oando PLC

ĂŶĚ ϰďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ŽŶ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞͲ

37 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 38 Sterling Bank PLC

ĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ /Ed Z t ;нϳ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ E/d, ;нϮ͘ϭйͿ͘ ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘

39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

hE/> s Z

;Ͳϯ͘ϱйͿ͕

>/E< ^^hZ

;Ͳϲ͘ϰйͿ͕

ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ

ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ

ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ Ğƌ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϴй ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϯ͘Ϭй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘ϱй ƌĞͲ

ƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘

;Ͳϲ͘ϯйͿ͕ // K ;Ͳϰ͘ϳйͿ͕ h D Ed ;Ͳϯ͘ϲйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

hd/y ;Ͳϴ͘ϯйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ

ĚŝƉƉĞĚ ϰďƉƐ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ K E K ;Ͳ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϲdž

-9.2%

-0.3%

0.6%

24.7%

-7.0%

13.3%

1.2%

2.4x

0.3x

11.0%

0.0%

0.7%

132.1%

0.0%

17.8%

8.1%

13.5x

2.2x

0.6%

7.4%

158.40

0.0%

0.4%

80.4%

-4.0%

7.3x

4.4x

4.2%

13.8%

3.39

-0.3%

0.5%

370.8%

6.3%

15.7%

0.9%

8.0%

3.03

-5.3%

0.4%

1.3%

-12.4%

10.7%

1.1%

1.90

-5.0%

0.4%

-18.1%

-5.0%

2.9%

0.9%

12.60

0.4%

0.4%

27.3%

-1.2%

12.5x

18.1x

1.8x

7.1%

0.2x

6.6%

0.5x

13.0%

3.2x

11.9%

1.4x

6.3%

0.5x

1.6%

0.0%

0.4%

-8.0%

-1.8%

1.23

-0.8%

0.3%

28.1%

0.0%

10.40

0.0%

0.3%

70.5%

8.3%

7.9x

1.2x

2.5%

12.6%

17.10

0.0%

0.2%

94.3%

-0.9%

12.1%

4.1%

18.3x

2.1x

3.1%

5.5%

11.20

0.0%

0.2%

17.9%

0.9%

5.2%

2.3%

12.6x

0.7x

6.1%

7.9%

234.50

0.0%

0.2%

5.7%

0.0%

1.7x

8.3%

16.7%

6.6%

8.6x

0.0%

0.2%

21.3%

2.3%

18.1%

2.3%

6.0x

0.8x

9.2%

16.6%

7.30

0.0%

0.2%

-7.6%

4.3%

19.5%

5.5%

4.3x

0.8x

6.8%

23.3%

15.50

0.0%

0.2%

6.9%

4.7%

8.8%

5.4%

30.3x

1.3x

3.2%

3.3%

0.88

-1.1%

0.1%

57.1%

-3.3%

17.4%

1.3%

6.8x

1.3x

4.5%

14.7%

5.48

-0.2%

0.1%

24.0%

-3.4%

5.45

-1.8%

0.1%

-7.6%

-11.4%

6.1%

0.7%

8.6x

0.6x

1.54

-0.6%

0.1%

2.0%

1.3%

10.3%

1.0%

3.0x

0.3x

-17.7%

-4.1%

62.50

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

6.25

0.0%

0.0%

16.2%

0.0%

-21.5%

-164.1% 11.6% 6.5%

1.8x

32.9% -9.5%

1.0x

1.1%

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

C WG

0.88

10.0%

GT C O

51.9

0.0%

C A VER T ON

1.34

9.8%

J A P A ULGOLD

21.9

-3.7%

A C A D EM Y

2.07

9.5%

UB A

19.6

-0.7%

R T B R ISC OE

0.37

8.8%

J A IZ B A N K

12.5

-1.1%

IN T B R EW

5.80

7.4%

IN T B R EW

9.1

7.4%

LA SA C O

1.08

4.9%

A C C ESSC OR P

7.7

-2.1%

C OUR T VILLE

0.51

4.1%

FB NH

6.9

0.9%

22.45

2.0%

T R A N SC OR P

4.3

-0.8%

1.66

1.8%

FCM B

4.2

-5.3%

10.70

0.9%

WEM A B A N K

4.1

-0.3%

FB NH

11.6%

27.10

P ric e C hg %

N EIM ET H

5.5%

16.00

P ric e

Z EN IT H B A N K

Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͘ ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

5.0x

3.18

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

ƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ KZE Z^d

1.1x

90.50

27 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

DŝdžĞĚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d

6.9%

275.00

0.0%

22 Wema Bank PLC 23 FCMB Group Plc

11.0%

1.2%

1,400.00

12 United Bank for Africa PLC 13 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 14 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

ϳϮ͘ϳй ĂŶĚ ϮϮ͘ϳй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ ϭϵϴ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ

6.3%

0.0%

10.60

ƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

0.8x

-3.6%

15 Ecobank Transnational Inc 16 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ƚŽ ʬϮϳ͘ϳƚŶ͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ŝŵͲ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ʬϵϬ͘ϭďŶ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ůĞǀĞů ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕

5.6x

69.30

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

;ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůLJ͗ ϮϬ͘ϳйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

P/BV

230.30

3 BUA Cement Plc 4 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC

ŌĞƌ Ă ϮͲĚĂLJ ƉƵďůŝĐ ŚŽůŝĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ƌĞͲ ^ŚĂƌĞ

2422.38

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

,KEz&>KhZ

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

Current Price

Ticker

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ DZ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ D zͲ P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

M ULT IVER SE

1.89

-10.0%

GT C O

1061.6

0.0%

R ED ST A R EX

2.48

-9.8%

UB A

147.7

-0.7%

C UT IX

2.20

-8.3%

P R ESC O

107.7

0.0%

-8.2%

M TNN

97.1

0.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

78.5

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C OR N ER ST

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A C C ESSC OR P

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N GXGR OUP

67.1

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IN T B R EW

52.3

7.4%

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N EST LE

47.5

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M A N SA R D A IIC O

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

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

T o p 10 L o s e r s

KƵƚůŽŽŬ < Z ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ,KEz&>KhZ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ

1.90 0.61

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu | dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

47

THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2022 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 08July-2022, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.04% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.71 3.77 8.92% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 4.45% Anchoria Equity Fund 146.08 147.71 4.90% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.21 1.21 5.75% info@anchoriaam.com ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 22.38 23.05 10.31% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 516.40 531.97 14.46% ARM Ethical Fund 43.98 45.31 12.90% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.07 1.07 -0.96% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.04 1.05 3.20% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.41% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 106.19 106.19 9.05% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,123.24 1,123.24 12.32% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.10 2.10 4.01% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.38 2.44 18.50% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.05 1.05 4.52% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.42% Paramount Equity Fund 19.95 20.32 14.40% Women's Investment Fund 150.82 152.70 6.22% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.01% Cordros Milestone Fund 135.84 136.81 8.97% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 110.21 110.21 5.04% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.87% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.05 1.05 8.92% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.07 1.07 17.08% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 102.75 102.75 4.68% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1474.7 1474.7 10.69% FBN Balanced Fund 195.09 196.39 11.32% FBN Halal Fund 121.29 121.29 10.17% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.12% FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) 124.64 124.64 5.96% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 164.37 166.51 8.31% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.76% Legacy Debt Fund 3.88 3.88 -3.09% Legacy Equity Fund 1.99 1.98 13.23% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.23 1.23 2.14% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

4,168.37 3,580.93 100.00

4,229.90 3,580.93 100.00

13.72% 6.27% 7.77%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.11 1.11 3.94% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.61 1.64 13.60% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,151.66 1,151.66 4.98% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 12.58 12.74 15.79% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 8.34% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 100.83 100.83 1.67% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 7.69% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 127.29 129.49 5.15% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.05 1.05 8.37% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Sukuk Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund N/A N/A N/A Zenith ESG Impact Fund N/A N/A N/A Zenith Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Zenith Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 3.93 4.03 -1.99% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 6.10 6.20 4.38% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 19.03 19.23 7.55% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.37% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 21.40 21.60 7.04% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 153.90 155.90 -2.44%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

117.49 51.76

3.77% 1.78%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

15.41 143.54 113.99 17.10 16.40

15.51 147.01 116.43 17.20 16.50

10.11% 11.49% 13.01% 21.93% 17.40%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.55

12.10%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

48

THURSDAY, ͹ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

FORTY-EIGHT

FDA Gives Emergency Use Authorisation to Novavax's COVID-19 Vaccine

The US Food and Drug Administration yesterday authorised Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in adults.

This would be the fourth coronavirus vaccine available in the United States and it uses a different type of vaccine technology than the shots already available.

According to CNN, Novavax's vaccine would be available as twodose primary series for people 18 and older.

The FDA's independent Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted in favor of authorisation of the vaccine June 7, saying that the benefits of the

vaccine outweigh its risks for adults.

It is a protein-based vaccine, and such vaccines use harmless protein fragments of the virus to teach the immune system how to spot the virus and fight it off.

The vaccine was created out of a genetic sequence of the first strain of the coronavirus.

Late-stage trials found that the efficacy of the vaccine against mild, moderate and severe disease is 90.4 per cent, according to the company. There is not sufficient evidence to evaluate the impact of the vaccine on transmission of the virus.

Novavax also announced in early

July that its vaccine showed "broad" immune response to currently circulating variants, including Omicron subvariants BA.4/5.

The shots can't be administered until the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's independent vaccine advisers weigh in on whether to recommend the vaccine

and the CDC director has signed off on the recommendation.

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices is scheduled to meet on July 19.

On Monday, the Biden administration announced that it had secured 3.2 million doses of the Novavax vaccine.

ADAMU: CHRISTIANS HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR, MUSLIM-MUSLIM TICKET REFLECTS NIGERIA’S REALITY the vice-president does not affect performance in any government.

This, nonetheless, Kaduna State chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), has rejected the Muslim-Muslim presidential combination by the APC, because it would further polarise the country along religious line.

However, addressing journalists after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State, Adamu said the choice of Shettima as Tinubu's running mate should not be a subject to agitation by the Christian community.

According to him, no body was willing to promote a MuslimMuslim presidential ticket, but the party has to face what he described as the reality of politics in the country in order to win the 2023 presidential poll.

His words: "The fact of the matter is, God doesn't do anything in vain. God has His reasons for having two major religions to be in this country and each of these groups, has both people who have the reason to believe and they have a take also.

"We had a time when Christians led this country. We have time now when a Muslim is running the country and we can't deny that fact. We can't have what we want at a point in time, all of us agreeing to one thing.

"The fact of the matter is we appreciate that, the Christians are interesting, no doubt, about it. We are as practical as we can in this situation and we do hope that people we see reason.

"Nobody is willing to promote Christianity or a Muslim ticket necessarily but we have to face the reality of our politics in this country and that is exactly what we are doing. Christians have nothing to fear. Shettima is another Nigerian like me and you."

Further, he explained that, "We don't have to be all Muslims or all Christians. It is the will of God that this time around he (Shettima) is going to be the vice-president of

this great country if we win the election. And we do hope and pray and we are working to win the election."

Adamu, who claimed the APC national working committee was in Daura to pay Sallah homage to President Buhari and brief him ahead of the Osun governorship election, expressed optimism that the party would win the Osun governorship election and the forthcoming 2023 general election.

Akeredolu: Ignore Religion, Work Stops on President’s Table

Ondo State Governor, Olu-

warotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has said a Muslim-Muslim ticket has nothing to do with performance, because the faith of the vice-president does not affect performance in any government.

Governor Akeredolu, who expressed confidence that Tinubu would rescue the nation, noted that the work stops on the president’s table.

Speaking at the swearing-in of two new commissioners, held in Akure, the State capital, he said: “Muslim-Muslim Ticket has nothing to do with performance.

Let’s vote for someone that can do something. The work stops

on the table of the president. It is the president that you are voting for. He decides what happens.

Whether it’s a Muslim-Muslim or ChristianChristian, it should not matter to us in the South, because we fought for this.

“I have no doubt that given the opportunity, from what he has done in Lagos, Asiwaju Tinubu, will turn things around for better," he said.

The new Commissioners sworn in were Mr. Sowore Akinwumi Samson and Ologbese Adeboboye Joseph.

Sowore was assigned to the Ministry of Local Government and

certain sectors.

The former Commissioner for Regional Integration and Diaspora, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola Olateju, was redeployed to the Ministry of Information and Orientation, while the former Commissioner for Physical and Urban Development, Fatai Olotu Aburumaku was redeployed to the Ministry of Water and Sanitation.

Mrs. Yetunde Adeyanju, who was formerly the Commissioner for Water and Sanitation was redeployed to the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

Continued on page 51

GANDUJE REPLIES LAWAL, SAYS NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION challenges in his state, yesterday, made a u-turn and said security under President Muhammadu Buhari, has improved significantly.

Masari, who listed the achievements of the president to include social security, which was created to cater for the poor, and ensure that they receive money at the end of every month, said no leader in the history of the country has done more to reduce poverty.

On his part, the Emir of Daura, Dr Faruk Umar Faruk, has told President Buhari, to ignore critics, many of who insult him, because they would the same thing or worse to whoever succeeds him.

But the president has said the only inheritance he was bequeathing to his children was education and therefore, urged parents to train their children and also educate them on values.

A statement by the Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, described the comment as totally false, considering that, while there was no compulsion in religion, Islam gave individuals the freedom to choose their own religion, and also provided non-Muslims with considerable economic, cultural and administrative rights.

He said there was never a time any Christian or non-believer was forced to embrace Islam by the foundation, because it negated

the teachings of Islam, but were called to Islam at their wish just as the missionaries went to villages in Kano to invite non-believers to embrace Christianity.

Garba said it was unfortunate that at a time when the country needed to be united for national development and religious tolerance, a man of Babachir’s calibre, would spread falsehood without much consideration to his position in the APC and close relationship with the party’s standard bearer, Tinubu.

The commissioner pointed out that going by its activities, the foundation was not faith-based but purely philanthropic in which case, non-Muslims also stood to benefit from the services it renders.

He said Ganduje always stood for religious harmony in Kano as exemplified by the administration’s creation of the Ministry for Religious Affairs, where the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), partnered and enjoyed a good working relationship with the governor as well as the introduction of an Inter-Faith Dialogue that promotedreligious harmony in the state.

Garba further said Ganduje’s disposition on religious tolerance informed his administration’s stance on guaranteeing religious freedom and association for ethnic nation-

alities in the state, which earned him recognition and conferment of traditional title of Agu Na Eche Mba of Igbo land by the Chairman, Abia state/South East Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Eberechi Dick and another chieftaincy title conferred on him and his wife as Aare Fiwajoye of Ibadan by Olubadan, Oba (Dr.) Senator Mohood Olalekan Ishola.

Ganduje, however, assured the people that the Muslim-Muslim ticket was not going to in any way result in the neglect of Christians in the country, and appealed to the former SGF, Christian party members and other Nigerians to be mindful of their utterances especially, on religious matters and support the APC for quality leadership that would deliver the country from its challenges.

However, speaking on the achievements of the president at the palace of the Emir of Daura, when Buhari paid a Salah homage, Masari said security in the country had improved considerably, compared to when the President came into power.

He reminded the Daura Emirate Council, title holders, political leaders in the state and citizens across the country, to remember the bombings of mosques and churches before 2015, that had hindered worshippers, a situation he claimed was no longer existing, even though he said a few weeks ago that security was bad and that Katsina people should

MOMAN ADVOCATES GRADUAL REMOVAL OF PETROL SUBSIDY TO MINIMISE RESULTANT SHOCK While government's approved pump price is N165, some marketers, who said they could no longer continue to cope with that fixed price have resorted to either hiking the price as high as over N180 or hoarding the product.

Many industry players, economic policy analysts as well as multilateral organisations like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had advised the government to jettison the subsidy regime and channel the money into other critical sectors.

Against the provision of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which okayed the deregulation of downstream petroleum sector, the federal government had suspended that provision, citing the fear of possible hardship it would bring upon vulnerable Nigerians.

However, the price of petrol just like other commodity prices has been on the rise owing to the cold war between Russia and Ukraine in addition to the oil price rally.

However, presenting MOMAN's position, Adeosun said gradual removal was the only way to address the subsidy challenge which has compounded the bleeding of the already ailing economy.

He said, "So looking forward, what do we say? We are saying that we need government to work assiduously to gradually phasing

Chieftaincy Affairs while Ologbese was assigned to the Ministry of Regional Integration and Diaspora.

He charged them to shun distractions from members of their families, friends and political associates, saying he was excited to have personalities imbued with the requisite capacity for the advancement of the cause of good governance.

Akeredolu also redeployed three Commissioners to different ministries. A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, stated that the redeployment was aimed at improving governance and deploying talents to reinvigorate

out the subsidy by allowing the prices to increase gradually.

"Doing it slowly really means that at no point are we shocking the system to the point of collapse because the farther down the line we kick the can, the deeper and greater the shock will be.

"So, they say the most humane way to cook a frog is to boil it slowly. So we should really be looking at that because I believe, for people, it's much more palatable to have the product at a slightly increased price than to not have any product at all and you will not be able to get on with life at a price that is not a sustainable price at all.

"And I think that is the general mood of the country. So, we are saying that, let's see the prices for this product get reduced on the one hand, and let's inject subsidy into things like mass transportation, areas where people are actually at the point of need. We're saying, let's look at how we can increase productivity in the agricultural sector by targeting some investments there."

Noting that the answers to Nigeria's situation arising from the global energy crisis was to look inward, Adeosun argued that the country's case could be likened to someone who refused to save for the rainy day.

According to him, Nigeria has had subsidy for so long and had not saved for the proverbial rainy day, adding that the country had been subsidising through good and bad times that the institutions now have reduced capacity to deal with the problem even with the best will.

Adeosun added, "Now, we have the subsidy bill that keeps increasing: N1 trillion, N3 trillion, N4 trillion, N8 trillion. If we look at that money and we think about what we could have done with it around education, around health, around infrastructure, we might be able to have businesses that are more resilient to deal with it.

But we are where we are today and the reality is really before us.

"So, what we are saying, what we stand for, is for a phased deregulation of this sector. You cannot realistically begrudge somebody, a business, set up to run cash flow and make profit to land a product at a depot, for the same price that is recommended in the country, to then move this product to maybe 500 kilometers up country and still sell it for that same price, with the increased cost of diesel to run for transportation, with the increased cost of diesel to run the filling stations, to run the depots, all of these assets are powered by diesel.

"And we all know what happens

along the journey as well. We may not have tollgates on our highways, but we do have collection points along those highways and these all add up.

"So, we cannot realistically expect a business to deal with that. Because what's happening right now is that the outages that we're seeing is causing businesses such as my members' businesses to really think about their business and how they will survive."

He further explained that marketers were now managing to be in business just to provide services to consumers without really making profits due to the costs they had to incur such as the high diesel price, to make the product available.

According to him, those who could no longer cope with the cost of doing business had no other choice than to quit, adding that, as marketers, they were also consumers facing the same challenge like other consumers.

The MOMAN boss, however, urged the government to work towards reducing the national petrol consumption so that Nigerians would be aware of the true consumption figure rather than the fictional consumption or consumption that allows the country to extend its subsidy into neighboring countries.

defend themselves.

“Human beings forget easily. It is true that we have not reached, where we want, but efforts are being made to ameliorate the situation. Look at the size of our security compared to the population, you will know we all have to be involved in securing the country,” he added.

On poverty, he said, “No government in the history of this country has done more to reduce poverty like President Buhari’s administration.

He asked religious and community leaders to bring enlightenment to bear on successful government programmes such as the Social Investment Programme (SIP) through which 120,000 poor citizens in 12 Local Government Areas of the state receive a monthly payment of N5,000 and this is happening in all the states.

“Today, we have over 863,000 children in the state being fed under the school feeding programme. This has created 10,000 jobs for women cooks, 14,000 young men and women enrolled in N-Power.

“We have food vendors, who are engaged and earning their livelihood. All the foolish talk on social media is by those, who only think of themselves. Our elites are never happy or appreciative until something gets to their pockets."

Emir of Daura, while thanking the President for the infrastructure and institutional developments in the state, said generations would remember and remain grateful to him.

He urged him to increase his patience and tolerance as he begins to countdown, knowing that the ultimate reward for all his sacrifices would come from God. “All Nigerians, both good and bad, know you are doing your best.

In life you will have people who like you, and those who do not like you. If you have many wives, or many children, they will not like you equally.

“Some are insulting you and belittling your efforts now. Don’t worry, they will do the same thing to the next president. Keep doing your best, and remain tolerant as a leader. In Daura here, even the blind or the leader of all the blinds, know that you have made a great difference. We are grateful, and proud of you," he said.

But Buhari, who enjoining the Nigeria people to train their children and also educate them on the right values, said the only inheritance he was bequeathing on his children was education.

He said he has impressed it on his children that the only inheritance they have was good education, adding that, he had no property to bequeath to his children except sound and qualitative education.

"My children already know that I am not leaving anything for anyone to inherit. My greatest legacy to the children is to ensure they are

properly educated. My focus has always been on training the children to be relevant wherever they find themselves. I told my children, particularly the girls, that they can only get married after getting a first degree,” he said.

Reminiscing on his first coming as Head of State between 1984 and 1985, which led to his being incarcerated for over three years, the president said, "I was locked up for more than three years, after leading the country.

At that point, I realised and I told my children that your net worth is what is in your head, not what you have acquired in life."

He, therefore, charged parents to inculcate right values in children, including deep fear of God, respect for constituted authorities and living a purposeful life through continuous education.

Buhari charged the youth to seek education, not for government jobs, which are unavailable but to arm themselves with skills and ability to fight poverty and to meet the needs of the 21st Century.

"We should ensure the children get proper education. The knowledge they acquire should not be towards getting government jobs. We don’t have jobs in government anymore.

With technology, governments are becoming smaller, nimble and efficient.

“Emphasis should now be on skills acquisition and competence in creation and deployment of technology. During the Covid-19, we asked all level 12 downward to stay at home, and surprisingly, the systems worked effectively," he said.

Buhari said more time should be given to the coaching of the future leaders, with basic knowledge of moral values, as the fast changing world, driven by new technology, would be more competitive and demanding.

He noted that the younger children should be guided and taught history, as they would find it hard to be patriotic, responsible and respectful, without a thorough understanding of their backgrounds, saying, “Whoever does not have a good sense of history will easily make mistakes.”

The president assured the Emir of Daura that he would be more regular in visits, preparatory to the handing over in May, 2023, adding that the prolonged absence was due to the demands of his office.

“This is the longest I have been away from home. Infact, the Emir took to the court of public opinion at the prayer ground, when he openly told everyone that I had not visited Daura for close to a year,” he added.

He noted that all Nigerians must make sacrifices to move the country forward, especially, the public servants, calling for more selflessness and inclusion.

“At the end, it is only God that can reward your efforts, not man," he said.

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MARKETING SHETTIMA'S CREDENTIALS...

L-R: Vice-presidential candidate of the APC, Senator Kashim Shettima; Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola; Presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, when Tinubu presented Shettima to the Osun Traditional Council, led by the Ooni

ECOWAS: 14,500 Killed By Terrorists in Four and Half Years in West Africa Says 5.5 million people in dire need of humanitarian assistance

Michael Olugbode in Abuja The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission yesterday lamented that no fewer than 14,500 people have been killed by terrorists in the sub-region.

According to the outgoing President of the Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, the figure was recorded in just four and a half years.

He also revealed that the number of refugees within the region seeking humanitarian assistance stood at 5.5 million.

Kassi Brou who is to assume the position of the Governor of the West African bank, spoke in

Abuja during the handover of power to the new management of the Commission led by President Omar Alieu Touray.

He said: “First of all, the deterioration of the security situation has caused havoc not only in the Sahel area, affecting Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and the North East of Nigeria, but it soon expanded to the coastal zone, hitting Côte d’Ivoire, Benin and Togo.

“Terrorist attacks and herds of bandits plunged these countries into mourning, with close to 14,500 dead in four and half years, threatening the peace of rural population, and forcing people to seek shelter away from their home areas.

"Thus, the number of refugees

INEC: How APC Can Substitute Shettima as Borno Senator With the nomination of Senator Kashim Shettima as the vicepresidential candidate of the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said the only way to replace him in the senate was for his party to conduct a fresh primary election in the senatorial district.

INEC further said with the new Electoral Act, that there was no way that the person that came second could replace Senator Shettima.

Speaking with THISDAY INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Information and Chairman, Voters Education, Festus Okoye, said, "the era of the person that came second during the Borno Central senatorial

district automatically taking over does not arise any more.

"Senator Shettima will write a letter with a sworn affidavit that he is no more interested to contest as a senatorial candidate in the national Assembly election.

"He will then submit the letter to his party, who will in turn submit same to INEC. Upon the receipt of the letter, INEC will order for a fresh senatorial primary election in his senatorial election for replacement within 14 days.

"With this letter and the affidavit, the commission will monitor the senatorial primary election. The era of the person that came second is gone," he explained.

and internally displaced people in our Region reached about 5,500,000 persons who are in need of humanitarian assistance."

He however said the Commission had reached out to provide assistance to many of them, as well as to victims of natural disasters.

He added that a regional action plan to combat terrorism in the region was followed.

Brou, however said the plan would require sustained commitment including financial support from member states for it to be successful.

He explained: "Regional action plan to combat terrorism in West Africa has been elaborated and is being implemented. It will necessitate sustained commitment including financial support from member States to produce the expected results in the medium to long term.”

Brou, who is leaving the

Commission after completing his four year term in office, however lamented the spate of military takeover within the region.

He said, "On the political front, we have noted the deepening of the democratic culture in our Region, with 11 countries having peacefully conducted presidential and legislative elections during our tenure. Unfortunately, three countries, namely Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, have experienced unconstitutional changes of powers.

“The Authority of Heads of State and Government having designated Mediators for these countries, negotiations are ongoing with their respective Transition Authorities to support these member countries for them to return to constitutional order and regain their full place in the Community."

Speaking, the new president of the Commission, Omar Alieu Touray assured the community

that his team would do everything possible to bring the ongoing reform to a logical conclusion.

Touray, also noted that his team was committed to the welfare of the community.

He said: “But allow me to reiterate the importance our leaders attach to the ongoing institutional reforms. These reforms must be expedited to ensure more focused, effective and efficient community institutions.

"My colleagues and I understand that reforms entail taking tough decisions. But we are confident that with the full cooperation of staff and support of Member States, we will be able to take the process to its logical conclusion.

"I renew our commitment to work diligently for the welfare of our community. At the same time, I call upon you to continue to support ECOWAS by ensuring the full payment of the Community

Edo Residents Protest Alleged Abandoned Road Project Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City For residents of Ekheuan dual carriage way in Edo State, it was a harrowing experience as the road was blocked by some protesters over the alleged abandonment of the project The angry protesters who were majorly youths and women barricaded the road leading to the city centre as early as 7am, preventing transporters and passengers from

plying it to their destinations.

The protesters, who claimed the road was abandoned, said the bad portions of the road had led to hike in transport fares, brought hardship to motorists as well as inhabitants.

Speaking, one of the protesters, Addison Ugiagbe said, "Freedom doesn't come on a platter of gold, but by struggle. I didn't plan for this, I came to meet the road and it was blocked.

"My kids didn't go to schools.

If anyone is being deprived of going to work or school, it is not intentional, it is for the betterment of the people. If the government had done the right thing, we will not meet the road barricaded by residents."

Another residents, who preferred anonymity, said the barricade prevented him from going to his workplace.

"It is frustrating. I have been here

Edo State Urged to Return Saint Maria Goretti Girls Grammar School to Catholic Mission Emma Okonji The Class of 1982 of Saint Maria Goretti Girls Grammar School Benin City has pleaded with the Edo State Government to consider returning the school to the Catholic Mission to enhance the education of the girl child.

The old students, under the auspices of Saint Maria Goretti Old Girls’ Association (SMAGOGA), made the passionate appeal in Lagos recently, when they marked their 40 years reunion after leaving the school.

The event saw many old girls across the world gather to reminisce on their time at the school.

The theme of the reunion was: “Women, Wealth and Winning.”

Speaking during the programme, Mrs. Grace Bose Ojougboh, member of the alumni association and Deputy Director at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) called on the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to consider returning the school to the Catholic Mission so as reclaiming the its age long glory.

“Now, more than ever before, there is need to empower and raise girls who are pious, confident and equipped with the skill and capacity to function as leaders and nation builders in the 21st century and we believe our alma mater is poised

Levy and the full implementation of ECOWAS protocols. Your role as Permanent Representatives of your various to ECOWAS is important and we look forward to deeper collaboration."

The new helmsman noted that to ECOWAS partners, "Our multilateral and bilateral partners (UN, AU, EU, AfDB and individual countries) will all agree that at no moment has partnership been so important than now. The insecurity we face at various levels would require deeper partnerships and consistent collaboration. "Our partnership should therefore be sufficiently equitable and efficient to enable us to lift our people from abject poverty through capacity development, investment and fair trade. Most importantly it should also allow us to achieve lasting peace and security across the region and indeed across the whole African continent."

to deliver on this even more with its management being under the Catholic Mission,” Ojougboh said.

She stated that, the Class of 1982 had over the years, joined hands with the national body of St Maria Goretti Old Girls Association to give the school a facelift as well as support the students through award of scholarships and skills acquisition.

A seasoned banker and an old girl of the school, Mrs. Ijeoma Isiolu, lamented the poor state of the school institution since it was taken over by government.

She said the association was looking forward to the time when the school would be returned to

the Catholic mission.

A lawyer and member of the Class of 1982, Henrietta Iweze, spoke on the need for women to support their fellow women and the importance of winning as well as wealth creation.

She emphasised that women should be open to change and stressed the need for women to always give value wherever they find themselves.

Also, a human resource consultant and Managing Director, Estymol Group, Mrs. Maureen Okoro-Sokoh, called on her classmates to use the opportunity of the reunion to empower each other in different ways.

Speaking in the same vein, a financial expert and wealth adviser with First Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Ononuju Irukwu, stressed the need for women to be empowered through education and financial inclusion.

Irukwu stated that financial literacy opens doors and more opportunities for women and helps them to make informed decisions.

The event brought feelings of joy and gratitude for the wonderful time spent together at the school and the training and discipline they received in their formative years which, they agreed, have molded them into women of excellence.

for more than an hour now. As you can see the road is blocked.

Some drivers are already looking for alternative routes so they can get to their destination and carry the business of the day," the source added.

Responding, the Edo State Commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Mr. Newton Okojie denied that the project was abandoned, noting that the state government would complete the project as at when due.

He said: "I don't know where they got the information that the project has been abandoned. Every project has a date of commencement and completion.

"It is not yet the end of that project and the contractor has not left the site. Activities at the site may have been reduced due to the rain, but this does not mean abandonment and I don't know where they got the information from or how they came to conclusion.

"This government does not abandon projects. Such project cannot start this month and end the next. There is a lot of job that is being done and the people should exercise patient. The government will definitely complete the job it has started," Okojie added.

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AFEMSON'S COURTESY CALL ON ABIODUN… L-R: Vice President, Association of Feto-Maternal Medicine Specialists Association of Nigeria, Prof. Bosede Afolabi; Association's President, Prof. Saturday Etuk; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; his Commissioner of Health, Dr. Tomi Coker and AFEMSON's Second Vice President, Prof Jamilu Tukur, during the association's courtesy visit to the Governor’s Office … yesterday

Atiku, Okowa, PDP Governors Storm Osogbo Today for Adeleke Ayu resumes duty after vacation, confident of PDP’s victory Chuks Okocha in Abuja Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and other PDP governors, will today lead members of the PDP, across the country to Osogbo, Osun State, for a

mega campaign rally in support of the party’s governorship candidate, Ademola Adeleke.

Also, National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has formally resumed duties following his return from a short vacation abroad and boasted the party would win Osun’s election this Saturday.

Atiku’s visit to the state with

other leaders of the party is expected to enhance the support by the masses, who believed in true governance, which the PDP represents, the party stated.

Atiku, whp is expected to address party faithful and the teeming supporters of PDP in the state, will lead all the serving PDP governors across the country and

members of the National Executive Council of the party to the rally, while a former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, is also expected to grace the event.

The Board of Trustees (BOT) of PDP has set up a reconciliatory committee to meet with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State over the fallout of the party’s presidential

primary and crisis trailing the nomination of a running mate.

The rally is seen as a show of strength and part of reconciliation in the party.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been reportedly informed of the return and official resumption of duty by Ayu as the

Parties Sign Peace Accord Ahead of Osun Governorship Poll Says 6,995 nomination forms processed from 16 parties Chuks Okocha in Abuja The eighteen political parties contesting the Osun State governorship election on Saturday,yesterday, signed a peace accord set up by the National Peace Committee led by a former military Head of State.

General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Abubakar was represented by the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev Matthew Kukah, even as the police have pledged to be neutral and urged all to play by rule of the game.

Relatedly, with less than 24 hours to end of nomination of governorship and House of Assembly nominations, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said it has received 6,995 nomination forms (EC9) from 16 political parties.

The INEC also urged the political parties to abide by the terms and conditions of the peace accord as its successes depended on the political parties as participants.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Babatunde Koksumo, who was in charge of the gubernatorial election, charged politicians to abide by the rules as the police would be neutral in its operations during the election.

Kokumo pledged that the police would improve on what it did during the last governorship election in Ekiti State.

The Police chief further said all security agencies during the election would remain apolitical

and ensure a level playing ground for all the political parties engaged in the election The Deputy Inspector General of Police, therefore, appealed to all to eschew violence and thuggery during the election, even as he urged parents to warn their children and wards against any acts of violence or thuggery, pledging to provide an atmosphere conducive during election.

INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on his part, appealed to all the political parties to give peace a chance as the successes of the peace accord depended on the conduct of the political parties.

"The success of the Peace Accord depends on the continuous support and commitment of political parties and candidates, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies.

"I wish to reiterate our commitment to transparent and credible elections. The Commission has taken every step to ensure a credible Governorship election in Osun State this weekend.”

He appealed to all actors in the field to be peaceable, saying, " I would like to appeal to all parties, candidates and other actors to play their part in supporting the Peace Accord. It is not enough to simply sign the Peace Accord. What is more important is to abide by its letter and spirit.

"This is the best way to show your commitment to the implementation of the Peace Accord

and appreciation for the work of the Peace committee," the INEC stressed.

On the nomination forms (EC9) so far received, the commission said it was yet to receive a single nomination from African Action Congress (AAC) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), as they were yet to upload their nominations.

By the election guidelines and time table, all the political parties have till July 15 to nominate all their gubernatorial candidates and candidates for the House of Assembly.

A statement by INEC’s national commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, stated: "As provided for in the Timetable and Schedule

of Activities for the 2023 General Election released by the Commission on 26th February 2022, all political parties that conducted valid primaries are required to nominate their candidates for Governorship, Deputy Governorship and State Assembly elections via the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP) from 1st -15th July 2022.

"The Commission has processed 6,995 nomination forms (EC9) uploaded by 16 out of 18 political parties for the constituencies, where they intend to sponsor candidates.

However, two political parties: the African Action Congress (AAC) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), are yet to upload a single nomination to the portal", Okoye stated. .

Meanwhile, the Commission said it has continuously responded to requests for the issuance of Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents mainly arising from the conduct of party congresses, primaries and nomination of candidates.

Okoye said the number of requests processed has now risen to one million, six hundred and sixty-two thousand, nine hundred and eighty seven (1,662,987) pages of documents.

He said that in spite of the Commission's effort, 147 out of 476 requests processed as at today involving 5,646 pages were yet to be collected by applicants and therefore appealed to prospective litigants to come forward and collect the certified copies of the documents.

PDP national chairman.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, the party stated that Ayu met with members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja yesterday and commended the Deputy National Chairman (North), Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum, for effectively holding brief for the period Ayu was on vacation, in line with the provision of the Constitution of the PDP 2017 (as amended).

He also applauded the members of the NWC, other organs and critical stakeholders of the party for the cohesiveness and unity of purpose that pervade the party.

Ayu expressed confidence that with the prevailing overwhelming support of the people, the PDP and its candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke would emerge victorious in the Saturday, July 16, governorship election in Osun State.

He also expressed satisfaction that the on-going consultations and efforts for the success of the PDP in the 2023 general election were yielding positive results.

He therefore called on all members and teeming supporters of the party to remain united and focused on the PDP mission to rescue, redirect and rebuild our nation from the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sharia Law Story Emanated from Pit of Hell, Says Lagos Assembly Segun James The Lagos State House of Assembly, has said the trending story that it passed a law on Sharia to please the Muslim north, could only have come from the pit of hell.

Debunkimg the news, which trended on the social media, the Assembly in a statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, Hon Setonji David, the House described the report as "a lie from the pit of hell."

Continuing, it said, “Alleged secret passage of Sharia law by

Lagos Assembly, a lie from the pit of hell,” adding that the process of lawmaking was open, but that the purveyors of the story were mischievous.

"The attention of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has been drawn to a malicious and unfounded report making the rounds on social media, that the assembly has secretly passed a sharia law in a deal to get Northern support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC Presidential Candidates.

"We would not have dignified the writer of this hate speech but

in order to set the record straight, this is a mere figment of the imagination of the writer and a total lie from the pit of hell. No informed person should believe this lies against the Assembly that is above the common standard of excellence. The news is far from the reality.

"Some people are just mischievous. Spreading all sorts of untrue stuff. Is it possible to pass a law under cover? The process of law making is universal and very open.

You cannot pass a law without subjecting it to public hearing in Lagos State.

"We urge the residents of the state and Nigerians as a whole to take the peddlers of this unfounded report as illiterate, uninformed, and uneducated people, who needed to be schooled about lawmaking process.

"Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a fast selling products across the country and does not need any law from the state to further endear him to all Nigerians and by the Special Grace of God, the Jagaban would emerge winner of the 2023 presidential election to the shame of the purveyors of this hate news."

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LASUTH'S MATRICULATION CEREMONY...

L-R: Provost, Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Prof. Omobolaji Oludara; Consultant Anaesthetist, LASUTH, Dr. Omolola Fagbohun; Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensive Care Physician, Major General (Dr). Shina Ogunbiyi (rtd); Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Adetokunbo. Fabamwo; Director Medical and Training, Ministry of Health, representing the Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Dr. Funmi Shokunbi; Director, Clinical Service And Training LASUTH, Prof. Adebowale Adekoya;and Pioneer Coordinator School of Anaesthetics Technology, LASUTH, Dr. Titilola Awodesu, during the maiden Matriculation Ceremony of the LASUTH School of Anaesthetic Technology in Lagos recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Forgery: Court Orders Substituted Service of Suit Seeking to Bar Tinubu from Presidential Race Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered substituted service of a suit seeking to bar the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, from the 2023 presidential election over allegations bordering on forgery.

The order was issued in an exparte motion brought by the plaintiff/applicant to serve the suit on Tinubu, who is the 3rd defendant through substituted means.

The Action Alliance (AA) party, had in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/954/2022, and filed on June 21, asked the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from including the name of the APC on the ballot of the 2023 presidential election.

The party equally asked the court for another order restraining the electoral umpire from accepting the name of Tinubu as candidate of the APC in the f presidential election.

The plaintiff, in the Writ of Summon marked: FHC/ABJ/

Police Arrest Kuje Correctional Centre Escapee in Ogun James Sowole in Abeokuta The Ogun State Police Command yesterday disclosed that it arrested one of the escapees of the Kuje Correctional Center.

The escapee, a 28-year-old, Yakubu Abdulmumini, was reportedly arrested on Monday, July 11, 2022, by operatives of Ogun State Police Command.

The arrest of Abdulmumini was revealed in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Ogun State Command, Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi.

He said, "Yakubu AbdulMumuni was arrested following an information received by policemen at Sango Ota Divisional Headquarters that, the convict was sighted somewhere around Sango Ota. "Upon the information, the DPO Sango Ota Division, Saleh Dahiru quickly moblised his men and moved to the area where the convict was apprehended.

"He confessed to the Police that he escaped from Kuje Correctional Center on the 5th of July 2022, when the Center was attacked by bandits.

"He stated further that he was convicted by Kogi State High Court for offence of Conspiracy and Culpable Homicide and sent to Kuje Correctional Center."

CS/954/2022, predicated its request on the claim that both the APC and Tinubu were not qualified to participate in the 2023 presidential election, following alleged forgery committed by Tinubu in 1999.

The suit filed on behalf of the plaintiff by its lawyer, Mr Upkai Ukairo, claimed that Tinubu forged his university of Chicago certificate he submitted in 1999, in aid of his qualification for the 1999 governorship election in Lagos State, which was won by Tinubu.

The suit, has the Independent National Electoral Commission, APC and Tinubu as 1st, 2nd and

3rd defendants respectively.

However, owing to difficulty in serving the suit on the 3rd defendant, the plaintiff on June 29, brought an exparte application praying the court for an order to serve Tinubu through substituted service.

Delivering ruling in the exparte application on July 6, Egwuatu granted the request of the Action Alliance by ordering the plaintiff to publish the writ of summons and other processes including the order of substituted service in THISDAY or The Nation Newspapers.

The enrolled order of the court

dated July 13 and signed by the Court's Registrar, Amina Audu read in part: "Upon reading the eleven (11) paragraphed Affidavit of Urgency deposed to by Kalu Agu, after hearing Mary Warribo, Counsel for the Plaintiff, arguing the application and urging the Court to grant the prayer sought.

"It is hereby ordered that, the Originating Processes, Writ of Summons, and all other Processes filed in this Suit including this Order, be served on the 3rd Defendant by publishing same in the Nation or THISDAY Newspaper, a newspaper circulating throughout Federal

Capital Territory, Abuja and Nigeria.

"Such Service, when effected and Proof of Service filed in Court shall be deemed good and proper service. Accordingly, this matter is adjourned to July 25, 2022 for report of service.”

The Action Alliance, in a 16-paragraph statement on oath deposed to by Agu, submitted that,“the 3rd defendant is a person, who is not qualified for election to the office of President of Nigeria on the grounds of alleged forgery.

According to the deponent, the 3rd defendant had provided false information and attached forged

documents in his form CF 001, he submitted to INEC in 1999 in aid of his qualification for the governorship poll.

The deponent stated that the claim of Tinubu that he possessed Bsc degrees in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Chicago and Chicago State University in 1976 and 1979 respectively were false, adding: “The 3rd defendant knew he did not possess all the educational qualifications he listed in the said INEC form,” he added.

Continued online

ADAMU: CHRISTIANS HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR, MUSLIM-MUSLIM TICKET REFLECTS NIGERIA’S REALITY

APC’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket Stands Rejected, Says PFN

Kaduna State chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), has rejected the Muslim-Muslim Presidential ticket of the APC, saying it would further polarise the country along religious line.

In a statement yesterday, state chairman of the PFN, Kaduna Emmanuel Egoh Bako, said MuslimMuslim ticket would further polarise Nigeria along religious line and expressed dismay on the consistent disregard for the nation’s diversity by political players.

“Fellow compatriots, I am compelled to address a very crucial matter that has much to do with our corporate existence. It is also a responsibility we owe our children.

I have noticed with great dismay the consistent disregard for our heterogeneous nature in Nigeria by our political players.

“This is done in the face of increasing weakness of the bond of unity. It is not only against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but against the plan of God. The new trend of fielding party’s flag bearers with individuals from one faith is not consistent with our federal system.

“It has the potency to polarise our beloved nation at this crucial moment that all true citizens are searching for unity. I wish to state that it is not acceptable. It is obvious that the decision is taken to cover up for the failure of government and to also spite other religions.”

PNF, however, lamented that both Muslims and Christians were suffocating under serious challenges, which has further reduced life expectancy in Nigeria.

“The religious fault lines in the past seven years have been widened. The responsibility of all political parties at this moment should be on strengthening national integration and not otherwise. Let's unite and build a society on the basis of respect for everyone's humanity.

“Both Muslims and Christians are affected by the economic hardships brought by poor leadership and no one should be deceived by this. Therefore, I declare the Muslim-Muslim ticket unacceptable.

We shall not let it stand because it showcases our great nation in bad light. I see 2023 as an opportunity to open up our nation to real political civilization,” the statement stated.

Shettima's Choice Devoid of Sentiments, Say APC Stakeholders

A group of APC national stakeholders, has said the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as the running mate to Bola Tinubu, was devoid of primordial sentiments.

Convener of the group, Aliyu Audu, at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, said although the group initially advocated a running mate of a different faith from Tinubu, it was also aware that in order to build an effective working society, competence must be prioritised over religion.

"While we may have advocated for the selection of a running mate with a faith different from that of the presidential candidate so as to give the sense of inclusion to followers of both major religions, we are aware that in order to build an effectively working society we must prioritize capacity, competence, character over religion and ethnicity especially as prioritising such sentiments in the past have not provided the desired goal of sense of inclusion, which can only truly be achieved when all Nigerians experience good governance at all levels regardless of their faith, ethnicity or social class.

"We understand that reaching this all-important choice must have been a hard nut to crack even for an exceptional leader like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

"We are, however, enthused that he approached the decision with all the seriousness, sensitivity and wide consultations it demands and as such believed that he made the

best decision in the overall Interest of our unity, national growth, development and progress, without allowing unproductive primordial sentiments to derail or affect our collective goal of building and sustaining a working society, where integrity, competence, character and capacity play huge roles," he said.

Audu said the party has two leaders of exceptional qualities, who would be in charge of the affairs of the nation and noted that while they happened to be of the same faith, their antecedents in similar responsibilities they have handled clearly indicated that Nigerians have nothing to fear in terms of their religious interests.

The group insisted that there was need to truly deemphasise the recognition of religion, ethnicity and other primordial sentiments by subjecting both candidates to the test of their competence, capacity, character and commitment.

"The birth of a new Nigeria that works is upon us and we have every belief that Senator Kashim Shettima is one of the vehicles to that destination," he said.

No Cause for Alarm, Jigawa Senator Assures Christians

The senator representing Jigawa North West Senatorial District, Senator Danladi Sankara, has commended the party's presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for picking Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate.

Sankara, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, stated this in a statement by his media aide, Muhammad Nazifi, in Abuja, yesterday.

He allayed the fears being expressed by Christians in the country over the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC, stressing that there was no cause for alarm.

"There is no cause for alarm or apprehension by any group, because both Asiwaju Tinubu and Shettima are patriotic and

well-meaning Nigerians. They are very conscious of the requirements of equity and justice in leadership and public administration."

The Senator said the choice of Shettima has further brightened the chances of the APC to secure victory in the general election scheduled for next year.

He expressed confidence in the wisdom of Tinubu and the capabilities of Shettima, whomhe described as competent, cerebral, tested and accomplished leader.

He said Shettima being an astute administrator, would add value to the Tinubu's presidency in the service of the nation.

"By the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the next year general election, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has proven himself as a leader with great wisdom and vision to assemble capable people to assist him provide the desired leadership that would improve the welfare Nigerians.

"Senator Shettima is capable and well-prepared. We are together with him in this 9th Senate and everyone is aware of his leadership capabilities. He will compliment efforts of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to bring about the desired progress and development of the nation," he said.

Criticisms, Distractions Can't Stop Tinubu, Says Group

A group, Bola Ahmed Tinubu Solidarity Vanguard, has declared that only Nigerians couldcollectively stop Bola Tinubu from realising his presidential ambition and not individuals.

The group said they had strong political allies across the 36 states of the federation to mobilise the grassroots for Tinubu to win the 2023 presidential poll, saying the APC remained unshaken, despite social media attacks against the presidential candidate.

At a meeting in Ado Ekiti, former Oyo and Ekiti deputy governors, Chief Moses Alake

and Surveyor Abiodun Aluko, described Tinubu as the most reliable and dependable candidate to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

Alake thanked the people of Ekiti for voting APC in the just concluded gubernatorial election, noting that the people still needed orientation as there was relatively low turnout of voters in the last election.

“Ekiti really needs to join the movement and shouldn't be left behind as this is our turn in Yoruba. I, therefore, urge all Ekiti people to get their PVCs and vote Asiwaju Tinubu massively just like they have done in the just concluded Ekiti elections.

"No shaking, we are standing tall. Despite criticisms, distractions, we are sure of victory, because Tinubu remains the best," he said.

Former Ekiti Deputy Governor, Biodun Aluko added: "It is a thing of joy to be associated with Asiwaju Tinubu and since the grassroots is where real voting takes place, members are ready to mobilise massively for him in the coming election."

Chairman and Convener of the group, Dare Owotomobi, noted that members of the vanguard would not be neglected in the scheme of things, because everybody is important in the Tinubu project.

Owotomobi, therefore, urged members to commence grassroots sensitisation and mobilisation for the actualisation of Tinubu Presidency next year.

"We will concentrate on youth and women mobilisation and this we will do aggressively,because they will benefit immensely under Tinubu Presidency. The former Lagos State Governor is a lover of women and youth and this he demonstrated during his time as Lagos State governor and he will do it again as a President," he said.

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THURSDAY JULY 14, 2022˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Adopt Technology to Strengthen Security, Police Advise Churches

The Police in Lagos have advised religious centres to embrace the use of technology to further strengthen security on their premises.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Area C Police Command, CSP Idowu Adedeji, gave the advice at a security sensitisation meeting with some Christian clerics on Wednesday in Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State.

He said that attacks on churches in recent times had increased to an alarming rate and therefore, churches must consider measures to ensure the safety of worshippers.

“Places of worship have been attacked; pastors and priests have been kidnapped for either ransom or other reasons,” the police chief said.

Adedeji said that among measures to detect criminal elements was the use of surveillance, scanners or metal detector so as to help control access in churches.

“Search worshippers, install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, get scanners to detect people with any dangerous

weapons hidden on their bodies.

“Security of lives and property is an expensive business, try and get those gadgets, it may not be 100

per cent but it can minimise the risk.

“Involve your members in regular church sweeping by going around the compound

to check and search for strange objects before the commencement of service.

“Police patrol teams move around every Sunday, but we

cannot be physically present in all churches; we are constrained by our resources.

“Security is everybody’s business, Police alone cannot

handle it. All hands must be on deck to tackle security issues.”

He urged men of God to create security committees or teams in churches.

EMPOWERING SMALL BUSINESSES…

L-R:DeputyCountryRepresentative,WorldHealthOrganisation(WHO),Dr.AlexanderChimbaru;TechnicalAdviser,FederalMinistryofTradeandInvestment,Mr.KamarBakrin; Representative to ECOWAS and Regional Director, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Mr. Jean Bakole; National Project Coordinator, UNIDO, Oluwaseyi Ladejobi; Programme and InclusionAnalyst,UnitedNationWomen,UzoamakaAnitaAsiegbu,andGender/WomenEmpowermentExpert,UNIDO,EmemUmana,attheeventforthestrengtheningofcapacitiesofMicro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to produce high quality Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and other health related products, in Lagos... recently ETOP UKUTT

Flood Claims Seven in Low Budgeting Hinders Abia’s Devt, Says Emenike Lagos, Says NEMA Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said that the flooding that occurred in Lagos last weekend claimed seven lives.

Zonal Coordinator, South West, NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday.

“The post-emergency phase assessment after the unprecedented rainfall of Friday, 8th July and Saturday, 9th July, 2022 has revealed that about seven people – three children of same parent and four adults – died.

“About eight lives were also saved during the period, as a result of the flooding that was

witnessed during the two-day continuous rainfall,” he said.

Farinloye further stated that the three siblings who lost their lives were residing at a church building belonging to Mercy of Christ Apostolic Church, situated in an uncompleted building.

He said that the siblings, Michael, 18; Elizabeth, 17 years and Timi, 14, were swept away while trying to relocate from their room to the main church structure.

He said that the youngest child, Tmi, who was said to be asthmatic, while trying to climb the plank linking their room to the church building, slipped and was overpowered by the flood.

The Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), High Chief Ikechi Emenike, has identified low budgeting as the major reason why Abia has been experiencing stunted growth.

He stated this while addressing a non-partisan

stakeholders’ forum at Ututu in Arochukwu local government in continuation of his consultations and mobilisation of like minds to join hands with him to change the sad narrative of Abia.

The development economist noted that over the years those at the helm of affairs have been running Abia on low budgets of less than N200 billion,

which according to him, is insufficient to pull Abia out of underdevelopment.

“Any budget less than N200 billion cannot develop Abia,” he insisted, adding that he would find creative ways to enhance the state budget to be able to meet with the demands of developing the state to enviable heights.

In the past three years the

administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has been turning out less than N200 billion in its final policies with N137.419 billion for 2020, N131.815 billion in 2021 while N157.282 billion was budgeted for 2022 fiscal year. Though this year’s budget recorded 10.81 per cent increase above 2021 fiscal policy, it still fell short.

Akeredolu Assigns Portfolios to New Commissioners, Reshuffles Cabinet Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has assigned portfolios to the two new Commissioners sworn in yesterday.

This was contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde shortly after the swearing in of the new commissioner in Akure.

The two new commissioners

are: Mr. Akinwumi Samson Sowore and Prince Jacob Adeboboye Ologbese.

Sowore has been assigned to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs while Ologbese has equally been assigned to the Ministry of Regional Integration and Diaspora.

Similarly, the governor redeployed three old

commissioners to different ministries. The redeployment is aimed at improving governance and deploying talents to reinvigorate certain sectors.

The former Commissioner for Regional Integration and Diaspora, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola Olateju, has been reassigned to the Ministry of Information and Orientation while the former

Commissioner for Physical and Urban Development, Fatai Olotu Aburumaku has also been moved to the Ministry of Water and Sanitation.

Mrs Yetunde Adeyanju, who was formerly the Commissioner for Water and Sanitation has now moved to the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

YinkaKolawoleinOsogbo

sensitisation programme towards a peaceful election in the state Sani posited that the Osun State gubernatorial election would be regarded as providing a window into what Nigerians shall witness in the 2023 elections across the country.

He admonished the stakeholders to understand the significance of a peaceful, orderly, credible and transparent exercise.

The IPAC boss equally noted

that the people of the state are being exulted and challenged to demonstrate that the state is truly the land of men and women of honour and integrity.

According to him “All hands must be on deck to ensure that the July 16 governorship election in Osun State is carried out in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility without any ugly incident of violence that include molestation, intimidation and

harassment of people of opposition political parties, voters and electoral officials.”

Sani stressed that the political party leaders and candidates in the election must resist the temptation out of desperation, to resort to the deployment of thugs or material and financial inducement of security agents and INEC officials to compromise any stage in the voting process.

Man to Die by Hanging for Killing Elder Brother in Ekiti Osun Guber: Don’t Compromise Credibility, Integrity, IPAC Urges Parties Victor OgunjeinAdoEkiti

An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, has sentenced a 49-year old Mr. Akinola Ademola, to death by hanging for killing his own elder brother.

Passing the verdict yesterday, the Presiding Judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, said: “The ingredients of the offences of armed robbery and murder had been established against the defendant; thus, implying that the charges of armed robbery and murder had been proved beyond reasonable doubt against him.

“In all, the prosecution had succeeded in convincing the court to resolve the sole issue for determination in his favour and I so do. “The defendant is accordingly convicted as charged for the offences of armed robbery and murder.

“The defendant is sentenced to death by hanging in count one (armed robbery) and count two (murder). May the Lord have mercy on your soul.”

The convict was arraigned before Justice Ogunmoye in December 2020 for offences of armed robbery and murder of his elder brother.

OrderPaper to Honour Performing Legislators Today

OrderPaper Nigeria, a multi-platform parliament-focused organisation is hosting an ‘Evening of Sparkles’ to recognise performing legislators in the 9th National Assembly.

The event, which is scheduled to hold today in Abuja is the second of steps in the Most Valuable Parliamentarians (MVPs) Hall of Fame designed by OrderPaper Nigeria and implemented alongside a cluster of renowned Civil Society Partners.

The ‘Evening of Sparkles’ will spotlight 40 nominees out of the

469-member National Assembly, shortlisted for possible induction into the MVP Hall of Fame.

Speaking on preparations for the event, Executive Director of OrderPaper Nigeria, Oke Epia, described the MVPs Hall of Fame as an elite and invitation-only framework to applaud and encourage exemplary legislative performances while engendering a community of healthy and productive partnerships between the Legislature, Civil Society, and the Citizenry in Nigeria.

The National Chairman, Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yabagi Yusuf Sani, yesterday appealed to all political parties and their candidates in Osun State to solemnly and willingly commit themselves to avoid all manners of violence or actions that can compromise the credibility and integrity of next Saturday election.

Speaking at a stakeholders’

Federal Capital Territory Authority Rids Kwali of Shanties, Criminals Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has raided notorious hotspots beside and adjacent to the Federal Government College in Kwali Area Council of the FCT that were providing cover for criminals and posing serious security threats

to lives and property.

The Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, Ikharo Attah, who led the enforcement team, said the place in recent time had constituted a serious security concern to the government, as many criminal activities were linked there.

The team, accompanied by joint security operatives, demolished multiple illegal structures, mainly shanties built with zinc and woods used for block molding, selling of petroleum products, food, drinking joints, all operating under an electric high tension wire in the area.

Attah alleged that the shanties

were harbouring criminals, leaving the government with no other choice than to clear them.

He said: “Three months ago, we had an extremely ugly incident where the police and other security agencies that raided criminals in this area, and exchange gun fire with some persons here..”

NMA Condemns Attack on Medical Officer in Bauchi

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Bauchi State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has condemned, in strong terms, the attack on the Principal Medical Officer(PMO) of Misau General Hospital in Bauchi

State, Dr Mohammed Sani by a relation of a patient brought to the hospital for medical attention.

THISDAY checks revealed that Dr Sani narrowly escaped death when he was attacked with a sharp axe by the relation on Friday, a day to

the Eid-El Adha celebrations with the intention of hacking him to death.

Though he did not die, he was seriously injured with marks of deep cuts all over his body and is currently lying critically ill receiving treatment at the Abubakar

Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi.

The State chapter of the NMA strongly condemned the development, calling for justice from the law enforcement agencies presently handling the case.

THURSDAY JULY 14, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

53

NEWSXTRA

Suspected Herders Kill Five in Benue Community George Okoh in Makurdi No fewer than five persons have been reportedly killed at Anter Mbalagh council ward of Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State.

The incident, according to resident of the community who did not want to be mentioned, occurred on Monday when the attackers suspected to be herdsmen invaded the community.

He said: “Some heartless armed herdsmen invaded Anter mbalagh Council ward Makurdi Local Government on Monday and killed five people.”

He identified the victims to include Ave Usaar, Temanenge Kyer, Kpungu Orbakpa, Aondoakura Akume and Terkimbir Orbakpa.

He said that three of the victims had been buried and added that the two other people’s corpses were being

searched for.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Lt Col.

Paul Hemba, (retd) confirmed two people killed.

“Am not aware if the

people killed were five but I have pictures of two dead people from the community,”

Hemba said on the phone.

When contacted, the State Command Public Relations

Officer, Ms. Catherine Anene, said that she is yet to receive the report.

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS GET BOARD…

L-R: Member, Caretaker Committee, Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria{IMCON}, Farayola Charles Olawale; Publicity Secretary, Dr. Kolawole Asa; President, Prof. Aremu Ayinla Olarenwaju; former member IMCON Executive Council, Dr. Tunji Daodu; First Vice President, Barrister Olayemi Jacqueline Odiadi; Membership/Mobilisation Secretary, Dr. Ola Adewale Adewumi, and Secretary, Amusa Olufemi, during the investiture ceremony of the board of the Institute in Lagos… recently ABAYOMI AKINYELE

Alleged Sexual Assault: Baba IG Bans Use of Spy Number Plates Nationwide Ijesha Knows Fate Today Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Sunday Ehigiator

Wale Igbintade Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos State, will today deliver judgement in a suit filed against embattled Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, over allegations of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child, filed against him by the state government.

Baba Ijesha was arraigned before the court on a six-count charge of indecent treatment of a child, defilement of a child,

sexual assault by penetration, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault.

However, he had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo had adjourned the case for judgment after the prosecution and defence counsel adopted their final written addresses.

During the court sittings, the defence counsel, Mr. Dada Awosika (SAN), urged the court not to ascribe any importance to exhibit A, which is a CCTV footage tendered by the persecution.

Oyo Assembly Loses Member, Ademola Popoola The lawmaker representing Ibadan South-East Constituency II in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Ademola Popoola, is dead.

Popoola, 45, was until his death the Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.

Speaker of the Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, confirmed this in a statement yesterday in Ibadan.

According to him, the news of the death of the law maker was grievous and heart-breaking.

Popoola was said to have been receiving treatment at the University College Hospital,

UCH Ibadan where he died on Tuesday night.

“The news of the death of one of the most active, vibrant, and resourceful lawmakers in the 9th Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Ademola Popoola popularly, called Popson came to me and everyone in the House as a rude shock,” Ogundoyin said.

“We are deeply saddened and grieved by this painful and untimely exit of one of us. This is unbearable. He was a patriotic, selfless, and hardworking lawmaker who gave his best for the service of Oyo State House of Assembly, his constituents, and indeed the entire people of Oyo State.”

Pantami Unveils Books at Emerging Technologies Forum The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, will publicly unveil two of his recent books at the Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on Emerging Technologies, coordinated by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The Forum will take place today in Lagos.

A statement from the office of the minister said the first book is titled, “Datafication of Society to Foster an Internet Economy” and the foreword was written by the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Mr. Houlin Zhao. Mr. Zhao has had a long distinguished career at the ITU and has served as the Secretary-General since 2014. The ITU is the oldest UN

agency and is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for many matters related to information and communication technologies.”

The statement added that the second book is titled “Cybersecurity Initiatives for Securing a Country”, with the foreword written by the President of International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP), Professor Mike Hinchey. Professor Hinchey is a professor of software engineering at the University of Limerick, Ireland and was previously Director of the Software Engineering Laboratory at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland, United States of America.

The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered a total ban on use of Police Spy Vehicle Number Plates by vehicle owners across the federation without exception.

A statement by Force Headquarters stated that

the ban was irrespective of whether the earlier issuance was authorised or not.

It said: “All authorisations are hereby revoked indefinitely”.

Consequently, the police chief directed Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as their supervisory Assistant Inspectors General of Police

(AIGs), to give full effect to the directives.

The IG specifically directed the AIGs and CPs to ensure that all SPY number plates currently in use were confiscated henceforth but the owners of such vehicles should not be arrested unless they are police officers or officers of other security agencies on escort duties.

The statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer and Chief Supretendent of Police (CSP), Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the order became necessary to forestall the continuous disregard for traffic rules and regulations and other extant laws guiding road use by individuals hiding under the privileges of SPY police number plates.

Sambo, Adegoroye Assume Duty at Transportation Ministry Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The newly appointed Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo and the Minister of State, Mr. Ademola Adewole Adegoroye yesterday formally assumed office at the Ministry of Transportation.

Sambo, who was the immediate past Minister of Works and Housing was redeployed by President Muhammadu Buhari

to Transportation Ministry after the resignation of Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

Sambo, while speaking at the handing over ceremony held at the ministry headquarters in Abuja, said: “It is a pleasure to be here. I would like to say it’s a pleasure to be back home. I started my life in the maritime industry, NPA precisely in 1984 and I went through other sector

s of the economy and ended up in the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

“I am back home for this reason.

I also feel I am back because somebody whispered to me that the permanent secretary happens to have gone through the same secondary school I went through which is the federal government college Maiduguri, not only am I her minister but I am also her

senior.

“I want to tell you that I am here only for a very short time. I don’t want to cause problem for anyone. I don’t want anybody also to cause problem for me. I will not look for your trouble but if you look for mine, I will give you tenfold, that is me but we can live together for 50 years without a quarrel if you know me. So, I am coming with an open mind.”

Innovator Launches Rainforest Protection Campaign in Bayelsa OlusegunSamuel Award-winning electric car innovator and businessman, Azibaola Robert, has launched a campaign to protect the rainforest of the Niger Delta region, saying acts of deforestation and environmental degradation are pushing many wildlife species into extinction.

The renowned lawyer-turned electric car inventor launched the

campaign in his country home in Otakeme community, Ogbia Local Government Area, during a town hall meeting tagged: ‘Bonfire Night With Azibaola Robert’, which featured talks on responsible logging and wildlife hunting.

Speaking on the rationale behind the event, the environmental activist, who also doubles as the chairman of Kakatar Group and Zeetin Engineering Nigeria Limited, said

he intended to use the programme to create awareness and enlighten the people of the Niger Delta on the importance of the region rainforest and why it has to be protected.

He expressed worry over the deplorable condition of the Niger Delta region, and cautioned against the high spate of indiscriminate logging and wildlife hunting, saying if not curtailed, it could spiral into total extinction of trees, some species

of fishes and animals in the region rainforests.

It was learnt that prior to the ‘bonfire night’ and enlightenment programme, Robert alongside staff of Zeetin, Kakatar and media journalists had earlier embarked on the first ever 14-day expedition into the Niger Delta rainforests in which Otakeme community’s forest was chosen as the pilot forest for the programme.

Osun PDP Alleges Plot to Kidnap Party Leaders Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has raised the alarm over planned arrest of its prominent leaders, the flooding of Osun with thugs and the refusal of permit for the party’s mega rally, accusing the Oyetola’s government of devilish desperation in the face of imminent defeat.

The ruling party’s plan, according to a statement made available THISDAY yesterday by Osun PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman, Dr Akindele Adekunle, was hatched ostensibly to confer undue advantage on the APC in the Saturday’s governorship election.

He posited that notable leaders of the PDP were already penciled down for arrest by security

operatives with many others also tabled for wanton kidnap by political thugs purposely imported into Osun by the jittery APC. Specifically, he said prominent leaders of Osun PDP have been marked by the APC and their names already submitted to security agencies for arrest or outright kidnap by political thugs to be aided by security operatives: The statement further read

in part: “Osun PDP wishes to advise the Nigerian Police and other security agencies in the state to resist the evil offer from the APC no matter how enticing.

This advice became imperative as many of the names submitted to them for harassment are respected community leaders, who are historical leaders and are emotionally attached to their various communities.

Tricycle Riders Protest High Tax in Anambra, Block Major Roads David-Chyddy Eleke inAwka Commercial tricyclists in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday protested against high taxation by the state Governor, Prof Charles Soludo-led government in the state.

The tricyclists blocked the Enugu-Onitsha expressway at Aroma Junction, saying the high tax by the state government is

too harsh on them.

Some of the tricyclists who spoke said: “They are asking us to pay N15, 000 to the Keke union, and a daily amount of N500. Our daily ticket used to be N450, and we were even appealing to the government to reduce it because it was high, instead, they increased it to N500.

“Most of us you see here are

graduates who are managing their government has denied lives because there is no job. Others involvement in the plan to subject are driving their tricycle on hire tricycle riders to higher tax. purchase basis, while most of us are family men.

“The country is hard, how can they be forcing hardship on us through these kind of policies?

We will not pay, let Soludo come to our aide.”

Meanwhile, the state

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THURSDAY, ͹ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

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

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Super Falcons Target World Cup Ticket against Cameroon’s Lionesses

Duro Ikhazuagbe Ninety minutes stand between Nigeria and another ticket to the FIFA World Cup which has become a sort of birthright for the Nigerian ladies. Why not? Nigeria has not missed any edition since the inaugural one in China in 1991.

It is not out of place for this generation led by 39-year-old Onome Ebi to believe they can keep the tradition going by beating Cameroon’s Lionesses to the semi final ticket tonight in Casablanca, Morocco and a place in the Australia & New Zealand party next year.

Yesterday, Zambia and Morocco booked their places in the ladies Mundial with victories over Senegal

WAFCON 2022 and Botswana respectively. It took the Zambians 120 minutes of toil and sweat before triumphing in 4-2 shootouts against the Senegalese.

Hosts Morocco on the other hand were the better team in their clash with Botswana, clinching the semifinal and World Cup ticket with 2-1 defeat of the Southern African ladies.

With most teams in the continent having narrowed the gap between them and the previously dominant Falcons, nobody should expect the Cameroonian ladies to come cheap.

Cameroon will come into Thursday’s encounter with the

Amstel Malta Ultra Urges Falcons to go for the World Cup Ticket As Super Falcons battle Cameroon’s Lionesses for a place in the semi final of the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco tonight, Amstel Malta Ultra is spurring the Nigerian ladies to do more to earn victory that will also guarantee them ticket to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year.

Senior Brand Manager, Amstel Malta Ultra, Maire Abia-Bassey, who is thrilled by the accomplishment of the Falcons so far in the tournament, is asking the ladies to go for more to make their qualification for the Mundial certain.

“Your victories over Botswana and Burundi 4-0 defeat of Burundi was reassuring. So we want you to go grab the ticket tonight against the Cameroonians.

“The flowing of those goals

(against Burundi) just like the pouring of Amstel Malta Ultra into a glass cup, contributed largely to the nomination of two Super Falcons’ players to the Best XI assembly by CAF at the close of the group matches.”

Goal merchant, Rasheedat Ajibola and rock at the defence line, Osinachi Ohale were named in a seven-nation assembly for the best 11 players of the Group stage of the tournament.

Abia-Bassey therefore asked Super Falcons to display exceptional resilience as the Cameroonians, whether male or female, are traditionally tough customers.

A victory tonight will help steady Super Falcons’ march to their record-extending 10-time win of the biggest prize in women’s football in Africa.

Ejuke Joins Hertha Berlin on Season-long Loan Deal German Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin have announced the signing of Super Eagles forward, Chidera Ejuke, from CSKA Moscow.

Ejuke was brilliant for CSKA Moscow since he joined the club from Heerenveen two seasons ago.

The Super Eagles forward was the major outlet in attack, wreaking havoc in defences and running opponents ragged.

The 24-year-old recorded 10 goals and eight assists in 55 league games for the Moscow giants.

However, Ejuke will have the chance to show his brilliance in one of Europe’s top leagues next season.

Hertha Berlin announced via their twitter page that they had secured Ejuke’s services on a season-long loan.

Ejuke’s arrival could be helpful to the Alte Dam, as he is filled with pace and trickery on the ball.

Hertha Berlin scored a miserly 37 goals in the Bundesliga last season- the third lowest in the league. But with the arrival of the Zaria-born Super Eagles star, that could change.

Fredi Bobic, Hertha Berlin boss believes that Ejuke could add a lot of bite to his attack, and is excited at the prospect of working with the Nigerian.

“Chidera Ejuke has proved himself in several European leagues already, " Bobic said via the club’s website.

“He brings good skills alongside speed and versatility. We’re sure that he’ll improve our game with his abilities," Bobic added.

Chidera Ejuke (right) after his unveiling at Hertha Berlin...yesterday

mentality of the yam pounder, knowing they have always been second best to Nigeria at this level, and a third consecutive appearance at the FIFA World Cup will certainly appeal to the Indomitable Lionesses.

A 1-2 defeat at the hands of South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in their opening match of Group C last week Monday somewhat dimmed the shine of the Super

RESULTS Zambia 4-2 Senegal Morocco 2-1 Botswana

TODAY Cameroon v Nigeria 6pm S’Africa v Tunisia 9pm

Falcons, but they rose stoutly to the occasion and won their other two matches with six points and six goals advantage shooting them to the last eight.

Cameroon also started somewhat slowly, drawing with Zambia, but they picked up impressively and their reward is what is actually the most anticipated quarter-final tie at this tournament.

Both countries flew Africa’s flag at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Canada and at the last edition in France three years ago, but Nigeria are the untouchables, being one of only six countries on the planet to have participated in all eight editions of the quadrennial global showpiece.

“We are ready to face Cameroon,” said Nigeria coach

Randy Waldrum, after his Super Falcons arrived in Morocco’s commercial and economic capital, Casablanca on Monday ahead of tonight’s encounter.

Forwards Rasheedat Ajibade and Uchenna Kanu, on two goals each, are expected to start against Cameroon, with Coach Waldrum also expected to keep faith with most of the crew that decimated Burundi in Rabat on Sunday night.

All four teams that make the semi finals at the ongoing continental championship in Morocco would have picked automatic tickets for the Women’s World Cup, with the team adjudged to have finished fifth presented with another chance for a shot at a Playoff Tournament next year.

Nigeria’s Dominance over Cameroon DATE June 19th 1991 June 30th 1991 Oct 27th 1998 Nov 18th 2000 Sept 22nd 2004 Oct 3rd 2004 Nov 7th 2006 Nov 28th 2008 Nov 11th 2010 Oct 29th 2012 Nov 11th 2012 Oct 25th 2014 Dec 3rd 2016 Nov 27th 2018

SCORELINE 2-0 4-0 6-0 3-0 2-2 5-0 5-0 1-1 (4-3) Penalties 5-1 2-1 0-1 (only loss to Cameroon) 2-0 1-0 0-0 (4-2) Penalties

Super Falcons ...battle-ready for familiar foes Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon this evening

AFN: Ezinne Abba Does Not Have Automatic Ticket to Oregon 2022 The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has described as unfortunate Ezinne Abba's outburst, blaming the federation and the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare for her inability to make Team Nigeria's list to the World Athletics Championships which start tomorrow in Oregon, USA. AFN Secretary General, Prince Adisa Adeniyi Beyioku clarified yesterday after Abba posted very damning piece on the federation on Instagram that she should know that there was no way she can force herself into the team after failing to compete in any individual event at the Nigerian Championships in Benin City a fortnight ago.

“Miss Abba did not compete in any individual event at the Nigerian Championships in Benin City which was used as selection trials for both the World Athletics Championships and the Commonwealth Games.

“This means her selection will no longer be on merit but at the discretion of the AFN,” said Beyioku in a statement on Wednesday.

The AFN Secretary General said that athletes who did not come for the trials or did not compete for whatever reason should know they no longer have automatic tickets to compete either at the World Athletics Championships or the Commonwealth Games.

“Miss Abba has not also completed the mandatory three Out of Competition tests (OCT) for the championships as she was not under the radar of the Nigerian antidoping agency until recently when

her change of allegiance from the United States of America to Nigeria was granted by World Athletics.

“The AFN is appalled that Miss Abba has dragged the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare into a matter that is 100% at the discretion of the AFN. “The Sports Ministry does not

interfere in the running of the Federation,” the AFN scribe further clarified.

Beyioku stressed that the Federation will refer Miss Abba's unguarded outbursts to its Disciplinary Committee for necessary action.

“She should have known her selection is not automatic and must

explain why she chose to publicly drag the name of the AFN and the Sports Minister in an inappropriate manner.”

Beyioku insisted that representing Nigeria is subject to meeting laid down rules and regulations. He stressed that AFN will not condone any misguided outburst from any athlete.

...Africa’s Fastest Man, Omanyala, AFN Officials, Journalists, Yet to Get U.S. Visas Barely 24 hours to the kick off of the Oregon 2022 World Athletics Championship in Eugene, United States, Africa's fastest man from Kenya, Ferdinand Omanyala, faces a race against time for an American visa so he can compete at the global track & field showpiece.

Similarly, some Nigerian coaches and four accredited Nigerian sports journalists may not be part of the event due to their inability to the secure visas at the American Embassy in Lagos and Abuja.

The Oregon 2022 World Championship will run from tomorrow, July 15to 24.

Omanyala, who won the African 100m title last month in Mauritius, is due to race in the heats tomorrow (Friday) at the global event in Eugene, Oregon.

“Sad that I haven't travelled to Oregon yet and 100m is in two days. Visa delays!!" the 26-yearold Kenyan sprinter posted on

Instagram yesterday.

"I am still hopeful. If I make it to the starting line, it will be fireworks. I thrive on setbacks,” he stressed with enthusiasm in the social media post Some of the affected Nigerian officials and journalists were said to have met the necessary requirements, including paying their visa fees of $160 respectively since April.

“Some of us made payment for visa fees far back in April, only to be given appointment date for March 2024,” one of the affected officials lamented at the National Stadium in Lagos yesterday.

“I don’t know why the U.S. embassy in Nigeria will allow touts to control appointment dates. Before American government accepted to host this World Athletics Championships, I expected their embassy around the world to treat the athletes, coaches and accredited

journalists with respect. I am sure this kind of treatment won’t be meted to athletes, officials and journalists from Great Britain, Germany and Australia. This may affect Nigerian athletes in Oregon,” observed the official as he showed this reporter his ticket booked for tonight flight.

Another official hinted also on Wednesday that the AFN/ Sports Ministry got a Note Verbale through the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the affected persons only for the U.S. embassy to reject a majority of the names insisting that only those having Diplomatic passport and Blue passport would be honourned. “They said no to those with Green passport,” the official stated.

Efforts to speak with officials of America embassy in Lagos on Wednesday were unsuccessful.

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THURSDAY, ͹ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

SPORTS T H E W O R L D AT H L E T I C S C H A M P I O N S H I P S 2 0 2 2 P R E V I E W

Brume, Amusan Are Nigeria’s Biggest Prospects as Global Focus on Oregon 2022 top LongJumpershave been having an indifferent form this season and that may just play to who would be luckiest on the day. However, German Malaika Mihambo with a PB of 7.30m is the clear favourite. Brume should be content with a Bronze.

Anything more is a bonus and anything less may be a disappointment. Ruth Usoro, who would also take part in the long jump would see the triple jump as her better event. For her, a Top 8 placing would be a monumental achievement. Clear favourites in the that event is World Record holder Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela.

The Hammerthrow brings up an interesting spectacle for Nigeria, as last year’s Nigerian Olympic team member, Annette Echikunwoke, would now be competing for the USA. However, the gold may go to her compatriot Brook Andersen whose personal best was done this season. China’s Shiying Liu would probably walk away with the gold in Javelin while Ameriacans Chase Ealey and Valarie Allman seem good for the gold in the Shot put and Discuss respectively.

Olympic Gold Medalist, ENEFIOK UDO-OBONG, takes a look at the duels, upsets and Nigeria’s chances as USA welcomes the world to a great Championships starting tomorrow...

T

he whole world gathers in Eugene, Oregon for the World Athletics Championships this weekend as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to showcase her top athletes at the biggest stage. The competition second only to the Olympics in size is the premier event for track & field bluffs around the world and considering their domination over the years, it is surprising that it is the first time the USA would be hosting the championships. This year’s meet would line up some great rivalries and also would certainly spring up some big upsets. Let us examine how some of the great duels will take place in most of the events and how Nigeria’s team of 22 athletes would match up against the rest of the world. Lets examine the women events first.

100 Metres

This would be one of the most eagerly awaited clashes in the competition. On paper it seems like a straight fight between the three Jamaicans. Olympic Champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, World Champion Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce and Jamaican Champion Shericka Jackson. It is difficult to see beyond these three as champion though American Champion Aleia Hobbs may take inspiration from home support to mount a challenge. An outsider may be Ivorian Murielle Ahoure who seems to do well in major championships. Nigeria’s best hopes would lie on the young shoulders of Favour Ofili, that is if she has recovered from the exhaustion of the NCAA championships. However, a placing in the finals may just be a great achievement for her.

PREDICTION: Hard to call between the three Jamaicans but I do feel this competition belongs to four-time champion Shelly Ann Fraser-Price. Do we see a World record challenge here? Do not bet against it.

200 Metres

Same protagonists in the Jamaican trio would be the favourites here but however there is a bigger threat from the new poster girl of American athletics,

THE RELAYS:

Ese Brume and Tobi Amusan are Nigeria's biggest medal prospects at the World Athletics Championships starting in Oregon, USA on Friday Abby Steiner. The NCAA champion was crowned at the very stadium where this competition would take place just few weeks ago and has just signed a $2million professional deal with sporting giants Puma. The wind is at her sail and she definitely will have the added push of a partisan crowd. Nigeria’s best hope would be the NCAA silver medalist Favour Ofili. The newly crowned national record holder sees this event as her preferred one. An outside chance for a medal here but a Top 5 finish would be a great achievement.

PREDICTION: A straight fight between the Jamaicans and Abby Steiner. An upset possible here as the American seems to have everything to her advantage. I put it on even odds between Shericka Jackson and Abby Steiner.

100 Metres Hurdles

Great chance for a Nigerian medal here as Tobi Amusan has proven to be right up there with the best in the world. The Diamond League champion last season has grown in leaps and bounds since her breakthrough. She has been African Champion twice, Commonwealth champion and Olympic finalist. However, winning gold on this great stage may just be

a bridge too far for her.

PREDICTION: World record holder, American Kendra Harrison is favourite with a challenge from Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico which would probably be insufficient to deny her the Gold.

400 Metres Hurdles

Dutch-girl Femke Bol and American Britton Wilson can fight for scraps. This Gold medal is going to Sydney McLaughlin. SIMPLE. Except an earthquake happens on her lane, its hers. No other words needed.

PREDICTION: Gold and Possible World record to American Sydney McLaughlin.

In the longer races, American Athing Mu seems set to continue her winning ways in the 800m, the 10,000mis a sure bet for Dutch runner, Sifan Hassan. The former Ethiopian seems untouchable at the distance. She may be challenged though in the 1,500mby Kenyan Faith Kipyegon and her triple dream may also be thwarted in the 5,000mby her Ethiopian compatriots Ejgayehu Taye and Letesenbet Gidey.

The field events would have Nigerian interests and Olympic Bronze medalist Ese brume may just be Nigeria’s brightest chance for Gold. The

NPFL: The Remarkable Story of Rivers Utd under Eunisell’s Sponsorship Olu Osagie Today's marriage between Eunisell and Rivers United started with Sharks Football Club, now defunct.

Sharks FC was then the preferred team in Port-Harcourt when Eunisell decided to make an entry into the Nigeria Professional Football League, in 2015.

The reason was simple. Eunisell operates in the Garden City and wanted to invest in a modest team to turn it into NPFL champions.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015, remains historic as both parties signed the sponsorship deal at a time Sharks Football Club was struggling to retain its top flight status.

At the consummation of the sponsorship deal, Group Managing Director of Eunisell, Chika Ikenga, asserted that it was not just to benefit the club alone, but also to raise consciousness for brands to show interest in the NPFL. Above all, Eunisell was determined to ensure the club didn't go down to the second tier league.

For the first time in the country, Eunisell conceived "Cash For Goals" as part of strategies to salvage the club.

Despite attempts to ensure safety, the club was eventually relegated at the end of the season.

Determined to see Sharks make an instant return to the top flight, Eunisell chose to extend its sponsorship of the team in the second tier league.

From Sharks to Rivers United

In 2016, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, decided to merge relegated

Sharks and Dolphins, also owned by the state, in February 2016. The decision produced a new team, Rivers United.

To ensure a smooth take off for this new team, Eunisell kept to its promise to stay with "Sharks" by sponsoring Rivers United and Ikenga assured the team that the brand was in for what will be a long term relationship with the club.

That promise from inception was to ensure its sponsorship was not only to support the club, but turn the club into champions in Nigeria.

For Eunisell, sponsoring Rivers United remains a strategy to be part of their history and ultimate success.

This success finally culminated in their emergence as Nigerian champions for the first time this season. It is not a surprise that Eunisell set the standard for club sponsorship in the NPFL.

Record Longest Running Sponsorship

Eunisell simply reinvented club sponsorship in the NPFL. By extending its sponsorship from Sharks to the newly formed Rivers United, in 2016, Eunisell displayed readiness to lead a campaign for Nigerian brands to understand the importance of changing the NPFL narrative.

Since 2016 Eunisell has been on the shirt of the club as sponsor, a feat that makes it the longest running sponsorship in the NPFL. Convinced Rivers United is the right partner for a long time sponsorship, Eunisell stayed with the club, despite its inability to win a trophy.

Rivers United came close in its first season but lost the title to Enugu Rangers.

In appreciation of the club's impressive campaign in its first season in 2016, Eunisell announced a N10,000,000 bonus to the team.

Again, this was the first by any club sponsor in the NPFL. Shockingly, Rivers struggled to reproduce results of its initial campaign.

To underscore his commitment to the team, Ikenga led a high powered Eunisell team to Sagamu to motivate the players at a time the club was having a poor run, during the 2017 season, His presence resulted in a 3-1 away win against home side, Remo Stars.

2017 was the worst season in the club's six year history as it finished on 15th position; two points above the drop zone, but the brand remained convinced Rivers United will emerge champions of Nigeria one day.

To further confirm its determination to make the club a model in the league, Eunisell introduced the Eunisell Rivers United Day. Organised in Port-Harcourt to bring the Rivers United brand closer to the fans, the Eunisell/Rivers United Day, is usually attended by players, club hierarchy, fans and the media.

2021/22: Champions At Last!

From inception of Eunisell’s sponsorship of Rivers United, Ikenga had reiterated the brand's desire to see the club emerge champions.

The clarion call from Eunisell has always been one of the brand's loyalty to Rivers United whether they fall or rise and irrespective of the economic

situation in Nigeria.

Eunisell strongly believed its sponsorship provides a strong platform to become not just the winners of the Nigerian Professional Football League, but continental champions.

On several occasions, former Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye and skipper Austin Festus, assured the brand that their target is to win a trophy for Eunisell's unwavering commitment since 2016.

Rivers United started this season in tremendous form and finished as mid-season champions.

As a sign of its dominance, the club set a 12-match unbeaten run and even a 10-point gap ahead of its closest rival, Plateau United. This may even extends to 13 if they win their last game of the season at home this coming Sunday.

Delightfully, the club claimed the title with three matches to go.

During the second Eunisell Rivers Day celebration, in the state capital, in 2019, then Permanent Secretary in the State’s Ministry of Sports, James Enebeli, applauded the brand for its long term association with the club.

“It is not easy to invest consistently in a club, since 2015, from Sharks, now Rivers United, that has not actually won laurels to commensurate with the money on them,” Enebeli, represented

by Director of Sports Development, Prudence I. Harry, said during the event.

For this consistency, it is no doubt that Eunisell is proud to be part of Rivers United's history, success and transformation from a new club, in 2016, to a Nigerian powerhouse, in 2022.

The 4 x 100m baring any technical or baton catastrophe seems a Jamaican gold. A world record here is a possibility. The Americans would probably take the silver medal but may be consoled with the 4 x 400m Gold and the Gold in the mixed relay.

That would be a big crowd pleaser especially as the retiring Allyson Felix makes her swan song there.

THE MEN'S EVENTS

The Men’s event would look for a heir to the great Jamaican Usain Bolt as the sprints start on Friday.

100m: This may be one of the most open of 100m in recent times, however, Americans Fred Kerley and Trayvon Bromell both with PB of 9.76 seconds are the favourites. A resurrected Yohan Blake of Jamaica would put on some pressure while the African challenge would come from Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala and Liberian NCAA champion Joseph Fahnbulleh. Nigerian Champion Favour Ashe would do well with a semi final placing while a final for him would be over achieving. Other dark horses here include Canadian Andre De Grasse and China’s Bingtian Su. PREDICTION: Fred Kerley to win.

200m: This is where the excitement comes in the sprints as youngster Erriyon Knighton seems to be the heir apparent to Usain Bolt. But he would have to deal with fellow American Noah Lyles and 100m runners Yohan Blake and Fred Kerley. For Nigeria Udodi Onwuzurike seems our best bet here but a final placing for him will be a good achievement in this competition. Africa’s biggest chance may come from Joseph Fahnbulleh.

In the 400m, Michael Norman of the USA is favourite but can the world record holder, South African Wayde Van Niekerk shake off his recent injuries and get back to form in time? Most unlikely but should not be written off. In the 400m hurdles, we probably would see one of the biggest duels in the competition between world record holder Karsten Warholm of Norway and Alison Dos Santos of Brazil. While this would have been a giveaway for the Norwegian twelve months ago, injury has hindered his preparation and he is coming into the championships without a race under his belt this season while the Brazilian has been pristine so far.

A big upset expected here as its form versus class here and form may just nick it.

The distance races bring some great duels, Soufiane El Bakkali of Qatar seems set to break the Kenyan monopoly of the steeple chase. Uganda seems set to stamp authority in the 10,000m through Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplomo. Abel Kipsang of Kenya may just be the only African that can stop Europeans from winning the 1500m as Norwagian Jakob Ingebrigtsen is favourit along with British Jake Wightman.

Very few Nigerian interest in the field events and none in the jumps however that does not take away our excitement as the High Jumpwould see the joint Olympic gold medalists, Mutaz Barshim of Qatar and Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy play underdog to Korean Sang-Hyeok Woo while the Pole Vaultis expected to see a world record attempt by Frenchman Armand Duplantis.

Nigerian interest in the field events is via Dotun Ogundeji and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi. If any of them get into the Final 8, that would be a monumental achievement.

The 4 x100m relay would give Nigerians an element of hope for the men for the first time in a while and if luck goes their way, a bronze could be possible.

Realistically, a final placement is a good result but in relays, anything is possible. If they can get the stick smoothly across and target a sub 38 seconds run, then a medal is within reach.

PREDICTION: Its an American gold medal. Probably a cleansweep for the Americans in all relays for men.

Well, the excitement builds and wherever your focus, the next 10 days would be filled with excitement for athletics lovers. We would see at least two world records and Nigeria should win at least TWO MEDALS.

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Thursday, July 14, 2022

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Bishop Kukah to Nigerians “This is what you call team selection, and everybody will choose depending on what they think will give them a fair chance. If people feel unhappy with the kind of choices that have been made, that is why we are democrats, you can’t force it. It is now left for you to look at the choices that have been made. And there is no guarantee that all Christians will vote for Christians and all Muslims will vote for Muslims”—Catholic Bishop of Sokoto on the APC presidential running mate

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Sleepwalking to Sri Lanka L

ast Saturday, thousands of protesters in Sri Lanka stormed the presidential residence in Colombo. It was a scene reminiscent of Bamako exactly one decade ago when Malian protesters invaded the presidential palace to give the then Interim President Dioncounda Traore the beating of his life. Only God knows what the angry protesters would have done to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had he not escaped before they arrived. But after satisfying themselves with presidential luxuries, the protesters moved to the private residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had also been hurriedly evacuated along with his wife. Apparently annoyed they didn’t meet their target, they set his house ablaze.

The ultimate lesson of the ongoing Sri Lanka crisis, as well as the May 2012 Mali cataclysm, is that leaders seemingly indifferent to the plight of ordinary people run the risk of mob action with devastating consequences for their country.

It is therefore important for political leaders in Nigeria to pay attention not only to the turmoil in Sri Lanka but also the trigger. If they do, they will realise we are gradually inching towards the crisis that led to the anarchy now defining the streets of Colombo.

Indeed, for any perceptive observer, there is nothing happening in Sri Lanka that is not currently our lot in Nigeria. Let’s begin with the irrational decision taken to save the vast-depleting forex in Sri Lanka. In April last year, President Rajapaksa banned the importation of chemical fertilizers on the pretext of a push for organic farming. But the move backfired spectacularly.

With the Russian invasion of Ukraine impacting negatively the cost of essential commodities, food prices were up nearly 60 percent in the country by the end of May, according to official data.

Added to that is a shortage of fuel, medicine and domestic gas as well as an erratic supply of electricity. Is the situation much different in our country?

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Consumer Price Index (CPI) suggests that the food inflation rate in Nigeria increased to 18.37 per cent on a year-on-year basis in May this year. But the market reality is quite different. Unless we want to deceive ourselves, the prices of most goods and services have doubled or even tripled in the past one year.

Many Muslims felt the pinch during last weekend’s Eid-el-Kabir when ram was priced beyond what an average citizen could afford.

Besides, the World Food Programme (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) last month classified Nigeria among 20 countries labelled ‘hunger Hotspots’. Nigeria was also listed among three other African countries on ‘high alert’ for starvation and death.

Now, let’s go back to Sri Lanka. The country of 22 million people is plagued by an acute shortage of foreign exchange that has rendered it unable to import fuel, among other essentials.

With a debt of $51 billion, Sri Lanka announced in April that it was unable to meet its sovereign obligations and suspended nearly $7 billion foreign debt repayment due this year. We are talking about interest and not the principal on these debts at a period the Rupee, their national currency, has collapsed by 80 percent.

To come back home, let’s not even talk about the Naira that has in recent years been in a free fall despite the best efforts of the Central

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa... on the run Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Last month, the Debt Management Office (DMO) stated that Nigeria’s total public debt stock increased to N41.60 trillion or $100.07 billion in the first quarter of 2022 from N39.56 trillion or $95.78 billion as of December 2021. That was an increase of N2.04tn or $4.3 billion within a period of three months. Although the DMO Director-General, Ms. Patience Oniha, has been bullish in arguing that our debts are sustainable, she admitted in May this year that “concerns about debt sustainability and the need for restructuring have been stronger for Sub-Saharan Africa, due

to high debt service costs when compared to revenues.”

That precisely is where the problem lies.

In its 2021 Article IV projections released in February this year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the federal government could spend as much as 92.6 per cent of its revenue on debt servicing this year, after estimating last year’s debt servicing-to-revenue ratio at 85.5 per cent. The IMF also projects public debt to grow by 117.8 per cent on a year-on-year basis in 2022. This perhaps was what prompted the former CBN Governor and 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, to warn of an impending crisis. “To be honest, we are living on extra time. In 2015, we were in a deep hole.

In 2023, we will be in an even much deeper hole than in 2015,” he said earlier this year.

“All those people who are struggling to be president will face daunting challenges. I hope they understand that the problems they are going to face are in multiple compared to the ones we faced in 2015, and all of us have to be ready for difficult decisions. If they are not taken, we are all going to pay for it.”

One of those difficult decisions that may soon be forced upon us in a manner that could be catastrophic is the removal of subsidy on PMS. I sometimes wonder whether those who are aspiring for political positions have really counted the cost, if indeed their motivation is service.

In April, the National Assembly amended this year’s N17.126 trillion budget to reflect a N4 trillion subsidy cost for the consumption of a single item. That N4 trillion, about 25 percent of the entire budget for 2022, represents a new figure for petrol subsidy, taking the sum up from N442.72 billion initially budgeted for the first half of the year. Yet, despite spending humongous amounts of money, Nigerians are groaning at filling stations where many spend hours, sometimes days, to fuel their vehicles.

On Kukah’s ‘Broken Truths’

‘B

roken Truth: Nigeria’s elusive quest for cohesion’ is markedly different from the previous works of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, perhaps due to the target audience. The eleven chapters comprise a collection of ten convocation lectures delivered at public and private universities in Nigeria and a 2004 paper presented at the British House of Lords in London. Well researched and brutally frank as one would expect of any book by the Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, his presentations speak to our challenges as a nation while proffering practical solutions to some of the things that have for decades held us back from peace and prosperity.

It is particularly interesting that Kukah’s book comes at a critical period in our country as we move gradually to the 2023 general election amid existential challenges. I take particular note of the questions posed by Kukah at the Ebonyi State University convocation lecture on 25th April 2015, shortly after Buhari’s election: “Given the fact that there is so little to choose from between the PDP and the APC, what are we to expect? We are being warned about the ugly challenges that lie ahead against the backdrop of dwindling oil prices. Will the

subsidy merchants merely change their jerseys?

What about the threats of Boko Haram? In other words, has Nigeria turned the corner?

Have we finally placed the stone on top of the mountain? Is it so well protected that it can withstand the hostile elements, or will something trigger its rollback to the bottom of the mountain?”

It is noteworthy that those questions in chapter four of the book were posed more than seven years ago, and five weeks before Buhari assumed the presidency. Now, at the twilight of an administration ushered in with the slogan of ‘Change’, it is left for readers to provide their own answers to those questions.

As Prof Jibrin Ibrahim wrote in one of the blurbs, Kukah’s book is “brutally honest, hurting many sensibilities, but then the core of the message is that broken truths can only amplify, not solve our problems.” In another blurb, former United States ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell affirms the universality of Kukah’s ideas: “Though the audience he addresses directly is the youth of Nigeria, Americans will find Kukah’s insights invaluable for understanding their own country as well as Nigeria and Africa.”

I concur!

On a daily basis, countless productive hours are being lost, the savings of many are being ruthlessly depleted and the patience of the citizenry appears to be ebbing rather fast.

The crisis in the sector goes beyond the escalating price of PMS. Without remittances to the federation account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited for sharing, workers and pensioners in majority of the 36 states are being owed several months in salaries, gratuities and other entitlements.

In March this year, members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) threatened to shut domestic flight operations due to the rising cost and scarcity of aviation fuel. This was before the intervention that may not long endure. The power sector is worse. Businesses large and small, artisans and households are subjected to unimaginable operational situations due to the energy crisis. From N280 per litre in January this year, the price of diesel is now hovering between N800 and N900 in an oil producing nation where everyone generates their own electricity.

On the security front, Sri Lanka fares better, even with its own challenges. During the Easter celebration in 2019, for instance, there were suicide bombings at a number of churches and hotels that claimed the lives of no fewer than 300 people. The Islamic State claimed responsibility. In our own case, violence has become a regular fare featuring sundry criminal cartels with various nefarious agendas. Such is the security challenge facing Nigeria that in most rural communities, people can no longer access their farms. As I write this, I just received a message from a member of a family abducted in the Abuja-Kaduna train incident of 28th March soliciting money to pay the kidnappers who are demanding N100 million as ransom per head. From soldiers, mobile policemen and civilians being killed in Shiroro, Niger State to the attack on the advance party of President Muhammadu Buhari in his home state of Katsina to the invasion of the Kuje Prison by the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) to release their members, there is no doubt we are in a bad place.

Continued on page 30

Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders

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ith the theme, ‘Why Tomorrow’s Leaders Must Begin Today’, this year’s edition of the annual Teens Career Conference of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), The Everlasting Arms Parish (TEAP), holds on 20th August. The speakers are Samson Itodo, Executive Director, YIAGA-Africa and member of the Kofi Annan Foundation Board, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, an award-winning actress and model, and Seun Onigbinde, a social entrepreneur, open data analyst and co-founder/CEO of budgIT. Like previous editions, the conference will bring together teenagers from Abuja and its environs to listen to expert advice on career choices in today’s dynamic and challenging world. For registration, interested teenagers should visit www.rccgteapteens.ng

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