WEDNESDAY 27TH JULY 2022

Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account Shrinks from $35.37m to $376,655 June allocation rises by N121.6bn as FAAC shares N802.407bn Restructure your debts urgently, IMF tells Nigeria, others Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos The balance in Nigeria’s Excess

Crude Account (ECA) has reduced significantly from the $35.7 million it was as of June 2022 to $376,655.09 as at July 25, 2022.

A communiqué issued at the end of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting for July 2022, held in

Abuja yesterday disclosed this.

Also, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised Nigeria and other African countries cur-

rently experiencing high debt levels to as a matter of urgency take proactive measures to restructure them in order to avoid debt crises.

But no explanation was given for the huge drop in the ECA. Continued on page 11

Muslim-Muslim Ticket: How Akande's Book Put a Lie to Tinubu’s Denial... Page 8 Wednesday 27 July, 2022 Vol 27. No 9969. Price: N250

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APC Appoints Oshiomhole, El-Rufai Chair, DG Presidential Campaign... Page 43

Across Nigeria, NLC Protests ASUU’s Continued Strike Action Gives govt ultimatum as Falana leads demonstration, governors identify with labour Our Correspondents The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), yesterday, led a nationwide protest against the continued closure of public

institutions in the nation, following strike action by the Association of Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

However, while labour gave the federal government a two-week

ultimatum to resolve the crisis, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, joined the demonstration in Lagos, while some governors in their respective states,

identified with labour with a view to ending the prolonged ASUU strike.

The labour union, which had earlier threatened to embark on a two-day nationwide strike in

solidarity with ASUU, ignored the plea by the federal government over the weekend.

Leaders of different unions, including the NLC, ASUU, Senior Staff

Association of Nigerian Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union, Nigerian Union of Teachers and some civil Continued on page 11

Two Captains, One Soldier in Heroic Deaths as Guards Brigade on Routine Patrol is Ambushed in Bwari Terrorists kill three, abduct school principal, six others in Katsina Law school moves call to bar to Jabi Anonymous fresh terror alert in FCT, Lagos, four other states Wase: DSS issued 44 security reports before Kuje’s attack Senate passes bill for commission against arms proliferation Ex-MNJTF commander urges FG to name terrorism sponsors Kogi denies explosion in govt house Kingsley Nwezeh, Emmanuel Addeh, Alex Enumah, Sunday Aborisade, Udora Orizu in Abuja and Francis Sardauna in Katsina Two army captains and one soldier, Sunday night, died as heroes battling insurgents around the Kubwa-Bwari Road, near Abuja, while on routine patrol.

Although a statement on Monday by the Presidential Guards of Brigade, had claimed three soldiers were injured during a clash with terrorists that Sunday night, THISDAY can, however, confirm that two officers and a soldier, paid the supreme price during active service to fatherland.

Unfortunately, the menace constituted by these anti-social elements, have continued to scale up with the killing, also yesterday, of three persons and kidnapping of seven others in fresh onslaught in Yar Tafki and Unguwar Isiyaka Continued on page 5

WE ARE WITH YOU...

L-R: Former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Welfare Officer, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari; Vice Presidential candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima; Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong; former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole; presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu; National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore; Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, and Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle, during the appointment of chairman and Director General of the party’s presidential campaign in Abuja…yesterday

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LEAD CONTINUATION TWO CAPTAINS, ONE SOLDIER IN HEROIC DEATHS AS GUARDS BRIGADE ON ROUTINE PATROL IS AMBUSHED IN BWARI villages in Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Also disturbing was that the first batch of the 2022 Call to Bar ceremony of graduates of the Nigeria Law School, could not hold again at the premises of headquarters of the institution in Bwari, Abuja, as scheduled, following threats of attacks by terrorists.

Worse still, an anonymous alarm, patterned after standard security alerts from some of the nation’s agencies, has warned that terrorists were planning to attack the FCT, Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi, and Lagos States.

In similar breath, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Idris Wase, yesterday, disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS), issued not less than 44 security reports ahead of the recent attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, yet, no action was taken by the authorities.

Nonetheless, the Senate has passed a bill to establish a national commission for coordination and control against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

This is as a former Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Brig. Gen. Jon Temlong (rtd), has called on the Nigerian authorities to make public, the list of sponsors of terrorism in the country.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State government, has denied reports that there was a bomb explosion in the Government House, saying the claims of a bomb explosion was a mere hoax.

Spokesman of the Guards Brigade, Captain Godfrey Abakpa, had said in his Monday statement that, some soldiers were ambushed along the Kubwa-Bwari Road while responding to a distress call, and that three of them were wounded and hospitalised, while the attack was repelled by his men.

"Troops on routine patrol along Kubwa–Bwari were ambushed by suspected terrorists. Three soldiers were injured during the attack. The soldiers have been evacuated for medical attention," the statement stated.

THISDAY, however, gathered that two army captains and one soldier were killed during the attack.

A competent source said the remains of the soldiers had been taken to the Brigade of Guards medical facility.

"Two captains and a soldier were killed in that unfortunate encounter. They paid the supreme price. I was with one of them last week. I am in mourning presently," a military source said.

Terrorists Kill Three, Abduct School Principal, Six Others in Katsina

Gunmen suspected to be terrorists have killed three persons and kidnapped seven others in fresh onslaught in Yar Tafki and Unguwar Isiyaka villages in Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State.

A security source in Funtua, who confirmed the separate attacks to THISDAY, said, the hoodlums armed with sophisticated weapons invaded the neighbouring villages in the wee hours of Tuesday.

He explained that the principal of Government Secondary School, Makera, a 35-year-old nursing mother and her 17-months-old baby were those abducted in Yar Tafki village.

According to the source, the suspected terrorists massacred three people and kidnapped four other residents of Unguwar Isiyaka village, including the ward head, to adjoining forests in the area.

He said: "Early this (Tuesday) morning, some armed terrorist in large numbers carrying sophisticated weapons attacked Yar Tafki village and started shooting sporadically and in the process they kidnapped one Yahaya Magaji, the Principal of Government Secondary School, Makera.

"They also kidnapped Marakisuya Yakubu, aged 35 and

her 17-month-old baby, Bilkisu Yakubu. At Unguwar Isiyaka village, three men were killed by the terrorists and four others have been kidnapped including the Mai Unguwa (ward head)."

He added that those, who sustained injuries during the attacks were receiving treatment at near-by hospital.

When contacted, spokesman of the State Police Command, SP Gambo Isah, said he had no clue about the incidents. "I am not aware of any attack in Funtua but I will find out," he said.

In a related development, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Katsina State, has expressed concerns over the increasing spate of terrorists' attacks on communities across the state, saying nobody was safe again in the state.

The coalition, in a statement by its Chairman, AbdulRahman Abdullahi titled: "Worsening Security Situation in Katsina State: A Call for Prayers and Sober Reflection", accused the state government of failing to secure the lives and property of the citizens.

"Most disheartening is the government’s inability to take decisive actions and bring these incessant senseless killings of innocent and law abiding citizens to an end. Banditry activities are in the rise everyday and the bandits are becoming bolder and more dangerous with every attack they carry out.

"This is because they are becoming more equipped with deadly weaponry with the ransoms paid to them, making them stronger and more daring to advance their attacks to areas, thither to, inaccessible to them. Today, nowhere is secured and nobody is safe in Katsina State. The state headquarters, the seat of power, is not a safe haven either," the statement read.

Law School Moves Call to Bar to Jabi

The first batch of the 2022 Call to Bar ceremony of graduates of the Nigeria Law School, might no longer hold as scheduled within the premises of the headquarters of the institution in Bwari, Abuja, following threats by terrorists.

Instead, the swearing-in of the new lawyers, would now take place at the headquarters of the Body of Benchers (BoB) in Jabi, along the airport road.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who gave the hint, however, pleaded anonymity, citing the worrisome insecurity in the country.

He was responding to questions from journalists on issues discussed at the July meeting of the body, which held at the headquarters of the BoB, in Abuja.

Asked what was discussed during the meeting and whether the request of the NBA for the Chairman of the BoB, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN to step down as chairman was also discussed, he said, “No nothing like that was discussed.

“This meeting was fixed three months ago and what was discussed was solely the Call to Bar ceremony, which will be holding here, because of the security situation in the country. Our next meeting will be in September and nothing regarding the NBA was even mentioned for that meeting."

Reports of planned attack on public institutions by terrorists had been in the media for some time now forcing the Ministry of Education to order the immediate closure of some secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Another report also has it that while a convoy of Brigade of Guard were attacked by terrorists along Bwari-Kubwa highway, the terrorists have besieged the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, possibly planning an attack.

The terrorists had reportedly threatened to kidnap President Muhammadu Buhari; Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and

some members of the National Assembly to register their displeasure with the current administration.

Kidnapping for ransom has become a booming business for terrorists and kidnappers as they appear to operate unhindered and unchallenged by security operatives.

Security Issues Fresh Terror Alert in FCT, Lagos, Four Other States

An anonymous alarm patterned after standard security alerts from security agencies, has warned that terrorists were planning to attack the FCT, Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi and Lagos States.

The alert said the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) had mobilised fighters and high calibre weapons, particularly, Rocket propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers, Anti-Aircraft (AA) guns and General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), which they intended to deploy for the offensive in Katsina State.

"We have received credible intelligence that Boko-Haram and the ISWAP Terrorist groups have mobilised fighters and high calibre weapons particularly Rocket propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers, Anti-Aircraft (AA) guns and General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGS),which they Intend to deploy for the offensive in Katsina State.

"In another development, two separate bandits groups are plotting coordinated attacks on North-west, North-central and South-west (Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi, FCT and Lagos respectively).

"Consequently the Commandant-General, has directed you to scale up deployment in all strategic places, including schools, worship centres and critical national assets in your respective states to checkmate any possible threats by these criminal elements," it said.

The Federal Capital Territory Command of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had, penultimate week, issued a similar alert.

When contacted, Spokesman of the NSCDC Headquarters in Abuja, Mr. Shola Odumosu, denied that the alert emanated from the agency.

Wase: DSS Issued 44 Security Reports Before Kuje’s Attack

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Idris Wase, has disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS), actually issued about 44 security reports ahead of the attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, without any commensurate action from the authorities.

Hundreds of inmates, including members of the Boko Haram, were freed by some insurgents, who invaded Kuje Maximum Prison on July 5, 2022.

Wase, however, made this known while reacting to a motion sponsored by Hon. Abubakar Yalleman (APC-Jigawa) on the ‘need to halt the proposed nationwide ban on commercial motorcycles’.

He urged the motion sponsor to step it down, as the parliament was obligated to support the federal government in their efforts to curb the worsening insecurity in the country.

"We should cooperate with the government, though we appreciate what our brother has brought and we appeal to the government that as they implement this policy, they should look at those areas that are not vulnerable and do not have the potency of having any such insurgency in their community.

“In line with our principle to help to curb the incessant insecurity in our country, we have to cooperate with government.

You can’t imagine what’s going on today in Abuja. I went through DSS report, 44 report were given before the attack of kuje prison.

And it all has to do with this.

There’s no community where attack will happen that you don’t have an intel. So, we have to cooperate with government," he said.

Yalleman, had while moving his motion, urged the federal government to halt the proposed nationwide ban on commercial motorcycles and ensure that adequate palliative measures were put in place before such decisions were implemented.

He also prayed the government to restrict the proposed ban to the local government areas, where the mining activities or banditry/ terrorist activities take place.

He also said the House was aware that the proposed ban of motorcycles was aimed at cutting the supply of logistics to the terrorists in the country.

But the lawmaker expressed concerns that the activities of bandits and kidnappers across the country had subjected members of victims’ families to serious psychological trauma even as they were forced to part with their hard-earned money.

He opined that while banning commercial motorcycle operations across the country as a means of curtailing security challenges, the welfare and wellbeing of the citizenry should be considered foremost, as the government has not offered palliatives measures to cushion the expected effects of the ban.

While worrying that the proposed ban could render millions of Nigerians jobless, Yalleman said putting a sizeable number of the population out of work would only aggravate the security challenges in the country.

Senate Passes Bill for Commission Against Arms Proliferation The Senate, yesterday, passed a bill to establish the National Commission for the Coordination and Control of the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, 2022.

The passage of the bill, however, followed the consideration of a report by the committee on National Security and Intelligence.

The bill is a consolidation of three bills – two private-member bills and one from the executive arm of government against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country.

They are “The Nigerian National Commission against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (Establishment) Bill, 2020 (SB. 283); The Nigerian National Commission against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (Establishment) Bill, 2020 (SB. 513); and The National Centre for the Coordination and Control of the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 794).”

The three bills, after scaling second reading, respectively, in the Senate, were all referred to the Committee on National Security and Intelligence for further legislative work.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ibrahim Gobir (APC, Sokoto East), in a presentation on the floor, said the three bills sought to provide for the establishment of a government body that would be saddled with combating the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.

According to him, the functions of the body shall be in line with Article 24 of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Convention on the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons which came into force in 2009.

The lawmaker added that the Committee on National Security and Intelligence, resolved to consolidate the three bills into one, adding that doing so would adequately cater to the establishment of a Commission to implement measures aimed at eradicating illicit arms.

Gobir explained that establishing a Commission against proliferation of weapons stemmed from the need to immediately address the nation’s present state of insecurity.

The National Commission Against the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (Establishment) Bill, 2022, was passed by the Senate, after a clause-by-clause consideration of the Committee’s report by the

Committee of the Whole.

Ex-MNJTF Commander Urges FG to Name Terrorism Sponsors

A former Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Brig. Gen. Jon Temlong (rtd), yesterday, called on the Nigerian authorities to make the list of terrorism sponsors in the country public.

Speaking on Arise News Television, Temlong stressed that terrorism had become a multibillion naira industry, and that the elite could not be extricated from the insecurity in the country.

The former military top shot urged the country to take a holistic view of the growing insecurity in the country, noting that a situation of increasing unemployment, out-of-school children as well as the almajiri system, would only continue to breed hardened criminals.

“I agree and I think the government, has not been able to publish these names. We have said they should make the names of these terrorists sponsors public, because there are so many of them involved.

“Yesterday, I was discussing the nexus between mining and terrorism. It is not the ordinary man there who sits down there and carries the gold for sale.

Somebody said there is a gold market in Hilton and other five star hotels. Zamfara gold is being sold there and from there it goes to Dubai.

“You said people collected N800 million, where will they spend this money? In the bush? I agree that there shouldn’t be a blame game. But I think we should look at these things holistically.

“It is the elites, who are aggravating and sponsoring and fuelling the insecurity, because there are merchants or crisis entrepreneurs, who are making billions out of what is happening here. There is blood money all over their hands,” he stated.

Temlong argued that all the angles to the current insecurity must be reviewed to make sense out of it, adding that a situation, where some states behave like independent entities does not bode well for the country.

“If you don't give education to people, it means that you are growing the population that has no hope. And then a population that has no hope is susceptible to be used or recruited for what they (terrorists) are doing now.

“You have to start tackling the problems from down, providing education, providing the enabling environment for people to operate, because government itself cannot just provide all the jobs; it’s a farce,” he added.

Maintaining that the solution to the current insecurity goes beyond one individual or entity, Temlong explained that there must be synergy between the states and the federal government, saying, “Some of the states behave as if they are independent of the whole country.”

He argued that at a time, bandits were allowed with guns into the government houses in Zamfara and Katsina, insisting that state governments should begin to listen to the advice given by the security agencies.

“It has to be a coordinated effort, “ he said, adding that insecurity is now a political issue to be used to achieve cheap political points.

He stated that Nigeria could not operate in an independent environment, because terrorism has become a global war, pointing out that whatever happens in other places has a cascading effect on Nigeria since terrorism has no boundaries.

While underscoring the place of hard drugs on the prevailing national insecurity, he said the release of a video of terrorists torturing their victims recently was to create a situation to force the hands of the government to negotiate and to raise public outcry against government.

He contended that if govern-

ment started to pay ransom, insecurity in the country would never end, reason it was done through the back door in some climes.

According to him, rescuing the abductees might have become very difficult due to the possibility of a lot of casualties during the operation.

“The commander-in-chief gave the instructions that they should rescue them without casualties.

That is a very big problem for the military. Unfortunately, it is as if the whole of the security problems in this country have been left to the military to resolve.

“They do not have that capacity.

They are not made for that. There are situations that it is the political authorities that might solve some of these problems and not just the armed forces. No, that is a misnomer,” he noted.

Kogi Denies Explosion in Govt House

The Kogi State government has denied a recent report that there was a bomb explosion at the Government House, describing such claims as mere hoax.

A statement by the the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Onogwu Mohammed, said the reported development was unfounded, but admitted that there was a distress call from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs over an object that looked like an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

The statement noted that a police bomb disposal unit was deployed in the area but later found out that it was a plastic bottle.

"The attention of the Kogi State Government has been drawn to a false and misleading publication in the media platforms captioned: ‘Explosion Rocks Kogi Government Office’.

"The government is miffed and views this publication as malicious, false, misleading and a calculated attempt to cause panic and undermine the already improved security situation in the state.

"May we, at this point, state the true facts surrounding the incident that actually occurred earlier this morning of 26/07/2022 around the Ministry of the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, opposite Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre, Lokoja.

"There was a distress call to the police regarding an object that looked like an IED placed on the fence of the ministry of Local government and chieftaincy Affairs, opposite Mohammad Buhari Square, Lokoja," the state government said.

The statement further disclosed that, "The Bomb Disposal Unit of the Nigerian Police Force Command located a minute away from the scene was immediately deployed to the area.

"On arrival they found out that it was a plastic Bottle and a Can of insecticide wrapped together with a power source to look like an IED. It was discovered to be a hoax and the object was removed by operatives of Bomb Disposal Unit.

"However, there was no explosion around any government premises in Lokoja as reported by some media platforms,” the government stated, noting that, it considered the publication as not only unprofessional but also believed it was at variance with the ethics of the profession of journalism.

"For the sake of emphasis, we would like to put the record straight that there was no bomb explosion whatsoever in Kogi Government House or offices in Lokoja metropolises.

"The government commends the good people of Kogi for their unalloyed support given to the security agencies in the state and enjoins them to disregard false news as it is capable of causing palpable tension as well as instilling fear in the state, while urging them to go about their normal businesses as there is no cause for alarm," it said.

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NEWS

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

THE LABOUR PROTEST...

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) commenced its 2-day nationwide protest as result of prolonged shutdown of public universities in the country…yesterday

WHO: 80% of Nigerians Sliding into Poverty Due to Rising Healthcare Cost Senate considers bills to tackle poverty Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that about 80 per cent of Nigeria’s population has fallen into poverty as they struggle to pay hospital bills.

This was just as the Senate yesterday considered two critical bills seeking to tackle poverty and put a stop to intellectual property theft in the country.

For WHO, its Technical Officer on Health Financing, Dr. Francis Nwachukwu Ukwuije, who revealed this while speaking at a meeting with management of the Nigeria Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), in Abuja yesterday, said the country could make healthcare more affordable and accessible.

He said: " You are aware that in Nigeria today we have very high out of pocket expenditure of more than 70 per cent on health and over 50 per cent of the population and in some states up to 80 per cent of Nigeria's population have to fall into poverty due to ill health or due to payment for healthcare.”

He further said efforts at implementing compulsory health insurance in Nigeria was as important as advancing development of the country.

"I wish to state that as WHO, we have the mandate to support member states in their priority areas and we can see that financing health insurance is one of the accelerators that the country has chosen and also primary healthcare

towards universal health coverage," he said.

The WHO team was at the NHIA headquarters to kick-start engagement that would ensure proper and effective implementation of the newly enacted law on mandatory health insurance for Nigerians.

Ukwuije said the WHO's mission to the NHIA was useful for the reasons that, first-it would help to support the NHIA and energise it towards operationalising the new law in order to gain the benefits therein.

"Secondly, to ensure that we have good representation and high level of advocacy to the government of Nigeria and to those who make the laws and policies in the country.

Thirdly, to support the country in mopping up areas of health financing for the attainment of the Universal health coverage," he said.

The Country Representative for WHO in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Molumbo said the 3-day engagement would provide an opportunity for the global health body to interact with the leadership of NHIA. He said WHO believes that it was the best way to go if Nigeria was to achieve the universal health coverage.

"It is a good opportunity for us and it is a privilege to be part of this high level advocacy meeting to review strategies on how we will operationalise this health insurance

NSE Confers Fellowship on 58 Engineers, Tasks Honourees on Professionalism Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has conferred 58 practicing engineers working across various sectors in Nigeria with the fellowship of the society in Abuja.

Speaking at the 20th edition of the conferment, the President of the NSE, Tasiu Gidari-Wudil, noted that the beneficiaries had displayed distinction in the discharge of their duties and were therefore deserving of the honour.

He stressed that the beneficiaries of the awards had been considered worthy of the elevation having successfully gone through a thorough process of scrutiny conducted by the "eminent men and women" that make up the board of fellows of the society.

Describing the process as, “truly thorough and painstaking,” he explained that the board had been beaming its searchlight on their professional development, through learning, practice and character.

“Upon your conferment as fellows, you will become members of the NSE College of Fellows, a privilege that signals the commencement of another journey of bearing responsibilities on behalf of the society.

“They include the responsibility of carrying yourself with the dignity that the fellowship status

bestows; responsibility of doubling your efforts at participating in NSE activities and making contributions to the growth of the society, as well as the responsibility of being NSE ambassadors by delivering value services to the development of our beloved nation all your endeavours.

“Importantly too, you must know that you have also acquired the responsibility of being role models to younger engineers, and to those who need inspiration to join the engineering profession,” the president told the honourees.

In a lecture tagged: “Employmentoriented Skills Development in Africa: Reality, Relevance and Research as Enablers,” a World Bank Consultant, Dr. George Afeti described unemployment as a cancer eating into the fabrics of African societies.

He called for the development of a more responsive Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system, to equip young people with employment-oriented skills for the world of work.

Afeti emphasised that for employment-oriented skills development in Africa to be effective, they should be rooted in the reality of the African situation, and should be driven by labour market relevance and research evidence.

The challenge of youth unemployment, he affirmed, cannot be eased without the acquisition of relevant

occupational and digital skills.

“However, it must be noted that the cankerworm of unemployment is a complex phenomenon and tackling the problem will involve the implementation of multi-pronged initiatives,” he added.

On this, he said the initiatives must include government fiscal policies that promote the creation and expansion of enterprises and

increase the capacity of the economy to generate jobs.

“The bottom line, however, is that without work-related skills, unemployed youth cannot enter the labour market.

“Unemployment breeds poverty, inequality, frustration, loss of selfesteem, anger, sometimes mental illness, crime, and eventually social disruptions,” he said.

authority bill and how WHO can offer support to strengthen NHIA to deliver in it's mandated.

“We also want to use this opportunity to interact with as many stakeholders as possible to enable the NHIA to drive the universal health coverage in Nigeria," he said.

While welcoming the WHO team, the Director General of the NHIA, Prof. Mohammed Sambo said he was elated to receive them, adding that together with his management, they would be able to set the right template to drive an all-inclusive health insurance financing for Nigeria.

He said the team would oversee the setting up of critical building block of the healthcare delivery system in Nigeria.

Sambo also said the significance of the assent to the new mandatory health insurance scheme by President Muhammed Buhari was that more Nigerians would now be able to benefit from good healthcare delivery system.

"By signing that law, the president has not only exhibited commitment to achieving the next level agenda of the healthcare delivery system, but also that of delivering the democratic dividends to Nigerians," he said.

Sambo said there was no gainsaying that healthcare was one of the critical elements of development.

He said it had been acknowl-

edged the best way to attain universal health coverage in Nigeria was to ensure that, “we provide financial assistance to the people to enable them have unhindered access to healthcare.”

"And the veritable means of providing this assistance is through health insurance,” he said.

Senate considers bills to tackle poverty, stop intellectual property theft

Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday considered two critical bills seeking to tackle poverty and put a stop to intellectual property theft in the country.

One of the bills provides for the establishment of the National Poverty Alleviation Management Commission; while the other seeks to re-enact the Patent and Design Act 2021 to revise the existing intellectual property law to prohibit theft.

Both bills scaled second reading during plenary.

The bill to establish the National Poverty Alleviation Management Commission seeks to empower the Commission to coordinate and regulate all forms of poverty alleviation funds.

The bill was sponsored by Senator Kabir Abdullahi Barkiya (APC - Katsina Central).

Continued online

Electricity Bill to Boost Edo's Participation in Power Market, Improve Supply, Says NGF Consultant Peter Uzoho A Technical Consultant to the Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF) on Power and the Chief Executive Officer of New Hampshire Capital Limited, Mr. Odion Omonfoman has said the passage of the Edo Electricity Bill would arm the state with the constitutional and legal rights to play active roles in the nation's power sector.

The Edo State House of Assembly recently passed a bill to make provision for the state to take part in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity to improve power supply to the residents and businesses in the state.

In a statement obtained by THISDAY, yesterday, Omonfoman, who

commended the Edo State House of Assembly for its timely passage of this very important bill, said the bill was in line with the recently amended provisions of section 14(b) of the concurrent legislative list within the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The new law grants state Houses of Assembly the right to make laws guiding electricity generation, transmission and distribution within a state.

While the constitutional alteration and amendment processes are yet to be concluded, the NGF consultant noted that it was heartening to note that Edo State Government under Governor Godwin Obaseki has proactively taken steps to make relevant state laws that deepen

true federalism within Nigeria, and ensure that citizens and businesses within the state enjoy reliable public electricity supply.

“When signed into law as an Act, the bill will give the Edo State Government the constitutional and legal rights to set up a State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) that would regulate the electricity sector within Edo State.

"It will empower the state to license and operate electricity market structures for the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity within Edo State, license state-owned power generation plants and/or private Independent Power Plants (IPP) that will generate electricity within Edo State, provided these IPPs are not connected to the

national grid," Omonfoman said.

He maintained that the bill would also empower the state to license, own, operate and manage transmission and distribution infrastructure within the state and its boundaries and set wholesale and retail electricity tariffs for the state licensed entities operating within the Edo electricity market.

According to him, “While the impact of the bill to the common man may not be immediate, the Edo State electricity bill, when implemented, will positively transform economic and social activities within the state.

"The bill will also attract significant local and foreign investments into the state, as well as create direct and indirect jobs."

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NEWS

LIBERIA'S 175TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY...

L-R: Liberian Vice President, Jewel Taylor; President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo; Liberian President, George Weah; President Muhammadu Buhari and President of Gambia, Adama Barrow at the 175th Independence Anniversary of Liberia in Monrovia...yesterday

Muslim-Muslim Ticket: How Akande's Book Put a Lie to Tinubu’s Denial

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

In spite of recent efforts by the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Bola Tinubu, to push back on his belief in a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, a book recently launched by his political ally, Chief Bisi Akande, may have put the lie to the former Lagos state governor’s denial.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, while speaking on Arise Television last week, had disclosed that his point of disagreement with Tinubu had always been his insistence on a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“Together with Asiwaju, we formed Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and I was given a ticket in Lagos and he insisted to be my running mate and I said no, I am not going to have a Muslim-Muslim ticket and because of that he switched his support to the late Umaru Yar’Adua and that was the departing point,” Atiku had said.

But Tinubu had responded to the former vice president, stating that indeed he (Tinubu) was offered the running mate position by Atiku in 2007, because it was in Atiku’s political interests to do so.

“Let me say openly that Atiku offered me the vice presidential ticket in 2007. Let me also say that my religion has not changed. When he offered the position to me, I was a Muslim and I believe he was aware of my religious faith at the time.

“Atiku has no business raising the issue of a Muslim-Muslim ticket except as a hypocrite. Perhaps he

believes people have forgotten his antics during the 1993 election...When it benefitted him personally, Atiku did not see anything wrong with Muslim-Muslim ticket,” he had stated in a riposte.

But a check by THISDAY indicated that Akande actually disclosed in his book titled: ‘My Participations,' published recently by Gaskia Media Limited, that while forming the Action Congress (AC), the understanding then was that Atiku would run on a joint ticket with Tinubu as his running mate.

Also, contrary to Tinubu’s statement that Atiku was drafted into the party without being a founding member, Akande had alluded to the fact that the formation of the party was a joint effort by major stakeholders, including Atiku.

“It was the second time Tinubu was tantalisingly close to the VP slot. In 2007, we formed a party, the AC, with Abubakar Atiku. We agreed that Atiku should be our presidential candidate and we had the understanding that he would run with Bola Tinubu.

“I was the chairman of the AC. One day, after we had nominated Atiku as our presidential candidate, one young man came and gave me a form from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). I told him I could not sign a blank form and that I, as the chairman, must know the name that would be filled in it,” he stated.

Akande also hinted that his reluctance to sign the necessary documents during the entire drama was because the forms eventually sent to him came without the name

of a running mate to Atiku.

He stressed that even if Atiku wasn’t favourably disposed to a joint ticket with Tinubu, he should have at least, picked another person from the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

“The young man, Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, must have been the organising right hand man of Atiku. He was an active person from Kano.

The following morning, he came again with Lawan Kaita.

“Kaita begged me and said it was Ben Obi whom Atiku had chosen as his running mate behind our

back. So, I signed the form because I believed as the candidate, Atiku had the right to choose his running mate. If I refused to sign, that would create a crisis,” Akande explained in his autobiography.

In the book, Akande also revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari declined to accept Tinubu as his running mate in 2015, thereby confirming that it was not the first time Tinubu would confront serious opposition to his vice presidential ambition on same faith ticket.

The AC had thereafter fielded

Seeks lawmakers’ confirmation of 19 nominees as INEC commissioners, CBN directors Confirms Bello as RMAFC Chairman Sunday Aborisade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday asked the Senate to confirm the appointment Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

This was contained in a letter from the President read by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, at plenary.

The letter read, “Pursuant to Section 231(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I forward for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“While I hope that the submission will be considered in the usual

expeditious manner, please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

Ariwoola’s appointment as CJN

by President Buhari was sequel to the resignation of former Chief Justice Muhammad Tanko on 27th June, 2022.

Tanko’s resignation was against the backdrop of a protest by 14 aggrieved Justices over issues of welfare.

However, the former CJN, in his resignation letter, cited health grounds as reason for his decision.

In another letter to the Senate, Buhari requested the upper chamber to confirm the nomination of Dr. Suleiman Agha Afikpo as Commissioner representing the

Bad politics cost state oil producing status, Daniel declares The Ogun State Government yesterday said there was no dispute between it and the federal government on the state of the AbeokutaSango Ota Road, stressing that the state was only concerned about how to make the road motorable for commuters.

Also, a former Governor of Ogun State, Mr. Gbenga Daniel has blamed what he described as "bad politics" for the failure of the state to assume oil-producing status.

Commenting further on the Abeokuta-Sango Ota Road, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, made the clarification against comments

by the Ogun State Governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun on the neglect of the road 15 years after the award of contract for its reconstruction.

According to Talabi, the relationship between the state and the federal government remains cordial, saying that the move was to find a lasting solution to the deplorable condition of sections of the road.

He added that both governments in the past had looked at some issues together and taken turns to find solutions.

"What is happening is that the road is already contracted out and so it makes it difficult to go into a contracted road. On the source of funding, in recent times, the governor had personally delivered financial

He stressed that with Atiku, the belief was that the party would be strong in the north, but because of the majority of PDP supporters in the South-east and the South-south, it would face more resistance in that area.

“Sequn Osoba, Niyi Adebayo, and Lam Adesina had earlier met Atiku and we proposed to him our choice of Tinubu, and he promised to come back to us. He gave us a date. On that date, we all assembled.

Atiku came with Audu Ogbe, Tom Ikimi and Usman Bugaje.

Buhari Asks Senate to Confirm Ariwoola as Substantive CJN

Ogun SSG Says No Rift Between State, FG on Abeokuta-Sango Road James Sowole in Abeokuta

Atiku, who had at the time just defected from the PDP, following his fallout with his then boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, who never hid his disdain for the idea of Atiku succeeding him.

According to Akande, despite the pressure mounted by the leaders of the party, including former Ogun State Governor, Mr Segun Osoba; ex-Ekiti Governor, Mr Niyi Adebayo and a one-time Governor of Oyo State, the late Lam Adesina, Atiku never gave them his word on the matter until he picked Obi.

options to the Minister of Works, but they said not, that it was not going to work.

“We made another, they said it was not going to work and we did the third. We have moved around all the agencies that can support those options and they are in line.

"We are not aware that those options are not acceptable, but it would be that the Minister had an advance knowledge of that, but that was not communicated to us. I am sure those grey areas will be sorted out in no time.

"What I want us to know is that people find it difficult to differentiate between state and federal government roads," he added.

Talabi said the state government

had commenced work on the bad portions of the Sango-Ota-Ijoko road to ease the suffering of commuters on the road.

According to the SSG, reconstruction work would move towards Akute on the border with Lagos in the coming weeks.

He said: "On that Sango-Ota-Ijoko road, there were options to use tax credit to fund the reconstruction and we found somebody with a tax credit suitable enough to fund the road. And if there is a gap, we are prepared to fill those gaps and that has been communicated to the various ministries involved.

“Discussions are going on between the governor and the minister and I Continued on Page 43

south-east zone at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

He explained that the request was in accordance with the provision of Section 3(2) of the Hajj Commission Act. Cap. 321, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.

Meanwhile, Buhari also wrote the Senate to confirm 19 nominees as Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The confirmation request to the upper chamber was contained in a letter dated 25th July, 2022.

The letter was read at plenary by the Senate President.

Buhari in the letter said the request for the confirmation of the nominees was in accordance with the Provisions of Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

He explained that the nomination of five Resident Electoral Commissioners are for renewal, while the other 14 are fresh appointments.

The nominees for confirmation included: Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa - Renewal); Obo O. Effanga (Cross River - Renewal); Alh. Umar Ibrahim (Taraba - Renewal); Dr. Agboke Mutiu Olaleke (Ogun - Renewal); and Prof. Samuel E. Egwu (Kogi - Renewal).

Others are: Onyeka Pauline Ugochi (Imo); Prof. Muhammad Lawal Bashir (Sokoto); Prof. Ayobami Salami (Oyo); Amb. Zango Abdussamadu Abdu (Katsina); Mrs. Queen Elizabeth Agwu (Ebonyi); and Dr. Agundu Oliver Tersoo (Benue).

Also to be confirmed are: Yomere Gabriel Oritsemlebi (Delta); Prof.

Yahaya Makarfi Ibrahim (Kaduna); Dr. Nura Ali (Kano); Agu Sylvia Uchenna (Enugu); Ahmed Yushau Garki (FCT); Mr. Hudu Yunusa (Bauchi); Prof. Uzochukwu Ike-

mefuna Chijioke (Anambra); and Mohammed B. Nura (Yobe).

Buhari Seeks Senate Confirmation of Four New CBN Directors

In a related development, the president yesterday asked the Senate to confirm his nominees for appointment as non-executive directors of the Board of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The request was contained in a letter dated 21st July, 2022, and read at the start of plenary by Lawan.

The president in the letter explained that the request to confirm the nominees was made in accordance with Section 10(3) (a) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2007.

The nominees for confirmation included: Prof. Mike Idiahi Obadan (South-south), Prof. Justitia Odinakachukwu Nnabuko (Southeast), Prof. Ummu Ahmed Jalingo (North-east) and Mr. Adeola Adetunji (South-west).

Senate Confirms Bello as RMAFC Chairman

However, the Senate yesterday confirmed Mohammed Bello as Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

Bello’s confirmation was sequel to the consideration of a report by the Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs.

The report was presented by the Panel's Chairman, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi.

Adetunmbi said, “From the available documents and the presentation made to the Committee, the nominee satisfies the requirement for appointment as the Chairman of RMAFC.

WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

NPC LEADERSHIP VISITS ABIODUN...

L-R: Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Elizabeth Uller Mueller; Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and the Federal Commissioner representing Ogun State in National Population Commission (NPC), Oluwaseyi Aderinokun after a courtesy visit by the leadership of the NPC to the Governor at Abeokuta…recently

Buhari to ECOWAS Leaders: Free, Transparent Polls Panacea for Peace, Stability in W’Africa Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has told his fellow leaders in West Africa that free, transparent and credible elections are the panacea for peace and stability in the sub-region.

He, therefore called on West African leaders to do all within their powers to ensure that elections are conducted in their countries in an atmosphere of trust, freedom and transparency.

This, he said would be the

only way the sub-region would be insulated from the scourge of unconstitutional take overs that reared their heads in three countries recently.

Buhari made this call yesterday in Monrovia, in a goodwill message to the Government and people of Liberia as he joined other world leaders on the occasion of the 175th Independence Anniversary of the West African nation.

According to the president, democracy and good governance must take its roots in Africa to

Aviation Fuel: No Immediate Solution to Multi-pronged Crises, Sirika Tells Airline Operators Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has said there are no immediate solutions to the multi-pronged crises rocking Nigeria's aviation sector The minister who held an emergency meeting with the Airline Operators Association of Nigeria (AON) in Abuja, yesterday, stated that the variables impacting the crises in the aviation sector were beyond the industry's control thus, "there is no immediate solution."

He maintained that there was no short term solution because of the variables involved, stressing that it was a global challenge.

He noted that the global energy crises was real, adding: "Today there is aviation fuel problem all over the world. From America to New Zealand. It is aggravating in Nigeria because we don't produce the product. It's aggravated also because the foreign exchange is scarce in Nigeria because the source of earning the foreign exchange also has dwindled."

Sirika reiterated that the federal government had in the past sourced 10,000 metric tonnes of aviation fuel for the airlines, adding that the government was willing to do more.

According to him, "As we speak, the government is in the process of finding a permanent solution to this issue and some of the solutions includes: importation of the product at appropriate price, accelerating the refurbish-

ment of our refineries and also wait for the coming on stream of Dangote Refinery to boost supply of the product, thus he submitted that it cannot be soon."

He further said, "So when you ask how soon, I wouldn't know when Dangote will come on stream, I wouldn't know how soon the refineries will be filled, I wouldn't know when imports would become sufficient. But the government is working towards all these to happen."

He also promised to meet with relevant stakeholders including the Central Bank of Nigeria so that the airlines could access dollars at the official market rate rather than the black market rate.

In his remarks, the President, AON, Alhaji Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina said the aviation fuel crises began from N180 per litre and now it's at about N1000 per litre.

He also said the forex crises was a huge burden on the industry.

Speaking in same vein, the Vice President of AON, Mr. Allen Oyeama, said the association was satisfied with government’s intervention in the Industry.

He also agreed that the solution was not in the short-term, stating: "It is not easy to give a timeline to issues like this because the challenge is global. Even the American airlines are threatened too. It’s not only Nigeria. Which is why we are pleading with the government. But we are pleased so far."

sustain peace, stability and development, even as he urged leaders to redouble their efforts to guarantee the irreversibility of democracy.

He said: “I would like to use the opportunity of this event to address an important issue affecting three countries in the ECOWAS region - Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

“All the three nations have national elections in 2023. In Nigeria, we are working towards a free, fair, transparent, credible and acceptable outcome of elections and their results, it is important and necessary for all our countries to key into these resolves as they are indispensable to peace and stability in our countries and sub-region.

“The deepening of democracy and good governance are essential antidotes to check-mate unconstitutional change of governments

as we sadly witnessed within the last three years in three countries within our sub-region. We must strengthen our efforts to guarantee the irreversibility of democracy in our sub-region and Africa."

Buhari recalled Nigeria’s leading roles that pulled Liberia back from its fratricidal insurrection in the 90s, adding that his presence at the celebrations underscored his strong belief in cementing existing bilateral ties.

“Nigeria’s contributions to the survival and safety of Liberia are well known. The dark period of your country’s civil war from 1989 to 1997, was a period that Nigeria invested hugely for peace in Liberia and indeed stability in the rest of the ECOWAS sub-region. May those dark days never re-surface in our countries and sub-region,” he added.

He commended his Liberian counterpart, George Weah, for

his demonstration of love for the country and the pursuance of peace, unity and progress, as evidenced by people-oriented projects executed with the sole purpose of taking the country to greater heights within the limited resources available.

While urging the Liberian leader to do more, Buhari assured him of Nigeria’s continued support in this regard.

“Your Excellency’s policy of development launched in 2018 as well as the recently launched youth empowerment program, targeted at comprehensively addressing the problems of youth restiveness in Liberia and equally aimed at rescuing the disadvantaged youths (ZOGOS in local parlance) from drug addictions and other forms of social vices and transforming them into useful members of the Liberian society, are clearly very appropriate policies to lift up the

most vulnerable.

“Permit me to assure you and all Liberians that Nigeria, as a good partner and a dependable ally, would continue to support you in these efforts, within the limit of our resources.

“This brings to the fore, the need for strengthening and broadening the levels of collaboration and cooperation between our two countries, both bilaterally and multilaterally, within the ECOWAS, AU and the UN, in order to adequately tackle the common national, sub-regional and global challenges.”

Also speaking, Liberian President, Weah, thanked Buhari and other West African leaders for their attendance and to Nigeria’s president in particular, he said, “thank you Mr. President and the good people of Nigeria. Without your support we would not have had peace.”

Water Bill: Lawmakers Debunk Alleged Move by Northern Lawmakers to Impeach Gbajabiamila Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has debunked report that northern lawmakers were planning to impeach the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila over the controversial Water Resources Bill.

An online news blog had reported that northern lawmakers who were bent on making sure the bill was passed have already asked the Clerk to the House to prepare an 'addendum' and plan to take their counterparts from the southern part of the country unawares, to ensure the bill successfully passes through second reading.

The controversial Executive Bill which was rejected in the 8th and 9th Assembly was again reintroduced for first reading on June 29, to the anger of some concerned lawmakers and stakeholders.

However, at plenary yesterday, a member, Hon. Sarki Adar raised a point of order on personal explanation notifying his colleagues of the rumored impeachment.

Reacting, the House Leader, Hon. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa said the northern lawmakers never contemplated such thing, adding

that the publication was malicious and not true.

Doguwa said, "It was only malicious, baseless, mischievously and unfounded. This House in every aspect of its ramifications had never had an instance where we contemplated impeaching our able Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

“The House of Representatives under the leadership of Gbajabiamila has been a very stable House, united and we are even out to join hands with the executive arm of government to see to the development of our dear nation, Nigeria.

"The issue of insecurity as raised by my very good friend, the leader of the opposition is one major problem that we must have acknowledged and must also give it to the fact that the government is not resting on its oars.

“Mr. President is doing the best he could, the Armed Forces are also joining forces with the government to make sure that this thing comes to an end and it is my commitment that this government will fight insecurity to its knees."

Also, Chairman of the Committee on rules and business, Hon. Hassan Fulata explained that bills

has procedure and the passage of any of them can't be imposed on anyone.

He described the insinuation that the northern lawmakers instructed the clerk to bring it after southern members might have left the chamber as quite unfortunate, adding that the northern members were solidly behind Gbajabiamila.

On his part, the Minority Leader Hon Ndudi Elumelu described the publication as ridiculous, saying that the idea to impeach Gbajabiamila was dead on arrival.

Elumelu said the lawmakers were more worried about the insecurity bedeviling the nation.

He said, "I know my colleagues whether APC, PDP or any other party, it’s not what we are thinking about. It’s very unfortunate that people will want to sponsor that kind of stupid information. “Nigeria is under siege; presidential guards were attacked yesterday. Recently Kuje prison was evaded. Also the minister of education just asked the students to go back home.

“We don’t even know if here will be invaded, the insecurity in the country should our concern.

Whoever is dreaming about the

impeachment of the speaker it remains a dream, it’s dead on arrival."

In his contribution, Chairman of the Committee on Water Resources and the Bill presenter, Hon. Sada Soli urged journalists to pick the water Act of United Kingdom, Korea, USA and other jurisdictions and compare it with the ones in Nigeria.

In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase who presided over the plenary session, while noting that the 9th House was united, referred the matter to the committee on ethics and privileges to look into it.

Also at the plenary, the lawmakers passed through second reading, "Bill for an Act to Amend the Pension Reform Act, No 4, 2014 to make Provisions for Establishment of the Federal Capital Territory Administration Staff Pension Bureau and the Federal Capital Territory Area Councils Staff Pension Bureau, for effective Pension Administration, Management and Service Delivery; and for Related Matters." The proposed legislation was sponsored by Wase and Hon. Abubakar Hassan Fulata.

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ELEVEN ACROSS NIGERIA, NLC PROTESTS ASUU’S CONTINUED STRIKE ACTION society groups took to the streets in their different states to air their displeasure.

LAGOS:

In Lagos, the protesters converged on Ikeja Under at about 7.am and marched to the State Governor’s office, disrupting vehicular movements around the Ikeja metropolis.

They displayed several placards with inscriptions calling for the immediate resumption of the striking lecturers, and the resignation of the President, Muhammadu Buhari or he fixed the country.

The protesters, through the state Chairman of the NLC, Funmi Sessi, however, delivered a letter to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House Ikeja to convey their grievances to the federal government.

The letter was received by Lagos State Commissioner for Establishment Training and Pension, Mrs Ajibola Ponle.

Reading the letter, Sessi rejected the idea of an Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System and argued that it was one of the ploys by government officials to rob tertiary institution staff in the country.

Sessi also condemned the continuous closure of universities and demanded: “We need the Federal Government to take the necessary steps that could lead to the dissolution of the dispute and by extension, end the current strike,” noting that the government’s responses were discouraging and it was what led to a protest in the 36 states in the country.

Her words: “Our statement is simple. This is just a warning action.

If the government fails to conclude all the negotiation and agreement with all the workers in our tertiary education within the frame of two weeks, they will witness more protests and rallies all over the country, they will also witness the annoyance, anger and frustration of Nigerians. This government has pushed so many Nigerians into depression. We say enough is enough, we can no longer bear this hardship again.”

Responding, Ponle thanked leaders

of the union for leading a “peaceful rally” in support of ASUU and the students and said, “It is a pleasure to receive this. I will convey your letter to Mr Governor to address on his return. I am sure he will attend to every single matter that is here by the power that he holds as Lagos State Governor. He will convey the letter to the president,” she pledged.

Speaking at the protest venue in Alausa, Falana (SAN) lamented the condition of things in the country and advised the president to resign his position if he was tired of governing.

He slammed the government for allowing the issue to degenerate to the extent of a nationwide strike and threatened there would be a total showdown in the country if the federal government failed to address the grievances of the concerned unions, most especially, ASUU.

BENUE:

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who identified with the protesters, urged the federal government to honour the agreement it voluntarily entered with ASUU for the union to call of its strike.

Governor, while addressing members of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC Benue Statechapter, described as unacceptable, the inability of the federal government to resolve its issues with ASUU, resulting in students staying at home for more than five months.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Tony Ijohor, SAN, said the Benue State Government, was in full support of the sympathy protest by the NLC as well as other actions it intends to embark upon, while promising to take their grievances to appropriate quarters.

Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Benue, Comrade Godwin Anya, said, the union had decided to take over the issue between ASUU and the federal government, because of the insensitivity on the part of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

EDO:

Business activities, for the better part yesterday, was suspended in Edo State, as the labour movement took to the streets in solidarity protest against federal government's perceived insensitive over the five months strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions in the university system.

During the protest, there was gridlock in various parts of Benin City, Edo State capital, as well as heavy security presence in various parts especially, at the main campus of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and its Ekheuan campus as the organised labour and Civil Society Organisations staged the peaceful protest.

At the Government House, Acting State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Odion Olaye, said, "We are here in solidarity with our affiliate unions in our universities as directed by the national leadership of NLC through the emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting we held on June 30th.

"We believe there is need for the federal government to take action on this, which is the reason for this letter from the National President of NLC to be submitted to the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Neghoghase Obaseki."

Receiving the protest letter, Obaseki, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Osaogbovo Iyoha, lamented the inability of the federal government to resolve the five months old ASUU, promising that the state government would look into the internal strike involving tertiary institutions in the state with a view to fixing a meeting date with the unions.

FCT:

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that the second day of its national protest against the closure of Universities in the country would hold in Abuja, at the Unity Fountain, starting from 7.30 am today.

According to a public notice issued yesterday by Comrade Ishmail Bello, the congress directed all affiliate unions and workers to mobilise in

larger numbers and to assemble at the Unity Fountain, venue of the mass protest.

RIVERS:

Workers in Rivers State under the umbrella of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State, in collaboration with the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) lecturers and students, yesterday, protested against the federal government’s reluctance to addressing ASUU’s demand.

THISDAY observed that the protesters in their placards at about 9am yesterday, marched from the NLC office in D/Line axis of Port Harcourt, through Ikwerre Road to the State Government House, Port Harcourt, insisting that the federal government should respect the agreement reached with ASUU years ago and reopen the Nigerian universities.

The protesters also declared, “No School for Nigerian children, who has been at home for over five months, no elections in the country.”

Chairman of NLC in the state, Mrs Beatrice Itubo, said Nigerian workers were concerned over the condition of ASUU members and university students in the country, hence the protest.

“We are concerned. It is our matter.

The children that are at home are our children. The lecturers and other principal officers of Nigerian universities are our people. They are all members of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

“We are angry about how things are going in this country. Inflation is at highest level; everything has gone the other way. No security and now, no education. So, we are saying enough is enough,” she said.

Rivers State Chairman, Civil Society Organisations, Enefaa Georgewill and Leader of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Rivers State, Levi Sam Okuru, also spoke and pleaded that the federal government to implement the agreement it had with ASUU, so they could to their campuses.

Receiving the protest letter from the NLC leadership, Dr George

Nweke, Permanent Secretary in charge of Special Services in the office of the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, noted that the agitation was not just for the students but for all Nigerians welfare.

KWARA:

Kwara State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) joined the national body of the union to stage a peaceful protest yesterday along major streets of Ilorin, the state capital to press home the demands of ASUU by the federal government.

Speaking with journalists at the NLC Secretariat in Ilorin, state chairman of the union, Comrade Aliyu Isa-Ore, said the rally was organised in solidarity with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) members to press home their demand on the need for the federal government to honour their agreement.

He said the federal government had signed an agreement with ASUU some year back on university revitalization and other sundry issues but without any implementation.

In their separate remarks the Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) University of Ilorin, Professor Moyosore Ajao and the Chairman of the National Association of Academic Technologists Union, Comrade Awolola Femi, commended the NLC for supporting their course.

The ASUU Unilorin chairman Prof. Saliu Ajao, also noted that university workers demands was legitimate.

KOGI:

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has pledged to join hands with critical stakeholders and other governors to meet with the President Muhammadu Buhari to find lasting solution to the protracted ASUU strike.

Bello, who was represented by the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Edward Onoja, disclosed this while receiving the members of Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, who were in the solidarity rally with ASUU

NIGERIA’S EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT SHRINKS FROM $35.37M TO $376,655 The slump in the ECA came as allocation to the federal, state and local governments increased by N121.624 billion as FAAC shared a total sum of N802.407 billion for June.

The sum of N680.783 billion was shared in the preceding month of May and N656, 602 in April.

However, the rise in June allocation was attributed to tremendous increases in Companies Income Tax (CIT) and Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), although oil and gas royalties declined marginally.

The communiqué explained that the N802.407 billion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N608.580 billion and distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N193.827 billion.

According to the communique, total deductions for cost of collection was N44.606 billion and deductions for transfers, savings, refunds and 13 per cent derivation to Anambra State was a total sum of N373.200.

The share of the federal government from the total distributable revenue of N802.407 billion was N321.859 billion, the states received N245.418 billion, and the local governments got N182.330 billion.

The sum of N52.799 billion was shared to the relevant states as 13 per cent derivation revenue.

The communique revealed that gross statutory revenue of N1,012.065 billion was received for the month of June 2022.

This was higher than the sum of N589.952 billion received in the previous month by N422.113 billion.

From the N608.580 billion distributable statutory revenue, the federal government received N292.785 billion, the states received N148.505 billion and the local governments received N114.491 billion.

The sum of N52.799 billion was shared to the relevant states as 13 per cent derivation revenue.

In the month of June 2022, the gross revenue available from VAT was N208.148 billion, which was

lower than the N213.179 billion available in the month of May 2022 by N5.031 billion.

From the N193.827 billion distributable VAT revenue, the federal government received N29.074 billion, states received N96.914 billion and the local government councils received N67.839 billion.

According to the communiqué, in the month of June 2022, CIT and PPT recorded tremendous increases, while import duty, oil and gas royalties increased marginally.

Excise duties decreased significantly while VAT decreased marginally.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the National Assembly yesterday held a consultative meeting with the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed over the draft 2023-2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper(MTEF/FSP).

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase led key leaders from the two chambers to the meeting which held behind closed doors at the Senate wing of the National Assembly.

Also in attendance were the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba and heads of government revenue generating agencies such as NNPC Limited, Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria Custom Service and also the Director General of the Debt Management Office.

In his opening remarks, the Senate president said the meeting was at the instance of the Finance minister.

Lawan said the discussion on the 2023-2025 MTEF/FSP, in a way, was to kick start the budget process for 2023.

"We take this very seriously because we have established a trend and we want to keep the trend of processing the budget

and pass it before the end of December. Then Mr. President, on the side of the Executive, assents to it before the end of December as well.

"This is, of course, very important to us. For us, this is our last MTEF/FSP, because our tenure will come to an end on 11th June, 2023.

"We will be as committed as we have ever been and probably we will be more committed to ensure that we work with you to process the MTEF/FSP and the budget as well so that we continue with the trend that we intend to leave as a legacy for the 10th session of the National Assembly by the Grace of God. "So that the 10th National Assembly will have something to build on and serve as the bridge between the ninth and the tenth National Assembly.

"The partnership between the two arms of government on the budget particularly, has been very rewarding.

"This year, we expect the budget estimates to be presented between the last week of September and the first week of October," Lawan said.

Speaking in a similar vein, Wase who stood in for the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila expressed the readiness of the House to work together and synergise with relevant stakeholders with a view to ensuring that, "we give the best for our country and we shall do that with the utmost sense of duty and with all patriotism.”

Restructure Your Debts Urgently, IMF Tells Nigeria, Others

Meanwhile, IMF has advised Nigeria and other African countries to as a matter of urgency take proactive measures to restructure their debts.

The Washington-based institution also retained Nigeria’s projected economic growth for 2022 at 3.4 per cent and that of 2023 at 3.2 per cent, which was an increase of 0.1 per cent compared with the 3.1 per cent

it had projected for the country in its World Economic Outlook (WEO) in April.

This was disclosed during the virtual launch of the IMF’s WEO for July 2022 titled, “Gloomy and More Uncertain,’ yesterday.

Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, last week sounded the alarm bells as she revealed that the country’s debt service cost in the first quarter (Q1) 2022 was N1.94 trillion, N310 billion higher than the actual revenue received during the period.

Elevated debt level has also been the trend in other countries in Africa.

Responding to a question on the rise and looming debt crisis in Africa, the Chief Economist and Director, Research Department, IMF, Mr. Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said: “On a number of countries when you have a combination of shocks and we've experienced shocks upon shocks. We have the pandemic, we have the impact of the war, and elevated energy and food prices that are hitting a number of countries that don't have really a lot of fiscal space and many of the low-income countries.

“They can get into a situation where their debts are assessed as unsustainable meaning that there are financing gaps and the financing gaps need to be closed and that require having the creditors and the country negotiate a reduction in the claims on the country. That's what the debt restructuring process means.”

Speaking further, the IMF official said: “And that process is absolutely vital because if you don't have a reduction in the claims of debt restructuring, then the country is still saddled with unsustainable liabilities that it has to service and is unable to.

“So that process is one that also unlocks once we have restored debt sustainability. It unlocks access to IMF resources and that's the point at which the IMF can come in and provide

some financial assistance.”

According to him, there was need for governments in Africa to adopt proactive measures in addressing their debt challenges.

He added: “So that's a critical step and a number of countries are actually currently under discussions to reduce their external debt and we can anticipate that others will be doing so.

“It is important that this process happens as quickly as possible and that countries may be proactive in terms of seeking a debt resolution, maybe ahead rather than waiting until it's too late. That is because when it's too late, then you really have no policy options and no room.

But it's an important part of the process.

“The IMF has a role to play and we are trying to help both in terms of facilitating debt resolution and also providing the financial assistance that we can, once this is established.”

On his part, the Division Chief, Research Department, Mr. Daniel Leigh said: “The main challenge that we are focusing on is indeed the risk of debt distress.”

The latest WEO further stated that tighter financial conditions could trigger debt distress in emerging market and developing economies.

It states: “As advanced economy central banks raise interest rates to fight inflation, financial conditions worldwide will continue to tighten. The resulting increase in borrowing costs will, without correspondingly tighter domestic monetary policies, put pressure on international reserves and cause depreciation versus the dollar, inducing balance sheet valuation losses among economies with dollar-denominated net liabilities.

“Such challenges will come at a time when government financial positions in many countries are already stretched, implying less room for fiscal policy support, with 60 percent of low-income countries in or at high risk of government debt distress.”

to the Government House, Lokoja, yesterday.

He lamented that the prolonged ASUU strike has inadvertently affected the academic programme of the various institutions in the country as well as students.

State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Onu Edoka explained that they were in solidarity protest with the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the plight of the millions of Nigerian students, who have been at home in last six months.

ONDO:

Ondo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), also joined its counterparts across the country and mobilised its members for the two-day nationwide protest by the NLC. Affiliate unions from the Federal Union of University of Technology, Akure (FUTA); Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) and Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa (OAUSTECH) also joined NLC in the protest.

The protesters, who converged at the Military Cenotaph, Adegbemile, Akure, match through A -Division, through NEPA roundabout to the governor's office, Alagbaka Akure, chatting solidarity songs.

National President of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) and Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Ondo state, Comrade Sunday Adeleye, who claimed the protest was in solidarity with ASUU, said, "ASUU isn't asking for something selfish. They are only asking for the government to attend to the needs of public universities among others but the Federal government has not yielded to its demands."

Also, Chairman of Academic Staff Union of University, FUTA, Prof Peter Awopetu, who said government had been insensitive and callous alleged that government has spent billions of naira on politics and power game but nothing on education.

ANAMBRA:

Yesterday’s solidarity protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in support of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) created an atmosphere of chaos in Awka, Anambra State.

Though members of affiliate unions of NLC came out for the protest, members of ASUU expressed displeasure about the organisation of the exercise. The solidarity march which started at Aroma Junction ended within 20 minutes, to the displeasure of members of ASUU. Some members of ASUU, who spoke to THISDAY on condition of anonymity said, the NLC compromised in holding the solidarity march, adding that the plan was to block the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, so as to make impact.

But the Chairman of NLC in the State, Mrs Chinwe Orizu, who addressed members of the union called on the federal government to see reasons to open the universities for members of ASUU and students to return to school, as well as appealed to ASUU members to stop the blame game, describing it as distraction to the main protest.

ADAMAWA:

Adamawa State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), joined the protest and proclaimed: enough is enough.

State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Emma Fashe, while addressing workers of various unions in the state at the NLC secretariat in Yola, the state capital, said the labour embarked on two days solidarity protest to give ASUU support over its demands from the federal government.

"Our children have stayed long enough at home, that is why we are joining the nation protest across Nigeria," he said The protesters were received by the Head of Service, Mr. Amos Edgar on the behalf of the state governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, and said their demands would be communicated to the governor, who would in return send them to the presidency.

GOMBE:

The Gombe State chapter of the NLC, yesterday, at its solidarity protest, boasted they would occupy the Continued on page 44

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NEWS

DIRI ADDRESSING PROTESTERS IN BAYELSA...

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, addressing members of the Nigeria Labour Congress at the Government House entrance in Yenagoa during their solidarity protest with the Academic Staff Union of Universities... yesterday

House Passes Bill to Bar CBN Governor, Deputies, Directors from Partisan Politics Wants FG to adopt AU’s 'Silencing the Gun' report in tackling insecurity Calls for regulation of blocked SIM cards Extends petroleum subsidy probe to 2022 Udora Orizu and Juliet Akoje in Abuja The House of Representatives at plenary yesterday passed through second reading, a bill seeking to amend Section 11 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act 2007 to bar the Governor, Deputy Governors or Directors of the apex bank from partisan politics.

The proposed legislation tilted: "Bill for an Act to Amend Section 11 of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Act 2007 to add more Conditions for disqualification and Cessation of Appointment as Governor, Deputy Governor or Director of the Bank; and for Related Matters (HB. 2023)," was sponsored by Hon. Sada Soli (APC, Katsina).

The proposed amendment might not unconnected with the recent push by some groups for the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele to join the presidential race.

Three groups: Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Friends of Emefiele and the Emefiele Support Group had picked the N100 million All Progressives Congress (APC) expression of interest and nomination forms for the CBN Governor.

Though he didn’t join the presidential race, Emefiele had approached the Abuja Federal High Court seeking an order to prevent attempts to stop him from the 2023 Presidency.

Leading the debate on its general principles, the bill's sponsor, Soli noted that provisions of Section 11 of the principal Act states that: "a person shall not remain a governor, deputy governor or director of the bank if he is a member of any federal or state legislative house; director, officer or employee of any bank and other financial institutions."

He said the bill seeks to add more provisions to the Principal Act for disqualification of the governor, deputy governors or directors of apex bank who take part in partisan politics.

According to him, the amendment seeks to insert a new subsection (f) to read that the bank's chief shall cease to hold office if he or she is a member of a political party or involves in partisan politics.

Soli however said, the bill was intended to restore its credibility from the shock it had suffered in the cause of interpreting the existing law and not against any individual.

He said, "The governor, deputy

governor and director shall cease to hold office in the bank if he is (a) incapable of carrying out his duties, (b) convicted of any criminal offense, (c) guilty of any serious misconduct in relation to his duties under this act, (d) disqualified from practicing his profession in Nigeria, (e) becomes bankrupt. Then (e) in the act becomes (g) to add in the principal act by inserting a section 11 (f) “if he’s a member of a political party or a partisan, or involved in partisan politics.

"This amendment is no prejudice to anybody but because the Act was tested and it was found weak, and therefore we need to strengthen the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as the lender of last resort, the bank of federal republic of Nigeria to restore its credibility from the shock it has suffered in the cause of interpreting the law, basically because of the absence of what I am trying to amend.

“Why I am I doing this?

Because there was a time CBN Governor went to court seeking for an interpretation whether he can participate in partisan politics.

We need to address that. Today the credibility of CBN in custody of sensitive election material is being questioned. It’s not against any individual but to save the integrity of CBN." Thereafter the bill was put to a voice vote by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase who presided over the session and it was passed.

Also, yesterday the House of Representatives urged the Federal

Ministry of Foreign Affairs to fully embrace and adopt the report of the 'Silencing the Guns' project aimed at silencing all illegal weapons in Africa, and as well ensure relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) key into the roadmap.

The House also urged the office of the National Security Adviser to fully adopt the report and cascade it down to other relevant security agencies.

The campaign aims to promote prevention, management and resolution of conflicts in Africa, by targeting ways to silence all illegal weapons in the continent.

In December, 2020 the African Union (AU) decided to extend the initiative until 2030.

The resolutions of the lawmakers followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Ahmed Munir, at plenary.

Moving the motion, Munir noted that, “Silencing the Guns 2030,” is a flagship roadmap project adopted in Lusaka, Zambia in 2016 by the

AU with the aim of realising a conflict-free Africa by the year 2030.

He also noted that the concept of silencing the guns was borne out of the observation that the Africa remains the scene of numerous violent conflicts that make the desired economic and political integration of the continent difficult.

"As part of the AU’s Agenda 2063, the AU sought to ensure that Africa is characterised by peace, political tolerance and good governance; concerned that initially, the roadmap was to be achieved by 2020 of which the continent fell short and the goal was further extended to 2030.

“Cognisant that peace and security matters across Africa are interwoven and the continent cannot afford to further miss the 2030 set target," he said Adopting the motion, the House mandated its Committees on National Security and Intelligence and Foreign Affairs to ensure compliance.

The House of Representatives also called on telecommunications companies to regulate the system of the blocked SIM cards due to the non-availability of National Identity Number (NIN), which still works perfectly when the sims are taken beyond the shores of Nigeria.

The resolution of the lawmakers, was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Ahmed Munir.

Moving the motion, Munir stated that since the reason for blocking SIM cards not linked to NIN was to curtail their use for unscrupulous purposes, measures needed to be put in place to ensure the cards do not work when they are roamed abroad.

He said SIM cards had been found to function perfectly when they are taken to as close as Benin Republic, Niger or Chad and roamed.

He urged the telecommunications companies to block the loopholes that make this possible as the

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has fixed Saturday August 6, 2022, for its mop-up Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for candidates who could not participate in the examinations during the period of the exercise for some verified reasons.

Information contained in JAMB weekly bulletin indicated that the decision was as a result of JAMB’s determination to give equal opportunity to all candidates who are desirous of tertiary education.

It explained: “JAMB, after every UTME exercise review

Continued online

Gombe Governor Sets Up 11-Member Pension Reform Committee Segun Awofadeji in Gombe As part of efforts to address the lingering challenge of pension and gratuity payments for retirees in Gombe State, the Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has constituted an 11- member committee to work out modalities for a workable reform of the State

Pension Administration System.

According to a press statement by the Information Officer, SSG's Office, Government House, Gombe, Joshua Danmalam, which was made available to newsmen yesterday, the Committee, headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof.

Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi would

review all issues associated with Contributory Pension Scheme for efficient implementation.

It listed members of the Committee to include the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Zubair Umar and his Finance and Information counterparts, Mohammed Gambo Magaji and Meshach Audu Lauco.

UTME: JAMB Fixes August 6th for Mop-up Examination Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

reason for the blocking was apt and should not malfunction in this manner, allowing kidnappers and terrorists to take advantage of the loophole. He also urged the Office of the National Security Adviser to ensure this is dealt with forthwith.

The House of Representatives also yesterday extended the mandate of its Ad-hoc Committee on Petroleum Products Subsidy Regime to cover the period of 2013 to 2022, as well as subsidy payments and forex allocations from 2013 to date as against its earlier scope that the investigation should cover from 2017 to 2021.

This was sequel to the adoption of a motion on the 'Need for Extension of the Mandate of the Special Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate the Petroleum Products Subsidy Regime (Pursuant to Order One, Rule1(2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives moved

by Hon. Abubakar Hassan Fulata.

various reports from officials in the field and video footages of the examination. The reviews are done by team of experts, with a view to detecting activities subversive of the examination process.

“It’s after all the reports have been collated and considered that the management would take critical decisions as to the necessity or otherwise of a mop-up examination for affected candidates.

“So, after a thorough analysis of the conduct of the 2022 UTME in 10 centres spread across five states of the federation where examination malpractice was established to had taken place, it became necessary to cancel

the results of all the candidates who sat the examination in the affected 10 centres.

“The board took cognisance of the fact that some innocent candidates unfortunately sat their examination at these centres.

Consequently, all candidates who sat the UTME in the affected centres have been rescheduled for the mop-up UTME. “It should be noted that candidates who, for whatever reasons, were absent at those centres are not eligible for the mop-up examination.

Other categories of candidates rescheduled for the mop-up UTME are:142 candidates who could not take the UTME due to finger-print

peculiarities; 28 candidates who could not take the UTME due to technical problems in some centres, and 1,799 candidates with BVM failure who were recaptured at the centres.”

The board however, affirmed its zero tolerance for examination, saying it would do all within its powers to combat it.

It also reiterated its avowed commitment to the conduct of credible matriculation examinations into all tertiary institutions in the country, while ensuring the sanctity of its examination process towards sustaining the integrity that the society has come to associate with the Board.

Other members are the State Auditor General, Muhammed Buba Gombe; Auditor General for Local Government, Mr. Mahdi M. Aliyu; the state Accountant General, Dr. Aminu Yuguda; Permanent Secretary, Special Services and Political Affairs in the SSG's office, Muhammed Umar; Director State Pensions Bureau, Abubakar Mohammed Jungudo; Executive Secretary, Local Government Pension Board, Suleiman Mohammed while Usman Malam is to serve as Secretary to the Committee.

The Committee which had its inaugural meeting at the office the Secretary to the State Government yesterday, assured of its commitment to come up with the various pension system for the state within the shortest possible time for Governor Yahaya's consideration and implementation for the benefits of civil servants at both the state and local governments levels.

Yahaya's administration had been battling with the payment of pension and gratuity arrears it inherited from the past administration where billions of naira had been expended in the last three years.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022

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MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

08033025611 SMS ONLY

In Biography, Gbajabiamila Relishes Tinubu’s Political Dexterity Udora Orizu highlights some take away from a book on the political sojourn of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila

Obasanjo

A

book on the political journey of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, was presented recently at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.

The event, which was part of the activities to mark the Speaker’s 60th birthday, was chaired by veteran journalist and former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, and graced by dignitaries who showered accolades on Gbajabiamila, describing him as an exemplary patriotic leader. The two-in-one event was also for the unveiling of the ‘Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI)’ piloted by Gbajabiamila to mentor young Nigerians on a career in politics, particularly grooming them for legislative roles in the Nigeria of the future.

The 327-page book written by Dr. Charles Omole and Musa Abdullahi Krishi entitled: ‘Mr Speaker’ The Legislative Life, Service and Resilience of Femi Gbajabiamila”, chronicled the political sojourn of Gbajabiamila. It presents to the world his many battles in a way that shows a relentless spirit and persistence that should encourage Nigerians and NonNigerians alike that the country is full of principled people with sound political minds, yet full of love and empathy for the people.

Gbajabiamila, is probably the first lawmaker to have occupied almost all positions in the green chamber (Minority Whip, Minority Leader, House Leader and now Speaker).

He said the biography was not just about himself, but also a tribute to everyone who has helped him get to where he is today particularly the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Some Shocking Revelations from the Book In an interview with the authors, Gbajabiamila narrated the role played by Tinubu that led to his decision to reject the offer to become the Deputy Speaker in the 7th Assembly.

He recalled how the former Governor of Lagos State, stopped him from taking up the position of Deputy Speaker to current Sokoto State governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal whose election as Speaker was orchestrated by him.

According to him, Tambuwal and other members approached the ACN leaders and suggested that he should become the Deputy Speaker from the Minority.

While everyone was excited about it, he said Tinubu called for caution and stood his ground, saying they don’t want a Deputy Speaker.

He said: “my Party (ACN) leaders had never heard of Tambuwal, they didn’t know him, but I introduced him to them. They called for an interview; they met with him; they asked questions, and that was it. I turned that campaign around because our members had closed shop once they heard of Mulikat’s earlier endorsement. Whoever my party endorsed was going to win the election, so everybody was gnashing their teeth and really

Gbajabiamila

upset, and they had closed shop until I revived that campaign again. That’s the foresight of Asiwaju, we talk about.

Later on, when people asked Asiwaju why, he said one, as Deputy Speaker, you’d just be tied to the apron strings of the Speaker, so whatever the Speaker does and does not do, you are going to be part and parcel of it, and the party will take the blame. You would have to own his credits and also own his discredits, too. He said anywhere in the world, the Minority or Opposition Leader is way beyond the Deputy Speaker.

He (Tinubu) said you’ll make it politically; you’ll make a name for yourself more than you would if you were Deputy Speaker, and he turned out to be right.”

Speaking further on the role played

by Tinubu during his tutelage period in the political space, Gbajabiamila recalled how some political leaders from Surulere Federal Constituency of Lagos State who strived to truncate his political career, were checkmated by his political godfather.

He said: “There were these leaders in my constituency; they never wanted me at every election. In fact, there was a time I walked into Asiwaju’s place at the eve of primaries, I can’t remember what year it was, and they had all gathered.

They had all gathered at Asiwaju’s place, and I just went there by chance, and they were all there, trying to nail my coffin, to ensure that I didn’t get the ticket. They even told him things that were not true. They were embarrassed when I walked in; they were shocked and embarrassed. So, I have to thank Asiwaju for believing in me, having faith and having confidence in me and in what I do.

“So, he has been a pillar of support. I remember even the election before the speakership, some were still trying to argue with Asiwaju that no I shouldn’t return. These same leaders, he told them, ‘Are you guys okay? If we get Majority now, are you not aware that we have a good chance of producing the Speaker?’

And there are many anecdotes, many instances I can give you, but I know that God used Asiwaju for me to be where

Tinubu

I am today. I hope he continues to use him,” he said.

Gbajabiamila also talked about his role during alleged third term agenda of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

The Speaker also disclosed that he was offered the sum of N100 million by promoters of the failed agenda during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure.

“My best moment as a lawmaker?

The death of Third Term. The day it was pronounced dead, because like I told you, we had sleepless nights. We were meeting; we got a place in Asokoro, hidden somewhere. We’d start our meetings sometimes at 11 at night and leave there at 4am in the morning.

Can’t remember how many of us. It was a risk to life, It was a risk to life.

So, the day it was pronounced dead, was a happy day; it was a relief for me.

I was a free man.

“Look, I was offered inducement, at that time, by one of the major proponents of Third Term, I think at this point I wouldn’t mention his name, but a major player in this country. Whilst they were offering members N50 million, I was offered double. A N100 million at that time, and you know what N100 million was, which, of course, I turned down.

We had no other job in the House except Third Term, constitutional amendment.

So, for me, unfortunately as noble as that work was, the best time was the day it died; not the Third Term itself, but the day it was killed on the floor,” Gbajabiamila disclosed Refutes Claims that He’s Stingy The Speaker responding to claims that his colleagues in the House of Representatives didn’t support him during his 2015 campaign for Speakership, because he doesn’t spend money, said, “The way I see it is that, if someone should ask you for money today and you don’t give him, you are tight-fisted. You must give, otherwise you are tight-fisted. That is their own interpretation. In fact, if you ask me for money today and I give you, you ask me for money next month and I give you, you ask me for money the

I remember even the election before the speakership, some were still trying to argue with Asiwaju that no I shouldn’t return. These same leaders, he told them, ‘Are you guys okay? If we get Majority now, are you not aware that we have a good chance of producing the Speaker?’

And there are many anecdotes, many instances I can give you, but I know that God used Asiwaju for me to be where I am today. I hope he continues to use him

third time and I don’t give you, I am tightfisted -that is the unfortunate place we’ve found ourselves in Nigeria today. It’s a culture that we ought to do something about; it is an entitlement culture and mentality, whether we like it or not. You give somebody a bad name because they don’t give you money and those whom you give money won’t tell them it’s not true. I have been returned over and over in my constituency. You cannot be tightfisted in politics and be reelected over and over again.”

Future Plans Speaking on his next plan, Gbajabiamila who will be completing his tenure as Speaker next year said he would rather return to the House and contribute his quota in whatever way, shape or form than go to the Senate and sit down as a sitting senator.

His words, “Quite candidly, my options are very limited after being the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Number 4 Citizen in Nigeria, I am an institutions person, and I believe so much in the institution of the House of Representatives. I would not want to do anything to diminish it. Therefore, after being the Number 4 Citizen, you have very limited options as to what you are going to aspire to. In life, we all aspire; we try to go higher. Even if you work in the private sector, you want to go from GM to MD and all of that; you do not want to go from GM to branch manager, so to speak, for lack of a better analogy. It is the same thing in politics, although some people can argue that whatever capacity you are called to serve, you should be able to serve.

“For me, my options are very limited, and the Senate seat was there for me to take without any problem, but I thought It would not be good for the institution -the House of Representatives -to go from being the Speaker -the Number 4 Citizen -to voluntarily by myself go and pick up a Senate seat and sit down on the floor of the Senate as a senator. You are sending a wrong. subliminal message, a very wrong message that a sitting senator Is higher than, or that it is a promotion from the Speaker to the senator when that is not the case. I will not do that to the institution -Its not for me -it is for the institution. I had to protect the institution by not sending a wrong message, that as a senator, you’re higher than the Speaker. Even as a principal officer in the Senate. you are still lower than the Speaker in terms of ranking. There was a lot of clamour, but I just was not interested in that. As you know, my principal may run for President, and I did not even think about it; it never even came up -maybe if he was not, perhaps.

I enjoy the job that I do. I borrowed a leaf from other climes that have democracies.

Like Nancy Pelosi, when she lost her seat as Speaker, she remained in the House and contributed her quota same as the Speaker before her, so that is the way I like to see it. | know the institution very well; I know the nuances, and I believe in whichever capacity, I can still contribute in my own little way.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022

POLITICS

Dousing Growing Tension in Nasarawa APC Igbawase Ukumba writes that Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has inaugurated two highpowered committees on reconciliation and strategy to reposition the ruling All progressives Congress (APC) to douse apprehension within the party in the state preparatory to the 2023 general elections.

P

erhaps, Governor Abdullahi Sule may be using the period before the 2023 general elections to calm nerves and pacify aggrieved members of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), following grievances that greeted the primary elections of the party which saw some members defecting to other political parties.

It is, therefore, imperative for the Nasarawa APC to go into the 2023 general elections united and in peace, hence the Nasarawa State governor seems to be using his experience to douse the growing apprehension within the party, especially in the wake of the recently concluded party primaries. With about eight months to the 2023 general election, that could be a long time enough for Governor Sule to use the opportunity to calm frayed nerves and all those who might have been hurt during the primary elections exercise.

It was in this vein that when hosting the first executive governor of the state and National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, while on a Sallah homage/condolence visit in the Government House, Lafia, Sule enjoined leadership of the party in the state to do everything possible to maintain what is right and what is peaceful. The Governor equally called on the personal aides of the national chairman of the party to also use the opportunity to reach out to aggrieved members of the party, and as well to avoid issues that may further cause problems for the party.

He said: “For that reason, I am happy your (Senator Adamu) Chief of Staff and other people are here. So we can use the opportunity to reach out, and to ensure that whatever we hear or we feel is going to bring some kind of problem, we try to avoid it. Because it is very important to go into this election peacefully and to come out peacefully”.

While it is normal to have grievances within a political party, especially after the conduct of party primaries, Sule felt it was also normal that leadership of the party should reach out to pacify such aggrieved members.

Sule

“People will feel aggrieved over one thing or the other and it is indeed okay. But at the end of the day, the role we play after the exercise is more important. The President has done a wonderful job by inviting the Senators and at the end of the day, those that will go, will go. But others will also come in,” the governor maintained.

Senator Adamu who was in the Government House, Lafia to pay traditional Sallah homage, as well as condole with Governor Sule, his administration, the Eggon people and the entire state on the recent passage of the Aren Eggon, Dr. Bala Abainei Angbazo, in a chat with journalists shortly after his parley with the governor, assured that despite the hues and cries that greeted the party’s primaries, nothing will stand between the APC and

victory in the forthcoming general election.

He emphasized that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC under his chairmanship would work as if the 2023 general election would be the last assignment they will handle, towards ensuring that President Muhammadu Buhari hands over to another APC president, just like Governor Sule would also hand over to another APC governor after his eight years.

According to him: “The issue of defection, it is a season for it in politics, particularly in developing countries and in Nigeria. It is no news. We don’t want to lose any member, but if a member wilfully wants to leave the party without recourse to good reasoning to following due process to get things done, to take a look at his grievances. If he chose to do that, we cannot force anybody to stay or leave the party.

“Anybody who is a member of a party is an adult and when he takes a decision, either you convince him and if the result is favourable to you and he does your bidding, or you leave him with God who decides everything,” the APC national chairman maintained.

Senator Adamu was optimistic during the visit that for God to have built the edifice called APC, no member of the party should nurse any fear, but should be confident that the party will win the coming general election.

May be Governor Sule’s patient with his critics might be long enough that he took a swipe at some of them that time was approaching when the APC will deploy its strength and resources to vanquish any opposition.

He stated this when he hosted his deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, and members of the State Executive Council on Sallah homage at his Gudi country home, adding that the APC was going into the next election with its full strength.

“We have already gathered enough patience and we did that intentionally, because there’s time that will come where patience will no longer be interesting. There are times to

scream, there are times to make noise, there are times to show strength, there are times to show resources and that time is coming,” Sule threatened.

On insinuations suggesting that some members of the ruling party were working against the interest of the APC as a fallout of the party’s primary elections in the state, the governor dispelled the insinuation.

“Our party is APC. We must work for APC. If somebody is hiding somewhere and using somebody’s name to do other things, they are on their own. I will never tell anybody go and do anti-party, as the leader of this party. I am for the party and I will continue to support the party, and I will do whatever it is to continue to support the party,” Sule insisted.

Speaking on the two high-powered committees he had inaugurated to reposition the state APC before the general election, Governor Sule explained that the reconciliation committee was expected to reach out to aggrieved members of the party following the outcome of the recently conducted primary elections of the party, with a view to reconciling every aggrieved member.

On the other hand, the governor added that the strategy committee was expected to unfold a blueprint that will guarantee the success of the APC in the forthcoming general elections.

Sule listed the terms of reference for the reconciliation committee, which is to be chaired

by Mr. Hassan Liman, to include identifying all erstwhile aspirants of the party, who in the opinion of the committee have genuine reasons or feelings of dissatisfaction on the outcome of the governorship, national and state assembly primaries that were held, including the presidential. And invite such dissatisfied aspirants to a dialogue over their grievances with a view to assuaging their feelings of dissatisfaction.

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

Soludo’s Burden of Performance in Anambra David-Chyddy Eleke appraises Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s decision to borrow and concludes that he has no choice but to deliver on promises.

I

f there is any governor Anambra has ever had, who enjoyed the support of the people across religious, senatorial and political divide, that Governor is Prof Chukwuma Soludo.

Since his victory late last year, it seemed there was an agreement by all to support him to reposition the state and develop it to the safe, secure, prosperous and liveable homeland which he promised during campaigns.

The support even increased upon his swearing in as governor, as all the opposition political parties in the state have gone silent, while many individuals within the parties openly support the decisions, policies and programmes of the Soludo administration.

A letter by the governor to the state assembly asking for permission to borrow N100billion was read to the Lawmakers. The Governor’s letter, dated July 5, 2022, was read at the plenary penultimate Friday by the Speaker, Hon Uche Okafor.

Okafor said: “Mr Governor is seeking approval to secure a N100 billion Global Limit Multiple Term Loan Facility for the construction and refurbishment of key infrastructure in the state.” The letter was later referred to the House Committee on Public Accounts for consideration, and they were mandated to report back to the House The letter had generated pockets of criticisms, not from the lawmakers, but from individual citizens who had commented on the matter, but even at that, a higher majority of the those who spoke on the matter were of the opinion that whatever will help the governor realise his promise to the people was welcomed.

Soludo has since his coming to the saddle demonstrated the eagerness to deliver on his

Soludo

mandate, but he has severally complained too of paucity of funds. Being an economist himself, the governor is not unaware of avenues by which he can create funds in the state, and has been pursuing such areas with vigour.

Mr Arinze Eze, an indigene of the state reacting to the loan request said: “I have no worries with Soludo borrowing to work for Anambra people.

We are sure that he is borrowing not to consume, but to put to work, which will in turn yield enough to take care of the loan, yet leave the state with good infrastructure. We have had cases where people bor-

rowed in the name of the state, and stole the money or use it to fund their bogus lifestyle, but with Soludo, we are sure of what he is borrowing for.”

Also last week, at the sitting of the house of assembly, the lawmakers passed the State 2022 Revised Appropriation Bill of N169.6 billion. The approval came more than 55 days after Governor Soludo presented the bill to the assembly for approval, which was one of his early moves to source for funds to aid his work in the state.

The passage of the revised budget followed the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, led by Hon Obinna Emeneka. While presenting the report, Emeneka in dissecting the budget said that the revised budget was made up of N108 billion capital expenditure and N61.3 billion recurrent expenditure.

“After thorough scrutiny and review, we recommend that the size of the 2022 revised budget be retained except for little adjustments in some ministries, department and agencies’ allocation. That the sum of N169,621,744,131 be approved for the service of the Anambra state government for the year ending, Dec. 31, 2022, and for related purposes. The committee also recommends that subsequently, projects and contractors be specified and funds should be released to MDAs to ensure effective budget performance,” Emeneka said.

Another area Soludo is exploring to make his work in the state easier is charting an entirely different tax regime, away from what used to be.

Recently, there was a protest in the state by tricycle riders, who blocked major roads, grounding economic activities in the state. The protest was triggered by a decision by the Soludo administration to tax tricycle riders and shuttle

bus operators for monthly payment, instead of the daily payment obtainable. The state chairman of Internally Generated Revenue Board, Mr Richard Madiebo, had disclosed that all tricycles will make monthly payment of N15,000, while shuttle bus operators would pay N25,000.

The above is against the close to N1,500 daily payment the operators make to illegal sources, mostly touts who harass and extort them, sometimes forcefully too. Soludo had upon his ascension to office abolished touting in the state, and also abolished all forms of taxes for four months, saying that government would think up a more workable plan on how to be collecting taxes once it resumes.

Last week however when he announced the resumption of tax, and also revealed the new mode of payment, it was resisted by operators with vehemence, with a protest erupting.

The Head, Taxpayer Education and Enlightenment Team, Mrs Sylvia Toochukwu Ngige, had explained that the N15,000 for tricycles amounted to N600 daily, for 25 days in a month, while five days were waived as days that the operators may be fixing their machines or taking days off from work. She explained that the monies are payable only in banks to desisgnated government accounts, instead of to revenue touts, who mostly pocket them.

According to her: “The new rate was arrived at after a series of meetings and consultations with the union members at Awka. The aim is to bring lasting solutions to problems encountered by members of this sector from touts (agberos) and illegal revenue collectors in the State.

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

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022

18

FEATURES

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

The Church, Women and Political Participation in Nigeria With insecurity still rife, unemployment at its peak, economic downturn and a continues devaluation of the Nigerian currency, the need to get leadership right has become a subject of discussion. This and many more formed the crux of the discussion during a four-day national leadership training conference for Christian Women Fellowship of the United Church of Christ, Fountain of Peace. Gideon Arinze writes

Congregation on Sunday

UCC General Overseer, Bishop Ezennaya Egbo

T

that women cannot do the job”.

She explained that there is rising cases of gender-based violence perpetrated against women because of the culture of silence by women who do not believe they can get justice when they speak up.

“When a woman decides to report a case of violence to the police for instance, the police will refuse to investigate the matter, even the society will laugh at her, “she said.

She said that the government must provide an enabling environment for women to participate actively in political activities and that the legislatures must also enact laws that will punish perpetrators of violence against women.

he Christian Women Fellowship of the United Church of Christ (Fountain of Peace), just concluded its four-day National Leadership Training Conference.

The conference, which started on Thursday, July 21, had “Make a full proof of your ministry” as its theme. It featured leadership trainings for the women, free medical outreach, launch of a book 'the king's business and your vision' written by the National President of the CWF of the UCC and wife of the general overseer of the church, Christy Egbo and prayer sessions.

Goal to Train Women Leaders In her address, Egbo said the theme would not have come at a better time than now when leaders face enormous challenges ranging from societal decadence, economic downturn including security and environmental challenges.

“While these challenges have eroded our minds and attentions, we must now rise victoriously as leaders and make a full proof of our ministry “she said. “It is hoped that we will learn practical ways to obtain and security victories in every area of our endeavors and calling".

She explained that the goal was to train women leaders that will stand the text of time and discover their place as women in the house of God and in the society at large.

“As leaders of various congregations, we need to always train them and build their spiritual and leadership capacity to improve on what they know already,”. “It is hoped that the women will return to their churches and put into practice all that they have learnt from the conference for us to have an improved society,”.

Encouraging Political Participation As the general election season draws near, Christian leaders across the country have been speaking to their congregation on the need to actively take part in the process. The UCC is not left out.

General Overseer of the UCC, bishop Ezennaya Egbo used the occasion of the conference to encourage his congregation to not see politics as a dirty game but as a process of bringing in leaders who will deliver true dividends of democracy.

“I encourage my members to get involved because we had leaders in the bible, including Daniel, Esther and others,”. “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice but when the wicked are in, the people mourn”.

He said that he has spoken to his congregation severally on the need to not only get their Permanent Voters Cards but also come out to vote when the elections begin.

“We have had the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC use our church space as a registration centre,” he said. “The process encouraged most of our members to register and have their PVCs ahead of the election”.

He said that INEC’s commitment to ensure that the electoral process is transparent through

National President of the CWF of the UCC and wife of the general overseer, Prophetess Christy Egbo (third right) with General Manager, Commercial of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Senior Mother Joy Umeh (second left) and other women of the church electronic transmission of results is a step in the right direction which should encourage the people to be actively involved.

“We must look at the individuals we want to bring in, beyond the party they belong, “he said. “We don’t want a recycling of the old brigades who do not have anything to offer us as a nation”.

He maintained that while its important to talk about competence, political parties ought to ensure that there is balance in their choices in terms of religion giving that Nigeria is a multi-religious nation.

“We need people who can turn our nation into a production economy, we have become a nation of consumers where everything is imported. What is left to be imported is air. Our currency has become weak and the economy is suffering."

Women and Politics Egbo noted that the country must learn to give women a chance to actively take part in the decision-making process in the country, He however noted that while he advocates for women to be allowed to lead, their participation must be predicated on capacity.

“Women have the capacity to manage and pay attention to detail," he said. “In the church, we give them the opportunity to express their gifts and we have had them do well. They deserve to be given the chance to lead”.

He noted that the women must come

out and be ready to lead as you cannot solve a problem by running away from it. He added that as a church, they are always ready to support women who express desire in politics.

Civil, Political and Citizens Rights of Women Among the discussions that took centre stage was the need for women to know their political, civil and citizen rights.

Chairperson, Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, WOWICAN, Enugu State Chapter, Mrs. Ngozi Avah who spoke to the women on the subject matter said they must understand that these rights are enshrined in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which protects them from all forms of infringement.

She however regretted that while the constitution guarantees such rights, certain social cultural and religious barriers, including economic barriers, gender-based violence, poverty and lack of access to education and limited confidence in political participation undermine their ability to contribute to the development process of the nation.

“It is the right of the woman to participate in the civil and political life of her country, “she said. “Sadly, we even discriminate against ourselves as women. “Many of us would rather vote for a man during an election than vote for a woman because of the perception

Government must provide an enabling environment for women to participate actively in political activities and the legislature must also enact laws that will punish perpetrators of violence against women

Women and Security The conference also had the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Enugu State police Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe speak to the women on the need to be security conscious as security has become everyone’s business.

He said that the women must do their best to support the police as much as they can in providing useful information. He also shared the command's control/ emergency numbers with the women; 08032003702. 08086671202.

UCC’s Mission The UCC is a Pentecostal church in concept and practice, with a vision to preach the Gospel of Christ. Apart from Nigeria, the church has expanded its tentacles to the United States of America, South Africa, Japan. Egbo said that the vision is to go global.

He explained that although the church has recorded huge successes in terms of drawing souls to God and helping the needy In the society, it has had its fair share of challenges over the years.

“Whatever affects the society also affects the church, “he said. “We have had financial challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic which changed our method of fellowship as a church”.

Speaking further, he said “We did not have the kind of physical association we used to have when the pandemic raged,”. “Everything was virtual because we had to protect our health.

But now, we are getting back again”.

Honour for Awardees The conference came to a climax on Sunday, July 24 with thanksgiving by the women and presentation of awards of merits to men, women and youths who have distinguished themselves in the service to God. Among the awardees was the General Manager, Commercial of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Joy Umeh; mother of the General Overseer, Roseline Egbo; Ijeoma Adaku, bishop Egbo, Achilike Onyekwele among others.

Receiving the award, Umeh thanked the church for finding her worthy and for making efforts to grow the kingdom of God. She pledged to support the church as it continues to work towards uplifting the kingdom of God.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022

ENTREPRENEUR

Segun Adewumi Gabriels: Balancing Social Entrepreneurship, Nightlife Influencing Segun Adewumi Gabriels, known in most circles as Api Lifestyle, is a Nigerian-born entrepreneur, mover and shaker of entertainment in Africa who through his company, Apitainment challenges the idea of ‘a good time’ through events, businesses and social gatherings. The Abuja-based entertainment industrialist and social reformist is a graduate of Theatre and Performing Arts from Ahmadu Bello University. However, for him, what will officially crown him the king of nightlife title is his night club, Tokyo Nightlife in Abuja, which is set to be launched come September 2022 as a co-owner. With its wide variety of music selection by renowned disc jockeys, the club's atmosphere and vibe, he believes it will appeal to his diverse audience. Precious Ugwuzor reports that with the influence Api Lifestyle wields, it has become obvious that he shouldn’t be taken lightly as a social entrepreneur and nightlife influencer who has not just come to stay, but to rule

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To be honest, I already feel like what I do is the balance between hospitality and the creative sector. I may not own a hotel yet, but I do consider Tokyo Nightlife Abuja to be a tourist attraction, which provides food, drink and entertainment. So what else is missing?

Nothing! In other words, Tokyo is the spot, while the bold ideas that make it the go-to place is the creative part of it, and that is the balance.

ou describe yourself as a social entrepreneur and nightlife influencer, what exactly does that mean?

Based on the dictionary definition of “social entrepreneur”, this is a person who starts a business for the greater social good and not just the pursuit of profits. With regards to me, even though people make a lot of money doing what I do, what keeps you relevant is passion, and I have that in abundance. The feeling I get when I see people at my events or parties, cannot be bought with money.

You can feel their mood, and its like for a few minutes you are responsible for their happiness. Like I influenced it. Pun intended.

Any strategic partnerships that helped you to actualise your business growth?

Of course, there have to be people in the background who partner because they believe in your vision and see it too. This is what makes everything probably seem like its magic, and that clearly makes me the magician. And these partners are in the background for a reason, because a true magician never reveals his tricks.

You are a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University where you studied Theatre and Performing Arts. Why did you deviate to join the hospitality sector?

Deviate? I don’t think there’s really any deviation from my field of study in my current career path. This business of entertainment I have always seen as my stage. Nightlife is my art, Tokyo Nightlife Abuja, my theatre, so enjoy the performance.

With your over five years in the industry, what are your high points so far?

With over five years in the industry, I have brought some of the top artists through my events such as Davido, Mayorkun, Burna Boy and others. But beyond this, my brand has created jobs online through hiring promoters across Africa who push awareness and get rewarded for it, as well as teaching people how to navigate the industry and providing them with possibilities and skillsets to tackle the luxurious sector.

Also, I hosted Nights Like This, NLT, every Sunday at 345nightlife which gave me the opportunity to put up the much-needed structure for my forthcoming night club, Tokyo Nightlife, of which I am co-owner.

Can you tell us about Tokyo Club and what it contributes to nightlife in Abuja?

Without stating the obvious, which would be employment and revenue, Tokyo Nightlife Abuja is bound to be a brand that will resonate with people from all walks of life. Backed by a team of like-minded creatives, we intend to change the game, or better yet, give it a facelift.

Every night giving a different experience, and inserting new ideas from a world-standard perspective.

At Tokyo Nightlife Abuja, we will maintain this world-standard, from how your bookings are made, to your arrival when you are received by our experienced valets, then ushered in by our pro-concierges, how you are served and treated by our our well-trained wait staff and hosts, and to the premium entertainment by our array of versatile DJs and performers, both foreign and local. Tokyo Nightlife Abuja is like no other experience you have had and we are ready.

How have you stayed ahead of the game over the years especially with the recent onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and even your sector?

The COVID-19 phase was one I hope and pray we never get to experience again. A lot of people didn’t see it coming, myself

Can you share some of the most valuable lessons you have learnt as an entrepreneur that has kept you going?

This can be summed up to one word; discipline. One of my favourite quotes by a well-respected actor puts it clearly and I'll quote him…“Without commitment, you’ll never start, but more importantly, without consistency, you’ll never finish. It’s not easy… if it were easy there’d be no Denzel Washington. So, keep working, keep striving, never give up, fall down seven times, get up eight. Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship.

So keep moving, keep growing, keep learning.”

Gabriels, Api Lifestyle

included. However, we had to adapt because there wasn’t a restriction on doing business, the only restriction was if that business did not adhere to the protective guidelines. We had to curate events that didn’t disobey the set practice and that became our reality.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how it has influenced your growth?

I come from a very humble background and upbringing, but also had the mindset that even though education is key, I needed to do more to avoid a life of mediocrity. Studying Theatre and Performing Arts did a lot to put me in a place where I can not be scared to try new

things, approach people, and be daring.

Incorporating those qualities I learned over time, as well as my background in the nightlife and entertainment business was the ultimate formula for success.

I did not just appear where I am today.

I came into the entertainment game as a PR, and at some point even demoted myself to a sub-PR when I changed my environment all because I wanted to learn from the very best, so you can say I was something like an “apprentice” for a long time. I set my goals way beyond what was conceivable or achievable, and worked my butt off.

So how do you balance the hospitality and creative sector?

Without commitment, you’ll never start, but more importantly, without consistency, you’ll never finish.

It’s not easy… if it were easy there’d be no Denzel Washington. So, keep working, keep striving, never give up, fall down seven times, get up eight. Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship. So keep moving, keep growing, keep learning

What is your definition of success and what it means to you as a person?

I used to think success meant having money or material things, but I’ve been on this journey and met a lot of people who have so much money, they don’t know what to do with but some of them still feel there’s something missing. The question is, are you great at what you do? Do you love what you do? Do you touch people’s lives? Does your story inspire people? If your answer is yes, then you are successful.

As a player in the hospitality food-chain yourself, how do you unwind and refuel your batteries from burn out?

First off, if you are in this line of work, you need to set limits for how much you partake of the “enjoyment” that you provide. Putting it straight, health is wealth, and body no be firewood. I needed to learn not to lose focus, which is part of that discipline I spoke about.

Finally, what are the critical challenges confronting hospitality sector?

What thoughts do you have on how to navigate through?

I believe different geographical locations possess different challenges. Like how Lagos is more populated than Abuja, especially the self made entrepreneurs you find there as opposed to the abundance of civil servants in abuja. Or like how there are so many nightlife entertainment centres opening up but not enough clientele. So competition is fierce and the rewards are only for the strongest.

However, the biggest challenge which affects all geographical locations is the economy.

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WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2022

21

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

A T

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

08056356325

J U L Y

S & P INDEX

2 6 , 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%

Exporters, Investors’Total FX Trade Up 17.6% to N30trn as Coys Offered N503.68bn CPs in H1

Kayode Tokede Amid expansion in business activities, data released by the FMDQ Exchange has revealed that total Exporters and Investors Foreign Exchange (I & E FX) transactions rose by 17.6 per cent to N30 trillion in the first half (H1) of 2022 compared to N25.52 trillion reported in the first half of 2021.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2017 introduced the I&E FX window to further deepen the foreign exchange market and in 2021,

of Capital Market at the Nasarawa State University Keffi, Professor Uche Uwaleke in a presentation predicted of rising exchange rates due to the exit of foreign investors as well as increased demand for forex by politicians.

Analysts believe increasing business activities have played a vital role in demand for FX even as they maintained that the sustained interventions by CBN have curtailed further weakening of the local currency.

it adopted the specialized window for exporters and investors as the official market rate.

With the increase in foreign exchange transactions, the Naira has depreciated against the US Dollar, with the exchange rate increasing by 1.06 per cent or N4.43/US Dollar to close at an average of N420.98/US Dollar in June 2022 from N416.55/ US Dollar in January 2022.

Speaking on what will become of the FX rate in the second half of 2022, Financial Economist and Professor

Commenting, Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Consulting Limited, Mr. Ambrose Omordion, attributed the growth to increasing demand for FX, maintaining that the global economy was expected to have expanded in 2022.

He predicted that activities might slow down amid political uncertainty in Nigeria and the crisis between Ukraine and Russia.

He said, “the Nigerian economy has witnessed more business activities in the first half of 2022 and demand

for FX has increased significantly. The growth might be sluggish towards the end of 2022 over political pressure and Naira might depreciate further.”

Similarly, Analyst at PAC Holdings, Mr. Wole Adeyeye attributed the growth recorded in the total foreign exchange turnover in the first H1 of 2022 to increasing business activities and steady increase in global prices that has assisted the CBN in its numerous interventions.

He said that the slow growth in business activities in H1 2021

affected foreign exchange turnover transactions, attributing it to uncertainty and dwindling global oil prices.

He said: “The restrictions had affected investors and exporters’ demand for FX in H1 2022. The war between Russia/Ukraine affected capital inflow into the country and led to volatility in the foreign exchange market. However, with the ease of movement in 2022, investors and exporters surge for FX from Continued on page 32

12 Banks’ Net Interest Margins Shrink on Cost of Funds, Assets Yields Nume Ekeghe Zenith Bank Plc among other Tier-1 and Tier-2 banks have witnessed decline Net Interest Margin (NIM) due to the combined effect of decline in assets yields and increase in cost of funds in the banking sector.

Out of 12 banks observed by THISDAY, 10 Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) reported decline in NIM in 2021 financial year.

The 12 banks include: Access

Holdings Plc, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Guaranty Trust Holding Plc (GTCO), Zenith Bank Plc, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) and FBN Holdings Plc. Others are: FCMB Group Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Union Bank of Nigeria, Wema Bank Plc and Sterling Bank Plc. Specifically, Sterling Bank Plc reported 8 per cent in 2021 from 7.70 per cent NIM in 2020

and Wema Bank Plc with 8.8 percentage points increase in its NIM to 6.20 per cent in 2021 from 5.70 per cent reported in 2020.

Interestedly, United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) for the second consecutive year report flat NIM at 5.4 per cent.

NIM is a measurement comparing the net interest income a financial firm generates from credit products like loans and mortgages, with the outgoing interest it pays holders of savings

accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs).

NIM is a profitability indicator that approximates the likelihood of a bank or investment firm thriving over the long haul.

In the year under review, Sterling bank has the most profitable investment return at 7.7 per cent in 2021 from eight per cent in 2020, while Stanbic IBTC had the least return at 2.7 per cent and others had net interest margins that oscillate within the

range.

FCMB group with seven per cent NIM in 2021 from 8.10 per cent in 2020 has the highest NIM, followed by Zenith Bank’s NIM dropped to 6.70 per cent in 2022 from 7.90 per cent reported in 2020, attributing the decline to yields on Held-To-Maturity (HTM) investment securities.

Another Tier-1 bank, GTCO in 2021 reported 6.74 per cent NIM from 9.26 per cent in 2020.

The bank in a presentation

to investors/analysts explained that, “NIM under pressure at 6.74 per cent in 2021 as against 9.26 per cent in 2020 due to decline in asset yields. Sound Treasury Management weighed positively and limited assets yields compression by 302 basis points to 8.05 per cent in 2021 from 11.06 per cent in 2020.

“The Group continues to implement its well-articulated Continued on page 32

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT M O N D AY, J U LY 2 5 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

BONDS DESCRIPTION Price ^14.20 14MAR-2024 13.53 23MAR-2025 ^12.50 22JAN-2026 ^16.2884 17MAR-2027 ^13.98 23FEB-2028

Yield

Change (%)

104.87

10.86

1.87

104.77

11.39

0.00

103.38

11.30

-0.14

115.70

11.79

0.07

110.43

11.40

0.00

Updated Time July 22, 2022 July 22, 2022 July 22, 2022 July 22, 2022 July 22, 2022

MATURITY

Discount

Yield

OTC F X F U T U R E S

CPS

Change Updated Time (%)

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

11.10

11.17

0.00 July 22, 2022

9.75

9.88

0.00 July 22, 2022

9.00

9.19

0.00 July 22, 2022

3.90

3.95

0.00 July 22, 2022

NTB 26-Jan23

7.50

7.80

0.00 July 22, 2022

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

Discount Yield

Change Updated Time (%)

18.99 19.03

1.45 July 22, 2022

15.15 15.21

1.20 July 22, 2022

17.19 17.99

-2.73 July 22, 2022

11.41 11.76

-2.65 July 22, 2022

10.59 10.90

-2.65 July 22, 2022

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

July 22, 2022 July 22, 2022 July 22, 2022 July 22, 2022 July 22, 2022

22 T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022 TR

UT H

& RE A S O

Wednesday July 27, 2022 Vol 27. No 9969

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

AT THE MERCY OF TERRORISTS HAMZA MUHAMMED TASIU reflects on what the victims of the 29th March Abuja-Kaduna train abduction must be going through

See page 27

THE CHALLENGE BEFORE ADELEKE The Osun State governorelect has his job cut out for him, says OLUMIDE OBAYEMI

See page 27 EDITORIAL HEARTY CHEERS TO TOBI AMUSAN!

See page 28

1

SONNY ARAGBA-AKPORE argues that the federal government may be taking Nigeria back to the inglorious 1984 military era

THE REINCARNATION OF DECREE 4 OF 1984?

Decree 4 of 1984 was clear about what it wanted to achieve. Publishing truth WKDW KXUWV D JRYHUQPHQW R΀FLDO LQ HYHU\ PDWHULDO SDUWLFXODU LV OLDEOH WR DQ RͿHQVH ,W also prescribed punishment for publishing IDOVHKRRGV DJDLQVW JRYHUQPHQW R΀FLDOV 7KH law which was retroactive punished two journalists, who were believed to be some of RXU SDWKÀQGHUV LQ WKDW JHQHUDWLRQ $ FKDQJH RI government in 1985 abrogated that law which ZDV GHVFULEHG DV REQR[LRXV \HDUV\HDUV DIWH WKH 1DWLRQDO ,QIRUPDWLRQ 7HFKQRORJ\ 'HYHORSPHQW $JHQF\ 1,7'$ FRPHV RXW with a reincarnation of Decree 4, in form of a FRGH RI SUDFWLFH $QG ZH ZDWFK KHOSOHVVO\ DV some victims emerge.

2QO\ ODVW ZHHN VRPH ÀHUFH ORRNLQJ VHFXULW\ PHQ YLVLWHG WKH R΀FHV RI 3HRSOHV *D]HWWH ZLWK DUUHVW DQG ZDQWHG WR SLFN LWV HGLWRUV %\ WKH ODVW FRXQW ÀYH R΀FLDOV ZHUH SLFNHG XS RVWHQVLEO\ IRU D SXEOLFDWLRQ RQ WKH UDLG FDUULHG RXW E\ R΀FLDOV RI WKH ,QGHSHQGHQW &RUUXSW 3UDFWLFHV &RPPLVVLRQ ,&3& RQ WKH KRPH RI D PDQ EHOLHYHG WR EH OLQNHG WR D UHWLUHG PLOLWDU\ R΀FHU 7KH 2QOLQH 3XEOLVKHUV $VVRFLDWLRQ RI 1LJHULD 23$1 KDV VWURQJO\ FRQGHPQHG WKH UDLG RI 3HRSOHV *D]HWWH·V R΀FH LQ $EXMD DQG WKH VXEVHTXHQW DUUHVW RI MRXUQDOLVWV E\ DUPHG policemen. ,I DQ DJJULHYHG YLFWLP RI D UHSRUW WKDW LV EHOLHYHG WR EH WUXH GHFLGHV WR GHSOR\ VHFXULW\ agencies to harass and intimidate journalists FDUU\LQJ RXW ODZIXO UHVSRQVLELOLWLHV VLPSO\ because the alleged victim is privileged, then ZH DUH JUDGXDOO\ UHWXUQLQJ WR WKH HUD RI 'HFUHH RI ´,I UHWLUHG *HQHUDO %XUDWDL IHHOV KH ZDV GHIDPHG E\ WKH UHSRUW WKH ODZIXO DQG correct approach would be to sue the news RXWÀW IRU OLEHO LQ D FRXUW RI ODZ 7KH GD\V RI XVLQJ VWDWH VHFXULW\ DJHQFLHV WR KDUDVV DQG intimidate the press and journalists are over.

7KLV GHVHFUDWLRQ RI SHRSOH·V ULJKWV FDQQRW EH WROHUDWHG LQ D GHPRFUDF\ DQ\ ORQJHU µ 23$1 further warned.

7KHVH DUUHVWV DUH FRPLQJ GHVSLWH WKH \HW WR ÁDJ RI 1,7'$ FRGH IRU ZKLFK WKH *XLOG RI &RUSRUDWH 2QOLQH 3XEOLVKHUV *2&23 KDV UDLVHG D UHG ÁDJ GHVFULELQJ LW DV DQRWKHU DWWHPSW E\ WKH *RYHUQPHQW WR JDJ WKH PHGLD and suppress press freedom in Nigeria. ´7KH ODUJHO\ FKULVWHQHG 1,7'$ &RGH OLVWV its objectives to include inter alia: “set out measures to combat online harms such as GLVLQIRUPDWLRQ DQG PLVLQIRUPDWLRQ µ ,W DOVR VHHNV WR ´$GRSW DQG DSSO\ D FR UHJXODWRU\ approach towards implementation and FRPSOLDQFH µ 7R[LF DV WKH FRQWHQW RI WKH QHZ FRGH LV LW KDV embedded aspects of the failed government PRYH LQ WKH SDVW WR HQDFW DQWL IUHH SUHVV ODZV LQFOXGLQJ 7KH 3URWHFWLRQ IURP ,QWHUQHW Falsehoods and Manipulation and Other 5HODWHG 0DWWHUV %LOO FRPPRQO\ NQRZQ DV VRFLDO PHGLD %LOO :KHQ KH ODXQFKHG WKH sixth national broadcasting code in Lagos, RQ $XJXVW GHVSLWH LQGXVWU\ ZLGH RSSRVLWLRQ GXULQJ WKH ODXQFK ,QIRUPDWLRQ &XOWXUH 0LQLVWHU /DL 0RKDPPHG VDLG WKH FRGH ZDV ´VLJQHG VHDOHG DQG GHOLYHUHGµ SHUKDSV WR DFWXDOL]H FHQVRUVKLS LQ WKH KLJKHVW order.

7KDW FRGH ZDV VHHQ DV DQ DJHQGD GULYHQ GRFXPHQW DV LQGXVWU\ SOD\HUV ZHUH QRW FDUULHG along because the government concluded DV LW GHHPHG ÀW 6WUDQJHO\ WRR WKH 1DWLRQDO %URDGFDVWLQJ &RUSRUDWLRQ 1%& WKH DJHQF\ saddled with its implementation was said not WR EH SULY\ WR WKH ÀQDO GRFXPHQW 7R IXUWKHU IXHO WKH ÁDPHV RI FHQVRUVKLS LQ WKH FRXQWU\ the Minister and the government suspended 7ZLWWHU RSHUDWLRQV DQG OLIWHG WKH VXVSHQVLRQ with conditions.

Not done with that, a code to regulate computer interactions and others was LQWURGXFHG E\ WKH 1DWLRQDO ,QIRUPDWLRQ 7HFKQRORJ\ 'HYHORSPHQW $JHQF\ 1,7'$ which seems to override the Lawful interception of communications regulations RI 'HVSLWH WKH PDQLIHVW RXWFU\ RYHU censorship of the media that was seen in the DWWHPSW WR UHYLHZ WKH 1LJHULD 3UHVV &RXQFLO laws, the government is going ahead to UHJXODWH VRFLDO PHGLD SUHVHQFH DQG SU\LQJ GDQJHURXVO\ LQWR LQGLYLGXDO DQG FRUSRUDWH SULYDFLHV E\ WKH 1,7'$ FRGH &RPPXQLFDWLRQV 'LJLWDO (FRQRP\ 0LQLVWHU 'U ,VD 3DQWDPL DQG KLV FROOHDJXH 0RKDPPHG VHHP WR EH YHU\ ZLOOLQJ DOOLHV LQ WKLV UHJDUG 0HGLD VWDNHKROGHUV DQG &LYLO 6RFLHW\ 2UJDQL]DWLRQV &62V KDYH UHVLVWHG DPHQGPHQWV WR WKH 1%& FRGH E\ WKH 0XKDPPDGX %XKDUL DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ GHVFULELQJ VXFK DPHQGPHQWV WKDW VHHN WR JLYH 1%& WKH SRZHU WR UHJXODWH FRQWHQW RQ social and online media in Nigeria, including OLFHQVLQJ WKHP DV DQDWKHPD 7KH 1,7'$ FRGH FOHDUO\ VSHDNV YROXPHV DV 0RKDPPHG KDG ERDVWHG LQ 2FWREHU WKDW LI VRFLDO PHGLD LV QRW UHJXODWHG LW ZLOO GHVWUR\ WKH FRXQWU\ 3HUKDSV WKHUH LV VRPHWKLQJ WKH\ NQRZ WKDW ZH DUH QRW SULY\ WR H[FHSW IRU WKH VWLͿ FRQWUROV RI KRZ ZH VHH RU WKLQN DERXW JRYHUQPHQW DQG LW is doing to improve our lives.

7KH 1,7'$ FRGH GHVFULEHV GLVLQIRUPDWLRQ and misinformation as multidimensional growing problems that do not have a single URRW FDXVH RU VROXWLRQ +HQFH 1,7'$ 1&& DQG WKH 1%& DUH FRQVFLRXV RI WKH IDFW WKDW optimal responses to disinformation and misinformation “need to be multivariate, UHTXLULQJ 3ODWIRUPV WR ZRUN FROOHFWLYHO\ ZLWK VWDNHKROGHUV WR FRPEDW GLVLQIRUPDWLRQ DQG PLVLQIRUPDWLRQ µ 7KDW LV ZK\ WKH FRGH VWDWHV WKDW ´D SODWIRUP VKDOO QRW FRQWLQXH WR NHHS

If an aggrieved victim of a report that is believed to be true decides to deploy security agencies to harass and intimidate journalists carrying out lawful responsibilities simply because the alleged victim is privileged, then we are gradually returning to the era of Decree 4 of 1984

SURKLELWHG PDWHULDOV RU PDNH WKHP DYDLODEOH IRU DFFHVV ZKHQ WKH\ DUH LQIRUPHG RI VXFK materials. Prohibited material is that which is objectionable on the grounds of public interest, PRUDOLW\ RUGHU VHFXULW\ SHDFH RU LV RWKHUZLVH SURKLELWHG E\ DSSOLFDEOH 1LJHULDQ ODZV ,Q DOO LQVWDQFHV ZKHQ D 3ODWIRUP KDV EHHQ informed of the existence of prohibited material, the Platform is under obligation WR UHPRYH WKH FRQWHQW ZLWKLQ KRXUV 6R what remains of the power of the Lawful interception of communications regulations RI " ,Q H[HUFLVH RI WKH SRZHUV FRQIHUUHG E\ VHFWLRQ RI WKH 1LJHULDQ &RPPXQLFDWLRQV $FW WKH UHJXODWLRQV VHHN WR SURYLGH D OHJDO DQG UHJXODWRU\ IUDPHZRUN IRU ODZIXO LQWHUFHSWLRQ RI &RPPXQLFDWLRQV FROOHFWLRQ and disclosure of intercepted communications in Nigeria.

7KHVH VKDOO SURYLGH D OHJDO DQG UHJXODWRU\ IUDPHZRUN IRU WKH ODZIXO LQWHUFHSWLRQ RI FRPPXQLFDWLRQV LQ 1LJHULD DQG JLYH HͿHFW to the provisions of sections 146 and 147 RI WKH $FW VSHFLI\ WKH QDWXUH DQG W\SHV RI FRPPXQLFDWLRQV WKDW FDQ EH LQWHUFHSWHG SUHVFULEH SHQDOWLHV IRU QRQ FRPSOLDQFH ZLWK WKH $FW DQG WKHVH 5HJXODWLRQV SURYLGH D QRWLÀFDWLRQ SURFHGXUH WR WKH &RPPLVVLRQ RI all warrants issued, amended, renewed or FDQFHOOHG XQGHU WKHVH 5HJXODWLRQV DQG HQVXUH WKDW WKH SULYDF\ RI VXEVFULEHUV· FRPPXQLFDWLRQ DV SURYLGHG IRU LQ WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ RI WKH Federal Republic of Nigeria is preserved. %XW WKH 1,7'$ FRGH FRQWUDGLFWV WKH 1&&·V lawful interception of communications UHJXODWLRQV 7KH 1&& UHJXODWLRQV VWDWH FOHDUO\ WKDW ´,W VKDOO EH ODZIXO IRU DQ\ $XWKRULVHG $JHQF\ OLVWHG LQ UHJXODWLRQ RI WKHVH 5HJXODWLRQV WR LQWHUFHSW DQ\ &RPPXQLFDWLRQ RU SXUVXDQW WR DQ\ legislation in force, where the interception UHODWHV WR WKH XVH RI D &RPPXQLFDWLRQV VHUYLFH SURYLGHG E\ D /LFHQVHH WR SHUVRQV LQ 1LJHULD RU WKH LQWHUFHSWLRQ UHODWHV WR WKH XVH RI D &RPPXQLFDWLRQV 6HUYLFH SURYLGHG E\ D Licensee to a person outside Nigeria, provided WKDW WKH /LFHQVHH VKDOO QRW EH OLDEOH LQ DQ\ civil or criminal proceedings for damages, including punitive damages, loss, cost or H[SHQGLWXUH VXͿHUHGµ 7KH UHJXODWLRQV VXEMHFW LQWHUFHSWHG communications to the law courts, where a piece of intercepted communication is DGPLWWHG LQ HYLGHQFH E\ D FRXUW RI FRPSHWHQW jurisdiction, and all other copies of that LQWHUFHSWHG &RPPXQLFDWLRQ VKDOO EH GHVWUR\HG E\ WKH DXWKRULVHG DJHQF\ LQ ZKRVH FXVWRG\ VXFK LQIRUPDWLRQ UHVLGHV 7KH FRGH LV D EUHDFK RI $UWLFOH RI WKH 8QLYHUVDO 'HFODUDWLRQ RI +XPDQ 5LJKWV 8'+5 DQG 1LJHULD·V WUHDW\ REOLJDWLRQV XQGHU WKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO &RYHQDQW RQ &LYLO DQG 3ROLWLFDO 5LJKWV ,&&35 ZKLFK JLYH HYHU\RQH WKH ULJKW WR IUHHGRP RI H[SUHVVLRQ LQFOXGLQJ WKH ´IUHHGRP WR VHHN receive and impart information and ideas of DOO NLQGV UHJDUGOHVV RI IURQWLHUV«µ 7KH FRGH PD\ EH D UHLQFDUQDWLRQ RI 'HFUHH 4 of 1984.

ARAGBA-AKPORE is a member of T+,6'$< (GLRULDO %RDUG

WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022

HAMZA MUHAMMED TASIU reflects on what the victims of the 29th March Abuja-Kaduna train abduction must be going through

AT THE MERCY OF TERRORISTS

The Osun State governor-elect has his job cut out for him, says OLUMIDE OBAYEMI

THE CHALLENGE BEFORE ADELEKE /HW·V LPDJLQH WKLV You are a young mother. You leave Kaduna some few days earlier for a task LQ $EXMD $IWHU ÀQLVKLQJ WKH WDVN \RX FDOO your husband and tell him that you will be coming back and that he should buy your best food from your best restaurant for you. You tell him how badly you miss him. You tell him that you’ve bought his favourite perfume for him. You even tell him that he should tell your little daughter that you have bought a special present from Abuja for her. And given the fact

terrorists. You look at that elderly woman and you feel sorry for her. Her health is terribly deteriorating as she does not have the drugs that she takes three times a day. She often tells you in the middle RI WKH QLJKW ´, DP JRLQJ WR GLH /RRN DW mosquitoes, rain, hunger, beating and my deteriorating health. I don’t have energy!”

But you give her words of encouragement and ask her to keep on, promising her that God will bring help. Your words VHHP WR ERRVW KHU VSLULW 6KH VD\V WR \RX “May Allah bless you. If not because of

WKDW WKLV LV WKH ÀUVW WLPH \RX JR WR $EXMD you tell him that you have a lot of stories from the nation’s capital. On your way to the train station, you stop and buy your mother apples and pineapples. You also buy a new shirt for the almajiri that runs errands for you.

You leave Idu station at 6pm and you are scheduled to arrive in Kaduna’s Rigasa train station by 8pm. On the train, you say salam to the other occupants and shake their hands. You smile to a very little girl, and she smiles back. Her cute smile injects you with a dose of happiness that you’ve not felt in a long, long time. The woman sitting next to you is an elderly woman in her late 60s. She looks like your mother.

She starts a conversation and before long, you feel at home with her. You talk about a lot of things with her. You talk about the month of Ramadan and how you plan to spend it. You even tell her your readiness to fast the whole of Ramadan as your ulcer seems to become dormant lately. She complains that she cannot fast as she is on medication. She says she will fast after ÀQLVKLQJ KHU GUXJV Not more than 30 minutes into your journey, the elderly woman now seems like someone you know for many years.

Amidst the interesting conversation you are having, she suddenly falls asleep.

You want to continue the conversation, but you feel it is uncourteous to wake her up from her sleep. You allow her to continue sleeping. Before long, you also get overpowered by sleep due to the exhaustion from the work you did in Abuja. All of a sudden, you wake up to the sounds of explosions and gunshots. In what seems like the twinkle of an eye, all the unlucky passengers are rounded up by the terrorists. They rain all sorts of abuse on you and force you to walk for tens of kilometers on foot in the bush.

Days have now become months and you are still under the pharaonic care of these

you, life would’ve been impossible.” As soon as she closes her mouth, one of the WHUURULVWV VD\V WR KHU ´,I \RX GRQ·W NHHS quiet, I will beat you. I will not mind that you have progressed in age. You will cry, Wallahi. Have you forgotten the beating you received in the morning?

The elderly woman then says, VRPHKRZ LQDXGLEO\ ´<D $OODK ND VDND mana. Judge between us and those that took the responsibility of protecting us upon themselves and then neglect the responsibility, amin.” As if someone has put her on a speaker, all the kidnapped victims say, “amin” in a resounding voice.

The terrorists then descend on them, EHDWLQJ WKHP PHUFLOHVVO\ VD\LQJ ´0X ]DNX KDGD GD $OODK" :H·OO NLOO \RX DOO wallahi! Wretched human beings. If they don’t bring the money, we’ll kill you all!”

You become angry because of the abuses they rain on you because you are someone that’s highly respected by your people, but then you remember there’s nothing you could do.

Back at home, your little daughter has been waiting for you now for more than 100 days! All she could do is to pray to Allah to rescue you. She often tells her IDWKHU ´, GRQ·W ZDQW WKH SUHVHQW %DED I just want Mama to come back. Please, bring her back!” The father goes into his room and cries because there’s nothing he FRXOG GR +H UDLVHV KLV KDQGV LQ SUD\HU “Verily, the most helpless of people are those that are unable to ask for Your help.

We ask for Your help regarding these servants. Rescue them, Ya Allah!

If this story touches you, then wait for a PLQXWH DQG UHÁHFW RQ ZKDW WKH NLGQDSSHG victims are going through. Think of what their families are going through after watching that video. It’s devastating to say the least. May God rescue them! The leadership has failed them!

Tasiu wrote from Abuja

In contemporary Nigeria, there is a growing disquiet about the state of the nation— LQVHFXULW\ LQÁDWLRQ XQHPSOR\PHQW ODFN RI basic infrastructure, unstable power supply, absence of basic health care, etc. pervade the nation. Osun State, in particular, being a “civil servant” State, and heavily indebted to both local and foreign lenders, has low revenue generation sources and lacks major industrial presence. On Saturday July 17, 2022, the people of Osun State went to the polls and elected Jackson Adeleke as the new governor.

We attempt to identify the problems faced by the State.

First, there is a serious dearth of veritable sources of industrial presence in Osun State.

There are neither regional headquarters nor large presence of major corporations such as NNPC Plc, MTN, Mobil, Chevron, Texaco, Oando, GT Bank Plc, Zenith Bank, Guinness, Union Bank, UBA Plc, Unilever, Nestle, etc. in the State. This situation is further hampered E\ &29,' HͿHFW RQ JOREDOL]DWLRQ DQG the Russia/Ukraine War with its attendant recession. For instance, taxes imposed on FRPPHUFLDO WUDQVDFWLRQV XVXDOO\ UHÁHFW WKH level of business activities in a region. Thus, the performance of Osun State with regards to Value Added Tax (VAT) collected within Osun State will demonstrate the volume of commerce and businesses carried out there.

It is instructive that the Black’s Law 'LFWLRQDU\ GHÀQHV ´9DOXH $GGHG 7D[µ DV ´D tax assessed at each step in the production of a commodity, based on the value added DW HDFK VWHS E\ WKH GLͿHUHQFH EHWZHHQ the commodity’s production cost and its selling price….a value added tax acts as a sales tax on the ultimate consumer.” VAT, FKDUJHG DW D ÁDW UDWH RI LQ 1LJHULD is a consumption tax, which is levied at each stage of the consumption chain and is ERUQH E\ WKH ÀQDO FRQVXPHU $W HDFK VWDJH of production, sale and supply of goods and services, VAT is collected. In Nigeria, extant Section 40 of the Value Added Tax Act (VAT Act) provides for the creation of the Special Account presently being administered by the Federation Allocation Committee (FAAC) and for distributing the revenue accruing from the collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) which is contained in the Special Account (as opposed to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) Account under Sections 80 and 81 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 (CFRN)).

According to the FAAC, VAT Revenue that each state generated between January and August 2021 and the allocation to each of States of the old Western Region, are as IROORZV /DJRV LV WKH KLJKHVW LQ WUDQVDFWLRQDO taxes with N429.203 Billion. This is followed

by Oyo State with N64.646 Billion, Delta State with N13.964 Billion, Ogun State with N11.823 Billion, Edo State with N8.284 Billion, Ekiti State with N6.635 Billion, and Ondo with N4.554 Billion, respectively. The least among its contemporaries is Osun State with N1.995 Billion.

Also, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (2015), Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise National Survey 2013, the Southwest is the second most populated region in Nigeria with approximately 41 million residents. The region, made up of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states, is home to the two states with the highest number of SMEs, Lagos with 8,395 and Oyo with 6,131 SMEs. Osun has the lowest SMEs. To the Presidential Enabling Business

Environment Council (PEBEC), “2018 Making Business Work Report…The Journey So Far,” agriculture is the main occupation of the people of the Southwest region; Ondo is the largest producer of cocoa in Nigeria with about 75,000 tons of cocoa production annually, which accounts for about 28% of Nigeria’s total cocoa production. The region is also home to tourist attractions such as the Ikogosi Warm Springs (Ekiti), Olumo Rock (Ogun) and Erin Ijesha Waterfall (Osun).

The PEBEC Report states that the overall score for Skills and Labour is 6.03, which is the score recorded by the

Technical and Professional Skills subindicator. The Southwest region recorded the highest score of 6.63 for skills and labour. Ekiti leads, while Osun trails with 8.09 and 6.66 respectively. Generally, there seems to be state-provided structures to facilitate ease of access to talent. For an agriculture-based economy, electricity for storage and preparation of produces and transportation for movement of crops and works, respectively, is comparatively poor.

Now, what should Adeleke do to raise the revenue of Osun State within the next eight years? First, Adeleke must groom a successor, with the successor serving DV WKH &KLHI RI 6WDͿ DQG XQGHUVWXG\LQJ the Principal, who must be a youth under 25 years of age. This would be in the Ahmed Tinubu/Babatunde Fashola model. Second, all out-of-state companies with government contracts must have UHJLVWHUHG ORFDO R΀FHV EDQN DFFRXQWV DQG 30% local employees in Osun. This will facilitate collection of 10% Withholding taxes by Osun State from the contract sum and provide employment.

Third, Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) policy must be kickstarted in high gears. Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Pastor WF Kumuyi, Pastor SK Abiara, as well as churches belonging to Pastors Ayo Babalola and T. O. Obadare are natives of Osun State. There are also other business magnates from Osun State to be enlisted to build food processing industries in Osun State, with shared ownership.

Fourth, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Deeper Life, Apostolic Church must move their redemption camps from Lagos Ibadan Expressway to Osogbo/ Ilesa axis.

Olumide K. Obayemi is with the University of Lagos.

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WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

HEARTY CHEERS TO TOBI AMUSAN! In a night of glory and speed, Tobi Amusan put Nigeria on the athletic global map in Oregon, United States

A

World Championships 23 years ago in Seville, Spain. It s the Nigerian anthem played on Sunday ZDV DOVR WKH ÀUVW WLPH DQ\ DWKOHWH ZDV UXQQLQJ VXFK DQ QLJKW LQ 2UHJRQ IRU WKH YHU\ ÀUVW WLPH LQFUHGLEOH WLPH LQ WKH ÀUVW URXQG KHDW RI WKH ZRPHQ·V since the country started participating P KXUGOHV 7KDW DXWRPDWLFDOO\ SXW KHU LQ WKH VHPLÀQDO in World Athletics Championships, and in reckoning for more surprises.

Oluwatobiloba (Tobi) Amusan could not Three years ago, at the World Championships in Doha, hold back tears of joy on the podium. It Qatar, Amusan was disappointed with her fourth position was an emotional moment she shared with millions of LQ WKH ÀQDO %HIRUH 'RKD VKH KDG EURNHQ WKH $IULFDQ Nigerians back home. Amusan had won the gold medal Games record twice in 2019 in Rabat, Morocco. She ran in 100 metres hurdles and broke the world record twice VHFRQGV WR ZLQ KHU VHPLÀQDO KHDW EHIRUH UXQQLQJ D within one night. Her unprecedented feats were products KXQGUHGWK RI D VHFRQG IDVWHU LQ WKH ÀQDO WR ZLQ WKH JROG of hard work and consistent pursuit of excellence in her At the Olympic Games in Tokyo postponed to 2021 due FKRVHQ ÀHOG RI VSRUWV to Covid-19 pandemic, fate While Nigerians have played another joke on the been congratulating 1LJHULDQ KXUGOHU ÀQLVKLQJ themselves on Amusan’s Majority of those who head most of the sporting associations are more outside the podium again YLFWRU\ LW LV ZRUWK UHÁHFWLQJ in fourth place. It was after interested in pecuniary gains and other individual perks than pursuing on how we have neglected this that she swept all things the sporting sector in our the interest of the athletes and what their success can translate for the aside and began strategising country. For instance, on how to end this perennial country majority of those who fourth spot. head most of the sporting Today, Amusan has associations are more T H I S D AY smashed four of the records set by Glory Alozie in interested in pecuniary gains and other individual perks EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU Nigeria and on the continent before switching nationality than pursuing the interest of the athletes and what their DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA to Spain after the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, success can translate for the country. And because of their MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU Australia. The University of Texas at El Paso graduate reputation for not doing things in the proper ways, it is CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI started with Alozie’s 12.74 seconds African Games record possible that the potential of Amusan might have been EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN set in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1999. Next was the blighted had she remained in this environment after her MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI 12.68 seconds Alozie ran twice to win a silver medal at THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE talent had been spotted. While we therefore congratulate the 2000 Olympics which made her the fastest Nigerian Amusan, we must also impress on the authorities the in the history of the quadrennial event. Amusan smashed need to develop and nurture local talents in Nigeria. that in 2021 in Tokyo with her 12.60 seconds performance 7R WUDFN DQG ÀHOG DÀFLRQDGRV $PXVDQ·V DFKLHYHPHQWV T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D while placing fourth. The reigning Commonwealth EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA didn’t come as a surprise. She has been knocking on the GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, Games champion has also consigned to history the 12.44 doors of success over the years through hard work. She ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI seconds Alozie ran at the Monaco Diamond League in gave indication of what to expect when in the heat of DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, 1998. the women’s 100 metres hurdles on Saturday morning, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE ,W LV UHPDUNDEOH WKDW -DPDLFDQ 8VDLQ %ROW WKH ZRUOG DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI ran an incredible 12.40 seconds to set a new African SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH record holder in the men’s 100 metres and 200 metres, was record and Nigeria’s fastest time in the history of the ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI competition. The petite 25-year-old Nigerian hurdler’s CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DPRQJVW WKH ÀUVW VHW RI SHRSOH WR FRQJUDWXODWH $PXVDQ who has demonstrated the Nigerian spirit of resilience in time was two hundredth of a second faster than the 12.44 DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO the face of daunting odds. We congratulate her.

TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com seconds Glory Alozie ran to win a silver medal in the

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

TOBI AMUSAN WRITES HERSELF INTO HISTORY In a tale of two videos which quickly followed each other, with one shattering the heart, and the other mending it, two events, continents apart from each other, were witnessed by Nigerians received news between 24th and 25th July 24. On WK 0DUFK MXVW D GD\ EHIRUH 1LJHULD ZDV VXSSRVHG WR FRQÀUP its participation in the 2022 World Cup scheduled for Qatar by swatting Ghana aside at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja, horror took haunting form and hunted down a passenger train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna.

When the terrorists were done with their operations, at least nine of the passengers were killed; many injured and many others abducted. The next day, a soccer-crazy country promptly drew the tie when only a win would have been enough, to send a less-fancied Ghanaian side to the World cup and further darken the national mood. It has now been more than three months since the country receded into darkness within those two days, and in the captivity of the terrorists who continue to taunt the Giant of Africa with heartbreaking videos of unspeakable cruelty, about 43 innocent Nigerians remain, some of them children.

In a video released by the terrorists which went viral on

6XQGD\ WK -XO\ WKH PDOH YLFWLPV ZHUH ÁDJHOODWHG ZLWK ZKLSV as they cried out in agony. For those who have been collecting the heartbreaking images and moments of Nigeria`s demise, it was another prize piece. The terrorists went on to mock NiJHULD LQ WKH YLGHR WKUHDWHQLQJ 3UHVLGHQW 0XKDPPDGX %XKDUL and Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State. In the agonizing wails of the victims in the video, Nigerians do not need to strain to hear the death rattle of a country that once promised so much.

While the terrorists whipped some Nigerians as if they were thieves and threatened a government seemingly growing more impotent by the day, in Eugene, Oregon, Tobi Amusan VXUJHG WR WKH JROG PHGDO LQ WKH ÀQDO RI WKH ZRPHQCV P KXUdles event, smashing in the process the world record. Amusan, WKH FXUUHQW FRPPRQZHDOWK FKDPSLRQ ÀQLVKHG LQ D WLPH RI V V EHWWHU WKDQ WKH V VKH SRVWHG LQ WKH VHPL ÀQDOV WR SXVK -DPDLFDCV %ULWDQ\ $QGHUVRQ WR VHFRQG SODFH DQG FXUrent Olympic Champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Cuba to third place. She was promptly reduced to tears as the Nigerian national anthem was rendered during the podium ceremony.

8QGRXEWHGO\ KHUV ZHUH WHDUV RI MR\ %XW JLYHQ WKH VL]H RI WKH

champion runner`s heart, some of those tears were undoubtedly for Nigeria and the graveyard it has become. Tobi Amusan no doubt put many years of work into her record shattering feat to surge into the hearts of many Nigerians, and there is no doubt that she will stay there.

For years now, a country of impulsively happy people has gradually been reduced to a place where every news is bad news and depression continues to deepen. The national mood has become so dampened by pain and despair that even when feats like Amusan’s happen, the celebration is brief and forced.

Amusan’s achievements are some validation for a country that KDV FRQWLQXHG WR VKRZ WKDW LQ VSLWH RI LWV PDQ\ GL΀FXOWLHV LW UHPDLQV D SUROLÀF SURGXFHU RI WDOHQWV )RU 7REL $PXVDQ ZKR LV only 25, and Nigeria, this just the beginning of more gold and glory. There is more to come. Much more.

Someday too, out of the hearts of Nigeria`s young people, hastily branded ‘lazy’ in 2018 by an ignorant president, redemption will come for Nigeria from the claws of the predators who prowl Nigeria`s halls of power.

Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Emiko: Gold Can Be Game Changer for Nigeria In this interview, the Executive Vice-Chairman of Kian Smith Refinery, Nere Emiko speaks on how Nigeria can diversify to become a gold economy, highlighting its enormous gains. She also talked about her company’s new project SanuCoin a digital platform for gold and silver retail, and other pertinent industry issues. Nume Ekeghe presents the excepts; Congratulations on the launch of SanuCoin, can you speak on what led you to develop this technology and journey in the gold mining industry? ian Smith started in 2011.

We started out as a gold exploration company and slowly got into mining and we accidentally entered the space of organising artisanal mining and working with them as well as optimising our small-scale mining and trading gold. So along the lines, we designed a gold buying program that is Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) compliant and addresses responsible sourcing and this output became feed for our refinery which we started.

We started refining gold medallions, bars, and cubes that we call savings products that are very popular among women; one, two, and five-gram cubes. These products were released in 2020 & 2021. We launched them with the gold West African market gold durbar in Kano in August 2020, in Ouagadougou in October 2020, in Dakar in December 2020 and in Lagos Love Gold in February 2021. We also launched and announced our Kian Smith expansion into Dubai during the recently concluded Dubai World Expo, where our gold medallions and products were featured in the Nigeria pavilion. With all the feedback, market responses and full integration of the value chain, we are now finally releasing ‘Sanu’ our gold buying app.

The truth is this is the second version.

SanuCoin v.1 was released during the lockdown of 2020. Our vision then was to have this gold buying app that allows you to buy gold in really tiny fractions. To enable people buy gold and silver on the blockchain because the blockchain is really what gives the credibility of a one-to-one match for physical gold, because with that you know that we really have what we say we have. You can match your tokens in an audit on the blockchain, matching it with the audits from our partners that have custody of the gold. That was our plan for 2020. Our pride was to have a made-in-Nigeria product for the world because there was and there still is nothing like it. BitMama was the only one brave enough to take on the project. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released regulations for crypto, blockchain and tokenization and also the CBN blocked cryptocurrencies so we just had to redesign Sanu to remove a lot of the innovation.

So Sanu is actually about three years old, but we could not release version 1.0 or version 1.2 in 2020 or 2021 and it had to be redesigned by an American tech team. So now we finally release Sanu version 2.0 which allows you to buy gold or silver and you can pick it up at Union Bank our partner and Custodial Bank. Sanu also gives you the option to pick-up gold in Dubai and London. With Sanu, you can own a fraction of gold or silver with as low as N100 Naira, and you can keep buying gold until you’re able to afford a product that you can pick up at the Bank. We are very excited to launch this, there is no product like this anywhere in the world. It now gives not just Nigerians but all Africans the opportunity to access London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) gold that usually they would never have been able to access without FX. We have accomplished this in partnership with the StoneX Group, a world leading precious metals trading firm. Now LBMA gold can be accessed in Nigeria with the Naira.

this is a way of now giving Nigerians, West Africans, and Africa anyone the opportunity to access gold. Apart from jewelry, it is almost impossible to access gold refined to international standard in our local currencies. We have done all the work to now give the people access to gold in small retail quantities they want, giving empowerment to women and giving gold to the people.

K

What is the vision behind SanuCoin, what is your target and how much of an impact do you think it would have

Emiko

on people who want to buy gold in Nigeria?

The gold value chain of Nigeria and West Africa needs to be built and integrated. Part of building a value chain and establishing Nigeria as a gold market is eventually getting the people to buy gold. The statistics of Kano’s Sabon gari market before COVID-19 in 2019, showed an average of 20,000 unique buyers coming in to buy gold from all over West Africa.

Despite this great potential, the gold value chain and market dynamics in Nigeria is disjointed. Unless you are in the mining or trading space, access to gold is difficult. Goldsmiths, jewelers and retailers wanting gold can’t access small volumes of gold safely.

One of the things we are trying to establish is the gold buying capacity of Nigerians. Nigerians are well known in the gold markets of Dubai, Italy, India, and Singapore but because we do not have an organised retail market.

FX restrictions from the present tight monetary policy and adhering to responsible sourcing compliance, adds complications to the gold market. All these things make it difficult to quantify the potential of Nigeria to become a reputable gold market. However, we have always known that part of the key to strengthening the value-chain and really developing investments in gold is bringing out the Nigerian gold retail markets, getting Nigerians to buy gold, and getting gold to the people.

Once Nigeria begins to establish data of gold consumption in households whether gold as bars, coins or jewelry,

then it would become clear to the World Gold Council, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics and other trade data analysts the buying power of gold in Nigeria.

We will now see the volume of gold that Nigerian buy and see that Nigeria has the potential to in like say 10 years we can begin to be recognized as a gold market in Africa and slowly be reckoned with the likes of Southeast Asia and Dubai, in buying capacity for gold.

Another discovery through our gold markets the last few years has been the realization that a lot of people would really love to access gold for savings, not just jewelry. So with Sanu, you have the option to vault your gold with Union Bank as the custodial bank or with our vault partners outside Nigeria. So Sanu just takes all those issues people have had and reasons, why it’s been risky to buy gold. The bottlenecks to accessing gold have now been removed.

We really believe that we have the product that gives gold to the people.

Everywhere we’ve gone in the last few years people always just keep asking and saying that this gold you say you are refining that you’re selling where is it?

The same thing actually happening for Burkina Faso which is number two in West Africa after Ghana for gold production. Believe it or not but most people in Burkina Faso had never seen gold.

Yet Burkina Faso has several airstrips dedicated to daily evacuation of gold.

So a lot of what you find that is happening in our region is there are wealth and mineral resources that we are producing, but we can’t access and

“There is the potential that gold could give some release on FX demand for those looking for an avenue to save their money and avoid currency inflation. If people can buy gold, maybe they wouldn’t need to be looking for FX and there wouldn’t be such huge pressure on the FX reserves.

Now that SANU gives retail access to gold, we will test out this theory.”

You mentioned Burkina Faso and how much of an impact gold play in their economy and for Nigeria whose economy is desperately trying to divert from oil, is gold an option for Nigeria and what exactly should the Federal Government do to capitalise on assessing the gains from gold?

So there are so many ways that gold can work for the economy of Nigeria. If you look at Dubai, London, Singapore & Mumbai, they have deep gold economies but they don’t produce gold. They have just unlocked gold as part of the economy which is pretty much what we are trying to do here for West Africa.

The Central Bank of Zimbabwe just released a gold coin they are retailing through local banks and beyond for their citizens.

Not only are they combating inflation, the bandwagon effect of the ancillary services it creates, financial products that banks can create, it all leads to a gold economy that the whole nation benefits from. It would be a real game changer for Nigeria if we develop the gold value chain.

Its not just about mining, because if you’re just mining it like Burkina Faso, your economy doesn’t have the full economic benefits. Dubai doesn’t mine it, they don’t need to mine it, and they don’t deal with environmental factors but I assure you that Dubai’s economy is bigger and stronger, and more powerful than the Burkina Faso economy, the people who are producing the gold. How much more potential for Nigeria that mines gold and is one of the biggest economies in Africa.

So, I would emphasize more really on full value-chain development and establishing a broad market and economy around gold. Also, some things may seem counterintuitive to the government but it would require unlocking policies that allow market liberation for a season to bring the market above ground and allow exponential growth. Then begin to tighten it to prune and correct it. This is how the Dubai gold market was established. While it’s very tempting to only focus on the short term which is immediate revenue generating from maximizing taxation, it will take a long-term view to develop Nigeria’s gold economy. A more liberalized policy approach is needed for a window of about five years to really allow the bandwagon effect of the market on the economy.

Lastly, there is the potential that gold could give some release on FX demand for those looking for an avenue to save their money and avoid currency inflation. If people can buy gold, maybe they wouldn’t need to be looking for FX and there wouldn’t be such huge pressure on the FX reserves. Now that SANU gives retail access to gold, we will test out this theory.

We definitely believe that there will be a major impact from gold on the economy.

We participated with the ERGP in 2018 and have been working closely with the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

The ministry has constituted a gold roundtable with several interlinked agencies where they periodically sit to dialogue on policy issues surrounding gold. We are optimistic that more synergies of different agencies and ministries would go a long way towards establishing the gold value chain.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

ECONOMY

Taming Raging Inflation In this piece, James Emejo assesses CBN responses to inflationary concerns, concluding that the fiscal authority should do more to complement the monetary side in mitigating its impact on the economy.

F

or the avoidance of doubt, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007 accords the apex bank the overall control and administration of the monetary and financial sector policies of the federal government.

The primary mandate of the bank is to ensure monetary and price stability; issue legal tender currency in Nigeria; maintain external reserves to safeguard the international value of the legal tender currency; promote a sound financial system in the country; and act as banker and provide economic and financial advice to the federal government.

The CBN is also saddled with the responsibility of administering the Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFI) Act (1991) as amended, with the sole aim of ensuring high standards of banking practice and financial stability through its surveillance activities, as well as the promotion of an efficient payment system.

In addition to its core functions, CBN has over the years performed some major developmental functions, focused on all the key sectors of the Nigerian economy including financial, agricultural and industrial sectors among others, through its various departments.

INFLATION AND PRICE STABILITY

Inflation, which is the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services, has in recent times remained a growing challenge to the central bank’s efforts to maintain price stability in the economy.

Nigeria’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) which determines the inflation rate increased to 18.60 per cent year on year in June, compared to 17.75 per cent in the corresponding month of 2021 – and had been on the upwards trajectory in the preceding months, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This is the highest rate of change in prices recorded since January 2017.

Inflationary pressures had been compounded by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which had contributed to a major commodities supply chain disruption globally since February.

But even before the war broke out, the Nigerian economy had been battling rising inflation mainly caused by structural challenges in the country rather than monetary effects.

This perhaps explains why in spite of all the interventions on the CBN through the deployment of its monetary tools, inflation had persisted.

CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, during the unveiling of his five-year policy thrust of the bank (2019-2024) targeted to curb inflation to a single digit of six to nine per cent by working closely with the fiscal authorities.

It is important to note, however, that the central bank had continued to respond to the threat posed by rising inflation to price stability by deploying an array of monetary instruments including raising the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), otherwise known as the interest rate; sale of securities to mop up money in circulation; introducing the loan to deposit ratio policy to encourage lending to the private sector in order to stimulate production among other policy intervention efforts by the bank.

However, as pointed out by Emefiele and stakeholders, it is not that the CBN’s monetary tools are ineffective in tackling inflation, but the fact remains that current inflation had been caused by structural challenges in the country rather than monetary limitations.

For instance, over the past few years, inflation had been dominated by higher food prices largely because farmers are unable to access their farms as a result of the worsening insecurity across the country, which could only be addressed by the fiscal authority.

The composite food index, year on year rose by 20.60 per cent in June; yet, there are other challenges of infrastructure and a hostile business environment all of which could only be addressed by policy interventions on the fiscal side.

EFFECTS OF INFLATION ON BORROWING

There is no gainsaying the fact that inflation had led to the erosion of the value of the Naira and made the cost of borrowing from commercial banks more expensive in recent times – as well as a general increase in prices of essential commodities.

Only last week, while citing the impact of rising inflationary pressures in Nigeria and across the world, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN raised the benchmark Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 100 basis points from 13 per cent to 14 per cent.

This came barely two months after the bank in May had reviewed the benchmark rate upwards by 150 basis points from the 11.5 per cent it was for about two and a half years. Emefiele said the decision to raise MPR was informed by the MPC members’ concerns over the persisting inflationary pressures.

Emefiele, after the two-day meeting of the committee, further expressed concern over the continued aggressive movement in inflation even after the rate hike in the previous meeting and expressed its unrelenting resolve to restore price stability while providing the necessary support to strengthen our fragile economy.

Monetary intervention yields positive results No

NIGERIA INFLATION RATE

doubt, the CBN’s monetary interventions against inflation had been positive, after all.

Analysts believe that but for the wisdom of the MPC in dealing with inflation, the negative effects of rising prices would have been catastrophic for the economy. Despite the relative depreciation of the local currency, the value of the Naira remains strong compared to other currencies in Africa, which had been impacted by the global commodities supply challenges.

Just recently, currency in circulation dropped

by N72.5billion or 2.2 per cent from N3.33trillion at the end of May to N3.26 trillion at the end of June 2022, according to the apex bank, thanks to the monetary policy instruments deployed to consistently check inflation.

Several of the CBN’s development finance initiatives have also helped in no small measure to mitigate inflation by stimulating production to address demand-supply gaps.

This is on the back of several monetary policies adapted by the apex bank to mop-up liquidity in the economy to tackle inflationary pressure.

THE FISCAL GAPS

The fiscal authorities have severally been blamed for failing to complement the efforts of the monetary authorities in confronting the challenges posed by inflation in the economy.

Oftentimes, when the CBN had done its own part by utilizing its tools, the executive arm

of government in particular often use bureaucracy as well as politics to diminish the importance of such economic decisions.

The MPC has severally called on the federal government to carry out its own responsibility by addressing the insecurity and infrastructure as well as policy actions on fuel subsidy among others, but often times this comes to no avail.

Speaking to THISDAY on the development, Chairman, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Abuja Branch, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, said the apex bank appeared to be on top of the game when it comes to tackling inflation, adding that the fiscal side needed to proactive as well.

He said, “In the area of taming cost-push inflation in Nigeria, the CBN has been implementing a raft of interventions in line with its development Finance function. These interventions include those in Agriculture especially the Anchor borrower programme, designed to ramp up food supply in view of the fact that the price pressure is coming more from the rising cost of food production as well as concessional, single-digit lending facilities, through participating banks, to Small and Medium Enterprises.

“Also, the CBN is known to have intervened in the electricity sector in order to improve power supply as well as the airline sector to reduce the cost of air travel in the country.

Furthermore, under the Loan to Deposit ratio policy, the CBN has ensured that the banks channel

more credit to the private sector.”

According to him, the fiscal authority can complement the efforts by the apex bank by “dealing squarely with the rising insecurity which is negatively impacting food output, borrowing less from the domestic market which is driving up interest rates and raising the cost of capital on the part of firms and in collaboration with the private sector, exploring innovating means of revamping dilapidated infrastructure, especially roads and railways to reduce the cost of transportation.

“The fiscal authorities should equally implement urgently a roadmap for improved power supply focusing on off-grid solutions and independent power projects by the private sector as well as incentivising the establishment of modular refineries with a view to ending imports of petroleum products so the country does not depend significantly on the Dangote refinery when it commences operations.”

Uwaleke pointed out that through synchronisation of monetary and fiscal measures, the rising commodities’ prices driven by high cost of transportation, fuel and electricity can be tamed.

Also, Managing Director/Chief Executive, SD&D Capital Management Limited, Mr. Idakolo Gbolade, acknowledged that the CBN had indeed deployed all the tools at its disposal to stem inflation to no avail, adding that this could be “attributed to other macroeconomic factors that are affecting inflation which has not allowed inflation to abate.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2022

31

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Expending Nasarawa’s Monetary Windfalls Recently the governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, revealed how he intends to expend the state’s monetary windfalls, consisting of N9.75 billion and $15.7 million, from the federal government. Igbawase Ukumba reports

W

hen receiving his deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, alongside members of the State Executive Council on a traditional Sallah homage at his Gudi Station country home, Governor Abdullahi Sule revealed that his administration has accessed monetary windfalls consisting of N9.75 billion and $15.7 million from the federal government.

An overview of the monetary windfalls indicated that the N9.75 billion was a refund from the federal government as money spent by the Nasarawa State government for the building of the Lafia airport.

On the other hand, the $15.7 million States Fiscal Transpersncy, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) fund was also accrued to the state from the federal government as an encouragement to the state’s fight against corruption and enhancing of transparency in the use of public funds in the state.

The SFTAS fund, which serves as encouragement to state governments fighting

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule corruption and enhancing transparency in the use of public funds, saw Nasarawa State beaten many other states to deserve such

a stupendous windfall. The programme, which is being sponsored by the World Bank, focuses on strengthening the fiscal sustainability, transparency and accountability among the 36 states of the country.

It is worthy of note that Nasarawa received the $15.7 million SFTAS fund as a result of the state’s fiscal transparency and accountability through improved quality, timeliness and transparency of annual budget, including public consultation/citizen engagement towards enhancing budget credibility.

It also included the state’s timely preparation and publication of annual state audited financial statements and quarterly implementation reports, as well as enhanced accountability of funds in COVID-19 response and resilient recovery.

Nevertheless, when President Muhammadu Buhari landed at the Lafia Airport on a two-day working visit to Nasarawa State in February, 2022, he was elated that he has a personality that was working with the philosophy of the All Progressives

Congress (APC).

Buhari said: “I have reassured myself that we have a personality who is working in line with the philosophy of our great political party (APC). And I have the privilege to commission the airport in order to open up a vista of economic activities between the state, Nigeria and the outside world.”

This was even as the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had told the president at a gala night in Lafia, during the two-day working visit, that “the governor of Nasarawa State, as you have seen today, is taking steps right behind you by receiving very good tutolage in the areas where I superintendend as a minister in civil aviation. Because of the activities of some governors and that of your government, aviation has taken centre stage for the creation of wealth and collective national prosperity.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

ECONOMY

EXPORTERS, INVESTORS’ TOTAL FX TRADE UP 17.6% TO N30TRN AS COYS OFFERED N503.68BN CPS IN H1 the FMDQ market increased and it reflected in the amounts.”

In addition, analysts at Cordros securities in a report said, “In line with our 2022FY outlook, we maintain our expectation of increased demand for foreign currencies for service-based transactions.

“Our prognosis is hinged on the slowdown in virus cases and the effective reopening of the global economy. However, we expect the FX liquidity constraints and currency pressure to limit the services account deficit relative to pre-COVID levels.”

In another development, the FMDQ report disclosed that companies in the first H1 2022 quoted N503.68billion worth of Commercial Papers (CP) with over N2 trillion total outstanding value.

CP is a short-term debt financing securities (no longer than 270 days in tenor) consisting of unsecured and discounted promissory notes issued by large corporations with good credit ratings, which can be readily traded.

Due to its relatively short maturity period, CP is referred to as low-risk investments and offering competitive returns to investors in compensation for the issuer’s credit risk.

Among key noted CP issued on FMDQ market this year was MTN Nigeria’s N127 billion Series 1 & 2 issuance under its registered N150 billion programme.

The Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Karl Toriola explained that the N127 billion CP issuance would go into the record books as the largest CP issuance in Nigeria.

According to Toriola, “The success of our CP issuance is a clear demonstration of the strength and acceptance of the MTN brand and the trust placed by the investor community in MTN Nigeria’s company leadership,

strong financial performance, and corporate strategy.”

The Managing Director, Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adnori attributed the trudge in corporate raising CPs through FMDQ to urgent short-term capital obligations.

Speaking on the interest rate,

he said: “Not that the interest rate on CP is low, its just that these companies need shortterm funds to meet their daily business obligations. Some of these companies might be having a short fail in working capital. Short-term fund is to finance working capital

to remain in business. Some might have short-term opportunities to grow their businesses and decided to take advantage of CP to remain buoyant.”

Meanwhile, the increasing total foreign exchange turnover at the FMDQ impacted on the Naira as

it deprecated in May 2022.

The FMDQ report revealed that total Fixed Income and Currencies (FIC) transaction increased to N96.45 trillion in H1 2022, representing 4.8 per cent from N92.05 trillion in H1 2021.

FIC comprises of Foreign

Exchange, Treasury bills, Open Market Operation (OMO), CBN special Bills, FGN Bonds, among others.

As at H1 2022, FX transactions contributed 31.1per cent of the overall transaction at the FIC as against 27.7 per cent in H1 2021.

12 BANKS’ NET INTEREST MARGINS SHRINK ON COST OF FUNDS, ASSETS YIELDS retail strategy, diversified its funding base and played to the strength of its brand to gain enough market share in the retail space and maintain its strong low-cost mix position “Cost of Funds (CoF) improved by 31 bps (from 1 19 per cent in 2020 to 0.88 per cent in 2021 following an improvement in low cost deposit mix to 86 This was however not adequate to offset the 302 bps decrease in Asset Yields “The low-cost deposit mix enabled the Group to navigate the low Interest rate environment and compete effectively on asset pricing and helped moderate the pickup in cost of funds as the Group strives to sustain its liquidity position amidst intense competition from Fintechs and Tier 2 banks.

“The Group will continue to seek alternative yield optimization opportunities by taking advantage of its transition to a fully-fledged Financial Services Company.”

Similarly, Fidelity Bank reported 4.70 per cent NIM in 2021 from 6.30per cent in 2020, maintaining that it is a combination of lower yields

on earning assets and increased funding cost According to the bank, “Drop in average yield on earning assets was led by a decline in yields on liquid assets to 7.4 per cent

from 10.9 per cent in 2020.

“However, average lending rate inched up by 40 basis points to 11.0per cent from 10.6 per cent following the reprising of select risk assets. The increase in

average funding cost was caused by 90 basis points increase in average cost of deposits to 4.0 from 3.1 per cent in 2020 “However, average borrowing cost dropped by 30 basis

points on account of increased intervention funding and the refinancing of Fidelity N30 billion Junior Notes due 2022 which shaved off N14 billion p a in interest expenses.”

WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022 • T H I S D AY

33

34

WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022 • T H I S D AY

35

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 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 25July-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 N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 4.79% Anchoria Equity Fund 142.50 144.10 2.34% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.20 1.20 4.89% 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 22.06 22.72 8.74% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 517.58 533.18 14.72% ARM Ethical Fund 43.45 44.76 11.54% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.08 1.09 0.23% ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.38% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 88.53 88.53 -8.32% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,093.38 1,093.38 9.34% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.09 2.09 2.54% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.40 2.46 15.44% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.79% Paramount Equity Fund 19.77 20.13 13.35% Women's Investment Fund 149.69 151.55 5.42% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.80% Cordros Milestone Fund 134.04 134.98 7.60% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 110.40 110.40 5.02% 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 N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1479.92 1479.92 10.72% FBN Balanced Fund 194.21 195.49 10.81% FBN Halal Fund 121.71 121.71 10.17% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.77% FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) 124.89 124.89 6.25% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 161.96 164.14 6.91% 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 N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A 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

4,113.94 3,590.50 100.00

4,171.82 3,590.50 100.00

9.98% 6.24% 8.74%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.11 1.11 3.97% 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 1.60 1.63 12.87% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,154.92 1,154.92 5.26% 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 12.49 12.53 14.18% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 9.11% 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) 101.20 101.20 1.79% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 7.73% 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 126.39 128.57 4.49% 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 8.32% 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 0.99 1.02 11.54% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.34 1.36 2.49% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.16 1.18 11.78% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.07 1.07 4.08% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.90 1.90 3.62% United Capital Eurobond Fund 122.13 122.13 3.10% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.46% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.85 13.98 4.99% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 16.10 16.28 10.20% Zenith Income Fund 22.88 22.88 4.24% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.43% 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 3.79 3.89 -5.50% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 5.97 6.07 2.14% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 18.84 19.04 6.51% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.45% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 20.58 20.78 2.96% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 152.28 154.28 -3.45%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

117.84 51.82

4.06% 1.90%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.80 143.56 113.19 17.10 16.40

14.90 147.03 115.61 17.20 16.50

5.79% 10.37% 10.39% 22.45% -2.86%

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.

36

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022

EDUCATION ASUU Strike: Lecturers Beg, Borrow in Struggle for Survival In this report, lecturers affected by the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, which has consequently led to the federal government’s enforcing the no-work-no pay policy, speak with Sunday Ehigiator on how they have been living off begging for money from their former students and borrowing money from friends and family, with no end in view

“T

hanks so much for your response. I’m also sorry to bother/ disturb you. It’s just that it has reached its peak.

It’s been over 5-month since I last received my salary because of the ongoing ASUU strike. The federal government decided to stop our salaries in February to frustrate, humiliate and punish us for embarking on strike.

I’ve been managing to feed and sustain my family with my little savings,” the lecturer said in a message. “Unfortunately, I’ve exhausted all my savings. I’m now very helpless. Please, I need financial assistance to keep going as there is no end in sight to this ASUU strike, even though I feel ashamed doing this. I’m already overwhelmed.”

The above is a message sent by an associate professor (name undisclosed) at the Ekiti State University to one of his ex-students while seeking financial assistance.

Background ASUU had expressed grievances over the failure of the FG to fulfil some of the agreements it made as far back as 2009. ASUU had, on November 15, 2021, given the Federal Government a three-week ultimatum over the failure to meet the demands.

The lecturers threatened to embark on another round of industrial action following the alleged ‘government’s unfaithfulness’ in the implementation of the Memorandum of Action it signed with the union, leading to the suspension of the 2020 strike action.

After the union’s National Executive Council meeting at the University of Abuja on November 13 and 14, ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, lamented that despite meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, on October 14, 2021, on issues, including funding for revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowances, University Transparency Accountability Solution; promotion arrears, renegotiation of 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, and the inconsistencies in Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System Payment, none of its demands had been met.

Following the threats, the then Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, promised that the union would be paid.

A few weeks later, ASUU suspended the planned strike, as N22.1 billion earned allowances were paid to lecturers in federal universities, hoping to meet other demands.

The Strike Hopes dwindled as other demands were unmet.

Hence, July 14, 2022, makes it five months, exactly 150 days, since ASUU embarked on its latest strike but not without consequence, as the FG, in a bid to frustrate the strike action, sanctioned the striking varsity lecturers with no work no pay policy.

This latest strike comes on the heels of the accusation of the government reneging on previous agreements with ASUU, including the agreement to increase funding of public universities.

Since its initial four-week strike on February 14, ASUU has continued to roll the strikes over to date, while other unions, including the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has also declared a nationwide strike, thus, paralysing both academic and non-academic activities for months.

The repercussion of these actions isn’t only telling on the students whose academic calendars have been affected by an almost impossible reconciliation but also on the striking university workers themselves who now depend on other jobs (i.e. photography, transportation, tutorials, secondary school teacher, computer operator etc.),

I had to run to Minna for the whole month of June, depending on relations. I also borrowed some money from my Reverend younger brother to survive. When you check, you find you’ve borrowed from so many people, plus a few little occasional gifts from friends and family.

But it’s not only academic staff o, I don’t think they’ve paid non-academic for the past four months or more as well. Now that Ngige has finally been taken off the negotiations let’s see what speed they can muster to resolve this, considering the two weeks ultimatum from the president.

President Buhari borrowing and begging for financial assistance from their ex-students, families or friends for survival.

Although some lecturers admitted that ASUU has been helping a few lecturers who applied for financial support from ASUU with a token of N30,000 monthly, this token is not enough to meet their monthly basic or personal needs.

Lecturers’ survival tales John Bardi (Lecturer – UNIBEN) I have been depending on family and friends for financial assistance.

I get loans from friends and family to be repaid when we’re eventually paid the arrears, that is if they will pay. My former students who are friends have also been magnanimous in assisting with little they can afford.

ASUU as a union has also been assisting with N30,000 monthly from their welfare fund, which I know will soon run dry.

I have a health condition, but I have been forced to slow down on my diet because of lack of funds. The cost of my drugs is rising daily and I must consume them. The school clinic is on strike so I can’t access healthcare. To God be the glory, I have been well.

This whole issue has been debilitating. It’s quite unfortunate that the government treats education with levity.

Despite the suffering, I support the strike on principle. Our emoluments are too poor. No lecturer survives with his or her salary for two weeks.

If the government is sincere, ASUU’s demands are achievable.

Dr. Akpughe Oghenemudiaga (Lecturer - UNIBEN) Surviving without a salary has not been easy. At first, some of us thought it was going to be called off soon because we believed that

Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu the federal government would not allow the Nigerian students in Federal public universities to suffer for so long.

After one or two months, we realized the government does not care about what happens to the educational sector of this country. Some of our hopes and trust in the government that kept paying lip services died. How do we survive?

We asked ourselves.

I am a Theatre Arts lecturer; I don’t just teach my students for just educational sake, I teach them to live what they learn. Theatre Arts is a professional discipline that has myriad entrepreneurial possibilities. Most of us have not been practising because we give most of our time to our students. With the strike, some of us have to live what we teach.

We’ve been asking for the revitalisation of the university. People don’t know what we lecturers go through. Because of our passion for teaching, some of us had to get personal equipment like cameras, projectors, and some lighting equipment which we use as instructional materials to teach our students without collecting anything from them or the institution because we want them to meet up with other universities outside the country.

These instructional materials that I use to impart knowledge have now been converted to business. I have become a photographer, videographer, photo and video editor as well as a lighting designer.

Although the business is not always frequent, I still survive it. Some of us have cars we use for Bolt or Uber. We do a lot of legitimate things to survive. It may be meagre but we manage to feed our homes.

Our hands are already on the plough. We can’t look back. We’ve come this far. We can’t relent. All we are fighting for is better education for Nigerian students and better placement for the educational sector of our country in other international spheres. We will survive. Now we live and practice what we teach.

Dr (Mrs.) Shalom Israel (lecturer – UNIBEN) We have been living mostly begging and borrowing. But the ones who are mostly hit are the ones on regular medication - either hypertensive or diabetic.

Despite the suffering, I support the strike on principle. Our emoluments are too poor. No lecturer survives with his or her salary for two weeks. If the government is sincere, ASUU’s demands are achievable

Dr Tayo Popoola (Lecturer – UNILAG) We have been surviving by the grace of God, but I must confess to you that no lecturer will tell you that he or she finds things easy since the ‘no work, no pay rule of the federal government was rolled out. But it is a decision we have all taken, no going back, we have to endure the challenges, so that at least, we can put smiles on the faces of our students.

As you are aware, the conditions of the universities are very terrible. I don’t understand why the government should allow things to deteriorate to this level in our tertiary institution.

We are all seriously affected by the strike.

We cannot meet our personal needs. We have families, dependants, aged parents, etc., that we need to take care of. But since the money is not there, we had to appeal to them and beg for their understanding, which they also do understand.

ASUU has been helping with stipends. They rolled out a release that anybody in need of financial support should apply, and they have been helping those that applied through each of the local chapters, and I commend them for that. But as regards this strike, we remain resolute as a body. Haven got to this stage.

There is no going back now till our demands are met. No retreat, no surrender.

On the two weeks ultimatum from the president, let me ask you a question: if the President knew he could resolve this matter within two weeks, why didn’t he do this since February?

Imagine the number of students in federal institutions that have been at home. Some of them have even travelled outside the country and will not return to this country again, yet we are preaching patriotism.

It might be a herculean task to persuade some of these students that have left this country to love their country because the country has not shown them love. And there is no other reason the federal government is handling this matter this way other than the fact that their children are not in federal or state universities but private foreign universities.

This is very sad. Whatever we do today is history, and history will have a series of volumes on how they have handled this current strike with regards to the interest of the common students.

Dr Ambrose Uchenunu (lecturer – UNIBEN) I have been surviving on my savings, family and friends and with it, I am assisting some indigent students who cry to me for assistance.

I just transferred N5,000 to a student just this morning. These are the stories that are not told.

All they hear about lecturers is extortion. Some of us use our meagre salaries to assist students in need. In the same vein, three students have offered to assist with finance due to the strike, which I turned down because of their status as undergraduates. I told them when they graduate and start earning big. I could consider their offers.

Lecturers, even only the affected people, have you considered those that run petty businesses on campus premises and how they are coping with these strikes? The situation is far terrible for them, but hopefully, we will survive and move past this once our demands are met.

37

T H I S D AY ˾ EDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022

EDUCATION

Abia Govt Laments NBTE’s GEP3 Project: 650,265 Girls Enrolled in Accreditation Withdrawal of Qur’anic Schools Poly, Blames Mismanagement Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The government of Abia State has absolved itself from the loss of accreditation and clamped down on the Abia State Polytechnic (Abiapoly), Aba, saying that the successive management of the institution should be blamed for the “embarrassing” development.

State commissioner for information and strategy, Mr Eze Chikamnayo, stated the government’s position while briefing journalists on the outcome of the state executive council meeting held at government house Umuahia.

He said that the government has consistently honoured its financial obligation to Abiapoly, adding a total sum of N7.1 billion over the past 78 months at an average of N98 million per month.

“Abiapoly’s problem is poor management.

There has been successive abuse of best practices in the running of the institution,” he said. “Their problem is self-inflicted (and) any time a parastatal decides to ignore best past pea tunes, it should face the

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

consequences.”

The spokesman said Governor Okezie Ikpeazu Ikpeazu was aware of the rot in the polytechnic, but the industrial unions have always blocked every effort to sanitise the institution.

He cited staff strength that includes 40 doctors on the payroll for the staff clinic, 40 in the bookshop while 120 hands were employed to work in the staff canteen, “yet the institution can’t pay salary.”

However, Chikamnayo assured that the government has decided to rescue the floundering state-owned polytechnic and has already taken steps to achieve that goal.

Both the management and the institution’s governing board were dissolved in the wake of the withdrawal of accreditation announced by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) on Tuesday.

Nonetheless, he faulted the NBTE for withdrawing Abiapoly accreditation on the grounds of Nigeria-payment of salaries, saying the board should not be seen to be usurping the roles of trade unions.

RCCG Solid Rock Donates Building to Lagos School The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lagos Province 40, Solid Rock Parish, Ojodu, has donated a modern school building of 10 classrooms, its third in that community, to the Lagos State government.

The 10-classroom block complex built in Ojodu Primary School was handed to the government recently.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Pastor in Charge, Lagos Province 40, Pastor Bola Odutola, said, “RCCG Lagos Province 40 has been providing assistance to support education development efforts

by Lagos state government through various projects.’’

“We also believe it is important for all the children to learn in a conducive and safe environment, hence the resolve of our church to support the government continuously,” he stated.

Odutola added that the church sought to mitigate the problem of overcrowded classrooms in the community, thereby making the learning environment conducive for learners and educators.

While commending

the builders and other professionals involved in the project for their efforts, as well as the principal and staff of Ojodu Primary School for their cooperation, Odutola urged the school authority to ensure the new block of classrooms is well maintained.

Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, who received the block of classrooms on the government’s behalf, said, “The state had a long and good relationship with the Redeemed Christian Church of God.’’ Adefisayo urged the school to maintain the building and ensure the facilities were always in good condition.

Also present at the event to anchor the formal presentation of the building was Pastor Brown Oyitso, Intercontinental CSR Missions Coordinator of RCCG, who commended LP 40 and other provinces of the church for their swift and prompt response to the directive of the General Overseer, Pastor E.A Adeboye, asking all provinces of the church to impact positively on their host communities.

The Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Field Office Bauchi, Tushar Rane, has disclosed that the Girls’ Education Project3 (GEP3), funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK, has effectively increased the enrollment of girls to 650,265 into preprimary and integrated Qur’anic education.

Similarly, he disclosed that “despite the benefits of educating the girl child, over 10 million children in Nigeria — 60 per cent of whom are girls — are out of school. The

situation with girls’ education has been worsened by attacks on schools which have made learning environment insecure and discouraged parents and caregivers from sending their wards, particularly girls, to schools”.

THISDAY reports that media dialogue on girl child education, with a focus on the UNICEF Girl Education Project Phase 3, (GEP3) supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom (UK), is in collaboration with the government, partners and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)

to help children survive, thrive and attain their full potentials.

The dialogue emphasised that the media plays a very important role as a critical ally in helping UNICEF fulfil this mandate.

Rane made the disclosures at the Media Dialogue on Girls’ Education under the Girls’ Education Project 3 (GEP 3), funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK, yesterday in Bauchi.

He emphasised that the education of the girl child is critical to transforming communities, reducing inequalities,

and strengthening economies.

Additionally, when we educate the girl child, child marriage and child mortality rates reduce.

Rane added that the project was implemented in Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara.

He said, “The GEP3 project implemented various capacitybuilding initiatives for teachers.

About 11,000 teachers received training on topics such as leadership skills to enable effective running of schools, Early Grade Reading pedagogies to enable early grasp of literacy skills and other key topics essential for effective service delivery.”

Kingsley Moghalu to Deliver Babcock University Convocation Lecture Funmi Ogundare

President of the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation (IGET) and a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof Kingsley Moghalu, will today deliver Babcock University 2022 convocation lecture.

The lecture, titled ‘Knowledge, Vision, Passion and Innovation in the Context of Nigeria’s Development’, will hold at the university’s Amphitheatre in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, just as it will be graduating a total of 159 PhDs, 312 Master’s and Master of Philosophy ( MPhil) candidates.

Moghalu was a professor of Practice in International Business and Public Policy at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Boston,

USA. He was an Oxford Martin Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford for the Michaelmas Term of 2021.

As a deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 2009 to 2014, he led the implementation of banking and payment system reforms, including digital payments and transactions on mobile phones, the introduction of the Bank Verification Number (BVN), and the introduction of non-interest (Islamic) banking.

In the same vein, an Americabased Nigerian entrepreneur and CEO of Axxess, the leading and reputable global care in Texas, Dallas, USA, Mr John Olajide, will deliver the university’s 20th commencement lecture, scheduled to hold on July 31, at the institution’s campus in Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State,

The Director of Marketing and Communication, Babcock University. Dr Joshua Suleiman, in a statement, stated that Olajide was the youngest-ever chair of the Dallas Regional Chamber’s board of directors and executive committee that successfully led the Dallas business community through the COVID-19 pandemic with remarkable achievements in 2020.

He serves on the board of the Presidential Precinct in the United States, which partnered with the Mandela Washington Fellowship to engage and inspire emerging leaders in addressing challenges in their own countries.

He also serves on the board of the corporate council on Africa, which promotes US business and investment in Africa.

He is passionate about and

devoted to leveraging technology to increase access to healthcare services globally by improving the quality of healthcare services delivered to patients in their homes and empowering healthcare organisations and professionals with state-of-the-art software solutions.

Since its founding in 2007, Axxess has grown rapidly, with locations around the world, including Lagos, Nigeria. More than 9,000 organisations serving more than three million patients today are using its software and services to make care in the home easy and lives better.

Olajide maintains an active interest in Nigerian affairs. He recently made a multi-milliondollar commitment to support an agriculture project in Ekiti State and is an active investor in other sectors.

L-R: School Director, Immanuela Imansuangbon; guest speaker, Vice-Chancellor, Veritas University Abuja, Prof Hyacinth Ichoku; Chairman, PaceSetters Schools, Ken Imansuangbon; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Nile University, Abuja, Prof Dileep Kumar; and General Nasiru Muktar of Nigerian Army at the graduation and prize-giving ceremony of the schools in Abuja... recently PHOTO: JULIUS ATOI

Winners Emerge at Felicia Agubata Science Contest, Scholarship for Girls Funmi Ogundare

Winners have emerged at the second edition of the Felicia Agubata Science competition and scholarship for girls in primary schools, designed to ignite the passion for STEM subjects among girls from the grassroots.

The competition organised in honour of the former president of the Association, Dr. Felicia Agubata, for her passion for seeing STEM at the forefront

of career opportunities in Nigeria, was held at the Foluseke Abiodun Shomolu Club House, Auditorium, Egbin Power PLC Estate, Egbin, Ikorodu.

It saw participants tested in Mathematics, English Language, Quantitative Reasoning, Basic Science and Civic Education.

Miss Anthonia Nkwogu of Powerfields Group of Schools, Egbin, emerged the first smiling home with a cash prize

of N100,000. Miss Amarachi Abebe of Methodist Girls Primary School, Gberigbe, and Justina Achem of AnwarUl-Islam Primary School, Ijede, came second and third positions, respectively.

According to the Chairman of the Association of Professional Women in Engineering (APWEN), Lagos Chapter, Monsurah Alagbe, the association is an advocate of girl-child education and encourages girls to pick a career in STEM.

The president of the association, Dr. Elizabeth Eterigho, described the scholarship as an awareness programme to encourage the girls in the field of science, raise their confidence and focus their attention on the mind-blowing career opportunities available.

She emphasised the importance of education, saying it leads the country towards advancement and increases individual knowledge towards national development.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022

CITYSTRINGS

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

Erewa-Meggison: BAT Has Evolved into a Coy Where Sustainability is Foremost In this interview with the Director External Affairs, British American Tobacco West and Central Africa, Odiri Erewa-Meggison, she speaks about the company’s commitment to its expanded environmental, social and governance, ESG, priorities and the evolved corporate culture that has put sustainability front and centre in all company operations. Chiamaka Ozulumba brings excerpt

H

Most multinationals are switching to renewable energy sources as the next phase of the drive to reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. Do you have plans to transition to renewables in the near future?

Certainly. Indeed, one of our ESG targets is to achieve 100% renewable electricity in operations sites by 2030 and we are well on our way to that. In 2020, we commenced the transition from diesel-powered electricity generating plants to an independent power plant (IPP), utilising cleaner natural gas as a fuel source. The IPP also incorporates heat recovery capacity and the recovered heat is used to drive the factory cooling systems.

This further extends the energy efficiency of the factory and helps the environment as noxious fumes are not released along with steam into the atmosphere. These initiatives have enabled the company to achieve up to 23 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions.

More recently, we announced the implementation of a 1 MW Solar Panel renewable energy solution (without backup battery storage) that would complement the existing gas engine-powered supply at our factory.

This project, which will consist of the installation of 1,900 polar panels, will generate a cumulative energy of 1,400,000 KWh annually, representing about six percent of the factory’s annual power requirement, which would be injected directly into the company’s energy mix.

To achieve this, we are making a significant investment of about £1m over the next two years on the project,which will reduce our carbon emissions by the equivalent of 992 tons annually, thus taking us closer to our target of 100% renewable energy source and being carbon neutral by 2030.

ow important is sustainability to British American Tobacco Nigeria Limited?

Sustainability has been central to our business and ethos for decades, starting in 2001 when we established our first group-wide environment, health and safety systems, the BAT Nigeria Biodiversity Partnership and a programme of independently facilitated social dialogue. Last year, we were recognised as a sustainability leader for the 20th consecutive year and the only tobacco company to be included in the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI). That speaks a lot about the priority we have placed on sustainability over the years.

Sustainability is integral to our evolved group strategy and reflects our commitment to the principal focus area of reducing the health impact of our business. This is underpinned by excellence across our other Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) priorities. We are committed to reducing our climate impact, taking care of biodiversity, and rethinking our means of consumption. For us, sustainability is front and center in everything we do.

You mentioned that sustainability is front and center in all that you do as a company. How is that playing out in your Nigeria and indeed West Africa operations?

In Nigeria and indeed across our operations in West and Central Africa, we are very proud of the success we have registered on our sustainability journey. In 2021, we achieved 100% recycling of waste generated at our Ibadan factory with zero waste evacuated to landfill. We set up a Sustainability Show corner at our factory where you will find some of the end products of the recycling process on display. It shows that beyond repurposing waste material, the initiative is also creating new capacities among implementation partners and employment in the local community.

In addition, we have recorded an impressive 23.7% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions, compared to the 2017 baseline, on our journey to carbon neutrality. We have also recorded 26.2% reduction in water drawn and 4% water recycled. Moreover, we have also attained the ISO140012015 environmental certification for the Ibadan factory, among others.

How has the pursuit of this principle impacted your company’s performance?

For instance, on areas like safety, efficiency of your operations or productivity of your workforce?

The impact has been very positive, even for our performance as an organisation.

For example, one of our ambitions, which is reflected in our 2021 Group Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Report, is zero accidents group-wide. We are proud that in Nigeria and the West and Central Africa Area, we achieved zero lost time incidents throughout 2021 at our Ibadan Factory, despite hundreds of people walking through its gates daily. Supported by myriads of trucks and equipment and over three hundred cars on the road daily across our commercial operations, we’ve similarly recorded significant reduction in road accidents when compared with the previous years.

With the increased clamour by environmental activists and governments across the globe for companies to reduce the environmental impacts of their activities, how would you score your company’s efforts in reducing the negative environmental impacts of your operations?

For this year’s World Environment Day, which was marked in June, the world cel-

Erewa-Meggison

ebrated 50 years of the initial Stockholm Conference with the theme ‘Only One Earth’. It was once again an opportunity to reiterate the need for mankind to live sustainably in harmony with nature; and for us at BAT Nigeria, we are proud of the achievements we have made so far and are committed to continuously push for new ways to reduce our resource use, preserve the natural environment, improve the lives of farmers and communities, and uphold robust corporate governance standards. So, I will say quite confidently that we have done very well in driving for a sustainable planet and reducing negative environmental impact of our operations.

Please could you throw more light on this ‘zero waste to landfill’ you mentioned. How were you able to achieve it this quickly?

In 2019, we began partnering with local recyclers to implement the recycling of waste material such as paper, plastics

and cigarette waste. One of such local partners is Skaj& U, which started off as a waste paper aggregator and paper recycling years ago, but is today, able to recycle such diverse products as plastic waste, spent oil, tyres, metal waste, carton waste, pallet waste, packs and label waste, waste water, canteen waste, nylon waste, tow waste, foil waste, used kegs, used drums, cable waste and sludge, among others, from our factory in Ibadan. Hence no waste material goes to any landfill in Oyo State, from our factory.

Our model of partnering with local partners has also led to their empowerment. For example, the project with BAT Nigeria has catalyzed Skaj & U’s growth.

They now employ up to 150 skilled and unskilled workers in addition to the expansion of its recycling capacity with the acquisition of new machinery and the introduction of new recycling processes.

For us, we see ourselves as being on a journey to build A Better TomorrowTM, and we have a clear road map with set milestones leading up to 2050.

While we are proud of our current achievements, we are not prepared to rest on our oars

Can we say that you are satisfied with your company’s sustainability achievements or milestones?

For us, we see ourselves as being on a journey to build A Better TomorrowTM, and we have a clear road map with set milestones leading up to 2050. While we are proud of our current achievements, we are not prepared to rest on our oars. We are focused on our targets and will continue to implement various initiatives that help us achieve our targets in our region.

Are there any policy initiatives you think the government of Nigeria can introduce that will improve environmental conservation and accelerate Nigeria towards a greener future?

I believe the Federal Ministry of Environment, and importantly National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), have been doing a lot of work, in recent times, around embedding good environmental management practices in Nigeria and holding corporate organisations to task in fulfilling their obligations in ensuring good environmentally practices in their operations. But I think we need a lot more public awareness on the importance of protecting the environment and the consequences of our actions on the planet. This should be engrained even in our educational system so that young ones grow up they have a sustainability mindset acquired in the formative years. That way we build a society where these issues are top of mind for private citizens, businesses and of course the government.

At BAT Nigeria, we want to be the catalyst that gets other companies in Nigeria to take environmental issues very seriously; making sure that we are giving back to the society from which we derive our livelihood. We are nurturing our environment in such a way that there is sustainability into the future.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022

39

SECURITY

Operation Swift Response: 81 Division Troops, Customs Intercept Smuggled Petroleum Products

Some of the recovered products

The joint taskforce of Operation Swift Response

One of the filling stations with smuggled products Precious Ugwuzor

T

roops of 81 Division Nigerian Army (NA) in a joint operation conducted

by Operation SWIFT RESPONSE in charge of Joint Border Drill Patrol have intercepted two filling stations involved in smuggling petroleum products around the border town at Imeko Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State.

It would be recalled that following the escalation of activities of smugglers around the border communities across the country, the federal government inaugurated the Anti-smuggling Outfit Tagged Operation SWIFT RESPONSE. According to acting Deputy Director 81 Division Army Public Relations, Major Olaniyi Osoba, the joint taskforce comprises the personnel of Army, Customs, Police, and other security agencies to checkmate activities of the smugglers which have a detrimental effect on the economy.

He said: "The troops deployed for antismuggling operations on patrol with the customs personnel and other security agencies during routine patrol observed that all the filling stations

at Imeko Afon Local Government Area were closed.

"Further investigation revealed that most of the filling stations closed during the day are active at night. Consequent to this revelation, the troops in conjunction with personnel of Operation SWIFT RESPONSE conducted a dawn operation on July 16 and discovered two filling stations siphoning Premium Motor Spirit into Jerry cans at Imeko.

"On sighting the troop, the suspected fuel attendant and buyers fled the scene.

"Accordingly, a search behind the station and its surroundings led to the recovery of filled jerricans already loaded into vehicles and ready to be smuggled out. " At the end of the operation, a total of two hundred and three (30 Litres) Jerricans were confiscated out of which one hundred and forty-eight were filled with PMS. "Additionally, one dane gun, three generators, four vehicles, and six motorcycles were discovered hidden in the bush path.

"The operation was well coordinated in a professional manner and items seized have been handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service."

CRIME SITUATION REPORTS

INSECURITY CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA: WAY OUT OF SEEMING DESPONDENCY (5) Gbolahan Samuel Moronfolu Other solutions likely to solve the issue of insecurity in Nigeria also include the following (cont'd): Elimination of Corruption and Entrenchment of Social Justice – Corruption is viewed as the cog in the Nigerian wheel of progress and development. It is the bane of our society. It is both a social and economic monster. It is the cause of inequality and inequitable distribution of the nations’ wealth among its citizens, a situation that is the root cause of disaffection among Nigerians. It is theorized by many that fighting corruption and winning the war will bring about an egalitarian society, where fairness, social justice, and equal right for all will reign supreme; where rights will not be privileges for some people, and for others, privileges are their rights: where every Nigerian will be treated and accorded position not based on tribe and sect, but on merit defined in terms of the content of his character, mental capacity and ability to deliver; where there will be no discrimination.

Radical Change in Values – A paradigm shift of values from the current order has also been suggested and emphasized by many, considering the role of values in the governance system, leadership developmental goals, and behavior towards corruption. It is argued that except our values are right, we cannot get it right as a nation in all of the areas that we have itemized, and except we get it right in those areas, the people will continue to suffer deprivation and injustice which will cause dissatisfaction and disaffection and consequently create an insecure environment. To overcome insecurity there is a need for intelligence gathering and surveillance so that law enforcement agents could be proactive and reasonably predict potential crime with near-perfect accuracy rather than being reactive.

The menace of insecurity no doubt calls for a new approach that will be founded on credible intelligence gathering. Government must not only continue to engage the security personnel, but it must also, more than ever before, recognize the need to devote more attention to security intelligence, capacity building to meet the global best practice standard, and acquisition of modern technology.

There is also the need to modernize the security agencies with training, intelligence sharing, advanced technology, logistics, motivation, and change of orientation. This effort will enhance the operational capabilities of the Nigerian security agencies by identifying avenues that would enable them to respond appropriately to internal security challenges and other threats. In addition, there should be a complete overhaul of the security institutions in the country to reflect international standards of best practices so as to pre-empt these security breaches. The consistent pattern of post damage responses to national security has been attributed to the dearth of pre-emptive intelligence among security personnel.

There should be an institutionalized approach rather than the episodic and reactive response adopted by the government in the aftermath of attacks. In addition, the Government at all levels should not compromise in enforcing the law. Cases of corruption are not meant to be compromised, let alone adjourning them endlessly. The judiciary ought to have, at this stage in our development, evolved time scales for cases. There ought to have been a time to determine a cause; time to close that case; and time to deliver judgment and pass sentences.

In Nigeria, cases that bother on corruption and insecurity have most often been compromised.

Thus, the law is no longer acting as a deterrent.

Our law enforcement agencies must therefore be incorruptible and fair. To ensure all this, there must be incentives, good conditions of service, and social security.

The formulation and effective implementation of policies and programs capable of addressing the root causes of insecurity in Nigeria is crucial, especially with regard to poverty; unemployment, environmental degradation, injustice, corruption, porous borders, and small arms proliferation. Therefore, efforts to tackle insecurity can only be effective if there is a robust combination of legislative and judicial interven-

tions with government reforms that address some of the acute human security challenges confronting a vast majority of the population.

The insecurity challenge in Nigeria has become a formidable challenge for the Nigerian government and peoples. The governance challenges facing the polity have trickled into the society, resulting in moral decadence. The growing dissatisfaction, discomfort and distress within the larger society coupled with the unabating official corruption, high unemployment rate, economic crisis, pauperization of the masses, decaying infrastructure and a futile national integration project have heated up the sociopolitical environment.

Consequently, armed conflicts, terrorism, ethno-religious holocausts, kidnapping, political assassination and other violent crimes have become the theme of Nigerian social relations.

The government has made efforts to contain the insecurity inferno raging in many spots in the country, but until the moral foundation on which the Nigerian state is revolves on is regenerated, Nigeria may be walking the precipice.

There is the need to revive and reinforce moral values and virtue ethics in the country and that the country should go a step further by codifying these values/principles so that Nigerians, small and old, can begin to imbibe these virtues to guide their conduct, behavior and social relations with others. First of all, government carries a moral burden to lead by example. Providing moral leadership that eschews evil, corruption, vices, inequity, injustice and wickedness will compel the people to model the character of their leaders and vice versa.

In addition, the democratic system in place must begin to deliver the needed social goods so as to improve the standard of living of Nigerians and deliver many citizens from the state of absolute poverty to which they have been subjected for a long while. Third, there is need to identify the moral values and ethical virtues that should guide the conduct and behavior of Nigerians. These values should be built on the respect for human life, the regard for human dignity and the right to life, liberty and security of the people; the freedom of worship, religion, thought and conscience; and the freedom of opinion.

Fourth, there should be a codification of the moral values and virtues the government and Nigerian peoples subscribe to for the good of the larger society. Fifth, government should plug all the holes through which scarce resources are been siphoned so as to free resources for national development and equipping of the military to fulfill its functions.

PROVISION OF MODERN CRIME FIGHTING EQUIPMENT ANDADEQUATE REMUNERATIONTO SECURITY FORCES: There is need for the government whose prerogative is the security of the its citizens to ensure the provision of modern crime fighting equipment, commensurate training and adequate remuneration and other welfare packages to boost morale of our security forces engaged in fighting crime and criminality in the country.

Then they could be held accountable in the discharge or otherwise of their professional mandate Lastly, there is need for a national conversation or dialogue where Nigerians can release their pent-up anger and frustration against the state and fashion out the blueprint for the engagement of all the component units that make up Nigeria. Paying lip-service to the matters of insecurity in Nigeria by government and its representatives is sitting on a time-bomb that may soon explode. Sustaining personal or regime security will not secure government or its representatives if this challenge is not nipped in the bud. The governance process must be erected on the pillars of moral values and virtues and the Nigerian people must be led by a moral leadership that will strive to secure the commitment and support of all citizens to make the Nigerian project a true success.

-Moronfolu is a seasoned security consultant with many years of security and policing experience. FELLOW, Fourth Estate Professional Society (FFPS), he has also partaken in peace keeping operations within and outside the country and has flair for general security education.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ JULY 27, 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

SMEDAN to Hold Opportunity Fairs for Physically Challenged Entrepreneurs Dike Onwuamaeze The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), has announced that it would hold a Special Opportunity Fairs for People With Disabilities (PWDs) as part of its efforts to encourage socio-economic inclusion for PWDs entrepreneurs in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

This was disclosed recently in Lagos by the Director General of SMEDAN, Mr. Olawale Fasanya, during a capacity building programme titled “Grant and Growth Support for Business Membership Orgmisations and Trade Associations” that was targeted at PWDs. Fasanya said: “We are going to organise Special Opportunity Fairs for the PWDs and we are going to start it in Lagos. This will bring government personalities and agencies like National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to the fair that will be special

for the PWDs. “We will brainstorm to see how we can provide market linkages for you so that your products can be off taken.

We will also try at the federal level to play advocacy role for people that are physically challenged because, as far as we are concerned, you are people with special abilities and not disabilities. We will not just train you and leave you but will provide some support to you.”

He noted that “today, people with ‘special abilities’ are making in-roads and redefining entrepreneurship as a route to socio-economic development,” adding that “they have accepted the challenge and are making tremendous impact towards employment generation and wealth creation.

They have demonstrated that there is ability in disability and process tremendous potential for enterprise.

In her remark during the workshop, the Chairlady, Lagos State Chapter of Nigeria Association of the Blind, Mrs.

Christiana Akinrimade, requested that government should assist the PWDs in business to secure access markets for their products through the provision of shops in notable markets in the country.

She said: “We want SMEDAN to assist us empower us to be on our feet so that we can be able to convince others to joins us.”

Speaking in the same vein, the Chief Executive Officer of The Eastern Star Care Foundation, Mrs. Upright M. Wonders, who is also a physically challenged entrepreneur, called on governments in the country to patronise their products, saying, “I want to see our products in Aso Rock.”

Wonders told the director general of SMEDAN that the PWDs are faced with the challenge of where to display their products. “Please encourage the federal government to be buying our products.

Personally I have one of the best liquid soap products in this nation. But the state and federal governments are not patronising us enough. I want to see the products of PWDs in Sheraton and NICON Hotel,” she said.

Fidelity Bank Launches Apprenticeship Support Initiative Nume Ekeghe Fidelity Bank Plc has announced the launch of its Apprenticeship Support Initiative as part of its strategy to encourage womenled small and medium-scaled enterprises (SME).

The scheme, which would be executed under its Her Fidelity Proposition, would commence with a two-months’ fashion and design training for young-women in Kano State.

Earlier in the year, Her Fidelity proposition was launched at the International Women’s Day celebration hosted by Fidelity Bank.

At the event, the Bank’s Managing Director, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, presented cheques of N1million each to five women-led SMEs from Kano, Yola, Owerri and Lagos to train young women in the areas of fashion design, cosmetics and auto mechanics.

In a chat with journalists

in Lagos, the Group Head, SME Banking, Fidelity Bank Plc, Esther Obiekwe said, “At Fidelity, our aim is to position ourselves as a platform for improving lives, helping businesses grow and economies to thrive. Whether this is through the financial solutions we provide to our numerous clients or through interventions such as our Apprentice Support and capacity building initiatives for women, we remain committed helping our clients grow.” aProposition on the International Women’s Day this year to speak to the yearnings of every woman through four pillars, namely - capacity development, access to finance at reduced rates, health, and wellness programmes as well as recognition and networking events. Our Apprentice Support Initiative is one of the ways we are championing the capacity development mandate and we are delighted

to launch the initiative with the training of nine young ladies at Mdee Fashion Design Limited in Kano State from Monday, 25th July 2022. We are optimistic that this would go a long way in assisting these ladies develop the required skills that would transform them into employers of labour and ultimately, contribute to the nation’s economic fortunes, ”Obiekwe said.

Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged commercial bank operating in Nigeria with over 6.5 million customers serviced across its 250 business offices and digital banking channels. The bank was recently recognized as the Best SME Bank in Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking & Finance Awards. The bank has also won awards for the “Fastest Growing Bank” and “MSME & Entrepreneurship Financing Bank of the Year” at the 2021 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

Africa’s Premier CSR, Sustainability Awards Announces Call for Entry All is set as the local organizing committee of The SERAS CSR Awards Africa, announces its call for entry and participation for the 2022 edition, which is the 16th edition of the glamorous award ceremony.

The SERAS is Africa’s first and foremost recognition for corporate social responsibility and Sustainability. It has grown to become the most credible and glamorous business award in Africa. Today, it is the gold-standard award and the most important industry ceremony in Africa. The growing importance of The SERAS has led to participation from organizations from 22 countries in Africa so far.

At the media conference unveiling the 2022 theme, which is- ‘Climate, Circularity, and the Future of Sustainability: Bridging the SDGs Gap through Impact Investing’, the founder of the awards, Ken Egbas, also unveiled the 25 awards categories ratified by the judges’ committee which would be competed for by organizations across Africa.

The Categories include- Circular Economy; Environmental Stewardship; Rural Population Integration; Poverty Reduction; Promotion of Good Health/ Well-Being; Partnership of the Year; Education Intervention of the Year; Reporting & Transparency; Best Work-Place Practice; Stakeholder Engagement; Notfor-Profit of the Year; Deborah Leipziger Africa Prize for Innovation (Product/Service).

Others are - Gender Equality/ Women Empowerment; Social Enterprise of the Year; Food Security, Water & Sanitation; Climate Action; Supply-Chain Management; Sustainability Reporting (Media: Electronic/ Print/online); Sustainability Professional of the Year; and CEO of the Year. In line with the focal theme, the committee also introduces five new categories such as Diversity, Equity, Inclusion; Net Zero Transition; Technology for Development of the Year; Social Impact/ Human Capital

Advancement; and Impact Investor of the Year.

According to the founder, “We have indeed attained a milestone to be hosting the 16th edition of the awards.

What we have consistently done every year is to use this platform to set the agenda for the growth and development of sustainability in Africa, and systematically get organizations in Africa to buy into the vision of being responsible businesses that are becoming the forcefor-good on the continent.

We are excited by the keen interest from around Africa and key gatekeepers, supporters, and regulators from around the world who follow our processes. We are committed to delivering our best cycle yet when we unveil Africa’s most responsible businesses in December 2022.”

One of Africa’s leading financial institutions, Zenith Bank, emerged as the overall winner in 2021.

GLOBAL ENERGY

L-R: Company Secretary, Global Spectrum Energy Services Plc, Mr Adetola Raheem; Chairman, Mr Osahon Idemudia; acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Wasiu Akindele; and Chief Operating Officer, Mr Colm Doyle, during the Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos… recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT THURSDAY, MAY 7

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).

41

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱ͵˜ ͰͮͰͰ

NGX Unveils Plan to Address Housing Deficit, Raises N72bn in 10 Years Kayode Tokede To meet the needs integral to the housing sector, whilst helping Nigeria meet its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) Plc says it intends to launch the impact board soon.

This is even as the group revealed that in 10 years, it raised over N72 billion for real estate companies quoted on its platform.

Its Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Oscar Onyema, stated this during the 16th Africa International Housing show 2022 themed; “Housing for All-The Role of Governments in Creating an Effective Enabling Environment” which held in Abuja on Tuesday.

Delivering a keynote address titled “The role of the capital market in solving the housing problem in Nigeria”, Onyema noted that there is pressure on

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

available housing and other infrastructure in urban areas as Nigeria currently faces a severe housing deficit as regards estimates by the Federal Mortgage Bank and the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) which indicate a deficit of at least 28 million housing units.

He noted that despite the sector’s 5.34 per cent GDP contribution, the challenge in the sector remains, a far cry

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

from developed economies where contribution to GDP is in double digits, depicting the interconnectivity between the housing sector and economic growth. He said that although the government has embarked on various reforms and interventions in this sector to bridge the existing deficit, there is a need to adapt ingenious financing methods to meet the pressing need as the government cannot do it alone.

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

Whilst stating that the capital market remains an under-utilized lever for addressing the country’s housing gap, Onyema stated that Nigeria can draw lessons from developed countries such as the US, UK and Australia which have used capital market instruments to fund real estate projects.

“At the NGX Group Plc, we have invested in exchange platforms, market infrastructures, Fintech and a real estate company

O F

2 6

(NGX Real Estate). NGX Real Estate Ltd is focused on developing innovative solutions to the housing gap in Nigeria.

In the last decade, we have raised over N72bn ($175 million) on the Exchange for major real estate companies such as UPDC REITs, Abbey Mortgage Bank, and UACN Property Development Company through a mix of equity instruments including IPOs and rights issues”, Onyema revealed.

/ 7 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

42

WEDNESDAY, ͺͿ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ /ŶĚĞdž ĚŝƉƐ ϭ͘Ϯй dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ŝŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ϭ͘Ϯй ƚŽ Ϯ͕ϰϳϯ͘ϳϲ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

Ăƚ ϭ͕ϲϳϰ͘ϴϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͕ ŝŶĚĞdž ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ DdEE ;Ͳϵ͘ϲйͿ͕ 'd K t W K ;Ͳϭ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h ;ͲϬ͘ϳйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂͲ ;Ͳϭ͘ϰйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ E/d, ;Ͳϯ͘ϮйͿ͘ ƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘

ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϰ͘ϳй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

ŽƵƌƐĞ tĂůůŽǁƐ ŝŶ ZĞĚ͘​͘​͘ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ ϭ͘ϵй ^/ ƵƉ ϭϭďƉƐ ĂƐ E' D 'ĂŝŶƐ ϯ͘ϯй

WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ ,KEz&>KhZ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĞdžƚĞŶĚĞĚ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ƌƵŶ ƚŽ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, ;нϬ͘ϳйͿ ďŽůͲ

ŝƚƐ ƐŝdžƚŚ ĐŽŶƐĞĐƵƟǀĞ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ͕ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ^ŚĂƌĞ

ŝŶĚĞdž

ƌŽƐĞ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

2473.76

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

ďLJ

ϰ͘ϱйͿ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ E'y ^/ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ ϭ͘ϵй ƚŽ ϭϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ϯϵ͕ϱϱϬ͘ϯϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ

8 FBN Holdings Plc 9 Nestle Nigeria PLC

ϱϬ͕ϰϰϮ͘ϯϳ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͕ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ϭϴ͘ϭй 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 ;ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůLJ͗ ϮϬ͘ϯйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĚĞͲ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

15 Ecobank Transnational Inc 16 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

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

ϱϴ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϭϲ͘ϴй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ ϭϱϲ͘Ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ

17 International Brew eries PLC 18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

േϮ͘ϵďŶ

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Guinness Nigeria PLC

ůĞǀĞů ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ

ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

25 United Capital PLC 26 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

20.2%

4.1%

10.0%

18.2%

6.2%

192.50

-9.6%

6.6%

-2.3%

-16.3%

105.6%

13.9%

12.2x

15.0x

6.3%

69.30

0.0%

5.7%

3.4%

-3.6%

23.3%

12.1%

26.1x

5.9x

4.2%

3.8%

20.40

-1.4%

4.1%

-21.5%

-0.5%

19.8%

3.2%

3.4x

0.7x

14.7%

29.8%

ǁĂƐ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d

27 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

37.8%

4.0%

-16.5%

-3.2%

20.6%

2.6%

2.6x

0.5x

14.3%

3.7%

3.1%

-3.6%

37.7%

16.4%

12.0x

4.4x

7.9%

8.3%

24.20

0.0%

2.7%

1.0%

-8.3%

15.5%

11.1%

6.6x

1.0x

8.4%

15.2%

11.15

1.4%

2.5%

-2.2%

-3.9%

20.1%

1.9%

2.4x

0.4x

3.3%

41.5%

1,400.00

0.0%

2.6%

-10.1%

0.0%

112.8%

16.1%

24.3x

28.3x

3.9%

4.1%

1,430.50

0.0%

2.8%

120.1%

10.0%

7.5%

3.6%

14.4x

1.1x

2.9%

6.9%

8.90

-1.1%

2.1%

-4.3%

-4.3%

17.9%

1.6%

1.9x

0.3x

7.9%

51.4%

7.00

-1.4%

1.5%

-13.0%

-6.0%

15.6%

1.4%

2.0x

0.3x

14.0%

49.8%

47.50

-4.5%

1.2%

-5.0%

-19.2%

10.5%

3.9%

20.5x

2.1x

3.4%

4.9%

216.90

0.0%

1.4%

52.7%

0.0%

43.6%

25.5%

11.3x

4.8x

4.1%

8.8%

9.90

0.0%

1.2%

13.8%

-6.6%

20.0%

1.1%

2.0x

0.4x

6.8%

49.9%

6.7x

1.1x

10.3%

31.55

0.0%

1.2%

-12.4%

-6.0%

15.6%

2.1%

5.00

-9.9%

0.9%

1.0%

-20.6%

-9.9%

-3.4%

-3.0%

0.9%

12.9%

-1.5%

15.9%

4.5%

4.9x

0.7x

6.7%

20.4%

-3.2%

0.6%

17.6%

-12.3%

13.3%

1.2%

2.3x

0.3x

11.7%

43.8%

90.50

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

4.5%

13.8%

3.99

0.0%

0.5%

454.2%

25.1%

15.7%

0.9%

14.7x

2.1x

6.4%

6.8%

3.00

-3.2%

0.4%

0.3%

-13.3%

12.4%

1.2%

2.0x

0.2x

6.7%

50.7%

1.93

0.0%

0.4%

-16.8%

-3.5%

2.9%

0.9%

18.4x

0.6x

13.0%

5.4%

11.00

-8.3%

0.3%

11.1%

-13.7%

5.3x

2.5x

13.6%

19.0%

16.00

0.0%

0.4%

-8.0%

-1.8%

16.7%

6.6%

8.6x

1.4x

6.3%

11.6%

1.06

-7.8%

0.3%

10.4%

-13.8%

18.1%

4.0%

2.8x

0.4x

1.9%

35.6%

9.40

-9.6%

0.3%

54.1%

-2.1%

7.1x

1.0x

2.7%

14.0%

17.10

0.0%

0.2%

94.3%

-0.9%

12.1%

4.1%

18.3x

2.1x

3.2%

5.5%

11.00

-1.8%

0.2%

15.8%

-0.9%

5.2%

2.3%

12.4x

0.7x

5.9%

8.1%

234.50

0.0%

0.2%

5.7%

0.0%

1.7x

8.3%

ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ ;Ͳϵ͘ϲйͿ͘ dƌĂŝůŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ϵ͘ϭйͿ͕

35 Jaiz Bank PLC 36 Oando PLC

ĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ E/d, ;Ͳϯ͘ϮйͿ͕ ^^ KZW ;Ͳϭ͘ϭйͿ͕ //Ͳ

37 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 38 Sterling Bank PLC

1.53

K ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ,/W> ;Ͳϴ͘ϴйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ

39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘

E ;Ͳϰ͘ϱйͿ͕ /Ed Z t ;Ͳϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;Ͳϯ͘ϭйͿ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ ƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘ ůŽǁĞƌ ďLJ ϭ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϱй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘

27.10

0.0%

0.2%

21.3%

2.3%

18.1%

2.3%

6.0x

0.8x

9.2%

16.6%

7.00

0.0%

0.2%

-11.4%

0.0%

19.5%

5.5%

4.1x

0.8x

7.1%

24.3%

15.00

0.0%

0.1%

3.4%

1.4%

7.2%

4.3%

46.7x

1.3x

3.7%

2.1%

0.80

-5.9%

0.1%

42.9%

-12.1%

17.4%

1.3%

6.2x

1.1x

5.0%

16.2%

4.97

-3.1%

0.1%

12.4%

-12.3%

5.10

0.0%

0.1%

-13.6%

-17.1%

6.1%

0.7%

8.0x

0.6x

1.3%

0.1%

1.3%

0.7%

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%

T ic k er

P ric e

-21.5%

-180.9% 12.4% 6.5%

1.8x

-9.5%

1.0x

1.1%

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

LIVEST OC K

1.25

1.6%

F LOUR M ILL

19.3

-3.0%

FB NH

11.15

1.4%

T R A N SC OR P

15.4

-7.8%

ST ER LN B A N K

1.53

1.3%

GT C O

12.7

-1.4%

1400.00

0.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

11.4

-3.2%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

N EST LE ELLA H LA KES

3.96

0.0%

FB NH

9.9

1.4%

KƵƚůŽŽŬ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϲdž

UN H OM ES

3.02

0.0%

IN T B R EW

9.2

-9.9%

ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ͕ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ͲϬ͘ϱϮdž ĨƌŽŵ ͲϬ͘Ϭϱdž ĂƐ ϰ ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ͕ ϯϳ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϲϰ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ DZ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ D zͲ

T H OM A SWY

0.35

0.0%

F ID ELIT YB K

6.9

-3.2%

A LEX

7.20

0.0%

UB A

6.2

-1.4%

UP D C R EIT

3.40

0.0%

ST ER LN B A N K

5.4

1.3%

VIT A F OA M

22.50

0.0%

C H IP LC

5.2

-8.8%

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

< Z ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ,KEz&>KhZ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ dŽĚĂLJ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ůŝŶŐĞƌ ŝŶ ǁŚŝůĞ dZ E^ ;Ͳϴ͘ϯйͿ͕ > ^ K ;Ͳϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ >/s Ͳ

ƚŚĞ ĂďƐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ĂŶLJ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĐĂƚĂůLJƐƚ

^dK < ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ

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71.6

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43

WEDNESDAY, ͺͿ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

SOLIDARITY VISIT...

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (2nd right) with the State Coordinator, Governor Ugwuanyi Progressive Movement (GUPM), Engr. Chris Ugwu (right), acknowledging cheers from members of the support group when they paid a solidarity visit to the governor at the Government House, Enugu...yesterday.

Tinubu Appoints Oshiomhole, El-Rufai Chair, DG Presidential Campaign Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has appointed a former national chairman of the party and senatorial hopeful, Adams Oshiomhole, as chairman of his

presidential campaign council.

At the same time, the former Lagos State governor, has also appointed the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, as the Director-General of the campaign council.

According to Western Post, a

publication believed to be owned by one of Tinubu’s men, a source close to the leadership of the party, hinted at the development, which is yet to be made official.

The publication noted that, the recent visit of Oshiomhole, el-Rufai and the governors of

Zamfara and Plateau States, Bello Matawalle and Simon Lalong, to Tinubu, was not unconnected to the appointments.

The decision, it was further gathered, was taken after consultations with President Muhammadu Buhari, who is

currently outside the country on official functions and the party leadership.

However, THISDAY findings revealed that, Tinubu, just like the case of his Muslim-Muslim preference for the presidential ticket, which has continued to

ICPC Rallies Stakeholders on Draft Financial Transparency Code Seeks end to illicit financial flows in private sector Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye yesterday said the, "Draft Model Financial Transparency Code Developed for the Private Sector," would ensure financial transparency in the sector.

He also said the agency was committed to curbing Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) in the private sector.

Owasanoye made this known

during a review of the, ‘Draft Model Financial Transparency Code Developed for the Private Sector,’ held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Owasanoye, who was represented by the Secretary of ICPC, Prof Musa Abubakar, disclosed that the anti-graft agency convened the review session at the one-day workshop with a view to containing corrupt practices in the sector.

He listed oil and gas, education, real estate, taxation and investment

OGUN SSG SAYS NO RIFT BETWEEN STATE, FG ON ABEOKUTA-SANGO ROAD am sure they are working towards resolving the issues.”

Explaining some of the steps taken to address workers and pensioners' demands, the SSG disclosed that the state government would henceforth pay gross salary to workers beginning from July, while the N500 million quarterly release to upset pensioner's entitlements would also be sustained.

Talabi who disclosed that the total sum owed pensioners stood between N60 billion to N70 billion, also added that the total worker's deductions amounted to about N10 billion.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Abdulwaheed Odusile, while briefing on the decisions taken at the State Executive Council meeting held on Monday, revealed that the state government had awarded contracts for the construction of some roads across the three Senatorial districts.

Some of these roads according to Odusile include Ilaro-Owode road, Sagamu-Ikenne road, SiunOwode road and Sagamu Round About- Iperu road.

Bad Politics Costs Ogun Oil Producing Status, Says Daniel

Meanwhile, Daniel blamed what he described as "bad politics" for the failure of the state to assume oil-producing status.

Daniel, who said that the state

should have long been recognised among the oil-producing states, lamented that certain economic development projects his administration envisioned for the state were deliberately stalled by his successor.

The former governor, made the assertion in his remarks at a two-day Ogun East Senatorial District Interactive Forum held in Sagamu, where he appealed to the federal government to take over the state-owned Gateway Industrial and Petro-Gas Institute, Oni. No fewer than 120 participants, drawn from the nine local government areas of the senatorial district, attended the workshop organised by the Gateway Movement in collaboration with the Political Leadership Academy (POLA).

He said, "By now, Ogun State should have been declared an oil-producing state but because of bad politics, the state has yet to enjoy the status.

"Many of you who are politicians don't have an understanding of what the game is all about; not everything can be said in the public domain.

"Our future and the future of our children is what we are talking about. There are great potentials in Ogun State. There is oil here but some people don't want us to be declared as an oil-producing. They are a lot. So, if we are able to break loose these shackles, we will be in a position to reposition our area."

sectors as areas of serious concern to the Commission.

He stated that inputs from stakeholders on the draft code would go a long way in tackling IFFs. “The Commission in conjunction with Inter-Agency Committee for Stopping IFFs from Nigeria and with the support of Ford Foundation has undertaken a range of activities including research to better appreciate the nature of IFFs in Nigeria including its full extent as well as its incidences in many sectors like oil and gas, education, real estate as well as taxation, investment and contract negotiation.

"These activities have enabled members to gain a better understanding of IFFs from the

perspective of other agencies. It is noteworthy that workshops on capacity development for investigators, tax inspectors, prosecutors and negotiators of trade, investment, tax and natural resources agreements have also been executed.

“Presently, action is on-going to develop technological tools to help identify, detect, curb and monitor IFFs," he added.

“The key focus of today’s meeting is to review and make inputs to a draft code developed for the private sector which will go a long way in tackling IFFs. After the review of the draft document and relevant amendments/inputs, there will be a series of sensitisation/ engagements before it’s deployment to the private sector for voluntary compliance,” he added.

In his remarks, the lead presenter, Dr. Kolawole Ebire, emphasised that the code scheme of IFFs for private sector was aimed at improving transparency.

He said the draft code upon implementation would reduce loss of pubic revenue in commercial transactions.

During an extensive interactive session on the draft code, stakeholders were also of the view that corrupt practices should be contained in the sector.

The Chairman, Inter-Agency Committee for Stopping IFFs, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu; Mr. Soji Apampa, Mr. Pattison Boleigha, Mr. Busayo Balogun and others affirmed that the implementation of laws on IFFs remained critical to curbing the menace.

create problems for the party, had since wanted Oshiomhole as campaign DG, but the idea was roundly rejected by the other members of the party, especially, the governors, who thought the former Edo State governor, was too disruptive a personality to lead the campaign.

Not surprisingly, the same way Tinubu jettisoned advice against a Muslim-Muslim ticket, sources said, he has also settled for his preference in who leads the campaign, even though he attempted to balance it with the choice of El-Rufai as the DG. THISDAY sources further hinted that apart from being considered disruptive, a committee earlier set up by the candidate to look into some of these issues, had advised against Oshiomhole, because he would be standing for election in 2023 and therefore, should be allowed to go and concentrate on his election.

Party sources told THISDAY that many members of the APC had quietly become frustrated with Tinubu’s constant refusal to yield to advice, coupled with the arrogance with which he always wanted his views to prevail over other suggestions and had decided to let him have his way, since he is the candidate of the party.

Alleged Certificate Forgery: Court Refuses to Stop ICPC, AGF from Prosecuting House of Reps Member Wale Igbintade The Federal High Court in Abuja has refused the request to restrain the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) or any prosecutorial agency from charging Hon. Mohammed Garba-Gololo with alleged certificate forgery.

Garba-Gololo is the legislator representing Gamawa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State in the House of Representatives.

Garba-Gololo was said to have in an eight-count charge filed before the High Court, attended the Lagos State University where he purportedly obtained certificates.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo in a judgment delivered on July 25, 2022, held that the lawmaker failed to prove that he had already been tried for the offence of forgery or

falsification of certificates.

The judge dismissed GarbaGololo's double jeopardy argument as canvassed by his counsel Nureini Jimoh, noting that he failed to produce evidence to show that he had gone through any trial and was convicted or acquitted or pardoned of the alleged allegation.

The ICPC had on October 5, 2020, sent a letter of invitation to Garba-Gololo in connection with the forgery allegation.

But the plaintiff by an originating summons sought an order restraining the defendants and other prosecutorial agencies from inviting, arresting or charging him on similar facts with the case of the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal in suit nos: EPT/NAHR/BA/2019 and CA/J/EPT/NAHR/BA/374/2019 respectively.

He contended that judgment having been entered, charging

him again before any court by the defendants or any prosecutorial agency would amount to double jeopardy.

He sought, among others, an order quashing the letter of invitation and any other subsequent investigation flowing thereof, "as same amounts to a nullity having regards to the judgments of the Election Petition Tribunal, Bauchi in EPT/NAHR/BA/6/2019 between Isa Mohammed Wabu & Anor. V. Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo dated 10th August, 2019 and the Court of Appeal dated the 1st of November, 2019 in Appeal No. CA/J/EPT/NAHR/BA/374/2019 between Isa Mohammed Wabu & Anor. V. Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo & 2 Ors." He further sought a, "mandatory prohibitive order of this Honourable Court, barring the Defendants or any other prosecutory agency in Nigeria from inviting, arrest-

ing, detaining and prosecuting the Plaintiff in connection with or arising from any transaction forming part of the judgement."

On June 15, 2022 when the matter came up for hearing, Jimoh for the plaintiff and Ebenezer Shogunle for the 2nd defendant adopted their processes, adumbrated on same and urged the court to grant the reliefs in favour of their respective parties, following which the court adjourned for judgment.

In rejecting Garba-Gololo's prayers, Justice Taiwo held that: "There is no doubt that the decisions relate to election petition and are civil in nature. The decisions are not criminal notwithstanding that the issue of forgery was examined and the plaintiff was disqualified upon the finding of the court of appeal. The disqualification is pursuant to the provisions of the 1999 constitution and the electoral act.

44

WEDNESDAY, ͺͿ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

A BUSINESS LAW CONFERENCE...

L– R: Professor of Commercial Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Abiola Sanni; Divisional Head, Business Support Services and General Counsel, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), Irene Robinson-Ayanwale; General Counsel, West Africa and Company Secretary, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Bidemi Ademola; Executive Director and General Counsel, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN), Adesua Dozie; Lawyer/Chartered Secretary, Chinwe Odigboegwu, and Legal Director and Company Secretary, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Uaboi Agbebaku, during the NBA-SBL 16th Annual International Business Law Conference in Abuja... yesterday

Lagos, Kano, Delta Lead as INEC Registers 11 Million New Voters Insists no more extension after July 31 deadline Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday disclosed that over 11 million new applicants have completed their voter registration.

The Commission also maintained that there would be no extension after the July 31 deadline it had given to end the exercise.

INEC also revealed that Lagos is presently leading in terms of the state with the number of completed registration with 508,936; followed by Kano with 500,207 and Delta with 481,929.

According to data released by the Commission, the total number of persons who have completed their registration was 11,011,119 as of

Monday, July 25.

According to details released by the Commission, 3,391,940 started their registration online while 7,619,179 carried out their registration physically.

It also disclosed that youths aged between 18 and 35 constitutes the highest number of completed registrations with a total of 7,828,570.

INEC had earlier fixed June 30 as the deadline for the ongoing CVR ahead of the 2023 elections.

But a Federal High Court in Abuja stopped the Commission from ending the exercise, following a suit filed against the electoral umpire by SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 185 persons.

This made the Commission to extend the exercise by two weeks which ends on July 31.

However, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC FCT, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, while speaking at a press conference in Abuja, stressed that the deadline for the registration remains July 31. Bello said all CVR activities except the collection of already printed PVCs would be suspended on Sunday July 31, adding that the commission increased the closing hours to 5pm daily including Saturdays and Sundays.

He said, “The number of people who registered and whose registration have been invalidated is becoming alarming. A lot of people have registered in one or two registration centres.

“They will get nothing by doing so, whatever their intentions were, because at the end of the day, they

will be declared as people without PVCs at all.

“Any double or triple registration is null and void, we will go through our machines after these exercise and clean our register so that we can come up with the list of people who genuinely are going to vote in 2023.

"So let me appeal to people that they should always tell our staff at registration centres exactly what they want to do - whether they have never registered before, they have lost their cards, it is defaced, or they want transfer from one place to another.’’

He appealed to residents to patronize centres close to their locations, adding that there was no need for people in the suburbs to go all the

way to INEC’s office in Area 10.

Meanwhile, 10 pro-election civil society groups have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly appoint replacements for Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) whose tenure have expired In a statement by the civil society groups, they said Buhari should as a matter of urgency expedite the nomination of individuals with unquestionable integrity, professional competence, experienced and with political neutrality as INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners; Furthermore, they urged the president to be guided by the judgment of the Federal High Court on affirmative action wherein the court directed that all appointments must comply with the 35 per cent

affirmative action for women.

The statement was signed by Yiaga Africa, International Press Centre. Nigerian Women’s Trust Fund, Centre of Media and Society, The Albino Foundation, Elect Her, The Kukah Centre, Partners for Electoral Reform and Inclusive Friends Association According to the statement, "No doubt, the exit of the RECs creates a leadership vacuum in those states that begs for urgent action from the President and National Assembly.

“The appointment of RECs has become very urgent considering the Commission is entering a critical phase in the preparations for the 2023 general elections, particularly with the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration.”

government delegation negotiating with ASUU of insincerity in negotiating terms hence not bothered about the plights of the ordinary citizens of the country.

Receiving the letter on behalf of Tambuwal, Commissioner for Careers and Establishment, Honourable Sani Bunu Yabo, commended NLC for their peaceful conduct and called on the ASUU and the federal government to put the interest of the students into consideration in the ongoing negotiation so as to reach compromise by calling off the strike.

Ofot street along major streets in the state capital to the Government House on Wellington Bassey Way end.

NLC President, Ayuba Waba, who was represented by the zonal officer, Hon. Uche Nweke and the State Chairman, Comrade Sunny James, delivered their message to the Governor Udom Emmanuel the federal government to quickly resolve the lingering ASUU strike and prevent a total shutdown of the economy.

Emmanuel, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Emmanuel Ekeuwem, and the Head of Service (HoS), Elder Effiong Essien, promised to deliver their demands to the governor for onward transmission to the federal government.

ACROSS NIGERIA, NLC PROTESTS ASUU’S CONTINUED STRIKE ACTION major streets in the state capital and finally converge on the Government House, Gombe where they would read their message. State chairman of the congress, Mohammed Adamu Musa, said as much.

But the commissioner of police in charge of the state, Ishola Babaita, said the command had assigned adequate personnel to give protection to the protesters and ensure it was not hijacked by hoodlums.

"I can't stop them but we will make sure that no hoodlum hijack the protest," he said and therefore called on the protesters to conduct themselves in an orderly manner during the demonstration

OWERRI:

Scores of protesters, yesterday, stormed the Imo State Government House, Owerri, in solidarity with ASUU over their prolonged strike in view of their demands from the federal government.

Governor Hope Uzodimma, who was driving out of the premises at the time of the protest, was forced to stop to declare support for the workers, saying he was in solidarity with them.

The governor breached protocol, stepped out of his vehicle and danced to the chants by the unions and other workers.

"I welcome you all to the Government House, Owerri. I'm also in solidarity with ASUU. The federal government can't do anything against your interest. The federal government is not insensitive to the plight of ASUU. I call on you to look beyond protest, while you protest. I want you to think of ways to temper justice with mercy. I will do my best to protect workers in

Imo State and I urge you to support federal government policies," he said.

Chairman of NLC in the State, Revd. Philip Nwansi, who addressed the governor called on the federal government to honour the agreement signed since 2009 and return the students to school.

"We are not fighting the government, we are here in solidarity with ASUU as directed by our national leadership. We are here to demand the implementation of the agreement signed in 2009. It is time for lecturers and students to return to the classrooms. The federal government should resolve her differences with ASUU and ensure quality education for our children," Nwansi said.

ASUU Chairperson for the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Chinedu Ihejirika, also said the rally was to draw attention to the plight of Universities.

ABIA:

Workers in Abia State turned out in their hundreds to protest the intractable industrial dispute between ASUU and the federal government, which is now in its sixth month.

The protest held at the Okpara Square, Umuahia, attracted labour leaders and workers from the various industrial unions affiliated to NLC. However, the existence of factions in Abia NLC rubbed off on the solidarity rally as it took different dimensions.

While many workers engaged in protest march, the Chairman of NLC, Abia State Council, Comrade Uchenna Obigwe, said what was approved was for workers to hold a rally at a spot without embarking on a protest march due to the present

security situation in the country.

He told journalists at the Abia NLC secretariat that the protest rally was justified as the bourgeois in the federal government have failed to resolve the ASUU issue because their children attended universities in foreign countries.

The SSG, who represented Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, told the protesting workers that he was on the same page with NLC over the continued closure of Universities, adding that time has come for the federal government to resolve the matter with ASUU.

KANO:

Labour members also protested in Kano in solidarity with the strike action of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

The protesters gathered at Mundubawa roundabout towards Ahmad Bello Way, leading to the Kano State Government House.

The scores of protesters who stormed the street carried placards with several inscriptions such as ‘Stop importation of petrol, refine the refineries’, ‘Nigeria at 60 years of independence, more hunger in the land’, etc.

Delivering his address at the close of the march, NLC leader in Kano, Kabiru Ado Minjibir, stated that the Union in solidarity with ASUU, called on the Nigerian government to meet the demands of ASUU and also pay their salaries for the periods they have been on strike.

"No country can develop without a standard sector of education. The inability of the government to meet the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities is what has led to the strike in our tertiary institution

and there is need for intervention.

"The strike has stalled education in the country as the government has refused to meet up with the agreement it voluntarily entered with the union.”

Responding, the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who received the protesters at the gate of the Government House, stated that the crisis between ASUU and the federal government was inherited from previous administrations.

He, however, said the Nigerian governors' forum would ensure that the crisis was permanently resolved while expressing support of the governors to the development of education in the country.

"The situation is unfortunate because the students are affected and could lead to some to bad situations. Parents are not happy, the students are not happy but all Nigerian governors are concerned and want to see the problem resolved.

We assure you that the crises will come to an end with the support of the governors’ forum," Ganduje stated.

SOKOTO:

Sokoto State chapter of NLC joined its counterparts across the country to protest against the lingering strike embarked upon by ASUU and accused the federal government of nonchalant attitude towards the education sector.

Chairman of the union in the state, Comrade Abubakar Umar, stated this while delivering a letter on behalf of ASUU, to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of the state Represented by the Vice Chairman, Comrade Abubakar Malami, the chairman accused the federal

BAUCHI:

In Bauchi, State chairman of NLC, Comrade Danjuma Saleh, led other members to join the peaceful protest in support of the striking ASUU and other unions in the education sector.

While presenting the letter to Governor Bala Mohammed for onward transmission to President Buhari, the NLC Chairman explained that there was an urgent need for the federal government to quickly do something positive to end the strike action in the education sector of the country.

Receiving the letter, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barrister Ibrahim Kashim Mohammed, who represented the governor, stressed the need for dialogue in resolving the problem and that violence would not lead to a positive outcome.

AKWA IBOM:

Akwa Ibom State chapter of NLC yesterday joined the countrywide protest amid heavy police detachment to ensure that the action was peaceful.

Workers in the state had marched from the secretariat of NLC on Atan

BAYELSA:

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, yesterday, left protesters speechless, when amid their protest, he announced the approval of an increment in subvention to the state-owned tertiary institutions.

Speaking when he received NLC members Diri said as a government that placed high premium on education, his administration took the decision to strengthen the institutions for effective service delivery.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying his administration did not stop the salary of ASUU members in state institutions despite the protracted strike.

He noted that the gesture was part of his government’s commitment to development of the educational subsector.

WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

45

NEWS

CSO to Wike: No More Flyovers, Invest in Human Capital Devt Projects

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

A civil society organisation under the aegis of Civil Rights Council (CRC) has advised the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike that instead of constructing more flyovers in Port Harcourt, he should invest in human capital development projects and other economic activities that would create jobs opportunities in the state.

The group stressed that after awarding about 10 flyovers with some still under construction, the governor should consider how to relieve the suffering in the state by meaningfully engaging the teeming jobless youths.

The State Conference Chairman of CRC, Mr. Arinze Robinson, who spoke with journalists yesterday in Port Harcourt, urged the state governor to concentrate more on lifting the sufferings of Rivers people in order to reduce insecurity in the state.

According to Robinson, “with an unemployment rate of over 43 per cent and a rising youth population, it is expected that government

would invest in human capital development, especially of its youth population, and create an enabling environment for job creation and support for MSMEs, rather than strangle them.”

He said “We are all aware

of the recent announcement by the Governor of Rivers State to embark on the construction of the 11th and 12th flyovers in Rivers state and the subsequent signing of the contracts.

“The two flyovers will

be among the latest of such development efforts of the Rivers State government after awarding 10 flyer overs in the capital city of the state alone, most of which are still under construction.

“While physical cons-tructions

and infrastructural development is plausible, we consider the huge resources invested in them too massive and concentrated in small geographical location of the state in the face of rising poverty and poor standard of

living of Rivers people.

“There are also capital budget provisions in the health and education sectors without funding, hence a perpetual recurring of these projects in the yearly budget provision of the state.

HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY TO ADETUNMBI…

L-R: Principal Partner, Dion & Associates, Charles Iyore; Chairman, Dubri Oil Company, Dr. Uduimo ltsueli; Chief Responsibility Officer,Valueinvesting, Chief Seye Adetunmbi, his wife, Labo, and Chief Executive Officer, Sofunix Investment and Communications, Mr.Sola Oni at the 60th birthday anniversary thanksgiving of Adetunmbi, held at St Botolph’s Anglican Church, Northfleet, Gravesend, England.. recently

INEC, PDP Sued over Substitution of House Candidate in Kebbi

Deji Adeyanju Lied against Obi, Says Journalist, Ike Abonyi

Ismail Adebayo in Birnin Kebbi

A former political editor with THISDAY Newspaper and Media Adviser to the immediate past National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),Mr. Ike Abonyi has described as a lie the statement made by a political activist, Deji Adeyanju against the presidential candidate of the Labour Party(LP), Peter Obi.

A Candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), in the Argungu/Augie Federal Constituency Primaries, Mr. Sani Yakubu Noma, has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and PDP before the Federal High Court sitting in Birnin Kebbi for allegedly substituting his name with that of a Governorship Aspirant, Mr. Garba Haruna.

The Counsel to Noma, Mr. Johnson Jacob Usman, said his client is seeking judicial remedy in court because the substitution of his name by PDP and INEC

is wrong in law and should not stand.

Usman submitted that “the case we brought to court for Sani Yakubu Noma is that he contested the PDP election for Argungu/Augie Federal Constituency on May 23, 2022, and won.

“The INEC monitored the election and PDP’s official report attested to the fact that Sani Yakubu Noma won the election.

“While he was waiting to be given INEC’s Form EC9 to fill and submit he just saw that on May 24 that INEC has published the name of Garba Haruna Argungu.

House Calls for Regulation of Blocked SIM Cards Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has called on telecommunications companies to regulate blocked SIM cards due to the non-availability of National Identity Number (NIN), which still works perfectly when the sims are taken beyond the shores of Nigeria.

The resolution of the lawmakers, was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored

by Hon. Ahmed Munir at the plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, Munir stated that since the reason for blocking SIM cards not linked

to NIN was to curtail their use for unscrupulous purposes, measures need to be put in place to ensure these cards do not work when they are roamed abroad.

He said that the SIM cards have been found to function perfectly when they are taken to as close as Benin Republic, Niger or Chad and roamed.

He urged the telecommunications companies to block the loopholes that make this possible as the reason for the blocking was apt and should not malfunction in this manner, allowing kidnappers and terrorists to take advantage of the loophole.

Kogi SDP Senatorial Candidate Tasks Electorate to Elect Credible Leaders

IbrahimOyewalein Lokoja

The Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for Kogi West Senatorial District, in the coming general elections, Mr. Abdulrahman Tanko, has called on Nigerians to elect credible leaders that would enable the country to overcome its myriads of challenges.

Tanko, who made the call during the inauguration of his campaign council in Lokoja, pointed out that with effective and resulted-oriented leaders at all levels, the country would restore its lost glory.

He posited that his desire to contest the next senatorial seat was based on his determination to pull the area out of the woods and attract development to his

constituency.

According to him, legislation is not new to him, having served as a member of the State House of Assembly, and would bring his experience to bear in churning out laws that would enhance good governance in the country.

Tanko stressed the need for the electorates to take their destiny into their own hands and assured that he would impact positively on the lives of the people if voted into office.

The former lawmaker maintained that with adequate representation, the interest of the people of the western axis of the state could be adequately protected, and enjoined the people of the area to support him as they are out for social justice.

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Adeyanju had allegedly tweeted that Obi told him that he invested Anambra state money in his family business However, Abonyi, who said he was with Obi when he met Adeyanju said the former governor never made such statement.

In a statement signed by Abonyi, he said: “ I was at the meeting Deji had with Obi and

was there all through and left with him after about three hours frank discussion of Obi telling his life story in and out of government none of which is new as he had said similar thing repeatedly in the public. I was shocked to my marrow reading from Deji what I did not hear”.

Abonyi said he was at pains at the behaviour of the activist.

In the statement made available

to THISDAY yesterday, Abonyi said : “I am at pains joining issues with a friend in public but at this instance, I cannot keep mum and allow untruths to thrive.

My friend Deji Adeyanju just tweeted that why he stopped supporting the LP presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi was when he told him that he invested Anambra state money in his family business.

Osun Governor-elect Constitutes 37-member Transition Committee Warns against contract awards Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The Governor-elect for Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has constituted a 37-member transition committee to facilitate a smooth transition between the incumbent and the newly elected administration in the state.

A statement that was issued by Adeleke’s media office disclosed that the transition committee is made up of seasoned technocrats, present and former public office holders and experts from a diverse field of endeavours, including the academics, finance, law, engineering, labour, local

government administration and the media.

The committee would be chaired by a Doctor of Nuclear Medicine and a Fellow of the Euro Institute of Reticulo-endothelial Biology and Medicare, Dr. Muyiwa Oladimeji while the Director-General of

Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organisation, Hon. Sunday Bisi, would serve as deputy chairman.

The Secretary of the Transition Committee a Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Amidele Salam, would be assisted by a Project Management Expert, Sir. Adekunle Adepoju.

PDP will Win Delta, South Senatorial Candidate Boasts

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Delta South Senatorial Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Hon. Michael Diden has assured that the party would win the 2023 elections in the zone and state at large.

Diden gave the assurance on Monday night while hosting the party stakeholders in the senatorial zone at his Effurun

residence.

The meeting was attended by the Delta South Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Julius Takeme, some local government party chairmen from the Senatorial district, candidates for the states House of Assembly and party chieftains from the area.

The meeting was to assess the position of PDP after the last primaries of the party when

some members emerged and others lost in the contest.

Addressing the meeting, Diden said some of the challenges confronting the party were internal assuring that they would be addressed before the 2023 elections.

He said that the Delta South Senatorial District has always provided the winning votes for the party and that the same

feat would be repeated in the next elections.

Delta South Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Julius Takeme, said that the meeting was called to appraise situation of things at the local government level of the party and the challenges confronting some of the candidates that emerged in the last primaries of the party in the area.

Teachers Recruitment: Gombe Commences Aptitude Test for Applicants The Gombe State Teachers’ Service Commission, TSC yesterday commenced aptitude tests for about 5,000 graduate applicants to select one thousand successful ones for employment as fresh teachers as approved by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.

According to the Chairperson of the Commission, Mrs. Na’omi Philip Maiguwa, the computer

based test ( CBT), which is already ongoing at the Gombe State University, is expected to last for five days (25th-29th July 2022).

According to her, eligible candidates from the 11 local government areas of the state are expected to show the print out of their application slips, Degree and NYSC Certificates as well as letters of LG indigeneship before being admitted into the test rooms

while special arrangements have also been made for physically challenged applicants.

The Executive Governor of Gombe State, His Excellency Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, had in April this year, authorised the Gombe State Teachers’ Service Commission to continue with the recruitment process which started in January 2022, of 1000 fresh

teachers and the transfer from SUBEB 288 teachers whose services are urgently needed in the State senior secondary schools and technical colleges.

The commission had since June completed the transfer of the teachers from SUBEB to the Ministry of Education to allow for concentration on the recruitment of the 1000 fresh teachers.

NYSC DG Urges Corps Members to Shun Social Vices, Promote National Unity Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

The Director General of National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Brigadier General Muhammad Kaku Fadah, has urged the 2022 Batch ‘B’ Stream 11 corps members to promote national unity and shun cultism, drug abuse and other social vices.

Fadah stated this yesterday

at the NYSC’s permanent orientation camp at Wamakko, Sokoto State, during the swearing in of 2022 Batch ‘B’ Stream 11 corps members posted to Sokoto State.

The director general who was represented by the NYSC State Coordinator, Mr. Muhammad Nakamba, also enjoined the corps members to avoid using social media for spreading fake

news, fueling hatred and other negative purposes, adding that they should use them for the promotion of national unity and development.

He implored them to be security conscious at all times and to report any suspicions characters or activities around them to appropriate authorities.

He reminded them that Nigeria’s economy today is

more of skill based as white collar jobs are not easy to come by.

Fadah said: “I would like to remind you that white collar jobs are not readily available. I, therefore, encourage you to avail yourselves of the opportunities for self-employment offered through the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED).”

46

WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Yoruba Won’t Back APC on Ethnic Sentiment, Atiku Group Tells Tinubu Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

A group under the acronym Coalition for Atiku-Okowa, Ekiti State chapter, has declared that the South-west region won’t pander to unwarranted sentiments to vote against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 general election.

The coalition told the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that the fact that he is from the region won’t rob Atiku of victory in the zone, saying the former vice president is bonded with Yoruba by marriage.

The co-convener of the group and former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Yemi Arokodare, stated this in Ado Ekiti yesterday while formally unveiling the group for operation ahead of the 2023 elections.

Addressing the coalition

members at the Atiku-Okowa palatial campaign building located in Ado Ekiti, Arokodare

said the zone had not been known to play ethnic card in politics as reflected in the trajectory

of elections in the country.

He added: “The people of the South-west region will never be

swayed by sentiments, but with issues because Nigerians voted for former President Olusegun

Obasanjo and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo without looking at the content of their ethnicity.

HAPPY RETIREMENT…

L-R:Celebrant/DirectorHumanResourcesManagementDepartment,FederalMinistryofFinance,Mrs.AnitaShitu; ExecutiveCommissionerOperations,SecuritiesandExchange Commission(SEC)Mr.DayoObisan,andHeadExternalRelationsSEC,Mr.MohammedWaziriBagudu,duringthesendforthceremonyinhonourof Mrs.ShituinAbuja…recently

APC Group Kicks against Goshwe Oloriegbe: I will Not Be Part of Kwara Governor’s Re-election Bid as Plateau Guber Candidate Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

A group, the Progressives Foundation Movement (PFM) has warned that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may not have a valid governorship candidate in the ballot in Plateau State in the 2023 elections.

The group in a statement issued yesterday, which was jointly signed by Mr. Jacob Gyang, Victor Useni and Musa Ardo, gave the warning following the publication of Dr. Nentawe Goshwe as the governorship candidate in the state.

The group reminded the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu of an earlier petition addressed to him indicating that all other aspirants refused to participate in the purported primary that produced Goshwe as the

governorship candidate following alleged irregularities and vowed to seek justice if the party fails to use the window period for substitution of candidates to right the wrongs.

It was against this background that the group said they cannot guarantee supporting the party to victory in the forthcoming elections unless the right thing is done.

The group decried the non-compliance to the party’s guidelines and alleged litany of undemocratic practices in the primary which foisted Goshwe on them.

It stated: “The case in Plateau state was completely different and in outright contravention of the APC Guidelines and Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022 (As Amended).

The dust over the conduct of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Kwara State is yet to settle as the Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe has said he would not be part of the re-election bid of the state governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in

the 2023.

He said this in a leaked audio recording from a recent political meeting with his political associates held at Ilorin which was obtained by THISDAY yesterday.

Oloriegbe who is also Chairman Senate Committee on Health said, “I will be only part of the national campaigns of the party during the period.”

Oloriegbe lost his return bid to the senate during the recently held APC primaries in the state.

The former National Chairman of the party, Mallam Saliu Mustapha, had emerged as the Kwara Central Senatorial candidate of the party for the 2023 election.

Since then, tongues have continued to wagging in the

party over the conduct of its primaries in the state.

Oloriegbe recently tackled the governor on a national television, where he described the APC in the state under AbdulRazaq’s leadership as a mediocre, challenging the governor to come out openly and swear by the Holy Quran that he didn’t thwart his victory at the party’s primaries.

Kwara Signs Wage Agreement Implementation with Four Tertiary Institutions Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Kwara State Government has signed agreement with the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council on the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage and consequential adjustment for non-teaching staff of four tertiary institutions in the state.

The affected institutions are Colleges of Education Ilorin and

Oro; Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin; and College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies (CAILS), Ilorin.

The institutions have been on strike for over three months now over the implementation of workers’ minimum wage.

In a statement issued in Ilorin after the signing of the agreement with the government and the union leaders of the

affected institutions, the state Head of Service, Modupe Oluwole, stated that: “The agreement, among other things, set the effective date for the implementation of the new minimum wage covering the concerned workers at the tertiary institutions on July 1, 2022.

“The deal also provided that the government shall in subsequent wage review

include the unions at the tertiary institutions in the committee for negotiations on behalf of workers; moderate subvention payment process to be flexible to enable payment of workers at the tertiary institutions as and when due, and that there shall be no retrenchment of workers as a result of the implementation of the minimum wage.

1.74m Children in North-east at Risk of Malnutrition Kagame to Deliver Defence UN: in North-east Nigeria, millions Many, particularly children, are devastated by more than a Michael Olugbode in Abuja people are facing the painful at risk of not making it through decade of conflict.”

College Graduation Lecture United Nations has decried that ofconsequences of a deteriorating the lean season.”

The UN chief said: “As food Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda will deliver the 30th anniversary and graduation lecture of the Course 30 of the National Defence College (NDC) on August 5 in Abuja.

The graduation lecture is coming as the college said yesterday that the institution graduated 2,549 participants in 30 years.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, Commandant of the college, Rear Admiral Murtala Bashir, said President Kagame is expected to deliver the lecture in Abuja on August 5.

He said the college graduated 2,589 participants and senior officers from

Nigeria and other African countries including Uganda, Burkinafaso, Liberia among other countries in 30years of its existence.

Bashir, who was represented by the Deputy Commandant of the institution, Maj Gen Emeka Onumajuru, said the defence college would mark its 30th anniversary and graduation of Course 30 of the college within the period.

He said the NDC in its 30 years of existence had trained top level officials of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as the police and other security agencies to be able to operate at the highest strategic level.

worsening food insecurity may push 1.74 million children under the age of five in the Northeastern Nigeria into malnutrition.

A statement issued yesterday by the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mr. Matthias Schmale, titled: ‘Surviving the Food Crisis in North-east Nigeria’, said today

food security and nutrition crisis.

Schmale explained that: “Food insecurity means not knowing when or where your next meal will come from. It means, in essence, not being able to meet the basic needs for yourself or your family. As a result, countless families are forced to make alarming sacrifices to survive.

He noted that according to the latest food security assessments, 4.1 million people in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States-three of the states in North-eastern Nigeria-are at risk of severe food insecurity in this lean season, lamenting that: “People’s resilience and coping mechanisms have been

insecurity worsens, so does the risk of malnutrition. In 2022, 1.74 million children under five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition across the Northeast. Mothers who have lost their children to malnutrition can testify to the danger it poses and the sorrow and despair it brings.

Boat Mishap: NIWA to Clamp Down on Illegal Boat Operators, Says Moghalu Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), yesterday hinted of its readiness to clamp down on illegal boat operators in the country waterways to avert yet another disaster.

The NIWA stated that recurrent boat incidents are

unfortunate, embarrassing and horrifying to hear of the series of mishaps suffered by Nigerians.

The Managing Director of NIWA, Dr. George Moghalu, while briefing the press in Abuja, noted that NIWA has initiated measures aimed at addressing the menace of mishaps in Nigeria.

Moghalo noted that seven incidents have been recorded since he assumed office.

He stated that efforts are being made to ensure that village markets close as early as 7p.m.

The NIWA boss attributed boat mishaps to mechanical, human and natural factors such as overloading, careless

driving, over speeding, negligence, turbulent weather, wreckages, use of old wooden boat, tree stumps, snags, night sailing, untrained boat drivers and flagrant disregard for safety regulations, most especially sailing in the night and lack of usage of life jackets.

Group Reiterates Support for Ugwuanyi Members of Governor Ugwuanyi Progressive Movement (GUPM), a support group of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, have reiterated their unalloyed support and loyalty to the governor as their leader and role model.

Members of GUPM also reassured Gov. Ugwuanyi

of their solidarity and firm support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, stressing that they will continue to follow the governor as the leader of the PDP and work assiduously towards the party’s electoral victory in 2023.

Speaking when the Ward, Local Government, Zonal and

State Coordinators of GUPM paid a solidarity visit to Gov. Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday, the State Coordinator, Chris Ugwu maintained that their loyalty to the governor, since 2016 the group was inaugurated, is unshakable.

Ugwu told Gov. Ugwuanyi that they are impressed with

his uncommon leadership style in Enugu State anchored on peace and good governance, stressing that the governor has discharged his responsibilities diligently and satisfactorily in spite of the state’s lean resources and numerous challenges confronting the country, bordering on economy, security and health.

47

WEDNESDAY, ͺͿ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

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

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

NOC to Amusan: Winning Paris 2024 Olympic Gold Achievable Salutes Nigeria’s world record holder and champion, Amusan, Brume Gbajabiamila hails the duo for making Nigeria proud at Oregon 2022 Duro Ikhazuagbe in Lagos andUdora Orizuin Abuja The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) has charged Tobi Amusan to consider winning Nigeria’s first individual track gold medal at the next Olympic Games in Paris in two years time after an incredible world record and gold medal feat at the just concluded World Championships in Oregon, USA. While congratulating the duo of Amusan and Ese Brume who also stepped up from the bronze she won in Doha 2019 Championships to a silver at Oregon 2022, NOC said the next target now should be the individual Olympic gold medal.

Secretary General of the NOC, Olabanji Oladapo, who revealed that Amusan was part of Nigerian athletes that received IOC scholarships from 2017 to 2021, and is currently on another

IOC scholarship from 2021 to 2024, believes that the target is achievable with hard work and proper preparations. ''The target is to win gold in Paris 2024 Olympic Games. It is achievable with good preparations and hard work. The NOC is happy that she (Amusan) has shot herself and Nigeria into reckoning. She is now an inspiration to every Nigerian athlete back home,” he further observed.

Mr Oladapo commended the athletes and their support team for uplifting Nigeria’s profile at the Championships.

“The skill, determination and hard work shown by the athletes and their support teams throughout the Championships have been inspirations to us all.”

The NOC Secretary General also applauded the efforts of Ese Brume who won a silver medal in the women’s long jump barely one

year after returning from the Tokyo Olympic Games with a bronze medal in the event.

Similarly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, congratulated Amusan for making Nigeria proud by emerging as the fastest woman in the 100 metres hurdles competition at the 2022 World Athletics Championship.

Gbajabiamila in a statement said the Nigerian gold medalist,

Amusan, wrote her name in gold by her resilience, hard work and commitment.

He noted that Nigerians both at home and abroad were pleased with Amusan's feat, urging her to keep the country's flag flying.

Gbajabiamila also congratulated Ese Brume who equally made the country proud by winning silver in the long jump competition.

The Speaker greeted the entire Nigerian contingent and their

managers for their hard work.

Amusan caused a stir after smashing a world record in the women’s 100m hurdles in the semi-finals with a 12.12secs world record and cap it with another 12.06secs performance in the final to win the gold medal for Nigeria for the first time. Only the 12.12secs was accepted legal world record as the 12.06secs with a +2.5m/s tailwind was above the maximum +2.0 m/s.

She shaved off 0.8secs off the previous 12.20 secs held by Kendra Harrison of USA since 2016.

Brume on the other hand won the silver with a 7.02m jump in the event German athlete Malaika Mihambo won the gold.

Team Nigeria finished 13th on the overall medal placement and third best placed country from Africa. Nigeria finished behind Kenya and Ethiopia with Uganda finishing fourth place.

AfroSport TV Committed to Reaching over a Billion Sports Fans Across Africa Africa’s first continental Free to Air (FTA) sports channel, AfroSport TV has expressed its commitment to reach over a billion sports fans across Africa who have hitherto been denied access to good quality sports content as a result of their non subscription to pay tv.

Addressing sports journalists in Lagos yesterday, the Acting Managing Director of AfroSport, Mr. Adeola Ogundele said AfroSport TV is birthed out of empathy to provide service for over a billion passionate sport fans across Africa who have largely been overlooked on a continent that has given so much to global sports entertainment.

According to him, it is high time Africa was recognised and celebrated for the primary contribution that her sons and daughters have made to the world of Sport and AfroSport TV will play a strategic role ensuring Africa gets its deserved accolades in sports.

Ogundele said AfroSport’s destination is to be Africa’s number one Sport Media Hub and to this end, the 24-hour TV Channel is providing a focal point for sports fans on the continent to enjoy, engage

and participate in global and local sporting conversations.

Explaining the relevance of the Channel to advertisers, Ogundele said it is confirmed from statistics that only 15% of sports fans had been reached by the cable platforms and the implication of this is that advertisers had before now been hindered from reaching 85% of their audience who had been underserved by the Pay TVs platforms.

He said these 85% of sport fans are now being reached via free to air multi platforms.

The AfroSport boss said AfroSport TV offers free access to all its programmes across Africa, celebrates past Africa sport stars, preserves Africa's heritage through sports, inspire the younger generation of Africans, promote current African stars while creating an engagement platform for sport lovers across the continent.

Ogundele stressed that the channel has been deliberate in providing top quality contents to the audience such as the CAF Champions League, Men and Women’s AFCON, Top Basketball Leagues around the world and Seira A

HiFL Round of 16 Fixtures Begin Today Coach Ibrahim Salisu Ibrahim of the BUK Stallions from Bayero University Kano has promised to put a stop to the quest of UNIMAID Desert Warriors to retain the Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL) trophy which they won in 2021.

HiFL organised by Pace Sports and supported by StanbicIBTC, Bold, Lagos Internal Revenue Services and Indomie Noodles is in its fourth active season.

Coach Salisu speaking to newsmen yesterday said now is the turn of his team to savour the taste of glory by winning the 2022 HiFL Season after four years of participation.

The first leg of the game between both sides will take place today at the University of Maiduguri Sports Complex.

Despite playing the first leg away, Coach Salisu remains confident.

“We are not worried that they (UNIMAID Desert Warriors) are the defending champions. We are looking forward to changing the mentality, we are not afraid of the UNIMAID Desert Warriors of Maiduguri,” Salisu said.

However, Coach Paul Ciroma of the Desert Warriors disclosed that his side is unperturbed about the games with BUK, a familiar underdog.

“BUK are no strangers to us, we played them twice last season during the group stage and the knockout stages and we won the duels. We are looking forward to doing the same thing this time around”, coach Ciroma reassured their teeming fans.

Tobi Amusan (right)...charged to go for gold at Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Nigeria Put in Bid to Co-host AFCON 2025 with Benin Republic Femi Solaja Almost 13 years after Nigeria last hosted any major football tournament, the country yesterday notified the Confederation of African Football (CAF) her desire to stage the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2025.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, confirmed to THISDAY yesterday at the Teslim Balogun 50th anniversary held at the Sheraton Hotel in Lagos that the country has actually thrown her hat into the ring as CAF compiles list of other countries also interest to stage the biennial football tournament.

Cameroon hosted the delayed edition last January with Cote ‘d

Ivoire scheduled to stage the next edition next year. CAF listed Guinea to host the 2025 edition but there are strong indications now that the West African nation may not be able to do so due to the political situation in the country as well as inability to put her facilities in order.

“Yes, I have indicated to CAF early today (Tuesday) during our emergency zoom meeting that Nigeria will be able to stage the tournament,” Pinnick hinted.

He however claimed not to know any other country also interested to also host the 2025 edition for now. “We don’t know for now other countries that have submitted bids,” he observed.

Just like it happened in 2000 when Nigeria staged the event

alongside Ghana, the NFF president said that the bid will be a joint hosting with the Republic of Benin.

He however could not list likely cities in the country that will stage the tournament.

“We are still in the early stage of the whole process and as time goes on things will get clearer as to the stadiums Nigeria will present to host the matches,” he remarked.

Nigeria first staged the tournament in 1980 and won the trophy for the first time with 3-0 win over Algeria in the final match. 20 years later, Nigeria co-hosted the 2000 edition with Ghana which the Super Eagles lost the final on home soil to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at the National Stadium in Lagos.

The last time Nigeria staged any

major football competition was in 2009 with the FIFA U-17 tournament which the Golden Eaglets lost to Switzerland in the final match at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

At the Thunder Balogun event, the NFF boss said that the federation will continue to honour its past heroes. He thanked the organising committee of the programme for honoring the late footballer.

“The myth around the legend is incredible because as a young lad in Warri, we heard a lot about his goal scoring exploits and bringing him back to life in the memory of this generation is a laudable achievement and the federation will no doubt invest in the Teslim Balogun Foundation,” he concluded.

Team Nigeria’s Players Set for World Chess Olympiad in India Femi Solaja After almost 17 hours of air travel, the Nigerian team to the 44th World Chess Olympiad arrived Chennai, India yesterday ahead of the opening ceremony of the event today at the Four Points by Sheraton Mahabalipuram Resort and Convention Centre.

The Nigerian team, led by the President of the Federation, DIG Sani Mohammed (rtd) included five male and five female players

picked after the trial event held in Abuja last month and qualified to play at the 11-round Swiss event pairing in the Asia nation.

“The team is in high sprit and we are glad that all the players have had their rest after the long trip and ready to face opposition when the opening round gets underway from tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Convention Centre,” the Federation’s Technical Director, Alhaji Bode Durotoye remarked late last night.

The Male team has veteran of international tournaments, Fide Master Adebayo Adegboye (2313), Issac Okeke (2204), Balogun Oluwafemi (2274) who made Olympiad debut at Istanbul edition in 2012, Bomo Kighiga (2251) made his debut at the 2008 edition in Dresden, Germany and Abiola Akinseye (2214).

Top female star, Ofowino Toritsemuwa (1870) led the pack that include; Enomah Emmanuella Trust (1901), Suleiman Azumi Ayisha

(1833), Ogbiyoyo Perpetual Eloho (1886) and Onoja Iyefu Joy (1869).

Other members of the delegation also include; the Vice-president of the federation, Yinka Adewole, Lekan Adeyemi who is a FIDE vice-president while Eugene Akhiwu and Olabowale Doyin Adebayo will serve as male and female team captains.

The highly-anticipated 44th Chess Olympiad will begin today with a record 187 countries in attendance.

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

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Price: N250

MISSILE Trade Union Congress to FG

“It is obvious the millions of naira invested in national security is a waste of resources. The terrorists are emboldened by the day, making Nigerians more vulnerable. The ugly development keeps investors, especially foreigners away. We urge the Federal Government to, for once, summon the political will to name, shame the sponsors and end the killings of Nigerians…”

--- TUC President, Quadri Olaleye, decrying the killings of Nigerians by terrorists.

EBENEZEROBADARE Will Economic Collapse Precede Political Transition in Nigeria?

GUEST COLUMNIST

A

bizarre situation is playing out in Nigeria. If you fix your attention on the political space, things have never been more stable. The major political parties have picked their candidates for next February’s all-important presidential election, who in turn have selected their running mates.

From this angle, as the commentariat picks over the bones of the “Muslim-Muslim ticket,” the most urgent consideration is the ethnoreligious affiliation of the standard bearers and their running mates; that, and its likely impact on the outcome of the 2023 presidential race.

The conduct of the political elite reinforces the appearance of politics as usual. For instance, in the past week, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Tinubu and his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart Atiku Abubakar traded accusations, it was as if one was watching an amicable quarrel between two longstanding political allies who suddenly found themselves on different sides of the political divide (which is actually true, in a sense), rather than an earnest showdown between gladiators who fundamentally disagree on policy and economic ideology.

A different view emerges as soon as one looks outside the political space and considers the state of the Nigerian economy. Here, not only is the picture less sanguine, but there is also genuine cause for apprehension as a dire combination of falling revenue, bloated deficit spending, massive borrowing, and spiraling inflation threatens to topple the country’s economy.

Dependent on oil for more than 95 percent of its foreign exchange earnings and 80 percent of its budgetary revenues, Nigeria has always lived dangerously and, notoriously, beyond its means. At different times over the past few years, various international bodies have warned the Nigerian government about the unsustainability of the situation, particularly its excessive borrowing.

“Nigeria’s public debt has risen the most under the Buhari administration when compared to previous governments since 1999, and foreign debt has grown three times more than the combined figure recorded by the past three administrations,” according to a report in the Nigerian media.

In June 2021, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) issued a stark warning after the country’s debt to GDP ratio increased from 29 to 35 percent. In the first quarter of that year alone, Nigeria spent 35.7 percent more than it had in the previous year on foreign and domestic debt servicing during the same period.

This April, the World Bank warned that “increasing fuel subsidy was putting the Nigerian economy at a high risk as subsidy payments could significantly impact public finance and pose debt sustainability concerns.”

A politically explosive subject, the fuel subsidy is expected to cost 9.6 billion USD this year, ten times more than budgeted. The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Sub-Saharan Africa

Buhari Regional Economic Outlook Report released last month echoed similar concerns, warning that “the Nigerian government may spend nearly 100 percent of its revenue on debt servicing by 2026.”

The fiscal performance report released last week by the Nigerian government confirms the accuracy of these projections. For example, in the first four months of 2022, the government borrowed over N3 trillion, of which only N773.63 billion went to capital projects.

The remainder went towards non-capital expenditure in the form of recurrent costs, public salaries, and debt repayment.

The ripples of the economic downturn are being felt across the length and breadth of the country. Last week, Aero Contractors, the country’s oldest airline, suspended operations indefinitely citing “the impact of the challenging operating environment on our daily operations.”

Shortly after, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) grounded Dana Air after revealing that the airline was “no longer in a position to meet its financial obligations and conduct safe flight operations.” In May, airline operators in Nigeria only shelved plans to suspend all flights due to high fuel prices following a last-minute government intervention. Airline operating costs have gone up by as much as 130 percent following a spike in the price of jet fuel in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

With inflation currently at 18.6 percent according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), prices of everyday consumer items have increased astronomically.

Last week, bread makers under the auspices of Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria (PBAN) began a four-day warning strike in protest over “incessant increase in the price of baking materials” and a raft of

Quite how Nigeria gets out of its logjam is anybody’s guess.

First, the country’s economic contradictions are such that they cannot be properly sorted out in one stroke. Second, even if it requires no special training to grasp what needs to be done— increase revenue intake, borrow less, reduce dependency on oil, and reduce government corruption—there is nary an indication of the political will to follow through

“unfriendly” government policies, including “a 15 percent wheat development levy on wheat import.”

For the average Nigerian, acute fuel shortages and widespread blackouts compound the daily misery. For the sixth time this year, a collapse of the power grid caused power generation to drop, this time from a high of 3,921 Megawatts to as low as fifty Megawatts.

The country’s electricity sector is beset by rampant corruption and acute mismanagement.

A report by the Centre for Health, Equity and Justice (CEHEJ) estimates that since 1999, “corruption in Nigeria’s power sector has gulped N11 trillion.”

The Nigerian government has launched a “full-scale investigation” into the latest collapse.

On the whole, the worsening economic situation, combined with deepening insecurity, is producing a level of social unrest that has not been seen since the prolonged turbulence that followed the military’s cancelation of the 1993 presidential election.

Barring any last minute change of plans, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will embark on a two-day solidarity strike tomorrow aimed at calling attention to the ongoing strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU). ASUU has been on strike since February 14 after an earlier warning strike aimed at bringing government to the negotiating table went unheeded.

The government has accused the NLC of planning to cause anarchy.

Quite how Nigeria gets out of its logjam is anybody’s guess. First, the country’s economic contradictions are such that they cannot be properly sorted out in one stroke. Second, even if it requires no special training to grasp what needs to be done—increase revenue intake, borrow less, reduce dependency on oil, and reduce government corruption—there is nary an indication of the political will to follow through.

While the recent transformation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) into “a fully commercial entity” is a step in the right direction, it remains to be seen whether the corporation will be allowed to fully operate shorn of government intrusion.

On the contrary, the proposed ban by the National Security Council on all mining activities and motorcycles as a way of curbing the activities of terrorists smacks of desperation, and can only deepen the economic precarity of the average Nigerian.

A version of the proposed ban has been in force in the northwestern state of Zamfara since 2019.

Growing support among disaffected urban youth for the candidacy of Peter Obi, the Labour Party standard bearer, offers the most tangible evidence that Nigerians have had enough. Whether that frustration can be ultimately converted into political capital is a totally different question. In the meantime, Nigeria needs an economic miracle.

The publication culled from the Council on Foreign Relations website is part of the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Project on the Future of Democracy

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