TUESDAY 3RD AUGUST 2021

CBN: No Plan to Convert Bank Customers' Foreign Currency into Naira Strengthens supervision of banks' compliance with new FX regime

James Emejo in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday dispelled speculations that it was planning to convert the foreign exchange

(FX) in domiciliary accounts of bank customers into naira.

The bank further assured members of the public that it would monitor the commercial banks to ensure they meet the legitimate FX demands of

customers.

The bank’s Acting Director in charge of Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi, dismissed insinuations in some quarters that the central bank planned to convert FX

in the domiciliary accounts of customers into naira in order to check purported shortage of availability of the dollars.

He stressed that the CBN never planned to tamper with the FX deposits in the accounts

of customers, adding that those making such allegations were criminal speculators whose intention was to create panic in the foreign exchange market.

The CBN director insisted that at no time did the bank

ever suggested or implied that it would tinker with the FX deposits of customers.

He therefore, urged operators of domiciliary accounts and other Continued on page 10

NNPC Will Protect Nigeria’s Interest in Divesting Oil Companies, GMD Assures...Page 6 Tuesday 3 August, 2021 Vol 26. No 9612. Price: N250

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FG: Nigeria Officially in Third Wave of Covid-19 Pandemic

Receives 4 million doses of moderna vaccines from US Issues new safety protocols for diplomats Lagos recorded 4,300 new cases, 30 fatalities in July, says Sanwo-Olu NCDC warns Delta variant may spread to more states NARD strike already disrupting hospital services Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and Segun James in Lagos In what appeared like a confirmation of its worst fears, the federal government, yesterday, announced officially the resurgence of the third wave of the SARS-COV-2 infection in the country. The announcement came as the American government boosted Nigeria’s fight against

the virus with the donation of 4.08 million doses of the Moderna vaccines.

On the diplomatic scene, Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama announced a new COVID-19 port of entry policy for diplomats as ratified by the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19.

The policy will apply to diplomats Continued on page 10

APC May Annul Last Week’sWard Congresses Chuks Okocha All things being equal, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is likely to annul its ward congresses held last Saturday, the first in a series of steps in the selection of delegates that would ultimately lead to the party’s convention.

A consensus is already burgeoning around outright

cancellation of the congresses to avoid legal landmines in the foreseeable future, going by the Supreme Court judgment in the Ondo governorship election last week, which touched on the fate of the current APC national Caretaker leadership, THISDAY can report.

A top Villa source said last Continued on page 10

Kyari Out, Disu in as IG Rejigs Intelligence Response Team…Page 8

Sanwo-olu flashes red flag...

L:R Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs. Folashade Jaji; the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso and Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi. briefing State House Correspondents during his Covid-19 Update at Lagos House, Ikeja... yesterday

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TUESDAY, August 3, 2021 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

Jega: e-Transmission of Results a Global Practice, Nigeria Can't Lag Behind Joins PRP, advises Nigerians not to vote APC, PDP Ruling, opposition parties reply ex-INEC chair

Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has said Nigeria could not continue to lag behind as the whole world had started to adopt electronic transfer of election results as a veritable way of deepening electoral democracy.

In another development, Jega, has declared his membership of a new political party, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and advised Nigerians not to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections.

But both the ruling and opposition parties have responded to the statement credited to Jega. While the APC thought Jega’s outburst was wrong and untenable, the PDP insisted the ruling party and its president, Muhammadu Buhari failed the country.

Speaking on a television programme, Monday in Abuja, Jena said, "Increasing use of technology is global best practice in order to improve the integrity of elections. In Nigeria, we have tried to introduce the use of technology on an incremental basis.

"Most countries of the world are trying to improve the integrity of election, because the integrity of elections is key to deepening democracy and sustainable development,” Jega said.

“We started with the issuance of the smartcard readers and voters card. Then, it was upgraded to the use of the smartcard for verification.

Clearly, the logical next step is to improve the integrity of the transmission of the results.”

According to the former INEC boss, "Countries that are not as developed as Nigeria even here in Africa are using electronic transmission of results.

In Nigeria, we know that the easiest way politicians change results is when you begin to physically move the result sheets from the polling units to the ward collation centre up to constituency collation centre.

"They can waylaid officials or collaborate with crooked officials to change the results. So many of us were looking forward to ensuring that by the next electoral cycle in 2023, we will

have another upliftment in the use of technology in Nigeria's electoral process, which is the use of electronic transmission of results.

"To be honest, I was dumbfounded when I heard that the Senate had on the one hand under Section 50 (2) approved that INEC can use electronic voting but then under the same clause, said provided that there would be no electronic transmission of results.

"Electronic voting requires more infrastructure, not only technological infrastructure including electricity and other things. It is a bit more sophisticated than electronic transmission of results. The National Assembly should review that provision, because we need to go in the direction of electronic transmission of results," he said.

Jega, who announced his membership of PRP, who spoke in an interview granted BBC Hausa and said, “Nigerians should dump the two parties, because of their bad antecedents over the last 20 years.

“Looking at their inability to change the economic fortunes of Nigeria for 20 years now, it is now apparently clear that they would not do anything even if Nigerians vote for any of the two parties again.

“We are hearing nothing.

That is why I’ve since registered with the Peoples Redemption Party( PRP). I am now a PRP member looking for ways to help Nigeria.

“The APC and PDP have formed governments, we were all witnesses. They did not come with a good intention to make amends. If you look at the fight against corruption, all these corrupt people that were supposed to be prosecuted, sneaked into the APC. “That is why we believe now is the time to establish a platform where every good Nigerian should join and contribute towards building the nation on the right path,” he said.

In his response to Jega, National Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, in a statement said maligning the APC would not provide him a springboard to achieve his desires.

"While the PDP failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians as

a government and opposition party, the APC is thriving, healthy and assiduously cleaning the massive mess left behind by the PDP, which failed to deliver democratic dividends to the people of Nigeria after being in charge of the country for 16 years.

"The APC is a strong, united, popular and focused political unit. Hence, the Professor should note the political lesson that maligning the APC would not provide him a springboard to achieve his desires. Nigerians are wiser and remain the ultimate judges.

"It is however instructive to note that having recently abandoned his academic pursuit and blindly plunged into the

arena of PDP's brand of politics, the erstwhile electoral umpire as a politician can make such political statements occasionally while trying to launch his political career in a mushroom political party," he said.

But the PDP has cautioned Jega from further infuriating Nigerians by trying to dry-clean “the rudderless, inept and debauched All Progressives Congress (APC), despite the unbearable devastation the APC has brought to our nation in a space of six years.”

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP said it was unfortunate that Jega, a professor of political science, could portray an ignorance

and use the data and information collected to make decisions on issues.

"One of the decisions to be made is the nature and preparation of facilities to receive patients for treatment in case we find ourselves in a difficult situation. The Delta variant is very contagious and spreads very wide, with a greater impact on those that are yet to be vaccinated.

"We are here at this center to check the readiness of the facilities and the availability of oxygen, as well as ensure that we have all it takes to move 100 patients for treatment,” he stated.

While noting the level of preparedness by the state, the

been wrecked with massive closure of businesses, which saw over 60 million Nigerians losing their means of livelihood, with alarming 33.3 per cent unemployment rate and over 82.9 million more and about 25 million families not being able to afford their daily meals as our country ranks 98th out of 107 in Global Hunger Index, due to the obnoxious policies of the APC and President Buhari.

"Nigerians are already confronting the fact of the failures of the APC as well as President Buhari and would therefore not require a manipulative tendency of any individual seeking political relevance ahead of 2023," the opposition PDP said.

inauguration OF Governing Council of the NHRC...

L:R: The Chairman Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission, Hajiya Salamatu Suleiman, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN and the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Tony OJukwu, Esq at the inauguration of the 5th Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission... yesterday

FG to Make Cash Transfer to 200,000 Senior Citizens Impacted by COVID-19 Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The federal government will later this month commence cash payment to 200,000 urban poor senior citizens that do not

have access to regular income and were severely impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown.

Coordinator, National Social Safety Net Programme under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and

Obaseki: Edo Is Prepared for Delta Variant of COVID-19 The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the state was well-prepared to deal effectively with the Delta variant of COVID-19, though there has been no confirmed cases of the deadly variant of the virus in the state.

The governor said this during an inspection of Edo State Infectious Disease Isolation Center at the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Benin City, to assess the state’s readiness to respond to the Delta variant of COVID-19.

“We are beginning to see an increasing number of cases of the Delta variant in the country.

This has become worrisome, hence the need to undertake a thorough analysis and study of the situation

of the manifest contrasts between the robust fortunes of the nation under the PDP and the wasteland she has become under the APC. "Perhaps the Professor needs to be reminded of how the PDP worked hard to revamp our nation’s economy, paid off our huge foreign debts and went ahead to grow the economy to become the largest investment hub in Africa as well as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with Fitch B+ rating; only for the APC to wreck the economy and turned our nation into the world poverty capital and a debtor country in a space of six years.

"Today, under the APC and Buhari, these gains have

governor said, "We don't have an industrial plant here but buy retail cylinders into this facility, ensuring adequate planning and back up so that no matter the amount of oxygen needed, we would get it.”

Speaking on plans to vaccinate more people in the state in order to protect them from the deadly virus, Obaseki said, “I spoke with the National Primary Healthcare Agency last week and as we speak now, I believe that the plane conveying about four million vials of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines should be landing in Abuja, if it hasn't already.

“We are making arrangements, as a state, to go out and pick up

our own consignment and bring them in here to vaccinate more of our people. we don't have to wait for the national logistics to come and deliver to us. I have made arrangements to charter a plane to go bring them. If I have to personally go and collect those vaccines, I will do so.”

On his part, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Dr. Osagie Ebomwonyi, said the facility currently has about 18 patients, out of which 17 were serving corps members.

He said the confirmed cases were unvaccinated, adding: "We are undertaking studies and analysis to find out if we have the Delta variant in the state.”

Disaster Management, Iorwa Apera, stated this yesterday during the Senior Citizens Forum Maiden Dialogue held in Abuja.

He said the cash transfer for the 200,000 senior citizens would roll off after the data of the intended beneficiaries was authenticated by their respective communities.

He said four per cent of the 35 million poor and vulnerable persons drawn from 8.5 million in the national register across 36 states and the FCT was made up of the elderly persons.

According to him, two million individuals, who were categorised as senior citizens were aggregated by location, education, age-grade, status, disability and sex.

In her address during the maiden dialogue with the Senior Citizens, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya

Umar Farouq, said the federal government developed the National Policy on Aging and also established the National Senior Citizens Centre to meet the challenges of older persons in the country.

She said hunger, poverty as well as the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated government’s decision to tailor efforts at including the vulnerable population.

Earlier, Director General of the National Senior Citizens Centre, Dr. Emem Omokaro, applauded the senior citizens for their resilience in the face of hardship, suffering, neglect and abuse over the years.

She also thanked the minister for her passionate efforts.

Senior citizens representing various categories including the urban and rural, the military and paramilitary as well as the public and private sectors attended the dialogue, which sought to find out the major problems facing the elderly.

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NNPC Will Protect Nigeria’s Interest in Divesting Oil Companies, Kyari Assures Lists conditions for oil majors’ assets sale Says corporation will declare first dividend soon Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday assured that it would protect the interest of Nigeria in any transaction involving international oil companies interested in divesting from the country.

Group Managing Director of the corporation, Mr Mele Kyari, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the 2021 Society for Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Annual International Conference and Exhibition, also said the NNPC cannot stop any of the oil concerns from deciding to sell off any of

their assets as far as the rules are followed.

The event which took place in Lagos had the theme: "The Future of Energy - a Trilogy of Determinants; Climate Change, Public Health, and the Global Oil Market.”

Kyari was obviously speaking against the backdrop of reports at the weekend of plans by Royal Dutch Shell, to fully sell off its subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) because the company’s future plans no longer align with the operations of the Nigerian subsidiary.

The company did not deny the planned sale, but said consultations

were still ongoing, although still at the early stages.

However, the NNPC listed a plethora of outstanding issues that have to be totally resolved before major oil companies can successfully divest their interests overseas.

According to the NNPC, they are: abandonment and relinquishment costs; severance of operator staff; third party contract liabilities; competency of the buyer; post-purchase technical, operational, and financial capabilities, especially in the era of activist investor’s sentiments against funding of fossil fuel projects and alignment with Nigeria national strategic interest.

Therefore, the NNPC boss noted that having learnt from previous experiences, the corporation was developing requisite divestment policies that will provide clear guidelines and criteria for exiting of partners' interest in all its Joint Venture (JV) and Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) arrangements.

In a paper he delivered at the event , Kyari noted that while divestments create challenges for the NNPC, the corporation would ensure that it gets the right and competent investors to take position and add value to the assets, going forward.

Kyari stated that NNPC

BOOSTING FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS… Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun handing over keys of some operational vehicles (van and motorcycles) to Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Gen. Buba Marwa during a courtesy visit of the NDLEA team to the Governor's office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta... yesterday

Babalakin Calls for Overhaul of Law Practice in Nigeria Senior Partner of Babalakin & Co, Dr. Wale Babalakin, SAN has canvassed for the overhaul of law practice in the country.

He made the call at the just concluded 2021 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch, with the theme: Disruption, Innovation And The Bar. Speaking as a panelist on the topic ‘Career Development: Strategies For Professional Growth’, Babalakin said the overhaul should start from the training of lawyers in the universities and the Nigerian Law School.

He regretted that unlike in the past when premium was placed on quality, emphasis currently is on the quantity of lawyers produced.

Babalakin recalled that when he was a law student at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) between 1978 and 1981, the faculty was so well structured that a large tutorial class would have about 10 students, and that “in the process, you are able to engage your teachers and learn in detail and he will be able to identify all the talents in you.”

“Then, there was the general consensus that once you did well at UNILAG, you could do well anywhere around the world,” he said, adding that, “I’m not blaming the young people, I’m blaming the system that has created this confusion that we

have today. The system lays so much emphasis on quantum, instead of quality.”

While calling for a redesign of the curriculum of the Nigerian Law School, he argued that, “There should be separate curriculum clearly defined for those, who want to leave the law school and go to the corporate world and those leaving the law school and go to the bar.

“Today, you have a judicial system that is a far cry from what I met when I started coming to the bar in 1982.”

Citing more examples, he said, “Criminal cases that seem to take forever these days were being presided over in those days by a Judge or set of Judges. The lawyers were so prepared that trials were being concluded in three days; one day for the prosecutors to present witnesses and conduct cross-examination; another day for the defence and the next day for the address.

“It was impossible then for a lawyer or prosecutor to start seeking adjournment. There was serious consequences for trying to seek adjournment, when somebody is facing trial.

It was impossible for a lawyer to come in and say he is not ready.

That was possible because the quality of training we had and the discipline we got was very high.

But routinely now, simple trials go on for years at the convenience of counsel. This is not right.

“We have to invest more in teaching in the universities and make the law school more viable and relevant. We can have a session for advocates and another session for those, who want to be solicitors, but it is unfair to the system that we all go to crowd the court learning in the court and sometimes displaying lack

of preparation.

“In addition, you must find a chamber to accept you as a pupil. After a successful pupilage, you can then be considered for tenancy. It is not sufficient that you have a degree in Law. We have to enhance our legal system comprehensively,” the learned silk said.

would make clear distinctions between divestment of shares and operatorship agreements under various joint operating agreements by leveraging its rights of pre-emption as well as evaluating the operational competency and track records of new partners.

"NNPC as a national oil company is leading multiple initiatives to address this and other issues. As we celebrate the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), we have moved our focus to improving security architecture through collaboration with major stakeholders.

"The Nigerian Upstream Cost Optimisation Programme (NUCOP) is working with operators and service contractors to challenge cost of operations and increase profitability and growth in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

"On the other side, we are seeing a wave of divestment by oil majors operating Nigeria. NNPC as a national oil company cannot stop partners from divesting their interest, even though it creates challenge for us in ensuring that we get right and competent investors to take position and add value to the assets."

Furthermore, he said the NNPC would ensure that Nigeria’s national strategic interest was safeguarded, by developing a comprehensive divestment policy that would provide clear guidelines and criteria for divestment of partner’s interest.8In addition, Kyari said the NNPC was set to play a key role in the global transition to low-carbon energy in the near future, stressing that the country’s tremendous natural gas reserve has become its greatest enabler to smooth transition to a carbon-free future.

He noted that Nigeria was deepening its natural gas utilisation under the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) to earn more carbon credit and create a net zero carbon environment in line with its drive of becoming an energy company of global excellence.

He explained that the NNPC was extending its natural gas infrastructure backbone through the OB3 and Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipelines to deepen domestic gas utilisation, support industrial growth and job creation.

According to him, although the world was yet to reach consensus on the focus of the energy transition, the NNPC has continued to see new investment

patterns toward low-carbon energy sources and technologies, such as wind, solar, hydrogen, natural gas and bio-fuels, with wider business implication on the oil and gas industry.

As an oil dependent economy, he said the global transition to non-fossil sources of energy would mean declining revenue, foreign exchange and funding of projects particularly in the context of green finance.

However, he argued that looking at both climate and population change dynamics, anticipated economic growth and rising global population especially in Asia and Africa will increase energy consumption beyond what renewable energy sources can meet by 2050.

He also said the NNPC would soon unveil a Comprehensive Divestment Policy (CDP) that would guide the entire divestment process.

According to Kyari, the NNPC would in subsequent deals, tweak its rules of engagement by making clear distinctions between divestment of shares and operatorship agreements under various joint operating agreements, while leveraging its rights of pre-emption as well as evaluating the operational competency and track records of new partners.

Kyari reckoned that the imperatives of energy transition and the influence of activist investors on the global energy industry are making oil and gas companies diversify their portfolio to lowcarbon investments by whetting the appetite for investment in cleaner energy sources like; wind, solar, hydrogen, natural gas and bio-fuels.

Kyari stated that the corporation would declare its first dividend to Nigerians soon. He said the NNPC is currently preparing to release its 2020 financial statements in the third quarter of this year.

Kyari said, “Everything we are doing must align with the wider national interest. And therefore, NNPC, being the representatives of all of us and, is, of course, a very potential global player – this is our ambition and we are getting there.

“And I can tell you, within the next month or two maximum, we will publish our statement of accounts for 2020. And I can also confirm to you that for the first time in our history, we will declare dividend to the Nigerian people.”

Malami: Buhari’s Govt Respecting Human Rights Michael Olugbode in Abuja Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has reassured the people of the continued observance of human rights by the present administration, insisting that the Nigerian citizens have since the beginning of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government had their fundamental human rights respected Speaking at the inauguration of the 5th Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission in Abuja on Monday, Malami said the federal government has complied with various rulings on human rights and has paid damages awarded against it.

He said the 2010 amendment has provided that in the discharge of its functions and exercise of its powers, the Commission shall not be under the control of any

authority or person.

“All these measures have been taken to ensure that the Commission is able to advise the government properly in the fulfillment of its international human rights obligations and protect and promote the human rights of Nigerians and persons living in Nigeria without fear or favour in line with the Paris Principles.

“It is a known fact that the present government had complied with the award of damages for victims of the 2012 Apo killings of Okada riders by security agents, as well complied with the 2018 White paper recommendations on Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigerian Police.

“The disbandment of SARS and the setting up of various panels of Inquiry investigating and awarding damages for human rights violations by SARS is a clear testimony to the fact that

this government is fulfilling its international obligation to set up an independent National Human Rights Commission for the promotion and protection of the rights of Nigerians.

“I am happy to note that in recognition of the compliance of the Commission with the Paris Principles, the Commission has been graded with ‘A Status’ in the comity of national Human Rights Institutions by the Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).

“The Commission has affiliate status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights.

These give the Commission access to all necessary meetings at the UN and AU Levels. This is indeed gratifying and it behooves the Governing Council to uphold and improve on the standard achieved by the previous Councils and the Management of the Commission before now,” he said.

The Council’s Chairperson, Dr. Salamatu Suleiman in her address said, nations were judged by their human rights record, even as she promised to brace up to the task before her Council.

She, however, appealed for improved welfare for the staff, insisting that it was unhealthy and something of shame for the staff of the Council to be poached by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), because they were badly remunerated.

In his welcome speech, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, disclosed that the Commission and the Ministry of Justice were presently working with stakeholders to finalise the National Policy for the protection of civilians in armed conflict as well as the National Action Plan for the promotion and protection of human rights, which included the new feature of the plan for business and human rights.

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NIGERIA-SENEGAL BILATERAL MEETING...

L:R: Senegalese Ambassador to Nigeria, Babacar Matar Ndiaye; Minister of Petroleum and Energy Senegal, Mrs. Aissatou Sophie Gladima, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Bitrus Nabasu, during a bilateral meeting between both ministers, at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Towers, Abuja... recently

Kyari Out, Disu in as IG Rejigs Intelligence Response Team Nigeria’s obligations to international treaty forced presidency to order erring officer’s suspension DIG Egbunike's panel begins sitting Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja As part of the many measures taken to address the allegations levied against a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, yesterday, approved the posting of DCP Tunji Disu as the new Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

A statement issued by Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police, said the posting of the officer followed management’s decision to fill the leadership gap within the IRT and refocus the unit for better service delivery.

But THISDAY has learnt that the presidency, apparently feeling obligated to its extradition treaty, had Saturday evening directed the Baba to suspend Kyari.

This is as the DIG Joseph Egbunike-led panel set up by the Inspector-General of Police to probe the allegations against Kyari, has also begun sitting in Abuja.

According to a statement by Mba, which stated that the posting took immediate effect, "The IGP

has charged the new head of the IRT to demonstrate his professional competence in his leadership of the unit.

"He also assured citizens that the IRT will remain focused in the discharge of its duties in line with national statutes and international best practices", he said.

Prior to his appointment as the new Head of the IRT, Disu, the statement stated, is a former Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Lagos State, and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

He had also previously served at the State CID, Rivers State as the Deputy Head of the Unit. He was also a Commander of the Nigeria Police Contingent to the African Union (AU) Peace Keeping Mission in Dafur, Sudan.

Disu holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the Lagos State University (LASU) and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State.

He has also attended several professional courses both at home and abroad, including small arms smuggling training in Botswana, internet fraud training at the

Cambridge University, UK, strategic leadership command course at the Police Staff College, Jos, forensic investigations and criminal intelligence course at the University of Lagos, amongst others.

He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations and Chattered Institute of Personnel Management, among other professional bodies.

Meanwhile, more details on how Kyari got to this point have emerged as the IG, THISDAY gathered, had a four-hour marathon meeting on Friday with Kyari, where he directed him to respond to the allegations against him as contained in US court papers and served on the police by the FBI in writing.

THISDAY also gathered that the Egbunike-led panel sat and deliberated on the terms of reference as prescribed by the IG before moving forward.

Kyari, the man at the center of the $1.1million fraud linking him with notorious internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas also known as Hushpuppi, is expected to appear before the committee this week.

During the meeting with the

IG on Friday, Kyari had allegedly made a preliminary response, which served as a guide in reviewing the case before the presidential directive on his suspension was communicated to Force headquarters.

It was gathered that officials of the US government had reminded the federal government of the existing extradition treaty between the United States and Nigeria and the need for the latter to discharge its obligations under the treaty.

Competent sources told THISDAY that pressure from the US had compelled the presidency to take urgent steps on the matter in order to maintain the anti-graft posture of the government and to satisfy its international treaty obligations.

"The directive to suspend Kyari was from the presidency. The IG was directed to suspend him

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government has warned that House Officers on mandatory two-year housemanship training that

Irabor: Arms proliferation fuelling insecurity In a renewed determination to contain arms proliferation in the country, the National Center for the Control of Small and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has planned to institutionalise the marking of weapon-holdings by security agencies and mopping up of small and light weapons across the country.

In the same vein, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, said yesterday that arms proliferation was the main factor fuelling insurgency and banditry in the country.

This, also, confirmed the position by a former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, who argued sometime ago that six million small arms and light weapons were in circulation in Nigeria.

National Coordinator of the arms control center, Maj. Gen.

AM Dikko (rtd), said at the Defence Headquarters that the organisations planned to mark the weapons holding of security agencies and mop up small and light weapons across the country.

"The NCCSALW intends to aggregate all weapons and related material that have been mopped up from the society and manage the stockpile leading up to its destruction.

"The centre also plans to institutionalise the process of marking all weapons holdings of security agencies and maintain a national database that would help to keep track of all small arms and light weapons in the country to ensure traceability in case the weapons fall into wrong hands," he said.

He explained that the purpose of the visit was to acquaint the defence chief of the core functions of NCCSALW. The visit was also to highlight

the various areas of collaboration with the defence headquarters and to solicit maximum support of the Armed Forces in the actualisation of the core objectives of the centre.

Dikko stated that the NCCSALW was established on May 3, 2021, following an executive order by President Muhammadu Buhari and he was appointed the National Coordinator of the Centre on May 6, 2021.

He noted that the centre was intended to serve as the institutional mechanism for policy guidance, research and monitoring of all aspects of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.

In view of this, he said the centre would be promoting policy actions through networking and advocacy in collaboration with government agencies, civil society organisations, security sector institutions, development partners and international organisations.

"Otherwise, the United States government will have to request for his extradition in accordance with the terms of the Treaty.

Once the request is received by the federal government, the Attorney-General/Minister of Justice will commence extradition proceedings in the Federal High Court. Alternatively, the office of the Attorney-General may file charges against the police officer since the offences were committed in Nigeria.

"When I suggested to the federal government to request for the extradition of Sunday Adeyemo (a.k.a Igboho), I was simply advising the authorities of both Nigeria and Benin Republic to operate under international law.

I am also asking Nigeria and the United States to handle Abba Kyari's case under international law," he said.

FG Threatens to Sanction Striking Doctors

Arms Control Center to Start Marking Weapon-holding by Security Agencies Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

and investigate the matter. But he cannot do that without making a recommendation to the Police Service Commission (PSC), which he did and the PSC immediately approved his suspension.

"There is international pressure and you know this is a serious issue that cannot be left for IG alone to handle. The image of this country is at stake here", a police source said.

A foremost human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, had in an interview with THISDAY, urged the federal government to adhere to the extradition treaty.

"The United States and Nigeria have an extradition treaty, which covers the offences allegedly committed by DCP Abba Kyari.

If the police officer insists on his innocence, he may want to submit himself to the jurisdiction of the District Court in the United States.

A report prepared by a research and consultancy group, Beacon Consulting Ltd., a member of ASIS International, world's largest association for security management professionals, showed that of the 6.5 million small arms and light weapons circulating in Nigeria, 5 million are in the possession of non-state actors while 568,000 are in the hands of law enforcement agencies.

Irabor, who spoke while receiving Dikko said, research and experience revealed that the state of insecurity in the nation was attributable to the illicit proliferation of arms in the society.

A statement by the Director, Strategic Communication and Information of the weapons center, Group Captain E. Akintuntinde, said the defence chief "pointed out that the establishment of the centre was long overdue given the current state of insecurity in the nation.”

embark on strike would be made to repeat the posting without remuneration. This was contained in a statement signed

by Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Dr. Tajudeen Sanusi.

The statement followed the declaration of an indefinite industrial action by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) from Monday.

Sanusi said the law regulating the housemanship programme does not condone strike action

by House Officers. He said anyone found to be disobeying the rule should be reported to the Chief Medical Director, Medical Director or Medical Superintendent of the affected housemanship training Institution.

The statement said, "During the housemanship, doctors and dentists are required to undertake 12 weeks’ uninterrupted postings in each of Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Paediatrics and other relevant specialties for dentistry.

"Any interruption for any reason, including embarking on strike actions, during any of the postings will not be condoned, and should be reported immediately to the Chief Medical Director, Medical Director or Medical Superintendent of the housemanship training Institution."

The registrar said Section 2d(iii) of the Guidelines on Registration (2003 ed.) prescribed that “a supervising doctor who fails in his duties in this regard is liable

to proceedings being commenced against him at the Disciplinary Organs of Council if his misdeed in the matter is brought to the notice of Council.

"Embarking on strike actions by house officers will lead to repeat of the posting(s) afresh without remuneration. House officers are, therefore, advised to avoid participation in activities, like industrial actions, that could lead to interruption in their postings."

The registrar also cautioned medical and dental practitioners that provisional registration did not guarantee automatic admittance to the full register.

Full registration is granted only on satisfactory completion of housemanship training, he stated.

Sanusi added, "Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors and Medical Superintendents should note their responsibilities to ensure that all doctors, over whom they have administrative charge, abide by all extant regulations.”

National President of NARD, Dr. Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa, had announced the strike on Saturday in Umuahia at the end of the union’s National Executive Council meeting. Uyilawa cited the inability of the federal government to implement agreements it entered with the association more than three months ago as reason for the industrial action.

The NARD president gave other reasons to include poor working environment in public hospitals and irregular payment of doctors’ salaries and hazard allowances.

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY AUGUST 3, 2021

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TUESDAY, ͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

TEN FG: NIGERIA OFFICIALLY IN THIRD WAVE OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC from two categories of countries – the five restricted countries and others.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, corroborated the federal government’s announcement yesterday, when he raised the alarm about the surge in COVID-19 cases in the state. Sanwo-Olu said the state recorded some 4,300 confirmed new cases of the virus, with 30 fatalities in July alone.

But the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) warned that with the current rate of infections, the deadly Delta variant might spread to many more states if conscious efforts were not made to control it.

Unfortunately, resident doctors in the country commenced a strike on Monday to press home their demand for a better working environment. According to THISDAY findings, the strike has started disrupting healthcare services in different hospitals across the country. At some of the hospitals visited yesterday by THISDAY in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, doctors were seen outside their offices and they were not attending to patients.

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, confirmed the resurgence of the disease at a media briefing by the PSC on COVID-19. Ehanire said Nigeria began to record a sharp increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases since July, as global anxiety over the Delta variant spread.

The minister stated, "All data indicate that we are now, no doubt, in the third wave of resurgence of the SARS-COV-2 infection, which we saw coming long ago. As at today, Nigeria has recorded a total of 174,315 COVID-19 cases from 2,542,261 samples tested, with 7,151 active cases, and sadly, 2,149 deaths in all."

Ehanire said of particular concern was the fact that the Delta variant of COVID-19 spread more rapidly and had become prevalent in many countries, constituting 93 per cent of COVID cases in the United Kingdom.

The minister said the federal government had stepped up efforts to increase testing to identify positive cases for isolation and treatment. He stated that

anyone with suspicion of infection should go to the nearest testing centre to get a COVID-19 test.

He disclosed that all treatment centres had been put on alert to receive cases especially, in the face of the threat of the third wave.

Ehanire explained that only 17 states had made data or sample submissions in the last cycle, with Lagos and Akwa Ibom states.

But hope of a considerable degree of containment beckoned yesterday with the donation of 4.08 million doses of Moderna Vaccines by the US government. Director General, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, announced this on Monday, saying the donation came through the COVAX facilities.

Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, thanked the government and people of the United States for the gift, which he promised would be utilised judiciously.

On the new safety protocols, the foreign affairs minister emphasised the special protocol of 72 hours PCR test before travelling that was in place for diplomats coming from UK, South Africa, Brazil, Turkey and India or had passed thorough those countries in the last 14 days. He said diplomats from the non-restricted countries would only have to do the 72hour prior PCR test and within seven days of arrival do a test in an approved private laboratory in addition to the mandatory 14- day self-isolation at home.

He warned that the diplomats that had no PCR test would be quarantined in a government facility.

According to him, diplomats with mild COVID-19 conditions would be isolated at home while those with moderate and severe symptoms would be isolated in accredited facilities.

Diplomats from non-restricted countries could get special waiver from the seven-day isolation, but applicable only to high profile diplomats visiting the president or the vice president.

With respect to diplomats, who had visited the restricted

CBN: NO PLAN TO CONVERT BANK CUSTOMERS' FOREIGN CURRENCY INTO NAIRA members of the banking public to go about their legitimate FX transactions and disregard fictitious stories aimed at pitching them against the bank and triggering chaos in the system.

The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had at the recent Monetary Policy Committee meeting (MPC) announced that the apex bank would stop the weekly sale of foreign exchange to Bureaux De Change (BDCs), pointing out that deposit money banks would henceforth meet the FX needs of to customers.

Consequently, banks chief executives had met at the weekend and affirmed their readiness to meet the FX demands from genuine end-users as directed by the CBN. Emefiele had while addressing journalists at the end of the two-day deliberations of the MPC, accused BDCs of total disregard for the CBN policies introduced to achieve its mandate of safeguarding the value of the naira among others.

He said:"In particular, we have noted with disappointment and great concern that our BDC operators have abandoned the original objectives of their establishment which was to serve retail end users who need $5,000 or less.

"Instead, they have become wholesale dealers dealing in

forex to the tune of millions of dollars per transaction, despite the fact that Nigeria is the only country in the world today where a central bank sells dollar directly to BDC operators."

He said operators in the BDC segment had failed to reciprocate the bank's gesture to help maintain price stability to the large market.

The CBN said:"Whereas, the bank has understanding with BDC operators that they make small margins from the US dollar allocated to them, they have reneged and become somewhat greedy, recalcitrant with abnormal high profits while ordinary Nigerians have been left to feel the pain and therefore suffer."

Emefiele further lamented that rather than work to achieve the laudable objectives for which they were licensed, the bank had observed various unwholesome practices by the BDCs. These included the gradual dollarisation of the Nigerian economy with attendant adverse consequences on the conduct of monetary policy and subversion of the cashless policy initiatives of the CBN. He said BDCs had resorted into financing of unauthorised transactions with forex procured from the CBN among other infractions against CBN regulations.

countries in the last 14 days, the minister said they might likely get a waiver on special recommendation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the airport to be granted by the PSC. He maintained that all diplomats coming from the restricted countries in the last 14 days would have to quarantine in approved facilities, adding that the exception from isolation at home and approved facility.

Sanwo-Olu: Lagos Recorded 4,300 Cases, 30 Fatalities in July

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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, raised the alarm about the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic, saying in July alone, some 4,300 confirmed cases were recorded with 30 fatalities. Sanwo-Olu said the current figures were worse than what obtained at the height of the pandemic last year, when a total of 64,032 cases were recorded with 56,336 recovering and 320 death.

According to him, "From the beginning of July, we started to experience an increase in the number of daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Lagos State, with the positivity rate going from 1.1% at the end of June 2021 to 7% at the end of July 2021. As at the 1st of August 2021, the positivity rate in Lagos is 8.9%.

"This is an 8-fold increase over the recorded figure a month ago, and it should rightly alarm all of us. This has resulted in 4,300 confirmed cases in July alone and 352 admissions into our isolation facilities. But let me make it clear that this necessary sense of alarm should not be responded to with panic, but instead with a firm resolve and determination to reverse the trend.

“We have done it before and we can do it again. We dealt with the first and second waves and did our best to prevent a third wave. Now that it is fully upon us, we must dig deep into what we have learnt from the previous waves, as well as summon the will to do everything necessary to bring down the numbers, on the way to eventually defeating the virus once and for all."

Sanwo-Olu explained that with the epidemiology update from the beginning of the outbreak in February 2020 to date, Lagos State had recorded a total of 64,032 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and of this number, 56,336 had recovered in community, while 2,755 cases were currently being managed actively in community.

He added that while managing the COVID-19 pandemic, about 5,029 patients had been admitted into the various COVID-19 centres in the state.

He said, "We have, sadly, recorded 390 fatalities in Lagos State, 30 of which have taken place in this current 3rd wave of the pandemic. Essentially, we have recorded on average 6 deaths per day since last week. With Home-Based Care Given the huge population of our state and the rising numbers of confirmed cases during the first and second waves of the pandemic, it became necessary for us to deploy telemedicine in managing positive patients.

"In this vein, we launched a homebased programme, driven by our EKOTELEMED call center service. The home-based programme works by delivering care packs to symptomatic Covid-19 patients – those who do not require admission in a treatment facility – in the comfort of their homes, and making specialist care available over the phone."

According to Sanwo-Olu, following the receipt of the first instalment of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the federal government, it was administered to a total of 404,414 first doses and 243,374 second doses of the vaccine to residents.

He said, "As of today, the percentage of residents of Lagos that have received two doses of the vaccine stands at one per cent. This is quite low, especially, considering that we are now confronted by a third wave, and we are exploring all avenues possible to ramp up access to vaccination so as to reach our herd immunity target of administering vaccines to at least 60 per cent of the population of Lagos State.”

He stressed that experience from other regions of the world showed that a majority of the confirmed cases that resulted in death were in unvaccinated persons.

The governor stated, "This is why we are seriously looking to scale up vaccination coverage for our people. On the 1st of August 2021, Nigeria received 4 million doses of the Moderna vaccine. It is our expectation that as the epicentre of the epidemic, Lagos State will receive a sizeable amount of this allocation.

“This vaccine cannot be mixed with the AstraZeneca vaccine, so it will ONLY be for people that have not been previously vaccinated.

"We are still expecting the second five allocations of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and will inform you when it is received.

We will ensure that all future vaccine administration exercises are based solely on appointment, to avoid a situation in which vaccine administration turns into a super-spreader event."

Delta Variant May Spread to More States, Says NCDC

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said the deadly Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus may spread further to many more states if conscious efforts were not made to curtail it. Confirming the mark-up in the number of cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in the country, Director General of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said current data showed that one in every 10 persons that were tested in Lagos State came out positive.

Ihekweazu, who spoke at a media briefing by PSC on COVID-19, said the positivity rate of the virus test in states, like Lagos and Akwa Ibom, had gone up to 10 per cent.

He said, currently, the national COVID-19 positivity rate was six per cent, adding that the detection of increases in positive cases in some state like Lagos, Rivers, Oyo and Akwa Ibom was an indication that the surveillance architecture put in place by NCDC had worked well.

The federal government said the four million and eighty thousand doses of Moderna vaccines donated by the US government would undergo efficacy test evaluation by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC) before their deployment. Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, stated this while inspecting the vaccines that arrived the country since Sunday.

He said it would take up 48 hours for the evaluation results to be out before the commencement of the inoculation.

Shuaib, who led other top officials of the Federal Ministry of Health to inspect the vaccine doses at the National Strategic Cold Store, Abuja, said an effective cold chain management of any COVID-19 vaccine was key to ensuring the success of the national vaccination programme.

He stated, “The vaccines would assist in stepping up efforts to battle a third wave of COVID-19 infections. The donation was part of President Joe Biden’s promise to give 500 million vaccines to the world by the end of 2022."

Shuaib said Nigeria had storage facilities that could store COVID-19 vaccines, including the Moderna vaccine.

According to him, the federal government had earlier acquired an additional 60 ultra cold freezers that would accommodate both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

Shuaib said, “The Moderna vaccine was expected to remain stable at standard refrigerator temperatures of 2° to 8°C (36° to 46°F) for 30 days. Shipping and long-term storage conditions are at standard freezer temperatures of -20°C (-4°F) for six months while mRNA-1273 to be distributed using widely available vaccine delivery and storage infrastructure.

“Once the vaccine is removed from the refrigerator for administration, it can be kept at room temperature conditions for up to 12 hours.”

Representative of the US government, Dr. Melissa Freeman, said the vaccine doses were part of a donation that was set up to boost the country’s vaccination rollout campaign.

Also, representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Anne Baptiste, said Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine was effective against several variants of concern, including the Delta variant.

UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Peter Hawkins, said the donation would help the country implement its expanded vaccination programme by reaching more people.

Hawkins said the life-saving vaccines had arrived at a time, when Nigeria was seeking to vaccinate a total of 110 million citizens.

Strike by Resident Doctors Disrupts Hospital Activities

Meanwhile, the strike embarked upon by resident doctors on Monday morning adversely affected healthcare services at the hospitals. At some of the government hospitals visited by THISDAY in Abuja, doctors were seen going about without attending to patients.

Only few ones, mainly the consultants that were in their offices, attended to patients.

Speaking on the development, Ehanire said the Federal Ministry of Health had started to engage the doctors with a view to quickly resolving the issues.

"While this is on-going, medical directors at federal and state hospitals are directed to ensure that service delivery is not disrupted in their centres," he said.

APC MAY ANNUL LAST WEEK’S WARD CONGRESSES night that, "The Vice President is of the firm view that the Supreme Court ruling last week is a clear legal ditch, which is best avoided.

And he wants to ensure that the interest of the party is what is paramount, hoping that all stakeholders would eventually find a way out in the interest of Nigerians, who have reposed so much confidence and support in the party."

Continuing, the source said, “you know the Vice President is a man of constitutionalism and would not do anything to undermine the constitutional process. He believes in the sanctity of law and due process and anything that is not in conformity with the law must be brought to compliance. As a professor of law, he sees the implications of the Supreme Court ruling and is trying to avoid trouble that may be waiting ahead.”

On the express directive of

President Muhammadu Buhari, the source claimed that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has continued to consult with stakeholders on how best to bring the party in compliance to legality, despite early resistance by the Attorney General of the Federation, and Minister of Justice, Malam Abubakar Malami and the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mai Mala Buni, who both defied the resolution reached at a legal review session with lawyers in the federal cabinet, where the issue was discussed.

The resolution, at that review session hosted by the vice president, was to pause the congresses and reflect on the wider implications of judgment of the Supreme Court and consult widely to achieve the best way out of the legal quagmire. The quest for a safe option to resolve the internal political complications is said to be the driving force

behind the consultation as earlier directed by the President Competent Villa sources, therefore, explained last night that already the Vice President had been holding further consultations with party leaders and governors on a solution that would save the party from future legal traps and at the same time be acceptable to all within the APC. It is believed that Osinbajo, who has been asked to resolve the matter by the President, is intent on ensuring that the party benefits from what seems to be a legal warning from the Supreme Court judgment, which had a 4-3 verdict with the justices questioning the constitutional validity of a sitting governor holding such an executive post as national party Caretaker Chairman. "He wants the party not do anything that would further complicate an already complicated situation," the source stated.

While a last minute cancelation of the Congresses was on the table on Friday night, APC governors explained to the VP that majority of them would rather prefer to go on with the Congresses even though some felt an outright cancelation of the Congresses would be inevitable if the party went ahead.

THISDAY, in its yesterday edition, had given a graphical illustration of how Malami and Buni defied Osinbajo’s directive, which was informed by an instruction by the president to the vice president to find a way around the legal lacuna that laid-in-wait for the party.

The development is believed to have precipitated a rethink on the future of the party as more stakeholders have started to reach out to the vice president, pledging their readiness to work with him in the onerous task of finding a lasting solution to the party dilemma.

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TUESDAY, ͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS ANALYSIS

Abba Kyari Like George Iyamu?

By Louis Achi

L

awrence Anini was a dare-devil armed robber who terrorised the old Bendel State for several years - from the early 1980s to 1986 when his devil’s luck ran out. That many were convinced he was invincible was eloquent testimony to the extreme mastery of his bloody job.

From records, it was when Nigeria’s military president then, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida got so sick of the whole Anini criminal caper, that he rose from one of the weekly meetings of the Armed Forces Ruling Council and confronted the Inspector General of Police then, Mr. Etim Inyang - delivering an ultimatum on Anini’s neutralisation.

Babangida’s ultimatum was effective.

On December 3, 1986, Anini was cornered and captured at No 26, Oyemwosa Street, opposite Iguodala Primary School, Benin City, in the midst of prostitutes.

Like Instagram celebrity and indicted scammer Ramon Abbas (Hushpuppi), as soon as he was in the bag, Anini opened up. The can of worms he opened stank to high heavens and shocked Nigerians.

He revealed his successful and deadly operations were made possible by insider information and weaponry from the police.

Incidentally, 10 police officers, including George Iyamu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, were tried with Anini and gang.

Five of the police officers, including Iyamu, were convicted and executed with Anini and his boys on March 29, 1987.

It only came to light after Anini’s capture that DSP George Iyamu’s stupendous, unexplained wealth flowed from his criminal partnership with Anini. He shielded Anini and his criminal gang, leaking police secrets, and giving them logistical support, including arms, for their operations. Through this extraordinary covert criminal liaison, Iyamu acquired many houses, exotic cars, wine and women.

A central key to ending Anini’s bloody reign was the leadership provided by General Babangida and the focused response of the then IGP Etim Inyang.

Clearly, the echoes of what transpired in from 1980-1986 in the old Bendel State is happening now. Currently, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has suspended DCP Kyari. This followed a letter by IGP Alkali Baba, dated July 31 and addressed to the PSC recommending the suspension of Kyari due to his indictment by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over an alleged bribe received from a cyber-fraudster, Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas.

In a statement on Sunday, Ikechukwu Ani, PSC spokesman said Kyari’s suspension took effect from Saturday.

“Abba Kyari’s suspension took effect from Saturday, July 31 2021 and would subsist pending he outcome of investigation in respect of his indictment by the FBI of the united States,” he said.

The suspension, according to the IGP is expected to create an enabling environment for the NPF Special Investigation Panel to carry out its investigations into the weighty allegations against DCP Abba Kyari without interference.

His words: “The suspension is without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the officer.

The Special Investigation Panel (SIP), comprising four (4) Senior Police Officers, is headed by DIG Joseph Egbunike, the Deputy Inspector General of Police incharge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID).”

Meanwhile, for the celebrated Kyari, this is certainly not a celebratory period.

A specially gifted cop, he has been at the cutting edge of special and high intensity investigations in the past years. He is the head of the Inspector General of Police Special Anti-Crime Squad.

But mid last week, a bombshell dropped on Kyari as Instagram celebrity Ramon

Kyari

Abbas (Hushpuppi), a Nigerian indicted in international high wire fraud said he paid Kyari bribes from his proceeds of fraud for which he was deported from Dubai to US for trial. Kyari issued a statement on Thursday debunking Abbas claim – a move seen by many as naive.

Kyari was roped into the muddle after the US Department of Justice quoted Hushpuppi as telling the court that he bribed the DCP to jail Chibuzor Vincent, an associate with whom he was locked in a dispute over how to share $1.1 million proceeds of a fraudulent deal with some Qatari business executives.

The unfolding, sleazy drama further opened a can of worms as in the case of

Anini/DSp Iyamu. Kyari’s core constituency the Nigeria Police has admitted it’s been served court processes to arrest and ferry across him to US for trial. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also said the US authorities have written it on the matter.

Hushpuppi, was arrested in the UAE in June 2020, alongside 11 of his associates, over allegations of hacking, impersonation, scamming, bank fraud, and identity theft.

His extradition to the US came after the UAE police had carried out a special operation dubbed ‘Fox Hunt 2’. He was accused of defrauding 1.9 million persons of N168 billion. He was later arraigned and detained at the Metropolitan Correctional

Center (MCC) in Chicago ahead of trial.

More, as in Anini/DSP Iyamu’s tango, so much dark, damning allegations are emerging puncturing DCP Kyari’s claim to sainthood.

Rightly or wrongly sensing that a scheme maybe underway to shield Kyari from the consequences of his serious alleged malfeasance, several stakeholders are putting the police and attorney general office on the spotlight.

The following days and weeks will determine whether necessary legal and diplomatic processes will be strictly followed to establish Kyari’s innocence or otherwise or whether some underhand script has been cobbled to thwart justice.

TUESDAY AUGUST 3,, 2021 • T H I S D AY

12

NEWS

APC Ward Congresses Null, Void, Says Ozekhome Adedayo Akinwale and Udora Orizu in Abuja A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Mike Ozekhome, yesterday said that the just concluded ward congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) could become an exercise in futility due to the split decision of the Supreme Court faulting the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led national executive.

Recall that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ondo election, Eyitayo Jegede and his party had challenged the competence of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s

nomination for the election by the APC, contending that the letter conveying his nomination to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was incompetent, having been signed by Buni and others.

The Supreme Court in a very narrow 4 – 3 judgment on July 28, 2021, split decision in favour of Akeredolu.

Speaking on ARISE TV, the broadcast arm of THISDAY, the human rights activist opined that the actions carried out and authenticated by Buni-led Catetaker and Extraordinary Convention Committee could be declared null and void if challenged in a court.

According to him, “Section 183 of the constitution states that no person within the office of Governor shall at the same time hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever. We can remove paid employment

and say Buni was not being paid for his job as some of the APC legal pundits have said but what of the executive office, can they say he wasn’t holding an executive office. His position as the chairman of the caretaker extraordinary convention

and planning committee was actually acting as chairman of the APC, meaning that he hold the position of the APC in an executive capacity and they even have a secretary. So it is, therefore, not correct to say he was not acting in any

executive capacity.

“Meanwhile, the APC constitution on the other hand, section 17, subsection one says no official of the party shall at the same time hold any other position if any government institution.”

DSS Produces only Eight Igboho’s Aides in Court Alex Enumah in Abuja The Department of State Service (DSS), yesterday, brought eight out of the 12 aides of Sunday Igboho being detained in its custody to court in what appeared to be a partial compliance with the order of a Federal High Court, Abuja Nigeria.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu had on July 29 reiterated his order to the DSS to produce the applicants in court on August 2 and also appear before the court to show why the applicants should not be released unconditionally.

The order was sequel to an exparte application argued by applicants’ lawyer, Mr. Pelumi Olajeingbesi, wherein he informed the court that the applicants have been in custody of the DSS since July 1, 2021.

They were arrested during a midnight raid on Igboho’s residence in Oyo State and subsequently brought to Abuja.

However, following the failure of the DSS to file charges against them or admit them to bail pending conclusion of investigations and possible arraignment, the applicants

through their lawyers had approached the court to enforce their fundamental human rights.

They had argued that they are being held illegally without any valid court order hence, the court should order the DSS to release them unconditionally.

When the matter came up yesterday, four of the applicants; Abdulateef Onaolapo, Uthman Adelabu, Oluwafemi Kunle and Okoyemi Tajudeen were absent when the list of applicants was called.

Those present in court and who answered to their names were Amudat Babatunde (AKA, Lady K), Tajudeen Erinoye, Diekola Jubril, Abideen Shittu, Jamiu Oyetunji, Ayobami Donald, Raji Kazeem and Bamidele Sunday.

Counsel to the applicants had informed the court of an application seeking to amend the processes, adding that same has already been served on the respondents.

Olajeingbesi stated that the application, which is dated July 30 and filed on August 2, was brought pursuant to section 2(6) of the 1999 Constitution and under the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.

US Mission Visits Lekki Deep Sea Port Segun James A delegation of American Business Council and the United States Consulate General over the weekend visited the Lagos Free Zone to assess the Lekki Deep Sea Port to review the benefits of the initiatives for U.S. businesses and showcase those that have already availed themselves to them.

The Consulate General, Ms. Claire Pierangelo, said that “there are many challenges that businesses face here in Nigeria, but the Free Zone and Lekki Deepwater Sea Port represent great strides forward. These projects have, very systematically and thoughtfully, created an enabling environment where many other businesses can thrive.”

Pierangelo commended the leadership of Tolaram Group, the promoter of LFZ, for embarking on such an “amazing and very ambitious project,” which has the capacity to transform the Nigerian economy and unlock new opportunities for global trade in sub-Saharan Africa.”

She reiterated the commitment of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria to facilitate U.S. investments into the country for the mutual benefit of both nations and promised to continue to engage relevant stakeholders to continue the push toward a business-friendly Nigeria.

Mr. Dipo Faulkner, President of the American Business Council, also addressed the delegation and remarked that Kellogg’s and Colgate-Palmolive were “two key America brands thriving in Nigeria despite the numerous business challenges” and encouraged more U.S. companies to see the LFZ as a solution to overcoming these challenges.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Tolaram Group, Mr. Dinesh Rathi, expressed his appreciation to Pierangelo and her entire delegation for the visit.

Rathi state that the company would conduct business for the benefit of both Nigeria and its stakeholders in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.

INVESTITURE…

L-R: Former Rotary International President, Jonathan Mojiyigbe; 13th District Governor of Rotary District 9125 Nigeria, Mr. Ayoola Oyedokun; and his wife, Mrs. Mojisola Oyedojun, during the investiture of Oyedokun in Abuja…recently

Itsekiri Leader Asks Court to Restrain Buhari from Constituting NDDC Board

Sunday Okobi

Itsekiri leader and right activist, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has charged the federal government not to constitute any board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) until the outcome of the forensic audit ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari is released.

She disclosed this to journalists yesterday in Lagos where she announced that she had filed a suit at the Federal High Court,

Abuja, to restrain President Buhari, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and Senate President, Ahmad Lawal, from inaugurating a new board for the interventionist agency pending the release of the outcome of the forensic audit.

Also joined in the lawsuit are the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, and Clerk of the National Assembly as third and fifth defendants.

The president, Malami and

Lawan are first, second and fourth defendants respectively in the case. The plaintiff, in the originating summons dated July 26, 2021, in suit number: FHC/ ABJ/744/2021 filed by her solicitors, Patrick Oganwu and Associates, said she wants the court to stop the defendants from raising a new board for the commission except the forensic audit report is made public.

She raised a number of questions for the court to

determine, including whether by the provisions of the NDDC Act 2017, the first defendant can exercise his powers, control, and supervision over the NDDC by issuing a directive ordering a forensic audit of the activities of the NDDC from 2001 to 2019 and whether the first defendant is bound to receive the report of the forensic audit and act on same before taking any further steps in constituting or reconstituting the board for the NDDC.

Lagos Police Arrest Two Suspected Drug Peddlers Sunday Ehigiator

Operatives of the Area ‘E’ Police Command in Festac, Lagos State, have arrested two suspected drug peddlers at the Dantata area of Mile 2, Badagry Expressway of the state.

The police command also revealed that it recovered substance suspected to be Indian hemp and other illicit substances from them.

In a statement issued by

the state police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the arrest was said to have been made on July 30, 2021, following a tip off by concerned members of the public.

He said: “The police had been intimated of the activities of the drug peddlers who were displaying drugs for sales with impunity around the area. The policemen, as a follow up to the tip off, raced to the scene where one Rabiu Mohammed

was arrested.

“The suspect confessed that one Sanni Audu was the major dealer/supplier. The police went after Audu and arrested him with some quantities of substance suspected to be Indian hemp and other illicit substances.”

The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, while reiterating his directive to officers and men of the command to go after criminals in the state, ordered that other members of the

syndicate must be apprehended.

He further directed that the illegal items and illicit substances in the custody of the suspects and in any part of the state must be recovered in order to reduce the quantity of hard drugs in circulation.

The police boss equally directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Yaba, for proper investigation and possible prosecution.

Nigeria Quits Maritime Regional Body over Electoral Illegalities

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

Nigeria has hinted that it would quit the Maritime Organisation for West and Central Africa (MOWCA) over what it termed the disregard for the rules of procedure regarding the eligibility of candidates nominated for the position of the secretary general of the organisation.

Nigeria also pointed out yesterday that no member states has supported the MOWCA as

it has done with over $5 million in the past 10 year even though the organisation did not employ a single Nigerian.

This was contained in a statement by the delegation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the 8th Bureau of Ministers and 15th General Assembly of the MOWCA in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, which was made available to journalists in Abuja by the Director of Press, Ministry of Transportation, Mr.

Eric Ojiekwe.

The statement reads in parts: “It is sad and most depressing given Nigeria’s ardent and consistent support for the MOWCA and its activities, that Nigeria as a nation must take a stand against the promotion of illegality, disrespect for the rule of law and contravention of the rules regarding election of the secretary general of the MOWCA.” This position followed the presentation for election for the position of secretary general of over

aged candidates by Guinea and the Republic of Benin, leading Nigeria to further observe: “Nigeria draws the attention of the General Assembly to the comment of the MOWCA as presented by the MOWCA’s secretariat in the annotated agenda circulated this week to the committee of experts meeting, which confirmed that Nigeria is the only country that met the age eligibility criteria requirement that candidates must not exceed 55 years.

SUBEB Chairman Accuses PDP of Destroying Education in Katsina Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Katsina State Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr. Lawal Buhari, yesterday claimed that the education sector in the state under the immediate past administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in

shambles amid poor funding.

Buhari explained that the present administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the leadership of Governor Aminu Bello Masari, inherited empty classrooms without furniture and instructional materials in 2015.

Buhari, who disclosed this

while in audience with members of APC News Online Media at his office, said lack of promotion, salary payment and training of primary and secondary school teachers were among top predicaments that confronted the education sector during the PDP administration.

He said: “We inherited

empty classrooms in 2015. The past administration destroyed education in the state. All the classrooms we inherited were without furniture but from 2015, we constructed and renovated and equipped them with furniture. And some of the schools, we provided them with generators.

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY AUGUST 3, 2021

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2021

COMMENT

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

CONTAINING NIGERIA’S MALARIA EPIDEMIC China’s fight against malaria holds lessons for Nigeria, writes Toluwani Oluwatola

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mid the sombre atmosphere over the global health space in the past 30 months due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, one news that has generated so much optimism recently is the announcement of China’s certification as malaria-free by the World Health Organisation. This certification came after 70 years of consistent efforts against the deadliest disease known to man, reducing its prevalence from 30 million cases to zero. China applied for the certification after four years of zero malaria diagnosis and became the first country in the western pacific region to become malaria-free in 30 years. This is great news and a beacon of hope to countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with 94% of global malaria cases and deaths that the war against malaria can be won.

Nigeria started its war against malaria in 1948 with the National Malaria Service; this was about the same time the People Republic of China began its antimalarial war. Though Nigeria has made progress in its fight against malaria, while China is celebrating its malaria-free status, Nigeria still has the highest prevalence of malaria and malariarelated deaths globally, accounting for approximately 25% of cases and malaria-related deaths. Nigeria’s malaria epidemic also comes at a considerable cost; it costs $3.5 billion to treat malaria in Nigeria and an additional $1.1 billion in economic loss due to the disease annually.

Nigeria’s current efforts against malaria are coordinated through the National Malaria Elimination Program, which features initiatives like the Rollback malaria and carries out activities such as: ramping up distribution of mosquito nets, access to drug therapies and expanding the plan for vector management. This notwithstanding, much ground remains to be covered; Nigeria can learn a lot from China’s successful fight against malaria and reinvigorate its fight against the killer disease.

Three of these lessons are: One, sustained political commitment: China’s attainment of a malaria-free status was not accidental; it was a product of sustained political commitment by the country’s leadership throughout the 70 years. It is near impossible for any country to make substantial progress in the public health of its citizens without political commitment by its leadership.

Sustaining commitments to health policies, programs and agendas have been a huge challenge in Nigeria; ending malaria will require more commitment from governments at all levels than what currently obtains. This support needs to go beyond policies and programs that are currently implemented. It must be consistent efforts by governments at all levels, irrespective of party affiliation. For political commitment

NIGERIA CANNOT GET FAR AHEAD IN ITS WAR AGAINST MALARIA IF IT REMAINS A CONSUMER OF SOLUTIONS. THERE IS A NEED FOR NATIONAL PROACTIVENESS THROUGH INVESTMENTS IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT THROUGH DEDICATED RESEARCH GRANTS FOR MALARIA INTERVENTION

to yield results, it must be sustained and translate to financial commitment and tangible actions, use of data and technological tools to maximize impact, coordination of country efforts, alignment of partners and engaging other sectors. Two, developing local solutions: China was at the forefront of innovation in malaria prevention and treatment; its research efforts tagged “Project 523” led to the discovery of artemisinin.

It also adopted the nationwide use of insecticide-treated nets ahead of WHO recommendation. These innovative and home-grown efforts made China a step ahead of other countries in fighting against malaria.

Nigeria cannot get far ahead in its war against malaria if it remains a consumer of solutions. There is a need for national proactiveness through investments in research and development through dedicated research grants for malaria intervention. This should be complemented with investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing capacities to create a link between research outputs and industrial manufacturing at scale.

Three, a robust domestic health financing plan: China’s war was an adequately funded one; the government invested in financing the health system generally and malaria interventions specifically. The government invested sufficiently in funding public health facilities, training health workers, nationwide rollout of proven interventions and demand-side health financing.

Successive governments in Nigeria have shown a pattern of poor commitment to funding the health sector. Heavy reliance on donor funding is inadequate to wage a successful war against malaria due to dwindling donor funds. It will require adequate domestic funding and coordination of donor efforts to achieve this.

Governments at all levels must also step up efforts at ensuring health insurance coverage of the entire population. Efforts at eradicating malaria will not come to fruition if part of the population cannot afford care for malaria when they need it.

Stepping up the war against malaria holds many benefits for the country; it will strengthen its health system and fight against other diseases. Beyond the health system benefits, it also has economic gains; it will strengthen the economy by eradicating productivity losses due to malaria and boosting its GDP. China’s fight has made it clear that the war against malaria can be fought and won with determination and consistent efforts. Nigeria can replicate this feat by becoming more resolute and stepping up its fight against malaria.

Dr Oluwatola is a Research Officer at the Lagos State Health Management Agency

READING THE LIPS OF SECURITIES DEALERS

Sola Oni contends that a positive pronouncement from the government can change the face of the financial market for good

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he Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and two-term Lagos State Governor has goofed. On the sideline of his recent inspection of the two bridges built by the federal government in Cross River State, the lawyer who suddenly became an engineer during the first term of the present administration has also become a public finance ‘expert’ by his verbal assault on the government’s critics on incessant borrowing. Fashola lampooned the critics that ‘It is home economics they know; they don’t know public finance’. He emphasized that government borrowed to execute specific projects. Nigeria’s total debt has reached an all-time high of N33.107 trillion and is tending to a red flag as ratio to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

If government continues at the current level of borrowing, it will plunge the country into bankruptcy.

The warped thinking of the government about borrowing to finance infrastructure has deprived the financial market of government participation.

On the lips of Securities Dealers is the shock and disbelief that the government can exhibit such level of apathy towards the market. Regardless of different perspectives of economists about the concept of financial market, it is settled in corporate finance that the market exists to bring people together, so that money can flow from the surplus economic unit to deficit one. Financial market provides finance for companies so they can hire, invest and grow. The market also enables the government to raise funds to build infrastructure, including road networks, among others. This saves the government the ordeal of incessant borrowing. There is no argument on the imperative of infrastructure as the cornerstone of any economy and there is a nexus between the economy and its financial market. All economic sectors need infrastructure to operate optimally and this will enhance employment generation as well as upward trajectory in the growth of GDP. The United States is in dire need of $6 trillion to overhaul its infrastructure. Rather than opt for reckless borrowing, the country is considering Build America Bond (BAB) as a key financing option. Turkey has for a long period believed that financial market is not a mere option but a must to raise fund for projects. Let us discount Mr. Fashola’s declaration and celebration of outright borrowing as his own public finance model.

The Nigerian capital market has largely remained untapped and everyone in the Government’s Economic Teams at various tiers knows the relevance of the financial market to economic growth and development. Many state governments and some local government councils in Nigeria had at different periods accessed the capital market to raise medium and long term funds for infrastructural development. The option is a no-brainer. It is on record that many landmark projects, including privatization of public enterprises and recapitalization of banks had been executed through The Nigerian Stock Exchange (Now NGX). In 2019, the federal government floated N100 billion sovereign Sukuk Bond to construct 642.69-kilometer roads across Nigeria. The offer was oversubscribed because it is gilt- edged, backed up by full faith and credit of the government. The risk of default is minimal if not non-existent. Investors are always on the queue for such an asset class. It is a win-win affair for the government, the securities market and investors.

For instance, money realized from toll gates shall be ultimately utilized to pay back the subscribers to the bond. What happened to continuation of the bond issuance? In the past, many developing countries finance infrastructure by government revenues. But over the years, the trend has changed because of the huge monetary involvement. Financing public projects is better achieved through issuance of bonds and collaboration with the private sector. However, deployment of the financial market for long-term fund requires a supportive institutional framework by way of pension funds, insurance companies and other institutional as well as individuals’ investors with legal ability to purchase such securities under a favourable macroeconomic outlook in terms of moderate inflation rate, exchange rate and currency value to moderate large risk-premium.

Although institutional investor sometimes contend with the issue of investing short term assets in long term project, a case of mismatch, the risk and return trade off often spurs their interest.

Annually, Nigerian Securities Dealers, through the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) organise national workshop and conference to articulate policies that will move the economy forward. Every event attracts top notch professionals from Nigeria and abroad to dissect the economy and propose

the way forward. But prophets are not respected by their people. None of the timeless communique issued at the end of each event has been implemented by the federal government. The gross neglect of the professionals’ voice has created trust deficit in their dealing with the federal government.

It is ironic that securities dealers are not represented on the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) where the CBN determines issues that has impacted the financial market. This explains why the MPC seems to mainly serve the interest of the money market.

The apex capital market regulator, SEC, which ought to demand for such a representation appears handicapped until it becomes fully independent.

Some of its roles have been hijacked by the CBN whereas SEC is no longer the ancient Capital Issue Commission, a former department in the apex bank.

As part of their contributions to Nigeria’s economy, on the 19th of this month, securities dealers shall converge at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja to renew their call on the government for Nigeria’s economic revival. But the question on their lips is the trust deficit that the government may not implement the prayers from the workshop. Themed “Leveraging the Financial Markets to achieve Double Digit Economic Growth for Nigeria”, a cursory look at the operating environment in Nigeria presents an atmosphere of many fault lines; rent seekers have taken over the entire economy, forex market, growth is abysmally sluggish and our external reserve is under threat; purchasing power is thinning out as disposable income shrinks daily.

Unemployment has become a nightmare, foreign investors’ apathy to Nigeria’s business environment, including insecurity are real. Private equity experts are reluctant to risk their investible funds. The embattled naira value is expected to further weaken with the ban of Bureau de Change operators from sale of forex by the Central Bank of Nigeria. It is already taking toll except the apex bank increases supply chain to the banks.

This write-up is not about the regulatory lax that led to the ban on Bureau De Change operators but Nigerians should be prepared for a higher level of economic crisis. It is disturbing that our forex market has been taken over by rent -seeking participants and the occasional rise of our external reserve is not comforting. The inclement operating

environment is a major impediment to viability of the financial market. The choice of Securities Dealers’ Theme for the Workshop is apt. They know that Nigeria’s financial market does not enjoy policy measures to enable it perform its role of efficient allocation of resources. The stock market no longer serves as a barometer for gauging the mood of Nigeria’s economy. Uncertainty drives the market. On the lips of the securities dealers is how to deploy the workshop to identify policy measures that will revive the financial market to play its primary roles in the growth and development of the Nigerian’s economy. Issues that will engage the facilitators include: “Strengthening the Financial Markets to Accelerate Domestic Products and Employment in Nigeria,” and “ Harnessing Africa’s Vast Human and Economic Potentials: A case study of Nigeria.”

It is worthy of note that despite the unfriendly operating environment, market regulators and operators are innovating their businesses for global competitiveness. The NGX has demutualised and recently announced its readiness to commence derivative trading. The CIS recently globalized its certification processes and the Institute is engaging other professional bodies to key into its plan to metamorphose into Chartered Institute of Securities Dealers. The Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) is rebranding as every member-house is fully digitalized. The other securities markets: NASD Plc, FMDQ , Nigeria Commodities Exchange (NCX), Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE) and other commodities exchanges have provided additional platforms for securities dealers to serve their numerous customers.

But the extent to which everyone will be on top of the game is the existence of a strong economy. This is where government should demonstrate its support for the development of the financial market. On the lips of Securities Dealers is the hypothesis of one pronouncement. By one pronouncement, the federal government controversially banned Twitter. The same government made one pronouncement to ban issuance of licences to Bureau de Change operators.

Oni, Communications Consultant, Chartered Stockbroker and Commodities Broker, is the Chief Executive Officer, Sofunix Investment and Communications

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2021

EDITORIAL

THE ACQUITTAL OF EL ZAKZAKY Government should obey the court’s ruling

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ast Thursday, the Kaduna State High Court ordered the release of Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, after almost six years in “protective custody” and a controversial trial. However, following the acquittal of the duo on grounds that the charges preferred against them lack merit, the Kaduna State government has filed fresh charges at the Federal High Court. The new charges, according to the state Director of Public Prosecution, Daris Bayero, relate to terrorism and treasonable felony. He said that the allegations contained in these new charges predate 2015 and that the court will have to issue an order for the arrest of El-Zakzaky for him to answer them. We find this troubling as we urge the federal government to prevail on Governor Nasir el-Rufai not to embark on an action that can only further aggravate the precarious situation in his state.

GOING AFTER THE The unfortunate drama started with IMN LEADER AFTER the 12th December HIS ACQUITTAL 2015 violent clash

BY THE COURT IS between members UNFORTUNATE AND of the Islamic DANGEROUS Movement in Nigeria (IMN), and troops deployed by then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai from the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria. In the aftermath of the bloodbath, the Kaduna State government constituted a judicial commission of inquiry to unravel the immediate and remote cause of the crisis. Even though the Shiites had no voice in the report, having insisted that they would not testify unless granted access to their boss, a request that was never granted, the commission confirmed that no fewer than 347 Shi’ites were killed, and scores of others injured.

The federal government never acted, especially since the report blamed the army for using

Letters to the Editor

excessive force and not complying with the rules of engagement during the clash. On top of that, members of the group were banned from practicing their faith. In October 2016, an Abuja Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, ordered the release of El-Zakzaky within 45 days. The judgement was never obeyed. These decisions were justified by Governor Nasir el-Rufai who expressed worry that if the El-Zakzaky-led group was allowed to exist, it could threaten the corporate existence of Nigeria. “The IMN does not recognise the constitution of Nigeria; they do not recognise Buhari as President of Nigeria. They do not recognise me as governor of Kaduna State,” he said.

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

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eanwhile, the Kaduna government white paper accepted the report of the judicial commission of inquiry which tagged the Shiites as an “insurgent group.” The white paper laid the blame of the unfortunate clash in Zaria squarely at the feet of El-Zakzaky, maintaining that he refused to call his members to order when required to do so.

As we have had to warn during this longdrawn tragic drama, anyone who has studied the root cause of inter-Arab conflicts in the Middle East is likely to locate them in the Shiite versus Sunni historic confrontation that seems to be playing out in this crisis. That violence and death have become a daily staple in Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Iran, a bit of Turkey, are traceable to the mismanagement of these differences in beliefs. We do not need such in Nigeria. Yet, the manner the IMN issue has been handled by the authorities in both Kaduna and Abuja has been troubling.

While we hope the Shiites have learnt their lesson on the need to respect constituted authority, the greater lesson is for the Kaduna State government. Going after the IMN leader after his acquittal by the court is unfortunate and dangerous.

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

SUSPENSION OF DCP ABBA KYARI

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he suspension of DCP Abba Kyari and head of intelligence response unit by the Police Service Commission on the directive of Inspector General of Police did not come to many Nigerians as a surprise.

The highly decorated super cop who in the last decade was in the news for bursting criminal syndicates has been indicted by the US FIB as a conspirator in the $1.1million fraud involving Ramos, popularly known as Hushpuppi, against Qatari business man. Since the time the sad news broke, many could not believe it. To them, Abba kyari who has carved a niche for himself in the course of discharging his constitutional responsibilities must have stepped on the toes of powerful people, hence his current travails. However, others are of the opinion Kyari is being blackmailed by his enemies who are not comfortable with his towering popularity. Whatever may be the case, Kyari is not indicted here in Nigeria. The Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States of America actually carried out the investigation and came up with the report of his involvement.

Since his indictment, Kyari has been trying to exonerate himself from the charges filed against him by US intelligence agency.

He admitted that the notorious cyber criminal, Hushpuppi, had admired his clothes which he displayed in Instagram and ordered for the supply. He also stated Hushpuppi had sent him a phone number of suspect. And when he carried out the investigation,

he found out it was not true and released the suspect. From what transpired between DCP Kyari and Hushpuppi, it was morally and professionally wrong for the super cop to be tempted into hobnobbing with one of the globally- profiled criminals. It has also raised suspicions that the super cop has been dealing with the internet fraudster not for the first time. However, whether Kyari’s hands are soiled in the $1.1 fraud or not, it’s left for him to defend himself. What disturbed many of his supporters was how he brought himself so low, threw professionalism to the dogs and sold his hard -earned reputation for materials gains. Kyari’s travails came at a time when Nigerians have lost confidence in the Nigerian police force and looked up to the likes of him as a role model.

With the rumours of illegal acquisition of assets scattered across the length and breadth by the suspended Kyari, it seemed like he has toed the path of Ibrahim Magu, the former EFCC boss who fell from fame to infamy. With how public trust is being abused by men in uniform or even among public servants, government should pay more emphasis on morality and good values. For Abba Kyari, a once celebrated icon and super cop, he needs to prove his innocence beyond reasonable doubt. The Kyari saga is one among many and should serve as a wake-up call for government to reform our battered police force.

Ibrahim Mustapha, Pambegua, Kaduna State

RENOVATE KWANAR HUGUMA-WUDIL ROAD

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f you are a motorist who travels regularly on the North Western part of Nigeria, you must have experienced the deplorable conditions of Kwanar huguma- Wudil Road. The road is rotten and filled with potholes, thereby making it extremely difficult for motorists. This road is said to have claimed many lives because of the potholes. It serves as a gateway to many Northern states including Jigawa, Kano, Katsina.

One fateful Monday, as I was coming back from Kano to Bauchi, our vehicle was involved in an accident. The driver was driving on the wrong lane. Two other accidents occurred same day also caused by driving on wrong lane.

The Jigawa- Kano road, therefore, needs to be renovated to avoid fatal accidents. I urge the government at the federal and states’ Ministry of Works and Transport, FERMA and all other concerned authorities to fix the road immediately and save lives.

Usman Abdullahi Koli, mernoukoli@gmail. com

TUESDAY AUGUST 3, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Senate Uncovers Irregularities in FG’s N1.1tn Investments in Financial Institutions Deji Elumoye in Abuja The upper legislative chamber has uncovered irregularities in the N1.1trillion invested in 2015 by the federal government in Crown Agents Bank and some other financial institutions in the country.

Crown Agents Bank is a United Kingdom (UK) regulated provider of wholesale Foreign Exchange and cross-border payment services connected across frontier and emerging markets.

The Senate, in the 2015 AuditorGeneral of the Federation’s (AuGF) report adopted recently before proceeding on annual recess, accused the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) of failing

to present shares certificate to authenticate the genuineness of Federal government investments in Crown Agents Bank and financial institutions in Nigeria.

The irregularities as revealed in the Audit report, arose from the failure of the Accountant General of the Federation to provide share certificate to authenticate genuineness of N46 billion investment in 2015, and written authority for the disposal of the sum of N134.3 billion as the account into which the proceeds were credited was not provided for audit.

The report also stated that there were no additional investments in the power sector during the year under review,

Three Killed as Police Rescue Benue Commissioner’s Wife George Okoh In Makurdi Three kidnappers were yesterday feared killed by a special police squad known as Operation ZENDA during the battle to rescue the wife of Benue State Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mrs. Ann Unenge.

Unenge was abducted last Thursday in Makurdi by some gunmen while on her way back from Guma Local Government Area, the council area of the state Governor, Samuel Ortom, where she had gone to visit her parents.

It was learnt that she had attempted to escape as her abductors took the car through the ‘B’ Division Police Station area but the kidnappers shot into the air to scare people away.

It was also gathered that the police trailed the abductors to a location at the welfare quarter area of Makurdi, and in a gun duel, the police shot dead three

of the criminals.

The state Governor, Ortom, who had gone to the state Police Headquarters to see the rescued victim, lauded the police for exhibiting professionalism in rescuing his commissioner’s wife.

He said: “Instead of negotiating and paying ransom, this is the way to go. The police risked their lives and were able to trail these kidnappers and apprehended them after a heavy gun duel. Some of them escaped, but I am sure they will be apprehended. They succeeded in rescuing my commissioner’s wife and her driver who were kidnapped five days ago.

“As a government, we will continue to complement the Nigeria Police to do the needful.

We are warning criminals to stay off the state as they will not go scot free. The government and security agencies will not relent in securing the lives and property of the people.

Yakkasai Expresses Worry over EFCC’s Action against Saraki Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja An elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakkasai, has expressed worry over the recent invitation extended to former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Saraki recently honoured an invitation by the EFCC, and was interrogated by the anti-crimes commission over alleged money laundry and other financial crimes.

However, expressing concern over EFCC’s action in a statement yesterday, Yakasai hoped that the EFCC’s move against the former Senate president is not about the forthcoming general elections in 2023.

He said: “Many people have spoken with me about this latest development on Saraki by the anti-corruption agency, and the general thinking is that this move against Saraki might have something to do with his perceived presidential ambition-that it’s about preventing or interfering with that ambition. It will be sad if this is the motivation.

“Bukola is my son from many angles, and he is a son of my late friend and political associate, Second Republic Senate Leader, Dr. Olusola Saraki.

Besides, Bukola is a friend to my eldest son. For that reason, I am naturally concerned whenever his freedom and wellbeing is subjected to undue harassment. ‘’In addition, in my capacity as one of those who have committed themselves to the promotion of freedom and fundamental human rights of all citizens of our country, whether or not they are children of my friends or relatives.’’

Yakasai, who said he had spent well over 70 years fighting for those rights, hoped that the move against Saraki is not the beginning of political intimidation or harassment of perceived political opponents of the party in power.

He said he does not belong to any political party in Nigeria, adding that his reaction is born out of his commitment to the protection of the liberty of all Nigerians regardless of their rank, ethnicity, creed or political inclinations.

as against N547.8 billion being opening balance in the National Integrated Power Projet (NIPP) at the beginning of 2015.

According to the Audit Report,

Crown Agents disposed off investment totaling N3 billion while additional investments amounting to N439.7 billion were also acquired during the

year under review without documentary evidence.

While the account where the proceeds of the disposal of the sum of N3 billion credited was not

provided for audit confirmation, the report further revealed that about N239 billion investment was an overcast recorded in the 2014 investment.

APPRECIATION …

L-R: Head of Marketing, Expand Global Industries, Kaveh Sani; Nigeria Idol Season 6 Winner, Kingdom Krosiede; Nigeria Idol Season 6 Second Runner-up, Akunna Okechukwu; Chairman / Managing Director, Expand Global Industries, Rajat Kapur; and Senior Brand Manager, Expand Global Industries, Oluwaseun Ayeni, when the Nigerian Idol Top 11 paid a courtesy visit to company in Lagos… recently ETOP UKUTT

Okonkwo: Fixing Anambra’s Infrastructure Requires $10bn Ugo Aliogo The gubernatorial aspirant of Zenith Labour Party in the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, has expressed displeasure over the huge infrastructure deficit in the state, stating that fixing the infrastructural development must come from bulk funds.

Okonkwo, who disclosed this yesterday in Lagos at a media briefing said if elected governor of the state, the administration

would be able to access such bulk funds and invest between $5-10 billion into Anambra and the entire Southeast to make them economically vibrant.

He stated that if the money is prudently used, there would huge multiplier effect and the return will pay off in four years, adding that his 10-point agenda is aimed at addressing all developmental aspects in the state.

“There is nothing in that 10point agenda that I’m not doing as an individual. If you talk about human capital development I

do them. I’m involved in value reorientation, the biggest problem we have in Anambra state is that we have abandoned our virtues.

Therefore, value reorientation is very important in what we are doing as a people,” he noted.

He further explained that the state needs a governor who can help the youths realise their God-given potential despite the odds, noting that on his part, he had positioned himself not only as a role model to people of his community, but has helped numerous youths to discover

their paths and abilities in life.In his words: “In the area of education, my foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Salesians of Don Bosco. They run the best and most popular technical schools in the world. I have approached the Catholic Archbishop, of Onitsha to give me Ogidi Technical School with a vision of transforming it into a Polytechnic. These are things I’m doing as an individual, if I’m a governor it is just a policy action.”

FG to Be Compelled to Investigate Attacks against Journalists Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has filed a suit asking the Federal High Court in Lagos to declare that the failure of the federal government to take effective measures to investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators of attacks against journalists and other media practitioners is a breach of the government’s duty under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights as domesticated in

Nigeria. It wants the court to order the government to investigate all such attacks, punish the perpetrators and ensure that the victims have access to effective remedies.

In the suit initiated by “Originating Summons”, MRA is asking the court to hold that the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, developed and adopted by

the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights pursuant to Article 45(1) of the African Charter, is a subsidiary legislation in Nigeria with binding legal effect by virtue of the fact that the Charter is a domestic law in Nigeria, that Nigeria is a State Party to the Charter, which is also an international treaty, and a member state of the Africa Union (AU).

MRA noted in the suit filed

on its behalf by its lawyer, Ms Obioma Adesewa Okonkwo, against the Attorney-General of the Federation that there have been many incidents and human rights violations against journalists and media practitioners in Nigeria, including unlawful detention, assault, disappearances, torture and killings, and that there has been no arrest or investigation conducted regarding these incidents.

Buni: APC will Respect Choice of Leaders at Congresses Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni, has assured party members that their choice of leaders at the Ward Congress and indeed subsequent congresses would be respected by the party.

Buni, in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by his Director General, Press and Media Affairs, Mr. Mamman Mohammed congratulated members of the party over the successful and peaceful conduct of the Ward Congresses across the country.

The chairman said the ruling party has put some measures in place to check and rectify anomalies arising from the

Congress.He added that reports from across the states reaching his office indicated that the Congresses were generally successful and peaceful.

Buni stated: “I wish to congratulate us all for the peaceful and successful conduct of the ward Congress. The massive turn out of members in the Congress reflects the success of the membership registration and revalidation exercise.

“It also reflects the unity and confidence of our members in the repositioned APC and its leadership. I want to assure our members that their choice of leaders at the ward Congress and indeed, subsequent congresses will be respected.”

Buni noted that the congresses would give ownership of the party to the members through the bottomtop approach.

Women’s Groups Seek End to Child Marriage in Anambra David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka A coalition of women’s groups in Anambra State under the aegis of Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN), has called for an end to female genital mutilation, child marriage and others.

The group called for constitutional review to

accommodate the rights of women in Nigeria and end all discriminatory practices.

The GECORN made the call during a peaceful awareness walk, along the Enugu/Onitsha expressway in Awka, and other strategic locations. Members of the group wielded placards with different inscriptions, calling for full implementations of various

Acts and laws that ruled out discrimination against women in Anambra State and other parts of the country.

The Chairperson of the Coalition, Professor Ogugua Ikpeze, who addressed members of the public said: “This advocacy campaign which is supported

by Ford Foundation is apt, given that the language of the

1999 Constitution is masculine, discriminatory against women, as well as disregard existence of women.

“Sections 22, 42, 146 and others in the constitution should be amended for gender balance, women friendly and explicitly define the rights of women for easy interpretation and implementations.

TUESDAY AUGUST 3,, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Osinbajo: Nigeria Has Integrated Job Creation in Major Policies Deji Elumoye in Abuja Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has disclosed that the Federal Government has over the years, prioritized employment generation by integrating job creation in all its major policies, projects and programmes.

He attributed the move to the determination of the present administration to create more opportunities for Nigerians and close the unemployment gap in the country.

Osinbajo stated this Monday

at the formal presentation of the Research Report of Course 29 of the National Defence College, titled “Creating Jobs & Opportunities for Africa’s Largest Youth Population”, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He stressed that “the whole idea of creating jobs and opportunities especially in an economy this size, is that government’s involvement must be in creating the enabling environment.”

According to him, “when the President was speaking

NiMet Advocates Adoption of Weather Information for National Planning Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Mansur Bako Matazu, yesterday canvassed for the adoption, implementation and utilisation of weather and climate information for national planning in order to achieve the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative.

Matazu, who was the keynote speaker at the 61st annual conference of the Association of Nigerian Geographers held at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, noted that virtually, all NiMet’s products and services are geared towards mitigating disasters, especially the weather-induced components of it.

While speaking at the event

on the theme: ‘Providing Weather and Climate Information Towards the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria’, the DG said: “NiMet’s services cut across almost all the socio-economic sectors of our economy, and are aimed at generating climate-smart decision-making process which in turn contributes to the reduction of poverty in the society.”

Matazu in a statement issued by the General Manager, Public Relations Unit, NiMet, Mr. Muntari Yusuf Ibrahim, stated that: “Similarly, our range of products either directly or as inputs by other, stakeholders, example in agriculture, maritime, health, water resources, disaster management among others, if quantified in financial terms, are catalysts for socio-economic benefits.”

concerning the budget in 2019, he mentioned that one of the critical things to do, concerning every Minister, is that, with every policy, we must state how many jobs to create.

“So, the key question that we

The Niger State Government has given reasons for the continued captivity of the Salihu Tanko Islamiyya Tegina school girls in the den of their abductors, saying the parents of the children kicked against using military operation to rescue the girls.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, stated in Minna,

the state capital, yesterday that the government wanted to use the military to raid the forests where the girls are being held but their parents opposed the plan because of the likelihood of a collateral damage to some of the girls.

He said: “The government wanted to use the special security corps it launched in mid-June to confront the bandits in the forest, but the parents

Goddy Egene As efforts are being intensified for the imminent completion of the Dangote Refinery in Lagos, the project has been described as an inspiration to private sector operators in the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of Oando Plc, Mr. Wale Tinubu, who stated this during a guided tour of the project in Lagos with leading oil and gas downstream sector operators, said: “With

There is a growing tension in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, as investors and customers of the Baraza Multipurpose Cooperative Society plan to protest in the state over unpaid return of their investments.

The Baraza Multipurpose Cooperative Society has been

enmeshed in serious controversies over its inability to fulfill its obligations to investors and its members.

Many Bayelsans and residents, including businessmen, government officers and even transporters, had paid billions of naira into what many now regard as a 'ponzi' scheme.

The plan protest by the

Goddy Egene Some eminent Nigerians have rated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration high in their mid-term assessment of the government.

According to them, the governor has been repositioning the state since he came on board. For instance, renowned economist, Prof Pat Utomi, said the state was being repositioned by the governor’s transformational strides.

Hailing the commitment demonstrated by Sanwo-Olu to take the state to loftier heights,

of the school girls begged that they would not like to lose any child. They begged us to allow them exhaust all the peaceful means to secure their children, and that’s why we halted the operation.

“You know this type of operation would end in collateral damage, as we know where these bandits are, and we a re monitoring their movements.”

customers was made worse when a Nembe High Court in Yenagoa restrained the Multipurpose Society, its Chief Executive Officer, Miebi Bribena, from withdrawing money from the banks operated by the cooperative society.

Justice Lucky Boufini gave the order in a motion of notice brought before the court by Fitzgerald Olorogun.

Ogun Gov Loses Father The Abiodun Family of IperuRemo, Ogun State has announced the passing on of their Patriach Dr Emmanuel Adesanya Abiodun, who slept in The Lord on Monday August 2, 2021 at the age of 89 after a brief illness.

Dr Abiodun, a devout Christian,

is survived by his wife, Mrs. Victoria Abiodun, many children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and other family members, amongst them the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

A statement by the Family today in Iperu-Remo said the

recently - the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy, which I have the privilege of chairing its Steering Committee.

This is another of the very broad plans of creating opportunities and more jobs.”

what I have seen, the Dangote Refinery is for Nigeria and Africa.”

He stated that the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, deserved all the commendations in the world for the courage to build the world’s largest single train refinery in one of the most challenging business environment in the world.

Tinubu noted that he harboured no doubt within him that the refinery, upon

completion, would meet the yearnings of Nigerian for product availability, and ultimately de-risk the petroleum sector.

The Oando boss said he felt a sense of pride for being able to witness such feat in the history of Nigeria, noting that: “It is more than just a refinery; it is a revolution; it is about what is possible in Africa by an African, and we are talking about a world class project being done a scale

that the world is not used to.

“This is happening in an extremely challenging environment in which all of the infrastructure had to be built from the scratch with the attendant huge additional cost, the cost of capital being high, and the risk premium being highest and done with such spectacular precision. I think the world is not going to see many of these sorts of projects. I call it the eighth wonder of my own time.

Mid-term Assessment: Utomi, Others Rate Sanwo-Olu’s Performance High

Tension in Bayelsa as Baraza Customers Plan Massive Protest over Unpaid Returns Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

creation.”

Speaking on some of the programmes specifically designed to create jobs, Osinbajo noted that “ the current effort of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council which was launched

Dangote Refinery, a Business Inspiration to Private Sector Operators, Says Tinubu

Niger Explains Delay in Rescue of Kidnapped School Girls Laleye Dipo in Minna

ask regarding any government policy is how many jobs will this bring about, how many jobs it will create. And aside from that, there have also been several engagements with different policy bodies and ideas concerning job

deceased, an Educationist, worked as a school teacher for many years across the old Western State and was fondly called “Baba Teacher” due to his dedication to duty imparting knowledge and inculcating the right values in his students.

Utomi noted that infrastructure upgrade would boost local and foreign investments.

He, however, urged the governor to take advantage of Lagos’ littoral status to maximally harness its economic potential, replicating

developmental drives in every part of the state.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu has done well, as Lagos has thrived well under his leadership,” he said.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the

Lagos- based Centre for Public Accountability, Olufemi Lawson, said one could not but laud the commitment and consolidation of the visions of the governor’s predecessors towards transforming Lagos to a mega city.

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 3, 2021

POLITICS

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

TRENDING NEWS

Defeated PDP Guber Aspirants in Anambra Activate ‘Plan B’ The governorship selection process of the Peoples Democratic Party for the November 6 election in Anambra State may have been won and lost, but David-Chyddy Eleke explains why some defeated aspirants are charting a new course to realise their ambition

Obiano

T

he recent governorship selection process of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State produced two candidates, from two factions of the party. While the main stream PDP supported by the national leadership produced Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, another faction loyal to self-styled godfather of politics in the state, Chief Chris Uba produced Senator Ugochukwu Uba, his older brother.

A total of 16 aspirants went into the race, but with the emergence of Ozigbo as the candidate of the party from the faction supported by the national leadership, majority of his co-aspirants have congratulated him and moved on. Among those who instantly congratulated Ozigbo right inside the primary election venue are; Senator Uche Ekwunife, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, who would later withdraw the courtesy, Hon. Chris Azubogu, Barr. Chidi Onyemelukwe, Dr. Godwin Maduka, Hon. Chuma Nzeribe. A few aspirants did not only congratulate Ozigbo verbally, but gave him hugs that suggested genuine happiness for him. Others issued statements in the media to concede to him.

In another primary election of the party, at a different location; Senator Ugochukwu Uba, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, Mr. Johnny Maduaforkwa and a few others participated. They did not congratulate Ozigbo as they are convinced that the faction that produced him had no powers to hold the primary election. Senator Uba emerged the winner in that faction THISDAY observed that the emergence of the two candidates has sparked off legal fireworks in various courts over who the authentic PDP candidate for the November 6 election is. While many aspirants that participated in the election have moved on, others are making fresh plots on how to achieve their dreams of becoming governor of the state.

For some of these aspirants, despite the expiration of time alloted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to primary election, it may be said that they anticipated

Secondus

Obi

a rancorous primary election in the PDP and, therefore, made alternative plans, which have since been activated.

Long before the PDP held its primary election, some of these guber candidates positioned surrogates to clinch the governorship ticket in other political parties, waiting for the right time to move their supporters over to the new political platform to contest the governorship position.

Prior to the PDP governorship primary, many stakeholders were worried that the party may not remain united after selecting its candidate. There was fear of return to the perennial disagreement that breaks the PDP in Anambra into factions.

Though controlled by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the state has a large number of PDP supporters, including grassroots and

Ozigbo

bigwig politicians, who can be described as money bags.

Indeed, the moneybag politicians in the party have remained its problem as they are quick to instigate crisis.

Before the primary election, the then chairman of the party, Mr Ndubuisi Nwobu, together with the national and zonal leadership of the party assured everyone of a transparent process. On the other hand, the aspirants continuously harped on the transparency of the process, hinging their support for whoever emerges, on the credibility of the process. With last month’s primary election, the controversy that trailed the list of delegates used for the election and the tussle over which of the factions of the party is authentic, it is however evident that some of the aspirants are not satisfied, and have started making alternative plans.

A total of 16 aspirants went into the race, but with the emergence of Ozigbo as the candidate of the party from the faction supported by the national leadership, majority of his co-aspirants have congratulated him and moved on. Among those who instantly congratulated Ozigbo right inside the primary election venue are; Senator Uche Ekwunife, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, who would later withdraw the courtesy, Hon. Chris Azubogu, Barr. Chidi Onyemelukwe, Dr. Godwin Maduka, Hon. Chuma Nzeribe. A few aspirants did not only congratulate Ozigbo verbally, but gave him hugs that suggested genuine happiness for him. Others issued statements in the media to concede to him

Dr. Godwin Maduka is one of the 16 aspirants, who also participated in the contest and lost. His supporters believe that if the party had not opted for the super delegates list, he would have carried the day because of his grassroot appeal. One of his supporters, Chief Ugonabor Omemba, who was to be a delegate, but was disenfranchised because of the laat minute insistence on a super delegates list was furious. He said the PDP has “dug its political grave by the grievous way it elected its governorship standard bearer.”

His words: “The PDP in Anambra state has goofed. They have begun the process of losing the governorship election on November 6 by not choosing Dr Maduka. He (Maduka) is the only aspirant with the political muscle and financial stamina to match Obiano, Soludo and APGA and the APC. He is acceptable across the state and very popular. We needed such a candidate who would have given APGA and APC a run for their money in the governorship election.”

Omemba ended by advising Dr. Maduka to leave the PDP for another political party to further his guber ambition. “I call on Dr. Maduka to leave the PDP and choose another political party. I and other disenfranchised delegates and many of our members in the PDP, who are unhappy with this undemocratic practice, are willing to go with him to any party of his choice.

Meanwhile, THISDAY has gathered that the US trained pain specialist and owner of Las Vegas Pain Institute has concluded arrangements to run on the platform of an alternative party.

A source said Maduka through his proxies has secured the ticket of two political parties. While Accord Party has given its ticket to a media aide of Maduka, Mr Alex Nwankwo, another political party Action Alliance (AA) has given its ticket to a sister of the pain specialist, all waiting for substitution for them to hand over the ticket to him. The source said the manner of humiliation Maduka got during the primary election of PDP was painful, and considering his financial strength, he is determined to make a statement during the election.

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T H I S D AY ˾TUESDAY AUGUST 3, 2021

POLITICS

Ugochukwu Uba

As expected, Dr Maduka has announced his re-entry into the Anambra governorship contest. A source told THISDAY that Dr MAduka has finally dumped the PDP and would be contesting the election on the platform of Accord Party.

Another aspirant, Mr Obiora Okonkwo is also said to be on his way to another political party. A source said Okonkwo who is chairman of United Nigeria Airline will run on the platform of Zenith Labour Party, where his name would be listed before the close of substitution.

This much was given credence last week, when a group, Anambra Rescue Committee (ARC) led by Barr.

Azubike Anazor, addressed a press conference in Onitsha. Anazor said: “Any discerning observer of the recent and ongoing political developments in Anambra State would have noticed that the state governorship election slated for the 6th of November 2021 will not, from all indications, produce a Governor generally acceptable to our people. The recent gubernatorial primaries of the major political parties in the State - PDP, APGA and APC — have resulted in the imposition of candidates and manipulation of the electoral process by vested interests actuated, not by altruistic motives and intentions, but by the egregious desire to foist on our dear state a leadership that will serve interests not in tune with the wishes of our people for good governance.

“This state of affairs, if not arrested now, will compel our people to accept all manner of persons as governor and deputy governor, without their requisite critical support, endorsement and imprimatur. It is against the foregoing backdrop that we, the members of the Anambra Rescue Committee (ARC) comprising 22 patriots from the 21 Local Government Area of the state, and Barr. Azubike Anazor as the Chairman, decided to intervene with a view to salvaging our Anambra from an imminent, but inexorable slide and a return to the pre-2003 years of misgovernance, incompetence and lax administration.

“We in the ARC rationalized that if we do not decisively intervene now, if we do not move fast to squelch the present descent into anarchy, confusion and uncertainty, history will not exonerate us from a willful sin of omission. We are intervening to rescue our dear state from an imminent shipwreck which will, if allowed to occur, throw our state back to the years of holocaust and result in the reversal of all the goods we have witnessed since 2003.

“Our State needs a credible, competent and urbane leader with the capacity, reach, viable program of actions and policies, existing solid political/campaign structures, and who is generally acceptable to our people as the Governor. We find these qualities in Dr. Obiora Okonkwo (Dikeora) and we hereby publicly urge him to re-enter the race for the Governor of Anambra State under the

Maduka

Okonkwo

banner of any of the registered political parties. We call on all Anambrarians, irrespective of their political persuasions or leanings and their membership of any of the existing political parties, to rally round Dr. Okonkwo if and when he accedes to our request to rejoin the race.

Let us all in unison resolve and work towards sending Dr. Obiora Okonkwo to the Government House Awka,” the group said.

A source close to Okonkwo told THISDAY that the businessman has been receiving visitors from the party, who come to plead with him to support Mr. Valentine Ozigbo as the candidate of the party. He said: “He (Okonkwo) has given them condition, but I’m sure they are not ready to honour it. He supported the candidate (Valentine Ozigbo) to pick former state chairman of the party, Mr. Ndubuisi Nwobu as the running mate to Ozigbo, but a particular chieftain of the party insisted that he must pick Ozigbo’s running mate, and they have picked one Mrs. Azuka Enemo, a former Commissioner for Local Government under Mr. Peter Obi. What this means is that they have failed to placate Okonkwo, and he may join another party to run for the governorship, and once he leaves, he will be leaving with a sizeable number of PDP members to another party.

As expected, the former PDP

governorship aspirant, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo has announced his resignation from the party.

Okonkwo who resigned on Friday afternoon in a letter he submitted to his ward chairman in Ogidi ward 2, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State cited among other reasons the unending litigation in the party as part of the reason he resigned.

In the letter titled: Notification of My Resignation From The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Okonkwo said his action was with a heavy heart, considering his investment in the party both in Nigeria and the state. “I am writing to formally notify you of my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect. My resignation letter has been long submitted to the PDP Ward Chairman Ogidi 2 in full compliance with the party constitution. My decision to resign has been occasioned by the many factors.

“The general lack of party discipline, fairness and due process in the conduct of party affairs, apparent manipulation in the conduct of the party’s last gubernatorial primaries in Anambra State, never ending plethora of court cases tearing the party apart which the national leadership apparently is incapable of addressing are part of the reason for my resignation.This is such that the

THISDAY has gathered that the US trained pain specialist and owner of Las Vegas Pain Institute has concluded arrangements to run on the platform of an alternative party. A source said Maduka through his proxies has secured the ticket of two political parties. While Accord Party has given its ticket to a media aide of Maduka, Mr Alex Nwankwo, another political party Action Alliance (AA) has given its ticket to a sister of the pain specialist, all waiting for substitution for them to hand over the ticket to him. The source said the manner of humiliation Maduka got during the primary election of PDP was painful, and considering his financial strength, he is determined to make a statement during the election.

As expected, Dr Maduka has announced his re-entry into the Anambra governorship contest. A source told THISDAY that Dr MAduka has finally dumped the PDP and would be contesting the election on the platform of Accord Party

Uche Ekwunife

party runs the risk of not presenting a candidate for the November 6, 2021 governorship election in Anambra State, and unlawful dissolution of the structures of the party in Anambra State from Wards, Local Governments to the State level by the National Working Committee in clear violation of the Party’s constitution and in disobedience to interlocutory Order of FCT court issued on 25th of June, 2021.”

Okonkwo stated further that: “Given my enormous contributions to the growth of the party in Nigeria in general and Anambra State in particular, it is with a heavy heart that I write this letter. However, it is a necessary move to afford me the chance to further contribute to the development of our dear Anambra State through public service.”

With some of its best politicians leaving for other parties, it is left to be seen how the party will perfrom in the forthcoming governorship election. Though it is still unclear who, between Uba and Ozigbo, will finally fly the flag of the PDP, Ozigbo remains confident that he will run for the governorship seat on the platform of the PDP. As a way of uniting the party ahead of the election, Mr Valentine Ozigbo has been visiting chieftains of the party. He recently hosted members of the party in Awka, where he and the leader of the party in the state, Mr. Peter Obi pleaded with party members for support.

Last weekend, Court of Appeal, Abuja Division reinstated the sacked leadership of the party in the state, led by Mr Ndubuisi Nwobu. Nwobu’s faction of the party had conducted the primary election where Ozigbo emerged as a candidate. An elated Ozigbo in a press statement signed

by Aziza Uko, the Media Advisor of the Valentine Chinaeto Ozigbo Campaign Organisation said the ruling is encouraging. Uko said: “This ruling gives us comfort that our party, the PDP is on the side of justice and that justice will prevail in the other matters before the courts with regards to the candidacy of Valentine Ozigbo and the primary conducted by the National Working Committee of our party.”

“Valentine Ozigbo is grateful for all the support and encouragement, and goodwill he has received since he won the primary, especially from people of Anambra State, PDP Governors, and the leadership of the party at ward, local government, state and national levels. We are resolute in our resolve to actualise our grand vision to rescue Ndi Anambra from the abysmal All Grand Progressives Alliance (APGA) government come November. PDP remains the only platform positioned to take power from APGA and we are confident that soon all litigations will be left in the past and we will march on in our quest to deliver positive transformation to the people of Anambra,” the statement ended.

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 3, 2021

POLITICS

The Long Tortuous Journey to Electoral Reforms Chuks Okocha who has been following the attempts to reform Nigeria’s electoral laws since 2007 reports on the twists, turns, wins and setbacks

Buhari

I

n the beginning That Nigeria’s electoral system hit its lowest ebb by the 2007 general election is not in doubt. But 2007 did not just happen; it was a cumulative of all that had gone wrong with the electoral system. It was such that even the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua admitted that the election that brought him to power left much to be desired.

Whenever Yar’Adua’s candid assessment is mentioned, many people readily point in the direction of Professor Maurice Iwu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that he superintended. Not many still remember that with the collapse of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s purported Third Term agenda, the Presidency appeared no longer keen on the 2007 election. INEC was deliberately starved of funds until very late in the day, such that the Commission had to rely on a credit arrangement with an indigenous ICT giant to get the voter registration underway. It is also true that an administrative panel headed

by Dr. Oby Ezekweilisi drew up an obnoxious List of Corrupt Politicians, mainly those the administration’s perceived political opponents, most notably the then Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, which the panel disqualified from contesting the 2007 election. Atiku’s disqualification nearly torpedoed the entire presidential election as it went all the way to the Supreme Court and overruled by a panel a few days to the election, which ordered the inclusion of the then Action Congress’ presidential candidate on the ballot. It created for INEC the logistical challenge of reprinting and distributing millions of ballots to the 120,000 Polling Units across the country. Somehow, INEC succeeded.

Quest for Electoral Reform While acknowledging the shortcomings of the 2007 general election in his inaugural address, former President, Musa Umar Yar’Adua pledged electoral reform.

“For the first time since we cast off the shackles of colonialism almost a half-century ago, we have at last managed an orderly transition from one elected government to another.

“We acknowledge that our elections had some shortcomings. Thankfully, we have wellestablished legal avenues of redress, and I urge anyone aggrieved to pursue them. I also believe that our experiences represent an opportunity to learn from our mistakes. Accordingly, I will set up a panel to examine the entire electoral process with a view to ensuring that we raise the quality and standard of our general elections, and thereby deepen our democracy” Yar’Adua said on May 29, 2007.

Yar’Adua inaugurated the 22-man Electoral Reform Committee headed by former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mohammed Uwais (rtd). Handing six Terms of Reference to the panel during its inauguration on August 28, 2007, the late Nigerian leader said: “We are charging them with the responsibility of evolving a practical roadmap to laying a solid foundation for the growth and consolidation of democracy in our country.”

He particularly enjoined members to “make

Yakubu

Lawan

general and specific recommendations (including but not limited to constitutional and legislative provisions and/ or amendments) to ensure a truly INEC imbued with administrative and financial autonomy.”

In its report submitted in December 2008, the Justice Uwais Panel, as it is commonly known, made far-reaching recommendations including the unbundling of INEC, change in the mode of appointment of INEC Chairman, and extensive amendment of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2006. However, apart from not taking kindly to the delays occasioned by the setting up of a three-man presidential panel to study the report, the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the opposition were equally peeved by the eventual government White Paper, which rejected some recommendations by the Uwais Panel they considered key, such as the appointment of INEC Chairman by the National Judicial Commission (NJC).

The CSO believed the government should have sent the raw report to parliament. This formed part of the demands by the Save Nigeria Coalition protest in Abuja on March 10, 2010 during Yar’Adua’s illness. But addressing the protesters, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, assured that the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, had sent an “unedited” version of the Uwais panel report to the National Assembly as demanded.

However, both chambers denied receipt of the report, adding that the parliament was also far gone with crafting electoral reform legislative frameworks in line with their constitutional mandate.

“As I am speaking with you, the report is not sent to the House”, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs at the time, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh (PDP, Akwa Ibom State) told a national daily.

Enter the National Assembly A Member of the 6th Senate, who did not want her name in print, told THISDAY that the Uwais Panel was set up by the executive and bits of its report to executive was read by members of the 6th National

Assembly on the pages of papers like every other Nigerian.

“In any case, the 6th National Assembly was also doing its duty of lawmaking as demanded by the constitution. We couldn’t have been waiting for them.

I must give credit to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review (SCCR) at the time, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who headed the electoral reform process at the time. I can tell you without mincing words that over 80 per cent of what we enjoy today as electoral reforms were drafted or crafted by him.

Some were by the CSOs. It was an elaborate work in 2010. Nevertheless, what is not in doubt is Yar’Adua’s and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s commitment to a better electoral system and environment. Jonathan did not waste time to sign electoral reform Bills and Constitution amendments we passed in the 6th National Assembly,” the source stated.

Checks by THISDAY confirmed that the 6th National Assembly under the leadership of Senator David Mark recorded extensive electoral reform in a process largely driven by his deputy and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review (SCCR), Senator Ekweremadu. The reform efforts translated to the Electoral Act 2010 and a number of constitution amendments.

Constitutional amendment towards electoral reform in 2010 and ahead of the 2011 general election include amendment to Sections 81 and 84 of the Constitution to secure financial autonomy for INEC and amendment to Section 160 of the Constitution to accord INEC administrative independence. Section 160 (as amended) provides that in the case of INEC, its “powers to make its own rules or otherwise regulate its own procedure shall not be subject to the approval of the President,” thus untying the Commission from the apron string of the presidency, as it no longer needed to clear its administrative decisions and election guidelines with it.

Others are alteration of Section 156 expunge membership of a political party as condition for appointment into INEC Board; deletion of Section 66 (1) (h) and Section 107(1)(h) to cure the abuses

At the end of that Assembly, only minimal electoral reform was recorded and they were in the area of constitutional amendment, such as reduction in age qualification for elective offices, timeframe for determination of pre-election matters. To many, in order to preserve power, Buhari and APC appear not keen to add to whatever electoral reform bequeathed by the PDP

Gbajabiamila

perpetrated with Administrative Panels in disqualifying political opponents; amendment to Section 285 and the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution to reduce the members and quorum of Election Petition Tribunals; fixing timeframes for the determination of election petitions; removal of funding of political parties from the Constitution; and amendments to give INEC more room to conduct election.

Meanwhile, key reform contained in the Electoral Act 2010 include barring of INEC from rejecting/disqualifying candidates; creation of window for direct primary; and removal of INEC officials as respondents to election petitions to give the officials freedom to conduct elections without threat of litigations; compulsory declaration of results at polling units, compulsory primary election and balloting at such primaries to elect candidates even where a candidate is supposedly a consensus candidate; substitution of candidates only on the stringent conditions of death or personal withdrawal under the candidate’s signature, among many others.

In one of those embarrassing incidents, INEC had to call off midway the Imo State 2007 governorship election to manually delete Ararume’s detail on ballots to replace it with those of Engr. Charles Ugwu following a very belated substitution by PDP. But consequent upon the 2010 Electoral Act, political parties must submit the list of their candidates at least 60 days to the election.

Perennial Roadblock to ElectronicVoting, Transmission of Results However, considered as a major setback in the electoral reform effort in the 6th National Assembly was the outlawing of electronic voting in the 2010 Electoral Act. It was gathered that Ekweremadu and other progressives’ effort to include it in the Act was strongly opposed.

Not only was it rejected, the majority insisted on a clause to make it illegal. Consequently, Section 52 (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 provided that “The use of electronic voting machine for the time being is prohibited.”

But it was gathered that through extensive lobby and explanations, electronic voting was allowed in by the 7th National Assembly preparatory to the 2015 general election. Consequently, Section 52 (2) of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2010 (as amended in 2015) provides that “Voting at an election under this Act shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission,” thus givng INEC the liberty to deploy electronic voting.

The new provisions in the Act made possible the introduction or consolidation of electronic aspects of elections such as card reader, electronic voter register, among others. INEC also test-ran electronic transmission of results in the Nasarawa State bye-election, and subsequently in the Edo and Ondo 2020 governorship elections.

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

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 3, 2021

21

POLITICS

Stirring the Hornet’s Nest in Lagos APC Segun James reveals increasing signs that things are not what they used to be in the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress

Sanwo-Olu

B

y the time you are reading this, the much anticipated All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congresses nationwide would have taken place. This is despite the Supreme Court’s ruling on the status of the Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party.

The National Secretary of the (CECPC), Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe, in a statement said that the ward Congress Committees of the party has already been inaugurated and delegated with the responsibility of conducting, supervising and monitoring the scheduled Ward Congresses are ready, hence the exercise would go on as scheduled.

He said the clarification is against the backdrop of personal opinions being expressed by some individuals on the status of the APC Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and its capacity to conduct the Congresses.

“While it is not our intention to join issues with these commentators, the Supreme Court’s Wednesday judgement affirming the Election victory of the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) had no bearing on the CECPC’s status and its membership. “Party members and aspirants should therefore come out en masse and peacefully to participate in the ward Congresses, come Saturday”, he added.

But in Lagos, a short but strikingly powerful phrase - “in the party’s interest, Lagos will adopt consensus candidate” underpinned the announcement by the powerful Governor’s Advisory Council, (GAC) the highest decisionmaking body of the Lagos state APC on the ward congress. In the political cycle, it meant there would no more comment.

There are only two Nigerians for whom Lagos residents, great and small would turn up on time; one is whoever is the sitting president of the country, and the other is Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is because Tinubu is the de facto political leader of the state and he controls absolutely the only economic self-reliant state in the federation. In the political firmament of Lagos, Tinubu is the lone Iroko tree that makes a forest.

Today, the national leader of the party has an ambition. He wants to be the next president of the country. But this ambition is facing a big challenge from within the party in Lagos.

When barely two hours after the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) gave the Certificate of Return to newly elected local government councils chairmen, they were sworn in by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The action raised eyebrows. The state government did not give room for protests, litigation and issues that might have arisen from the election.

To many, this was a pointer to things to come. One of which was that it is an attempt to ward off opposition within the party that was growing rapidly against the status quo; and the other is that the party’s ward congresses were scheduled for the following week and the elected chairmen and councillors are expected to play a prominent role as delegates and leaders.

With the decision of the GAC which is chaired

by Tinubu, the leader has once again stamped

Tinubu

Oki

his authority on the political landscape of the state Lagos APC political situation is difficult.

The problem is the alleged overriding influence of Tinubu and his supposed style of imposition of candidates from ward level up in the bid to have complete control over the polity. This is where the opposition within the Lagos APC led by Fouad Oki comes in.

In anticipation of the proposal by the state party leadership, Oki, a former factional chairman of the party in the state, in a letter to the chairman of the Convention Committee warned that the consensus candidacy being proposed by some interests in the party, including the chairman of the state’s caretaker committee would only aggravate the crisis in the party.

According to Oki, “Mr. Chairman, the Caretaker Committee in Lagos State is carrying out its assignment in flagrant disregard to the law and extant regulations.

The State Caretaker Committee is not in compliance of the law by its continued act of impunity and refusal to recognize the diversity and tendencies in the Party in Lagos State.”

Oki insisted that “the majority of our Party members in Lagos State are aggrieved (justifiably so) with the attitude of the National Body in ensuring the enthronement of illegality, unconstitutionality and impunity as regards Lagos State. But we keep faith with the Party, particularly your Committee, the CECPC hence our support for all your programmes and activities.

“However, our trust and believe in your impartiality would further be strengthened if you look into this issue and swiftly make corrections before the Party commences the Congress exercise.”

Oki who was the factional chairman of the party in the state until he was persuaded to withdraw his case against the party and allow the party’s machinery to settle the matter said that “there are no truer words than acknowledging that in Lagos State the Party is polarised and there are factions/tendencies and therefore may be sitting on a keg of gunpowder if the right thing is not done urgently.

Based on the foregoing and events of the last six weeks regarding the Local Government election and the consensus charade, it has become very clear, that

Adediran

participating in any consensus in Lagos State will further exacerbate the already very tense and charged political environment in Lagos State.

“The Timetable, Guidelines for Ward Congresses, Grants Waivers released by Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the Party, which state inter alia that, ‘in a bid to ensure open, credible and fair congresses that reflect the sanctity of internal democracy in the Party, issues a guiding regulation for the nationwide congresses of the Party. It is binding on all persons coordinating and participating in all Congresses.’

“As things are, there cannot be the conduct of any consensus process in Lagos for Ward Congresses, hence our resolve to inform you that in Lagos State, without prejudice, the overwhelming majority of our Party members have opted for an elective Congress on Saturday 31st July 2021 or any date that Ward Congresses is organized. Our resolve is hinged on article 20 (a)(iv)(a)(d) of the Party Constitution.”

He warned that there is a looming danger on continuing refusal of the party to do the right thing concerning the composition of the local ward congress committees in the state.

“Pursuant to our various efforts at getting the National Secretariat of our great Party to investigate the travesty of justice being perpetrated against our members in Lagos State since 2018, we hereby again draw your attention to another possible travesty that may occur during the forth-coming Ward Congresses.

“It recently came to our attention that, the State Caretaker Committee led by Alhaji Tunde Balogun has started with a compilation of a list of members of the Party that will be appointed as Ward Congress Committee members for the various Wards Congresses in the State on Saturday 31st July 2021.”

“This letter seeks to bring it to your attention that should the National Secretariat acquiesce to this charade by the Alhaji Tunde Balogun Caretaker Committee, the conduct of Congresses in Lagos State will be another exercise in futility, I find it quite pertinent to bring to the attention of the National Secretariat Committee the fruitlessness of any Congress that the Party

In Lagos, a short but strikingly powerful phrase - “in the party’s interest, Lagos will adopt consensus candidate” underpinned the announcement by the powerful Governor’s Advisory Council, (GAC) the highest decision-making body of the Lagos state APC on the ward congress. In the political cycle, it meant there would no more comment

may organise in Lagos State with the proposed skewed and lopsidedness list of members of the Local Ward Congress Committee (LWCC) which will end in a pre-determined destination as was recently done with the Local Government Primary Election on 29th May 2021.

“This would, therefore, render any purported Congress a nullity and an exercise in futility.

The implication of this is that delegates will be selected from the 57 Local Government Areas (used for the Ward and Local Government Area Congresses) to constitute the State Congress.”

But this was ignored by the party in the state as the next day, the Governor’s Advisory Council declared that the party will adopt a consensus arrangement for its ward congresses.

The GAC, which comprised prominent leaders of Lagos APC across the State, said it has directed party officers at all levels to engage in dialogue that would lead to meaningful reconciliation of those who are in disagreements to accommodate members that are willing to serve the party.

Speaking to journalists on behalf of the GAC after the council’s meeting held at Lagos House, Marina, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, said the GAC has directed all leaders and party officers to dialogue in the spirit of brotherhood to decide those who are going to lead the party after congresses.

He said: “We deliberated on the incoming state congresses of our party and later the national convention. We have resolved and directed officers of our party at all levels to engage in dialogue that would lead to meaningful reconciliation of aggrieved members within the party in other to ensure that all opinions are accommodated and all members who are willing to serve the party are given positions in the various executive bodies at the ward, local and state levels.

“This we have done, and we are sure all officers of our party will follow the consensus decision that we have taken to ensure that all willing members of the party who want to serve are considered.

“We have also directed that they should hold stakeholder meetings at all local government levels where leaders and officers will sit down, talk together in the spirit of brotherhood and decide who will lead the party after the congresses.”

The GAC also appreciated Lagosians for reposing confidence in the APC. “We have reviewed events in the party, and particularly we have also received results of the last local government elections. We thank the press, members of the public, particularly the voters of Lagos State for reposing their confidence in our party as they have always done. We are grateful for this,” he said.

Also speaking, Lagos APC Chairman of Caretaker Committee, Alhaji Tunde Balogun said the party ward executives would emerge through consensus on Saturday, adding that APC would hold stakeholders’ meetings in all the local governments in the State on Thursday.

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

22

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ, 2021

FEATURES

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

Advocating for Gender Balance in Book Ecosystem At the 2021 edition of the Nigeria International Book Fair held at Harbour Point, Victoria Island Lagos, recently, women leaders in Nigeria such as feminist and wife of the Ekiti State governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi as well as the medical doctor and wife of the Lagos State governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu advocated for a book ecosystem that is more inclusive of women and girls. Yinka Olatunbosun reports

Feminist and Wife of Ekiti State governor, Mrs Bisi Fayemi at the opening ceremony of the NIBF in Lagos

I

t was more than just a gathering of bibliophiles last week in Lagos at the grand opening of the Nigeria International Book Fair organised by the Nigeria Book Fair Trust (NBFT), Nigerian Publishers Association, Nigerian Library Association, Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria in partnership with leading stakeholders in the book industry.

Students clad in uniforms, teachers, book sellers, publishers and others arrived at the venue to witness the opening ceremony which was chaired by Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, a leading feminist and wife of the Ekiti State governor. With the theme “Awakening the Giant in Women for the Growth of the Book Ecosystem,’’ the stage was set for deliberations around the challenges for women and their role in the book eco-system.

In her opening remarks, Fayemi recounted how books written by both male and female authors had influenced her life, shaping her path to feminism and writing. She began by identifying some of the issues that form formidable constraints against women’s intellectual development. These include lack of access to quality education, sexual harassment, objectification of women and various forms of patriarchal oppression.

Through the writings of African female writers such as Buchi Emecheta, Mabel Segun, Flora Nwapa, Molara-OgundipeLeslie, Ifi Amadiume, Mariama Ba, Ama Ata Aidoo, Bel Hooks, Alice Walker, Maya Angelou, Charlotte Bunch, Germaine Greer, Angela Miles, Fayemi learnt the critical importance of creating space for women’s thinking, writing and community activism. As an African feminist, she had been very vocal about reframing the narrative that leaves the African women voiceless, making them mere passive observers of nation-building.

“Nigerian women have always told stories, have written, published, printed, and sold books. Yet, their contributions continue to be under-valued and discountenanced,’’ she said.

She observed that out of the 10.5millon out-of-school children in Nigeria, 60 per cent of these are girls. Therefore, she stressed the

Mrs Bisi Fayemi during the ribbon cutting to declare the NIBF 2021 open, accompanied by Mr Gbadebo Adedapo and Dr. Wale Okediran who watched the proceeding

need to encourage more girls to write and read beyond their school texts through the establishment of book reading competitions, book donations, book clubs and conscious inclusion of books in gift packs for children.

“Enterprises in the book value chain led by women should receive support from commercial institution, corporate bodies and individuals – printing houses, publishing, book selling, book festivals and so on. As there are more technological advances in the book eco-system, women should not be left behind. They should be encouraged to use the digital space to upgrade their skills and knowledge and take advantage of the digital market spaces that are opening up,’’ she added.

The NBFT Chairman, Mr. Gbadega Adedapo, during his welcome address explained the rationale behind the select theme for the fair. He described women as builders even though they had been less visible in leading roles in the book eco-system.

“Most publishing firms are largely dominated by male CEOs, but in actual sense, the backbone and thriving growth witnessed by these firms are made possible by women,’’ he pointed out.

He encouraged more women to aspire for leadership roles in the book system as they remain priceless assets

to global knowledge economy.

“We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamics in our contemporary world, reshape the conversation, ensuring women's voices are heard and heeded, not trivialised and ignored. We shall continue to keep the spirit of possibility high amongst our women in the book ecosystem,’’ he said.

In her intervention, the medical doctor and wife of the Lagos State governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu reflected on the impact of reading on mental health. She shared the view that there is a clear nexus between reading, knowledge and ability to apply intelligence in dealing with issues. For her, readers are equipped with emotional intelligence to handle difficult situations with the needed calmness and wisdom, among other benefits including self-worth, selfconsciousness and responsiveness.

“Women are the closest to the children and can deploy their influence at the home front towards deepening the culture of voracious reading, thereby helping to advance the frontiers of knowledge. Therefore, let me seize this opportunity to call on women to intensify efforts to scale up reading culture among the younger generation in order to build an army of highly literate citizens. The call became imperative because a society

We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamics in our contemporary world, reshape the conversation, ensuring women's voices are heard and heeded, not trivialised and ignored. We shall continue to keep the spirit of possibility high amongst our women in the book ecosystem

with a high number of literate citizens will experience development and exponential transformation,’’ she said.

The President, International Publishers Association (IPA), Bodour Al Qasimi in her keynote speech which was delivered virtually, described women leaders in the book industry as the ‘x-factor of the publishing world.’ She noted that the changing global trends demand for new perspectives which include women in the decision-making process.

“More than ever, the publishing industry is realising the pivotal role women play in ensuring its resilience and long-term sustainability.

Despite monumental challenges due to the pandemic, women have been instrumental in supporting the homeschooling of millions of children, making sure engaging content reached global readers during lockdown and quarantine, and providing free access to research in order to fast-track the healthcare response to COVID. It is perhaps fitting that the International Publishers Association (IPA) welcomed its first all-female leadership team to guide its post-COVID resilience and sustainability efforts,’’ she said.

She revealed how digital transformation has penetrated the book industry, giving women the platforms to tell their stories and make their voices to be heard. Citing the example of PublisHer which launched a series of virtual conversations with leading female publishers called Unmasked, Al Qasimi spoke on several initiatives that are driven by women to engrave their relevance in the book eco-system.

“We also launched a mentorship scheme featuring accomplished publishing executives such as Bibi Bakare-Yusuf and Thabiso Mahlape. This mentorship program is designed to share wisdom and success stories with young female publishers to help guide their career progression.

"We all recognise that change is a process.

It takes time and unwavering willingness to create new realities. It also takes the right tools to enable that change,’’ she said.

The Nigeria International Book Fair 2021 which ran from July 27 to 29 was sponsored by QF Printabilities, Fidelity Bank and UBA.

23

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ, 2021

FEATURES

Imperative of Monitoring the National Social Investment Programme Julie Manga

A

sk Nigerians, no one is at a loss on the good intentions of governments, past or current, in the commitment towards delivering on policies developed to better impact the lives of citizens and enhance livelihood.

Every plan is as good as implemented to design. Often, good policies end or fail at the implementation stage; not because they are impracticable but due to the inability of managers to track their progress and get feedbacks on their sustainability.

The assessment of course is not for glorification or to deodorise such efforts but also to help understand the strength or deficiencies of plans and programs, for possible fine-tuning, improvement and support which are often geared towards broader coverage and policy efficiency.

Towards this end, the ingenious and similarly audacious determination of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Government to pull 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years continues to dominate public discourse with pessimists considering this too daring, impossible and non-realistic.

Aside from other programmes of the Buhari administration to lessen extreme poverty among the poor through micro-credits, the government in rolling out the National Social Investment Programme, NSIP, understands the necessity of producing results by frequently interrogating and tracking the workability and challenges being faced through frequent updates and reliable feedbacks for effective implementation.

The National Social Investment Programme is targeted at reducing poverty among the downtrodden and is designed to promote sectorial linkages and synergies in ensuring partnerships with critical stakeholders, as well as the buy-in and ownership of states and local governments.

It comprises the National HomeGrown School Feeding Programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, N-Power and the Conditional Cash Transfer Programmes as main components.

All these programmes have become familiar in almost every Nigerian home.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development which is saddled with the supervision of NSIP realised the importance of deploying proportional monitoring tools through which the laudable interventionist packages could be assisted to deliver on their mandate.

While addressing trained independent monitors at the flag-off for the distribution of engagement letters and devices to successful monitors recently in Abuja, Alhaji Bashir Nura Alkali, the permanent secretary, underscored the importance of raising these monitors in a bid to achieve intended results.

“In a bid to achieve the set goals and objectives of each of these programmes, the ministry believes that adequate monitoring is important.

The engagement of independent monitors for NSIP therefore is one of the strategies to ensure these programmes achieve desired results.

"While the engagement of independent monitors is not new, we at the ministry have reviewed the modalities and designed a more robust and proactive strategy to monitor the programmes,” Alkali told his audience.

Hajia Farouq

He also disclosed that the monitors have been mandated to assess beneficiaries of these programmes within their locality in schools, households, and market clusters on a routine basis. They are equipped with the standardised reporting tool in hard copy as well as electronically, to help in measuring the impact of various programmes.

The monitors were introduced to the Social Investment Management Information System application operable on their tablets by which they are expected to return data-backed, trustworthy feedback for valuation for policy adjustment and necessary decision-making engagements where possible.

With an economy that is

recovering from the recession after the impacts of COVID-19 as well as multiplier consequences of global economic downturn, the massive funding of social investments brings a refreshing hope for the most vulnerable among the Nigerian people, especially the aged, children, unengaged youths and women.

However, the success or otherwise of the NSIP rests on all stakeholders to collaborate with the Federal Government in its quest to ensure fair monitoring of these programmes by enlisting the support of beneficiaries themselves across all segments.

Needless to mention the impartiality of the monitors themselves who must rise above board to report flawless

In a bid to achieve the set goals and objectives of each of these programmes, the ministry believes that adequate monitoring is important.

The engagement of independent monitors for NSIP therefore is one of the strategies to ensure these programmes achieve desired results

data in the interest of continuity and further expansion of these programmes to the benefit of the people.

It is also quite important that state and local governments are fully mobilised to cooperate with the Federal Government by ensuring that these programmes are effectively monitored across the country.

Similarly, all stakeholders, particularly the state focal persons and officials of the National Orientation Agency which were involved from the inception of this programme for training the independent monitors, must collaborate continuously to engender and deepen citizen awareness and support for the scheme if the results desired at the inception of this laudable scheme must come to reality.

Experience teaches that the critical missing link in most government policies and programmes are proper monitoring and evaluation, this is why the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq must be applauded for coming up with a monitoring template aimed at supporting the NSIP to deliver according to the president’s mandate.

-Manga wrote via proedgecomng@ gmail.com

LAWYER

A

WEEKLY PULLOUT

03.08.2021

Death Row Inmates

‘As Governor, Aregbesola Didn’t Sign One Death Warrant’

2/DASHBOARD

03.08.2021

LAWYER

A

WEEKLY PULLOUT

03.08.2021

Death Row Inmates

‘As Governor, Aregbesola Didn’t Sign One Death Warrant’

Whether Writ of Summons Can Serve as Statutory Notice to Quit PAGE 4

Judge Decries Absence of Law to Regulate Nigerian Electronic Transactions PAGE 5

QUOTABLES

‘…..‘We are not where we were. The security is still very terrible. But, Boko Haram is decimated. Leaders have been killed. Those who forment trouble have been arrested.’ - Hon. Hakeem Olufemi Gbajabiamila, Lawyer, Speaker of the House of Representatives, 9th National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria ‘If a group of people decide to fight for the break up of the country, the duty of the Government is to try as much as possible to convince them to repose confidence in the corporate existence of Nigeria. But, you cannot criminalise their demands.’ - Femi Falana, SAN, Human Rights Lawyer and Activist

Human Trafficking: 95% of Victims are Female PAGE 5

NBA Lagos Law Week: Preparing Lawyers for Technological Advancement PAGE 5

A Tone-Deaf Judiciary and its Waning Legitimacy PAGE 11

/3

03.08.2021

Is Kano Regressing to the 14th Century?

Alleged KSHA Bill to Prohibit Women Drivers The ethnic and religious divisions, secessionist agitations, calls for restructuring and devolution of powers has reached a crescendo; this is coupled with unprecedented insecurity we are experiencing, economic chaos and religious bitterness - the situation in the country is absolutely discouraging, to say the least. So, when last week, a message trended on social media, claiming that the Kano State House of Assembly (KSHA) (with the approval of the Kano State Government and the Kano State Sharia Commission) was drafting a Bill to prohibit women in Kano State from driving, because according to the report, "allowing women driving in the State represents the darkest moments in our lives as Muslims", I wondered how anyone, in 2021, unless they belong to the dark ages, could come up with such a regressive thought or Bill. Tah! Already, in Africa, Nigeria has an extremely high rate of female gender marginalisation, with only 4.47% female Legislators (Federal - 21 out of 469) according to PLAC, as opposed to Rwanda’s 49.85% and South Africa’s 42.04% female representation in Parliament.

And, instead of implementing affirmative action to change this negative narrative, some people stand accused of trying to drag us back to the Classical era of Confucianism in China, where the role of a woman didn’t extend beyond taking care of her family and her household, and submitting to the male folk.

A Bad Idea Like many, I, of course, hoped that it was fake news. And, thankfully, the Kano State Government has debunked the claim, dismissing it as false. Or could it be that the KSHA actually contemplated such a law, but aborted the plan when they felt the pulse of the people and saw that it didn’t go down well with them? Who knows? I rightfully rejected the idea on several levels. For one, even Saudi Arabia, the home of the religion of Islam who it was claimed that the KSHA was fashioning their new Bill upon, lifted the ban on female drivers in 2018!

We have a saying in Yoruba that goes something like this: "È ni ti afè sun jè, to fi epo para" - “a person that we want to roast and eat, who rubbed palm on his body"! The palm oil is the accelerant, which will make the roasting even faster. Let me explain - for example, a person whose employer is looking for an excuse to sack him, is then caught embezzling his employer’s funds. The embezzlement will be the accelerant to a definite sack - there will be no more need to look for an excuse. This is exactly the case of Nigeria, and many of those in positions of power, who are hell bent on escalating the mounting pressure in Nigeria, and destroying our dear country totally - not only are they rubbing the accelerant on themselves, they are spreading it all over the country. Nigeria seems closer to the brink than it has ever been since the 1967 Civil War; sometimes, it seems that just a little accelerant will let it go up in flames (I pray not); and yet, the KSHA was alleged to have been coming up with a Bill that would clearly make a bad situation worse, divide the Nigerians even more, and further fuel the cries for secession on religious grounds, adding to the separatist cries on ethnic grounds.

Unconstitutionality The Bill would have been plainly unconstitutional.

But, it comes as no surprise that some myopic people would think of hatching such a plot, because when you mar the Legislature (both Federal and State) with people who either have little or no qualifications, and/or who neither understand their role as law makers or law making itself, and how crucial it is for the peace and order of a good society, this is what you get. See Section 4(2) & (7) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution) which mandates inter alia that, the Legislature ‘shall’ (not may) make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Federation and States, respectively. See the case of Ugwu v Ararume 2007 12 N.W.L.R. Part 1048 Page 367 at 441-442 per Tobi JSC on the use of the word ‘shall’ in a statutory provision, meaning that something must be done, that is, it is mandatory.

The KSHA, on the contrary, allegedly wakes up and decides to promulgate a law that will not only cause disorderliness in Kano, but will infringe on the fundamental rights of Muslim women in Kano, and women in Kano State in general. I submit that such a retrogressive law to ban women from driving in Kano would have been a bad law, ultra vires the KSHA, and also unconstitutional.

Section 10 of the Constitution is quite clear "The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion".

It is bad enough that the Northern States have contravened this provision and adopted Sharia Law, even to the extent of unlawfully granting the Sharia courts criminal jurisdiction which the Constitution certainly does not bestow on them - See

Sections 262 and 277 of the Constitution which only endows the Sharia courts with civil jurisdiction on Islamic Personal Law, with a caveat that all parties to the proceedings must be Muslims who have requested that their matter be heard in accordance with Islamic Personal Law. From the foregoing provisions, it is clear that being a Muslim is a prerequisite for individuals to be subject to Islamic Personal Law; however, it is not enough - Muslims must give their consent to be subject to Sharia law. And yet, a State Legislature would imagine that it is proper for them to enact a law based on religion, binding people that do not even belong to that religion? To tell the truth (and let the devil be ashamed), it was a pleasant surprise that Kano State Government denied the allegation - I doubt that anyone would have been particularly shocked, if KSHA had actually attempted to enact such a law. If their Sharia Court which does not have criminal jurisdiction can sentence Musician, Yahaya Sharif Aminu to death for blasphemy (contrary to Quran 33:49 and 4:141 which enjoin Muslims to ignore blasphemers, not kill them), what’s a little matter of banning women from driving? See the cases of AGF v Abubakar 2007 8 N.W.L.R. Part 1035 Page 199 at 290 and Madukuolu v Nkemdilim 1962 2 S.C.L.N.R. 341.

Section 42(1)(a) of the Constitution prohibits citizens of a particular community being subject to disabilities that those in other communities are not subject to, whether by virtue of the practical application of any law in force or any executive or administrative action of Government. It would therefore, be discrimination to prohibit women in Kano from driving based on their sex (and religion - a ‘double whammy’!), while women in other parts of the country, and indeed, men are allowed to drive. It is trite that in Nigeria, whether male or female, as long as one has attained the age of 18 which is the minimum driving age, an individual can go through the approved process to obtain a Driving licence, and any such individual, once the conditions have been fulfilled, will then be eligible to drive.

Conclusion I conclude by saying that, it is obvious that the separatist agitation can be direct like the activities of Nnamdi Kanu/IPOB and Sunday Igboho, and also indirect, like the call for restructuring or imposition of Sharia law in States inhabited by people of different religions, and coming up with religious rules that seek to bind those who do not belong to that religion. Is it not a subtle way of saying, we are going to do it our way, irrespective of whether it’s a breach of your fundamental rights, or its fair to you or not; and if you can’t abide with our religious rules, leave our State? Just like 18 is the minimum driving age for all in Nigeria, I believe it is the age at which an individual is legally permitted to consume alcohol beverages (whatever the religion).

With the adoption of Sharia Law in the Northern States, some Christian Southerners who had lived up North for the better part of their lives, were constrained to relocate back to the South.

Last week, I asked Government to look into some of the causes of the secessionist agitations and address them. I dare say that religion is one of them; and the sooner the Federal Government goes back to strict compliance with Section 10 of the Constitution and keeps religion in the Church, Mosque and homes where they belong, the better things will be for Nigeria and Nigerians. Interestingly, the same people who seek to display these fake appearances of holiness, are the most hypocritical (‘Munafuki’) and corrupt.

Lawlessness by those in positions of authority and their institutions or agencies, is another cause for concern. Someone sent me a news report stating that one Adamu Yusuf was sentenced to one year imprisonment or a fine of N20,000 by a Sharia Court in Kano, for committing the offence of

‘wandering’. The conviction is unconstitutional, null and void ab initio. Apart from the fact that the Sharia Court lacks criminal jurisdiction, wandering was abolished as an offence as far back as 1989.

By virtue of Section 36(12) of the Constitution, no person shall be convicted of an offence unknown to law. Wandering is unknown to law, how then, could Mr Yusuf be convicted for it?

Government needs to lead by example - they themselves need to convince the citizens that they want ‘One Nigeria’. As we say in law, ‘he who alleges, must prove’. Does having the heads of the majority of the security agencies hail from only one part of the divide for example, portray inclusion and 'One Nigeria? I think not. There should be equitable distribution of power to the best candidates, selected from the various parts of the country. It is therefore, the height of ‘Munafuki’ to expect the people to want ‘One Nigeria’, when it is little more than empty talk/a theoretical concept to the Federal Government, that seems to only be paying lip service to the idea!

Dear Editor Re: Kanu, Igboho and Unresolved Issues Dear Editor, I appreciate your capability and capacity for research. You are truly working hard. Well done, Editor. Dictatorship and injustice do not last forever.

2021, ANYONE, UNLESS

SAN, Abuja

THEY BELONG TO THE

Dear Editor,

DARK AGES, COULD

I concur with your conclusion on this issue. Are you trying to teach me Law in my old age? I will soon graduate in law studies from Onikepo Braithwaite University! Right?

Mrs O, Lagos Dear Editor, I do enjoy your writings. Sharp, crispy, pungently power packed, intelligent and reader friendly. Best wishes Editor.

COME UP WITH SUCH A REGRESSIVE THOUGHT OR BILL. TAH! ALREADY, IN AFRICA, NIGERIA HAS AN EXTREMELY HIGH RATE OF FEMALE GENDER

Prof, Osun State

MARGINALISATION, WITH

Dear Editor,

ONLY 4.47% FEMALE

A very detailed and informative presentation.

LEGISLATOR…….”

SAN, Lagos Dear Editor, Need I pay tuition on this refresher lecture on International Law? Very audacious.

SAN, Abuja Dear Editor, Another well-written and balanced article, well done. Love your final sentence “I firmly believe that it is not too late for Government to right some of these wrongs, and douse the mounting tension in the country. I urge them to.”

I pray the Government will hear/listen. Amen.

Y.A., London, UK Dear Editor, A succinct and well delivered article. True word - we urge the Government to right the many wrongs.

F.A., Lagos Dear Editor,

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje

“……I WONDERED HOW IN

I thank you for examining these two cases, and the analysis applied vis-a-vis the rule of law and reciprocity. For now, we only have one side to the story regarding the circumstances of their arrests.

More importantly, I agree totally that there are underlying issues which are festering and need to be addressed, applying justice, equity and fairness.

Suppression is not a solution! Well done.

Y.F., Lagos Dear Editor, A well written, lucid and articulate delivery as usual. Well done.

D.A., Mali Dear Editor, A very interesting read, with very valid points and questions.

G.E.O., Lagos Dear Editor, Re: Amnesty, Criminality and Rule of Law Salam Alaikum. An Absolutely brilliant article.

Now that some leading Igbo intelligentsia like Soludo and Chimamanda Adichie are subtly calling for Kanu’s release like lizards emerging from wall cracks, where were they when he was inciting murder and arson? I pray they were not aiding and abetting these very serious crimes. As Samuel Johnson said, “patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel”. Oh, of course, l totally agree that the bandits in the North should be “wiped out”!

Dr A.A.R., Lagos

4/LAW REPORT

Whether Writ of Summons Can Serve as Statutory Notice to Quit Facts The Respondents as Lessor, entered into a contract of lease with the Appellant for a plot of land situated at Plot B, Sabiu Ajose Street, Surulere, Lagos. The contract was a 26-year Development Lease for the erection of a building within two years, to be completed on/or before 1979 on payment of annual rent payable in advance.

The suit was initiated by the Respondents as Lessors in 1993, to recover the property due to non-compliance with leasing terms of erecting a building on the land.

Both the trial court and the Court of Appeal, found that the Appellant as Lessee breached the terms of the lease.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the Court of Appeal, the Appellant further appealed to the Supreme Court.

Issues for Determination The following issues were considered by the Apex Court hhh 1. Whether the Court of Appeal was right by affirming the decision of the trial court, that the Respondents pleaded and proved service of statutory “Notice of Breach of Covenant” (Exhibit E) as required by the law.

2. Whether the Plaintiff/Respondents waived their right to forfeiture by demanding and collecting rent up to 1995, before the purported Notice to Quit was allegedly issued in line with the averments in the Defendant/Appellant’s Statement of Defence.

Arguments Counsel for the Appellant submitted on Issue One, that the manner of pleading the Notice of Breach of Covenant offends Order 17 Rule 4 of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules, 1994 which stipulates that pleadings should contain only statement in a summary form of the material facts on which the party pleading relies for his claim/defence, but not the evidence by which they are to be proved. Counsel argued that the Respondents ought to have pleaded the legal effect of the Notice of the breach as a fact, before it is tendered.

He argued further that the name of the legal practitioner who issued the said Notice should have been pleaded, and that failure to call one Mr. Alade Akinsote, who effected the service as a witness was questionable, and that the court should invoke the provision of Section 149(d) of the Evidence Act (now Section 167(d), to hold that Counsel for the Respondents withheld evidence.

Countering the submission, counsel argued on behalf of the Respondents that the statutory notices were validly served, and that despite the denial by the Appellant, DW1 admitted in evidence, service of the said processes subsequent to the denial in the pleadings. More so, the Appellant did not object to tendering of the said document(s) at trial in the suit, and so, cannot be heard to complain at the Supreme Court.

Regarding the second issue, it was the submission of counsel for the Appellant that the rent paid was subsisting till the year, 1995, and that the receipt of arrears of payment during the subsistence of the statutory notice(s), necessarily destroyed the validity of such Notice.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the first issue, the court restated the trite position of law, that pleadings should contain facts and not evidence. Documentary evidence need not be specifically pleaded to be admissible in evidence, so long as the facts by which such document is covered, are expressly pleaded – OKONKWO v COOPERATIVE AND COMMERCE BANK (NIG.) PLC & 2 OTHERS (2003) 8 NWLR (Pt. 882) 347. In this case, the Notice of breach of covenant was pleaded, and the facts of the averred breach were pleaded. The Appellant did not deny the existence of the Notice of Breach of covenant, and the general traverse in paragraph 4 of its Amended Statement of Defence is of no value. Though the name of the legal practitioner that issued the notice of breach of covenant to the Appellant should have been pleaded, but failure to do so is of no moment. Further, the document being in evidence, the Appellant did not object to the admissibility of the notice of breach in evidence as exhibit, he is thus, estopped from contending that it is not sufficiently or properly pleaded; more so, as the essence of pleadings is to ensure that parties do not spring surprises on opponents.

Further, it was submitted for the Appellant that the Respondents should have pleaded the legal effect of the notice of the breach as a fact, before it was tendered.

Their Lordships held that, the position of the Appellant

Honourable Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 5th day of February, 2021 Before Their Lordships

Olabode Rhodes-Vivour Musa Dattijo Muhammed Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju Abdu Aboki Emmanuel Akomaye Agim Justices, Supreme Court SC.105/2010 Between Pillars Nigeria Limited

…

……

Appellant

And .1. William Kojo Desbordes 2. Mrs. Doris N. Forson (Nee Desbordes) …… Respondents (Substituted for Mr. Louis Desbordes and Mr. Albert Desbordes on 14th May, 2018)

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, JSC)

stemmed from a misconception on the modern rule of pleadings, as the old legal terminology of pleadings have since changed in line with new procedures.

“….. WHILE STATUTORY NOTICE MAY BE GIVEN AS THE SITUATION REQUIRES…..IMMEDIATELY A WRIT IS FILED TO REGAIN POSSESSION, THE IRREGULARITY OF THE NOTICE, IF ANY, IS CURED. TIME TO GIVE NOTICE, SHOULD START TO RUN FROM THE DATE THE WRIT IS SERVED”

The pleader does not need to state the legal result of a document or facts pleaded, as this will amount to argument in pleading – EZEWANI v ONWORDI (1986) 4 NWLR (Pt. 33) SC. 27. Having pleaded the document, there was no need to plead its legal effect, as that would amount to argument in a pleading. In all, the trial court rightly held that, Exhibit E was served on the Appellant. Learned counsel for the Appellant, could not show that the above decision was wrong.

On the issue of service of the Notice of Breach of Covenant (Exhibit E), the trial court disbelieved DW1’s testimony that he was not served with the said notice.

The Court of Appeal affirmed the decision of the trial court, on the credibility of the witnesses. The Appellant abandoned its appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal, affirming the decision of the trial court on the credibility of PW1 and DW1. Learned counsel for the Appellant, has correctly restated the law on the requirements of proof of service of the notice of breach of covenant. But, having accepted as correct the decision of the Court of Appeal concurring with the decision of the trial court believing PW1 that Exhibit E was served on the Appellant and disbelieving DW1’s denial of such service, the brilliant arguments of learned counsel on the legal requirements of proof of service of notice of breach of covenant become valueless. It is settled law that a party who has not appealed against a finding or holding in the judgement appealed against, cannot validly argue contrary to that finding or holding. Having accepted as correct the decision of the Court of Appeal affirming the decision of the trial court that it believed PW1 that the Exhibit E was served on the Appellant, the Appellant cannot argue that the service of the notice was not proved.

Deciding issue two, the Supreme Court held that the strongest point made by the Appellant, was that the Respondents had waived their right to forfeiture by demanding and collecting rent till 1995. However, there is no valid ground of appeal on the holding of the Court of Appeal that the Appellant deliberately falsified the years for which rent had been paid. The Apex Court agreed with the inference of the Court below in affirming the decision of the High Court, that even though the Respondents collected rent till 1991, there was a letter by counsel for the Respondents - Exhibit N written in 1992 clearly showing an intention to terminate the lease.

The fact that a landlord collected rent on a property still in occupation or possession of the tenant after notice to quit, cannot by any stretch of the law, equity or imagination amount to a waiver of the notice to quit, even where the notice had expired, and the tenant refused to yield possession in time.

The notice to quit would subsist until it is formally rescinded by the landlord, or when a fresh tenancy agreement is entered into.

Even if the initial notice to quit was irregular, the minute the Writ of Summons dated 13/5/1993 for repossession was served on the Appellant, it served as adequate notice. Equity demands that wherever and whenever there is controversy on when or how notice of forfeiture or notice to quit is disputed by the parties, or even where there is irregularity in giving notice to quit, the filing of an action by the landlord to regain possession of the property has to be sufficient notice on the tenant, that he is required to yield up possession.

Their Lordships clarified that, while statutory notice may be given as the situation requires (whatever form the periodic tenancy is, whether weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly etc.), immediately a Writ is filed to regain possession, the irregularity of the Notice, if any, is cured. Time to give notice, should start to run from the date the Writ is served. If for example, a yearly tenant, six months after the Writ is served and so on. All the dance drama around the issue of the irregularity of the Notice, ends thereby.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation Chigbo Anainugwu with V.I.P Ozumba for the Appellant.

Tochukwu Onuike with Nnemeka Otagburuagu with Adaeze Anah for the Respondents.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An Affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

NEWS/5

03.08.2021

Judge Decries Absence of Law to Regulate Nigerian Electronic Transactions A Judge of the High Court of Kogi State, Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye, has decried the total absence of a legislative framework to regulate electronic transactions in the country.

He made this remark in a paper he delivered, at the July edition of the monthly Webinar organised by the Rule of Law Development )RXQGDWLRQ 52/') RQ WKH topic: “Technology and The Law: A Call for A Paradigm Shift in the Legal Profession in Nigeria”.

He noted that the exigencies of the modernity of our age, demand that the National Assembly takes urgent and proactive steps to enact the requisite electronic transaction laws.

Justice Omolaye-Ajileye observed that, due to the growing use of technology, countries around the world have been enacting laws to protect consumers who

Kogi State High Court, Lokoja

engage in e-commerce or online transactions, but none exists in Nigeria in the class of the United Nation Commission on ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 7UDGH /DZ Model Law, otherwise FDOOHG WKH 81&,75$/ Model Law on Commerce.

He revealed that in the

absence of a law regulating electronic transactions, consumers engage in such transactions at their own peril.

According to Justice Omolaye-Ajileye, it was this legislative lacuna that opened up a controversy recently, over the

legitimacy or otherwise of Cryptocurrency. He submit-

The just concluded 2021 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch,

Assistant to the Governor on Legal Matters, Mr. Olumide Mustapha, also so said OGTAHT is working with various VHFXULW\ RXWÀWV DQG 1$37,3 LQ order to rehabilitate victims of KXPDQ WUD΀FNLQJ LQ WKH 6WDWH through skills acquisition such as tailoring, catering, as well as engaging them in sporting activities among others.

"About 200 are victims of KXPDQ WUD΀FNLQJ LQ 2JXQ State, but our Taskforce has been working with the Zonal &RPPDQG RI 1$37,3 LQ WKH State, we have various subOgun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Committee which are being Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran He added that some have Regional Director, Mrs. Tolu tasked with providing physical, faced revictimisation and Odugbesan said that the health and mental support, as punishment for crimes they female gender has been de- well as helping the victims were forced to commit by scribed as the most vulnerable ÀQG VKHOWHUV LQFOXGLQJ WUDFLQJ WKHLU WUD΀FNHUV QRWLQJ WKDW RI KXPDQ WUD΀FNLQJ DV their families and reintegrating others have been subjected falls victims of the nefarious them back into the society", to stigmatisation, or received act, saying male gender were Mustapha said.

Also speaking, the Special inadequate support.

RQO\ YXOQHUDEOH WR EHLQJ The National Agency for YLFWLPV RI KXPDQ WUD΀FNLQJ Adviser to the Governor on :RPHQ $ͿDLUV DQG 6RFLDO 3URKLELWLRQ RI 7UD΀FNLQJ LQ in the country.

3HUVRQV 1$37,3 6RXWKZHVW Speaking earlier, the Special Development, Hon. Adijat Adeleye, pointed out that the most challenging aspect of it, was that most of the victims do not want to speak up because of victimisation, adding that it was the reason Taskforce was put in place, in order for the Steve Aya ZRXOG QRW RQO\ DͿRUG WKHP %R]LPR QRWHG victims to see the reasoning as the opportunity to get ,Q WKH .H\QRWH $GGUHVV WKH to why they need to speak out The Administrator of the equipped with necessary &KLHI -XVWLFH RI 1LJHULD &-1

1DWLRQDO -XGLFLDO ,QVWLWXWH tools needed to overcome +RQ -XVWLFH ,EUDKLP 7DQNR DJDLQVW +XPDQ 7UD΀FNLQJ DV 1-, -XVWLFH 5R]DOLQH 3DWULFLD challenges, she added that Muhammad, observed that well as give them necessary %R]LPR KDV UHLWHUDWHG WKH QHHG it would abreast them with considering the roles being assistance by reuniting them to enhance performance by current developments in the played by the category of with their families.

One of the victims who spoke Judiciary workers, in order to discharge of their duties.

VWDͿ HͿRUWV VKRXOG EH PDGH on the ground of anonymity, UHPDLQ UHOHYDQW DQG HͿHFWLYH “The process of producing, to empower them adequately said the security personnel at in the ever improving world transmitting and retrieving to be able to deliver. of Judiciary. records of proceedings and “As Court Registrars, every stopover and at border -XVWLFH %R]LPR VWDWHG WKLV communication as ordered by 3URFHVV &OHUNV DQG %DLOLͿV point work in collaboration while delivering a welcome the court, will not be possible you should understand the ZLWK WKH WUD΀FNHUV XUJLQJ address at the opening cer- without your input.

FRUH IXQFWLRQV RI \RXU R΀FH the Government at all levels emony of a virtual National “Your capacity to provide and be acquainted with global to rejuvenate the security Workshop for Registrars, Court the required services to court best practice for optimum architecture of the country, particularly at the border &OHUNV DQG %DLOLͿV KHOG LQ cannot be over-emphasised, SHUIRUPDQFH µ Abuja.

EHFDXVH \RXU SURÀFLHQF\ DQG While enjoining them to areas. She said the youths The theme of the Workshop SURSULHW\ GHWHUPLQH WKH ÀUVW shun corruption, she further should be well engaged by ZDV ¶(QKDQFLQJ 6WDͿ 3HUIRU- impression, and inspires charged them on commitment, Government at all levels, with PDQFH IRU (ͿHFWLYH -XVWLFH FRQÀGHQFH LQ HYHU\ FRXUW saying it was the key to the enough awareness against huDelivery’. The Workshop, user that approaches the TXHVW IRU DQ H΀FLHQW MXVWLFH PDQ WUD΀FNLQJ SDUWLFXODUO\ at the grassroots level.

DFFRUGLQJ WR -XVWLFH %R]LPR FRXUW IRU UHPHG\µ -XVWLFH administration.

The Ogun State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran, has said that many YLFWLPV RI KXPDQ WUD΀FNLQJ have experienced ignorance or misunderstanding in their attempt to get help, saying that they have had traumatic post-rescue experiences durLQJ LGHQWLÀFDWLRQ DQG OHJDO proceedings.

Adeniran stated this at this year, 2021 World Day $JDLQVW 7UD΀FNLQJ LQ 3HUVRQV organised by the Ogun State Taskforce Against Human 7UD΀FNLQJ 2*7$+7 KHOG on June 12, Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

7UD΀FNLQJ LQ SHUVRQV LV a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights; indeed, every year, thousands of men, women, children fall LQWR WKH KDQGV RI WUD΀FNHUV in their own countries and abroad", Adeniran said.

Bozimo Tasks Judiciary Workers to Enhance their Performance

conclusive note, that the current legislative apathy and complacency on issues relating to technology ought to be addressed with dispatch. “The world is marching on, and Nigeria FDQQRW DͿRUG WR VWDJQDWHµ he opined. ,Q KLV FRQWULEXWLRQ 0U J. B. Daudu, SAN and Coordinator, Rule of Law Development Foundation 52/') FRPPHQGHG the crispy submissions of the learned jurist, and assured the participants of the determination of the Rule of Law Development Foundation to pursue the enactment of the relevant laws.

NBA Lagos Law Week: Preparing Lawyers for Technological Advancement

Human Trafficking: 95% of Victims are Female

Ademola Orunbon

ted in his paper that, the solution does not lie in the Central Bank Governor’s unilateral declaration of Cryptocurrency as an illegal money, but in apSURSULDWH DXWKRULWLHV ÀOOLQJ the legislative or regulatory gaps. The learned jurist stressed that Nigeria, being a country, whose economy is growing within the realm of technological advancements, has no reason to lag behind such a global trend. He called on the National Assembly to proceed without any further delay, to remove all inhibitions that exist in dealing with e-commerce.

The jurist asserted on a

with the theme ‘Disruption, Innovation and the Bar’, held from, July 23, 2021, through WR WKH WK DW WKH 6KHOO +DOO Muson Centre, Lagos.

The Opening Ceremony NLFNHG RͿ RQ 0RQGD\ -XO\ 26, 2021, started with opening remarks from the Chairperson of the 2021 Law Week 3ODQQLQJ &RPPLWWHH 0UV Efe Etomi. +LV ([FHOOHQF\ 3URI <HPL 2VLQEDMR WKH 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW of Nigeria in his address. commended the NBA Lagos Branch for setting an enviable standard across the nation.

On the technological advancement in the global legal practice, he had this to say, “We are fast becoming a global market place for investment and legal services, the extent to which we can attract businesses to our country, depends RQ RXU LQYHVWPHQW SHUFHSWLRQµ 3ULRU WR WKH FRPPHQFHPHQW RI WKH 3OHQDU\ 6HVVLRQV 1%$ Lagos Branch, launched the Lagos Bar Journal. Members of the Editorial Committee were recognised for putting LQ WUHPHQGRXV HͿRUWV WRZDUGV its publication.

The Keynote Address was given by David Halliwell, 3DUWQHU 3LQVHQW 0DVRQ V Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Speaking on the disruption in the global Legal practice GXH WR WKH &RYLG RXWEUHDN Mr Halliwell had this to say, “Lawyers globally have adjusted to the changing times, by adapting to the way of life in order to be able to work. As we all know, that necessity is the mother of invention and in order to get things done, we all have to change our expectations and our habits. ´,Q VKRUW ZH KDYH DOO EHHQ responding to this disruptions, inventing series of developments, adapting in ways that are unimaginable these past IHZ PRQWKV ,Q VKRUW WKH version of ourselves would be astonished at what we have done, and what we are set to DFKLHYHµ 7KH ÀUVW SOHQDU\ VHVVLRQ moderated by Charles $GHRJXQ 3KLOOLSV )RUPHU UN Genocide & War Crimes

3URVHFXWRU 3DUWQHU DW &KDUOHV Anthony Law, had in attenGDQFH 'U 2E\ (]HNZHVLOL )HPL )DODQD 6$1 3URI $NLQ 2\HERGH DQG 3URI &KLGL Odinkalu.

The Moderator started the session, expressing his disappointment at the way the Nigerian Government has handled the issue of national security. +H VDLG ´7KLV PRUQLQJ , read that certain journalists were barred from recording the SURFHHGLQJV RI 1QDPGL .DQX V trial, when Chapter four of the &RQVWLWXWLRQ KDV FOHDUO\ stated that trials should be made public. We have to look at how this Government has shown a blatant disregard for the Constitution, the rule of law, from the perspective of Freedom of Association, Freedom of Speech and the 3UHVV WKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO /HJDO ,QVWLWXWLRQV WR DVN KRZ WKLV Government ensured the 3URPRWLRQ RI WKH )XQGDPHQWDO +XPDQ 5LJKWVµ ,Q KHU UHPDUNV 'U 2E\ cont'd on page 11

LEGAL UPDATE

NBA 2021 Annual General Conference The Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference, is scheduled to hold from Friday the 22nd of October - Friday the 29th of October, 2021 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and the theme is ‘Taking the Lead’.

It will be a Hybrid Conference, with opportunities for virtual and in-person participation; and promises to be an exciting and enlightening experience.

To be a part of the experience, kindly, contact the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) on 08033099197 or 08033385116.

6/IMAGES

L

ast week, over 5,000 New Wigs were admitted into the legal profession by the Body of Benchers at the Call to Bar Ceremony in Abuja. Here are some of the New Wigs with members of the Body of Benchers, their families and friends...

03.08.2021

L-R: Chairman, Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, Chairman, Body of Benchers, Hon. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, Hon Justice Abdu Aboki, JSC, DG Nigerian Law School, Prof Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, Chairman, Judiciary Committee, House of Representatives, Hon. Enefiok Luke, Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Secretary, Body of Benchers, Mr Daniel Tela

L-R: Members of the Body of Benchers, Ibrahim Mark, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN L-R: NBA President, Olumide Akpata, New Wig, Miss Abubakar and her father, former Bauchi State Governor, M. A. Abubakar

Chief JK Gadzama, SAN, and New Wig, Miss Omehia

L-R: Ade Adedeji, SAN, his daughter, Demilade and her Mother, Mrs Adedeji

Proud Parents, Ayotola Ayodeji (left) and Iranola Ayodeji (right) with the New Wigs, Fisayo and Feyisola

New Wigs, Fisayo (left) and Feyisola Ayodeji with their Aunty, Wife of the Vice President, HE Dolapo Osinbajo

L-R: Proud Mother, Pat Faniran, her daughter, New Wig, Tife Oratokhai, Dele Belgore, SAN and Ronkę Katagum

L-R: Sule Ogwu Usman, SAN, his daughter, New Wig, Farida Ufedo Usman, and his wife, Hajia Maryam Sule

03.08.2021

IMAGES /7

A cross-section of members of the Body of Benchers at the Call to Bar Ceremony

Fisayo and Feyisola Ayodeji, their Parents, and Uncle, Segun Awolowo (centre)

New Wig, Esther Chukwuemeka

L-R: Debbie Oghene, Mother of the New Wig, Bola Olugboyegun, Damilola Agbaje, his wife, New Wig, Ayomide Agbaje, Father of the New Wig, Segun Olugboyegun and Femi Ibitoye Ade Adedeji, SAN and his daughter, New Wig, Demilade

New Wig, Doosuur Agbadu-Fishim L-R: NBA President, Olumide Akpata, Uche Val Obi, SAN, Miss Vanessa Obi, Mrs Emmanuella Obi and former NBA President, Augustine Alegeh, SAN

Fola Akande (2nd left) and her children, Olufunke (1st left), New Wig, Dolapo Akande and his twin brother, Kolapo

New Wig, J.T. Gurgur

8/COVER

03.08.2021

D

I

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‘As Governor, Aregbesola Didn’t

The highly controversial issue of the abolition of the death penalty is one that has in the past few years, elicited debates between human rights practitioners and the Government. While there are religious and social postures in the push to abolish or not to abolish, the global move in the past two decades or more, has been towards doing away with the death penalty as a form of punishment. Many more countries have since erased the death penalty from their statute books, including several African countries, with the Francophone enclave leading the move. Nigeria, under the Obasanjo regime, stoically achieved the status of moratorium, that to the admiration and commendation of the international community, not a single death-row inmate was executed between 1999 and 2007. This huge stride is now in danger, as the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, last week, urged State Governors to sign death warrants to execute death row inmates, in order to decongest the Nigerian prisons. Chino Edmund Obiagwu, SAN, Paul Ashibel and Lazarus Chinweokwu advance reasons as to why Aregbesola’s recommendation is not only archaic, but inhumane, especially as we have a system that doesn’t always guarantee justice

Rethinking Nigeria’s Policy on Death Penalty Chino Edmund Obiagwu, SAN Introduction

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was the Governor of Osun State, for eight years.

He didn’t sign a single death warrant, despite over 100 death row prisoners from Osun State. But, last week, as a Minister of Interior, he called on Governors to sign death warrants as a way of decongesting prisons. Such official insincerity, not uncommon among the political society, underpins the fallacy of the death penalty debate in this country. Clearly, on the issue of death penalty, Nigeria’s position is more of self-deception than sound policy.

Official Conspiracy Against the Weak and Vulnerable There is no doubt that the death penalty is in our statute books, because the poor and vulnerable are the usual victims.

Massive corruption and financial fraud by the political elites and private sector businessmen, most of them resulting in the silent death of millions of Nigerians, are exempted from death penalty. Funding terrorism is also exempted from the death penalty, under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The day these crimes are capitalised, our political leaders will abolish the death penalty. Such official conspiracy against the weak and vulnerable by the political society, underpins the hypocrisy of the death penalty debate in this country.

Many Nigerians agree that, executing offenders is a tall order; a very inhuman and beastly way of enforcing criminal law. A recent survey by LEDAP shows that 51% of Nigerians under the age of 35 years did not support the use of death sentence, and nearly 75% of victims of violent crimes that did not result in homicide would not want the offenders killed. But, most of the 3,100 prisoners on death row are sentenced for non-fatal armed robberies, not murder.

On that score, Nigeria maintains the cruellest and harshest death penalty regime in the world, perhaps, next only after China.

Many non-fatal violent crimes, not resulting in death of anyone, are punished

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola

with death. From armed robbery to treason, kidnapping, adultery and even being a homosexual, are all punishable by execution. No other democracy in the

“OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA WAS THE GOVERNOR OF OSUN STATE, FOR EIGHT YEARS. HE DIDN’T SIGN A SINGLE DEATH WARRANT, DESPITE OVER 100 DEATH ROW PRISONERS FROM OSUN STATE”

world, has such harsh penal laws. No democracy in the world treats her poor and vulnerable citizens who are in conflict with the law, with such coldness and disregard for the sanctity of human life.

Not many officials, especially State Governors, and officials of Correctional Centres, are emotionally and ethically convinced that all those sentenced to death deserve to die. Execution of the death sentence, is irreversible. Most times, the trauma of a Governor wrongfully signing death warrants will last a lifetime, even unto his generations, if it’s eventually found that the executed prisoner was innocent of the crimes for which he or she was convicted. So, it’s emotionally difficult to put the burden on Governors. Moreover, the death sentence serves no useful purpose in crime prevention. In fact, it heightens violent crime, as offenders become more brutal and do everything to eliminate possible incriminating evidence. So, we will continue to see lethargy on the part of Governors signing death warrants.

In 2004, the Nigerian Government set up a National Study Group on the abolition of the death penalty, headed

by Prof Yemisi Bamgbose, SAN, while the current Attorney-General of Ekiti State, Wale Fapohunda, was the Secretary.

The group traversed the entire country and arrived at apt conclusions in their report, including the recommendation to the Federal Government to introduce a national moratorium on sentencing and execution of the death penalty, while the State Governments review their death penalty regimes. The main reason for the

recommendation was that, according to the report, ‘a system that cannot give justice should not take life’.

I have practiced criminal law in this country for almost three decades, and I know firsthand how much the Nigerian criminal justice system, and indeed, any justice system, in sizeable instances would not give justice.

Examples of Injustice I have litigated a case in which a 19-yearold was convicted and sentenced to death because his friends who were playing football within Ajegunle, fought with a man who was crossing the field they were playing on, and one of the boys, not my client, stabbed the man during the fight, and he died days later. (Williams Owodo v The State). Mr. Owodo did not even participate in the fight, and that was why he surrendered to the Police when Police was searching the neighbourhood for the culprits, according to abundant evidence. Yet, he was convicted and sentenced to death.

I have also litigated the cases of Monday Ilade Prosper v The State, a 21-year-old, who was a driver of his employer, and was owed three-month salary. On the fateful day, his employer went to the bank to collect money and as he drove him to his office, he stopped the car, pretended something spoilt on the engine, which attracted his employer to also come of the car to check. Mr. Monday took sand from the ground and poured on the face of his employers, and took the bag of money from the car and ran away. He was later arrested

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Sign One Death Warrant’ and convicted for armed robbery, and sentenced to death. The Edo State High Court that convicted him said that ‘sand’ constitutes ‘obnoxious substance’ and therefore, a weapon under the Robbery and Firearm Tribunals Act, an infamous interpretation of the law, which the Court of Appeal, quickly set aside and acquitted Mr Monday. But, he had spent 13 years in prison, eight of which was on death row.

I have also defended two teenage boys who were, according to the Police, drinking and smoking with friends in the Isolo area of Lagos in a drinking parlour, boasting that they were bad boys. The beer parlour vendor called in the Police, who arrested five of them, and the duo eventually ‘confessed’ to having carried out all the series of robberies that were going on in the area at the time. They were charged with armed robbery. There was no witness who said he or she was robbed by these people. Only the Police witness, who interrogated and wrote their confessional statements. They were both convicted, and sentenced to death.

We entered the case on appeal and the Court of Appeal Justices readily set aside the sentence. (Sopurichi Obed v State; Edet Otobong v State).

A 2007 study by LEDAP of death penalty appeal judgements between 2001 and 2006, showed that one-third of death sentences are overturned on appeal, showing a very high rate of wrongful conviction. This statistic is enough to conclude the ‘a system that cannot give justice cannot take life’ Government’s Insincerity Nigerian political leaders and the entire Nigerian elite must tell ourselves the truth, and remove the death sentence from our statute books.

Another example of Government insincerity about the death penalty, is on the politics of death penalty moratorium.

In 2009, at the session of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of Nigeria, the then Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe, announced to the UN that Nigeria had in place, a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. The UPR Report commented on this, and urged that a policy paper or law be put in place to operationalise the moratorium.

This was not done. In fact, there is no single Government document, evidencing that there is moratorium on the use of death penalty. The National Study Group that recommended moratorium in its Report, was ignored. Today, the Federal Government claims that it is the State Government that will abolish the death penalty, and the State Governments are claiming it is a matter for Federal policy, since the death sentence is sanctioned in the Constitution (Onuoha Kalu v The State).

No Moratorium The Nigerian Government has not lived up to any of its promises to the world, on the issue of death penalty. It has continued to execute death row prisoners, and has never had a moratorium.

There was no document or policy paper declaring moratorium on executions, or on death sentencing. The Federal Government has not made any official

“BUT, MOST OF THE 3,100 PRISONERS ON DEATH ROW ARE SENTENCED FOR NON-FATAL ARMED ROBBERIES, NOT MURDER. ON THAT SCORE, NIGERIA MAINTAINS THE CRUELLEST AND HARSHEST DEATH PENALTY REGIME IN THE WORLD, PERHAPS, NEXT ONLY AFTER CHINA” Chino Edmund Obiagwu, SAN

commitment, to discourage States from using the death penalty. On the contrary, in May 2012, State Governors met in Abuja, and announced they would commence executions as a way to decongest prisons, an illogical proposition because Nigeria’s prisons are over-populated by only awaiting trial prisoners. Upon that threat to kill them, all death-row prisoners in 11 maximum security prisons filed two suits at the Federal High Court against all State Governors, to stop any execution. The cases are still pending at the Court of Appeal. (Godwin Pius v Governor of Abia State & Others; Nnenna Obi v Comptroller of Prisons & 37 Others).

Despite the on-going suit, prisoners continued to be executed, as was the case in Edo State in 2016. At the same time, the Federal Government has discarded the Report of the Death Penalty Study Group, and completely ignored its commitment to the UN Human Rights Council. Not only that it has executed prisoners since then, in 2013 and 2016, it expanded the range of non-homicidal crimes punishable by death sentence. It has also continued to apply death penalty as mandatory punishment, despite the fact that all over modern democracies, the mandatory use of death sentence has been abolished, because it constitutes a legislative usurpation of the judicial functions of sentencing. Nearly all courts and tribunals in which the issue of use of the mandatory death penalty had been raised, have held that to sentence a person to death or to any pre-determined punishment irrespective of his or her individual circumstances, constitute inhuman and degrading treatment. Thus, in most African democracies, mandatory death penalty has been abolished by either legislation or judicial decisions: Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, etc. In South Africa, the courts declared the use of the death penalty unconstitutional, because it violated the right to life and the right to humane treatment. (Makwanyane v State).

Nigeria’s Legislature has ignored calls

by civil society organisations to abolish the use of death sentence, or to restrict it to only crimes resulting in death of the victims. In many instances, State Governments introduced death penalty for kidnapping (Edo, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Imo, Abia, and Delta) and for adultery, apostasy and sodomy (12 Sharia States).

Conclusion The fact that there is increase in these crimes despite these harsh laws, shows that the severity of punishment is not a deterrence to crime. What discourages potential criminals from committing crimes, is the high possibility of being apprehended while committing the offence.

The Nigerian Government, at State and Federal levels, should focus on improving Police capacity to arrest and prosecute criminals, rather than increasing the possibilities of injustice through the wide-range use of the death penalty. In death penalty practices, there is always a high risk that an innocent person could be wrongly convicted and executed, a dangerous prospect in any modern society.

Life imprisonment, is a humane and civil alternative to death sentence. Life sentence forecloses any possibility of killing an innocent soul. Nigeria should embrace change, and walk its talk on death penalty moratorium.

Now, the way forward is for the National Assembly to pass the Death Penalty Moratorium Bill presented to it by civil society organisations since 2017, which will put on hold judicial sentencing to death and executions for five to ten years, within which period each State House of Assembly takes time to consider whether or not to review its Criminal Code or Penal Code, to replace provisions for death sentence with life or long-term imprisonment.

This is because most offences that are punishable by the death sentence, except treason, are State offences. These are murder, under the Criminal Code applicable in Southern States, or Homicide,

punishable by death under the Penal Code applicable in Northern States, armed robbery, kidnapping in some Southern States, adultery and apostasy in some Northern Sharia States, and treasonable felony.

Chino Edmund Obiagwu, SAN, Lead Counsel at LEDAP – Legal Defence & Assistance Project

‘Executing Death-Row Prisoners to Reduce Prison Congestion is Outrageous’ Paul Ashibel and Lazarus Chinweokwu Introduction Speaking at the official commissioning of Osun State Command Headquarters of Correctional Office Complex in Osogbo on 23rd July, 2021, the Hon. Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had stated that, out of 68,747 inmates currently housed in correctional facilities nationwide, 50,992 of them are awaiting trial, while 17,755 have been convicted and serving sentences. Also speaking on the challenge of congestion in Correctional Centres, the cont'd on page 10

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Minister revealed that its actual capacity of 57,278 has been exceeded by 18%. The Minister believes that, the if Governors "take the bold step" to sign execution orders for inmates on death row, it would help to resolve the problem of congestion.

The Death Penalty in Nigeria The death penalty, as a sentencing instrument in Nigeria, is derived from Sections 33(1) and 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Section 33(1)) provides that: "Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria”. The Supreme Court has also upheld the constitutionality of the death sentence in Nigeria.

Some of the offences which attract capital punishment in Nigeria include murder, terrorism-related offences, armed robbery, treason, false testimony leading to the execution of an innocent person, and aiding the suicide of a child or lunatic.

In twelve Northern Nigerian States of Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kebbi, Yobe, Kaduna, Niger and Gombe where the Sharia Panel laws are applicable, adultery, rape, incest, sodomy, witchcraft, and blasphemy, also carry the death penalty.

Statutes Backing the Death Penalty in Nigeria The Armed Robbery and Firearms Decree No. 5 of 1984 (now an Act) provides for the imposition of the death penalty, prescribing that offenders so sentenced, should be hanged by the neck until death or they die by firing squad.

Public executions of offenders under this Decree were popular in Nigeria, especially in the 1980s and 1990s during the military era.

The Penal Code Act with various Criminal Code Laws applicable in Southern Nigeria, also provide for the imposition of the death penalty. The Sharia Panel Code applicable to the 12 northern States, previously prescribed stoning as the method of execution. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, under Parts 38 and 39 (Section 401 to 415) provide details on procedures for imposition of the death sentence.

Governors and the Signing of Death Warrants The law requires that Governors in whose jurisdiction an offender is domiciled, must give consent to carrying out a sentence of death through the signing of death warrant, before the death-sentenced offender is put to death.

Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, Nigeria's Interior Minister, is not the first or only Government official to call on Governors to sign death warrants as a panacea to prison congestion. In 2013, former President Goodluck Jonathan, urged Governors to sign death warrants to reduce congestion in prisons. Even judicial officers have supported this patently obnoxious call.

In 2017, the Chief Judge of Delta State, Marshal Umokoro, in a lecture titled "The Judiciary and Criminal Justice System: Odds and Ends", urged Governors to fulfil their obligation of signing death warrants of condemned persons.

A few Governors have also both expressed, and demonstrated support for the death penalty. In 2013, then Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole signed death warrants of condemned prisoners, the same way as his successor Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2016, signed death warrants of three condemned prisoners.

Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, Governor of Niger State, and Alhaji Abdullahi Umar

Paul Ashibel

Ganduje, Governor of Kano State, have both on separate occasions expressed their willingness to sign death warrants.

The later expressed this position in a case which involved a Kano based Singer, Yusuf Sharif Aminu, who was sentenced to death for blasphemy. There is however, a general reluctance from a majority of Governors to sign death warrants.

Death Penalty: Increasingly Losing Acceptance in a Modern World The death penalty is gradually being

Lazarus Chinweokwu

phased out all over the world. 108 countries have abolished the punishment. In the countries where the penalty has been abolished, some of the reasons cited include the evidence from research that points to the extreme nature of the punishment, and the failure of the punishment to achieve reform as previously thought. In Africa, Sierra Leone, Malawi and Chad are some countries which recently abolished the death penalty.

INMATES BE EXECUTED IN

Access to Justice Denounces Minister’s Position Access to Justice finds Minister Aregbesola’s proposal a preposterous one; it treats human lives as intrinsically expendable objects or commodities which may be dispensed with, in order to achieve a better representation of prison demographics. But, human life - whether of persons under sentence of death or not - is far too valuable as to be expended as a means of achieving an ulterior goal, and in this case, reconfiguring the prison population, or reducing it, and it is unfortunate that the Hon. Minister would make this kind of call.

Besides this, A2Justice fears that, if the Minister’s call is heeded, many death row convicts who have pending appeals against their convictions will be at risk of execution even before their appeals are determined, following administrative errors. This is not a misplaced fear, and there are precedents of such errors leading to unlawful executions.

Besides this, it is important to note that, even from the statistics reported by the Minister, it is clear that the problem of congestion is not as a result of an uptick in the number of sentenced persons, including those on death row. The congestion is caused by the disturbing demographic of inmates who are awaiting trial (pre-trial or under-trial inmates), who account for 74% of the total inmate population.

What Government ought to do, is to step up to the plate and address the chronic problem of pre-trial detention, in order to manage the incidence of prison congestion, not to request that inmates be executed in order to reduce it.

ORDER TO REDUCE IT”

Low Hanging Fruits

“WHAT GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO DO, IS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ADDRESS THE CHRONIC PROBLEM OF PRE-TRIAL DETENTION, IN ORDER TO MANAGE THE INCIDENCE OF PRISON CONGESTION, NOT TO REQUEST THAT

Many factors account for the high level of prison congestion, but part of them include, political persecution and the misuse of criminal justice institutions.

The arrests and jailing of political and civil rights activists, including those agitating for the restructuring of Nigeria, #EndSARS protesters of Police violence, members of religious groups protesting the disrespect of court decisions to release their incarcerated members, or simply those clamouring for better political governance all aggravate the prison congestion problem. These are low hanging fruits and Government can, by simply accommodating dissent as part of the democratic process, alongside respecting other civil rights, ameliorate the pre-trial population of Correctional Centres.

Finally, Access to Justice is strongly opposed to the infliction of the death penalty, particularly given the vulnerabilities and frailties of Nigeria’s judicial system. It’s been said that, a State that must take life, must first give justice.

Nigeria’s justice ecosystem, by which we mean the entire spectrum of the criminal justice process - from arrest right up to conviction – is fraught with treacherous weaknesses, and cannot be trusted to offer consistently fair and reliable results.

Implementing the death penalty will irredeemably jeopardise possibly innocent persons, who are themselves victims of a justice system heavily weighted against the poor and powerless. Moreover, the death penalty as a punishment is both extreme, and its sanctions irreversible after it is executed, even when errors are afterwards discovered. As Stewart J stated in in the notable American case of Furman v Georgia [1972] USSC 170: "The penalty of death differs from all other forms of criminal punishment, not in degree but in kind. It is unique in its total irrevocability. It is unique in its rejection of rehabilitation of the convict, as a basic purpose of criminal justice.

And, it is unique, finally, in its absolute renunciation of all that is embodied in our concept of humanity".

Call Access to Justice thus, calls on the National Assembly to abolish the death penalty in Nigeria.

Paul Ashibel and Lazarus Chinweokwu, Staff of Access to Justice

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A Tone-Deaf Judiciary and its Waning Legitimacy Aderemi Oguntoye uses the ongoing property tussle between Mr Yomi Tokosi and Chief Ralph Obioha at the Lagos High Court, to illustrate the dangers of courts granting indiscriminate orders based on Ex Parte Motions, despite the hue and cry against making important decisions based on one-sided narratives, which could cause irreparable damage In the last quarter of 2020, at the height of the nationwide violent revolt that trailed the appalling and wholly unnecessary shooting of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, the Lagos State Judiciary buildings and facilities were attacked and burned. Shocking images of arson and looting of both courtrooms and the hallowed chambers of Judges would subsequently emerge, the most infamous being that of a man donning the customary wig and gown of the legal profession, whilst wielding a sizeable machete.

That attack on the Judiciary was, and remains, roundly condemned and every person who partook in that ignoble misadventure ought to be fished out and fully punished according to law.

Frustrations of the Common Man There is, however, the unquestionable (even if sensitive) matter of the waning legitimacy of the Judiciary which many know, but few are courageous to speak of publicly. Consciously or inadvertently, Nigerian courts and the jurists that preside over them, through the practices and processes that they allow, frequently raise more questions than answers about what the notion of justice really means to the Judiciary. The current predicament of Chief Ralph Obioha of the NADECO fame, illustrates once again the frustrations of the common man with the Judiciary that is meant to be his last hope.

Embarrassing Ex Parte Order On 15 July, 2021, in Suit No. LD/10436LMW/2021, a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State, Honourable Justice OyekanAbdullahi, based on the ex parte application of a Mr Yomi Tokosi who is the Claimant in the suit, granted an order of interim injunction restraining Chief Ralph Obioha and his family from “further entering” or “coming into” their own home in which they have been living for several years. For context, the Latin term “ex parte” means that the Judge did not hear from Chief Ralph Obioha or his Lawyers, before making the bizarre order that effectively locked out a septuagenarian and his family from their own home. Rather, his Lordship relied solely on the affidavit of Mr Tokosi which apparently claimed ownership of Chief Obioha’s home – a claim that Chief Obioha has always vehemently rejected.

The dispute between Chief Obioha and Mr Tokosi over the ownership of the property at Ikoyi which includes the respective maisonettes in which Chief Obioha and Mr Tokosi live, has been in the public domain since at least January of this year, having been reported by national dailies. This, in and of itself, puts a question mark on the extreme urgency and risk of irreparable damage that could possibly have persuaded the Lagos High Court to injunct Chief Obioha out of his home, without giving him an opportunity to be heard.

This aside, that Mr Tokosi and his Lawyers knew, but failed to disclose to the High Court, the fact that Chief Obioha is living in the very property that they requested that he and his family be barred from entering, speaks volumes about how low the integrity and values of the legal profession have fallen.

It remains to be seen, if the Judiciary will show any genuine interest in penalising those who appear to have deceived it into making yet another embarrassing ex parte order, despite the hue and cry, including by appellate courts, against such indiscriminate orders that are based on one-sided narratives.

Unnecessary Delay In the meantime, it is simply depressing to learn that the ex parte order has still not been revisited by the Lagos High Court as of the time of writing this piece, despite Chief Obioha’s Lawyers filing an application to discharge the order on 28 July, 2021. The affidavit of urgency filed along with the application to discharge the order, tells a heart-wrenching story of how the ex parte order which was issued on 15 July, 2021 was only shown to Chief Obioha’s daughter on 26 July, 2021 when she returned from work (with Chief Obioha having travelled to the East), and used as an excuse for hired hands who are not court bailiffs to forcefully deprive her of access into the home that she has always lived in. Further, the affidavit discloses that the two pet dogs in Chief Obioha’s home have been left at the risk of potentially starving to death because their owners are not available to feed them, having been forcefully deprived access to their home.

One would have thought that these facts are compelling enough for the High Court, which was willing to issue an order behind the back of a party, to convene immediately to review the order. But, the Nigerian Judiciary, as many a common man has bitterly experienced, apparently cannot be rushed into anything, regardless of how dire the situation it created has become. It is understood that the Judge who gave the ex parte order travelled on official assignment, and has been unavailable to review that order. Chief Obioha’s Lawyers have written to the Chief Judge of the Lagos High Court to assign the matter to another Judge in the interest

“BUT, THE NIGERIAN JUDICIARY, AS MANY A COMMON MAN HAS BITTERLY EXPERIENCED, APPARENTLY CANNOT BE RUSHED INTO ANYTHING, REGARDLESS OF HOW DIRE THE SITUATION IT CREATED HAS BECOME” Lagos State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba of justice, but that passionate appeal to the leadership of the High Court has achieved nothing as of today.

In any event, Chief Obioha and his family apparently remain condemned to find shelter, source for food and clothing, and generally perch and squat where they can until (at least) the next court date in the matter, which is 3 August 2021. Knowing the Judiciary, there is neither a guarantee that the Court would in fact convene on that day (as another intervening engagement could easily make His Lordship unavailable again), nor a history of the High Court awarding realistic or substantial damages to compensate victims of unjustified orders.

Sober Reflection In the end, one finds oneself reflecting on the image of that court looter who donned the apparel of the legal profession, but kept the matchete of the street fighter and the symbolism that he might have unintendedly portrayed. Could it be that the “unlearned” public now sees the Judiciary as an institution that is dressed in the garb of justice, but is prone to lend its processes to vicious and oppressive use like a matchete in a street fight? Or could there be an emerging opinion that the

Judiciary is not effective enough to deliver real and efficient justice, and so one must combine making a claim in court with some measure of self-help, such as the one used to prevent Chief Obioha’s daughter from going into her home after a long day at work?

Conclusion The Judiciary cannot pretend not to notice that, on account of such disappointing moves as an ex parte order to quit a man and his family from their home without giving them an opportunity to be heard, it is losing the respect and reverence that it used to enjoy. If the Judiciary would continue to be tone-deaf to the need to act with utmost urgency to redress situations such as the one that Chief Obioha and his household are facing now, then it must be at peace with the rapidity at which its legitimacy in the eyes of those who once looked upon it with awe and deference, is slipping away.

Aderemi Oguntoye, Member, NBA Public Interest Litigation Committee

NBA LAGOS LAW WEEK: PREPARING LAWYERS FOR TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT cont'd from page 5 Ezekwesili touched on the issue of national security. She VDLG ´7KH QXPEHU RQH WKLQJ WR HVWDEOLVK LV ÀUVW WKH GHÀQLWLRQ of National Security which is basically centred around the citizens. This is really about what protects the territorial integrity of the society, it is ensuring that the dignity of the citizens are not trampled upon, it is about the common good of every citizen, so that the livelihood, values, culture of the citizens are safeguarded”.

Another Panelist, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, pointed out Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which provides that the security and welfare of the Nigerian people, shall be the primary purpose of Government. He said, “That provision does not talk about security of the Nigerian Government, but talks about the security of the Nigerian people. When talking about national or State security, we are talking about the security of the totality of Nigerians, of which the Government is a part of”.

He further commented on the Lekki #EndSARS protest that was held in October, 2020. “In the case of Lekki, two Laws were violated, Sections 94 of the Electoral Act and 83(4) of the Police Act, which provide that during protest in Nigeria, the Police shall provide adequate security to ensure that those who are exercising their freedom of expression, are not in any way harassed or intimidated by the so called hoodlums and miscreants”.

6SHDNLQJ RQ WKH 7ZLWWHU EDQ DQG KRZ LW DͿHFWV RXU IXQGDPHQWDO human rights, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, stated as a matter of fact that, a lot of people depend on digital media as a means of livelihood, from advertising their businesses to being able to sell their skills to work. In his opinion, there lies a gaping GLͿHUHQFH EHWZHHQ 5HJLPH 6HFXULW\ DQG 1DWLRQDO 6HFXULW\ In his own contribution, Prof. Akin Oyebode mentioned to the audience, how sad he was to note the rule of law in the

country descend to nothingness.

He said, “We are living in a lawless country, where the State has hijacked the rights and freedom of our people. Those of you who read the dailies recently, especially today, would see the concern of Nigerian journalists and reporters, as to what extent the international law can apply in this country. As for me, an international Lawyer, when all else fails, International Law is a refuge”.

“What I am suggesting to this distinguished audience, is that no Government could be so powerful to ignore the international community. Nigerian Lawyers have not really explored international law as much as Femi Falana has done.

We lost Gani Fawehinmi, but we have a worthy replacement in Femi Falana”, he said.

“Our problem is that we refuse to transit from being a country, to becoming a nation. It is time to design a new nation, through Collective Action Success. The electorate is the only organ, the only avenue for the correction of the disruption.”

L-R Past NBA Lagos Branch Chairmen, Chijioke Okoli, SAN, Alex Muoka, Martin Ogunleye, Chuka Ikwuazom SAN, and outgoing Chairman, Yemi Akangbe, at the NBA Lagos Branch Chairman's Dinner Night, held in Lagos

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The Legality or Otherwise of Public Parade of Suspects by Security Agencies (Part 2) Introduction Last week, we commenced this vexed topical issue on the legality or otherwise of the practice of public parade of suspects by security agencies. Specifically, the current face-off between the Lagos State Police Command and the Lagos State Government, on the illegal and unconstitutional act of public parading of suspects before the media. Today, we shall continue and conclude same. Please, read on.

The Fela Narcotic Trial The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on 14th January, 1997, arrested Afrobeat King, late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti on allegation of being in possession of a narcotic substance. The then NDLEA Chairman, Major-General Musa Bamaiyi paraded the legendary musical icon before the media in handcuffs.

Fela sued the NDLEA, claiming damages of N100 million for the violation of his fundamental rights to fair hearing, personal liberty and human dignity. The NDLEA later brokered a truce with Fela, leading to discontinuing his prosecution before the then Miscellaneous Offences Tribunal.

How the Police was Fined for the Ignoble Act of Subjecting Suspects to Media Parade The case of Ottoh Obono, accused by the Police in Lagos of being a member of a gang of armed robbers who specialised in car snatching, came with a huge cost, unlike the Fela debacle.

Obono had been arrested, and paraded before the media by the Lagos State Police Command on October 7, 2009.

The Lagos DPP, upon a calm review of the available evidence, completely exonerated Obono of any crime. He therefore, sued the Police before the Federal High Court, Calabar, in suit FHC/CA/CS/91/2009, for his illegal incarceration, while awaiting the DPP’s legal advice.

In a judgement delivered on July 18, 2011, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke condemned the action of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, for parading Obono before the media. The Judge awarded N20 million exemplary damages and N50,000 cost against the Police, in favour of Mr Obono.

In most lucid totems, Justice Aneke held: “The parading of the Applicant (Ottoh Obono) on October 7, 2009 by 2nd Respondent (Commissioner of Police, Lagos State) before a horde of journalists from both the print and electronic media, prior to the Applicant’s arraignment before a court of competent jurisdiction as a member of a gang of armed robbers who specialises in car snatching, and the subsequent publishing of the Applicant’s photographs in The Punch Newspaper of Thursday, the 8th of October, 2009 and the airing of same news item on the 9 O’clock Network News Programme of the NTA on the same date, only for the said Applicant to be exonerated of having committed any crime by the legal advice of the learned Director of Public Prosecutions of Lagos State after having spent a period of over 10 months in Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, Lagos State on remand, makes nonsense of the Applicant’s right to the presumption of innocence as enshrined in Section 36(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and leaves much to be desired in the administration of justice system in the country…..

“The Respondents’ conducts against the Applicant are totally reprehensible and condemnable, and I hereby condemn same without equivocation”.

In DYOT BAYI & 14 ORS. v FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (2004-2009) CCJLER 245 at 265, the sub-regional Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS Court, trenchantly condemned the media trial of the Applicants when it held that: “The Court is of the opinion that for the fact that the Defendants presented the Applicants before the press when no Judge or court has found them guilty, certainly constitutes a violation of the principle of presumption of innocence such as provided in Article 7(b) of the same African Charter, and not a violation in the sense of Article 5 of the said Charter.” The Court proceeded to award damages of US$42,750.00 to each of the 10 Applicants and the US$10,000.00 as costs payable by the Federal Government, for the illegal actions of the naval personnel who carried out the illegal parade of the Applicants.

The height of the absurdity inherent in parading mere criminal suspects before the media, occurred in the laughable arraignment of suspects in the horrific assassination of Olaitan Oyerinde, the former Principal Secretary of the then Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

The brutal murder had occurred in Benin on January 24,

Public Parade of Crime Suspects 2013. The Edo State Police Command paraded the alleged assassins, including a human rights activist in Benin. On the contrary, the State Security Service paraded the alleged armed robbers who killed the deceased in Abuja. A former Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Lawal Gunmi, described the shameful episode in excoriating terms thus: “a bewildering case of one murder, two government agencies and two different culprits. The Police and the State Security Service, the two security agencies investigating the murder, paraded two different sets of suspects, a development that has set off speculation that the investigation into the murder was most likely bungled”.

Foreign Jurisdictions and Media Parade of Suspects India In 2015, Division Bench of the Hyderabad High Court, which included the Chief Justice, Justice Kaljay Jyoti Sengupta and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar, expressed “extreme displeasure” over parading of accused persons before the print media and television channels. The CJ noted that such practice leaves a permanent stigma on the accused when eventually acquitted, with him and his family losing societal prestige.

On another occasion, a three-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court led by the then Chief Justice of India, R.M. Lohda, decried media parade as: “it is an affront to the person and dignity of the accused who was presumed innocent until convicted of the crime”. He held that it touches on Article 21 of the Indian Constitution (rights to life and fair trial).

Even the Bombay High Court on November 7, 2014, asked the Maharashtra Government and the Union Government, to instruct the investigating agencies not to resort to pre-trial

“FELA SUED THE NDLEA, CLAIMING DAMAGES OF N100 MILLION FOR THE VIOLATION OF HIS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS TO FAIR HEARING, PERSONAL LIBERTY AND HUMAN DIGNITY. THE NDLEA LATER BROKERED A TRUCE WITH FELA…..”

disclosure of the accused.

Bangladesh Bangladesh was in the same class as Nigeria, until 2012. It, however, outlawed the practice following a court order in 2021 banning media parade. The order was informed by the parade of a Judge, Javed Imam, who was accused of drug peddling. The order barred the Police from producing suspects or arrested persons in any case, before the media.

The Libel in Media Parade Indeed, public media parade of suspects can also be libellous, where the suspect’s pictures are published by the media.

In such a case, the publishers and media organisations are liable in damages.

Any Clash between the Lagos State Law and Police Functions?

Some pundits have argued that the Lagos State Government may be heading for a head-on collision, if it insists on enforcing the law against media parades. I do not think so. A State, such as Lagos State, is entitled to protect its citizens and enact laws towards such protection. The doctrine of “covering the field” is not applicable herein, security not being a matter within the Exclusive Legislative List. See sections 4(5); 14(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as altered). (The End) Serious and Trivial There are two sides to every coin. Life itself contains not only the good, but also the bad and the ugly. Let us now explore these.

“If peace means accepting second class citizenship, then I don’t want it. If peace means keeping my mouth shut in the midst of evil and injustice, then I don’t want it. If peace means being complacent and accepting the status quo, then I don’t want it. If peace means being passive, then I don’t want it. If peace means a willingness to be exploited and humiliated, then that’s is the kind of peace that I don’t want.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “When the citizens of a Nation deem their most accomplished thieves as the most electable, then they lose the right to complain when theft becomes their National creed.”- Modibo Keita (1915-1977).

“The Police Station in Kagoro, Kaduna State closes by 7pm. They say it is due to security reasons….. wahala no de finish especially for Nigeria.”- Anonymous.

THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK “It was once said that the moral test of government, is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.” (Hubert H. Humphrey) “We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force.” (Ayn Rand) “Majority rule only works, if you're also considering individual rights. Because, you can't have five wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for supper.” (Larry Flynt)

3.8.2021

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03.08.2021

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT

Lagos Reviews Regularisation of Property, Documentation Over 100% Bennett Oghifo

L

agos State government has surreptitiously increased fees charged for property/land regularisation and other documentation from 25 per cent of the fair market value of such property to over 100 per cent in some cases.

The National President of the Nigerian Institute of Building, Bldr. Kunle Awobodu has appealed to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to be more considerate in the imposition of these charges/fees/rates so as not to stifle the real estate market.

“The Lagos State government is trying to increase their internally generated revenue (IGR).

They should understand that the post-COVID economy is in quagmire, not buoyant. So, this is not the time to double taxes or charges, I mean not the time to increase those fees astronomically.

This, he said was because people were just trying to recover from losses created by COVID-19 and #EndSars protests. There is property glut right now, because of weak purchasing power of most people.”

He said not many people are developing buildings right now and that the few that are doing so should be encouraged. “The astronomical increase of these charges will affect the real estate market adversely.

“So, we appeal to the governor to allow the economy to stabilise and the charges should be minimal. We understand that the government needs a strong IGR to provide social amenities, but they should be guided by the poor economy,” he said.

There is demand for the buildings being constructed but people cannot purchase them for lack of funds and developers would be unable to pay back loans to lenders if they are unable to sell, he said.

Meanwhile, there is no uproar yet unlike when it increased the Land Use Charge, because

it targets a small group of people who must do the mandatory property regularisation/ documentation, according to investors, who said they purchased land in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki and elsewhere that they needed to document.

Those who said they have documents, released by the government about two months ago, showing rates/fees/charges, say they believe the government is “desperate for cash” and is doing all that was necessary to recoup the revenue they lost to the COVID-19 lockdown and amass money to rebuild infrastructure destroyed during the #EndSars protest.

So, in all sectors of the Lagos economy, all rates/fees/charges have been increased over 100%, and these payments are made in every step of the way on all projects, discouraging potential investors and even those with ongoing developments.

“I’m beginning to suspect that the Lagos State government is deliberately making it difficult for people to build their homes or set up work stations in the state. Most people are moving to neighbouring states, particularly Ogun, because it is not easy to do business in Lagos State,” said an investor.

Another investor in Lekki said, “The Lagos State government is budgeting on the projected earnings of residents, just as jobless landlords do with their tenants.”

According to a professional in the built environment (name withheld, who said his clients’ projects have been badly hit by this new regime of fees/charges/rates, “What is going on now and from what I also gathered, is revenue drive across board by the Lagos State government.”

They said, “The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has a crack no-holds-barred revenue committee that targets property and other sectors of the economy.”

For instance, they stated that “if you want to build a house, you will go through the physical

Sanwo-Olu

planning department for them to assess your house and all the while, this has not being a problem because moderate fees are charged.

However, not up to two months ago, the rates have become bizarre, something everyone is running from.

“In Ikoyi, for instance, a single family unit of five bedrooms or less that with ground, first to tenth floor that is built on a little over 10,000sqms will have attracted between N600,000 and N700,000, in that physical planning department. It will not be more than N800,000

just to get it assessed, but in the last one and a half months, the government is suddenly asking people to pay over N14 million for the assessment of that same type of single family building that should ordinarily cost between N600,000 and N800,000. This is preposterous, in the extreme.”

The government’s new payment structure attracted a “blowback as nobody was coming forward for assessment or documentation, and projects have been abandoned, and this has reduced their revenue drive.”

Megamound Partners Lagos to Deliver Affordable Housing Bennett Oghifo Leading real estate development company, Megamound Investment Limited, which recently marked its 28 years anniversary, is partnering with Lagos state government to close the huge deficit in the housing sector. The partnership is Me-

gamound’s first joint venture with Lagos State government to address growing housing concerns around the country.

The successful private company is fondly known with exquisite and choice homes that appeal interests of its clientele across the country. Near to three decades, Megamound has

carved a niche for itself and became industry de facto in the areas of construction, real estate development, management, dredging and allied businesses.

Precisely, the time-tested firm that boasts a bevy of elegant housing products on its stable is presently giving rapt attention to its Greater Lagos

County Apartments located in Surulere and Willcrown Apartments located in Ikota corridor of Lekki. In the former, Megamound is partnering with the Lagos State Government through its agency, the Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC) to build 1, 2, 3 Bedroom private residences of

sizes ranging from 43 to 135 square meters. The Greater Lagos County Apartments is a multi-floor development driven with elevators that are designed exclusively for those who desire a truly unique social environment. According to the firm’s Head of Sales & Marketing, Marian Ofen-imu,

“Each apartment incorporates a distinctive design with modern innovation to create homes with unique settings of spacious living. Some major selling points of the apartments are beautifully conceived interiors, good and functional infrastructure and a serene environment”.

Millennial Bay Residences Excites Investors The introduction of the Millennial Bay residences, a 10-storey high-rise in Lekki, Lagos, has generated so much excitement from customers and would-be

investors due to its unique and timeless designs and functionality. These have been the hallmarks of Dradrock Real Estate developments.

Artist impression of Millennial Bay Residences

The Chief executive officer, Oladipo Idowu-Agida, spoke at a brief official unveiling ceremony, and the commencement of the sale at

the company’s Lagos head office in the presence of a few staff, customers and investors in compliance with covid-19 guidelines.

He stated that some investors had already acquired some apartments of the millennial Bay by taking advantage of the pre-launch sales to secure investments at the Millennial Bay smartly because of the project’s acceptability.

“The millennial Bay is undoubtedly a disruptive design in the Real Estate space in Nigeria and even beyond.

It is one which so much work has gone into in the last few months. A blend of high-end luxury and sophistication, that is why we have termed it “Perfection.” It is important to know that our strategy and customer solutions unit, set up to manage customer inquiries and complaints, has been inundated with calls mostly from Nigerians in the diaspora who have shown interest in investing in this project. It will suffice to say that the project has received

positive reviews from Real estate investors; everyone is excited about Millennial Bay.” “This project is in a secure and serene neighbourhood; it is out-of-the-way of busy commercial roads within Lekki but still has unfettered access to highbrow eateries, schools, religious centres, shopping malls, and cinemas. These apartments are smart homes with the best technology available to keep you in the comfort of your homes. We have been very intentional about the designs to give residents value for their money. We say with the highest certainty that once completed, it will be the best thing to come to Lekki.”

Asides from being a residential attraction, the millennial Bay can be an investors’ haven while giving some investments tips to would-be investors.

Motunrayo Ayorinde, Head, Business units of Dradrock, said that savvy investors could make very high returns on their investments in these apartments and realize their capital within a short

investment period. “We give so much to research on behalf of our investors, and statistics show that apartments have a rapid and high rate of investment returns once these apartments are well furnished and utilized as short-stay for travellers and holidaymakers.” She further advised investors to visit the official website of Dradrock Real Estate to know more about the various investment opportunities available.

Tobi Igbinedion, a project manager at Dradrock Real Estate, who will directly oversee the project’s development, also said that there are reasons for would-be residents to be excited. The distinctive architectural designs, to the mixed-residential concept, are all rare concepts in this industry. Igbenedion said,” we are going to pay attention to every detail; we will deploy the best resources, both human and materials, upon commencement of the project.

We want a project that will be exemplary, and that is what we will work to achieve.

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03.08.2021

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT

Most Houses in Nigeria are Overpriced, Says Property Crew MD Christiana Kanu, Managing Director of Property Crew believes that majority of the houses in Nigeria are quite overpriced. She tells Bennett Oghifo that houses in major urban cities of Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt are put up at outrageous prices and thereby making it almost impossible for even the middle-income earners to access

T

ell us about yourself My name is Christiana Kanu, I am 37 years old, I was born in Ilesa Osun State and I am the 7th Child of a family of 8.

I am from Ndiowu in Anambra State, Orumba North Local Government and raised in Lagos State. I did my Primary and Secondary education in Lagos State. After I graduated from high school at the age of 15, I worked with my mother Mrs. Virginia Kanu who was a renowned business woman at the time, at that early age, I successfully managed one of her businesses for over three years. During the period I worked for my mother, she taught me the value of commitment, hard work, consistency, collaboration and entrepreneurial spirit. Afterwards, I proceeded to the University of Benin to Study Accounting. I graduated in 2009 and obtained my MBA from National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). I started my career in a real estate firm and worked as an Accountant and then Marketing Manager within 2 years and it was during this time that my passion for Real Estate blossomed. I love everything about real estate, from Lettings to sales, to development/ construction and the whole real estate process.

In 2012, I founded Relocation Managers Limited which now metamorphosed to Property Crew Limited in 2017. In 2018 out of my love for shelter and hospitality, I founded Shortlet Nigeria Limited- to help both individuals and companies get short-term rental accommodation in Nigeria and due to our large clientele base and the high demand for short term rentals, in 2019 I founded Flex Lagos Limited and our vision is to build several luxurious and affordable short-term rental properties and properties across Nigeria to meet the demands of client base. We currently have over 1,000 short term rental properties in our Shortlet Nigeria Portfolio and we intend to get more listings while for Flex Lagos Nigeria, we have three properties currently running and we intend to spread more across the nation.

Over the years, I have managed to build and maintained a reputation for outstanding service delivery helping investors, developers, buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals. I am currently the President of PCL HOLDINGS. I love family, reading, acquiring new skills and traveling.

Why are you passionate about housing and the real estate sector in Nigeria?

Ever since I was a young adult in high school, I have always had this knack for buildings, structure and architecture. After I graduated from the university, I worked in a real estate company which reignited my passion for real estate. I am passionate about housing because housing is a basic human need and it has been rated worldwide as the second most essential need of man after food. In Nigeria, shelter is one of the major problems we have given that our population is quite enormous and there is housing shortage and yet a tight supply of “reasonably priced” housing options. My primary passion is to seek ways to proffer solutions to the problems of housing shortage and increasingly out-of-reach housing for millions of Nigerians.

I am passionate about providing affordable and quality housing and making sure it is accessible to all. Housing is one of the most important and basic need of humans all over the world and I want to change the narrative and change how people live in Nigeria.

Nigeria has huge housing problem. What do you think can be done to resolve it?

Although housing in Nigeria is a gold mine that plays an integral role in the Nigerian economy and also an investment that provides the greatest source of wealth and savings for many Nigerian families and businesses, it has its challenges and issues that are hindering its growth. Below is a list of what I believe are the critical housing problems in Nigeria: Overpriced Houses: Majority of the houses in Nigeria are quite overpriced. Houses in major urban cities of Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt are put

ideal property to estate development to change the way Nigerians live and also proving affordable houses and short-term rental properties to both Nigerian and Foreign investors. We intend to continue making living affordable and accessible in Nigeria.

Since inception, what are the giant strides recorded by Property Crew and what are your projections for the nearest future?

The giant strides recorded by Property Crew Limited in line with its objective is making housing affordable and accessible to Nigerians by founding SHORTLET NIGERIA LIMITED and FLEX LAGOS LIMITED to make it easier for Nigerians to live by paying rentals daily, weekly or monthly as opposed to the annual upfront rental payment system we have in Nigeria. We also just recently launched PEDC (Paradise Estate Development Company) with aim to develop quality and very affordable estates within Nigeria to be accessible to all Nigerians. PEDC would change the narrative on how Nigerians Live.

We are about to Launch two (2) of our estates in August and September respectively and we would be creating up to 1,000 affordable housing units for Nigerians.

Christiana Kanu

up at outrageous prices and thereby making it almost impossible for even the middle-income earners to access. One of the reasons for the high cost of housing is majorly the continuous price increase in building materials. I think basically to solve this problem, the government make some sort of reforms in the real estate sector whereby materials should be sourced and produced (internally) locally thereby reducing the cost of construction. Inaccessibility to Project Funding and Mortgage Loans: It is no news that it has become increasingly difficult to access funds for projects in Nigeria especially for real estate development. This has made it difficult for private developers to fund their projects as the government alone cannot handle the housing deficits prevalent in Nigeria and to bridge this gap, there should be easy access for real estate development project fund. Also, there should be easy access to mortgage to enable more Nigerians access funds to buy the house of their dreams. Devaluation of the Naira: The continuous fall in naira is also a major challenge in housing. This is because the Nigerian construction industry depends mostly on the importation of raw materials and equipment used for construction.

With unstable naira, the cost of purchasing these raw materials increases and so the market bears the brunt. We need to produce materials locally so that properties would be more affordable and also the economy would be boosted. Land Registration/ Building Approval Processes and Cost: The structural process of registering properties in Nigeria is one of the main challenges of housing in Nigeria. Real estate agents, developers, and lawyers can relate to this challenge. The Land registration process in Nigeria is frustrating. It can last as long as 6 months to 2 years with elongated procedures costing up to about 20.8% of the value of the property same applies to the building approval processes. More often than not, you may have to spend more than the cash budgeted for your application to move from one office to the next. This automatically disrupts business plans, and highly discourage investors. It

also affects development and construction thereby resulting in overpriced houses that the average Nigerian citizen can’t afford, making this yet another major challenge in housing and the real estate sector.

Omo – onile: Even though the Lagos state government has tried to clamp down the activities of the omo-onile also known as land grabbers, through the properties protection law and by issuing a 21- year jail term to any one of them caught, they are still a major challenge to housing in Nigeria as they still cause havoc because their operations and fraudulent activity has not been fully curbed. These people have driven away landowners and overtaken lands that do not belong to them, they specialize in selling lands to more than one person especially yet to be developed lands increasing land controversies and conflicts in Nigeria. All of these scares potential investors away and slows the progress of society. To solve this problem, the government should put their feet down and set uniform laws in place, in every part of Nigeria to totally eradicate the terrible activities of omo-onile in Nigeria.

Lack of Competent Builders/ Contractors: Many builders and contractors used are inexperienced, they mostly use bad materials to make extra money for themselves. The cases of collapsed buildings in Nigeria in recent times is often as a result of developers that failed to adhere to building construction standards. Adequate supervision of workmen can reduce these cases. Other problems include and are not limited to crumbling infrastructure, high taxation, lack of management, weather related risks e.t.c. Finally, all of these issues listed are major hindrances to the most transformative sector of the economy-Housing, if these issues above are not addressed, it would be difficult for investors both foreign or indigenous to invest.

Talk us through the projects of Property Crew Over the years, Property Crew Limited has been involved in various outstanding projects starting from helping both private individual and companies connect to their

Property Crew is about to launch a mega waterfront housing project in Lagos.

Outline the details and what home buyers will benefit from the project Yes, Property Crew Limited is set to launch a mega water front estate through its development company (Paradise Estate Development Company PEDC) and the estate is Called PARADISE FORESHORE ESTATE. The Project in Lekki Everyone Is Obsessed About! Paradise Foreshore Estate is located in Addo Road, VGC lagoon front Lekki one of the choicest areas to live in Lagos. Lekki is the fastest developing residential and commercial district in Lagos, Lekki is constantly met with the demand for affordable, yet luxurious estates with good amenities. The region, which is constantly attracting major investors and developers is poised for greater returns on investment and capital appreciation. In line with our vision to meet the rising demand for premium standard estates alongside our high-quality standards, we hereby bring to you PARADISE FORESHORE ESTATE -Highlighting the importance of quality and natural living within a well-defined perimeter. Paradise Foreshore Estate (PFE) is the definition of luxury and sophisticated living, this magnificent estate would span over 900 residential plots and 100 commercial/mixed used plots of reclaimed land on the Lagos lagoon, the newly built Paradise Foreshore will become a world class compilation of luxury homes and a spectacular lifestyle. Precisely borne out of the need to provide the best in infrastructure and luxury amenities. When it comes to urban living, PFE will set the pace for others to follow with regards to its contemporary designs, quality construction, eminent structures and lavish facilities. PFE will be the definition of luxury living for both individuals, corporations and families. Paradise Foreshore Estate is set to launch a new dawn and redefine the meaning of urban and luxurious living while providing maximum satisfaction in estates and investments.

A celebration of supremely confident estate design coupled with cutting-edge construction techniques, PFE represents an exciting collaboration between excellent architecture and environment, an iconic focal point on the Lekki skyline whose residents will enjoy a standard of contemporary living.

The vision is to position PFE as a trailblazer when it comes to providing exclusive world class living. Paradise foreshore Estate presents an estate that will check all the boxes you want in luxury lifestyle; Good and transferrable title (Certificate of Occupancy), Expect impeccable architectural designs, best in class construction technology, opulence, great amenities, smart estate systems. It is no wonder the whole of Lagos is obsessed about this project that is set to redefine luxury living in Lekki.

16

TUESDAY AUGUST 3, 2021 • T H I S DAY

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 30Jul-2021, 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 ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.07% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.23 3.39 -4.83% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 5.17% Anchoria Equity Fund 135.41 136.97 1.81% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.10 1.10 -17.50% 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 19.75 20.34 8.88% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 428.99 441.93 7.15% ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.97 0.97 -7.93% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.98% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 105.42 105.42 3.65% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,013.10 1,013.10 1.31% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.01 1.01 2.06% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.23% Paramount Equity Fund 16.60 16.91 3.81% Women's Investment Fund 137.15 138.74 3.06% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.01% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 118.65 119.41 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 107.24 107.24 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 7.23% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 5.60% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,137.72 1,152.64 -1.24% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,396.32 1,396.32 11.35% FBN Balanced Fund 191.98 193.40 2.29% FBN Halal Fund 111.56 111.56 7.78% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.60% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

126.40 158.14

126.40 3.35% 160.36 4.60% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price 1.00 3.96 1.58 1.18

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 5.19% 3.96 2.35% 1.61 3.66% 1.18 3.97% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price 3,782.89 3,358.16 100.00

Offer Price 3,781.69 3,358.16 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 0.26% 2.50% 4.23%

GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.96% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.80 2.86 -2.06% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 151.81 152.08 -2.37% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.29 1.33 2.09% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.09 1.09 0.14% 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 1.42 1.44 4.17% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,138.55 1,138.55 4.90% 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 11.55 11.61 10.35% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 8.23% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.65 1.68 7.19% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.46 11.52 -5.48% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 4.79% PACAM Equity Fund 1.66 1.68 5.09% PACAM EuroBond Fund 112.51 114.26 2.38% 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 134.57 137.17 10.02% 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 1.01 1.01 10.07% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,278.85 3,313.66 0.43% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 231.76 231.76 0.00% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.22 1.24 1.65% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 305.19 305.19 0.06% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 224.92 228.24 1.19% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.00% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,352.42 10,500.67 1.06% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.27 1.27 0.05% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 115.01 115.01 0.03% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 102.69 102.69 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.30 1.32 1.59% United Capital Bond Fund 1.90 1.90 3.82% United Capital Equity Fund 0.87 0.89 9.86% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.63% United Capital Eurobond Fund 119.30 119.30 4.24% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.06 1.07 3.80% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.06 1.06 5.78% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.96 13.07 9.20% Zenith Ethical Fund 14.29 14.41 16.96% Zenith Income Fund 24.24 24.24 1.08% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.76%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.98 51.79

10.62% 2.65%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.41

13.51

1.42%

127.26 100.70 17.97 18.31

130.33 102.84 18.07 18.41

1.29% 1.46%

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.93 5.94 17.59 1.00 19.65 151.26

3.97 6.02 17.69 1.00 19.85 153.26

4.15% 4.30% 8.37% 5.56% -4.20% -30.94%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.40

13.11%

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.

24

TUESDAY AUGUST 3, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

INSIGHT

Hon, Esmond Reid High Commissioner of Jamaica in Nigeria

Nigerian beauty queen Nyekachi Douglas Miss World Africa 2020-221 takes a selfie with the High Commissioner in Abuja. Miss Jamaica won the Miss World contest last year

AUGUST: A MONTH TO CELEBRATE JAMAICA’S FREEDOM AND RECONNECTION WITH AFRICA Lindsay Barrett

T

he first of August is one of the oldest and most revered public holidays in the Caribbean island of Jamaica because it commemorates the emancipation of African slaves in 1834. The entire month of August has become Jamaica’s month to celebrate the spirit of freedom that the small but important nation is widely regarded as representing in every aspect of its existence.

The Jamaican High Commissioner to Nigeria, Esmond Reid, stated, “Three dates in the month are very important to Jamaicans. The first of August is Emancipation Day marking the end of slavery in the 19th century. The sixth of August is our Independence Day marking when we took charge of our national and global sovereignty ending colonial rule by the United Kingdom. The 17th of August marks the birthday of Jamaica’s primary national hero, the Rt. Excellent, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, who is widely regarded as the prime advocate of Pan African self-determination in history.”

The high commissioner said in celebrating these holidays when schools are on a long vacation break in Jamaica, the people should remember the spirit of freedom and other human values that have been harnessed to create the national ethos. Jamaica is recognised as one of the top 10 countries globally as far as

“The future in trade and development and technical partnership and tourism between peoples of Africa and the Caribbean is very bright.” freedom of the press is concerned. It has recently been commended widely for its implementation of gender equity in politics and professional affairs, and business.

“August is the month when we remember that although we are a small nation of about 2.8 million people, we have overcome great odds to be a free nation, and we must not betray the values we have inherited from our history,” said Reid.

The U.S. has only just inaugurated its first holiday marking the end of slavery, to be commemorated on June 16 each year. But Emancipation Day

has been celebrated for several decades in Jamaica.

“On that day special messages from the governor-general, representing Queen Elizabeth II of the UK who is still our head of state and the prime minister who is the leader of government business as well as from the leader of the opposition and the minister of culture are delivered to the people reinforcing the values that we hold dear, and reminding us of the distance we have travelled over the years,” Reid added.

He explained that the emancipation of slavery “resonates with Jamaicans” because so many of them are descendants of the West Africans “held as property” before gaining their freedom.

“Today,” noted the Jamaican envoy, “some Jamaicans call August our month of ‘Emanc-Ipendence’, thus combining the two milestones of freedom in our history.”

According to him, it is important to realise, though, that modern Jamaica is a nation inhabited by peoples of several different national and ethnic origins, and “that is why our motto ‘Out Of Many One People’ symbolises the principles that we celebrate in August.”

The high commissioner further stated that as Jamaica marks its 59th independence, it is embarking on a

drive to expand its diplomatic engagement with the rest of the world.

He explained, “Of course, we have always recognised our special connection with the African continent, especially West Africa. The fact that we have a resident representative in Nigeria with accreditation to Ghana, Sierra Leone, Cameroun, and Senegal shows the strength of our commitment.

“We recognise that Africa is emerging as a force in global affairs. We believe that the capacity of Africa to deliver goods and services to the rest of the world is second to none, and Jamaica is prepared to cooperate with African partners to enhance this capacity.”

In pursuit of this objective, last year, the Jamaican high commission encouraged the initiation of the first direct charter flight between Lagos and Montego Bay. Reid wants to see person-to-person contact between West Africa and the Caribbean community enhanced even though there are enormous obstacles to be overcome.

“The future in trade and development and technical partnership and tourism between peoples of Africa and the Caribbean is very bright,” the high commissioner pointed out. It is, in fact, not far-fetched to visualise August travels between West Africa and Jamaica becoming an exciting tradition in the future as the month is one in which Jamaica’s fabled wealth of cultural and musical talent is put on display.

25

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 3, 2021

ISSUES BEHOLD, NEW OLU OF WARRI, OMO OBA TSOLA EMIKO Olu Of Warri, Omo Oba Tsola Emiko

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

A

nother chapter in the history of Iwereland will open on August 21, at Ode Itsekiri, the ancestral home of Itsekiris, when Omo Oba Tsola Utienyinoritsetsola Emiko will be crowned as the 21st Olu of the ancient Warri kingdom.

Already, preparations are in top gear as the people of Itsekiris are putting arrangements in top gear for the glorious celebrations of the 37years-old monarch-in-waiting.

Expectedly, various Itsekiris traditional dances and boat regatta, and colourful shows have been put in place to make the event memorable.

Omo Oba, Tsola Emiko, was on May 5 announced by the Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Johnson Amataserunlege, on behalf of Warri Traditional Council, as the Olu of Warri-designate after the demise of the 20th monarch, His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli.

According to the age-long traditional practice, the ruling house of Ginuwa I selected him to occupy the exalted traditional stool.

Prince Utieyinoritsola Emiko was undoubtedly born into royalty three years before his father, Prince Godwin Toritseju Emiko, succeeded his father, Ogiame Erejuwa, in 1987. Prince Utieyinoritsola’s father, Olu Atuwatse II, was Olu of Warri from 1987 to 2015. He was the 19th Olu of Warri Kingdom, with the title of Ogiame Atuwatse II. He was crowned on May 2, 1987.

The blue-blooded Emiko was born on April 2, 1984, to Ogiame Atuwatse II, the Olu of Warri, and Olori Gladys Durorike Emiko in Warri. He attended NNPC Primary School, Warri. Later, he studied at Adesoye College, Offa, for his secondary education between 1995 and 2001.

For his higher education, he studied International Studies and Political Science at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S., between 2002 and 2006. In 2007, the young and ambitious prince also bagged a master’s in Management at the university.

With his exposure and education overseas, he has galvanised himself into the corporate and business world, thus making him ready to face the business and industrialised world.

Industrious Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko sits atop many companies and business concerns like Noble Nigeria Ltd., Coral Curator Ltd. He is a director at Ocean Marine Security Ltd., Gulf of Guinea Ltd, and Vessellink Nigeria Ltd.

“I have a lot to do in Delta State and the Niger Delta.

You have chosen right. The almighty God has chosen a good king for you. He will grow the kingdom to greater heights.”

This brand new royal majesty is a caring husband to his heartthrob, Ivie Uhunoma, and an exemplary father to his children.

Not a few will see his ascension as a new vista to attract further developments and progress to the town as he brings to bear his experience and expertise.

At the moment, all roads lead to Warri as the world gets set to witness the mother of all coronations in Nigeria’s South-South region. Prominent Nigerians (home and abroad) have been identifying with the new monarch. Most prominent amongst them are President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, APC national leader Bola Tinubu, an in-law to the Itsekiris, Dein of Agbor, and several others.

Buhari had, on April 5, congratulated the Olu of Warri-designate, Tsola Emiko, wishing him a peaceful reign. He also commiserated with the Itsekiris on the demise of their monarch, Ogiame Ikenwoli.

“President Muhammadu Buhari sends sincere greetings to the Itsekiri nation on the announcement of a new Olu of Warri, as pronounced by the Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom. The president also condoles with the Itsekiris on the passage of the immediate past Olu, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli, which was equally formally announced,” a statement by the Presidency had said.

It added, “President Buhari prays that the Olu-designate, Prince Utieyinoritsetsola

Emiko, will have a peaceful reign, signposted by the massive development of Itsekiri land. He counsels love and reconciliation after a pulsating race for the throne, noting that peradventure any dissension exists, such should be resolved through due process.”

Tinubu, while congratulating Emiko on his announcement as the Olu-designate, fell short of telling the people that he (Emiko) is someone God has prepared for the responsibility of ushering new dawn in the Warri kingdom.

In a statement by his media aide Tunde Rahman, Tinubu noted that the emergence of Emiko as the next monarch is a testament “to the fact that he is indeed ordained to mount the throne of his forefathers.”

Tinubu, while praying that the kingdom will experience rapid development and prosperity under Emiko, said, “I’m delighted over the announcement of the new Olu of Warri Kingdom, Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko.

“His eventual emergence is a testament to the fact that he is indeed ordained to mount the throne of his forefathers.

I congratulate Omoba and the entire Itsekiri nation. May his reign usher in peace, unity, rapid development, and prosperity to the Warri Kingdom.”

Okowa, on his part, also gave his backing to Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko and called for reconciliation of the people to ensure a peaceful reign.

“Please, extend my congratulations to the new monarch, and we assure him that our prayers are with him just as we pray that the Itsekiri nation will remain united. It is only when there is peace that we can have development not only in Warri but the entire Delta State,” said Okowa.

Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, also congratulated the Oludesignate, describing his emergence as a testimony of God’s will for the Itsekiris.

“It is with great excitement that I congratulate Prince Utienyinoritsetsola Emiko on his emergence as the OluDesignate. History has been so kind to the people of Warri, having a historic bond and antecedents with the Yoruba and Benin people,” he stated.

The Erelu Oodua of Aye Kingdom, HRH Tinuade M. Onaneye, also congratulated Prince Tsola Emiko as the Olu of Warridesignate. In a statement released on

April 8, 2021, she noted, “Warri kingdom is greater than all of us, and we must all work together for his greater upliftment.”

According to Erelu, the role of traditional rulers in nation-building is incontrovertible.

She added that the “traditional institution must restore their dignity by appreciating their rightful place in the society for national growth.” She urged the Olu-designate to imitate and build on the good works of his predecessor in uniting the people. She also added that the Yoruba race would support his reign.

In his congratulatory message to Omo Oba, the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, Dr Benjamin Ikenchuku expressed his conviction that the new Olu of Warri-designate would take the Warri kingdom to greater heights.

He showered praises on the Itsekiri nation for the choice of Omoba Tsola Emiko as the next Olu of Warri.

During a visit to the Omoba at Ideniken (his traditional seclusion home) in Warri kingdom, the first-class monarch acknowledged that Agbor and Warri had always enjoyed a robust relationship from the defunct Bendel, adding that in Delta, Warri was his second home.

He commended the chiefs of the kingdom for their roles in promoting the rich values of the Warri kingdom, stressing that they should continue to do.

“I thank all the chiefs of the kingdom here.

By tradition, this is an isolation period. It is the blood ties between Agbor and Warri kingdoms that have made it possible for me to be here in this time of Isolation. What will be, will be. There are only two first-class kings in Delta. That is the Obi of Agbor and the Olu of Warri. Never embarrass your king; anybody who does (that) embarrasses himself.

There is a reason why the chiefs wear white.

The white must never be stained,” he said.

He further noted that “tradition serves man; tradition is dynamic.”

The monarch added, “The tradition years ago may not be so now. We must flow with time. After this period, close ranks with all, bring all close. My brother (referring to Omoba Tsola Emiko) and I have a lot to do in Delta State and the Niger Delta. You have chosen right. The almighty God has chosen a good king for you. He will grow the kingdom to greater heights.”

Omoba Emiko will be crowned the 21st Olu of Warri on August 21, 2021. His reign is not expected to fall short of the developmental stride and transformation that the 28-year reign of his father, Ogiame Atuwatse II, brought to Warri.

26

TUESDAY, ͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

FOCUS

Remarks at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, AKS Council July 30, 2021, Congress Gentlemen of the Press

Y

our invitation letter, dated July 5, 2021, nicely passed on an important message.

You want me to utilize this platform for a discourse that is intended to enrich the contents of the Akwa Ibom Project. This is very laudable. Although the invitation came at a busy time, I could not turn it down. My presence here today underscores the importance I attach to, not just what you do, but what you stand for.

I noted that you gave me the liberty to choose any topic for discussion. Though I consider this a privilege, it turned out to be a rather herculean task given the array of experts gathered here this afternoon. As we know, journalists are perceived to know everything about something, or at the very worst, know something about everything. Ordinarily, I would have selected a topic related to the economy, or human capacity development, but I have opted to venture into your space, as the conscience of the society, and to share my perspectives on some missing building blocks which are foundational to our success as a people. I am not talking about complex matters but those things we all teach our children/ wards at home and learn in Sunday school classes.

I am referring to things that are part of our culture and folklore, and which are carefully penned in all relevant government documents and our laws but today, are hardly given a fillip by many in society.

These are things we have deliberately jettisoned and yet, somehow, we expect, that maybe by divine intervention, we can make progress as a people.

Make no mistake, we are on a journey to nowhere except we retrace our steps and begin to do things properly. So long as we continue to disregard our moral pathway, it would be difficult to make progress and be a part of the respected community of nations.

This is not necessarily my prediction, but yours too! The signs are already troubling, as daily, you bring to us pieces of information that validate this position. So, if you want an appropriate title for my remarks today, you can label it: YOUR PEN, OUR FUTURE! As we all know, Hard Work, Discipline and Character, have taken a back seat in our society.

Those amongst you who continue to drum into our ears the need to act with honour and do things properly are now viewed as prophets of old. You are chastised and left to lurch in solitude. It has now become fashionable to be ‘correct’ in your reporting, not wanting to stir the hornet’s nest.

So, let me upfront salute those who have decided to remain steadfast, bold, and honest; determining not to behave as if everyone is captured by an incubus or succubus powers.

As some of you may know, I started my career as an Administrative Officer in the then Cross River State and later worked with Akwa Ibom State civil service, before joining ExxonMobil. It was a system where merit was valued. How do I know? I was barely one month old in my employment when I opted to participate in the compulsory Administrative Officers’ examination. It was a risk because not passing the examination after two attempts would result in being moved from that ‘exalted’ cadre that was eligible to birth Permanent Secretaries in those days. However, a pass, at first attempt guaranteed automatic promotion to the next salary grade. I passed all the subjects, resulting in a promotion while still under probation. That experience, grounded in hard work reminded me of the cliché: no venture, no success. I was diligent at work and had the distinct honour of being the Officer who escorted the pioneer military governor of this state, then Colonel Tunde Ogbeha, for his swearing-in ceremony at Dodan Barracks, Lagos. I worked closely with his successor, then Colonel Godwin Abbe, a man who taught me never to assume that those in leadership positions are unaware of the contributions of their subordinates. Abbe trusted me and would sometimes solicit my input on serious state matters considered sensitive for someone at my salary level. I remained consistent in offering honest advice, in the interest of the state, and never seeking pecuniary interest. When I notified him that I was joining ExxonMobil he was happy for my accomplishment while also regretting the loss of a good staff. But I was surprised that he would ask me not only to find a successor for my boss but also get him a Chief Press Secretary. He accepted both candidates. That was in 1989. Where did I get these character traits that would make a military governor find me trustworthy? The family!

My father, who passed away 10 years ago, was a Permanent Secretary in the service of the Cross River State Government. When he died, I was proud of how he lived his life and what he implanted in us.

His was a life of hard work, contentment, integrity, and fear of God. He walked the talk on several fronts. As a committed Christian and an Elder in Qua Iboe Church of Nigeria, he knew that the most effective way to evangelize was through the power of personal example. A few examples will suffice.

1. As the pioneer Company Secretary/Chief Accountant of the Cross River State Housing

Ray Ekpu Corporation, Calabar, and later the Acting Head of Corporation, he had only a plot of land. No property was warehoused in the name of his wife and seven children. Even later, when he would facilitate the establishment of today’s Ewet Housing Estate in Uyo, he had no plot of land allocated to him.

2. As one entrusted by the late Brigadier-General Udokaha Jacob Esuene, Governor of the then South-Eastern State, to set up the State Treasury shortly after the Nigeria civil war, he made sure that no money was missing. He was so prudent that on one of his several trips to Port Harcourt to collect the state money from the Central Bank of Nigeria, there were insufficient funds to settle the hotel bills of the security escorts. Rather than resort to the unauthorized use of government money in his possession, he made a personal pledge to settle the indebtedness on his next trip.

3. I will never forget offering my father N300.00 in 1988, and he refused to accept it, querying the source. He had retired from service, and though I was an Administrative Officer on grade level 9, he thought the amount was too much for me to pull out of my savings. To date, I still visualize my hands stretched out and listening to his interrogations. He was always interested in the source of everything in our possession and my friends who would visit, especially in cars that seemed off the economic mark, did not escape such scrutiny. It did not matter if those cars belonged to their parents. I had a good laugh when Isong Isang visited with his Volkswagen car, and I cheerfully announced that he was a pharmacist and playing professional football with Calabar Rovers.

I know that today, some of us would consider his actions unwise, and he may even be abused for blocking the chances of others. But I thank God he lived that way. When he died, there was unanimity about the epitaph on his tombstone: ‘Chief (Dr.) Uko Inoyo, A man of Faith and Servant of God. He stood for what was right, even if it meant standing alone.’’ Gentlemen, above represent my pedigree, and I am not ashamed of them. I pray that at the end of my sojourn on earth, I would be lucky to

have the same said of me. I am a contented person.

Today, Nigeria is on its knees because most of us are complicit in burying its glory. While it is fashionable to condemn persons in positions of authority or those in far-away places, at an individual level, we do worse things. Integrity seems to have departed from us, and our hallowed institutions; including positions that used to be held in reverence are now butts of jokes. There is an obvious clash of values, with only a few persons desirous of doing things the right way. These days, it is fashionable to kowtow to anyone with money with little or no care as to the source. We embrace persons inculcating in our young ones a beggarly culture, and yet pretend to want a state grounded on sound economic principles.

Even persons deliberately investing in the future of the state and the next generation, by way of industrialization, food security, education, and job creation are constantly attacked. We welcome instant gratification which any reasonable person should know is unsustainable. There is a fundamental conflict of values, and we must change the narrative to avert a disastrous end. This is where you, gentlemen of the press, come in. As the conscience of society, you have a crucial role to play.

I have never wavered in my beliefs on the critical role of the 4th Estate of the Realm as a change agent, and needless to bore you with historical antecedents of your many accomplishments in this regard.

Growing up, I desired to be one of you, but when a few of my articles were not published, I thought I was not good enough. But I learned so much reading thought-provoking articles by journalists, including our very own Uncle Ray Ekpu, which, at some point, ‘gingered’ me to seek enlistment in the Nigerian Army. How can I also forget those must-read columns in the Nigerian Chronicle that were not intended to blackmail people or destroy political enemies but simply to put the government on its toes and change the society, a civic obligation that is more paramount today! I am sure some of us can remember a column called Eavesdropper, which had a permanent ‘Rider’: “The column that

brings you the important things you don’t notice but are happening around you” written by our current Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Moses Ekpo. Another column titled ‘Signor Tofu’ which we came to know was penned by Elder Onofiok Ufot, the then Registrar of the University of Calabar, was also a must-read! How many of such thought-provoking columns do we have today? What impact are we having on government policies or societal values?

I was and remain passionate about being a change agent, wherever I find myself, and I know that you also are; a reason that makes me have so much respect for you all. I am not naïve about the vagaries confronting you and the profession today, but I beg you never to surrender. If you do, then our society is doomed!

So, what should we be doing to lighten your burden?

I do not walk in your shoes and therefore cannot fully articulate your daily challenges. But there are a few things I can discern from the high number of journalists in Akwa Ibom state, and that includes the republican nature of our people, a commitment to freedom from all vagaries of life, and an appetite for knowledge. It may therefore not be wrong to assert that it is not wealth that drives people into journalism but rather, it is the appetite to gain, gather and share information, knowledge, and especially to be the watchdog of society; and to drive positive change. If that is true, what therefore should we be doing to support, encourage and empower you to succeed?

1. For almost two decades, and especially with the establishment of the Inoyo Toro Foundation in 2007, it has not been lost on me the yearning for an opportunity in capacity building across almost all sectors of Nigeria’s economy. Beyond teachers in Akwa Ibom State public secondary schools, the Foundation has severally intervened in the knowledge space and is presently partnering with the Nigerian Bar Association, Uyo Branch, on a series of training for lawyers in the state. I would like to engage further with the NUJ Executive to know how we can collaborate in your space. Given the inherent knowledge and reach of journalists, you must be open to innovations as a means of enabling the economic growth of members of this noble profession. I will financially support this collaboration.

2. Akwa Ibom state has enormous potentials, but sometimes it does appear that we are unwilling to fully utilize one of our God-endowed resources, the human capital. We are a small compact state with incredibly talented indigenes all over the globe, most of whom are willing to make their contributions towards the growth of the state. We must harvest these talents and put them to work for our general good and upliftment. I want to challenge you today that when you get back home, in the quietness of your inner chambers, you pen down a dozen indigenes of this state whose voices are respected on major national issues. If you can, I will gladly take a bet. We have used our hands to destroy some of our finest, often on account of politics, and yet we want to be beneficiaries of the collective fortunes of Nigeria. Our zero-sum style of politics must stop, just as we must banish the culture of ‘eboette’ (rumour-mongering) which has encouraged this destructive behaviour.

The era of factual reporting for the general good of our society must return, especially if we desire to raise, build, and support youths who are daring to conquer the world.

3. We must deliberately offer our people hope and not despair, just as institutions of government and their officials must be held to account. Our collective focus must remain a tide that lifts all boats, and not just a few boats. And you know what to do.

Conclusion: Permit me to commend the National Assembly for finally passing a Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

It has been nearly two decades, but we can heave a sigh of relief that when the Bill finally receives the President’s assent, we will have a new legal framework that will drive investment in the sector.

I do appreciate that there are some contentious provisions in the Bill passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly, which must be addressed urgently, holistically, and especially in consideration of the plight of the host communities. While this is being done, let us not delay the willingness of a critical party, the investors, from bringing in the investment dollar for unlocking the resources in the sector.

May I also advise us not to take a back seat on national issues, one of which is the current question of national unity? As those largely from the south-south region of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom journalists must be fully conscious of their historic duty to contribute to the debate on the future of Nigeria, by whatever name it is called—either restructuring or regionalization.

You, and our people, must be informed about the issues at stake with clarity of purpose. Discourse on our future must not be left to only political actors, and any story from Uyo should adequately reflect the mood of the people here.

Continued online

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 3, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

REPO 27.50% 28.75 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

A T

Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

A U G U S T

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

4% 6% 10%

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE

535.12% 0.13% 0.40%

YEAR TO DATE

2 , 2 0 2 1 EXCHANGE RATE N411.50/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

0.40% -20.10%

OPEC July Oil Output Hits 15-month High As FG Asks Cartel for Higher Production Quota

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report Oil output from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) rose in July to its highest since April 2020 as the group further eased production curbs under a pact with its allies and a top exporter Saudi Arabia phased out a voluntary supply cut.

OPEC countries pumped 26.72 million barrels per day (bpd), a Reuters survey found, up 610,000 barrels per day from June’s revised estimate, while output has risen every month since June 2020 apart from in February.

OPEC and allies, known as

OPEC+, have been unwinding record output cuts agreed in April 2020, as demand and the economy recover, but with oil prices rising to a two and a half-year high, the group decided this month on further hikes from August.

The OPEC+ agreement allows for a 360,000 bpd increase in OPEC output in July against June, while Saudi Arabia had pledged to add 400,000 bpd as the final step in a plan to unwind a 1 million bpd voluntary cut it made in February, March and April.

The 13-member OPEC has slightly under-delivered on the expected month-on-month rise,

the survey found as members’ adherence to pledged cuts declined. However, OPEC compliance with pledged cuts was 115 per cent, the survey found, against a revised 118 per cent in June.

The OPEC figures showed that Saudi Arabia delivered the biggest increase in July of 460,000 bpd, as it further unwound its voluntary cut and raised output as part of the July 1 OPEC+ boost.

The second-biggest came from the United Arab Emirates, which added 40,000 bpd in line with its new quota, while Kuwait and Nigeria each added 30,000 bpd, the survey found, as output in OPEC’s No. 2 producer Iraq

edged up by 20,000 bpd.

Iran, which has managed to raise exports since the fourth quarter despite U.S. sanctions, has not provided a further boost this month, the survey found, while the country is exempt from OPEC supply curbs due to the sanctions.

The survey, which tracks supply to the market is based on shipping data provided by external sources.

Meanwhile, the federal government has revealed that it is seeking a higher reference oil production quota from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), following improving market

indices and the growing negative impact of low production on the economy.

In April last year, OPEC, a coalition of 13 oil-producing nations, along with its allies known as OPEC+ activated its Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) document, following the twin impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia on oil prices.

The curtailment saw Nigeria’s average 2 million barrels daily production fall drastically to about 1.3 million barrels per day, but has since then risen to 1.554 million bpd, excluding condensates.

But the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, in a meeting with OPEC Secretary General, Dr. Sanusi Barkindo in his office, at the NNPC Towers, Abuja, told his guest that Nigeria is now seeking a new reference volume.

While commending the OPEC helmsman, whom he described as a worthy ambassador of the country, the minister submitted that Nigeria would need his support to actualise the new reference volume on the basis of current economic realities.

Sylva stated that as a strong supporter OPEC, it was time Continued on page 28

Nigeria Generated $313m in 30 Years from Cocoa, Says Minister of Agriculture Gilbert Ekugbe The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Muhammed Sabo Nanono has revealed that the federal government generated over $313 million (N125.2 billion) from the sale of cocoa in the last three decades.

With Nigeria losing its leadership position in terms of cocoa production to the Ivory Coast, Ghana and Indonesia, Sabo Nanono said plans are ongoing to boost the nation’s local capacity to become one of the largest cocoa producers in the world in the future.

He made this known at the formal opening of the newly established National Secretariat of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Nanono attributed the decline in production to bad weather, old trees that have not been rehabilitated, lack of improved seedlings, poor quality due to pest infestation and pesticide contamination, among others.

The minister however reiterated the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to the development of all sectors of the economy, especially agriculture.

“Cocoa production is on the front burner of the government despite the economic downturn the world has been experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Nanono said.

The minister disclosed that his ministry would henceforth ensure the availability of cocoa seedlings and pods to farmers to ensure food security.

According to him, his ministry has so far distributed over 300,000 improved hybrid cocoa seedlings in the South-West, South-South, North- Central and South- Eastern parts of the country coupled with herbicides, pesticides and solo pumps to jerk up cocoa

production from the present level of 25,000 metric tons to 350,000 metric tonnes per annum.

Describing the hybrid seedlings being provided to cocoa farmers, the minister explained that they have the capacity of fruiting in two-and-a-half to three years.

Nanono also lauded the leadership of the CFAN for their focused vision in erecting the magnificent National Secretariat Complex in Akure, which is the largest producer of the commodity in the country.

Meanwhile, he said the agricultural sector contributed 3.3 per cent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in one

year, being one of the best sector after the services and financial sectors of the economy.

Similarly, he also revealed that prices of food commodities have started coming down gradually in the country only that cost of transportation, inputs and hoarding are stumbling blocks for Nigerians to start seeing the positive multiplier effects in the country.

He however noted that the agricultural sector is not doing badly, but stated insecurity and COVID-19 crises have dominated the straits in the sector, which is affecting transportation cost, purchase

of farm inputs by Nigerian farmers thereby causing hike in food stuff prices in the country.

Nanono said: “I think that what people should understand at this period of instability in the country; in terms of COVID-19, insurgency, somehow, somewhere, is the fact that as a government these issues surprises us also but we have to deal with it as it comes because we should not allowed to be intimidated probably not to this level at which we are talking about.

Last year, there was growth Continued on page 28

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT M O N D AY A U G U S T 2 , 2 0 2 1 FGN BONDS DESCRIPTION 11.668 FGNSB 15-AUG-2021 10.301 FGNSB 16-AUG-2021 11.150 FGNSB 11-SEP-2021 12.364 FGNSB 12-SEP-2021 12.175 FGNSB 10-OCT-2021

Price

Yield

BILLS Change (%)

MATURITY

OTC FX F U T U R E S

Discount Yield Change (%)

100.31

2.89

-0.01

NTB 26-Aug-21

3.00

3.01 0.00

100.28

2.90

-0.01

NTB 9-Sep-21

3.10

3.11 0.00

100.86

3.20

0.00

NTB 16-Sep-21

3.15

3.16 0.00

101.01

3.21

0.00

NTB 30-Sep-21

3.25

101.60

3.55

0.02

NTB 14-Oct-21

3.35

CONTRACT TENOR (MONTH) 1

Contract

Current Rate ($/₦)

NGUS AUG 25 2021 420.93

2

NGUS SEP 29 2021 422.38

3

NGUS OCT 27 2021 423.83

3.27 0.00

4

NGUS NOV 24 2021 425.28

3.37 0.00

5

NGUS DEC 29 2021 426.73

C Ps MATURITY

Discount Yield

Change (%)

MREP CP XXXI 13-AUG-21 UNCP CP III 27AUG-21 VAAG CP I 27AUG-21 TTNG CP II 31AUG-21 SIBP CP I 2-SEP21

8.70

8.72

-0.01

4.14

4.15

0.00

10.06

10.13 0.00

4.52

4.54

0.01

4.08

4.09

0.00

28

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

L-R; CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation/Chair of Zero Hunger Roundtable, Ms. Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu; Country Director, United Nations World Food Programme, Paul Howe and PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA President, Olam International, Ramesh Moochikal during the United Nations World Food Programme on Zero Hunger in Lagos… weekend

MAN: Our Members Spent N150bn on Generators’ Maintenance in Two Years Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Manufacturers Power Development Company Limited (MPDC), a sectorial group within the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has said that its members spent over N150 billion in maintenance of self-generated power between 2019 and 2020.

Chairman, Board of Directors of MPDC, Mr Ibrahim Usman, who spoke during an online forum organised by “The Electricity Hub”, stated that the amount was spent on

repairs due to breakdown as well as procurement of diesel and petrol.

As it is, Usman said that instead of the national grid being the main source of power supply it has become the backup source of power for manufacturers, adding that reliability and quality of supply are also very important.

According to Usman, when manufacturers who are yet to be surveyed or respond to questionnaires are added the expenditures on maintenance

may increase to as high as N250 billion for the two years.

“Right now, we self-generate about 13 to 15 megawatts of electricity, and that’s a lot of money, not just for diesel but for maintenance. We have roughly N150 billion that was spent just on maintenance between 2019 and 2020.

“Those are our members that have answered our queries.

A lot of our members are not even added, so if you add those ones it’s over N250 billion,” the MPDC chairman maintained.

He stated that 45 megawatts Service-based Tariff (SBT) go to just 1 per cent of its eligible customers, stressing that electricity consumption by those under the scheme has increased by 654 per cent, with 100 per cent collection as the Generation Companies (Gencos) are being paid fully.

With just the three out of the 10 customers, Usman said that over 1500 direct jobs had been created due to the improvement in power supply, asking that the scheme should be expanded because

the growth of the economy is directly tied to the supply of electricity.

On controversy over SBT, he said that if NERC does not have the technology to measure how many hours of electricity a household or a company gets, it’s a big challenge which will raise questions.

“There’s the need for the Discos to bring in equipment and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to ensure customers can measure how much power they have

been given.

“This is because if they say that I am in band A, and I am supposed to get 20 hours, then in one month only have 10 hours, there will be argument because there’s to facility to check,” he maintained.

Usman argued that manufacturers should be appreciated for all the sacrifices they make during production, urging that pending applications for eligible customers should be approved, while outstanding debts should be paid to market operators.

Explorationists Advocate Creation of Energy Bank for Oil Sector Peter Uzoho Petroleum explorationists in Nigerian have advocated for the creation of an energy bank in the mold of Bank of Industry (BOI) for the Nigerian oil and gas industry that will provide funding to help equip and raise the funding capacity of indigenous oil firms to enable them execute high profile projects like the international oil companies (IOCs).

The President of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Aviation Editor Chinedu Eze Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

Explorationists (NAPE), Mrs Patricia Ochogbu, made the call at a parley with journalists in Lagos.

He said such bank with lower interest rates was needed to tackle the issue of funding challenge faced by operators in the Nigerian oil and gas industry especially the independents and marginal field operators.

Ochogbu’s proposal came on the heel of the emerging transition from the IOCs to indigenous companies as seen by the former’s ongoing divestment from Nigeria and the need to equip local oil companies to be able to take over from them and replicate the capacity and capability being displayed by the IOCs in the country’s oil sector.

Funding continues to be a major constraint in the Nigerian oil and gas industry as the local banks have become allergic to lending to them because of the

volatility of the industry and when they do, it comes with high interest rates with short term repayment period.

That has resulted in the drop in investments in field development projects as most oil and gas assets’ development take close to 10 years and beyond to execute, and the IOCs whose funding capacity is stronger than the local independents and marginal field operators take advantage of the situation.

“Where government can come in is to make sure that there is funding, that is the advantage that an IOC has over a marginal field operator.

We strongly advocate that the government puts something like an energy fund or an energy bank like we have bank of industry so that funds could be made available to people who want to work.

Not the kind of loans you

get in the bank now at over 20 per cent interest and you cannot get it for more than five years.

“If you listened to First E&P story, they worked for almost eight years before they sold their oil. But you know, if you go to the bank to get a loan, even mortgage, you can’t get. So, if government is able to do that, that would help a lot,” Ochogbu said.

Apart from the need to establish an energy bank for the industry, the NAPE president also called on the government to find a way to address the multi-level taxation existing in the oil and gas industry where operators are charged left, right and centre by the federal, states, local governments and host communities.

She pointed out that the high multiple taxes being paid by operators constituted

a major funding challenge to the operators as they increase the operating cost and discourage further investments in the sector.

She said government needed to create an enabling environment so that those with viable ideas could come in and invest such ideas and resources in the development of the sector without having to face funding challenge as a result of multiple taxation.

“What I can say to government is that they should create an enabling environment. One of the things that people don’t talk so much about is the amount of taxes, there is multi-level taxation that this industry faces. So, as you are looking for funding to do this, you know that the federal government will take, the state governments will take, councils will take, even in your operating community.

“So, if government can help us in that area, like streamlining the taxes and making the environment friendly. A lot of people have ideas, a lot of people have what it takes to make something happen in the industry but if they don’t have access to funds or if a big chunk of the fund will go into non-production type cost, then it becomes a problem. Although I will say that the government doesn’t have money but they can create policies, they can look at taxes and just make things a bit easier for the industry,” she stated.

The NAPE henchman further stressed the need for the government to ensure that data was made available for the operators in the nation’s industry, pointing out that data availability was another area of critical importance in the industry.

OPEC JULY OIL OUTPUT HITS 15-MONTH HIGH AS FG ASKS CARTEL FOR HIGHER PRODUCTION QUOTA for the international oil cartel to reciprocate Nigeria’s loyalty over the years by agreeing to increase the country’s oil production

reference quota.

“I think we have shown enough good faith in this organisation and we are now

saying that we need to have a better reference , not because we want it for the sake of it, but because as an economy,

we really need to survive,” Sylva stated.

In his remarks, Barkindo acknowledged the progress

being made in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria, especially in the Nigeria’s declaration of the “Decade of Gas.”

NIGERIA GENERATED $313M IN 30 YEARS FROM COCOA, SAYS MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE in agriculture in spite of all these challenges we are talking about, agriculture grew by 3.3 per cent. Yes, it grew in terms of real growth, Its contributed 3.3 per cent growth to the GDP, more than any other sector in the country except the financial

sector. That is one. Also, in spite of the COVID-19, which we faced in terms of the challenges of transporting goods from one place to another, both goods for direct consumption and inputs, we still managed to overcome and moved agriculture forward

in Nigeria.

The agric minister continued, “I think one thing that is interesting which people forget about is that this country is big. Definitely, the Insurgents, banditry have some impacts in certain areas of agricultural

sesect, but when you look at it globally, you will realize that what is the per centage of all this in the overall agriculture population. Certainly is minimal, not in the way we are talking about it here in Nigeria. Yes, am not saying

that there are no problems in our agric sector, there is, but not probably the way we are more pronouncing the problems, like not to allowed the Nigerian farmers to go to farms, that should be understood very well.”

29

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Interrogating NNPC’s Fuel Consumption Figures Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption data have always been a subject of controversy, with the numbers released by those who should know, sometimes not only conflicting, but wouldn’t just add up. Emmanuel Addeh writes that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s recent revelation that the country’s fuel consumption rose by over 100 per cent in just four months has further added to the extant confusion

I

t is now public knowledge that despite being Africa’s largest oil producer, Nigeria imports all its petroleum product needs from outside the country and indeed outside the continent at huge logistical, handling and foreign exchange costs to the country.

But what is even more controversial is that the trail of the product which is currently fully in the hands of the federal government through its oil industry operations arm, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which is the sole importer, cannot be effectively tracked.

Although, there have been various government attempts in the past to curb the chaos and bring sanity to the distribution system, they have been at best fruitless, and at worst an embarrassment, given that until now, the country still does not know its consumption numbers and relies largely on guesstimates.

Added to that, even when these figures are made public, key players like the ministry of petroleum resources, the NNPC, the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) give inconsistent numbers.

Indeed, a few years ago, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the repository of the country’s data, admitted that the country did not have reliable information on its fuel consumption, stressing that all the figures being bandied about were hugely untrustworthy. Till today, the situation has not markedly changed. Needless to say that it may have even gone worse.

A HISTORY OF INCONSISTENCIES

Even before Nigeria became a major player in the global oil and gas industry, it was already used to the deployment of fuels, including petrol in transportation, power and so many other uses. What this means is that for close to or over a century, Nigeria has been making use of petrol, but yet doesn’t know what it consumes.

The most shocking aspect is that those that should know have always consistently dished out inconsistencies, whether intentionally to hoodwink the public or otherwise.

Many Nigerians attribute the sometimes, illogical consumption information to the cheap funds available from the highly contentious subsidy payment, which even the government has admitted is ridden with corruption.

In 2012, the figures grew astronomically and unexplainably from below 30 million litres per day to almost 60 million litres during the subsidy regime where private fuel marketers were allowed to bring in the product. Today, only the NNPC imports products into the country.

In 2017, the then Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, told a House of Representatives committee that daily consumption of petrol was 28 million litres, saying that the figure dropped from about 50-55 million litres a day that the PPPRA was using for fuel subsidy payment.

In one of its publications in November, 2016, the NBS said about 12.66 billion litres of petrol were consumed in the country between January and September of that year, which would translate to about 51.87 million litres per day.

Interestingly, the figure for that period contrasted firmly with that published by the NNPC in its annual statistics bulletin on its website, which pegged it at 17.41 billion litres, or 47.6 million litres per day of petrol.

Similarly, in August 2017, the NNPC said that consumption figures jumped from below 30 million litres per day to an average of over 50 million litres, peaking at about 84.2 million litres on December 8 of that year.

In February 2020, the DPR stated that the cumulative depot stock of petrol at the depots was 915,771,566 litres and put the daily estimated daily national demand of 38.2 million. The department’s position has not changed in a major way since then.

Added to that, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, told journalists in June last year that Nigeria’s daily consumption stood at 52 million, with a huge daily difference of 14.2 million litres when out side by side the DPR data.

In fact, Sylva announced that part of the achievement of his ministry in the last few months, was the reduction of consumption from 60 million per day to 52 million daily consumption. But in April this year, consumption hit a record high of 93 million litres, according to the national oil company.

KYARI’S BOMBSHELL

In a shocking revelation in June this year, Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mr Mele Kyari, disclosed that daily consumption had increased from 60 million litres to 103 million litres, with the so-called under-recovery now hovering between N140 billion to N150 billion.

Given the February figure of roughly 50 million litres, many believe that it is simply unthinkable that fuel consumed by Nigerians would rise to over 100

million litres in just three months.

Did Nigeria’s population suddenly jump from 200 million to 400 million in 120 days, between February and May? did the number of Nigerians who own cars increase by over 100 per cent during that period, did the number of Nigerians who provide their own power by using generators suddenly double? These posers remain unanswered.

But Kyari, who spoke when he met with stakeholders, including the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Department of State Service (DSS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and chief executives of agencies in the petroleum ministry, admitted that from the truck-out report from the PPPRA’s data base, Nigeria’s consumption cannot exceed 60 million.

“In very recent data, we saw what we really wanted in the beginning of May and June. There was a day we loaded out about 103 million litres of petrol within one day across the depots,” he stated.

He explained that with the current exchange rate, the pump price of petrol should be N256 per litre, maintaining that if the NNPC was to sell at the going price, and incorporating the current exchange rate, fuel will be selling at about N256 to a litre. “What we sell today is N162, so the difference is at a cost to the nation,’’ he noted Sylva also expressed his doubts over the figures in what looked during the meeting like a conference of lamentations, even by those who are saddled with the responsibility of cleaning up the seeming mess. But even the meeting was full of contradictions because while one said it was 103 million litres, another put it at less than 60 million litres per day of daily consumption.

“When I first came in as minister, I was informed that the daily consumption in the country was around 60 million to 62 million litres a day, which to me sounded a little bit outrageous, considering the number of cars we have on the road.

“But somehow, the figures, I understand today have come down to around 52 million litres. Maybe the number of vehicles have suddenly reduced, but you will agree with me that something is wrong. That is why the tracking of trucks loading products is essential for us to move forward on this issue of subsidy removal,’’ Sylva said.

FUTILE EFFORTS

In the past few years, there have been efforts, even if half-hearted, to track Nigeria’s consumption figures.

In 2019, the ministry of petroleum, the NNPC and other stakeholders launched the “Operation White” project, which it said was geared toward ensuring transparency and accountability of petroleum product supply and distribution in Nigeria.

Sylva noted that the move was aimed at deploying adequate measures in ensuring that all molecules of regulated petroleum products imported by the NNPC were accounted for, noting that the task was to ensure that the petroleum products supply and distribution chain in Nigeria is completely devoid of illicit practices.

These Illicit practices, according to the minister include oil theft, diversion, and smuggling of petroleum products, which he said constitute

economic sabotage and haemorrhage of the national revenue through the high cost of under-recovery.

Before the recent attempts, in 2018, The federal government approved a N17 billion automated fuel system management and censor network aimed at revealing the daily fuel consumption by tracking fuel delivery from the point of entry into the country to its final delivery in the petrol station.

At the time, Kachikwu, said the move was an initiative of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) conceived to assist in revealing the exact litres of petroleum being consumed in the country every day.

He said the adoption of the PEF initiative had become imperative in view of discrepancies in figures being bandied as daily fuel consumption in the country, and consequently affecting subsidy payment and remittance to federation account while a huge volume of petroleum products is illegally moved out of the country. Unfortunately, even that didn’t seem to have worked.

In another attempt, the government through the DPR commissioned a new technology called the Downstream Remote Monitoring System (DRMS), aimed at checking the same illegal activities in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry, determine illegal petrol stations actors and provide accurate data on the industry.

Director of DPR, Auwalu Sarki, at the time, said the move represented a digital transformation that would drive transparency, accountability, domestic energy security and availability of products in the country.

He stressed that the initiative would directly reduce smuggling in the country, insisting that the days of illegal operators in the sector were over. He further argued that the DRMS would provide credible information on how the products are being taken out of the borders. All these have proved fruitless.

With the initiatives proving futile, in yet another effort , the ministry of petroleum and the NNPC have now brought in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Service (DSS), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) into the fray.

It is still unknown what ‘miracles’ these agencies can pull off where technology appeared to have failed.

BLAMING SMUGGLING

In the end, many actors within the oil and gas space seem to be laying all the blame for Nigeria’s inexplicable consumption figures on smuggling along the corridors of Nigeria’s neighbouring countries.

From Sylva to Kyari, the belief is that only smuggling outside the shores of the country is responsible for the figures, which in the surface look largely manipulated.

But even this has position has been jettisoned by a treatise by one Mr Mohammed Ettu, on the issue which went viral last week, arguing that even if all the fuel used by all Nigeria’s neighbours are smuggled from Nigeria, it still won’t hit 70 million litres per day.

In his post titled: “Nigeria: A crime Scene,” Ettu, an engineer, recalled that the DPR in February 2020 told Nigerians that Nigeria’s petrol consumption

was 38.2 million litres per day, rehashing that the NNPC also said in June that daily consumption had risen to 103 million litres.

A 64.8 million increase per day and 170 per cent rise, Ettu stressed that the argument that smuggling was responsible for the leakages did not hold water, coupled with NNPC’s position that it currently spends N120 billion daily as subsidy on the 103 million litres of petrol consumed across the country everyday.

“These figures do not add up to the landing cost of petroleum, ”he wrote.

He argued that if Benin, Niger, Chad, Togo, Cameroon, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have a cumulative 148.88 million population and Nigeria has a population of 211.6 million, at 0.18 litres/day per person consumption, 149 million people will consume only 26.82 million litres/day in those seven west African nations using Nigeria’s figures to determine their own usage.

He added that since the DPR said Nigeria consumes 38.2 million, even if Nigeria’s figures are added to the West African nations surrounding Nigeria, it will still amount to 38 million plus 27 million litres, which will still give a paltry 65 million litres compared to the NNPC’s data.

“This means that 38 million litres are nowhere to be found and we all know that it is practically impossible for these West African nations to depend solely on smugglers for their petrol supplies,” he argued.

Going by this estimation, Ettu noted that the 64.8 million litres of petrol that is allegedly smuggled out of Nigeria daily will occupy 1,963 trucks, wondering how this is done without any of the security agencies noticing. “Are we saying the aforementioned countries depend 100 per cent on our fuel import,” he queried.

INSECURITY IMPACT ON CONSUMPTION

In response to an enquiry on his opinion on the consumption data, the Director Centre for Petroleum Economics and Law (CPEEL), University of Ibadan, Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, noted that it was simply impossible for Nigeria to consume over 100 million litres of petrol per day.

He stated that before the rise in nationwide insecurity that has curbed the restriction of movement, even at its peak, it wasn’t possible for the country to use even 50 million litres per day.

“In terms of actual consumption, there’s no way Nigeria is consuming up to 100 million litres of petrol per day. If you look at the history, at a time when the product was badly needed and there was free movement of goods and services, we were not even consuming up to that.

“Around 2019, we were looking at 50 million litres per day, even the then GMD said that even that figure was high, that by the estimate they had done, it was around 30 million litres per day to 35 million litres per day.

“So, it is implausible, it cannot be explained that actual consumption at a time you have limited or restriction of movement because of the security challenges in the nation and so forth, because we are not back to where we were. So, its very clear that this is part of the evil of subsidy, ”he argued.

It may appear that the problem has defied every effort to solve it, but not a few Nigerians believe that with the deployment of appropriate political will and reining in of insiders who may be benefitting from the malfeasance, the challenge that has led to a further weakening of an already bleeding Nigerian economy is solvable.

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BUSINESSWORLD

AGRICULTURE

Ending Hunger with Scientific Innovations

Gilbert Ekugbe takes a cursory look at how scientific innovation and digital technologies can put an end to hunger in Africa and the rest of the world

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here is no gain saying that Nigeria and many African countries face acute food insecurity as over 98 million out of the 155 million people pushed into acute food insecurity in 2020 were Africans according to Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC) report.

At least, every 2 out of 3 people facing acute food insecurity are on the African continent with conflict or economic shocks often related to Covid-19 along with extreme weather are pushing millions of people into hunger net.

In a country like Nigeria that still depends on hoes and cutlasses to meet its food requirements, there is an urgent need for its economic managers to prioritize investments into mechanized farming, improved seedlings, fertilizers and educate farmers especially small holders with good agricultural practices in its quest to achieve zero hunger by 2030.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) buttressed the need to deploy scientific innovations and digital technologies to address food insecurity as it partnered five private sector companies to organise a zero hunger sprint-pitching event for innovators to showcase their technologies and innovations aimed at addressing rising food prices and providing lasting solutions to ending hunger in Nigeria.

It also launched the Virtual Farmers Market mobile based marketplace known as Maano that links smallholder farmers to buyers offering competitive prices for their produce to increase farmers’ earnings and income opportunities.

WFP’s Country Representative in Zambia, Jennifer Bitonde, said the virtual farmers market will help farmers access buyers and customers who would otherwise have been out of reach, improving their profit margins.

“It provides farmers with real-time commodity pricing, helping them get better prices for their produce, make bids and transact with farmers. Upon collection, the buyer verifies the quality and quantity of the produce before the payment is automatically released through mobile money or bank transfer Recently, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu told world leaders and other participants in the Pre-Summit to the UN Food Systems Summit that there was an acute need for renewed global efforts to end hunger and malnutrition by 2030, as he urged increased funding and called for

greater efficiency, as well as a sustained push for “scientific innovation and digital technologies”.

The African Development Bank (AfDB’s), Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Dr. Beth Dunford, said through its Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative, it has committed up to $5 billion to finance women’s businesses on the continent by 2026, saying that by the end of 2021, the Bank is expected to have provided close to $500 million of which $150 million will benefit women in the agriculture sector

while also working public and private sector partners to develop alternative financial models to increase the ability of women farmers to access the financing and skills they need to grow sustainably.

The Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, outlined Italy’s leading role in promoting food security both historically and in the run-up to 2030, when the SDGs come due.

He described food as a “fundamental right of the person” as he sketched out three major policy action tracks: engaging the private sector; the pursuit of a

zero-waste approach; and a prominent place for local food systems, community-rooted and steeped in centuries-honed knowledge, alongside modern transnational food systems.

An agribusiness expert and the Director General, Premier Agribusiness Academy, Mr. Toromade Francis, said until proper education is given to farmers on the most impactful practice in agriculture, Nigeria will not be able to achieve food security and would continue to depend on importation to meet its food needs.

He called on the need to develop human capacities in agricultural to adhere strictly to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).

Utilise FG’s NISRAL, NAIC Minister of Agriculture Policies AFAN Urges Farmers Decry Rising Food Prices Gilbert Ekugbe

The Women Leader, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and Director-General/ National Coordinator, LUGAVO, Hajia Halima Njobdi has urged farmers to take advantage of the federal government’s Nigeria IncentiveBased Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending and the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) to safeguard risks exposures of their farming businesses post COVID-19.

She added that with the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and worsening security challenges in Nigeria’s agric sector, Nigerian farmers have been advised to key into the insurance guarantee and subsidy regimes in agro-industrial value chains introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Halima stated this at the 2021 farming season sensitization programme for local farmers mostly women and youths in Abuja, recently.

She noted that this was a tough period for every farmer and the country in general following the ongoing insecurity and COVID-19 impacts.

According to her, there is

need to turn to CBN platforms especially insurance guarantee and subsidy regimes in agroindustrial value chains to realise Returns of Investment (ROI) in agric farming.

The AFAN women leader told the local farmers that NIRSAL guarantees loans facilitated by the CBN through commercial banks for agro-industrial businesses, especially in the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme.

She added that NAIC also offers a 50-per cent subsidy on food crops but the subsidy does not apply to cash crops such as cashew, cocoa and palm oil insurance.

Njobdi, however, called on farmers’ associations, the government at all levels and non-governmental organisations to mobilise farmers to see insurance coverage as a necessary part of their businesses to ensure stability and sustainable food production.

Speaking at the event, the representative of the Managing Director of NAIC, Mrs Folashade Joseph, said that NAIC runs a subsidy regime on insured crops such as “rice, maize, yam, cassava, sorghum, guinea corn, beans, soya beans and indeed,

all food crops.

“Subsidised livestock include poultry, cattle, goats and sheep, rabbits and fishery, among others. Dogs, camels, donkeys and horses are on commercial basis,” she said.

Also speaking, the Managing Director/CEO, NIRSAL Plc, Abdulhameed Aliyu, disclosed that the agency’s guarantee cover on bank loans ranges from 30 to 75 per cent.

According to him, this implies that after all due diligence, if an agricultural loans becomes bad, noting that NIRSAL would refund the facilities up to the tune of 75 per cent, assuring commercial and micro-finance banks participating in the agricultural loan schemes of the Federal Government through the CBN. Aliyu added that over the years, the risk management institution had facilitated the flow of more than N150 billion into agriculture from multiple sources.

“At least, N124 billion of that sum came from commercial banks who leveraged NIRSAL’s Credit Risk Guarantee (CRG) facility in addition to investing in de-risked, structured, and well-monitored projects.”

Gilbert Ekugbe The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Sambo Nanono has blamed the devaluation of the Naira for the rise in food prices across the country.

According to him, most francophone countries now find it cheaper to buy naira with dollars to buy our foodstuffs for consumption.

He stated this during an interview with newsmen in Abuja, stating that the situation cannot be addressed since the implementation of African Continental Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

In his words, “Recently you can see certain rise in the prices of foods. The reason is because of the Naira crashed at the foreign exchange inter market. At the moment, dollar is selling for over N500 to one dollar. So for our French Colonies counterparts, they found it now cheaper to come and buy our Naira with dollar, our goods, including foodstuffs are being shipped out on a daily basis.

“This is the main reason

currently responsible why the prices of foodstuffs in Nigeria have gone up and you cannot stop that under the AfCFTA agreement because there is free movement of goods and services. That is exactly the cause of the problem now.”

Nanono however added that price of rice in the market is gradually falling following the the emergence of dry season rice urging Nigerians to be ready to get local rice at cheaper prices in the market.

He said: “If you look carefully now, the price of rice has started coming down gradually.

The reason for this is that dry season rice is coming on board and so if you take the cost of paddy rice per bag is about N14,000-N15,000 as against N20,000-N25,000 am talking about the price of rice as at today in Kano market in Kano State which is the barometer for measuring most of these agricultural commodities. So it is coming down.”

Speaking on hoarding of foods, the agric minister said: “And I understand as at last week, all these French countries have virtually wiped out the

maize in the entire Baru market which is the largest grains market in the entire Africa.

But by yesterday, the market is full of grains nobody is even buying it, so we anticipated that during the raining season the prices will gradually come down for rice.”

He continued: “And also, there are some elements of hoarding. Quite numbers of people with a lot of money, especially this portfolio merchants venturing in rice fraud by stockpiling them in their warehouses. Now, they realize that it is not giving them huge margins because some of them decided to buy these rice and stored. That is just a matter of time, you can only hoard to certain levels. So the issue now is for we (government) and its people on how do we boost agricultural production to counter this. That is the challenge we are tackling now.”

He said the aside from naira devaluation, the COVID-19 pandemic and insecurity in the North East have also contributed to the rise in food prices.

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BUSINESSWORLD

INDUSTRY ANALYSIS

AfCFTA: What ECOWAS Has for Nigerian Manufacturers As Africa gears toward the full implementation of the AfCFTA agreement, Dike Onwuamaeze examines ECOWAS has to offer Nigerian businesses What has the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) got to offer the Nigerian businesses, especially its manufacturing arm, as Africa gears toward the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement that would bring Africa under one continental market? his was the question participants that were brought together virtually by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) with the theme “Optimising Sustainable Trade, Investment and Regional Economic Integration through Effective Partnership between ECOWAS Institutions and the Organised Private Sector” proffered answers to last week.

The first hint came from the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, who charged the Nigerian manufacturing sector to seize the export opportunities offered by the ECOWAS to enhance employment opportunities in the country.

Adebayo identified the ECOWAS Trade Liberaliation Scheme (ETLS) as important mechanism Nigerian manufacturers would lash on to deepen trade integration in the sub-region and a cornerstone of effective economic integration of the region.

He said: “It has provided a key regulatory tool for the free trade area, which has helped enhance competition and consumer choice within the region. It has also helped create export opportunities for Nigerian manufactures, thereby increasing employment in the economy through the expansion of market access for our products.”

The minister also remarked that the international webinar would provide a unique opportunity for the stakeholders to initiate discussions on how member states, especially the Nigerian business community, could leverage on the ECOWAS platform to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA).

see how we can improve their efficiency to accelerate the movement of goods across borders,” Sofola said.

He also stated that the commission’s trade development mechanism would provide traders the opportunity to report challenges they faced when they come to borders.

“We currently have them in some countries but will be extended it to all the member states so that businesses will report their challenges at the borders to a central administrator who is able to communicate the issue to a relevant authority.

“We will like to encourage the private sector to use this to enable neighbouring countries to improve their deliverable services.

We continue to work on rehabilitation of existing routes but also developing new roads in particular the Lagos – Abidjan Highway that will be extended all the way to Dakar as well. It is very important that goods can leave the place of production and arrive quickly and affordably at the place of consumption,” he said.

Sofola noted that trade meant that the region must produce and the key factor of production is energy. In this regard, the commission has been evolving a sub-regional power poll initiative on renewable energy as part of its drive to make sure that electricity is available for all not just at the urban centre but at the rural areas to ensure that everybody has access to electricity.

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GOOD PARTNERSHIP

He harped on the need for member states to strengthen the fundamentals of good partnership that would bring together diverse resources in the region in “ways that we can together achieve more impact, greater sustainability and increased value for all.

“Hence, the theme “Optimising Sustainable Trade, Investment and Regional Economic Integration through Effective Partnership between ECOWAS Institutions and the Organized Private Sector” is apt and timely. This is so because, it emphasises the need to work together as a bloc to leverage and take advantage of the opportunities offered by the AfCFTA.” Adebayo set the stage with these opening remarks for the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Jean-Claude Brou, to shed more light on what the ECOWAS Commission has in stock for the Nigerian business community Brou said that ECOWAS goal under the current dispensation is to spur the region’s private sector to fully seize the opportunity on greater market access that not only regionally but also under the AfCFTA in order to accelerate industrialisation and increased foreign direct investments into the West African sub-region, which would Increase the creation of resilient regional value chains to self-sustaining and competitive regional community.

He stated that the ECOWAS Strategic Framework was crafted to leverage the various protocols o the community to forge a borderless, peaceful and cohesive West Africa.

Focusing on ECOWAS as region of people, the strategic framework guided efforts that would deepen regional collaboration and cooperation to aid member states in their developmental agendas.

He said: “The ECOWAS recognises the private sector as engine of economic development, wealth creation, job creation and poverty alleviation. Indeed, with a population of almost 400 million person of which less than sixty percent are less than 40 years old, the ECOWAS can only achieve its development goals if government and private sector work together.

“As we proceed to launch ECOWAS VISSION 2050, which seeks to create a fully integrated ECOWAS community of people and peaceful prosperous people with strong institutions and respect for fundamental freedom and work toward inclusive and sustainable development. We should be mindful that our strength is in our unity.”

In furtherance of this vision, the ECOWAS’s commission has developed a number of instruments and measures toward the strengthening of the private sector through its directorate of private sector promotion with the official regional private sector bodies to identify areas for collaboration.

The partnership with the private sector, according to him, has yielded some success stories like the creation of Ecobank, the Pan African Bank, through the agency

EMERGING AFCFTA ENVIRONMENT

of The ECOWAS Investment and Development Bank (EIDB) that provided funds to enable the bank to commence its operations.

Later the shares of the EIDB were sold to the private sector when Ecobank started making profit.

Secondly, ECOWAS was deeply involved in in the creation of airline that covered 24 destinations in 22 countries of West and Central Africa and greatly contributed to connectivity in the region and African continent.

CREATION OF SEA LINK

Lastly, ECOWAS has largely funded the creation of Sealink, a project that was driven by the Nigeria Export and Import Bank (NEXIM) that enjoyed the status of a community enterprise.

The ECOWAS also provided for a detailed guideline for the development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the region in its vision for 2015 to 2020, which is now under amendment to run from 2021 to 2030.

The ECOWAS commission is also on the forefront of the efforts to attract investments into the subregion by designing and adopting of common community rules on investments modalities for enhanced investment climate in the region.

The president of the ECOWAS Commission added that the most outstanding achievement in the history of the ECOWAS community has been a politically stable region supporting the tenets of democracy and opposing unconstitutional political practices.

This has enabled an atmosphere of peace and security to prevail across the length and breadth of the region for economic actors to operate and take their goods and services to any country in the region without let and hindrance.

Brou said: “On the economic front, ECOWAS is working to guarantee sustainable trade environment in West Africa. In this regard, ECOWAS is harmonising instruments to ensure improved productivity in economic activities. These instruments include the ETLS, the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (ECET), the West African Common Industrial Policy (WACIP), the ECOWAS Trade Information System and the ECOWAS Common Investment Policy” amongst others.

The ETLS was introduced in 1979 to accommodate only agricultural and artisanal products but was later expanded in 1990 to include industrial products that complied with the Rule of Origin (RoO).

The ECET that entered into force in 2015 is currently being implemented by all our member states except for Cape Verde because of extreme nature of its economy as an island nation.

He said: “Concerning the WACIP, its whole objective is to accelerate the industrialisation and private sector development in West Africa.

Specifically by 2030 it will raise the local raw material processing rate from the level of 15 per cent to an average of 30 per cent. The WACIP is to increase the manufacturing sector contribution to regional GDP that is currently at average of seven per cent and to raise it to an average of 20 per cent.”

Four sectors being targeted by the WACIP’s investment plan included the food and agro industry, pharmaceutical, construction materials

and automated and machinery assembly.

In recent years, effort has been carried out in regional infrastructure with the adoption of ECOWAS procedures for harmonisation of standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment system. These actions were aimed at assuring the international competitiveness of the region’s products for protecting consumers and ensuring sustainable trade between ECOWAS member states.

REGIONAL STANDARDS

He also disclosed that more than 100 regional standards have been adopted and more than 70 others are being developed in the context of harmonising regional standards, as part of the current implementation of the regional component of the West African regional value chains.

“Furthermore, the regional certification mark has also been adopted by the ECOWAS council of ministers. This mark may be affixed to products deemed to have complied for regional standards as adopted to enable the SMEs in the region to develop their exports in the community. Procedures for the harmonisation of national technical regulations at the regional level were also adopted by the ECOWAS council of ministers. The objective being to remove unnecessary technical barriers for trade in particular in the context of implementation of measures relating to free movement of people as adopted within the ECOWAS.” Yet, the ECOWAS commission is also mindful that much cannot be achieved in economic integration and intra-regional trade without products to trade on.

In these regard, the EBID has committed to the private sector an amount of $1.3 billion for a total project of 130, which represented 50.6 per cent of the total commitment of the bank. The bank has also envisioned $1.6 billion credit for the private sector between 2021 and 2025.

The President of the EBID, Dr. George Agyekum Nana Donkor, said at the webinar that “as we look to the future toward a restored and resilient development of ECOWAS position the private sector will be the first to benefit from the bank interventions. Thus 60.5 per cent of the banks projected approvals for the period 2021 to 2025 are dedicated to the private sector of a total $1.6 billion.”

Donkor said that the credit facilities were important because of low private sector access to bank credit in West Africa. “In 2020, apart from Cape Verde where domestic credit to the private sector reached 73.8 per cent of the GDP, domestic credit to the private sector in the rest of ECOWAS countries was below 30 per cent of their respective GDPs. It is therefore important to note that increasing credit to the private sector will have a positive impact on the production capacity of the SMEs and improve the levels of intra-regional trade and ECOWAS trade with the rest of the world,” he said.

Similarly, the Acting Director for Trade, ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Kolawale Sofola, said that the commission is moving to harmonise the procedures of the West African customs authorities. “We know that that many of the challenges faced at the borders are majorly related to customs administrative procedures than tariffs. We are working with our customs to

He also said that the aim of the commission is to make the region competitive in the emerging AfCFTA environment, which he described as “an initiative that builds on regional achievements like ours. We believe that if we position ourselves correctly we will be able to take advantage of the continental market and provide more employment to our youths. We are working in collaboration with the AfCFTA secretariat.

“It has become quite clear that there are different levels of implementations as we go into the AfCFTA that. There are issues that have to be resolved at the continental level through the AfCFTA secretariat. There are issues to be resolved by regional economic communities like the ECOWAS and there are issues to be dealt at the national levels.

“For this ECOWAS is currently developing implementation strategies with the AfCFTA to complement strategies that have been developed at the national levels by member states to make sure that this agreement provides benefits and opportunities for the West African private sector.”

An Economist and former Director General of the LCCI, Dr. Muda Yusuf, told THISDAY that the ECOWAS has impacted the Nigeria manufacturing sector in two major ways: opportunities of bigger market size and supply chain enhancement.

Yusuf said: “The ECOWAS offers a market size of an estimated 400million population and an estimated GDP of $700 billion. This offers unique opportunity for manufacturing companies in Nigeria take advantage of economies of scale to bring down their cost and enhance their competitiveness. A number of manufacturing companies, especially those in the fast moving consumer goods sector have taken advantage of the market size.

“There is the supply chain effect. Some manufacturers have taken advantage of the ECOWAS protocol to make their supply chain more efficient. Raw materials are sourced from ECOWAS countries at competitive prices which impacts positively on returns on investment. A good example is manufacturers in the cocoa processing sector and others in the food and beverage industry.

The ECOWAS protocol on trade liberalisation makes these benefits possible.

“But there are reports about the risk posed to the protocols by non-tariff barriers across the West African sub region. To optimise the benefits of ECOWAS to the manufacturing sector, the issues of non-tariff barriers need to be urgently and effectively addressed.”

Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of BIC Consultancy Nigeria Limited, Dr. Boniface Chizea, agreed that ECOWAS has given Nigerian entrepreneurs the advantage of wider market with their goods and services.

“I remember those days when I was with United Bank for Africa in 1980s and 90s that we find Nigerian products, especially household goods being displayed in Gambia, Togo and Senegal among other countries whenever we traveled. Now, these big companies will now take charge of the sale of their products in a more formal and beneficial setting that will be created with the implementation of the AfCFTA,” Chizea said.

He also predicted that the multinationals seeking to take advantage of the trade agreement would find in Nigeria a favourable investment destination by setting up their factories where the market is and where they could produce at full capacity and export instead of multiplying factories that runs under low capacity utilisation in several African countries.

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Fashola: Nigeria-Cameroon Bridge Will Facilitate Inter-country Trade Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The border bridge at Mfum and the Ikom bridge between Nigeria and Cameroon will facilitate international trade between the two countries when inaugurated, Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has said.

Fashola made the remark while inspecting the two-lane bridge over the Cross River at the Cameroon and the Nigeria new border at Ekok /Mfum and the new Ikom bridge.

The minister explained that the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration’s strategy of planning and

execution of infrastructure projects was yielding results through successful completion.

“This is the A-4 axis coming from Calabar to Maiduguri through Ogoja to Katsina-Ala. So you will expect more volume of trade. And it is no accident that Cross River State bears its name. It is actually

the River that named the state.

That River opens to the sea and the Gulf of Guinea. And so high impact on international trade is expected.

“We have had very strong relationship with Cameroon in terms of trade and business and if you go to Aba, Enugu, Abakaliki, for example, this is

Nigeria, Russia Plan Deal on Nuclear Power Projects Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Nigerian government officials have met with their counterparts from Russia in preparation for a deal that would see the country site some nuclear power projects in Nigeria on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.

During the meeting with Russian nuclear power giant, Rosatom, in Abuja, acting Chairman of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), Prof. Ahmed Yusuf, said projects would be useful to the military as well as in agriculture, health, medicine, environment and enhancing the supply of water resources.

One of the facilities to be cited in Nigeria, he said, is a multi-purpose reactor complex and a laboratory that can carry out silicon doping, material testing and radiating facility to prolong the shelve lives of food, promote export and reduce wastages.

In addition, there will be

small and modular reactors that can be sited in isolated places for off-grid power, which will be integrated into the national electricity supply chain, he said. ‘‘We have agreed on the terms and standards of the agreement. Between now and the end of 2022, a blueprint will come out and the issue of contractual agreement and the signing between Nigeria and Russia Federation will be very clear to both parties.

“It could be on knowledge transfer, power or agriculture, but until we finish the feasibility study and evaluate the cost implication and who will contribute what, we have had discussions with the federal ministry of finance, budget and national planning to see how we can integrate our next year feasibility studies into the national budget, ”Yusuf added.

He noted that the federal ministry of power was also being carried along to find ways to factor it into its energy master plan.

‘‘For us, electricity is very important and if we are going to contribute to the national grid, we have discussed on how many nuclear power plants we intend to do and the need to expand our grid capacity before accommodating this kind of activities,’’ he added.

In his remarks, Vice President

of Rosatom Africa, Ryan Collier, said that as one of the pioneers of the nuclear industry, the company has traditionally been at the forefront of the international nuclear market, including nuclear power plant construction, uranium mining and enrichment, as well as nuclear fabrication and supply.

the route that facilitates trade, agro produce, merchandise, manufactured goods from Aba in Abia State.

“This is a very strategic infrastructure to take Nigeria to the future for many more decades to facilitate relationship between brothers and sisters in Cameroon and Nigeria and to strengthen the bond of relationship in a joint development with the Republic of Cameroon and Nigeria, ”Fashola said.

He added that the bridges would increase the prosperity of the people, facilitate hundreds of jobs, movement of agro produce and manufactured goods, joint border patrol that would lead to security efficiency and position both nations to take the benefit of the free trade zone agreement.

In his remarks, Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, who was represented by the

State Commissioner for Works, Dane Osimasu, assured that counterpart funding from the state would always be provided where it is necessary in infrastructure development projects.

Also, Director, Highway Bridges and Design, Mr. Emmanuel Adeoye said the project was awarded in October 2018 and it is due to be completed

by November 7, 2021.

“The rate at which the contractor is working, by the end of October it should be finished. Right now as we speak, the job is 92 per cent completed, with the time lapse of 68 per cent. We are moving faster than the scheduled time, so by end of October we should be done with the bridge.”

A representative of the Ajassor community, Victor Njor, said the border bridge has enhanced joint border patrol linking Cameroon and Nigeria within the area.

Mining Contribution to GDP Unacceptable, Says NEITI Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has said that the meagre 1 per cent contribution of the mining sector to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was unacceptable.

Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji, who stated this while playing host to members of executive of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) led by its President, Mr Kabiru Muhammed, maintained that Nigeria was lagging behind considering the existence of abundant minerals resources that are spread all over the country.

Orji described the activities of illegal minerals buying centres across the country as major revenue leakages to government, saying that it has become worrisome to the organisation.

While pledging to work with MAN and other key stakeholders in the sector by sharing information and data to ensure that all the leakages are plugged, he explained that one major area of interest of NEITI is to explore all possible avenues, including partnership and collaboration with organisations like MAN to improve government revenues from the solid minerals sector.

“We are going track either local or foreign funds meant for the development of the mining sector.

We are also going to advocate for equitable and judicious

application of such fund.

“From findings of NEITI’s audits reports, the mining sector currently contribute less than one per cent to the country’s GDP and this is unacceptable, considering the quantum and variety of mineral resource spread all over Nigeria.

“We are aware that the sector is dominated by artisanal and small scale miners, and we have advised government through recommendations contained in our reports to devise means to formalise operations of this category of miners to enable them contribute to the development of the sector and the economy,” he noted.

The executive secretary stressed that NEITI will look into the inflows and the management of the solid minerals development fund to ensure that it is accessible, useful and promptly available to end-users.

Earlier, Muhammed congratulated Executive Secretary on his appointment, noting that NEITI and MAN have come a long way as natural partners with common interests in the growth and development of Nigeria’s mining sector.

He requested the agency to track all funds meant for the development of the mining sector, including periodic audits and performance of such funds and involvement of MAN in the programme and activities of the agency.

Outgoing President and Chairman of Council, Mr. Kayode Falowo presenting an Award of Excellence to Mrs. Bisi Adeyemi for exemplary performance as a Committee Chairman at the NBCC 2021 Annual General Meeting in Lekki Lagos

Senate Expresses Concern over N91.96bn MDAs’ Debts to Ikeja, Eko Discos Peter Uzoho The Nigerian Senate has expressed concerns over a combined N91.96 billion outstanding debts owed Ikeja Electric (IE) Plc and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) by the federal government’s ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

A breakdown of the debts showed that while IE is being owed N70.96 billion by the MDAs, EKEDC is being owed N21 billion by the MDAs. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, Senator Theodore Orji, expressed worry over the MDAs’ indebtedness to the Discos when the committee

paid an oversight visit to the power firms in their Lagos headquarters recently.

The two firms in separate statements quoted Orji as saying that such indebtedness was an impediment to their vision and mission of providing quality service to their customers.

Ikeja Electric in its statement signed by its Head of Corporate Communication, Mr. Felix Ofulue, quoted the Senate committee chairman to have expressed concern over the outstanding N70.96 billion debt being owed the Disco by its customers including Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

According to the statement, “He (Orji) noted that as a business venture, such

indebtedness was an impediment to its vision of providing quality supply of electricity to its customers.

“Orji assured the management of the company that the legislative arm of government would look into the issue since majority of the debt was owed

by MDAs.” He was also quoted to have commended Ikeja Electric for its innovative ideas that had resulted in an improved power supply to customers.

At EKEDC, the committee chairman said that the delegation was on an oversight duty to interface with electricity distribution companies for the purpose of national development, assuring Eko Disco

that its concerns including the N21 billion MDAs debt to it, would be taken to the Senate for further actions.

A statement by the Disco said Orji, who was accompanied by the Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Adelere Oriolowo; amongst others, commended Eko Disco for its performance in infrastructural development, metering as well as providing employment opportunities to many Nigerians.

He stated that its mission was to, among other things, review the performance of the Discos as well as hear their concerns in a bid to find lasting solutions to them for improved performance.

33

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 3, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

Merits of CBN Stoppage of Forex Sales to BDCs Emmanuel Onyebeke

T

he latest Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) decision to stop the sale of forex to Bureau De Change (BDC) operators due to the reported abuses that have characterized the transactions of the BDCs since the commencement of regular issuance of up to $10,000, twice a week or thereabout, to registered BDC operators by the Apex Bank, has, expectedly, been eliciting mixed reactions.

While some commentators have responded to the policy from the perspective of the immediate shock of the stoppage of sales of forex to the BDCs in the market and, are, therefore, advocating for a return to the status quo, many are applauding the CBN’s stand given the wider long-term benefits of the ban on the economy.

No one expected that the reactions in the market will be utterly jubilant given that the immediate shock resulted in the fall in the unit of our local currency leading to the purchase of dollars at a higher rate, at the parallel market, within days of the introduction of the policy.

Before now, the motivation of the CBN to sell foreign exchange (FOREX) to the Bureau De Changes (BDCs) operators was mainly for ease of access to the end-users, to halt the seemingly scarce FOREX, and to shore up the exchange rate of the Naira. But according to CBN figures, this rather led to the astronomical growth of the number of the BDCs in the country from a mere 74 in 2005 to over 5,500 BDCs as of July 27, 2021. Were the quantum leap in the number of the BDCs ( 5,426 in 16 years) a reflection of real growth in that sector and in support of the attainment of the CBN targeted objectives, there wouldn’t have been any cause for alarm.

Rather, from the reasons adduced by the CBN, the increase was informed by selfish interests and the perpetuation of illicit transactions, which are antithetical to Nigeria’s socioeconomic growth and a negation of the nation’s apex bank monetary policy projections. For many years, the activities of some of the BDCs have continued to undermine genuine efforts at stabilizing the currency, which informed CBN’s commencement of weekly sales of FOREX to the BDCs operators. It is a known fact that the apex bank had been supplying each licensed BDCs upwards of $10,000 twice per week at the rate of N393 with a mandate to sell with a margin of N2.

Instead of easing access to forex and enhancing the exchange rate of the Naira, the BDCs operators have engaged in roundtripping and hoarding of FOREX thereby creating artificial scarcity to sell at higher than approved rates thus serving as conduit pipes for money laundering and indulging in many other illicit transactions not envisaged by the CBN. The further negative implications of the compliance failures of the BDCs include but are not limited to the dollarization of the Nigerian economy, subversion of the cashless policy, common ownership of several BDCs by the same operators in the sector in order to obtain multiple FOREX from the CBN and continued patronage of illegal BDCs by international organizations and embassies.

These unwholesome activities were the build-up to the ban on sales of forex to the BDCs as announced by the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting which was held on July 27, 2021. Some are of the opinion that it would have amounted to insensitivity had CBN turned blind eyes to these anomalous practices which have derailed the good intentions that informed the CBN regular sales of the forex to the multitude of BDCs at discounted rates.

In the words of Emefiele, “Despite the fact that Nigeria is the only country in the world today where a central bank sells dollars directly to Bureau De Change operators, operators in the Nigerian Bureau De Change segment have not reciprocated the bank’s gesture to help maintain price stability in

Emefiele

that market. Given this behaviour, it is not surprising that since the CBN began to sell foreign exchange to Bureau De Change, the number of operators has risen from a mere 74 in 2005 to over 2,700 in 2016 – and almost 5,500 BDCs as of today (July 27, 2021).

“In total disregard of the difficulty that the (apex) bank is facing in meeting its mandate of maintaining the country’s foreign exchange reserves to safeguard the value of the naira, we have continued to observe that stakeholders in some of the sub-sectors have not been helpful in this direction. In particular, we have noted with disappointment and great concerns that our Bureau De Change operators have abandoned the original objective of their establishment which was to serve retail end users who need $5,000 or less. Instead, they have become (illegal) wholesale dealers in foreign exchange to the tune of millions of dollars per transaction.”

The additional disclosure, by the CBN Governor, that the CBN constantly receives nothing less than 500 new applications for BDC licenses every month, indicates that there is more than meets the eye in the business of BDCs as currently operated in Nigeria.

Admitted that constructive criticisms are necessary for the shaping and reshaping of policies, the unusual increase in the number of interests in securing BDC licenses, as reported by the apex bank, should also be of interest to those opposing the recent ban of sales of forex to BDCs; aside from the players and their sponsors who have been benefiting from the ‘anomaly’.

It is against this background that the change in CBN’s policy direction to sell forex to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and to retain them as forex retail outlets in the country should be given a chance. And not a few have applauded the shift. They contended

“The further negative implications of the compliance failures of the BDCs include but are not limited to the dollarization of the Nigerian economy, subversion of the cashless policy, common ownership of several BDCs by the same operators in the sector in order to obtain multiple FOREX from the CBN and continued patronage of illegal BDCs by international organizations and embassies.”

that apart from halting the prevailing anomalies and illicit transactions inherent in the operations of the BDCs, it will conserve the colossal wastes of scarce forex in funding operations of the BDCs. With the recent decision, there appears a consensus that the apex bank has streamlined forex transactions and brought it under its full control to enable it fully to monitor, achieve operational transparency, garner operational compliance to the regulatory framework, ensure accountability on sales of forex as well as achieve financial stability.

It is also anticipated that the policy will reduce the prevailing pressure on the forex as end users are now assured of availability and ease of accessing forex within banking hours at official rates. In addition, it is believed that it will protect the end-users from arbitrary exchange rates manipulations by the BDCs. Apart from conserving the waste of forex, with the new policy direction, CBN is expected to conserve the nation’s foreign exchange earnings from crude oil sales and build the nation’s foreign exchange reserves which has not reflected the appreciable increases in the price of crude oil sales in international market.

Knowledgeable commentators such as the past President, Association National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Dr Sam Nzekwe, Professor Uche Uwaleke- a University Don and Capital Market Expert, amongst other pro- ban advocates have in their various interventions, since the new policy, commended the CBN’s decision and advised that the BDCs should source their monies themselves having deviated from their core roles and resorted to undermining their privileges by involving in illegal dealings.

According to Dr. Sam Nzekwe, “BDC is meant for light travelers, someone that is traveling and has no time to go to the bank who can just stopover at the airport and buy few dollars and travel with it.

The CBN was allocating forex to them, which was a wrong decision, and it is a terrible thing. That is why they encouraged round-tripping.”

For Professor Uche Uwaleke, while reacting in a statement published in Prompt News Online, the ban “on the positive side, is consistent with the move by the CBN to unify Exchange rates and bring more transparency to the forex market. Exchange rate unification is in line with the IMF and World Bank’s recommendations and so improves the country’s profile and credit standing before International financial institutions. It signifies that the country is serious in its reform efforts.

“It will slow down the rate of depletion in external reserves. The move is likely to check the round-tripping of the forex and reduce the supply of forex in the parallel market. Further, speculative demand for forex is also likely to reduce. I am aware that BDCs have been accused of being vehicles for bribery and corruption. This will likely reduce. It goes without saying that a more transparent forex market will improve confidence in the economy and could lead to increased foreign investments.”

Although, some have expressed fears that the current policy will lead to job losses within the BDCs sector, we need to look at the bigger picture of the policy’s upsides. We should also not be unmindful of the fact that the leap in the job sector was never organic, and this volatility could have been envisaged.

The job figures as taunted could also have been better supported if the income taxes and PAYE contributions from the sector were less opaque. Even at that, the reality is that the BDCs were not shut down, rather they are required to see alternative sources of obtaining forex to fund their operations. Apart from this, Deposit Money Banks are expected to expand the scope of their operations; implying that what could be considered a loss in the BDCs sector could translate to gain in the banking sector. The bottom line lies in the long-term benefits of the CBN’s new policy on forex trading which is targeted at financial system stability and overall economic growth. t &NNBOVFM 0LF[JF JT B mOBODF BOBMZTU XJUI 0QUJNVNUJNFT DPN

34

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Augusto & Co Assigns ‘AAA’, Stable Outlook on DBN Ndubuisi Francis ÓØ ÌßÔË Top credit rating agency, Agusto & Co. (“Agusto”) has assigned a “AAA” rating, on the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Plc (DBN), the highest rating possible on any institution.

In summarising the rating, which aligns with the ‘risk-free’ rating of the Nigerian Sovereign, Agusto described DBN as “a development finance institution of impeccable financial condition and overwhelming capacity to meet obligations as and when they fall due.”

Agusto stated: “Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, DBN increased its financial support to Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) and small-sized corporates through participating financial institutions”.

“Notwithstanding the pandemic, DBN doubled its loan portfolio to N215.1billion, leveraging its robust risk management practice in deepening credit penetration to over 136,000 MSMEs.” Applauding the impeccable fundamentals of the bank, Agusto highlighted that the DBN’s good asset quality, good capitalisation, good liquidity, and experienced management team are also positive rating factors.

The rating agency noted that

since its inception, DBN has sustained an outstanding asset quality record of nil delinquency, unique fundamentals which attest to the efficacy of its credit creation model and overall risk management culture.

It added that in pursuit of its mandate of enhancing access to credit for micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs), DBN continues to expand the scope of its operations, onboarding more Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) and deepening credit penetration in the low end of the market, particularly among women entrepreneurs, who represent over 50 per cent of the bank’s ultimate credit beneficiaries.

Augusto explained that, notably, the bank maintains a BASEL II capital ratio of 75.2 per cent, several multiples of the minimum 10 per cent regulatory requirement, adding that during the review period, the liquidity ratio hovered around 84 per cent, compared to the 10 per cent regulatory requirement.

This, it observed, by implication, is an indication of DBN’s capacity to sustain the pursuit of deepening credit penetration among MSMEs. The strong financial metrics, complemented by impeccable governance standards reinforce Agusto’s decision to

assign “AAA” on DBN, with a stable outlook.

In its credit rating announcement, Agusto noted that DBN’s rating “yakes into cognisance the support of the bank’s shareholders – the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), African Development Bank (AfDB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

AfDB and EIB are both rated ‘AAA’ by Standard and Poors, Moody’s, and Fitch Ratings.

Aside from equity contribution, AfDB provides long-term borrowing, technical and business support to DBN. The rating also considers the support of other international development finance institutions such as the French Development Agency (AFD), KfW - the German Development Bank, and the World Bank, which provides funding and technical support, in addition to strengthening governance.

Commenting on the rating action, the Managing Director/CEO, Development Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Tony Okpanachi said: “We are excited by this independent assessment of our operations, as it provides an objective opinion on the bank’s credibility and capacity in meeting short and long-term obligations.

MTN Announces Plans for 20th Anniversary Celebration in Nigeria r5P SFTUPSF &OVHV 0OJUTIB FYQSFTTXBZ Nigeria’s largest mobile telecommunications operator, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has announced that it will celebrate its 20th year in the country’s telecommunications industry on August 8, 2021.

The company in a statement said it will be executing numerous national impact projects in the coming months as it marks the milestone.

As revealed in MTN Nigeria’s unaudited financial statements for the half year, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, stated that the company will now participate in Nigeria’s Road Infrastructure Tax Credit

(RITC) Scheme.

He said, “We are pleased to announce that our Board of Directors has approved our participation in the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit (RITC) Scheme. This is in response to the Government’s drive towards public-private partnerships in the rehabilitation of critical road infrastructure in Nigeria.

We intend to participate in the restoration and refurbishment of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.”

According to the financial statement released by the company, MTN’s participation in the RITC Scheme is one of the many projects that will be

executed in celebration of MTN Nigeria’s 20th year in Nigeria.

MTN Nigeria launched its services on August 8, 2001. Since its launch, MTN has steadily deployed its unmatched services across Nigeria, connecting approximately 69 million people in communities across the country with each other and the world.

MTN Nigeria currently provides services in 223 cities and towns, more than 10,000 villages and communities and a growing number of highways across the country, spanning the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Okpanachi

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS 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

The Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Examiners of Nigeria (CIFCFEN) has concluded plans to establish the Nigerian College of Forensics and Fraud Examiners.

The College, which will be the first of its kind in Africa, will cater to the yearnings and aspirations of professionals who want specialist knowledge in fraud examination and diverse areas of forensics.

This was disclosed by CIFCFEN President/Chairman of Council, Dr. Iliyasu Gashinbaki at the induction of the first set of direct members into the Institute in Abuja.

According to him, the College will be a regional model, which is expected to be a centre of excellence for forensics and fraud examination in the entire continent.

“The implementation committee for the establishment of the college has submitted its report and we are now in the

implementation stage. Very soon, the college will be responsible for anchoring all our activities that have to do with capacity building, training and all related professional development within the forensics and fraud examination space, ”he said.

Expounding on the structure of the proposed College, the chairman, Professional Training and Standards of the Institute, Professor Michael Ayeni said it will have four distinct Colleges.

“These are: College of Humanities, College of Forensic Sciences, College of Fraud Examination and College of Forensic Accounting.

The College of Humanities will cater for other professional courses such as forensic etymology, forensic anthropology, forensic engineering, forensic dentistry, and forensic medicine,” he explained.

The first direct induction of members by the Institute featured 25 eminent Nigerians

drawn from security services, public service and corporate organizations. The direct induction is targeted at highly experienced senior members either in public service or in private sector that already have the residual knowledge and the minimum basic requirements in terms of experience and exposure. “So the idea is to prepare them further, retrain them, upscale their skills so that they become truly and proper professional forensic accountants,” explained Gashinbaki.

Those inducted include: Fatima Muhammadu Buhari, Major General S. A. Awosanya (Rtd), Air Commodore Dangaji Zakari Lawan, Col. Adamu Ibrahim Isah, Accountant-General of Kwara State, Dr. Ismail Kayode Waheed, Cletus Okechukwu Odoh and Dr. James Neminebor. Others are: Alhaji Malik Anas, Henry Osita Umezinnwa, Rt. Hon. Musa Ahmed Mohammed and Dr. Sunday Olaoye among others.

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

Institute to Establish College Forensics and Fraud Examiners

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021

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 ˜ ͯͳ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $73.15 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $75.29 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

35

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ 2021

Notore Posts N9.43bn Revenue for 2021 3rd Quarter Daramsimi Adebisi Nigeria’s leading agro-allied company, Notore Chemical Industries Plc, has recorded revenue of N9.43bn for the third quarter ended 30th June 2021, in the wake of the completion of its Turnaround Maintenance Programme (TAM).

In a statement by its Group Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Ohis Ohiwerei, the company said

during the period under review, it focused on post-TAM plant stabilization and optimization to ensure that the company meets its 500,000MT per annum nameplate capacity.

According to him, “Due to gas supply disruptions beyond the Company’s control, it has taken longer than expected to complete the post-TAM plant stabilisation phase. The gas supply challenge has now been resolved and we expect a major upturn in the

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

Plant’s reliability and production output to meet and sustain its 500,000MT per annum urea nameplate design capacity.

“Achieving this level of production output will not only lead to significant increase in the Company’s cash flows from operations, but also substantial increases in revenues annually.

It is worth noting that a sizeable portion of the additional postTAM revenue will contribute straight to the Company’s bottom

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

line, a major key to returning the Company to profitability.”

He said the production and sale of Notore NPK fertilizer into the domestic market is expected to contribute to the company’s revenue growth going forward, noting that Notore’s NPK Fertilizer brand has been widely accepted by the market.

He added, “As we ramp up our Urea fertilizer production, we expect substantial increases in NPK fertilizer production

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

and sales going forward. Sale of Notore seeds to Nigerian farmers has also continued in furtherance of our corporate vision to be a major contributor to the development of Africa.

Ohiwerei said the company has recorded impressive success with the phase one of its expansion into rice production.

He said, “As part of our efforts to further diversify the Company’s revenue stream, boost profitability and consolidate

O F

customers’ loyalty, Notore intends to expand its product offering by going into rice production. With the successful completion of the Company’s phase one rice pilot program (which resulted in the production of 5,000 50kg bags of high-quality Notore rice), we commenced phase two during the period under review. We expect phase two to yield even better results and position us for the commercial launch of our rice brand next year.”

0 2 / 0 8 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

36

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY AUGUST 3, 2021

37

TUESDAY, ͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

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

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Oborududu on the Threshold of Winning Gold in Tokyo Today Blessing Oborududu...celebrating after defeating Battsetseg Soronzonboldyn of Mongolia to reach the final of o the women’s freestyle 68kg wrestling category in Tokyo, Japan...yesterday

PHOTO NAN

Igali: “This feat is the result of 10 years preparations coming to fruition. If anyone deserves to win a medal here Oborududu does” Duro Ikhazuagbe After Blessing Oborududu defeated Battsetseg Soronzonbold of Mongolia 7-2 in the last four stage of the women’s freestyle 68kg category of Tokyo Olympic yesterday, President of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, admitted that the feat was the reward for hard work and ten years

preparations.

Until yesterday, Team Nigeria had yet to get to the podium in any of the events. Now, a silver medal is guaranteed with the gold the icing on the cake.

Oborududu is scheduled to clash with USA’s top seed, Tamyra Stock Mensah in the battle for the gold at midday (Nigerian time) today.

The American World

...You Are a Blessing to Nigeria, Sports Minister Tells Oborududu Blessing Oborududu's feat of qualifying for the final of the women’s freestyle 68kg category event of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has been described as a blessing that has wiped away the pains of the near misses in other events.

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare said yesterday: "This is real Blessing to Nigeria. Thank you blessing for wiping away the pain of the near misses recorded in other events. Nigerians are proud of you.”

Dare described Oborududu’s display as “typical of the never say die Nigerian spirit.”

The minister therefore urged

her not to rest on her oars until the ultimate gold medal is won today.

“Keep the tempo going until we reach the ultimate which is the gold. Don’t give up the fight until you rewrite Nigerian Olympics history with a gold medal in the kitty,” pleaded an obviously relieved sports minister who is right there in Tokyo with the Nigerian contingent.

Other Nigerians still the race for medals in their various events include; Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg freestyle), Ese Brume (Women’s long jump final) and Grace Nwokocha (women’s 200m).

champion overpowered Ukraine’s Alla Cherkasova 10-4 in the first semi-final to set up the clash with Oborududu.

According to Igali who won wrestling gold medal for his adopted country Canada at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Oborududu deserves to win the gold medal of the freestyle 68kg event at Tokyo 2020.

“The results we are beginning to see at the Olympic level is about a decade of preparations coming to fruition. If anyone deserves to win a medal here, Blessing Oborududu does,” observed the NWF President whose personal commitment and drive has given the sport a new meaning in Nigeria.

While pouring encomium on Oborududu in a NSSP WhatsApp platform of eminent Nigerians with bias for sports, Igali insisted that the wrestler is “By far one of the best, disciplined athletes I have ever groomed.”

He recalled how he first met Oborududu at an inter-house competition where she lost that competition. “ I discovered her at their inter-house sports competition. She lost in the finals, but I saw traits that I felt we could fine tune.

“As they say, the rest is now history. It’s been over a decade of near misses. I am so happy for her, the coaches and the team,” gushed Igali from Tokyo yesterday afternoon moments

after the feat was attained .

He admitted that getting to the final itself amounts to having the silver medal in the bag.

“I read somewhere about a guaranteed silver medal. While that in itself is a tremendous achievement, we are going for the big prize. Now let’s go win an Olympic gold medal tomorrow!,” stressed Igali who won Canada’s first wrestling gold medal at the Olympic Games in Australia before returning home to take up the challenge of replicating his achievements in the sport in his fatherland.

The number 2 seed Oborududu will renew her rivalry with old foe Mensah

today as they battle for the ultimate prize – gold medal.

They last met at the 2019 World Championships in Kazakhstan, with the American getting the better of Oborududu to win the gold.

The 32-year old Commonwealth champion Oborududu has become Nigeria’s first Olympic wrestling medalist in history.

Oborududu who is 10-time African champion, on her way to the final, made light work of Elis Manolova in the round of 16, thrashing the Azerbaijani 13-2 via technical superiority, before securing a hard-fought 3-2 win against Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan in the quarter-finals.

Amusan Misses 100m Hurdles Bronze, Places Fourth Following Tobi Amusan’s 4th place finish at the women’s 100m hurdles final on Monday, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has commended her efforts.

"Tobi Amusan still remains one of Nigeria's greatest competitors in athletics. She gave a good account of herself. We celebrate her exploits.

“The important thing to note is that many of our top athletes made it and are still making

it to the finals in many events particularly here at the Olympics; a competition of huge magnitude where winners are separated in milliseconds. This in itself is an achievement and proof that we are in the committee of the best in respect to many sports in the world.

“This is a new and young generation that will be world beaters anyhow. We still hold hopes for medals in the remaining events we are taking

part in".

In the women's 100m hurdles final Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won Puerto Rico's first ever track and field gold by powering home in 12.37 seconds, edging out America's Kendra Harrison (12.52) and Jamaica's Megan Tapper (12.55).

"For such a small country, to give little kids hope, I'm just glad I'm the person to do that," Camacho-Quinn said afterwards.

In a dramatic final round

of the men's long jump final, Greece's Miltiadis Tentoglou used his last effort to jump 8.41m.

The mark tied that of Juan Miguel Echevarria but Tentoglou took gold by virtue of his second-best jump on the day being longer than that of his Cuban rival.

Echevarria had one more chance to leap to gold but pulled up with a hamstring problem on his run-up.

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SPORTS

Kane Abandons Spurs Training Amid Speculations over His Future

Harry Kane with his Premier League Golden Boots award after scoring 23 goals to lead the chart

TRANSFER NEWS Harry Kane, a transfer target for Manchester City, did not return to the Tottenham training ground as expected on Monday morning amid speculation over his future.

The striker was scheduled to have coronavirus testing on Monday before starting training on Tuesday.

Kane has had a three-week break after helping England reach the Euro 2020 final.

Spurs have offered no explanation for why the 28-year-old did not turn up.

It is understood Kane felt he had a gentleman's agreementwith Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy that he could leave the club this summer.

A pre-Euro 2020 move did not materialise as he hoped, but Manchester City remain keen on signing the England captain.

Kane's international's team-mate Jack Grealish is also a target for City, who have a made a £100m bidfor the Aston Villa midfielder, and he turned up for pre-season

trainingwith the Midlands club on Monday.

Kane's contract with Spurs runs until 2024 after he signed a six-year deal in 2018.

He scored 23 top-flight goals last season to claim the Premier League Golden Boot for a third time, having previously won the award in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

He also has 221 Tottenham goals to his name, which puts him second in their all-time goalscorers' list behind Jimmy Greaves, who scored 266 times for the club between 1961 and 1970.

Spurs play Chelsea and Arsenal in high-profile friendlies this week, and new manager Nuno Espirito Santo has already spoken optimistically about the prospect of working with Kane.

Speaking at his first news conference after being appointed as manager, Nuno said last month:"Harry is our player. Period.

No need to talk about anything else, I am looking forward to him joining the group.

"Harry is one of the best players in the world. That is all I need to say."

Balogun, Aribo Eye UCL Spot with Rangers Tonight

Olympiacos Sign Monaco Forward, Onyekuru, on Permanent Deal Henry Onyekuru was unveiled at Olympiacos yesterday Olympiacos FC have announced the signing of forward Henry Onyekuru from Ligue 1 club Monaco.

The 24-year-old Nigerian forward arrived in Greece to seal a permanent move on Saturday after spending last season on loan at Galatasaray.

Olympiacos have confirmed the signing of the 24-year-old star on their official website by stating: “Olympiacos have announced the acquisition of international ace, Henry Onyekuru.

“The Nigerian, born on June 5, 1997, in Lagos, has been acquired from Monaco after signing a four-year contract.

“Having spent five years at Aspire Academy, Onyekuru took the first big step in his career in 2015 by signing a contract with Eupen.

“His 30 goals in 60 games with the Belgian club attracted several clubs with Everton acquiring his services in 2017. The Nigerian spent the next two seasons on loan at Anderlecht (28 assists, 10 goals) and Galatasaray (31 assists and 14 goals) respectively.”

Speaking after signing for the team, Onyekuru said: “I know it is a big club in Greece, one of the biggest and they have

good ambition and target every season and they are always in the Champions League.

“I also know of two Nigerians who played here before and I am just here to contribute and keep on pushing and also to be champions countless times, achieve more goals and aims with the club.

On June 30, 2017, Onyekuru joined Premier League side,

Everton, for £7 million and was immediately loaned out to Anderlecht where he was handed the number 9 jersey.

Onyekuru, who made his debut for the Super Eagles in a 3-0 friendly win over Togo on June 1, 2017, is part of the key players for head coach Gernot Rohr ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches in September.

Super Eagles duo of Leon Balogun and Joe Aribo goal - their only shot of the opening period. would be looking forward to a good outing But ten minutes after the break, Sakala finally tonight as Scottish champions, Rangers travel scored the goal he deserved (55), powering home to FC Malmo in the first leg UEFA Champions past Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin and League qualifying group phase in Sweden. introducing himself to the Rangers fans in superb The third round of the qualifying phase will style. see the Nigerians who have been part of Coach The visitors' evening was about to get worse Steve Gerrard success last season to want to too. Nacho was sent off for a second yellow (75), extend the winning run as they attempt to book with Cedric Itten (77) firing a thunderous effort a place in the final qualifying round late next home two minutes later to seal a deserved victory month. for Rangers.

To reach this stage, Rangers secured a 2-2 second-leg draw with HJK Helsinki in the Finnish capital to go through 4-3 on aggregate and a trip to Malmo tonight will still give them the opportunity in the return leg at the dreaded Ibrox Stadium on August 10 The centre referee for the match is Szymon Marcinial from Poland and the Assistant referees are Pawel Sokolnick, Tomaz Listkiewicz and Tomasz Musial all from Poland Malmo secured a 2-2 second-leg draw in the Finnish capital to go through 4-3 on aggregate.

Should Rangers beat Malmo over two legs, the Ibrox side would progress to the Champions League final play-off match, which is one step away from the group stages Rangers ended their pre-season in impressive fashion, coming from behind to beat Real Madrid 2-1 in their final friendly ahead of Saturday's Scottish Premiership opener.

Steven Gerrard's side looked sharp and dangerous in attack throughout the first half. Summer signing Fashion Sakala carved out numerous chances in the opening 45 minutes, while Ryan Leon Balogun (left) and Joe Aribo aiming for win Kent hit the underside of the crossbar. tonight to brighten prospect of Champions League However, it was Real Madrid who went in ahead after Rodrygo's (8) early action this coming season

Canada Upset USA to Set up Sweden Final Canada secured a 1-0 victory over world champions the United States to set up a women's Olympic football final against Sweden at Tokyo 2020.

Jessie Fleming scored Canada's winner from the penalty spot after Deanne Rose was fouled

by Tierna Davidson inside the box at the Kashima Stadium.

Canada will face Sweden in Friday's gold-medal match.

Fridolina Rolfo scored the only goal as Sweden beat Australia to reach their second successive Olympic final.

Having been favourites to win the tournament, Vlatko Andonovski's US side will compete for bronze on Thursday against Australia, when the Matildas will play in an Olympic

OLYMPIC WOMEN’S FOOTBALL women's football medal match for the first time.

After reaching the final of every women's Olympic football event since its introduction in 1996, the US have now failed to reach the final in successive Games.

Beverly Priestman's Canada are guaranteed at least silver in Tokyo, meaning midfielder Quinn will be the first openly transgender athlete to win an Olympic medal.

Canada and Quinn won bronze in Rio 2016 before Quinn came out in September 2020.

Canada scored with their only shot on target to beat their neighbours for the first time since March 2001.

Davidson's foul on substitute Rose was initially missed by referee Kateryna Monzul, but the Ukrainian pointed to the spot after the video assistant referee (VAR) showed the Canadian was kicked as they both challenged for a loose ball.

Substitute goalkeeper Adrianna Franch guessed the right way, but Fleming found the bottom corner for the 75th-minute winner.

Franch had replaced US firstchoice Alyssa Naeher in just the 30th minute after the hero of their quarter-final penalty shootout win over the Netherlands had landed awkwardly following a challenge

by Nichelle Prince.

Canada upset USA to set up final clash with Sweden....yesterday

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SPORTS

NPFL: Enyimba Drop Points in Race for Continental Slots Nasarawa, Kano Pillars join the Aba Elephants in hunt for tickets MATCH DAY 37

Enyimba of Aba dropped points against Sunshine Stars who are battling to avoid the drop yesterday in the penultimate game of the Nigerian top-flight NPFL in Akure.

The Aba Elephant played a one-all result with the Owena

Whales and lost ground in the tussle for continental places.

The two-time African Champions League winners have now dropped from third spot to No. 5 on the log going into the final game of the season on Thursday.

After Akwa United were Sunday crowned champions, the race for the two remaining continental tickets in the NPFL will now go all the way to final round of games Thursday after Nasarawa United, Kano Pillars and Rivers United won

at home yesterday.

Nasarawa United stopped Enugu Rangers 3-0, Kano Pillars pipped Wikki Tourists at the death, while Rivers United dumped Lobi Stars 3-1.

Nasarawa thus consolidated second place on 65 points,

while both Kano Pillars and Rivers United leap frogged Enyimba.

Pillars are third on 64 points, Rivers United have 63 points, while Enyimba dropped to fifth with 63 points.

Kwara United won 2-0 at relegated Adamawa United to stay put at sixth place with 60 points.

On Thursday, Nasarawa do battle at Abia Warriors, Pillars are away to Heartland, Rivers United face a daunting task at relegation-troubled Sunshine Stars.

Defending champions Enyimba, who are away to Dakkada, could still hope to sneak back into contention on the final day of action should the front runners drop points.

The second and third spots placed teams guarantee them CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup slots.

Adamawa Enyimba Nasarawa Rivers Utd K'Pillars

0-2 1-1 3-0 3-1 1-0

Kwara Utd Sunshine Rangers Lobi Wikki

MATCH-DAY 38 MFM FC v Jigawa GS Lobi Stars v Akwa Utd Sunshine v Rivers Utd Dakkada v Enyimba Rangers v Plateau Utd Abia War' v Nasarawa Kwara Utd v Katsina Utd Wikki v Adamawa Utd Heartland v K'Pillars IfeanyiUbah v W'Wolves *(All matches at 4 pm)

Red-hot Eunisell Boot Award Race on the Cards

Nwankwo, Atshimene tie on 18 goals with last game in sight

Charles Atshimene

Silas Nwankwo

Akpabio Congratulates Akwa Utd FC for Lifting the NPFL Title Nseobong Okon-Ekong Minister, Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has described the victory of the state-owned football club, Akwa United, in the 2020/21 NPFL season as "a good omen which signposts the strides our youths are recording in sports development."

According to his Chief Press

Secretary, Jackson Udom, the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State said, “let me congratulate the players, the management and the backroom staff of Akwa United Football Club, for this uncommon feat of lifting the 2020/21 NPFL trophy for the very first time since the establishment of the club and the creation of Akwa Ibom State.”

The former Senate Minority Leader, also stressed the importance of making available quality sporting equipment for our youths to develop their talents in the different areas of sports, saying, "that was why, during my administration, we ensured that we put in place a world-class stadium and other sporting facilities for the development of our youths and

today, the state is happier for it.”

Akpabio also used the occasion to congratulate the good people of Akwa Ibom State on the victory of their darling team and urged them to continue to support the team in future competitions, in order to savour more moments of victory in the state and country at large."

Akwa United players and officials celebrating winning the NPFL title for the first time on Sunday evening in Uyo

Nigerian International and in-form Akwa United striker, Charles Atshimene, hit a hat-trick against MFM FC on Sunday, to level with Nasarawa United’s Silas Nwankwo, on 18 goals, as the Promise Keepers were crowned champions of the Nigeria Professional Football League first time in 25 years.

Going into Thursday’s last day of the Nigerian topflight season, Atshimene appears ready to prove a point in the battle for who emerges the top scorer and winner of the prestigious Eunisell Boot.

The Eunisell Boot race has since been dominated by the duo.

Nwankwo reached the 18-goal mark ahead of his closest rival, Atshimene, on Match- day 36 with a brace in their 4-0 annihilation of Sunshine Stars.

Inspired by his side’s quest for their first-ever NPFL title, Atshimene posted a manof-the-match outing with his first hat-trick in the top flight against MFM to become joint-top scorer, in Sunday’s match day 37 clash.

However, Nwankwo failed to score to boost his tally in his team’s 3-0 win over Rangers yesterday.

For the first time since the introduction of the Eunisell Boot the battle will be decided on the last day of the season.

It promises to be an exciting race as both players head for crucial road trips with their teams.

Nwankwo will seek for goals as his side confronts Abia Warriors, while Atshimene takes his form to Lobi Stars in his quest to become the latest Eunisell Boot winner.

Organisers to Name LOC for Zenith Bank/Delta Principal’s Cup

The organisers of the Zenith/ Delta Principal’s Cup football competition for secondary schools are working on setting up the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the event.

Top sports officials in Delta State and the newly-appointed Commissioner for Secondary School Education, Mrs Rose Ezewu, have stepped up preparation for the developmental youth football competition.

It was further learnt in Asaba that letters have been sent to schools on the plans for the forthcoming edition which is the fifth in the series of the revived football fiesta.

Sponsors, Zenith Bank, has also declared readiness for the annual event as the management has told its partners, Delta State, to go ahead with the modalities to make this year’s event special.

Meanwhile, the organisers have announced that press conference will take place next

month at the Conference Hall, Olorogun Felix Ibru Secretariat, Asaba while the kickoff will be taking place on October 7, at St. Patricks’ College, Asaba.

The third place and the final matches are billed for November 25at the Stephen Keshi UltraModern Stadium, Asaba.

"We are looking at getting the schools involved in the planning so that it will not clash with school programme in anyway.

"Because the competition did not take place next year, we are putting extra effort to create awareness and bring back the glamour so that the young ones will enjoy themselves," one of the organisers said.

The winner of this edition will be registered for the National Principal’s Cup competition scheduled for next year.

School of Commerce Warri emerged winners of the 2019 Zenith Bank/Delta Principals’ Cup after defeating Zappa Mixed School, Asaba 2-1.

Tuesday August 3, 2021

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Price: N250

MISSILE Jega to APC/PDP

“We shouldn’t continue folding our arms looking at these insincere people plundering our country; they would never bring change.”

Former Chairman of INEC, Attahiru Jega, lambasting the APC and PDP for failing Nigerians

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI Abba Kyari: A Fall From Grace T abati1990@gmail.com

he story of Abba Kyari, the Deputy Commissioner of Police and erstwhile head of the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team speaks to the fate of all men who are overtaken by hubris, that flaw of character from which tragedies have been written from Sophocles to Shakespeare. Every tragic hero or anti-hero soon begins to create illusions of his or her own importance and then soon faces unexpected nemesis. Oedipus in ancient Greek mythology solved the riddle of the Sphinx, but fate caught up with him and he ended up killing his father and he married his own mother. Medea, a woman of extreme jealousy, and pride killed her own children in order to prove a point – one of the earliest feminist figures in classical literature.

Agamemnon was King of Argos and also commander of the Greek army, but he was immature, unwise and emotional. This was his undoing. He was a great warrior but he was impetuous. Coriolanus, the Roman General could not become Consul in Ancient Rome. He waged war out of vengeance after he had been banished. Consumed by passion and vengeance, he led an assault against Rome.

He eventually lost his life. Julius Caesar was one of the most decorated leaders in ancient Rome, but he became a dictator, evoking the envy and conspiracy of his own associates.

I have taken these examples from classical literature and mythology and from Shakespearean tropes detailing an important aspect of human experience and cultural identity: how glory does not guarantee a happy ending, how man experiences the mystery of suffering in order to learn, how what is called happiness is culturally relative. Modern fictive and interpretive representations have also shown that tragedy is not only for great and well-placed persons, but that all men are flawed, and many have fallen due to hubris, not necessarily fate, but error of judgement, pride, or wrong choices. Managing one’s temptations could be the best protection but then what is life if not the rising and ebbing of the tides of time? Life ends as a comedy for many, but for others, it is a tragedy.

DCP Abba Kyari is facing a tragic moment in his career as a policeman. Like all tragic tales, he would attract the pity of friends, fear among colleagues who may well imagine that they too could suffer the same fate, as well as the empathy of a few. But the majority should draw lessons from his experience.

He was arguably the most honoured police officer of his time. They called him the Super Cop. He led the Police Intelligence Unit and was acclaimed for his prowess. He was a celebrity cop too. On one occasion, he was specially recognised by Nigeria’s House of Representatives. Not many police officers in Nigeria have enjoyed such privilege. Given the trajectory of his career, no one would have been surprised if the super cop ended up as Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police. But now all that is ended. Whether Kyari is eventually extradited to face trial in a US District Court or not, the white garment of honour that he once wore has been tainted, soiled, splattered all over with palm oil. Even if he is cleared of all wrong doings, the perception that he was fingered by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation in a matter of conspiracy to commit electronic fraud and abet criminal behaviour is bad enough. This same officer who used to be the subject of saccharine panegyrics, is now the butt of internet memes. Those who wear immaculate white attires should stay away from retailers of palm oil. The case against Kyari is that he failed to do this.

His nemesis is a certain Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, aka, Ray Hushpuppi, who is now facing a likely jail term of 20 years for engaging in high tech organised crime. Arrested by the FBI in June 2020, Hushpuppi has been singing like a canary and yelping like a puppy. He identified Abba Kyari as one of his allies, an influential police officer in Nigeria who helped

x him, Hushpuppi, to arrest one of his gang members with whom he had a dispute over a deal. The FBI in the deposition that was unsealed in court on July 26 provided copious and embarrassing details of conversations between Hushpuppi and the senior police officer. It is alleged that Kyari sent a bank account number into which money was transferred to take care of “the team” for services rendered.

What service? One Kelly Vincent Chibuzor was arrested and detained for more than a month by Abba Kyari’s team. Even when it was discovered that the allegation by Hushpuppi against Chibuzor was incorrect, there was no evidence to indicate that the Super Cop took any step to get Hushpuppi sanctioned for misleading the police and for wasting the time and resources of the Nigerian State. The FBI document further indicates that Super Cop Kyari even visited Hushpuppi in Dubai as a special guest.

Since these details became public, Kyari’s strongest defence is that he is completely innocent and that the only connection between him and Hushpuppi is that he helped him to sew some native wears.

How on earth did a cop in charge of Nigeria’s Police Intelligence Response Unit become a tailor and fashion consultant to a man of international security interest, who by the way, flaunted obscene wealth on social media pages? Certain associations are not good for a person’s brand. The association with Hushpuppi in any form whatsoever was bad for the senior cop. Hushpuppi knows clearly that he is down. The same way he used the Nigerian Police to “discipline” one of his gang members, he has also shown no scruples in dragging policeman Aba Kyari along with him. Yesterday, matters went further South when the FBI released more information to confirm that Kyari collected N8 million in that hire-a-senior-cop case.

Whatever anyone may say, this is not good either for the country’s image. Ordinarily, Nigeria has been labelled a prolific source of potential or actual fraudsters, even when this same country has produced some of the brightest and accomplished persons in all fields of human endeavour. Few foreigners give us the benefit of the doubt. What has happened to DCP Kyari is also not good for the image of the Nigerian Police. Even before the October 2020, #EndSARS protests, the average Nigerian policeman was routinely criticised for bribe collection, brutality and abuse of human rights. It is for this reason that

Kyari may not have too many people out there who are ready to sympathise with him. Since the FBI incident, there have been remarks not just about Kyari but the Nigerian Police Force: how, it is said, Nigerian policemen work with criminals, how they extort money and how any one can hire a police man to violate other people’s rights. Those who have an axe to grind with DCP Kyari have also been all over the social media further rubbing salt into his wounds. When a man is down in this life, there are many who would kick him where it hurts most. Kyari must be wondering what is happening to him. Every tragic hero eventually experiences anagnorisis and catharsis. But it is not always that a tragedy ends as a comedy.

The US District Court of Central California has issued a warrant of arrest for DCP Kyari. But it is not as easy as that. Nigeria is a sovereign state.

A court in the United States cannot simply order the arrest of a Nigerian living inside Nigeria, and expect that Nigeria, as a sovereign state would simply hand over the person. The relationship between sovereigns is governed by rules and due process. Given the weight of the allegations, and the attention the case has generated, the Inspector General of Police has ordered a probe by a 4-man Committee. The Police Service Commission which is responsible for appointments, promotion and discipline within the Police has sent Abba Kyari on suspension. Fair enough. The investigation must be thorough and transparent. Nigeria has every reason to take up this matter with all the seriousness that it deserves. Kyari committed the alleged offence in his privileged position as a Deputy Commissioner of police, and Head of Police Intelligence Response Team. Did he abuse his office as alleged? Did he conspire to commit wire fraud as an officer of the law? The “Team” referred to in the FBI document, who are members of the team? Whose bank account received the N8 million paid by Hushpuppi? Did Kyari and his team violate the Police Code of Conduct, especially with regard to Principles Six and Seven dealing with integrity and conflict of interest? What lessons can the Police itself learn from this in terms of its internal oversight processes and how police officers conduct themselves in society?

Those questions would be useful for a reform of the Nigerian Police. There should be no cover up. If DCP Kyari is found guilty, he should be sanctioned accordingly and handed over to the Americans in line with extradition processes. DCP Kyari should have his lawyers on standby. Everything that he represents is at stake.

I find it completely odious however, that there has been a useless attempt to read ethnic and political meanings into Kyari’s travails. The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) was reported in the newspapers yesterday as saying the FBI’s plan to arrest Kyari is “totally unacceptable”, and that “nothing must happen to him”. The AYCF further said “all Nigerians who are truly patriotic should stand behind a man who has made an unrivalled mark on the sands of time by diligently serving his fatherland” … because the FBI’s proposed arrest is “an attempted intimidation of a police officer right inside his independent fatherland”. The statement is credited to Alhaji Yerima Shettima, described as AYCF President. Such drivel coming from anyone at all is shocking! If that doesn’t shock you enough, then consider the more laughable intervention of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN). MACBAN is accusing the US FBI of colluding with some leaders in Southern Nigeria to indict police officer Abba Kyari and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) of folding its hands and failing to defend “sons of the North who have distinguished themselves in different fields (and) are constantly being persecuted and maligned at the height of their careers.” One Dr. Garus Gololo speaking on behalf of MACBAN added that “The

United States is the most dishonest country in the world. What they are doing to Kyari, they did it to Al Gore. Let him stand firmly and defend himself because he is Nigeria’s future Inspector General of Police, and he mustn’t allow himself to be rattled.”

Dr Garus Galolo’s garrulousness on a subject he knows nothing about is absurd. He should shut up. Ethnicity is not the important issue in the Kyari case. The FBI does not care about whether he is from the North or the South. Apparently, the leaders of the NEF are more discerning and that is why they have been silent and watching. Dr Galolo may well be accused of trying to incite cattle breeders against the US and the NEF. The security agencies have a duty to investigate his claims. What has Kyari’s travails got to do with cattle rearing? The AYCF should also be reminded that the FBI is not interested in the dangerous little games we play here in Nigeria with ethnicity. Kyari does not represent the North. He is a police officer being accused of roguish conduct. And that point about some Southern leaders colluding with the FBI: How? If this would be of any comfort: there was actually a semblance of Federal Character and diversity to the names mentioned in the Hushpuppi/Kyari case.

The affidavit sworn to by Andrew John Innocenti, special agent with the FBI mentions the following names: Ramon Olorunwa Abbas (Nigerian/Yoruba), Abdulrahman Imran Juma (Kenyan), Vincent Kelly Chibuzo (Nigerian/probably Igbo); Abba Alhaji Kyari (Nigerian/ Kanuri), Rukayat Motunrayo Fashola (Nigerian/Yoruba) and Bolatito Tawakalitu Agbabiaka (Nigerian/Yoruba), all accused of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to engage in money laundering. At paragraphs 23 -30, the investigator identifies Abba Kyari and establishes his connection with Hushpuppi with copious references to phone numbers, conversations, newspaper articles and account numbers. So, where is the collusion with the FBI to ridicule a “Northern star?” But that is Nigeria. We play politics with everything. Instead of focussing on key issues, we reduce everything to ethnic identity. We need to know that when persons conspire to do wrong things, they don’t operate on the basis of their ethnic origins. They are united by a common purpose that is beyond ethnicity or religion. In this matter, a Ramon is caught in the same web with a Vincent and a Rukayat and Tawakalitu. They are united by a different purpose.

This cautionary point is also meant for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The party’s spokesperson has launched an attack on the Buhari administration over the Kyari matter. Must we play politics with everything? No. It is enough to insist that nothing should be swept under the carpet and that due process must be strictly followed. This is not a Buhari matter. Kyari must answer his father’s name.

There are more lessons. The Nigerian Police can learn a lot from the diligence and professionalism of the US FBI. The depositions were first taken to court in February, again in April, but the contents were only unsealed in July. Nothing leaked. The document did not suddenly vanish from where it was kept.

There was no reported case of arson that would have led to the destruction of valuable evidence. The FBI monitored conversations across long distances and gathered evidence. Young Nigerians for whom the indecent display of wealth is a major attraction should remember the stories of Hushpuppi, Invictus and all such characters and have a glimpse of their own future undoing. Hushpuppi was so popular on Instagram; many young Nigerians wanted to be like him. He wore Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Versace and displayed exotic cars. Today, he is in a lonely place. He is so lonely. He is singing and sinking.

Let the law take its full course then. We hear DCP Kyari has been promptly replaced by DCP Tunji Disu as Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team. That’s life.

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