In Bid to Avoid Promotion Interview, ElectricityUnion Throws Nigeria into Total Blackout
Dr Lagos Blue Rail Line Nears Completion as Engineers Launch Final Track Beam ... Page 8 Continued on page 10 Continued on page 10
It came after a four-hour conciliation meeting between the federal government and the striking electricity workers Productivity,
At 81st Birthday, IBB Says Nigeria’s Insecurity Would be Over Soon
Former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, sounding a note of hope and optimism on the eve of his birthday on Wednesday, said the security chal lenges currently facing the country would be over soon. Babangida, who turned 81 yesterday, said Nigerians should be patient, prayerful, and supportive of one another. The former head of state spoke on Tuesday when officials of the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Niger State paid him a birthday visit at
Masari: APC'll Win 2023 Polls Despite Nation’s Challenges
Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Power sector workers yesterday made good their threat to embark on a nationwide strike, shutting down power stations countrywide and setting off another electricity grid collapse around 3pm. But after throwing the entirenation into a total blackout for several hours with its attendant loss of productivity which may have run into billions of naira, the workers suspended the industrial action by two weeks.
Hammed Shittu in Ilorin and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari, yesterday, boasted that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would win the 2023 general election, despite the current unpleas ant socio-political and worsening security situation in the country Masari spoke in Igbaja, Kwara State, during the inauguration of an ultra modern hostel/campus named after him by the management of a private university, Al-Hikma University, Ilorin. He said Nigeria’s current challenges were not in isolation, but had global dimensions. In another development, the leadership of APC denied alleged plots to remove its National Chair man, Senator Abdullahi Adamu. Examining APC’s chances in the 2023 elections, the Katsina State governor, who spoke with a lot of confidence, explained, "Those saying it will be difficult for the APC
Continued on page 10 FG: Why We Can't Generate 5,000mw of Power... Page 5 in Abuja with the Minister of Labour and
Declares: In 2019, they said it would be difficult for us to win, they were wrong, we won Says Nigeria’s problems have global dimensions Party denies plan to remove Adamu
www.thisdaylive.com Thursday 18 August, 2022 Vol 27. No 9991. Price: N250 TRUTH & REASON
Charges citizens to be patient, prayerful NHRC commends Nigerian armed forces his Minna However,residence.notgiving up on the Kingsley Nwezeh Michael Olugbode in Abuja, Laleye Dipo in Minna, Fidelis David in Akure and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Dutse
L-R: A National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC)/Former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba; Governor Dapo Abiodun; Presidential candidate of the APC, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, during a consultative meeting at the residence of the former president held in Abeokuta…yesterday
TINUBU VISITS OBASANJO IN PURSUIT OF HIS LIFELONG AMBITION...
Action triggers collapse of national grid NUEE suspends strike for two weeks after meeting with FG officials
THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2022 • THISDAY2
THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2022 • THISDAY 3
THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2022 • THISDAY4
81 COMMEMORATIVE BIRTHDAY/TRIBUTE FOR LATE
On his part, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while responding to what government was doing to stem rising inflation in the country, said his Finance, Budget and National Planning counterpart will be in a better position to explain steps being taken by government to address the issue.
board inauguration
NEWSGroup News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322, 0807 401 0580 THURSDAY, THISDAY 5 Deji Elumoye in Abuja
PHOTO: KUNLE OGUNFUYI Why We Can't Generate 5,000mw of Power additional N765.9m for NDDC’s commission’s
PDP, Tinubu
Umana also said FEC approved additional cost of N765.9 million to complete the forensic auditing of theAccordingNDDC. to him: “You'll recall that for this exercise, a lead consultant was appointed who had to work with 16 other field auditors and the initial contract zone which covered the lead consultants and the field forensic auditors was N1.786 billion. “These auditors have since concluded their work but in the course of carrying out this work, it was discovered that they had to deal with many more projects than were initially envisaged. And the exercise also took an additional seven“Themonths.totalnumber of additional projects considered by the auditors was 3,773. So for reasons of the additional number of projects and the additional time taken, Council today approved a revised additional sum of N765,974,975.50 to cover the additional works done by the forensic auditors.”
The PDP spokesman further said: "He is an undiminished quin tessence of development-oriented leadership whose government laid solid foundation for infrastructural and policy development in key sectors of the economy. "He remains a Pan-Nigerian leader and the PDP recognises and deeply appreciates his continuing role towards the growth and stability of our great Party and the nation at large even in his retirement."Ologunagba prayed to God in his mercies, to bless him with many more years in good health, “so that the nation will continue to benefit from his wealth of experi ence and wise counsel especially in the party’s mission to rescue, redirect and rebuild the nation fromThemisrule.”Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has congratulated former military presi dent, General Ibrahim Babangida, on his 81st birthday. On his part, Tinubu in a statement issued by his Media Office and signed by Mr. Tunde Rahman, described Babangida as a committed statesman and patriot. He said: "I congratulate General Ibrahim Babangida, our former leader, on attaining 81, which is a special grace from Almighty Allah"IBB(SWT).asfondly called by his associates and admirers is a com mitted elder statesman in words and in deeds. A patriot of great standing, former president IBB served our country in his prime and at old age he is still committed to the unity and progress of the country and welfare of its citizens. "I join IBB family, friends and associates to felicitate with a nationalist of outstanding qualities and uncanny capacity for forging friendships and contacts across the length and breadth of Nigeria." Congratulate IBB at MARGARET OBAIGBENA... Children of the deceased: Mrs Ogochukwu Obaigbena-Aneke, Mr. Ben Obaigbena; Obi of Owa Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Obi (Dr.) Emmanuel Efeizomor and Mrs. Ngozi Obaigbena-Tata, during the commemorative birthday and day of tribute for late Princess Margaret Obaigbena, mother of the Chairman, THISDAY and ARISE NEWS, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, held in Owa-Oyibu, Delta State...on Tuesday.
According to him, the federal government had firm contracts with only five out of the 28 Power Generating Companies (GenCos) but had to extend it to more GenCos to stabilise supply at 5000MW as of July Aliyu,1.however, assured Nigerians that the government has, “all the ingredients” to solve the supply challenge soon. He explained: “We have 28 generating companies and only five or thereabout that we had firm contracts with. Firm contract means that what you agree upon, you must give or else there’ll be penalty. And there must be uptake. This is what it means to have a firm“Now,contract.weextended that to other generating companies by July 1, to be able to have a firm contract to generate 5000 megawatts as a baseline and we're not stopping there. We'll start ramping up with the other ones. So, this is the situation. We are working round the clock to ensure that we raise capacity to the required level.” The minister also said FEC ap proved N2,740,000,000, as revised estimates for the updated rates of building structures of compensation and resettlement of the communities affected by the construction of 700 megawatts Zungeru Hydroelectric power project. He added that the amount revised the subsisting amount from N19,640,000,000 to N22,380,000,000. "Today (Wednesday), I approached Council to seek approval of revised estimates total costs for the updated rates of building structures of compensation and resettlement of the communities affected by the construction of 700 megawatts Zungeru Hydroelectric power project in the total sum of N2,740,000,000 which will revise the subsisting amount from N19,640,000,000 to N22,380,000,000 and the council graciously approved the request," heCommentingadded. on the strike action embarked upon by members of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), the Minister said the protesting workers have no grudges with his ministry, but the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Folashade Yemi-Esan.Theunion is protesting the nonpayment of outstanding arrears owed to former workers of the nowdefunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, suspension of conditions of service and career path for workers and the directive by the TCN board to conduct promotion interviews for acting principal managers who are moving to Assistant General Managers.Answering questions on the issue, Aliyu said “The issues they have is not particularly something to do with us, but with employment issues with the Head of Service.”
L-R: Some
Okays
James Sowole in Abeokuta
FG:
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State yesterday faulted the Senator Representing Ogun West, Tolu Odebiyi, over his statement in which he alleged that Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, refused to accept reconciliation within the ruling party. The party stated that it was actu ally the immediate past governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who refused to be reconciled despite interventions of the revered Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona as well as close friends and colleagues. This was contained in a statement issued in Abeokuta and signed by the APC State Publicity Secretary, TundeOladunjoyeOladunjoye.described Odebiyi’s statement as, “a product of frustra tion," adding that, "his choice of abusive words and gutter language are unbecoming of someone of his status."Hesaid, “We want to state emphatically and for the avoid ance of doubt, that the Senator lied throughout his wishy-washy statement."TheAPC’s statement read: “The attention of the APC, Ogun State Chapter has been drawn to a media statement credited to Senator Tolu Odebiyi and published in some media where false allegations were levelled against Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State on issues of reconciliatory efforts within our dear “Ordinarily,party. we would not have joined issues with Senator Odebiyi, but the fact that he so much unashamedly and barefacedly peddled white lies that are really unexpected from a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “We elect not to join Senator Odebiyi in his lamentations traceable to his rejection by his constituents at the last APC senatorial primaries; a frustration that was obvious in his choice of abusive words and gutter language unbecoming of someone of his status. “However, we want to say emphatically and for the avoid ance of doubt, that the Senator lied throughout his wishy-washy statement.“Ourparty challenges the Senator to tell the general public where any reconciliatory meeting was called; when and who convened the meeting and who attended.”
Reconciliation: Ogun APC
He said: “I wish my colleague the Minister of Budget, Finance and National Planning, was here and she will probably tell you both the fiscal and monetary measures government is taking, especially in the area of the medium-term fiscal measures.“Butwhat I can tell you is that inflation is a global issue. And I think it reflects, you know, a lot of things going on, globally. But what government do to stem inflation varies from government to “Sometimesgovernment. it is the way you adjust your interest rate or the way you introduce certain fiscal measures that would allow you to bring down the inflation. But like I said, I wish the Minister of Finance was here she will be in a better position to tell me exactly what measures we've been taking to ensure that inflation does not continue to soar.”
Faults Senator Odebiyi'sComment on Abiodun
The federal government has justified its inability to achieve its promised 5,000 megawatts (mw) of electricity generation for the country, saying it was due to shortage in gas supply. This is just as it also declared that the consideration of the forensic audit report of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was delaying the inauguration of the board already approved by theMinisterSenate. of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, who disclosed this yesterday, while speaking with newsmen after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, said whereas government had entered into a firm contract with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc, power generation had remained around 4,000 megawatts because of the challenge of gas. He explained: “Regarding the drop of electricity, you know the supply has so many players, gas, the cost, issues of gas to some power plants. They cannot switch on their plant, if they do you will experience some drop, once they switch on, the electricity will increase. “There may be drop due to fault of generator. It’s mostly generation. I've been watching since like yesterday (Tuesday) evening; we had genera tion of around 4,600 megawatts and you know, we told you since July 1, we've been able to raise it up to 5000 when we activated the contract. “And we have not been able to do so due to some issues around gas contracts, gas to power, which we are trying to take care of. And we have gone very far with that and I believe it is for that reason that we're able to reach up to 4,600. “This morning, it dropped to 4,100. So, this is what is happening. You will be experiencing this fluctuation due to all these issues around gas to power, because gas is not something that we control directly; they will not give you gas until you pay. So, we are looking at ways to solve that“Itissue.isthe reason we are unable to reach that 5000 we promised you by July 1 of this year. But as you will see from that date, we have been around 4,000 megawatts since then.”
Also speaking, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Umana, told newsmen that federal govern ment was anxious to see the board of the NDDC in place because it would aid the smooth working of theHe,ministry.however said, that would only happen if the forensic report was out, assuring that government was almost concluding work on theHereport.added: "I can very conveniently say that the constitution of the board will follow immediately thereafter. Nobody is trying to stall the constitution of the board. Nobody. “I want the board in place, because it would make my work run smoothly. But we must also follow the due process, conclude on this report and the white paper is issued. So that is the position.”
Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Bola Tinubu yesterday congratulated former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida on his 81st birthday. The PDP in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, described Babangida as a courageous leader, statesman and nationalist who remains exceptionally loyal and commit ted to national unity, stability and economic development.
forensic audit Says report delaying
Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has made a clarion call to Nigerians especially religious leaders to pray fervently for the nation to be at peace and secured. The president in a statement issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, called on all Nigerians, especially religious leaders, to intensify prayers for the peace and security of the nation. He felicitated with the Arch bishop of Benue and Prelate-elect of Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Rev Oliver Ali Aba. The president commended the premier church in the country for the peaceful and transparent 48th/13th Biennial Conference in Abuja which has led to the emergence of a new leader. Buhari also hailed the outgoing Prelate, His Eminence, Samuel Chukwuemeka Uche, for his achievements in the spiritual and physical growth of the church during his nine-year tenure. As the Prelate-elect, Aba assumes office on December 1, 2022, the president wished him a successful stewardship, while urging him to build on the laudable legacies of the out-going Prelate.
Giving further insights on the activities of SCUML, the Zonal Commander said, “Under the new MLA, SCUML is now to be fully under the EFCC.” He said part of its responsibilities was, “to ensure compliance of DNFBPs including but not limited to car dealers, jewelry dealers, real estate managers, hoteliers and other stakeholders with the provisions of the Responding,law.”
With Massive Oil Windfall, Saudi Arabia Pours $7.5bn into US Stocks
Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
No
Abdul thanked the Zonal Commander for the warm reception accorded his members and the explicit explanations ren dered on the activities of SCUML. While pledging the unalloyed support of the association to the EFCC’s anti-graft fight, Ahmed called on the anti-graft agency to set aside a date to sensitise his members across the 16 Local government Areas of the State so that they can also be better informed about SCUML and what was expected of them under the law, a statement from the EFCC stated.
Buhari to Religious Leaders: Intensify
Udora Orizu in Abuja
Rejoices with new Methodist prelate Authority (NSIA) is statutorily empowered to invest the funds in the interest of Nigerians. But chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the PIF is ploughing deeper into public markets as it pursues the goal of more than doubling its assets by 2025.The wealth fund is boosting its investments in equities as SaudiArabia’s income from oil almost doubled in the second quarter. Soaring crude prices are set to give the kingdom its first budget surplus in almost a decade. The PIF’s most recent buying spree echoes the fund’s strategy in early 2020 when it spent billions snapping up stakes in US firmswhose valuations had been battered by the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. It then sold manyof those stakes when markets rebounded.Intotal,the value of the PIF’s disclosed portfolio in the US fell by about $3 billion in the second quarter to roughly $40 billion, according to information from the filing that was compiled by Bloomberg.Muchofthe drop was due to an $8.3 billion decline in the value of the PIF’s stake in electric car-maker Lucid Motors, which slumped after it cut production targets. As well as buying about $482million of shares in Starbucks Corp. and roughly $496 million in Costco Wholesale Corp., the PIF also pushed deeper into tech stocks, joining Abu Dhabi wealthfund Mubadala Investment Co. to become a go-to investor in the sector.The PIF invested about $522 million in Datadog Inc. and roughly $2 billion in Electronic Arts Inc. during the second quarter, according to the Mostfiling.ofwhat’s known about the PIF’s holdings comes from regulatory filings. The fund itselfdiscloses limited information publicly about its allocations to different geographies or asset classes.Italso invested in Zoom and Microsoft as part of a wider pick of US stocks, bringing the market value of the sovereign wealth fund's investment portfolio to about $40.8billion at the end of the second quarter.ThePIF acquired 213,000 class A shares in Alphabet, 4.7 million class A shares in Zoom and 1.8 million shares in Microsoft, a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing showed.SaudiArabia added other stocks including Adobe Systems, Ad vanced Micro Devices , Salesforce, Home Depot , Freeport-McMoRan, Datadog and NextEra Energy. The PIF, which manages $620 billion in assets, is at the centre of Saudi Arabia’s plans to transform the economy by creating new sectors and diversifying revenues away from oil. The PIF is pursuing a twopronged strategy, building an international portfolio of invest ments while also investing locally in projects that will help to reduceSaudi Arabia’s reliance on oil.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday urged Designated NonFinancial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) to conduct their dealings in line with the provisions of the newly enacted Money Laundering Prohibition and Prevention Act 2022. The Lagos Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Ahmed Ghali, gave the charge during a two-day sensitisation programme organised by the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) for DNFBPs on the implementation of the newly passed AML/CFT Legislation.“Thissensitisation is important because we do not want friction between the EFCC and DNFBPs, as we have seen in recent times. "All that we are saying to you at this workshop is to comply with the requirements of the money laundering laws so that you will be able to transact your businesses with ease and not experience any sanctions from the EFCC," he said. Ghali also used the opportunity to urge them to cooperate with the EFCC and support the commis sion in its sustained fight against terrorism financing and corruption in Nigeria.“Wewant you, the non-financial business operators, to join us in sanitising the systems, eliminate any form of fraud and criminality and to make sure that you are not being used as tools for money laundering,” he added. The Coordinator, SCUML, Lagos, Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A top member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Saudi Arabia, has through its Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) invested $7.5 billion in blue-chip American companies on the back of rising oil prices. Some of the 17 companies in which the country has poured themassive excess funds and taken minority stakes, include Google parent Alphabet Inc., BlackRock Inc. and Microsoft Corp., in the three months ended June 30, ac cording to U.S. securities filings. Each investment was worth $400 million to $500 million, the filings show.The country also bought into Amazon, JPMorgan Chase & Co., among others. The $620 billion Public Invest ment Fund also added to positions it held in Facebook Inc. owner Meta Platforms Inc., PayPal Holdings Inc. and Electronic Arts Inc. in the second quarter, according to a 13FThefiling.acquisitions show that the PIF, as the fund is known, is doubling down on its bet on technology investments despitea rout in valuations. In contrast, Nigeria has not been able to take advantage of the rising international oil prices, due mainly to its over 700,000 barrels daily production deficit and its largely opaque fuel subsidy regime, estimated to cost N4 trillion thisAyear.recent THISDAY report revealed the shocking depletionof what would have been a veritable buffer in this unusual time, with the Excess Crude Account (ECA), tumbling from $35.37 million in June to $376,655 in July. While the ECA is the savings account for differentials in budgeted oil prices and the excess it is sold for, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment
Implementation
Paschal Samu, in his opening remarks, said the programme aimed at sensitising the various DNFBPs such as hoteliers, supermarket operators, luxury goods operators, casino operators and car dealers on their roles in complying with the anti-money laundering law. He added that the EFCC would not hesitate to take actions against erring DNFBPs in line with the provisions of the law. Also speaking at a similar forum in Ilorin, the Zonal Com mander, Michael Nzekwe, called on automobile dealers in Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital to ensure compliance with extant laws and regulations requiring registration and certification of their businesses by the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML. The commander, who was ad dressing members of the Kwara State Motor Dealers Association led by its President, Alhaji Ahmed Dare Abdul, said, “apart from enforcing compliance with SCUML regulations, the EFCC under the new Money Laundering Act, MLA, has legal responsibility in safeguarding the investment of stakeholders in the Non-Designated Financial Institutions, NDFIs, from the activities of fraudsters.”
Prayer for Nation's Peace, Security EFCC Charges DNFBPs on New Anti-money Laundering Legislation
SEATTLE DECLARATION ON THEIR MINDS...
6 THURSDAY, THISDAY NEWS
The Registrar/Chief Executive, Chartered Institute of Treasury Management (CITM), Olumide Adedoyin, yesterday said there were no proper safeguards in place to ensure the effective implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA). Adedoyin, who stated this while addressing reporters in Abuja, called for continuous training and retraining of personnel handling the process, saying some of those saddled with the responsibility do not actually understand it effectively. He said laws governing procure ment and other things have to be further domesticated as a means of checking wastage in the system. He said, “Like every government policy, the TSA as it is a function of just an account. It is not an app, it is not a policy, it is just an account. What the TSA tries to do is to make sure that the government has its resources in place and are able to know what they have at any given time. “Now the first step the government was supposed to take was to do what we call cash pulling. Call up your resources from every bank into one single account. Once you do so, those bank accounts you have should not be closed down, rather you try to moderate them into receiving banks.“They receive on your behalf but you cannot disburse from those banks, while at the end of the day you just have an online real time balance to make sure that what comes in is being accounted for. “That was supposed to be the function. But what we discovered at the end of the day was that there are some little processes and challenges within that platform because the back end for the audit was not adequately secured. “So if you did not secure the back end, despite being able to make resources and bring those resources, then there is a little bit of opening in the back that could lead to hemorrhaging of resources and so on. I think as it is, we have actually reached out to the govern ment on different fora, trying to make them understand that the importance of putting these back ends in check is quite important. Secondly we want to believe too that there must be an orientation of the continuous training and retraining of individuals.” Proper Safeguards to EnsureEffective of TSA, Says CITM Boss
L-R: Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Chairman, Governors Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa'ad Abubakar III and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, during the meeting with 36 state governors at the Conference Centre of the Presidential Villa, Abuja....yesterday PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI.
THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2022 • THISDAY 7
Two sets of light train coaches to arrive in Lagos October
The governor said the two sets of EMU coaches already procured for the Blue Line operations would arrive in Lagos from China before the end of October. He said the rail line would be test run immediately after completion, while passenger movement would start within the first quarter of 2023. Sanwo-Olu said the construction of the second phase of the Blue Line project would commence after the start of operation, which would extend the rail project from Mile 2 toHeOkokomaiko.saidBlueLine stations would be built at Festac, Alakija, Trade Fair, Volkswagen, LASU and Okokomaiko. The Governor disclosed that talks were being held with the Ogun State Government for possible extension of the rail line to Agbara. He added: “The second phase of the Blue Line project will be an easy infrastructure to develop because the marked alignment for stations and tracks are largely at grid“Whilelevel. we are at this, the Red Line is also on the way. This is a start-and-end project for our administration, with about seven stations concurrently being built. This will redefine mass transporta tion in Lagos. “To our citizens, I say the Blue Line is for real and you will ride on it in no distant future. For the Doubting Thomases and people that do not like our face, their eyes can not disbelieve in the infrastructure we are bequeathing to the citizens of our State. They cannot disbelieve in our bold effort and commitment to improve mobility and deliver transport infrastructure that brings ease to our people.”
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development yesterday clarified that contrary to speculations that it spent N18.9 billion on bush clearing and land preparation during the COVID-19 lockdown, the actual amount spent was N2.5 billion. It said media reports which emanated from the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts' sitting, alleging
Lawmakers write CAC, FIRS, vow to unmask identities of companies involved in alleged N18bn contract
2023: Tinubu Meets Obasanjo in Abeokuta over Presidential Bid
But while at the stadium, he told the gathering, peopled mainly by artisans and party supporters, that the campaign had not started. He said he only came to say hello to them, adding: "God bless you, God bless your children God bless your work." Earlier at the stadium, Abiodun told the artisans, whose annual day, was yesterday, that they should be closer to him so that he could discuss issues relating to the improvement of their trades withThethem.governor also donated a brand new bus to the artisans and the key presented to them by Tinubu.
James Sowole in Abeokuta Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday, met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Abeokuta, Ogun State home, as part of consultations for his presidential bid. Tinubu, who was led to the meeting by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, was accompanied to the meeting by a former Interim Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande; former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, among APC leaders and allies of the candidate. The meeting temporarily turned the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) to some political ground as APC supporters trooped to the Penthouse of the complex. Although the meeting held behind closed-doors, THISDAY gathered that it was not uncon nected to the 2023 presidential election.Soonafter the meeting, Tinubu went straight to the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Kuto with out speaking to journalists, who had been waiting since 10:00am.
that the sum of N18.9 billion was used for bush clearing during the pandemic was misrepresented. This was just as the Public Ac counts Committee of the House of Representatives yesterday resolved to unmask the real identities of the owners of the companies which it maintained took contracts valued at the sum of N18.9 billion from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for clearing of bushes, land preparation, rehabilita tion of soil plant lab and others during the COVID-19 lockdown in the However,country.the Ministry's Director of Information, Dr. Joel Oruche, in a statement contended that the ministry at no time received any audit query to warrant summon by the Oruchecommittee.said,"The ministry only carried out bush clearing and land preparation of 3,200 hectares in eight states of Osun, Ekiti, Edo, Cross River, Kaduna, Kwara, Plateau and Ogun States as allocated by respective state governments at a total cost of N2.5 billion. "In addition, other projects executed by the Ministry during the COVID-19 period that sums up to the total sum quoted included the"Constructionfollowing: of rural roads in the six geo- political zones of the country, soil sampling and mapping, farmers’ registration as well as rehabilitation and the equipping of four National Soil laboratories in Umudike, Ibadan, Kaduna and FCT Abuja."
FINAL T-BEAM LAUNCH FOR THE LAGOS BLUE LINE RAIL...
Agric Ministry Clarifies N2.5bn Spent on Bush Clearing
Lagos Blue Rail Line Nears Completion as Engineers Launch Final Track Beam
Segun James
The race to the completion of the 27-kilometre Lagos Blue Line Rail Mass Transit has begun with the launch of the last track beam (T-beam) of the rail track yesterday. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu witnessed the historic moment and personally flagged off the engineering procedure held at the site of the iconic Marina station of the rail project. With the laying of the final T-Beam, all difficult civil works standing in the way of the Lagos Blue Rail Line, which started in 2012, have been overcome. The contractor - China Civil Engineering Construction Corpora tion (CCECC) - would now go ahead to set the rail tracks along the alignment and move the project to completion.Sanwo-Olu, again committed the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and the contractor to the December deadline for the Blue Line project’s completion.LagosGovernment would be delivering two rail mass transit projects within the first term of the Sanwo-Olu administration. The Blue Line, which traverses between Mile 2 and Marina, would be operated on Electric Motor Unit (EMU); while the 37-kilometre Red Line, from Agbado to Ebute Metta, would operate on Automotive Gas OilSpeaking(AGO). at the launch of the last T-Beam on the Blue Line, Sanwo-Olu said the achievement signposted his administration’s commitment to bringing succour to Lagosians and give them choices in mass transportation. The governor said the rail projects represented the audacity of his administration’s vision to deliver a robust integrated transit system as encapsulated in the Traffic Manage ment and Transportation pillar of his Government’s T.H.E.M.E.S. development agenda. He said: “Today’s final T-beam launch indicates that we are gradu ally inching to the completion of the civil infrastructure for the first phase of the Blue Line traversing from Mile 2 to Marina. “The engineering work today completes a total of 1,967 piles foundation, while we have also completed three 306 platforms, 310 piers, 267 cover beams and erection of 984 T-beams. “We are not just making promises; people are beginning to see for themselves that all the milestones and the difficult tasks we are meant to achieve to ensure operation of the Blue Line are be ing achieved. The Marina Station, which is the iconic terminal for the Blue Line, will be completed within two-and-half months. I am restating here that we will formally complete this Blue Line before December 31, 2022.”
L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Consul General of China in Lagos, Mr. Chu Maoming; Chairman, CCECC Worldwide, Mr. Liu Weimin and Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abimbola Akinajo, during the final T-Beam launch for the Lagos Blue Line Rail project at Marina, ...yesterday
8 THURSDAY, THISDAY NEWS
On his part, LAMATA Managing Director, Engr. Abimbola Akinajo, said the first 13-kilometre stretch of the Blue Line construction was divided into four phases to enable the government fund the project from its internally generated revenue.Toget to the current status, she said the construction work experi enced disturbances and delays in the relocation of submarine cables, submarine natural gas pipelines, and removal of underground shipwrecks.“Justas we are laying the final T-beam for the rail tracks, we are also currently retrofitting the train stations at Mile 2, Alaba, Iganmu and National Theatre with light in readiness for passenger operation in the first quarter of 2023,” Akinajo said. The CCECC chairman, Mr. Liu Wei Min, described the event as the most significant level of the project.He said: “We express our sincere gratitude to the present administration under the leadership of Mr. Sanwo-Olu in reaching this milestone. We will continue to work to meet the ultimate target in delivering the entire project with high standards and quality.” The T-beam laying event was also attended by Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Lagos, Mr. Chu Mao ming.
James Emejo and Udora Orizu in Abuja
The statement added that "All these projects were successfully executed and verified by relevant government agencies and were part of stimulus package under the Agriculture for Food and Jobs Programme of the federal govern ment to generate employment and grow the economy to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020."According to reports, the House Committee had frowned at the N18.9 billion worth of contract for bushing clearing, land preparation, rehabilitation of soil plant lab and others by the Consequently,ministry.thecommittee has reportedly launched an investigation to ascertain the true situation. Chairman of the committee, Hon. Oluwole Oke, had said the House was interested in finding out the location and significance of such projects. He also said the committee had invited the ministry and the companiesMeanwhile,involved.thePublic Accounts Committee of the House of Rep resentatives yesterday resolved to unmask the real identities of the owners of the companies which took the contracts. The resolution of the lawmakers was sequel to the appearance of representatives of two out of the 20 affected companies at the resumed investigative hearing of the committee on queries to Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the federal government by the office of Auditor General of the Federation. The two companies were: Easy Construction Company Limited and NUKAAG ventures Limited, while 18 others failed to show up. The Chairman of the Committee, Oke said the two representatives of the companies (Johnson Philip and Taiwo Idowu) were of the managerial level and as such not competent to appear before the Committee going by the House rules.Responding to a question by the lawmakers on whether they were familiar with the submission to the Committee on the award and execution of the contracts, the duo said no. To this end, the Committee di rected the duo to leave immediately and that the Managing Directors or Chairmen of the companies should personally appear before it and answer questions regarding theOkecontract.alsodirected the Clerk of the Committee to write to the Registrar of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to furnish the Committee detailed information of the 20 companies, including year of incorporation, corporate offices, names of the owners, shareholders, amongst others.
THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2022 • THISDAY 9
Northern Youths Stage Protest,Demand NSA’s Sack The northern youths protested at the main gate of the National Assembly, carrying placards with the following inscriptions: "Rescue all kidnapped Nigerians", "Monguno, resign or be sacked", "We no longer have what to sell to pay ransom", "We can no longer go to our farms because of banditry", and "We are tired of paying ransom", among others.Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) said the failure of the federal government to stem the tide of insecurity was not unconnected with bad advice on security. They added that under Monguno’s watch, terrorists had overrun the country. Addressing journalists, publicity secretary of AYA, Aliyu Muhammed, stated that Monguno had failed to foster needed synergy among security forces fighting various criminalities, hence the ineffectiveness of the security agencies in the face of mounting Muhammedinsecurity.stated,“In response to the astronomic increase in the cases of unprovoked killings and abductions of Nigerians in their farms, houses, train and our major highways, which has led to an unprecedented rise in the poverty rate and food scarcity across the country, we want the immediate removal of the National Security Adviser.“Inconcordance with the similar situation in the southern part of the country, where citizens are not allowed to come out on Mondays to pursue their businesses, thereby further impoverishing them. All this is because there is a severe defect in the security architecture of our country.“Thecriminal elements became emboldened under his watch as the NSA, they equally ambushed and killed some officers of the Brigade of Guards to Mr President and also issued notice to kidnap a sitting President Buhari and Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State. This is unfortunate and unimaginable in to win the forthcoming election, they don't know what they are saying at all. "That was what they said in 2019 that it will be difficult for the APC to win, because of the country's situation, but it has come to pass that they were wrong. “The fundamental thing is that the issue affecting this country has global dimensions. The whole world is facing crisis and infla tion. America is going under the worst inflation in the last 40 years, likewise Ghana, Niger, and our neighbouring countries. We have to appreciate what is going on in the world before we unnecessarily criticise an issue that is global. The issues we have are beyond what one country can solve. "I consider this as a passing phase in our development journey. Countries that are over 400 years old are still facing some crisis. When did the Irish and British overcome theirs? See, we have history to learn and borrow from and we should pray for our leaders to do what is right. But all of us should know that we have a role and contribution to Masarimake."said agriculture remained a major sector of the economy that could take Nigeria out of its economic woes, stressing that with the rising cost of food items across the globe, the country must grow its own food to be self-reliant. The governor recalled that agriculture was the mainstay of the Nigerian economy before the advent of oil. He stated, "What would have happened to Nigeria without the foresight to revamp the agricultural sector with COVID and the price of crude oil? "That is one of the greatest achievements of this administra tion. So, we should grow what we eat and eat what we grow to feed ourselves. If we are not self-sufficient, there is no way we can make progress as a nation." Meanwhile, National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr. Felix Morka, in a statement yesterday said reports that the party planned to replace its national chairman were based on the imagination of its sponsors. The statement read, "The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to opposition-sponsored media reports on plots to remove the national chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu. "The reports are based on the imagination of its sponsors, osten sibly, unnerved by the remarkable achievements of Senator Adamu since assuming office as the national chairman."APCnoted that its leaders were currently focused on the important task of building a strong and vibrant electoral campaign ahead of the 2023 general election, and they would not be distracted by boring chirps of idle speculators. Morka said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was quite welcome to continue to dissipate its energies on innuendos and chasing after phantom plots in APC rather than concentrate on mending its broken and acrimonious house. APC maintained that its National Working Committee (NWC) stood united under Adamu’s leadership as National Chairman with the singular commitment to winning the next general election.
Chris Ngige, representing the government.Theelectricity workers under the joint auspices of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and Senior Staff Asso ciation of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEC) were in attendance at the meeting. Speaking with journalists after the meeting, NUEE, through its Secretary General, Joe Ajaero, expressed hope that the federal government would act in good faith on the issues in dispute which have lingered for years. He said they would pausethe industrial action and wait for two weeks as agreed in the meeting for the government to address their grievances. The President of SSAEC, Chika Ben, assured the nation that the matter would be nipped in the bud before it escalates, adding that there would be no further blackout in any part of theAlsocountry.speaking, Ngige said thatafter exhaustive deliberations on the issues in dispute, they agreed to constitute a bipartite committee to look into the grievances of the electricity workers and reportback in two Accordingweeks.toNgige, the members of the bipartite com mittee include the Minister of State for Power, Giddy JeddyAgba(Chairman), Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretaryto Government of the Federation (SGF), Permanent Secretary, General Services, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employ ment, representative of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and two representatives from NUEE and SSAEC. The Minister said the committee has two weeks to report back to the whole house. He said the meeting afforded the parties the opportunity to thrash out all the issues in dispute, adding that his ministry has apprehended the dispute. But earlier, several videos emanating from the workers'action showed the officials gleefully shutting down severaltransmission stations nationwide despite its security and economic implications and the authorities' cancellation of the proposed promotion exam. The workers said they were protesting a directive by the board of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) mandating principal managers in acting capacity to appear for a promotion interview.Ajaeroinsisted that the direc tive was in contravention of the workers’ conditions of service and career progression paths, adding that “it was unilater ally done without the relevant stakeholders”.Thegroupalso complainedabout the failure of the authorities to pay the entitlement of former staff of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)since December 2019. The shutdown of the power as sets triggered a national electricity grid crash, crumbling from over 4,000MW to 762MW and finally to zero generation at about 4pm. Information from the Indepen dent System Operation (ISO), a section of TCN, power generation on the grid was 4,149.40MW as of 6am from 21 power plants on Wednesday but drastically dropped to 1,635MW from 17 plants when the protesters started shutting down. It deteriorated as of 12 noon, crashing to 1,246.40MW as three power plants went off, and by 1pm, the grid dropped to 762.30MW with just 13 plants active before falling to zero. This was against the peak generation achieved on Tuesday, which was 4,829MW.Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, had Tuesday appealed to the union for time to resolve the issues, while the Managing Director of TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, also wrote the workers intimating them of management’s suspension of the said proposed interview.Concerning the other issues relating to the Head of Service (HoS) on stigmatisation of the defunct PHCN staff and pay ment of entitlement of ex-PHCN staff by the market operator, Abdulaziz said the managementhad contacted the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, forfurther action. But in a response, the workers insisted that the protest would continue, faulting the authorities for not resolving the promotion issues for three years and stressingthat memos addressed to the HoS' office had gone without even the courtesy of an acknowledgement. But as the workers commenced the nationwide action yesterday, the Distribution Companies (Discos) announced in their various jurisdictions, the shut ting down of operations, asking for understanding from their customers.TheAbuja Electricity Distribu tion Company (AEDC) issued a notice telling customers the outagewas due to the withdrawal of services by TCN workers who transmit bulk power from plants to Discos’ stations. In the same vein, Ikeja Disco issued a notice saying the nation wide picketing affected most of its stations and disrupted power supply.Inastatement on Wednesday via its verified Twitter handle, @ IkejaElectric, the Disco announced the shutdown of operations, urg ing customers to be patient as it awaits an amicable resolution by the relevant stakeholders. “Due to the ongoing nation wide picketing of transmission stations by the NUEE, we are currently experiencing disruption of power supply as most stations within our network have been shut down,” it stated. In the regions, members of NUEE also withdrew their services. At the Kaduna Regional Headquarters of the TCN and in line with the directive of the union’s national leadership, the regional station which covers four north-western states, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara, said they hadn’t had any supply. In the morning, union officials had picketed the Mando TCN Station in the Kaduna state capital, shutting down operations and forcing workers out of the company’s premises before locking the gate with their own keys. Also, blackouts were recorded across the South-east, with the spokesperson of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) Plc, Emeka Ezeh, saying that all feeders in the five southeastern states were out due to the“‘Thesituation.industrial strike action embarked upon by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) power stations, operations across
According to Fayemi, the Seattle declaration aims at, “improving the governance of the primary health care system as a sub national level by fully implementing the primary health care under one roof policy, and providing active leadership for primary health care through regular engagement with relevant primary health care stakeholders and quarterly primary health care performance review at the State Executive Council meetings; "To promote progressive increase in primary health care funding by ensuring efficient budgeting that is aligned to annual operational plans, promptly releasing approved budget to the state primary health care board, and primary health care facilities and ensuring that there is a mechanism in place for basic health care provision, fund implementation and oversight at the state and facility levels; "Recruit requisite health work force to ensure that all primary health care facilities have the minimum staffing requirements appropriate for their level in line with the state's minimum service package.”Among others, he also said it includes to institute a culture of the use of evidence in decision making by ensuring that the data quality across all primary health care facilities was progressively improved.Headded: "With the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Aliko Dangote Foundation, we conveyed the roundtable on 1213 projects at the United States of America to reflect on developmental agenda for immunisation, primary health care and human capital development."Thisculminated in what is now known as the Seattle declination, which restates the commitments of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to strengthen leadership and ac countability for the primary health care system at the state level," he stressed.Fayemi noted improvement in some of the health indices, such as immunisation coverage. "The primary health care Leader ship Challenge aims to address bottlenecks as it strives to build a resilient public health care system. On our part, the agenda of the forum representing the 36 states of the federation has taken up the challenge. We have done in the past with polio eradication and we're ready to do it again for primary health care system, especially given our recent experience with the COVID 19 pandemic", he declared.
MASARI: APC'LL WIN 2023 POLLS DESPITE NATION’S CHALLENGES
Jigawa State Government em barked on new measures to check insecurity, ordering the closure of all schools across the state. Com missioner for Education, Dr. Lawan Danzomo, who confirmed this to newsmen in Dutse, cited security threat as reason for the closure. Danzomo said schools were closed after the state received intelligence about possible attacks on educational institutions across the country, particularly, in border states.THISDAY gathered that schools were scheduled to close on Friday after completing the third term examination.However,the students, who were still writing their examinations, were told to go home, a development that caused worry among residents of SecurityDutse. personnel had since been patrolling Dutse, the state capital. Efforts to contact the police for further clarification proved abortive.
TEN 10 THURSDAY, THISDAY Continued on page 14 Continued on page 11 AT 81ST BIRTHDAY, IBB SAYS NIGERIA’S INSECURITY WOULD BE OVER SOON IN BID TO AVOID PROMOTION INTERVIEW, ELECTRICITY UNION THROWS NIGERIA INTO TOTAL BLACKOUT
FG, Governors Affirm Commitment to Seattle Declaration on Primary Health Care fight against insecurity, the Ondo State government fixed N50, 000 as reward for anyone or group with useful information that could lead to the exposure and arrest of kidnappers or other criminal elements in the state. Similarly, in new efforts to curtail insecurity, the Jigawa State govern ment, yesterday, took new steps, including ordering the closure of all schools across the state. Still on the menace of insecurity, some northern youths, under the aegis of Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA), yesterday, protested at the main gate of the National Assembly and demanded the sack of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.), over the worsening security situation in the However,country.Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chief Tony Ojukwu, extolled the efforts and sacrifices of the Nigerian Armed Forces as well as the commitment of the governments and citizens of the North-east states towards reconstruction, rehabilitation, and reintegration of communities affected by Boko Haram insurgency. Speaking in Minna on the eve of his 81st birthday, Babangida urged those behind the series of insurgency across the country to have a change of heart. He said, "Nigerians should be patient and should be convinced that this, too, shall pass. God in His infinite mercy will come to ourBabangidarescue." advised Nigerians to be patient and prayerful and continue to sensitise one another on the need to live in peace with one another. He observed that the strategies he had used to secure the country while he was in power might not be applicable now, saying, "Things have changed." On his 81st birthday, Baban gida said, "I give thanks to God Almighty that has kept me till today.BabangidaAlhamudullillah."saidjournalists in the state had been doing a tremendous job in propagating the state and the country. He advised the media to keep up the good work. The former military leader counselled media practitioners in the country to work towards changing the psyche of ordinary Nigerians, adding that the press "should ignore those that preach hate and disunity; ignore them". He expressed hope that the media in the country in the next eight years would "shape the way Nigeria will be".
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Chairman of the Correspondent Chapel, Mr Mustapha Bina, congratulated the former military president, whom he described as a father to all. Bina added that Babangida had shown he was an elder statesman with his contribution to national discourse. Ondo Govt Goes Tough, Places N50, 000 Bounty on Criminals
The Ondo State government promised a N50,000 reward for anyone with useful information that could lead to the exposure and arrest of kidnappers and other criminals in the state. THISDAY gathered that the bounty came in light of the June 5 attack on worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, which claimed 40 lives, and other abduction cases in the state.
The federal government and Nigerian governors yesterday affirmed their commitment to strengthen primary health care system in the country. While the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed expressed the federal government’s commitment in support of primary health care in Nigeria, the position of the governors was disclosed by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is also the governor of Ekiti State. They spoke at the Primary Health Care Leadership Chal lenge Fund and the launch of states’ charter on States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme in AhmedAbuja. said: "Let me express the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to support the States in the implementation of the Charter as we work together to further deepen on-going reforms in public finance management. “I wish to also use this op portunity to implore our friends in the media and the civil society as partners in development to join hands with the states to ensure the sustainability of SFTAS ideals." On his part, Fayemi said: "We therefore adopt and confirm our commitment in line with the Seattle Declaration as outlined.”
Jigawa Government ClosesSchools in New Measures
Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, who revealed the reward while speaking with journalists in Akure, said the devel opment was to further encourage citizens to give useful and timely information about criminal activities in any part of the Ademola-Olatejustate.stated, “From now on, anyone, who reports a crime and we follow the trail, and it leads to a successful prosecution of the criminal, that person will be offered a reward of N50, 000. We want people in Ondo State to say something when they see something. We want our people to be proactive in the area of security to rid Ondo State of criminals, bandits andTheterrorists.”commissioner added that the state executive council acknowledged the appreciation and commendation from residents of the state following the government’s initiative to have a toll free line to call, give security tips, and report criminal activities. She called for timely reporting of criminal activities, saying govern ment would protect anybody, who reports or gives useful information about criminal activities in his or her area.
PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI
He was also once the Head of Communications in the Federal Ministry of Education Director General of the International Institute of and Governance; among other positions across several sectors. He has consistently demonstrated an almost incomprehensible mas tery of practically all subjects and fields of learning. His organisation runs specialised courses in personality and character development, leadership, conflict management, critical thinking, emotional and cultural intelligence, parenting and mentoring, public speaking, youth development programmes and much more. Prof. Ikechukwu’s profile in the general area of human capital development and his services are highly sought by many leading organisations and institutions within and outside Nigeria.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Bawa Abdulrasheed, yesterday, said although unsung, the intervention of the anti-graft agency in the forex market has helped to increase the value of naira against the dollar. Bawa, who spoke at a workshop on "Economic and Financial Crimes Reporting for Journalists" organised by the Public Affairs Department of the Commission at the agency's headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, also an nounced that the commission had secured 2,210 as at August 5, 2022. At the same time, the Commis sion has lamented the high cost of investigation and prosecution of cases, which it said ran into millions of However,naira.speaking on their intervention in the forex market, Bawa said, "One achievement, which most of you may not easily recognise is the impact which EFCC’sintervention in the Forex market has had on the value of the naira. "From well over N710 to the dollar, following the commission’s intervention, the naira has appreciated significantly against the dollar in the parallel market and we are not relenting in our efforts to check harmful speculative activities in the"Isector.urge you to also beam your searchlights on this area as it is inour collective interest to have a national currency, whose value is not subject to the whims of crooked speculators," he said. On the cases so far secured, he said, "You will recall that at the end of 2021, the Commission announced that it recorded a total of 2,220 convictions. I am pleased to inform you that we are poised to improve on that figure as the record of convictions as of August 5, 2022 was 2210.” On his part, Head of the Legal and Prosecution Department, DCE Sylvanus Tahir, who spoke on the high cost of investigation and prosecution of cases, said theCommission encountered a lot of challenges following the prevailing situation in the country.
..... yesterday
EFCC laments cost of investigation, prosecution of high level cases and we are very reluctant to get in the way of a matter that is still being pursued in the court. We're constrained by the manner in which the honorable attorney general, has been going around various media houses and purporting to create the impression that this is a liability to which governors had committed themselves and agreed to, even though he is very much aware that, that's not the case. “And we reject all of the claimsthat he has made on this issue. And we also insist that state will not give up on insisting that these purported claims are fraudulent and will not stand as far as governorsare concerned and we would take every constitutional and legal means to ensure that these purported consultancy are fully litigated upon by the highest court in the land. “If the courts now find governors, and the Nigerian governors forum and state liable, then we will cross that bridge, when we get there. As far as we’re concerned, this is a matter that governors feel very strongly about and we do not believe that the Attorney General of the Federation is acting in the public interest, we believe he is acting in personal, selfish interest that will ultimately become clear, when this matter is fully addressed in the law court.”Onthe ongoing strike, which is now in the sixth month, the governors appealed to both parties to sheath their sword and reach amicable resolution. The communique stated: “On the prolonged strike by Nigerian universities, the Forum encourages the federal government and theacademic staff union of universities to find meaningful resolutions to the lingering impasse and as proposed to engage with both parties just as we have done in the past in a bid to end in the Addressingstrike.”thestate of the economy, the governors said, “Finally, the forum extensively discussed the state of the Nigerian economy and security. Following a presentation by Mr. Bismarck Rewane, a member of the President's Economic AdvisoryCouncil. Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
THISDAY Editorial Board Member Appointed Professor Bawa: Our Intervention in Forex Market Has Upped Naira Value lecturer in the University of Lagos, Special Assistant to the Ministers of Transport, Information and National Orientation, respectively.
Say AGF not acting in nation’s interest Vow to pursue matter to supreme court Plead with FG, ASUU to sheath their swords, end strike action
Governors to Malami: Your Actions on $418m Paris Club Refund Self-serving, Fraudulent
L-R: Minister of Transportation , Muazu Jaji Sambo ; Head of Civil Service , Folashade Yemi - Esan and Minister of Science and Technology , Olorunimbe Mamora at the Federal Executive Council meeting held at council Chambers of the Presidential villa , Abuja
IN BID TO AVOID PROMOTION INTERVIEW, ELECTRICITY UNION THROWS NIGERIA INTO TOTAL BLACKOUT the franchise area of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) has disrupted supply. “As a result of this develop ment, all our feeders are out of supply and this has affected supply to our esteemed customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo “ConsultationsStates. are ongoing among critical stakeholders in the power sector to address this issue and possibly restore supply,” he said. In addition, Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), through its spokesman, Godwin Idemudia, announced that its network was completely out of power.“There has been a system collapse at 15:01hrs, all parts of our network are completely out of power supply,” he stated. To drive home their point, the protesting workers had earlier blocked the entrance to the TCN, headquarters building in Abuja, which houses the federal ministry of power where the minister of power and the minister of state, power have their offices. Their action locked out staff of the ministry as well as both ministers and their Branchaides.Chairman of NUEE in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Godfrey Abah said the action will continue until their demands are met by the govern ment and the TCN management.
Abah noted that though the workers were not happy that the nation had been left without electricity supply, the embarrass ment should be on the federal government which allowed the matter to Meanwhile,linger.the TCN, in a statement by its Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, confirmed the shutdowns yesterday. “Following the industrial dispute declared by the two in-house unions at the TCN, the national electric power grid has been shut down by union functionaries - even as unfettered effort was being made to resolve the issues upon which the action was“Thecalled.incident occurred at 15:01Hrs, today after several 330kV transmission lines and 33kV feeder-lines across the power system network had been switched off by the union mem bers, resulting in generation-load imbalance and multiple voltage escalations at critical stations and substations.“Regrettably, this is coming weeks after we had emerged from hectic grid management regime, precipitated by paucity of generation, which we grappled with for a couple of months,” the TCN stated. The TCN recalled that in tandem with the initiative of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on partial activation of contracts - coupledwith the stream of interventions by the ministry of power andother stakeholders in the value chain - grid generation (at peak) had reached 4,830.69MW as at the 16th of August, 2022. “In spite of this setback, we are set to restore the grid as quickly as possible. The ministries of power and labour & employment are currently meeting with the unionofficials in order to resolve the issues.“The Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) ap preciates the understandingof our customers - within and outside the country. Enduring mechanisms are being instituted to avert a situation of this kind, going forward,” TCN concluded.
NEWS THURSDAY, THISDAY 11 FEC MEETING...
A member of the Editorial Board of THISDAY Newspapers, Dr. Okey Ikechukwu, has been appointed professor of Strategic Management and Human Capital Development by the Nnamdi Azikiwe University. In addition to his membership of THISDAY Editorial Board, he is also the Executive Director of Development Specs Academy, a training partner of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Adjunct Faculty of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), an internationallycertified management consultant, media practitioner, trainer and highly sought after resource in the private and public sectors. Okechukwu, who hold a Ph.D. in philosophy and Metaphysics, is Convener of National Roundtable on National Issues, Fellow of several distinguished institutions, professional bodies and scholarly platforms and consistent driver of various youth development programmes.Hewas,at various times, a Deji Elumoye in Abuja
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), yesterday, formally reacted to recent comments by the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Min ister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, that the governors had no basis to reject the proposed deductions of the $418 million Paris Club Refund from the federation account, saying all his claims were full of lies, self-servingandThefraudulent.governors, however, vowed to pursue the matter to the highestcourt in the land. Malami, had at the State House ministerial briefing, last week, said governors originally created the liability, whose payment they had also indemnified, adding that all the “noise making that is now being generated arising from the governors forum” is unjustified.But in their reaction at the end of their meeting, Chairman of the group and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who read the communique to newsmen at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, said after their review of the situation, especially the attempt to undermine the courts of the land, they had resolved to see it to a logical“Governorsclose. extensively reviewed the purported attempts by the At torney General of the Federation and the Minister of Finance, to circumvent the law and a recent judgment of the Supreme Court to secure the approval of the federal legislative council to effect illegal payment of a sum of $418 million to contractors, who allegedly executed consultancy in respect to the Paris Club refund, to state and local governments. “The forum set up a commit tee comprising the chairman, the governor of Ekiti State, the vice chairman, the governor of Ondo State, the Governor of Plateau State, the Governor of Nasarawa State, and the Governor of Ebonyi Stateto interface with the committee set up by Mr. President to review the matter.“But the position of the Governors’ Forum is clear and unequivocal. Although this matter is subjudice
THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2022 • THISDAY12
THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2022 • THISDAY 13
Ayu: We Take Responsibility for Our Defeat in Ekiti Guber Poll
L-R: Member, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP), Orji Agwu Uka; Chairman, Tobenna Erojikwe; President, NBA, Olumide Akpata; Vice Chairman, Digital, Rotimi Ogunyemi, and Secretary, NBA-TCCP, Inemesit Dike, at a press conference to announce the 2022 NBA Annual General Conference, at Eko Atlantic City, in Lagos…. yesterday.
Urges SDP defectors to kill APC with their votes in 2023
“I am happy to welcome you back to the party, because we can’t do it alone in a bid to rescue this nation from the APC that has destroyed this country across sectors. We need to change this APC through our PVCs, we should chase them out. You can do it. “Let me say that Ekiti belongs to PDP and we should go out mas sively to mobilise for our candidate and his running mate to rescue us from the problems we are facing under the APC. I want to make it clear that what happened during the June 18 poll was caused by us, we must admit that it is our fault, not your fault and we are asking for forgiveness. Please, forgive us; it won’t happen again. “It is obvious that you have shown your strength in SDP by coming second in that election and we know had it been we worked together, it would have been a different story today. I want to plead we work together to deliver our candidates in 2023 and we’ll return to the Villa.” He said the presidential candi date of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, were well-experienced and possessed the acumen to proffer solutions to the challenges of insecurity, unemployment, ethnic mistrust and other ills pummeling theSpeaking,nation. the duo of Senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, Biodun Olujimi and PDP House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti South Federal Constituency One, Henrich Akomolafe, said the party had learned its lessons from the past election. He called on the returnees to commence mobilisation from their communities towards delivering all the PDP candidates in 2023 elections.Olujimi, while addressing the ex-SDP devotees, said the abysmal performance of the party in the last governorship election showed that something was wrong with the"WePDP.should all share the blame. Some of us didn't do what we were supposed to do. Some of us over-reacted, some were singing Hosanna and when should have done the right thing. They left us and they showed us that without them, we are nothing. "They scored 82,000 votes that was supposed to be for the PDP in that election. But there is no pride in rebellion. They have come back to rejoin PDP. We believe that only Atiku/Okowa are the people with capability to bring food to our table, solve insecurity problem, bring back our children to school.” Coordinator of the returnees, Wale Ayeni, said they were treated like strangers during the PDP governorship primary, a development he said forced them out of the party to join the SDP.
2022 NBA ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE...
Deji Elumoye and Emameh Gabriel in Abuja Former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, yesterday, described the passing of his former Chief Press Secretary, Chief Duro Onabule, as a bad birthday gift. Also, President Muhammadu Buhari, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun and his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, have joined other Nigerians to mourn Onabule, saying he contributed immensely through his profession to the development of the Babangida,country.who turned 81 years yesterday described Onabule’s death as a rude shock and bad birthday gift for him, even as he condoled with the family of the deceased. In a statement personally signed, Babangida wrote, "This morning’s news of the passing on of Chief Duro Onabule came to me as a rude shock. It was a bad birthday gift for me this year; my 81st year on mother earth. I didn’t believe the news until I compared notes with a few of my friends, who confirmed the sad news. "I am downcast, wondering why my "triple Chief" didn’t give me a chance to say, goodbye. Nigeria has lost a colossus, a wordsmith, a walking encyclopaedia, a reservoir of knowledge and a rich chronicler of history, whose worldview is defined by sheer intellect, content and“Nigeriacharacter.has lost Chief Duro Onabule. He was an epitome of what the Yorubas would refer to as "Omoluabi", due to his spartan lifestyle, discipline, knack for excel lence, uncommon patriotism and remarkable and unalloyed loyalty to friends, associates, colleagues and fellow professionals. He was not just my Adviser-in-Chief, he was one of our brain boxes, in and out of "Tripleoffice. Chief, as I fondly called him, had a rich sense of recall of historical dates, remarkable events and notable landmarks, each time he needed to reflect on our trajectory. Aside from being a resourceful writer, who maintained a very didactic column in Daily Sun newspaper till his death, Chief Duro was always a delight each time we had to engage in intellectual discourse face to face. His sense of humor was profound. "His communication skills were distinctive. His ability to dissect and interrogate issues was second to none. He has historical dates at the tip of his fingers. As an avid reader of his weekly column, I learnt so much about subject matters that also helped me to assail my understand ing of Nigeria's complexities. While in government, Duro was the first to reach me daily to discuss reports and happenings in the country. “He was a Chief Press Secretary par excellence. He was exemplary. He was punctual and adopted the military way of doing things, especially time management. His rich experience during our time in government helped in no small measure in our decision-making processes. He was a nationalist par excellence. He was a dear friend. "His death has surely left a huge vacuum to fill. A quintessential, urbane, patriotic and refined mind, whose loyalty was never in doubt. Tripe Chief would be sorely missed. In and out of government, he was part of my larger family, who understood the rationale behind most of the decisions we took in government. A diligent Nigerian with an upbringing that is worthy of “Itemulation.isasadday for me. Nature, in her all-knowing way, has just dealt me a blow with this sullen birthday pill. Even when we all know it is a destination we are all headed, it hurts to lose such a close friend, with whom I have shared several decades of robust relationship. I will miss him dearly. May Allah, in His infinite mercies and grace, repose his soul in the hereafter. May Allah grant members of his immediate and extended family the comportment and fortitude to bear this painful loss. "Egbon", Triple Chief, Rest In Peace.” Mourning too, Buhari, in a statement yesterday by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, condoled with the former military leader, the Nigerian Union of Journalists and Nigerian Guild of Editors over the sad loss. The President noted the com mendable contributions of the respected journalist to development of Nigeria, especially, his role in stimulating robust debates with insightful articles while working variously as Editor of National Concord and Chairman, Board of Directors of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Iyorchia Ayu, yesterday, said the party’s leadership has taken responsibility for its poor outing during the recent governorship election in Ekiti State, in which the PDP came third. Ayu, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti while receiving members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ekiti State, under the auspices of ‘Ekiti Progressives’, urged the defectors to deploy their permanent voters card (PVCs) to halt the All Progressives Congress (APC) maladministration in 2023. The SDP members had left the PDP in the build-up to the June 18 governorship election, due to former governor Ayodele Fayose's alleged despotism in the party. Represented by the National Deputy Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, Ayu expressed regrets over the abysmal outcome of the last governorship election, adding that the party’s national leadership accepted responsibility over the PDP failure and apologised to the aggrieved members.
Onabule’s Death, Bad BirthdayGift to Me, Says Babangida Buhari, Abiodun, Fayemi mourn late journalist
Describing Onabule as one of the finest experts of the pen profession, Abiodun noted the nation would not forget his role as the mouthpiece of the military government of Babangida. He added that the former Editor of the defunct Concord Newspaper would always be remembered and missed for his profound comments on national issues, via his column in the Sun Newspaper. Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, described Onabule's death as exit of a great Nigerian, who was passionate about the Nigerian nation as well as the journalism profession.
the history of nation. “The NSA is either not advising the president or his ideas are ineffective, hence, the seeming triumph of ragtag elements over our armed forces. We, therefore, call for his immediate resignation or (he should) be sacked by Buhari. “We want the security of this na tion to unconditionally be improved from its present state to a satisfactory one and all Nigerians in captivity should be fought for and set free, unconditionally.Thegroupvowed to mobilise and hold a massive protest across the 19 northern states if the president refused to sack the NSA by Friday. AYA said, “We are calling off the protest today, to accord appropri ate time for the president to act accordingly, and after two days nothing is done, the protest will continue, not only here, but in all the 19 northern states.” NHRC Commends NigerianArmed Forces Ojukwu commended the armed forces at a Traditional and Religious Leaders Forum on Transitional Justice and Reconciliation in North East Nigeria, in Maiduguri. He said the armed forces had made a lot of sacrifices to secure the civilian population, despite the difficult terrain in which they operated in the fight against insurgency. On the issue of transitional justice, which was the crux of the forum, the human rights boss urged the traditional and religious leaders to assist the commission to facilitate the effective implementation of theTheproject.NHRC, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union, had in 2021 launched a Project on Promoting Transitional Justice, Reconciliation, and Reintegration in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states. The project was launched on the premise of bringing lasting peace to the communities affected by insurgency through truth telling, forgiveness, and reconciliation. The NHRC helmsman stressed that the role of traditional and religious leaders in any peacebuilding process could not be over-emphasised. He recalled, "In many of our communities across Nigeria, traditional and religious leaders are the centrepiece of our civilisation, facilitating and shaping education and socialisation from cradle to grave.”Hesaid traditional and religious institutions in the North-east had advanced social and economic development dating back to many centuries.Ojukwu thanked the govern ments of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states for their partnership in the implementation of the transitional justice project, and for the leadership and resilience they had all shown in tackling the security and development challenges affecting the region.
AT 81ST BIRTHDAY, IBB SAYS NIGERIA’S INSECURITY WOULD BE OVER SOON
14 THURSDAY, THISDAY NEWS
The president, therefore, prayed that the Almighty God would receive the soul of the departed and comfort his family. On his part, Abiodun, in a condolence statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, said he received the news of the death of the Ijebu Ode-born foremost journalist with shock.
THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2022 • THISDAY 15
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Excerpts:
One year in office, what has it been like as Olu of Warri kingdom, and what are your plans for your people? It’s like any other position of high authority, it’s a huge responsibility. It comes with several challenges because there’s never a dull moment. People constantly have needs and reasons to see you. Initially it could’ve come off as overwhelming but the truth of the matter is that you have to make sure that you remain focused, you have to maintain balance there. It makes it easier going out to meet numerous responsibilities and expectations God helping you, giving you discernment, wisdom, one is able to take it each day at a time. The plans for the people could be ultimately summarized in, first of all elevating them in their minds, because if there isn’t that enlightenment, illumination, it does not matter what you bring to them. The way their mind is, they are still feeling downtrodden from decades of things not going the way they expected. There’s a risk that all your ground plans may not amount to much. It’s literally about ensuring that the foundations are properly set, so that it’s easier when good things roll, it’s easier to gain adequate momentum and get to where we need to get to. Two months ago,Your Majesty with your chiefs were in Canada to drive foreign direct investment to Warri Kingdom and Niger Delta as a whole, how did it go? Ultimately it came down to thinking outside the box, because the way things have been in the traditional way, the status quo with communi ties in Nigeria looking for avenues in which they can be developed. We just thought that perhaps we could try something a bit unusual and let’s go and find other ethnic indigenous people like ourselves who face similar challenges, that we face. Rubbing minds together with the
expectations that the process of rub bing minds together on common solutions could be procured and indeed we have gotten to that stage where those discussions and ideas that previously I don’t believe I’d ever come up, so it’s now gotten to a point where we are now trying to see how these discussions could become active realizations. It’s quite multilayered but that was the heart of the original approach.
Your coronation speech reso nated with women around the world, how will you say your reign has shone the spotlight with women? Yes, I think the best way to shed more light on that question is, the world has changed tremendously.
on the 230 key performance indicators. We are the first African country that has successfully realigned our national statistical system on the independent evaluation, which we have the first in the global south to have conducted a country led independent evaluation of priority SDGs 3 and 4. Nigeria is the first from the global south to have conducted country led evaluation. And that experience is there to show that leadership; we are working closely with the permanent mission of Nigeria in New York to ensure that we get that resolution by September during the 77th Session of the General Assembly. What are you doing to ensure that MDGs projects are not abandoned after inauguration and how will you make your website functional? There’s none of our projects that is abandoned. There are some that were done under MDGs, we have written letters to the National Assembly to give us those projects that are not completed or that are not in use to give it to us to adopt so that we can make it functional and hand it over to the community. We’re doing that just that the list is endless.
In this interview with Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu, the paramount ruler of the Kingdom of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, spoke on salient issues, particularly why monarchs should be included in the country’s security apparatus and constitutionally recognized to help curb insecurity.
16 THISDAY THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2022 POLITICS Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE
Orelope-Adefulire going on well before COVID came. Don’t forget that the United Nations is also talking about Agenda 2050 and 2075 is under consideration. So they know fully that no country will achieve, with the global pandemic, even the developed countries. So we are talking about additional years for us to get these done. Where does Nigeria stand in terms of peer review on SDGs against other countries? When world leaders adopted the 2030 agenda in September 2015, they set up a follow up and review mechanism, which we now know as the high level political forum. The world leaders recognize that the SDGs cannot be achieved today or tomorrow, but it has to be within the timeframe. It is early to do an impact evaluation. In fact, no country has done an impact evaluation on the SDGs. You can do impact evaluation on micro projects, before and after. But on the SDGs it’s a policy evaluation. The world leaders are cognizant of the fact that you can’t do impact evaluation on the SDGs and that’s why they call for the voluntary national reviews. We are committed to doing that every two years and every year that we don’t do VNR we’ll do a progress report based on the fact that we have successfully realigned our nationals statistical system. Going forward by December every year, National Bureau of Statistics should be able to tell Nigerians where we stand
What are your thoughts on the recent development from the female athletes who have done the nation proud on the global stage? We watched it with so much pride, seeing those women represent Nigeria the way they did. It was quite timely, as we all know, things have not been so great for Nigerians. Not too much to boldly beat our hands on our chest to say this makes us proud, there has been a lot of being through and surviving, just getting by, being grateful to God. But what happened in Birmingham a couple of weeks ago during the Commonwealth Games, showed that even in the most of what we are currently passing through there was something that made us come alive and say that we felt good. That made us to be proud to be Nigerians, it’s not that our men didn’t give their best or didn’t compete, but the glory just happened to come through the women. If we had not invested in our women athletes we would’ve been denied that opportunity to have felt a set of pride as to what it is to still be grateful and happy to be Nigerian even in the midst of where we are today. And I think that should crossover into other spheres and I would dare say that going forward we would see women do exceptional things in the political space. Women are running riots in those elections in Kenya, and it’s a society very similar to ours and clearly the very male dominated space in Kenya, for whatever reason decided let’s give these women a chance and I expect great things come out of Kenya over the next political tenure. In Nigeria we have few women chair the boards of banks, I believe by all accounts they are rendering very faithful stewardship. And that will further open the door, the next time there’s a qualified woman she won’t be overlooked, this will in turn inspire young women to know that I can get to the top of my career choice if I work hard.
Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, in this interview with newsmen, said SDP projects located in all the states are executed in conjunction with states and local government councils and that it is premature to do an impaction evaluation of the interventionist agency now. Deji Elumoye brings excerpts: Orelope-Adefulire: SDG Projects are Executed in Collaboration with States, LGs What notable strategy have you put in place to accelerate health and well being goals in Nigeria? SDG cannot be achieved by a stand-alone program, process and budgets of the federal government. We all know that we have the subnational governments: the states and the local governments. And that’s where the problem lies. So if you don’t support the sub national governments, with our plan, program and integrate and domesticate SDG into their plans, we cannot achieve SDGs. So, I used to develop the policy, the framework for the sub national government to use in their daily plan programs. If their yearly budget does not speak to the goals and indicators of SDGs, then we’re nowhere to be found. And that’s exactly what we do. I said the SDGs model that we developed that was launched at the margins of General Assembly by Mr. President is a document that we’re using. We’ve successfully implemented that at national level to the ministry, agency and department (MDAs) of government. So we’re now domesticating and mainstreaming that document into their plans, programs and budgets so that we have to be on the same page to achieve SDGs. On Goal 8, let me say that we have 15 years to go. We should be mindful of the fact that from the 15 years we’re still battling with the effect of COVID-19 from 2020 to date. So, approximately three years gone into pandemic. Some of the goals will be achieved in 2030 and so we will monitor the progress as we go. Between 2018-19, modest achievements have been made before COVID-19 came. We’re out of recession and our economy was
Olu of Warri: Govt Needs to Engage Monarchs to Stem Nation’s Worsening Insecurity
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Ogiame Atuwatse III When you look at the 8000 recorded human history, it has been very much male dominated. We have actually achieved a lot in this male dominated era. When you look at things all over the world today, it’s not just the progressive or liberal Western Hemisphere, even when you look at the other parts of the world, even here in Africa, women are rising. I had given a speech back in October last year, in a program with the American embassy and there was an analogy I used there which I want to repeat now. I believe when God created both sexes, male and female, he created women to help the man, help him to achieve the best ver sion of himself. Man in their own wisdom went and limited or restricted women participation in the way they led the affairs of the world. It has gotten us this far, yes a lot has been achieved. I am of the opinion that in the world today, it’s no longer about male domination, it’s really about what is in the brain, which is why we go to school. Young boys and girls go to school to learn, and for us to better ourselves we need to draw on as much brain power as we can from both sexes. Oftentimes there’s a tendency that men will keep doing things suggesting things in a particular kind of way, perhaps because of the way they are genetically wired or socially trained to. And women also can approach it in their own unique way. To get the best is to consider both approaches, close our eyes on whether it’s a man or woman and take things for the quality that they are, I think that is the best approach. There are a lot of ideas that will take the world to the next level that are deposited in women and we should open the door and invite them to be active participants in that human discourse.
Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com SMS
The self-acclaimed Living Perfect Master, Guru Maharaj Ji, in this interview with Raheem Akingbolu, speaks on the adverse effect of poor leadership on the psyche of Nigerians and how insecurity is tearing the nation apart.
Maharaj Ji: Nigeria’s Democracy at the Brink of Collapse, except… Despite subtle campaigns and positioning movements being championed by various po litical parties to market their candidates across the country in preparation for the 2023 presidential election, some Nigerians are doubting if the election would hold. What do you think informs this? Well, it may be difficult to blame those who have pessimistic views about whether the presidential election will hold or not because of the array of challenges facing the country. From ineffective leadership to a collapsed security system, the country is bleeding from all fronts. Or how best can one explain a situation where a group of irritants are sending a warning to the president of the country and a sitting governor that they would soon come and pick them? Another reason could be as a result of the controversy surrounding the electoral umpire – Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). At a time Nigerians are trying to adjust to the fact that votes indeed count, we unreliably gathered that the INEC chief paid 3 billion naira to retain his job. The assumption is that those he paid the money to will dictate the tune. Expectedly, members of the public would say that the commission could favour those who helped its chairman. All these notwithstanding, I hold strong belief that next year’s election will hold. Imagine a recent scenario where accusing fingers were pointed at the Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa of subverting democratic system in some parts of Delta State and the same Okowa emerged as the Vice Presidential candidate of a major political party. These are bad democratic tendencies that can frustrate general elections. The questions we should ask are; are we 419 people? Are we ‘stealocrats’? Are we still barbarians? Or how can one explain the fact that Governor Wilsom Wike and others spent as much as between 20 to 50Billion Naira each to execute their presidential primaries. If it is to serve the people, I don’t think anybody needs to spend that much to buy votes. It’s worrisome that this reckless spend ing is taking place in a country where school pupils are learning under trees. There are schools without toilets, there are schools without science classes and there are schools without research centres. There is also an ASUU strike that has kept university undergraduates at home for six months. With all these problems, some politicians are given as much as $10,000 each to politicians at a presidential primary. Can’t we use the money to build civic centers? Or police posts that would stress from Lagos to Benin, from Abuja to Kaduna or from Port Harcourt to Uyo. What is this telling us? It is to tell you that Nigeria’s democracy is at the brink of collapse and something drastic must be done to rescue it. Another question we should ask ourselves is what is being done to arrest the situation. We must meditate to make sure that at the end of the day, we can have credible elections. We cannot sit down and watch. For example, people must see registra tion and Voters Card collection as civic responsibility. Unfortunately, it ended last month. We should ask; why should it be? They should have both cities, they continue stealing. So, when you say Muslim-Muslim ticket and raising the issue of agitation, I see it differently. I want Nigerians to understand that this kind of Muslim-Muslim thing is not something important. The most important thing should be performance; what they can do to better our country and not their religious identities. It’s because we haven’t got ten leaders that could bring about the expected transformation in Nigeria that led to Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho’s agitation. Unknown to many Nigerians, we are little approaching the situation that threw up the likes of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Femi Falana, Beko Ran some- Kuti and many others who stood up to face the military and autocratic rule. I will keep insisting; Christians and Muslims are the causes of our present predicament in Nigeria. They are the people fueling political crises in their own interest. Perhaps it would have been better to bring in the traditionalist, and then of course Guru Maharaji’s children too. Year, I think we can do better because we don’t have any interest in anything. All we want to do is to work like me here. I build a kingdom without borrowing money from the bank and without taking money from Europe, America and other foreign lands. What is missing in Nigeria is love and that is what we are teaching in our kingdom. Back to the issue of Muslim-Muslim ticket; let us put that aside and focus on who can perform. I know some people who are not strong spirituality might say same religion candidacy or pairing of Muslim/ Christian determines voting pattern. No, the political dimension has changed now. There is a living perfect master in our midst. Don’t forget; when Barack Obama was coming up, I said, among other things, that if all Americans fail to vote for Obama, I will make the trees, the plants, the birds and the animals to vote for him. Didn’t I predict that Obasanjo will come to power? I said the same thing about Yar’Adua and it came to pass. Today, we want to see a new Nigeria. Maharaj Ji extended it up to at least, towards October ending, so that everybody, Tom, Dick and Harry, James and John can be part of this process. Back to where we started, whether some people like it or not, Nigeria is going to have one of the best elections so far in 2023. We have four major contenders ahead the 2023 presidential election; former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar , former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu and another former Governor, Musa Kwakwaso, where do you think the pendulum would swing this time? Let me start by stating that I’m not against anybody going there (presidency) but I think the Hausa/Fulanis are not fair to the rest of the country. It would have been honourable at the moment if the north could summon the courage and stop Atiku and Kwakwaso from contesting the election. I think it was agreed during the buildup to the 2015 election that the presidency would come down south after Buhari’s tenure. What else is Kwankwaso looking for? Does he have anything there? What is Atiku looking for there again after those inglorious years in office? They should all stop deceiving us. Most importantly, the way and manner at which the political parties and major gladiators thwarted the rotational arrangement was worrisome. What is your view about the All Progres sives Congress Muslim-Muslim ticket that is currently generating furore? Let me also ask; what has religion gotten to do with politics and good governance? What is defined as being a Muslim? From the little education I had, Islam is a religion and the word religion has its words from Italian language, ‘religo’, finding yourself in the creator. But today, it is full of rites and rituals. They go to Mecca, they go to Jerusalem but come back and resume the same thing they were doing before embarking on the holy journey. Sometimes I wonder if it’s Satan that throws the stone at the Muslims or the Christians go to Jerusalem for a mere picnic because when they come back from
Vanessa Obioha seeks appropriate response from Nollywood actress, Carolyna Hutchings, on her bid to become Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State on the platform of the African Action Congress
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Hutchings: We’re Tired of Recycled Faces, Same Old Lines
Hutchings
while some are struggling in abject poverty. I believe in empowerment, I like to see others win while I win, when things are going well for me and someone around me is suffering, it makes me uncomfortable personally. Like I mentioned earlier, I run an NGO, from my personal resources, I know what I see or hear on a daily basis, I know how much I spend from the profit I make from my job, it is never enough. The suffering keeps increasing, it is very heartbreaking. I am tired of seeing people suffer. I am inspired to make a change in the lives of people, especially in the lives of the people of Akwa Ibom state. How well do you know know your governorship candidate and what areas of cooperation are available to both of you? I know him well enough. I have extensively studied Mr. iboro Otu’s political ideologies - most of which are online - and I must say his philosophies resonate greatly with mine. We have interacted extensively on our ideals and there are a lot of points of cooperation with regards to our different capabilities. One that stands out is our love for peopleand love for education. We both run NGOs to support people and have very sound educational backgrounds. We want Akwa Ibom people to have the same access we had to quality education and better outcomes with their lives in whatever pursuit they may have. Another is in effective leadership and good governance, attracting and working with great minds. We both understand the importance of assembling great teams, we both are good at that and this is what Akwa Ibom really needs at the moment. Leaders with deep hearts than deep pockets. I believewe both make an effective team!
17 POLITICS THISDAY THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2022
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W ould you agree that the EndSARS protests brought out the political side of many personalities in the entertainment space and, perhaps, is responsible for their increasing number seeking an active role in politics and governance? I would not totally agree to this. A lot of people in the entertainment industry have always participated in politics, #ENDSars, however, was one of the major moments for everyone. I think it also is a combination of generational uprising and global con nectedness. The world has become a global village and best practices in leadership and governance are demanded for by young people especially.
Do you think the way institutionalized politics is conceptualized in Nigeria favors an actor, like you? I would like to correct this narrative, first of all I am the CEO of Hutchings LTD, a construction company and an oil and gas company. I build homes, I service the up stream sector, acting is a talent turned into my third profession. I am more of a builder and an oil and gas guru than I am an actor. However, I understand your question from the prism of visibility. Politics favors anyone that is willing to serve the country and can demonstrate that they can and have created positive and lasting change. I have been in the people service industry for a long time with my NGO Hopeville Foundation where we give support to women in several areas including business, healthcare, education, feeding, etc. With political success, I will be able to scale these services to the great people of Akwa Ibom state in particular. Do you think there will be political repercussions in Akwa Ibom and elsewhere in Nigeria that may dethronethe old order and benefit freshers in the political space? To be honest, we are not par-ticular about dethronements or drawing lines of battles with any orders, we are all about good governance, credibility and effectiveness to leadership delivery, inclusive prosperity and collective development. This is why we are getting in the race primarily. The other effects are just secondary. We are tired of recycled faces and the same oldlines that have no effect on the development of Akwa Ibom state. It will be a good thing for AkwaIbom if fresh, educated, skilled minds, technocrats and profes sionals, could take up political leadership and do things differently from the norm. We want
lasting change, improvement in all areas of government, we want innovation. No more procrastination, we want to get thetask done. We have lost so much resources and opportunities because of the same old routines. It is time to remodel the plans and make it more effective and long lasting.
In acting, actors tell stories to convey the import of their messages. What are the prevailing stories in Akwa Ibomthat can turn the table in favour of the African Action Congress (AAC)? I believe Akwa Ibom people are tired of the norm, hence our call for young people to stand up and demand for better: good governance and the end of endemic cor ruption. The prevailing narrative is the dearth of jobs and employment opportunities for young people in the State. There is a great absence of opportunities while poverty and unemployment are powerful forces wrecking havoc there. Meanwhile, we have vast human capital and resources to turn things around. The numbers are not good when you look at our ranking in all indices including adequate healthcare availability, access to quality education, food security, MSME support, payments ofsalaries and emoluments, etc, the issues are all in the news. Akwa Ibom has always been a one way one party system since 1999 and I think this time around, AAC is presently an opportunity, asking Akwa ibomites to do things differently if they expect a different result. To look beyond party affiliations and more on individuals capacities and capabilities.
Tell us a personal narrative that in spired you to run for office? Personally I fight against injustice. It breaks my heart to see people suffer and I witness this everyday, it is all around me since I could remember. People work so hard, some die not achieving anything,
I have a dictionary that defines loyalty and when I interpret it, loyalty has no percentage. If you’re 90 percent loyal to your boss, then it’s not complete, it doesn’t help. It should be 100 percent loyalty
for trainees that might not be interested in the technical aspects of operations by creating two options in the form of its engineering and non-engineering tracks. It promises for the duration of the programme, a placement within one of the organisation's departments, coupled with daily tasks and a periodic assessment to monitor the improvement of the recruits. The programme offers the graduate trainees benefits such as a Monthly stipend for the duration of the programme, on-the-job training, exposure to the world of fintech, an opportunity to interact with big players in the industry, and invaluable work experience; while also angling a chance at retention and placement within Flutterwave upon its completion for those who can display exceptional capabilities during their Flutterwavetenure.isa fintech company that provides payment infrastructures for global merchants and payment service providers across the continent. The company offers payment technology and infrastructure that enables banks and global merchants to accept and process payments on the web, mobiles, ATMs, and POS. Flutterwave serves customersFlutterwaveworldwide.enables businesses across the world to expand their operations in Africa and other emerging markets through a platform that enables cross-border transactions via one API. Since its inception in 2016, Flutterwave claims to have processed over 200 million transactions worth over $16 billion across 34 African countries. are given the opportunity to self-develop and expand their professional capabilities. Speaking at the event, Flutterwav’s Chief People and Culture Officer, Mansi Babyloni, said, “For any organisation, the recruitment strategy and its success is dependent on getting the candidates needed. This is a testament to the company’s vision and what it stands for.” She explains that “Flutterwave has been very fortunate in hiring extremely talented individuals, which makes me feel so proud of who we are, and the positive sentiment for the brand in the ecosystem.”
By the time he leaves office as Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State in May 2023, the 82nd birthday of Mr. Moses Frank Ekpo will be in view. By that time also, he would have set a record as the first occupant of that office, since the turn of this democratic dispensation, to serve the entire two tenure of eight years. Ekpo is admiringly called 'Uncle Mo'. It is not uncommon to hear derisive reference to deputy governors as 'spare tyres'. However, this is a skewed understanding of their role. For emphasis, the office of a governor is a joint ticket. No governorship candidate is allowed on the ballot without a properly nominated running mate. The importance of a deputy governor is highlighted in the Nigerian constitution thus: should the governor be absent from his duty through ill-health or other forms of incapacitation or death, the deputy governor automatically assumes the office of governor. That is how Important and sensitive the office of a deputy governor is. The recent history of deputy governors and their principals have been very turbulent in recent years. Many a deputy governor has been handled the short end of the stick through various forms of embarrassing situations, ending in an unfortunate impeachment on account of trumped up charges clamped down on them through an unholy alliance between the governor and the state houses of assembly. Whether the constitution spells out the duties of a deputy governor or not, Ekpo thinks it can be managed without rancour if the two leaders in a state see themselves as partners and servants. He said, "If the nation considers that it is important to define roles for a deputy governor, will it ever be in conflict with what the governor is doing? I think it’s a mutual understanding between two people." Akwa Ibom State is not new to this unsavoury history of deputy governors. Arguably, this must have informed the careful choice of Ekpo to deputize Governor Udom Emmanuel, having learnt from tumultuous incidents involving deputy governors in the immediate past administration.Averyexperienced administrator who served both the federal and state governments as chief executive of a national parastatal, the Nigeria Copyright Council (NCC). His passionate involvement with copyright issues recommended him for a place of prominence on the governing council of the World Intellection Property Organisation (WIPO). He is the most distinguished African on the WIPO council today. He had earlier served as the Director of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) Brigade. The Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor also worked abroad as Information Attache in some of Nigeria's embassies. At the state level, he served as Editor of the Cross River State-owned newspaper, Nigerian Chronicle and later as the state's Commissioner for Information. When Akwa Ibom State was carved out of Cross River, he was in the first executive council of the state as Commissioner for Information. Ekpo has also served as a Federal Commissioner in the National Population Commission (NPC). A distinguished journalist, who was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by The SUN Newspaper, Ekpo holds his primary constituency, the media very dear to his heart. His journalism career began under the inimitable Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, the first Executive Governor of Lagos State. He also worked for the British Broadcastaway with a period of incarceration, because it was a dangerous time of uncertainty in which his life could have been lost and no questions would be asked. A fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Uncle Mo is not ashamed to be identified as a journalist and would sooner describe himself as a Reporter than anything else. These diverse experiences have been put to excellent use in the Akwa Ibom State executive council, where Ekpo is accorded respect due to his fatherly figure and the profound counsel he brings to the business of governance.TheAkwaIbom Deputy Governor has fulfilled the expectation that he would play a stabilising role and not rock the boat of the Udom Emmanuel administration in anyway. There might have been a couple of occasions when Emmanuel and Ekpo could collide due to differences in opinion or strategy to achieve a particular goal; not minding if his position was superior, his humility is admirable. He explained, "I have a dictionary that defines loyalty and when I interpret it, loyalty has no percentage. If you’re 90 percent loyal to your boss, then it’s not complete, it doesn’t help. It should be 100 percent loyalty. Governor Udom Emmanuel shares opinion. There’s no better way to govern. This state is the most peaceful state, even in government. "Once the government is in factions, then the entire state will be in factions. We don’t want to create divide and rule. Governor Emmanuel listens to everyone. He listens to his colleagues in the cabinet and when decisions are taken it’s a wholesome decision." Last December, on his 80th birthday, among other things he planned to give back to society, Uncle Mo hosted a three-tiered party that brought the high and mighty to his Abak homestead. Even as the revelry was going on, his undivided attention was on widows and the physically challenged selected from across the state for the sizeable largesse he laid out for them. Another passion that gets a higher notch of attention than his interest in the media is his devotion to Catholicism. An early riser, parishioners in his local church are likely to ask after him if he consistently misses mass in the morning. If you hope to catch the good old jolly side of Uncle Mo, the Lenten Month is not a good time to seek his company. At that, he is not likely to engage you in a brainstorming session, while sipping a glass of his favourite wine.An intensive moment of freewheeling discussion with Uncle Mo is desired by a discerning few for the diverse knowledge and ideas that one can imbibe. The Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor can easily be classified as an enigma for his retentive memory that enables him to hold didactic conversations, recalling exact dates and instances; at his age. ing Corporation (BBC) and the Voice of America (VOA) at different times. He was a staff of the Eastern Nigeria Broadcast Corporation in Enugu when the Nigeria Civil War began. And since he interviewed Chief Obafemi Awolowo before the hostilities were pronounced between Eastern Nigeria (Biafra) and the rest of the country, the leadership of Biafra viewed him as a threat for being close to a leader of Western Nigeria. Therefore, he was kept in detention throughout the period of the war. He still thanks his lucky stars for getting
Barring any unforeseen circumstance, Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo is inchingtowards a feat as the first to finish a full two-term tenure. Vanessa Obioha writes that beyond this,the octogenarian has redefined the status quo of what the job entails and represents
She stressed further that the campaign is Flutterwave’s pilot edition, with undisclosed plans on expansion to the rest of the continent, adding that the programme is expected to provide graduates with Flutterwav Chief People and Culture Officer, Mansi Babyloni. the knowledge, tools, and experience by providing them with the opportunity to work alongside experts from various technical fields while experiencing the professional work environment of a multinational organisation. It presents itself as an impressive way for the recruits to kickstart their young careers. Although Flutterwave is a fintech company, the programme makes provisions
Moses-Ekpo
Mary Nnah A 12-month immersive programme aimed at equipping fresh graduates with the problem-solving skills required to approach real-world challenges in this digital era recently commenced in Lagos. The Graduate Trainee Programme, spearheaded by Africa’s leading payment technology company, Flutterwave aims to support Nigeria’s economy. The programme supports 200 graduates within Nigeria, who have been meticulously sorted from a pool of over 11,000 applicants since early July 2022. This milestone is a major move for Flutterwave as they are successfully nurturing future industry leaders from universities all over Nigeria. By exposing them to the Flutterwave solutions, products, network, and culture, trainees,
FEATURES 18 Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430 THISDAY
Ekpo: Redefining the Office of Deputy Governor
Flutterwave Tackles Unemployment with New Trainee Programme
E lites from northern Nigeria are political heavyweights; this is difficult to dispute. Elites from southern Nigeria are economi cally heavy weights, which is also hard to dismiss. The two have been incessantly at each other like squabbling sisters very close in age. This had gone on for as far as anyone can remember but notably since 1960 when Nigeria became an independent State. They seem hell-bent on seeing this through till the bitter end as they each want what the other one has, selfishly carrying on and ignoring the consequences of their battle of attrition on the rest of the house. To complete the African adage suggested by the title of this piece, “When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers!”
19THISDAY 23 #THISISNIGERIA -Soji Apampa
- Soji Apampa is the Co-Founder of The Integrity Organisation
WHEN TWO ELEPHANTS FIGHT, #OFFICEOFTHECITIZEN IS NEEDED!
The northern elites distrust their south ern sister and have traditionally done everything they can to monopolise public policy platforms. In contrast, the southern sister (who doubts them in return) has clung to her economic platforms. In the past six decades, they have fought each other for control of the use of force (only choosing to keep a fragile peace like the two nuclear powers during the Cold War through assurances of mutual destruction). They have also fought each other in a propaganda war employing threats of imposing religious fundamentalism from the northern side (like the Shari’a movement during the Obasanjo years, Boko Haram and ISWAP, all seen as a thinly veiled cover for the search for economic independence from the south) countered by threats of restructuring by pushing for a return to a blank sheet to either renegotiate Nigeria afresh or retreat to 1963-type regional governments or the outright secession from and parcelling up of Nigeria into several independent states (thinly veiled cover for the search for political independence from the north). Make no mistake about it, the rhetoric used by each side has a significant impact on and traction each with their local supporters, thus egging them on towards a climax, a show-down like two school girls who have been exchanging insults publicly all day at school and are now ready to fight it out on the way home after school only it will be in front of a massive, excited crowd of their classmates who cheer the fight on. At this point, no one is ready to back down. Anything goes with sticks, stones, dust in the eyes, ripping the opponent's clothes off to cause disgrace. Our elites have used nepotism, corrupt enrichment, abuse of office etc. to gain a competitive advantage over each other; they have even sabotaged and subverted the State by allowing insurgents to run riot to maintain the upper hand in a bid to ensure “if you carry out your threat, we all go down!” Nigeria is about to be plunged into a mess because there is no one to call them both to order! The reader might argue that Nigeria is already in a mess, which would be spot on. But the mother of all calamities is yet to come if her political elites do not quickly arrive at a political settlement to their squabbles before we move too deeply into electioneering campaigns for 2023, as by then, the clamour for a ‘street fight’ would be so deafening that nothing but an act of God could stop it. The consequence could be to push Nigeria over the precipice finally. Luckily, we have seen potentially catastrophic street fights aborted through the intervention of individuals from the same crowd who wanted to be entertained by the battle but realised soon enough that the result wouldn’t be funny. They typically did this by pulling the warring parties away and taking them in opposite directions to cool off before attempting to resolve the conflict.Thispoints to the role of the citizenry in this whole mess. Their cheers have aggravated the choices of the elites and boxed them into what seems like a path to doom, and it feels like the country is approaching a point of no return. It appears from the analogy of the squabbling sisters that it is from within the ranks of the same citizens that the power lies to pull them back from the brink! The failure to engage, the seeming detachment from processes that determine and shape their col lective future, and their readiness to take nonsense from their leaders have lulled them into a position where they think the citizens are indeed the grass or worse, the grassroots! It is time to call them to order by protesting waste and mismanagement, opposing ill-gotten gains, exposing the treasonable lack of patriotism and calling them to account. Citizens can force them to understand there is a powerful umpire in this issue, the people. This might cause a timeout on both sides to consider the error of theirDoesways.Nigeria need to call a timeout? You decide. If so, how long? How would the sisters be encouraged to reach a political settlement? What would a political settlement involve? At this stage, there are more questions than answers. Whether or not a timeout is called, a political settlement that prevents further degeneration of the conflict must be reached. It would at least put one sister in a position to absorb the hefty punches of the other one without keel ing over while retaining the certainty of delivering her similar blows back to her sister without let or hindering her from inflicting equal pain till both see the futility of the fight continuing. They agree to dialogue out their differences, only this time, the citizens will umpire the process and call the shots. When two elephants fight, perhaps it is genuinely the grass that suffers, but it is time to stand and show that the citizens are trees and make up the forest; they are not the grass for their elites to stomp on!
Many things are on trial in the Nigerian political space at the moment. The moral standing of the ruling party to succeed itself. The capacity of the political class to deepen and perpetuate the democratic process. The readiness of the electorate to seize this opportunity to own next year’s general election and its outcomes. The ability of particularly the Peoples Democratic Party Nigerians that the mission to redirect or rescue the country is not negotiable under any circumstance. Other concerning challenges exist.One of the most important attributes of multi-party democracy is the promise of apportioning these tendencies wholly to the clear that the current deplorable standard fails to remind the people that he has done must not deny him the right to assess the performance of his own team but the results the courts of public opinion. He too must be lift our enormously endowed but grossly underperforming nation from stupor. This while the latter announces its innocence at return to the saddle. from opposition parties and independent PDP AND THE BURDEN OF OPPOSITION
ADAMU AND THE WATER RESOURCES BILL
The Water Resources Minister, Suleiman Adamu, needs to address the concerns of all critical stakeholders on the bill, writes ADENIYIOLUSEGUNRE:KEYAMO,HOW NOT TO BE A SPOKESMAN SLY IKECHUKWU reckons that Festus Keyamo is a tested and effective campaign spokesperson THE 2022 MISERY
INDEX See page 21 See page 21
The PDP has a historic duty to put its house in order fast, advises MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE
PDP does not yet possess what is required to take the endorsement of voters as a given come February next year. This stark reality should be addressed squarely. No cogent reason whatsoever to undermine from within the integrity of the Atiku/Okowa candidacy at this point
independence... they disappeared suddenly with the establishment of a multiparty political opposition constitute the best earlywarning system a country threatened by the ills confronting us as a people may not be famine but they are equally lethal. Beyond the media and an opposition party that prides itself as the most numerically superior on the continent ought to bring hope to the citizens. The interplay of those critical components position and establish itself as the better has been lustfully proclaiming for the last of great democracies and leads in most cases Democrat and former President of the United the Republicans in the economic quagmire he inherited thus: “The fear among economists across the political spectrum that was - was that we were rapidly plummeting towards a The fear among economists across the political spectrum that was - was that we were rapidly plummeting towards a... what obtains in Nigeria is that Obama did any meaningful progress at all. - qualities needed for a strong and purposeful leadership at this critical point in our national traumatised populace. years following its electoral defeat is well expense of group interest and cohesion. The reconciliatory meeting slated for Friday this prosecuted to yield desirable results. No ambitions at this momentous period of ride would be heartless and could spell witnessing a rapid erosion of the things they memories of the PDP years at the national stage are not entirely glorious. Meaning: PDP be addressed squarely. No cogent reason at this point. As members of the “umbrella theatrics and mere wishes. Dr Ekpe is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board
EDITORIAL NIGERIA AND
1THISDAY THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 202220 Thursday August 18, 2022 Vol 27. No 9989 www.thisdaylive.com opinion@thisdaylive.com
T U S N See page 22
RE: KEYAMO, HOW NOT TO BE A SPOKESMAN SLY IKECHUKWU reckons that Festus Keyamo is a tested and effective campaign spokesperson ADAMU AND THE WATER RESOURCES BILL
Ikechuckwu writes from Lagos I read with utter disappointment an opinion piece authored by one Phrank Shaibu with the aforementioned headline. Shaibu oozed such a strong sense of rage and bitterness, much to the chagrin of many Nigerians. The reason for which Phrank Shaibu and his allies chose to respond to Keyamo’s assertions was not out of concern for Nigerian citizens or out of love for Nigerian students caught up in the ASUU/FG crisis, but rather because the Minister stated unequivocally that the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had never held an executive position that would have Without clothing him in a borrowed apparel, it is a statement of fact that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, has never held any executive position in Nigeria till date and whatever decisions or policies implemented between 1999 and 2007 were unquestionably approved and sanctioned by only one Commander- in- Chief, Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR on whose table the buck stops. The aforementioned, a statement of fact which Keyamo reiterated formed the basis for Shaibu’s tirade against the person of the erudite Senior Advocate, who is well-respected for his exceptional brilliance and mental soundness. No doubt, every election season throws way lane already strewn with characters that operated on reverse osmosis thinking of decency and societal good. The result is that history not only repeats itself, but it matches on.So, when Olorogun Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour and Productivity was announced as the campaign spokesperson of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 presidential election, the fear syndrome that it caused in the opposition camps was surprising but not unexpected.
outburst is sequel to an interview Keyamo granted Channels Television days back. During the interview, Keyamo marshalled out reasons why he thought that the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar is not the candidate to beat in the forthcoming 2023 election.Healso bared his mind on the lingering ASUU strike among other issues, saying that he subscribed to private individuals weighing in and if need be, even for parents to beg ASUU to sheath the sword. His passionate and unbiased analysis of the ASUU saga surely revealed the Minister’s inner feelings of empathy for the university students and their parents. As a product of the system and a known advocate of the masses whose own family of this unfortunate situation, Keyamo merely expressed a harmless opinion which himself was willing to champion as a parent. But regrettably, it hit Shuaibu and his paymasters on the wrong chord. It’s lamentable the inability of some political communication jobbers to will unite Nigerians from all regions into a cohesive democratic force but instead resorted to elevated propaganda, demagoguery and falsehood of what a true Nigerian President should represent beyond their parochial interpretation of programmatic thrust. Prank’ Shuaibu should realize that it’s not easy to shape his institutionalized memory of his vile campaign against the APC in his futile attempt to twist Keyamo’s comments and hoodwink intelligent Nigerians as to the presidential candidate who has gathered more political IOUs in Nigeria other than Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the quintessential Jagaban.
President Buhari’s campaign team failed like crumbled cookies, Shaibu surfaced in Atiku’s camp and began to spool some crap in the media space. In his chameleonic signature, yet again Phrank Shaibu wasted no time in showing how scared the major opposition party, the PDP is, by frontally attacking the introductory media interface by the Minister after he was appointed spokesperson, not on seminal issues but purely hybridization of facts and also, trying to obfuscate the picture of the minister’s interview, albeit, poorly. It is worthy of note that Festus Keyamo has a mandate, borne out of an eloquent testimony the naysayers cannot assail. He will not be distracted from the objective, which is to market the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the enthusiastic and wellinformed electorate of Nigeria. Hence, he will not dwell on Phrank’s uncouth piece, but focus on the onerous mandate to tell Nigerians the congenial qualities of his principal, which sets him apart from other pretenders and political prostitutes.Ifperformance is the yardstick for measuring success, then Festus Keyamo, is indeed a campaign spokesman to beat and the opposition is aware of this fact. He is a tested needs no introduction to Nigerians as his entire life and career has been in public space. Also, his outstanding performance contributed immensely in terms of political communications and reputation management to President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection
Continued from the backpage “Then I presented it to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in September 2016 where it was also unanimously approved. Every state is of course represented at FEC. Finally, it went through another public hearing in the House of Representatives in November 2017 and passed without any rancour. Yes, I agree with Segun, it was Akpabio who tried to kill it in the Senate. “By the way, the Water Resources Bill has nothing to do with inland waterways navigation. I will try and post a soft copy later today as passed by the House of Representatives. I really don’t understand the hysteria around it, other than just dirty politics. Unfortunately, many people have been sucked into it. And it’s not as if the Bill was brought back to National Assembly through the back door. The issue just got entangled with the 2019 elections and we ran out of time. With the good fortune that I returned as Minister of Water Resources for a second term, I was obliged to continue with the process, starting again from where we“Letstopped.me also say that the hysteria is totally unnecessary because the Bill is just a consolidation of four existing Water laws into a single statute. The existing laws are Water Resources Act 2004; National Water Resources Institute Act; River Basin Development Authorities Act, and Nigeria Hydrological Services Act. Other aspects of the Bill which deal with the concept of integrated water resources management whittle down the powers of the Minister and empower citizens within a catchment to have a say in any major water resources development. It means, for instance, that the Minister cannot approve a major dam, irrigation or hydropower project without a consensus among stakeholders. It also strengthens regulations that would make the Water sector more attractive to private sector investment. Another provision deals with empowerment of farmers to maintain secondary and tertiary irrigation facilities, plus a new section for the establishment of a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Fund.“As Minister of Water Resources, I am contented with the enormous powers bestowed on me by the existing Water Resources Act. But as a technocrat and a professional who has been involved with water issues for the past 36 years, I consider it most appropriate at this time to update our water laws and make them best practices and international conventions Nigeria has subscribed to.” When others on the platform took on the Minister as to why Nigerians were not availed the information he was providing, he replied. “I do admit that our government has not been good at managing its public image, but on this score, we did everything possible to address the issue back in 2018. Honestly, we were taken by surprise at the negative expression that emerged from the Senate debate back then, as the Bill already had a smooth sail in the House of Representatives. However, although public perception matters a lot, I have taken the position that I would rather engage our legislators and other concerned individuals/interest groups/CSOs directly to explain and address their areas of concern. In the end, laws are only passed in the Legislature, not in the market square.” Well, what Adamu forgot is that opinions in the ‘market square’ often determine what happens in the legislature. Two years after our online conversation, the 36 governors have rejected the bill on grounds that it “does not adequately address the interests of the states and is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” according to a statement by Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) chairman and Ekiti State governor, KayodeGivenFayemi.myopposition to the bill, based on the same fears recently expressed by the governors, I met Adamu on Tuesday, at his instance. He took me through the history of the bill and explained that before it was sent to the National Assembly, inputs were received from renowned experts such as Prof Lanre Fagbohun, SAN; Prof Goldface Irokalibe (a specialist in International Water Law who was said to have done the initial draft) and Prof Lekan Oyebande (a wellrespected hydrologist). Fagbohun, member of an independent team of experts put together by the federal government “to provide an assessment of the provisions of the Bill against the backdrop of implications for relevant constitutional provisions and State powers” has argued that the governors have nothing to fear in the bill that “applies to inter-state waters alone.” The bill, according to Fagbohun who echoes everything Adamu has been saying, is important to ensure that our water resources “are protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled in ways which take into account amongst other factors citizens’ right of access to safe water and basic sanitation; meeting the basic human needs of present and future generations; promoting equitable and poverty.”Mysession with Adamu was quite stimulating, even though we were meeting Society of Engineers (FNSE), Member of the American Society of Engineers (MASCE) and Council Member of both COREN (Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria) and ACEN (Association of Consulting Engineers of Nigeria), Adamu is obviously one of the few round pegs in round holes under the current dispensation. Adeniyi is Chairman, THISDAY Editorial Board
The Water Resources Minister, Suleiman Adamu, needs to address the concerns of all critical stakeholders on the bill, writes OLUSEGUN ADENIYI
3THISDAY THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2022 21 in 2019. His record undoubtedly played a pivotal role in Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s choice to re-hire him for the same position, going into the general elections of 2023.Even though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) hasn’t formally pronounced the campaign season to the open, it is broadly acknowledged already working hard unobtrusively in the background, to promote their candidates. And the emergence of Keyamo as the leading spokesperson of the APC campaign machinery is apt and has been roundly applauded as a good choice, as he’s well apprised of the contending issues of our Shaibu’spolity.
EDITORS
Governments must work hard to turn the dreary economic environment around
Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer. Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
Transitioning to net zero is no doubt a formidable global challenge. The gauntlet it throws down for humanity is to radically transform how production, consumption and even transportation is done. The energy sector contributes to about three-quarters of greenhouse gas emissions and holds the key to averting the worst from renewable sources, such as wind or solar, would dramatically reduce carbon emissions. For many poor families in Jigawa and across many other states in Nigeria, every year, the rains come with a promise of
Letters to the Editor LETTERS
NIGERIA AND THE 2022 MISERY INDEX
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
We doubt if anybody was surprised that Nigeria’s Misery Index rose from 59.4 in December 2021 to 62.79 by July 2022. Not only does this represent an almost six per cent jump, but it also indicates that within a period of just seven months (December 2021 and July 2022) the index worsened by almost 81 basis points each month. This should be disturbing for all stakeholders in the country and the authorities national upheaval. Even if we question some of the criteria, as some countries that are obviously in more precarious conditions were left out, the increasingly becoming a ranking routine: Africa’s largest economy is either leading the world or almost doing so on the negative side of growth and human development indices. Today, Nigeria has the greatest number of highest in 17 years. According to Steve Hanke, an economist at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, United States who developed the index to assess the degree of hardships faced by citizens in their country, it is “the sum of minus the percentage change in real GDP per capita. and make people more miserable.” And as the index rightly explained, the country’s misery ranking is laid at the foot of the economy and the unemployment crisis.Figures available paint a dire situation of millions of adults and youths roaming the streets looking for of Statistics (NBC) has reported a consistent pattern of in the country. Perhaps more dangerous is the fact that about 60 per cent of that army of idle citizens is peopled by those between the ages of 15 and 35. Many of them, university graduates, are not only miserable but condemned to the street corner. The clear and present danger of such a high level of idleness among young persons are already manifest in the high level of strife and crimes in virtually every corner of the country. Whereas the multitude of violent outbursts might have religious and ethnic colorations and undertones, it is also a notorious fact that most youths who if otherwise meaningfully engaged would have been unavailable for those worthless anti-social endeavours. Worse still is that there is no evidence to suggest that the authorities in Abuja and the 36 states appreciate the gravity of the situation as there are no clear-cut plans to deal with the problem. We call on government at all levels to begin to it becomes unmanageable. The economic recovery plan of the federal government must prioritise youth employment and formulate policies to reduce it to the barest minimum. The economic empowerment should also be reviewed and appropriate measures achieve their objectives. Beyond the foregoing, there is the urgent need to realign the nation’s educational curriculum with the needs of the economy. It has been said with some are actually unemployable having regards to their training and skills. It has become necessary therefore that our educational training curriculum at all levels must incorporate skills acquisition and entrepreneurial development so that graduates leave school with the capacity to create wealth and jobs rather than seeking jobs. It has become necessary that our educational training curriculum at all levels must incorporate skills acquisition and entrepreneurial development so that graduates leave school with the capacity to create wealth and jobs rather than seeking jobs
T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY 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
The Nigeria Meteorological Agency has been big on early warning signs as a way of checking the menace as other meawarning them early enough to evacuate and helping them to resettle can go a long way in checking the menace.
EDITORIAL
With the skies opening up over Nigeria in torrential rainfall, it is undeniably that time of the year when many Nigerians have to add economic uncertainty to the real possibility of getting Sani Yusuf, the executive secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency(SEMA) for Jigawa State recently disclosed that at least 50 persons died and many displaced after recent torOn a recent visit to the Jigawa State to distribute relief matehouseholds and the livelihoods of people. As the world continues to hobble towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Climate Action Plan 2050, what has become all too clear for all to see is that climate change has become an existential threat, not just to the environment, but to people the world over, especially those who are poor. Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil and gas) which produces heat-trapping gasses. frequent droughts, storms, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and warming oceans. These can directly harm animals, destroy the places they live, and wreak havoc on people`s livelihoods and Currently,communities.theEarthis already about 1.1 degrees centigrade warmer than it was in the late 1800s, and emissions continue to rise. To keep global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees centigrade -as called for in the Paris Agreement – emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. The Paris Agreement requires that countries reach global peaking of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate-neutral world by mid-century. Since conclusive data has shown that the world`s poorest people who contribute next to nothing to climate change are those most at risk from climate change, curbing climate change which irreducibly become a question of justice. Net zero means cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions re-absorbed from the atmosphere, by oceans and forests for instance.
JIGAWA AND THE RAGE OF
4 THISDAY THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2022
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com
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Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com NATURE
Experts: Nigeria Require Investment in AI, IoTs, Robotics to Address National Security Challenges of Rollout, Moves to Secure Devices from
Continued on page 26 Ahead
Speaking on national security at the three days international conference, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, who were represented at the conference, gave insights into the use of technology in addressing national security. Speaking about the roles of the military in the face of insecurity and insurgencies, Irabor said although insurgencies such as kidnapping and banditry and activities of unknown Emma Okonji As August 24th rollout date for the commercial launch of 5G network in Nigeria draws closer, ESET Nigeria has assured individuals, businesses and government of its readiness to offer solutions that will protect their Internet of Things (IoT) devices from cyberThethreats.Managing Director of ESET West Africa (Anglophone), Mr. Olufemi Ake, who gave the assurance while speaking to journalists at the recently concluded Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) International Conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said ESET thrived on securing IoT devices and had in the past, earned international accolades for the effectiveness of its solutions. He said the company would replicate the same solutions in Nigeria, ahead of 5G rollout on AugustSpeaking24. on the conference theme: ‘Smart, Secure and Sustainable Nation’, Ake said it would implie that for a modern nation to be sustainable the people have to think intentional about adopting smart and secure systems in every sphere, which according to him, cuts across public and private sectors. “In other words, we have to make the internet secure as the bedrock of a smart city. Smart cities and smart homes imply there will be connected devices such as vehicles communicating with each other and communicating with humans via the internet, while mobile devices, laptops, and Internet of Things (IoT) will be communicating without any downtime. “You will agree that once the internet is made available, you are guaranteed a sustainable smart city. Now, how do you make it secure? This is our area of specialisation. ESET thrives excellently on securing IoT devices. This is the
ESET
5G
Emma Okonji Worried about the rising rate of insecurity across the country, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) experts have called on the federal government to step up its game by deploying smart and secure emerging technologies that would curb national security challenges in the country. They stressed that the federal government and corporate organisations must invest in the deployment of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) devices, Internet of Things (IoTs) devices, Robotics, Close Circuit Television (ccTV), among others. The call was part of the resolution and communiqué issued at the end of the 2022 International Conference of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), which held recently in Abeokuta, OgunAccordingState. to the communiqué, which was co-signed by the Chairman, Conferences Committee at NCS, Mr. Rex Abitogun Ayodeji, and the NCS President, Prof. Adesina Sodiya, the deployment of smart technologies is the key to curbing most security challenges confronting theParticipantsnation. at the conference insisted that necessary attention must be paid to Information Technology (IT) development in Nigeria by the government and that all stakeholders of NCS that are working with relevant agencies, should be at the vanguard of setting standards for regulating various technologies deployed in the country. The conference resolved that the government’s digital identity programme should be reviewed and further enriched to achieve all the associated development goals, and that more efforts should be geared towards strengthening the country’s digital identity programme. Part of the communiqué stated: “The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) must improve on the level of implementation of the digital identity management programme by upgrading the digital infrastructure capacity to allow for seamless registration and integration of identity data. Governments and corporate organisations should provide more support to Information Technology professionals to acquire the requisite training and expertise needed to effectively implement smart cities and sustainable economies. Government should create a suitable environment for learning, research and development, with synergy among stakeholders in achieving a framework for smart, secure and sustainable nation. The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, in conjunction with NCS, should create opportunities and platforms for developing startups and young innovators in Information Technology.”
IoT
MARKET DATA AS AT WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2022 BILLS MATURITY countDis- Yield (%)Change Updated Time NTB Nov-2210- 3.903.94 0.00August 12, 2022 NTB 26-Jan23 9.8010.26 2.49August 12, 2022 NTB 9-Feb23 10.0010.52 0.00August 12, 2022 NTB 9-Mar23 10.0510.66 -0.01August 12, 2022 NTB 27-Apr23 4.905.08 0.00August 12, 2022 BONDS DESCRIPTIONPriceYield (%)Change Updated Time ^14.20 MAR-202414- 104.5510.98 -0.01 12,August2022 13.53 MAR-202523- 103.05 12.12 0.00 12,August2022 ^12.50 JAN-202622- 99.28 12.76 0.41 12,August2022 ^16.2884 MAR-202717- 112.10 12.72 -0.15 12,August2022 ^13.98 FEB-202823- 104.50 12.82 0.00 12,August2022 OTC FX FUTURES (MONTH)TENORCONTRACT Contract ($/₦)RateCurrent Updated Time 1 NGUS AUG 31 2022 433.54 August 12, 2022 2 NGUS SEP 28 2022 435.39 August 12, 2022 3 NGUS OCT 26 2022 437.24 August 12, 2022 4 NGUS NOV 30 2022 439.09 August 12, 2022 5 NGUS DEC 28 2022 440.94 August 12, 2022 MATURITYDiscountYieldCPSChange(%) Updated Time FDHP CP 17-MAR-23III 14.7716.18 -0.01August 12, 2022 VHPL CP 1-APR-23III 18.6421.14 -0.01August 12, 2022 RATES AS AT AUGUST 17,2022 MONEY MARKETREPOS & P INDEX S & P INDEXEXCHANGE RATE OPR 11.25% CALL 10.25% INDEX LEVEL 613.31% 1/4 TO DATE -0.85%N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR* OVERNIGHT 11.50% 1-MONTH 9.56% 1-DAY 0.16% YEAR TO DATE 7.64%*AS AT LAST FRIDAY 3-MONTH 10.52% MONTH-TO-DATE 0.44% BUSINESS WORLD Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com08056356325 23
Cyber Threats Continued on page 26 THISDAY THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022
How will you describe e-commerce growth in Nigeria and Africa since the launch of Jumia in Nigeria in 2012? Iwill describe Jumia’s growth as exponential. Since we launched in 2012, we’ve been seeing the growth of e-commerce and digitalization both in Nigeria and in other countries we operate in, continuing to grow. This growth has happened across many segments and many categories of many services that Jumia has been working in and that e-commerce covers. At the beginning, it was about educating the market and getting people to be aware that e-commerce is a thing in the country and there were reliable players ready to build trust in the customers, for vendors to use the platform and deliver to customers in effective ways for everyone. Since 2012, we grew in volume, in the services we offered, and introduced on demand i.e. Jumia Food, then JumiaPay, Advertising, and Logistics services for clients. This is what made the company we are today. In 2012, we launched and less than 10 years later, we were listed on the New York Stock Exchange as the first African Internet Company (Unicorn) to be listed there. Jumia directly employs more than 1,000 people and many more through the sellers and logistics partners. Through its activities, Jumia allows local sellers to gain exposure to their markets and thus encourages them to hire more staff to support their production and distribution activities. Broadband penetration in Nigeria is picking up gradually at 43 per cent, which, is a key factor in your kind of business. How has the penetration affected patronage of Jumia’s ecommerce business in Nigeria? The broadband penetration is playing an important role, which has shown Nigeria growing very fast compared to the early years when we started the company. I believe broadband penetration is speeding up the digitalization of the population in the country. Today we know that about 50 per cent of the population of Nigerians use the internet. These numbers are growing every month and the internet is no longer a mystery to people, it’s getting part of day-to-day activities. This part is something that helped us a lot to grow. I think e-commerce can bring value to certain areas of the country that are less served by retail. Typically, if you think about the rural areas where people can’t access goods as if they were in the big cities and have it delivered at convenient shipping prices all the way to where they live. For other areas where you have a lack of offer, e-commerce can bring that offer into place. Broadband combined with digitalization and opportunity from a retail standpoint is proving a significant opportunity for growth in the e-commerce space. Since the launch of Jumia in Nigeria in 2012, what have been your greatest challenges doing e-commerce business in Nigeria, and what are the possible solutions? The key problem that we saw in the beginning was building trust and the adoption of e-commerce. The trust was to be built between customers and the vendors, the logistics players, and all the stakeholders that were working with us. We had to explain to the vendors that when an order was placed, they had to release their goods without getting paid at the beginning because payment would have been done as cash on delivery by the customer and the customer also had to trust the platform to place the order, to see the product and then pay. There was a lot of trust to be built together with the logistics company that had to be involved in this new way of doing business which is a big opportunity. After that, logistics became a problem because the more we were growing and delivering across the cities, the more we needed a backbone of infrastructural logistics that was strong enough to deliver all the packages to all the many customers we had across the country. Another challenge was internet penetration and payments. We had given the opportunity initially to use cash on delivery for people to make their purchases comfortably and then to offer an easy way to pay digitally through JumiaPay, which is another service we launched not long after we launched our first company in 2012. On the Logistics part, what is important to say is, that the scale is also what mattered. The growth of e-commerce, led by Jumia and some other smaller players and other segments of the economy online, brought the need of having many more types of transportation including vans, trucks, bikes, etc. There was a need for entrepreneurs to invest, to see the opportunity to grow with e-commerce. Overall, it built more than a company, it built an ecosystem and it brought part of the economy online.
What has been the impact of e-commerce on small businesses like SMEs and MSMEs in the Nigerian economy? I think in general, Small and Medium-sized enterprises in Nigeria play a very important role. Nigeria is a land of entrepreneurs, where you meet the most tech-savvy entrepreneurs that are very solid people knowing how to do business and trade. The number says that there are 37 million micro, small and medium scale enterprises, and more than 80% of the total jobs in the country are dependent or reliant on micro, small and medium enterprises. Thus, the importance of SMEs is very strong. E-commerce is playing a very important role to enable small businesses, and micro-businesses to grow in Nigeria, particularly thanks to the fact that e-commerce can offer any business good reach to their customer base. With a platform that is composed of the marketplace, logistics solutions, and advertising, small businesses will be able to strive, grow and showcase their products to a market they couldn’t reach if not online. This will help them focus on their core assortment, variety, and quality while we do the deliveries and reach for them. Moreover, for the SMEs, we also provide financial support with lending through the JumiaPay app, and we engage in a lot of initiatives to grow their base. We do think that SMEs are fundamental. On a side note, SMEs also need logistics beyond e-commerce, and we saw this, particularly in the last years, which is why for a year and a half we opened logistics to external clients. So, if you are a small, medium enterprise that needs to deliver agricultural goods or products to your customer, which was not made on Jumia, you can still use Jumia logistics to deliver those goods because we believe we have the largest and most effective network of logistics providers that can deliver business-to-consumer goods efficiently and effectively.
How has Jumia leveraged emerging technologies in providing services that enhance customers’ experience? The services we offer today to all the sectors of stakeholders we serve, the customers, the vendors, the logistics companies, and the advertising companies, are all based on the technology. For example, today we have three Jumia apps, the Jumia E-commerce app, JumiaPay, and the Jumia Food app. We have different back ends such as a seller center that allows sellers to sell their products on Jumia, and so on. All these are technology enabled which then enables the Jumia ecosystem. Logistics is key in the e-commerce business. How has Jumia managed the logistics aspect of its business in meeting up with real-time delivery? We have a platform called Jumia Food. On this platform, you find restaurants, pharmacies, shops, supermarkets, and more and we deliver real-time. When you place an order in a restaurant, you get it in the next 25-30 minutes. When you do your groceries on the Jumia Food Mart, you get it in 20 minutes. We think there’s a big trend towards that business. People want to have their goods and products as fast as they can and on that, we have been focusing a lot, especially in the last six months. How will you describe the effect of government policies on your business and what do you suggest the government should do to enhance the business environment in Nigeria I think that the government has been supportive in doing the best for what companies like us are doing. In general, we would want to see the government and regulators being on the same side as the private sector and interestingly, e-commerce attracts a good interest from those kinds of parties. For example, in Nigeria, we have an e-commerce group under the Lagos Chamber of Commerce where our Chief Sustainability Officer, Juliet Annamah, who was previously the CEO of Jumia Nigeria is the first Chairwoman of the council. There are initiatives that are working, which makes us feel that there is the right level of conversation between the government and the private players in the e-commerce sector. We have seen some efforts by the government, for example, the National Economy Digital Policy and Strategy for Digital Nigeria developed by the Ministry of Communication, which has eight pillars covering all aspects of solid and soft infrastructure as well as regulations. I think more can be done especially on ensuring that there is an effort to make this side of the economy grow faster. It is important to consider the enablers and the key initiatives that can help growth happen faster than what is happening today, because eventually, it is beneficial for everyone. Digitalization brings opportunities, employment, growth, and most of it is passing through e-commerce. So, e-commerce is key to the rebirth and the growth of the economy. What would you like to say to your customers and where do you hope to see Jumia in the next ten years? We would like to see Jumia still at the forefront serving most of the needs that customers might have online. Simplifying the business, making it faster, and more effective. Increase the quality, trust, and variety that customers get when shopping, and create more opportunities and more reach for vendors to engage with the platform and also to help make more efficient infrastructural logistics in the country. We want to be sure that Jumia will keep being one of the most beloved brands in the country, the No 1 employer by choice, and we are very proud to keep on being that. We are working very hard to be a platform for the new talents that Nigeria has and will need to foster and grow. We want these talents to be a part of Jumia to raise a new digital landscape of the country. The payment industry is becoming wide, do you have plans to explore that area? The payment part is very exciting and the interesting part of it is that the Jumia ecosystem has among its pillars, JumiaPay. We have customers, vendors, and a payment platform that puts together both where unlimited transactions, and general business can grow exponentially. We are currently expanding our services and offerings under different sides, mainly on the business side. For example, vendors are using JumiaPay as a payment gateway. This is one of the big parts of the business that you will hear more in the coming weeks.
Since its launch in 2012, Jumia has dominated the e-commerce space in Nigeria. The Chief Executive Officer of Jumia Nigeria, Massimiliano Spalazzi, speaks on how Jumia has shaped the industry, its use of technology as a backbone for growth and for experience, and how its platforms have been evolving by the day in the last ten years. Eromosele Abiodun presents the excerpts Spalazzi
BUSINESSWORLD INTERVIEW 24 THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022 THISDAY
Spalazzi: We Want Jumia to Remain at Forefront Serving Customer Needs Online
Jumia recently celebrated ten years of operation in Nigeria. What were your biggest gains and what are your plans for the Nigerian market in the next ten years? The fact that we have been operating for ten years, in a market like Nigeria, is something that we are very happy and proud of, and we thank Nigerians who helped to make Jumia possible. Over the years we have reached many milestones. We opened the marketplace and introduced JumiaPay, Jumia Food, and all the other businesses. We further expanded our operations in many countries across Africa and then, we launched the Jumia logistics for external clients. Also, we introduced Jumia Advertising, which was another business that we launched to satisfy the needs of all the brands who wanted to be associated with the Jumia brand and advertise their goods online. Recently, we launched the Jumia Food Mart to help customers buy their groceries and essentials and get them delivered in under 20 minutes. Finally, one of our biggest gains was during the COVID period when we were enabled and allowed to play an important role in the economy to support those people who were going through lockdowns and curfews and difficult times to access goods at the best price possible. Our next plan is to continue to grow the business of Jumia by serving as many customers as we can because we believe that we are still at the start despite being here for ten years. We believe there are many more customers that we can serve at our best and with more services which we aim to do in a smart, efficient, speedy, and time-effective way to make Jumia become the number one destination for online shopping for all Nigerians. We launched free delivery in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan to enable consumers to shop more for their daily essentials while also pushing our quick commerce platform dubbed Jumia Food Mart to enable consumers to receive their online grocery orders in a record time of under 20 minutes. As Jumia continues to grow, we are conscious of the environmental impact of our operations and continuously seek ways to minimise our impact. In 2021, we sold 8,472 refurbished phones through our Marketplace thereby promoting responsible consumption and encouraging our customers to select more sustainable alternatives. By identifying practices that are better for the environment, we are also finding opportunities that are better for our business. In ten years of operation, what is the current market share of Jumia in Nigeria, and what is the position of the Nigerian market in Jumia’s business across your African operations? Jumia Nigeria is the largest e-commerce player in the country and Nigeria is our biggest market where we operate across Africa. Nigeria has the largest population of over 200 million compared to the other countries where we operate. Internet penetration is over 50 per cent with more than half the population using a smartphone. This shows the size of the market and the enormous potential for e-commerce. As technology evolves, consumers’ tastes and demands are also evolving by the day. How has Jumia addressed consumers’ needs in the last ten years? We use technology as a backbone for growth and for experience, and in the last ten years, our platforms have been evolving by the day. We have roadmaps that have deadlines as close to one week to constantly update the user, the front-facing, the back-facing, the systems, and the infrastructure in order to always satisfy the needs of our customers at best. The customer needs have changed, particularly in the past two years. Since COVID and the current situation of the economy with a decreasing purchasing power due to the rising inflation, rising cost and prices, and devaluation of the naira, what we are seeing is consumers are shifting more to wanting to find on Jumia daily essentials and get the best prices, the largest varieties and assortment easily delivered to their homes. I think this is going to stay for a while, as consumers constantly come online and shop for their groceries and other essentials at convenience. All we can do at Jumia is offer that variety of goods that they want at the best price. Jumia must have had some specific targets at the beginning of its e-commerce business in Nigeria. Ten years down the line, will you say your target has been achieved? Targets are ambitions that you give yourself. At Jumia, we are happy and proud to be where we are today. We’re very humble but at the same time we are very conscious of what we’ve built and happy to know that as we stand today, we are serving millions of customers and hundreds of thousands of vendors across Africa to do better business. On this, we are very proud, and we are equally proud to have given the opportunity to logistics companies to grow with us and to serve the needs of customers and vendors in the best way. We think these targets have to always be raised to the next level, we never sit, and we always keep looking at the future thinking of ways to satisfy the needs of our customers, and vendors at best to keep on growing in the e-commerce space which is growing very fast in this market.
Globacom, an indigenous Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) operator, will be celebrating 19 years of telecom service offerings in few days, having rolled out its initial GSM services on August 29,Globacom,2003. which commenced per second billing system on its telecom network from the first day of its service rollout, crashed the cost of telecom services and forced other telecom operators to immediately begin per second billing system on their networks, after two years of billing subscribers exorbitantly with per minutes billing system. In 2010, Globacom berthed Glo1 submarine cable in Nigeria, and further crashed broadband internet services across the country. With Glo1, internet access has become easily affordable. Anybody who has an internet-enabled phone can afford data. For instance, with just N500, a subscriber will get 2GB data, with N50 the customer gets 50MB, N100 gives 150MB. For big users on the network, they can get as much a 675GB for N75,000 and 1Tera Byte (TB) for N100,000. The telecom company also gives double data bonus to Glo subscribers. Having served Nigeria and other West African countries with robust telelecom services for 19 years, coupled with its internet services via Glo1, the telecom company has said it will further deepen internet connectivity across Nigeria and ensures that Nigeria meets its target of 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025. IMPACT OF GLO1 FIBRE CABLE Fibre optic cables have revolutionised the world of network communications ever since their inception nearly four decades ago. They are more advanced alternative to the traditional methods of networking which use metallic wires. Fibre optic cables have been part of Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure for decades, right from the days of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), which operated a monopolistic telecom market for decades before the emergence of GSM operators. NITEL used the South Atlantic 3 (Sat-3) cable, which it owned together with a consortium of over 30 telecommunications companies from across the world. It provided a link between Nigeria and the rest of the world. For many years it was the best thing that happened to Nigeria’s telecom sector and any misfortune that befell it by way of fibre cut, would always translate into massive disruption in Nigeria’s business environment, as many major companies relied either directly or indirectly on the connectivity provided by the infrastructure for their operations. One such incident in late July 2009, caused internet blackouts in several west African countries including Benin, Togo, Niger, and Nigeria. The banking sector was also destabilized at that time, as well as other sectors of the economy that relied heavily on internet connectivity for their operations. Then, the economy and security of Nigeria wasButthreatened.Nigeria’s Second National Carrier, Globacom, came to the rescue, when it berthed Glo1 in 2010, and other broadband operators like MainOne, MTN WACS, also came onboard also saved the country from the precarious situation by launching their higher capacity submarine cables. The berthing of Glo-1, a wholly-owned facility that brought unprecedented bandwidth from Europe to Nigeria and other West African countries, marked the beginning of the crashing of bandwidth costs in Nigeria and the rest of West Africa, thereby facilitating more access to broadband internet.
Broadband penetration in Nigeria currently stands at 44.5 per cent, solely driven by major players in the telecom sector, such as Glo 1, which has not only brought in the required international bandwidth, but has also invested generously in the infrastructure to deliver the last mile to end-users, while also breaking the cost barrier by introducing affordable tariffs.Nigeria’s broadband penetration increased from 40.9 per cent in February 2022 to 44.5 per cent in July 2022, a figure considered hopeful for achieving the national broadband target of 70 per cent in 2025. Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who disclosed this last week during a public inquiry on five telecom regulations and guidelines in Abuja, said emerging technologies and advancements in the sector, would trigger the Commission to match the development with appropriate regulations and“Withguidelines.thetechnological advancements anticipated in the coming years, it is expected that there will be a proliferation of devices in the industry. It is, therefore, essential for the Commission to ensure that the right regulatory frameworks can accommodate such eventualities,” Danbatta said. He listed the regulatory instruments under review at the public inquiry to include Type Approval Regulations, Guidelines on Short Code Operation in Nigeria, Guidelines on Technical Specifications for the Deployment of Communications Infrastructure, Guidelines on Advertisements and Promotions and Consumer Code of Practice Regulations. He said the focus areas were already articulated in some important documents guiding the operations of the Commission, which include the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020 – 2025, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020 – 2030, NCC’s Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024 and its Strategic Vision Implementation Plan (SVIP) 2021 – 2025, which are being implemented towards achieving itsThemandate.EVC further stated that the amendment of the regulatory instruments were to reflect current realities, one of which is the anticipated deployment of the Fifth Generation (5G) technology, and management of short codes in Nigeria, including the Toll-Free Emergency Code 112.
CONNECTIVITYINTERNATIONAL
In preparation for its 19th anniversary in telecom service offerings, coming up in few days, Globacom is set to further deepen broadband internet penetration with Glo1, writes Emma Okonji
ADENUGA’S ASSURANCES
Chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr has assured Nigerians of Globacom’s commitment to further deepen broadband internet penetration across the country. He said the berthing of Glo1 in 2010, was a monumental step towards realising Globacom’s vision of being the biggest and best telecommunication company in Africa, and that it was a bold and ambitious step never before taken in telecoms business as no one company has undertaken such gigantic project alone. “Globacom rewrote history in 2010 with the berthing of Glo1, just like we did at launch of Globacom in 2003 when we became the first telecom company to launch on the Per Second Billing platform. With Glo1, we become the first to build an international submarine cable alone. “The ultra capacity cable connects Africa to Europe and America. Globacom has taken a huge leap to make accessible to Africa the magical possibilities of broadband. The facility brought unprecedented prosperity to our continent. Glo 1 has enabled Globacom and other telecom operators who tapped into the revolution to have a clear distinction in providing quality services to various countries across the globe. It has enabled telecom operators in Africa to interconnect with several international networks and leading carriers in the world,” Adenuga said. He further said: “In the Phase 2 of this project now being commissioned, the Glo submarine optic fibre cable will connect West Africa to Eastern and Southern Africa. Upon completion, Glo 1 will deliver transmission capacity that will radically change Africa’s economic landscape by providing unprecedented high speed internet services and make telecom services much faster, more reliable and cheaper for consumers. The current and ultimate capacity is enough to cater to the required broadband capacity for at least the next 30 years. It will give impetus to the needed opportunity for Africa to leap forward economically through an excellent communication network and a costeffective voice, data, video and e-commerce infrastructure. This is a significant step towards bridging the digital divide between Africa and the rest of the world.”
BROADBAND PENETRATION
Globacom has contributed immensely to boost international connectivity from Nigeria by building and launching an international submarine cable, Glo 1, a project that has been described as massive in Africa. In addition to boosting the provision of services to telecom end users, the facility is currently providing the much needed connectivity to critical sectors of the economy such as oil and gas, manufacturing, banking, commerce, education and health, among others. Several multinational companies, including telecom operators and internet service providers (ISPs), are on Glo 1. Since the launch of Glo1 in 2010, it has metamorphosed into a leading end-to-end connectivity solutions provider across the globe. The undersea cable from the United Kingdom to Nigeria has the lowest latency in the market. With nationwide terrestrial fiber coverage and presence in all data centers, it boasts a major advantage very few possess in the market. With more undersea cable operators entering the market, the competition is going to intensify. However, the main distinction for Glo1 is that it can address market requirements across all spectrums, i.e. international cable plus national fiber, last mile fiber connectivity using multiple fiber routes for redundancy up to any major data center within Nigeria. Glo1 is the first successful submarine cable from the United Kingdom through the West Coast of Africa to Ghana and Nigeria. It is also the first such project to be undertaken by an individual company. The 9,800-km-long cable with 169 repeaters originates from Bude in the UK and branches out at Osu landing station, Accra, Ghana, and terminates at Alpha Beach landing station, Lagos. The consumption on Glo1 has increased substantially over the past two years and the team is now focusing on on-boarding the large corporations that are major consumers of internet Globacomservices.commenced Glo1 operations in 2010 with a capacity of 90 Gbps. It was upgraded to 290 Gbps in December, 2018. Within three years, the Glo1 capacity was upgraded to 1Terabit, and according to company sources, before the year runs out, this will be scaled up to over two Terabits.Overthe years, the market dynamics have changed. All major carriers, Over The Top (OTT) operators, which refer to streaming service providers that deliver content over the internet, players such as Facebook, Google and Netflix, multinational companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, Akamai and Alibaba, have set up presence in Nigeria thereby becoming closer to their customers. Over 60 per cent of the capacities on most submarine cables worldwide are utilised by these organisations, and this is the most important target segment that Glo1 is targeting to onboard on Glo network. With the recent capacity upgrade, Glo1 has on-boarded all major OTT players who have set up shop in the country while talks are ongoing with the companies that are expected to come into Nigeria in 2022 - 2023. Glo1 has sold over 400 Gbps capacities to the OTT players and multinationals in the past 12 months and target to end the year by selling an additional 300 Gbps. According to Glo1 Team, “With the 4G expansion to tier 2 and 3 cities, Glo1 acts as the catalyst in propagating broadband penetration in Nigeria and acts as an enabler for enterprise customers to provide world class connectivity to all their offices and factories across Nigeria. Many cloud computing companies who cater to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES) are setting up shop within the Glo partnered data centers. Using Globacom’s robust terrestrial infrastructure, Glo1 has seized this opportunity to backhaul their traffic to other data centers across the world.” Setting up Points-of-Presence (PoPs) across key markets such as East and South Africa and mainland Europe are key enablers that will drive data consumption on Glo1 submarine cable. By increasing presence points, Glo1 will be able to carry traffic from every corner of Africa to different parts of the world, the Glo1 Team said.
Pushing the Frontiers of Broadband Connectivity
On the economic front, Adenuga said the cable would free up resources for other forms of investments, which governments and businesses needed through broad market coverage at high capacity and at a fraction of cost and time. As a consequence, Glo 1 will facilitate foreign investment and employment opportunities in Africa, Adenuga added.
25 BUSINESSWORLD E-BUSINESS THISDAY THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022
gunmen have taken most parts of the country, they could be addressed using the right technology tools. He described such insecurity as national threat to Nigeria’s unity as a Chairmannation. of the NCS international conference and Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, in his speech, stressed the need for ubiquitous data generation and processing that would guide government’s decision in developing a smart, secure and sustainable nation. The communiqué advised governments and corporate organisations to increase patronage of local content as part of the strategies to move the nation forward.“There is a need for more synergy between NCS and relevant government regulatory agencies to eliminate unsafe and unreliable digital gateways in order to create sound trust in the system and enable innovations for the digital economy,” the communiqué added.
Akubuiro: Despite Rising Inflation, Retail Market Caters for Growing Population
Google Invests in Lori Systems to Enhance Africa’s Digital Transport System
EXPERTS: NIGERIA REQUIRE INVESTMENT IN AI, IOTS, ROBOTICS TO ADDRESS NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES
Emma Okonji Lori Systems, the e-logistics company digitizing haulage and providing shippers with solutions to efficiently manage their cargo and transporters, has announced an investment from Google that would support digital transport management in Africa. Named by the Financial Times earlier this year as Africa’s seventh fastest-growing company, Lori Systems has helped thousands of shippers and carriers move over $10 billion of cargo across the continent since it was founded in 2017. According to Knight Frank’s Logistics Africa report, 75 per cent of the price of a product in Africa is attributed to logistics, compared to just 6 per cent in the U.S. On the continent, logistics operators face a host of problems; from fragmented supply and demand markets to inconsistent pricing, paper documentation and little or no access to financing. A pioneer in e-logistics in Africa, Lori Systems lowers the cost of goods by eliminating pain points along the cargo journey; seamlessly connecting shippers to transportation; providing shippers with solutions to efficiently manage their cargo and transporters, and digitising their entire transport operations from sourcing transportation to documentation and payments. Lori Systems Co-founder, JeanClaude Homawoo, said: “In recent years the global logistics industry has seen much innovation. However global supply chains are in dire need of modernization, with technologies yet to reach critical scale. On the continent, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is expected to lead to an 81 per cent increase in intra-African trade, providing a $21.9 billion opportunity in untapped trade potential that the 54 ratifying countries are hoping to capitalise on over the next five years. Logistics is key to unlocking this opportunity.”
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022 THISDAY
AHEAD OF 5G ROLLOUT, ESET MOVES TO SECURE IOT DEVICES FROM CYBER THREATS
BUSINESSWORLD INTERVIEW 26
Med-Direct, Konga Kares Begin Free Delivery of Medicals to Nigerians
With continuous rise in inflation, prices of goods and services are hitting the roof as the value chain is bearing the brunt. Managing Director for West Africa, TradeDepot Inc., a B2B e-commerce platform, Chidi Akubuiro, speaks with Kunle Aderinokun on some causative factors of the unabating inflation, its impact on the retail marketing space and role of his firm in helping consumers navigate their ways out of the predicament Akubuiro
Emma Okonji Nigerians can now enjoy free delivery of highly subsidised quality medicines to their preferred locations nationwide effective from Monday, August 15, 2022, courtesy of Konga Kares, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project spearheaded by Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce giant in partnership with Med-Direct Community Pharmacy, a tech-driven online retail Discountspharmacy.ofupto 12 per cent are on offer for patients on managed health conditions and reliant on routine prescription drugs for diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, asthma and arthritis, among others, while a 10 per cent discount is available for regular medicines, nutraceuticals or high-performing supplements for people who wish to enhance their health, lifestyle and beauty goals.The project, which will be executed via Konga Kares, the CSR arm of the Konga Group, is set to run for an initial 18 months with a pilot phase that commenced this week Monday.Also,retired and serving civil servants, military and paramilitary service men/women and their families, lecturers in institutions of higher learning, teachers and those who are above 60 years of age can enjoy an additional incentive of 2 per cent discount off their supply of prescription drugs once they sign up for periodic refills of their prescription medicines. The subsidised medicines are available for purchase on Konga. com with same day delivery at no cost in Lagos.
future. Will you ever imagine being in a situation where your car navigation system is being hacked and you are misdirected to a strange location where negative actions are perpetrated? ESET comes in to strengthen security and protection of those devices, which further guarantees a safer smart city,’ Ake said. While stressing the need for the adoption of solid security solution ahead of 5G network rollout, Ake said: “First, we have to be intentional with our approach to solutions deployment. We are so quick to adopt the latest technology which is not a bad idea. However, we seem to be slow in adopting security solutions for those connected devices. So, if we as a nation are going to adopt 5G, which enhances IoT connectivity, then we should be mindful of its security aspects. As we hold international conferences, we should preach security as the bedrock of the acceptability of these devices. We have to continue to educate our people. Education is very key, and just as we are complaining about the physical security situation in the country, we should also be interested in securing our cyberspace because the cyberspace must be secured for the country to reap the benefits of 5G. Giving details of the readiness of ESET to protect IoT devices, Ake said: “5G is just being deployed in Nigeria, but it has already been deployed in over 1,500 cities across the world. So, it is not new to us as a business and we are futuristic. We think about these things before they are launched. For instance, TV is categorized under IoT. It is very smart and gives the external world access to your home. So, if it is hacked, you have probably given outsiders access to your living room through smart cameras. When that happens, cyber criminals keep monitoring your activities and can socially engineer attacks against you.”
What’s your assessment of the Nigerian economy? For our business, when you look at the retail chain, the inflation, at the moment, is the major topic across the retail business because we have prices rising. Everyone is aware of the crisis between Ukraine and Russia, which is affecting importation of products used for production. Others are the prices of diesel and petrol, which have gone up. The food prices are also up. The manufacturers, because of the increase in things aforementioned, also need to find a way to maintain the business profitably or survive the business for this period. Prices are going up across different products, categories and obviously, that affects the consumers who have to pay more for almost every single thing. In specific terms, how does the Ukraine and Russia war affect supply business and retail marketing space in Nigeria? Using a product as an example, I will consider flour. Bread is a big market in Nigeria and Africa. We have had inflation on bread now almost 35 per cent. Bread that sells for N300 now sells for about N700. If you look at the main reason, you will discover that it is the source ingredient, which is flour. Half of the flour we use is imported and the wheat is imported into the country. And some of the source materials are also brought in from the Russia and Ukraine axes. Obviously, with this war now, the ports are closed over there. It affects the supply chain and also affects the production here. The companies who make use of these raw materials will have to wait, which affects their demands. Then, flour sells for N12, 000 and now you buy for N29, 000. So flour is a very good example. The NBS report for July put inflation at 19.64 per cent and we understand the manufacturers are bearing a major brunt of the impact. As an e-commerce company, how does this affect your operation? Because we all operate within the country, there is nobody or organisation that is not being affected by it. An example is a restaurant that uses a generator for power supply and at the same time, the generator uses diesel and each of the products that they will use to make their meals are gotten from the market and from suppliers. At each point in time, the prices of things that have increased will affect them. Despite all these, what we are trying to do at TradeDepot is to make things easier and also help the retailers to survive, no matter what. We guarantee that the retailers get the products at reasonable prices regardless of the increase from the company. We offer financing to the retailers. We provide them a ‘Buy-Now Pay-Later’ scheme where they are able to get products from us and sell over a given period of time. Even though the prices are going up, the fact that we are making the products available to them saves them from closing their shops and heading to the market to buy those products which will cost them transportation fees and may even close their shop for the whole day. We save them from stress and cost points by delivering to them directly. As an expert in marketing, considering the level of inflation, does it directly affect your turnover? In fact, what is the correlation between the inflation and your turnover? One of the blessings to this country is that we have a growing population. At this point that the population increases, then the retail space caters for the growing population. With inflation, the occasion still doesn’t change. As an individual, I won’t say because the prices of toothpaste and bathing soap have shot up, I won’t buy and use them. What may happen is that I’ll shift from the A-list brands to the lesser ones that will still satisfy my needs. Yes, we will see a lot of shifts to most likely substitutes, but transactions will still happen. Another thing that will also happen is a shift in the volume of transactions. People will focus more on top-up shopping to stock-up. Yet, the transactions are still coming even though they may not be as fast as we have perceived in the previous years, yet we are still coming up and we are also seeing a shift in terms of moving to substitutes. Truly, the effect is there, but because of the growing retail space, it is not as visible as it sounds or looks like right now.
As a marketing expert, what do you propose as a way around the rising inflation? I’m not in the government. I would have suggested one way out. The inflation is global and not only in Nigeria and I want to believe the government is trying their best. We hope that the war between Ukraine and Russia ceases. Picking from the retail spaces which I control, I will say we will continue to be committed to growth to ensure that retailers stay in business because they also want to earn a living. So providing financing is very key. We have been trying to ensure they have access to manufacturers’ products, which is the chain we have built to have the products delivered to them. And we believe the process will have an impact on the economy. What is TradeDepot’s niche market? TradeDepot is an e-commerce distribution company that has a bit of financing embedded within our business. In simple terms, we are a pipeline between the manufacturer and the retailer. We are bridging the gap. When you look at the recent retail chain, you will discover that between the manufacturer and the retailer you have distributors and the wholesalers. While the wholesalers bothers about getting the products from the manufacturer, what we have done is to put ourselves in between that gap to become the link for both parties.
In other words, you mean business is still good for you? When I mean business is still good, I simply mean that we are still growing. We are still experiencing growth. And on the other end is why we introduced the buy-now-pay-later support for our retail space. We know things are costly outside, but we assist them so they can cater for their consumers.
Nigerian
Oshuntoye: Unilever to Empower 500,000 Women in Africa by 2025
Receiving the award on behalf of the Group Managing Director of ipNX, Ejovi Aror, the Divisional CEO, ipNX Business, Segun Okuneye said: “We appreciate the organizers for honouring us with this award. We dedicate the award to all our customers for giving us the opportunity to serve them.” In 2021, ipNX received the award for the Most Innovative Fibre Optics Provider of the Year at the 17th Titans of Tech Awards Since it commenced operations in 2002, ipNX has continued to provide innovative, world-class ICT solutions that meet the needs of individuals, small and medium-scale enterprises, and large corporations. Ejovi Aror, ipNX Group Managing Director, while commenting on the award, commended the organisers for recognising ipNX as the Best ICT Solutions Provider of the Year. He said: “This award is a testament to our consistency in providing innovative solutions that meet the needs of all varied customers. We are committed to utilizing technology to create endless possibilities for every business across Nigeria.”
Women, Youth
Emma Okonji Nigeria’s telecom service provider, 9mobile, has lent its voice to the global call for collaboration among generations to build an equitable, peaceful, and prosperous society while emphasising the importance of building a society that encourages more youth representation.Thetelcomade the call while marking this year’s International Youth Day (IYD) themed: Intergenerational Solidarity- Creating A World for All Ages, during an Instagram live session, hosted by Olorisupergal and graced by Ace comedian and actor, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome (Ali Baba), to discuss the relevance of youths in the Accordingsociety. to Akpobome, to promote inter-generational solidarity in society and bridge the gap between the older and younger generation, the culture of shared values must be entrenched to accommodate both the young and the old at home and in the workplace. This would promote the convergence of understanding on the need for mutual respect amongCommentingall. on the significance of the theme, Executive Director, Regulator, and Corporate Affairs, 9mobile, Mallam Abdulrahman Ado, noted that for a society to experience progress in its developmental goals, the youths must be engaged and adequately empowered to be leaders and problem solvers. He said: “At 9mobile, we are a youthful brand and very particular about the growth and development of young people because they are the future we see today and as such we must encourage and give them a sense of belonging which will invariably inspire them to thrive and contribute to the sustainability and growth of the society.”
SquirrelPR Set to Build
Raheem Akingbolu Nigerian Breweries Plc, in line with its Corporate Social Responsibility, is delighted to announce the flag-off of the 2022 edition of its Women and Youth Empowerment programme.Atotalof412 beneficiaries, including women and youth from 6 locations – Abuja, Kaduna, Lagos, Abia, Enugu and Ogun states, will benefit from an intensive three month skills acquisition training, which ends on October 30, 2022.Mrs. Sade Morgan, the Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, while speaking on the launch, noted that through this programme, the company empowers youth and women in the host communities, leading to decent work and economic growth per the UN Sustainable Development GoalsAccording(SDGs)8.to her, “As we flag off the 2022 edition of our Youth and Women Empowerment Programme, we look forward to the dividends that this initiative will bring to the various areas where the beneficiaries live. “Based on the success of the previous editions of the programme, we cannot wait to share the great stories that will inevitably be told about how a new wave of young men and women were able to create economic value for their communities and the society at large.”
Nosa Alekhuigie
Largest Open Media Database IYD 2022: 9mobile
DISCUSSING NATIONAL SECURITY… Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh (right) discussing issues of national security with the Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja… recently
Raheem Akingbolu t By 2025, Unilever West Africa would have empowered at least 500,000 women in Africa, Category Manager, Homecare, Oladapo Oshuntoye, has stated.Speaking during a brand purpose workshop organised for the media in Lagos recently, Oshuntoye disclosed that thousands of rural women have already been empowered in Nigeria since the launch of the Shakti programme in 2004 and provided seed capital in the form of Unilever products, business training and funding for women thereby improving the livelihoods of rural areas. He stated that the vision for the Sunlight brand in Africa is to empower 500,000 women by“We2025. are excited to reaffirm our commitment to empowering more women in Nigeria as it truly unifies our efforts to deliver more to Nigerian women, both inside and outside the home. We look forward to launching more activities that meet African women’s different needs in business. Across the country, Sunlight continues to do more through various programmes that empower women-owned businesses and move the needle in limiting barriers to success,” he said. “Sunlight believes that supporting women-owned businesses across all stages of their entrepreneurial journey will help shift the general, usually limited; perception society assigns them. We want to do our part in unlocking their potential so that they can thrive and contribute to a bold narrative about women’s success both in and outside the home,” continued Oshuntoye. Breweries Flags off Empowerment Startup Brand, Launches Next Year Africa’s Advocates More Youth Representation in Society ipNX Nigeria Wins Best ICT Solutions Provider of the Y ear Award
Speaking at the event, the Managing Partner of Tech TV, Don Pedro Aganbi, said: “The awards ceremony was organised to celebrate innovators that contributed to the advancement of technology in Nigeria. It serves as an encouragement for them to continue to place Nigeria on the global map through technology.”
Smartphone
Raheem Akingbolu Soraya Technologies Limited, a Nigerian start-up company that visualises, plans, designs, manufactures and distributes mobile – smart hand-held phone devices, and accessories will launch its Soraya brand of smartphones into the Nigerian, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Middle East mobile phone markets in third quarter of 2023.Friday Yange, founder/ CEO of the company in a recent statement at its Oregun office in Lagos, Nigeria, said that “over the years Africa has benefited from technological innovation from other regions of the world without corresponding contribution. He believes that Africa has a lot of talents and can contribute immensely to global technology advancements. The starting point of this advancement”, he asserts, is the building of strong brands by African entrepreneurs.Accordingto him “The role of brand has changed over the years, from the traditional focus on consumer satisfaction and corporate performance to meeting stakeholder’s expectations, to a point where they become a measuring rod for the health of a nation’s economic growth and development. With the encroachment of globalization in all aspects of our lives, the business and economic world have become more competitive for resources more than ever before. One of the critical elements of this competition is the creation of strong brands.”
Emma Okonji Squirrel Media Technologies has launched SquirrelPR, a media relations tool that connects corporate communications officers and Public Relations agencies to thousands of journalists across Africa through the continent’s largest open media database.Atthe official launch of the service in Lagos, the co-founder, SquirrelPR, James Ezechukwu said: “The solution is the first PR DIY tool in Africa specifically developed for media managers to enhance their productivity.”Headded:“SquirrelPR hopes to redefine the way PR agencies and media relations officers approach their job. We are optimistic that this technology will revolutionise the media relations sub-sector. This is a simple, easy-to-use solution that any media manager will find invaluable in their day-t0-day operations. “At the heart of SquirrelPR is the ability to connect and deepen the relationship between the media manager and his main constituency - theEzechuwkujournalists.”who is also the Chief Technology Officer of SquirrelPR, reiterated that the technology would play a critical role in media relations management across industries as it leverages unique and evolving technology that brings to the fore the core values necessary for relationship management.Currently, one of the greatest challenges media officers face is lack of access to the right set of journalists. In so many instances, this access at a critical moment such as in time of reputation crisis makes all the difference. As a result, we think that every business needs to maintain a decent level of relationship with the media. Therefore, what we do at SquirrelPR is to connect businesses to journalists, enabling them to have a one-on-one connection and build a relationship that their brands need, Ezechuwku said.
BUSINESSWORLD NEWS 27THISDAY THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022
Programme Soraya, Nigerian
Foremost Information and Communications Technology (ICT) company, ipNX Nigeria Limited, has won the award for the Best ICT Solutions Provider of the Year at the 18th Titans of Tech Awards, which held at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos. Titans of Tech is an annual awards ceremony, organised by Tech TV, a leading digital technology and business analysis broadcast network. The event recognises leading individuals and corporate bodies that are setting industry standards and driving innovation in the Nigerian ICT space.
THE ISSUES
COALITION Members of the coalition include the Foundation for African Cultural Heritage (FACH), Project for Human Development (Ph.D.), Global Pro-life Alliance (GPA), Doctors Health Initiative, Happy Home Foundation, Association of Concerned Mothers, Nigerian Life League, Islamic Education Trust, and the Association of Catholic Medical Practitioners of OthersNigeria.are, the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria, Knights of St. Mulumba, Blissful Life for Youth Empowerment, Nigerian Association for Women Advancement, Catholic Lawyers Association, Sympathy Worldwide Organisa tion, Life Choice International Initiative, Good Parenting, and Youth Empowerment Initiative, Foundation for Marriage and Family, Centre for Corrections and Human Development, Islamic Platform of Nigeria, and Heart2Heart SexEd.
The coalition noted that the battle for the soul of Africa by the west was propelled increasingly by the convergence of both profit and the hedonistic lifestyle of the liberal order. They equally noted that the financial motivation for a cultural shift in Africa is huge, as big pharmaceutical companies stand to gain billions of dollars in profit, which is why investments by these companies and European governments have increased astronomically year on year through the bribing of government officials, buying up of the media space, and consistent funding of liberal agenda-driven NGOs in an attempt to change Africa’s cultural and social narratives.
“Our youths need character education, not contraceptives! The current debate in the State of California in the U.S. about whether to teach four-year-olds sex, gender, gay parenting, and transgender issues is a signpost of the degree of moral relativism in the West” Contraceptives google
“The potential for an African renaissance is extremely high. It has been predicted that in the decades to come, Africa’s youthful population will constitute 25 per cent of the world’s youthful population. If the continent gets it right with political leadership, Africa is destined to rule the world.”
DEMANDS
Richly endowed with both human and material resources without comparing globally, Africa continues to grapple with myriads of socioeconomic problems like poverty, lack of health-care infrastructure, illiteracy, instability, etc. At the same time, richer and more endowed countries continue to take advantage of the continent’s vast resources, while exploiting the continent’s many vulnerabilities to push and force Africa to accept and accommodate their social and cultural values that are not only inimical to Africa’s ability to fulfill her ‘manifest destiny’ but have led to the near destruction of the very countries (Europe and America) from where these social and cultural values emerged. Against this backdrop, the CSOs, including the Foundation for African Cultural Heritage (FACH), Project for Human Development (Ph.D.), Association of Concerned Mothers, Association of Catholic Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, Foundation for Marriage and Family, and Islamic Platform of Nigeria called on the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, to dismantle existing structures in place to promote abortion, use of contraceptives and other related interventions from the West in Nigeria.
“The Culture of Death not only weakens, but also corrupts, and kills individual people, it destroys millions of families and even entire nations and continents, like Europe. “Girls and contraceptives: under the campaign, 9ja girls, young girls aged 13 to 17, are being groomed by the same NGOs to start early sexual activity. They are given many incentives. And these are without parental knowledge or consent.”
A coalition of pro-life oriented Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, in Nigeria, reiterating their stance on ‘Respect Nigeria’s Law on Abortion and Related Matters’, have strongly flayed the promotion of contraceptive usage in Nigeria, and an alleged plans to legalise abortion in the country. Sunday Ehigiator reports
WAY FORWARD On the way forward, the coalition noted that parents and guardians have to tell their girls that protecting themselves from getting pregnant isn’t
The coalition in a joint statement read by their convener, Dr. Nkechi Asogwa argued that interventions from the western countries were found of being dressed up in so many deceitful phrases and euphemisms that convey a feeling and impression of love and charity for the continent, as many of their recom mendations, proposals, and programs of action in the continent are ‘poisoned chalices and ticking time bombs set to undermine and destroy the Africa continent. “Indeed, the consensus reached at various United Nations conferences is that the law passed in every developing county includ ing Nigeria must reflect the diverse social, economic, and environmental conditions of that country, with full respect for their religious, cultural backgrounds, and philosophical convictions. Abortion has no respect for the religious and philosophical convictions of the Nigerian people and therefore cannot be imported into Nigeria. “Unfortunately, what we see in Nigeria and the continent of Africa as a whole is the consistent attempt to bully our peoples and political leaders into accepting practices, not only unwholesome to our way of life but practices that are also harmful to the future growth of the continent. “This stems, sadly, from the economic and political dependency of the continent on foreign capital and debilitating conditions tied to foreign aid from the United States and Europe”.
of cultural diversity in history as they impose American and European values and practices on the people of Latin America, Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia. They accuse the west of an attempt to kill Africa’s culture. “The culture of Death attempts to separate children from their parents by trying to force them to have more liberal attitudes. This is done with explicit sexual education, “values clarification,” which is designed to present exercises that direct the child towards secular attitudes, and secret counseling of children deemed troublesome (i.e., who have traditional values).
The coalition thereby urged the Minister of Health, Mr. Osagie Ehanire to dismantle an alleged structure he has put in place to promote abortion and all related interventions in aid of abortion in Nigeria. “We call on the president, Muhammadu Buhari, to ensure that his ministers do not work in violation of the existing laws of our country.”
LEGAL STANDPOINT Abortion in Nigeria is illegal and carries a heavy jail sentence of up to 14 years imprisonment unless it is performed to save the life of the pregnant woman. Nevertheless, a large number of clandestine abortions continue to be carried out regularly, often with dire consequences for the lives and health of the women involved. Abortion legislation in Nigeria and court decisions on the subject are governed by the Criminal Code in the southern states and the Penal Code in the northern states. The combined effect of Sections 228, 229, 230, and 328 of the Criminal Code (and their equivalent provisions in the Penal Code) is to the effect that any woman who, with intent to procure her miscarriage unlawfully administers to herself any poison or other noxious thing or any person who assists her in doing the same is liable to imprisonment for a period ranging from three to fourteen years. By the virtue of these sections of the Criminal Code, abortion is illegal.
Making Case against Legalisation of Abortion, Contraceptive Usage in Nigeria
HEALTH & LIFESTYLE THISDAY THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 202228 Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com,Tel:07010510430
COALITION’S STANDPOINT
The coalition maintained that while the Western countries, who are population controllers, talk endlessly about ‘celebrating diversity, they are the greatest destroyers about contraception but about valuing yourself as a person with human dignity. “Our youths need character education, not contraceptives! The current debate in the State of California in the U.S. about whether to teach four-year-olds sex, gender, gay parenting, and transgender issues is a signpost of the degree of moral relativism in the west. “The European, Western, and American leaves are already dried and shriveled. We must not wait for them to fall before we take care of our green but threatened leaf. Africa today is in a much better place with its youthful population.
causes of hormonal imbalances in women that can cause infertility or difficulty in getting pregnant include the following; where a woman does not ovulate.
INTERVIEW
Dr Suleiman
Hormonal Imbalance And Infertility
(Part 2)
Apparently, you have had the opportunity of working with a number of dairy cooperatives and have consulted on different backward integration programmes in Nigeria. Considering what Outspan Nigeria Limited has achieved and what it plans to achieve through the phases of the partnership with the Kano dairy cooperative union, how would you rate the company’s backward integration effort compared to similar efforts undertaken by competing companies in the country? I happened to be part of the beginning of this whole partnership between Outspan signing process. To be honest with you, I am impressed. I am impressed in the sense that they made a promise and they are fulfilling it. We have not had to start running after them to perform what they promised. We started with the challenges of milk collection; they have addressed the challenges by providing a number of milk collection centres (MCC) and a modern bulking centre that is well equipped with modern facilities, including solar-powered energy solution which is good for rural, remote areas that are typical of a dairy settlement. This intervention and support are helping us address wastages and cultures in yoghurt provided improved feed for the cattle owned by the union members. Training has been conducted as well to bring the members up to speed with modern practices in the dairy sector.I believe we are on our way to success as the various gaps are being closed. I said that because when you look at the
Outspan Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of the Olam Food Ingredients (ofi) is currently implementing a bold dairy industry development plan tagged ‘The Milk Mission’. Do you see this programme impacting the local milk production value chain? Yes sure the planned intervention will help to develop the local dairy industry
three to four key challenges confronting local dairy farmers. One is Low milk yield associated with lack of access to affordable quality feed all year round and poor cow breed. Two is poor pricing of their fresh milk. Three is the perishable nature of the fresh milk due to lack of cold chain and transportation services. If you look at all these three you has started addressing them through effective services and knowledge transfer. It seems you are privy to the plans put in place by Outspan Nigeria Limited for the dairy industry in Nigeria. Can you take us through these plans, and how effective are the plans? In line with the new Federal Government integrate the local dairy farmers into its production value chain. To achieve that aim the company decided to partner with a formidable dairy cooperative union that has a track record of good leadership, integrity, and productivity. They found out that the Kano Dairy & Livestock Husbandry Cooperative When they approached us at the cooperative union, we made them understand that we are a formidable union that is fully registered with the appropriate statutory agencies and that we run an efficient union business co-owned by members of the union who have stakes through shares. So, we had meetings with the Olam where they can support us. We told them that our dairy farmers are not truly where we want them to be but with the input and support through technical and logistic support they would improve. The level of improvement sought would involve training the local farmers on modern milk production, and how to handle milk collection and transport them. It also includes yield which would come in form of breed upgrade and quality feeding. Therefore, our partnership with supplementation, pasture development, training on modern agricultural practices,Breed improvement through artificial Inseminations and support in milk collection and transportation. When these requirements are fully met, Kano dairy would be able to produce thousands of litres of fresh and quality milk for industrial off-takers. This is where we want Kano dairy to get to.
This is when hormonal disorder causes the eggs to stay immature and turns into cysts making it difficult to get pregnant and also causes infertility. In this condition there is excess of prolactin in the body, causing the body to have irregular periods and eventually infertility.Apoor diet can cause hormonal imbalance because eating a lot of foods high in simple carbohydrates and sugar can raise cortisol levels in the body and high cortisol levels can have an effect on the amount of progesterone produced, also reducing calories too much causes a decline in hormones which is enough to cause an imbalance in women and disturb the menstrual cycle. Exercising is good for the body and mind. But strenuous exercise can cause a reduction in hormones, especially estrogen.
As a woman ages or approaches menopause, her hormone levels fluctuate and gradually decline, estrogen and progesterone the two main hormones produced during menstrual cycle declines drastically which causes symptoms like hot flashes, trouble sleeping and weight gain. When the body is stressed it produces cortisol, long term stress exposes the body to high levels of cortisol which causes Cushing syndrome and can affect the levels of other hormones in the body.Chemotherapy can be lifesaving but while the drug kills cancer cells, it may also have an effect on other cells in the body. Depending on the chemo administered it can cause the ovaries to stop producing hormones, which leads to medical menopause. such as hypothyroidism (reduced thyroid hormones) hyperthyroidism (increased thyroid hormones), and hyper functioning thyroid nodules causes hormonal imbalance as these hormones regulate the menstrual cycle. Hence any alteration will lead to an imbalance. (excess of glucose in the blood) can lead to excessive production of estrogen and testosterone which causes polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) while hypoglycemia (reduced glucose in the blood) can lead to low estrogen level which is mostly seen at disruptingmenopause.chemicals Such as herbicides and pesticides can cause a spike in the stress hormones which in turn affects the fertility hormones thereby leading to hormonal imbalance. It is possible to experience some or all of these signs and symptoms without knowing how it correlate with the hormones. other parts of the body. loss.To diagnose a hormonal imbalance an overview of the symptoms and a physical for the levels of thyroid, estrogen testosterone and cortisol levels because most hormones are found in the blood. unusual lumps, cysts or tumors. In male the physician checks the scrotum for any lumps or abnormalities. of the uterus, ovaries, testicles, thyroid and pituitary glands. bone loss.
L ast week, we started a discussion on hormones and their effects on fertility. We listed an explained some of the hormones found in women and their impacts on the reproductive system. This week, we will further discuss more types of female hormones, causes of imbalances, signs and diagnosis of hormonal imbalance. This hormone is produced by the growing ovarian follicles that contain immature eggs. It determines ovarian reserve (that is, the level of this hormone is used to predict the number of eggs remaining in the ovary). Reduced level of AMH can point to low ovarian reserve or early menopause depending on the age while an elevated AMH points to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This hormone is produced by the pre-antral follicles in the ovaries and supports the increase in estrogen during the follicular phase. If excess testosterone is produced, it promotes abnormal growth of early follicles which can lead to polycystic ovaries. If the level of testosterone is low, the follicles might not be growing at all or it could be a case of primary ovarian insufficiency or low ovarian reserve. The thyroid hormones include TSH, T3 and T4. All three hormones play a vital role in fertility. TSH stimulates the production of T3 and T4 while T3 and T4 produced impact the amount of estrogen and progesterone released each cycle. This means if there is a problem with the thyroid, the whole menstrual cycle will be affected. Hyperthyroidism (excessive production of thyroid hormones) disrupts the entire reproductive cycle while hypothyroidism (inadequate production of thyroid hormones) causes prolong periods and can also affects weight, muscle health of an individual. production of breast milk. It also plays a role in helping women get pregnant. If the levels of prolactin are fluctuating irregular periods will occur and there will be ovulation problem leading to Someinfertility.ofthe
TO BE CONTINUED
THISDAY THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022 29
Dr. Musa Suleiman: Low Productivity, Knowledge Gap Hampering Growth of Dairy Sector
Dr. Suleiman Musa Suleiman is a veterinary doctor and a dairy consultant. In this interview, he talked about the challenges, driving growth and prosperity for the dairy farming communities and the prospects that lie ahead, What exactly do you do? Ihave been working with Kano dairy cooperative union since its formation inception. Precisely, I have been offering technical training to the members of the cooperative union. I have also helped to establish the milk collection centre. Besides my engagement at the Kano dairy cooperative, I have also had the opportunity to work with some other dairy cooperatives in International Development (DFID)programs called ‘Business innovation Facility (BIF)and World Bank assisted Commercial Agriculture Development Project. For almost two years now we have been working to bring Kano dairy cooperative union into a formidable partnership with a good company with the aim of promoting backward integration in dairy development Local dairy farming has come under a sharp focus recently as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to improve the productivity level in the agro sector. As a dairy consultant, in your opinion, what are the challenges hindering the growth of Nigeria’s dairy industry? The major challenges are low productivity, cold chain services, logistics, and knowledge gap.
FERTILITY With Dr. Kemi drkemi@lifelinkfertility.comAILOJEwww.lifelinkfertility.com+2348033083580
Why Sitting is the New Smoking Nosa Iyamu M ost of us sit for hours every day - in traffic, at work, or while we watch our favourite TV shows at night. The shocking reality is that all this sitting for hours on end may be killing us. Sitting may seem like a really harmless activity, but medical experts say that doing so for long periods of time every day is associated with serious health problems like Type 2 diabetes, joint pain, blood clotting and cardiovascular disease. You may have heard the phrase, “sitting is the new smoking”, which is credited to Dr. James Levine, Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic. He has spent years studying the science of sitting, and the unintentional danger we put ourselves in each day by leading sedentary lives. Human bodies were not designed to sit as much as we do, says Dr. Levine. Our ancestors spent most of their lives upright as they hunted for, and grew food - only occasionally sitting down for breaks. In his book Get Up! Why Your Chair Is Killing You, he states that we’ve gone from an ancient world of movers to a modern world of chair sloths. If sitting is so relaxing, why is it bad for you? The problem lies in how much of it,
STAY MOVING “It’s all the little movements we do in the day that matter. The trick is to build movement into every part of your life,” advises Dr Okoye. “During your work week, break up chair time by staying in motion whenever possible. Stand up while you’re talking on the phone, go journalists in Lafia shortly after receiving the delegation from theAlizi,CS-SUNN.whoisalso the Permanent Secretary of the Nasarawa State Ministry of Finance, said: “They (CS-SUNN) have been of great help to us. They have put in their resources into the table to see that Nasarawa nutrition is actually living up to date. “They have helped us in printing the Multi Sectoral Plan of Action and developed the Annual Operational Plan (AOP) for nutrition in the state.“From our interaction, I think they are satisfied with what the state is doing. Except that they are asking for more, particularly in the area of increased budget and the releases of the funds so that our children and our mothers will actually live well.” He, however, said what the delegation was satisfied with particularly was that Nasarawa State has a budget for nutrition, however that the CS-SUNN was concerned that sometimes approvals were given but funds were not released. “What they brought to us is that they want to develop the Annual Operational Plan for 2023, so that we can use it for the implementation of nutrition activities in the state,”
THISDAY THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 202230 HEALTH
WHAT YOU CAN DO Try and assess how many hours you spend “bottom-bound” in a day, including commuting to work, sitting at your desk, running errands in your car, and on the couch at night. Added up, it’s probably more than you think. Children who lead a sedentary life and sit for hours playing video games and watching TV instead of playing outside, are at risk of health complications, too. It’s clear that excessive sitting is impacting people negatively, just as smoking has over the years, so how can you break the habit? It’s not enough to just stand up all day long, says Dr. Helen Okoye, a leading Nigerian thrombosis specialist who is part of the global World Thrombosis Day steering committee. Having your body stay still in any static position - whether it’s sitting, standing or lying down - day after day, isn’t good for you. And, she adds, while it’s important to exercise, like going for a run or to the gym, exercise alone is not enough to offset the negative effects of too much sitting. Sitting is an independent risk factor, and its solution lies in incorporating as much movement into your day as you can.
and for how long, we sit each day. When our bodies are in a static position for a lengthy period of time, all kinds of bad things happen, such as blood circulation - which is crucial for good health - slows down, affecting every system of the body. Poor blood circulation allows fatty acids to build up in the blood vessels, leading to heart disease. And, according to World Thrombosis Day, another risk is that when your legs remain still for hours, your calf muscles don’t contract, which normally helps blood circulate. This can lead to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), where clots form in the calves of your legs if your calf muscles don’t move for long periods. DVT is a serious problem. If a part of the blood clot breaks off it can travel to the lungs, and cause blockages. This is called a pulmonary embolism (PE), and it may be fatal.
said asides from maintaining the results from undergoing a BBL or Liposuction, the facility help clients to truly heal, share their recovery journey with other people they meet at the Center and provides a comfortable atmosphere for them as they recover. “We help our clients get their prescribed drugs, find out from their doctors what they ought to eat and what they ought not to eat, what time of the day to take their medication so they don’t forget because there is a person assigned to each client whose job it is to ensure that clients take what they need to at the time the are supposed to take it.”
CS-SUNN Advocates Increased Budget for Nutrition in Nasarawa Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia The Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) last week mounted pressure on the Nasarawa State government to increase its budgetary allocations to nutrition in order to effectively fight malnutrition in the Consequently,state. the Human Resource/Admin Officer of CS-SUNN, Mr. Victor Onyeka, had last week led a delegation from the Abuja Head Office of the CS-SUNN for a four-day advocacy visit to Nasarawa State Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Speaking to journalists shortly after rounding up the four-day advocacy visit to the state, the CS-SUNN Human Resource Officer explained that the mission of the delegation in Nasarawa State was specifically to press for increased and timely release of nutrition budget in the state so as to effectively contain malnutrition among mothers and children. He, however, lamented that funding had become an issue when it comes to fighting malnutrition.“Sowewant an increase in the budget for malnutrition sensitive and specific activities, as well as timely release of the approved budget for effective implementation using the Multi Sectoral Plan of Action that has been approved by Governor Abdullahi Sule,” Onyeka said. He concluded by expressing satisfaction that the CS-SUNN’s effort and collaboration with Nasarawa has been very mutual and supportive especially from the government side, hence hoping to continue to work in that direction and even better. This was even as the Nasarawa State government commended CS-SUNN for been of great help by putting in its resources to see that malnutrition was tackled in theChairmanstate. of the Nasarawa State Committee on Food and Nutrition, Mr. Emmanuel Mamman Alizi, gave the commendation when speaking to
When receiving the CS-SUNN delegation in his office, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Health, Mr. Ahmed Yahaya, disclosed that his ministry has also taken the nutrition advocacy beyond the health ministry, to other core ministerial factors for a walk during lunchtime, and take a five-minute standing break for every hour that you sit down. “If you know that you’re going to be seated for long periods of time, like at a conference, wear loose-fitting clothing that allows blood to circulate, and stay hydrated by drinking water, to help thin the blood,” says Dr. Okoye. At home, dance while you’re cooking or cleaning the house, and go for a walk with your children at the end of the day when all the family is home. When you’re out shopping, park further away from wherever you’re going and walk the rest of the way. Take the stairs instead of lifts or escalators - or at least walk up the escalator. Every minute of physical activity counts. While there’s definitely room for sitting in our day, the bottom line is that we need to give serious thought to how we transform our sitting choices from habitual to intentional. “Make it a daily habit to move more,” says Dr. Okoye. “The less you keep your body in a static position throughout the day, the better your chances for living a healthy life.”
who also carry out nutritional activities.According to the health commissioner, “we have also carried out our nutritional advocacy to the state House of Assembly for them to understand that these activities are needed and are building a future that can be comp etitive. “I assure you that this ministry and the whole of its staff will make sure that we sustain, if we cannot surpass the 90 percent performance of 2019. But we will also make sure we supervise our budget to ensure that nothing is taken out of our submission in 2023, and follow suit with our actions,” Yahaya assured. The CS-SUNN delegation had, while in the state, paid advocacy visit to the state Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Education, Water Resources, Women Affairs, Information, Finance and the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency.
A specialised physiological, therapeutic and psychological service center, 360 Wellness Center, has recently opened in Lagos SpeakingState.with journalists at the grand opening of the center, the Founder, Adaeze Anyiboma, said the center would provide post operation care services to clients all over Nigeria who require specialised physiological, therapeutic and psychological service after undergoing surgery of any kind. According to her, the facility would carter for surgeries such as Brazilian But Lift (BBL) and Liposuction, while also providing in-house doctors, nurses, dietician and therapists to give clients all round wellness as they recover. “We are the first of this scale in the country. Just identifying the vacuum in the industry and seeing that there is not a lot of focus on post operative care kind of steals the joy away from whoever has invested in that procedure in the first place and I think that is unfair. “There are establishment who focus on the physical aspect of post-operative care but we are interested in both the physical and psychological well-being of our clients. A lot of people go through procedures and it looks like they have healed but if only some more effort could be put into their recovery process and therapy, they would enjoy more benefit from that procedure,” she said. Responding to concerns regarding the subject of post operative care, Physician and Liposuction Specialist, Dr. Akeem Anifowose, noted that the facilities at a recovery center may not be at the disposal of the doctor’s whose job it is to conduct the procedure because of their huge cost, hence patients stand to gain more lasting benefits from surgeries when they engage the service of a post operative care center. “The reason why we do not have this kind of facility in the country is because Liposuction is a luxury procedure. After such surgeries, the best place to stay is a recovery home where there are doctors and nurses to look after you. They provide facilities that the doctor may not have. These are specialised services that would make the work we do look better and last better,” he said. In addition, the Manager at 360 Wellness and Recovery Center, Temiloluwa Osiyoye,
CS-SUNN Delegation in Group Photograph with Nasarawa Official’s
360 Wellness Centre Opens in Lagos
NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Muhammad Kaku Fadah (right) presenting a souvenir to the Chairman/CEO, National Salaries Income and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta Esq (left) during his visit to the commission in Abuja...recently
A beneficiary of Dominion Care Foundation Empowerment Project, Sister Dupe Lokoyi (left), and Pastor incharge of Region 19 and International Missions, Mr. Brown Oyitso (right), during the graduation ceremony of the first set of the Dominion Care Foundation training in the making of headgears, beads and other items in Lagos… recently PHOTO: ABAYOMI AKINYELE
L-R: Executive Director, SIFAX Off Dock Nigeria Limited, Capt. Ibraheem Olugbade; Managing Director, SIFAX ICT, Ijora, Paul Linden; Hon. Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Muazu Sambo; and Group Executive Director, SIFAX Group, Bode Ojeniyi during the inspection tour of the Transportation Minister to SIFAX Group Terminals at Tin Can Island and Ijora Causeway…recently
PHOTO: KOLAWOLE ALLI Vice President Yemi Osinbajo listening to UNDPRC Chief, Mo Yahaya, delivers his remarks during the Imagine Nigeria Report Virtual Launch in Abuja…recently
A cross-section of the representatives of the Kaduna-Abuja train kidnap victims during a visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja…recently
IMAGES Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com 31THISDAY DAY 2022
PHOTO: TOLANI ALLI
L-R Chief Veterinary Officer, Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Tunde Adeniyi; Chairman, Conference of Directors of Veterinary Services, South West region, Dr. Taiwo Jolaoso; President, Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association of Nigeria, Dr. Olutoyin Adetuberu; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Olatokunbo Omopai; Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Maimuna Abdullahi Habib; and a guest speaker, Dr. Abubakar Suleiman, at the South West Directors of Veterinary Services Conference held in Lagos...recently
PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI
L-R: Secretary, St. John Mary Vianney Priests Home (SJMVPH) Project Committee, Mr. Oladele Olagbaju; a guest, Mrs. A. Agboti; Chairman SJMVPH Project Committee, Rev. Fr. Anthony Fadairo; and Senator Azu Agboti, during the celebration of St. John Mary Vianney Feast Day at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Lagos…recently
PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN
L-R; Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, and The President, Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), Mallam Tijjani Musa Isa FCA during a courtesy call on the Minister by the ICAN President in Abuja ...recently SFS Capital Launches Mobile App for Easy Investment
In his remarks, Associate Director, NFIU, Mr. Babagana Bashir, who was represented by Mr. Felix Obiamalu, expressed delight over the mutually beneficial collaboration due to some similar features which both organisations have in common. He pledged to support the FCT-IRS in any way possible to enhance its operations with a view to significantly increase revenue collection in the territory.“The essence of this retreat principally is to examine the best way to operationalize the content of the MoU with the FCTIRS. It is just like a marriage between a man and a woman, so when two people come together and agree to move forward there must be coming together of minds first before every other thing follows,” he stated.
Standard Chartered Enhances Fixed Income Offering
BUSINESS/ MONEYGUIDE FCT-IRS Partners NFIU on Tax Compliance MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS (MILLION NAIRA) JUNE 2022 Money Supply (M3) 48,865,823.53 -- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors 167,956.2 Money Supply (M2) 48,797,867.32 -- Quasi Money 28,405,330.1 -- Narrow Money (M1) 20,392,537.22 ---- Currency Outside Banks 2,722,785.91 ---- Demand Deposits 17,669,751.32 Net Foreign Assets (NFA) 6,242,394.29 Net Domestic Assets(NDA) 42,623,429.24 -- Net Domestic Credit (NDC) 57,267,178.05 ---- Credit to Government (Net) 17,996,690.06 ---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA 0.00 ---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA) 0.00 ---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS) 39,270,488 --Other Assets Net 5,566,430 Reserve Money (Base Money 11,320,304 --Currency in Circulation 3,259,269.15 --Banks Reserves 11,320,303.72 --Special Intervention Reserves 384,377.56 Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) MonthJune 2022 Inter-Bank Call Rate 11.10 Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) 13.00 Treasury Bill Rate 2.45 Savings Deposit Rate 1.38 1 Month Deposit Rate 3.48 3 Months Deposit Rate 4.55 6 Months Deposit Rate 4.97 12 Months Deposit Rate 5.30 Prime Lending rate 12.29 Maximum Lending Rate 27.61 32 THISDAY Olawale Ajimotokan The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCTIRS) is collaborating with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to enhance efficiency, expand tax net and nudge tax compliance in the territory The Acting Executive Chairman, FCT-IRS, Mr. Haruna Abdullahi, said at a retreat for the staff of the service and NFIU that the partnership could not have come at a better time. “FCT has the potential. We must do everything possible to harness these opportunities for the territory in terms of revenue collection. Abuja being the capital city, is a place where most important people live, therefore, we must take that advantage.
FITC disclosed this during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Mortgage Bank’s office in SpeakingLagos. at the event, the MD/CEO AG Mortgage Bank, Mr. Ngozi Onyemuwa Anyogu said the bank was established with the sole aim of providing premium mortgage solutions to the society at large. He added that the board of the bank had recently approved the 2020-2024 strategic plan, aimed at restructuring and repositioning the bank for accelerated growth, hence the engagement of FITC to handle and oversee the strategic process.Shedding more light on the project, Anyogu stated that “AG Mortgage Bank Plc was incorporated on 21st July 2004 to carry on business as a Primary Mortgage Institution [PMI]. We were granted a mortgage banking license by the Central Bank of Nigeria in December 2004 and commenced full operations by 31st January 2005. We have since inception, developed innovative products that have received the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria” On her part, the MD/CEO, FITC, Ms. Chizor Malize, noted, “As AGMB journeys into its 20 years of operation, led by its visionary and transformational leader, MD/CEO, Ngozi Anyogu, its vision is to transform into a clear market leader. FITC, the world-class, innovation led, and technology driven knowledge institution, and primary partner to the Nigerian financial services sector, offering top notch and cutting-edge knowledge solutions through our capacity development and Advisory interventions, is the obvious partner of choice, and best poised to catalyze that vision to take AGMB to the next level.’’
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).
OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE
FITC, has announced that it is set to support AG Mortgage Bank Plc in their organizational transformation journey, in an effort to further strengthen the organization’s capacity to deliver on their strategic plan to re-engineer the bank towards dynamism, innovation, and market leadership and sustainable growth.
“FCT-IRS alone can generate from N200 to N300 and probably N400 billion in the near future and I hope this type of engagement that we are going to have with NFIU, will increase our tax payers and also carry out assessments with adequate information,” he stated. He decried the low tax GDP ratio in the country pointing out that Nigeria is among the lowest tax GDP ratio in Africa at six per cent whereas, the average in Africa is 18 per cent based on OECD revenue statistics report on Africa in 2021.He said the service has started various reforms and initiatives to hold people accountable to file their tax returns and to pay what is appropriate in terms of what they need to pay as tax.
FITC to Support AG Mortgage Bank in Organizational Transformation
Nosa Alekhuogie SFS Capital Nigeria Limited has launched a mobile App to enable individuals start their investment journey with ease. The SFS Fund Mobile App, the company said in a statement was designed for individuals seeking a trustworthy, secure, and easy platform for high yield investments.Thecompany which is one of the leading investment management firms in Nigeria, said the App is a product of decade of learning to use financial technology to enhance investment factors and promote ease of investments. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), SFS Capital, Patrick Ilodianya explained that the launch of the SFS Fund Mobile app was in commemoration of the National Financial Awareness Day dedicated to assisting individuals develop financial principles and practices that can build a solid financial future.“SFS Capital is consistently moving the boundaries of what is possible in investment. SFS Fund Mobile App is a product of decade of learning to use financial technology to enhance investment factors and promote ease of investment. Since the inception of the SFS Fixed Income Fund (SFS Fund) in 2014, SFS Capital has consistently paid out dividends to investors on a quarterly basis and maintains “AA+” rating which is the 2nd highest possible rating for a Mutual Fund and has competitive return on investment with no pre-termination charge,’’ he said. On his part, the Executive Director SFS Capital, Dimeji Sonowo explained that investors can start earning interest immediately as Withdrawals takes between 24 to 48 Hehours.said:“Since inception, SFS Fund has consistently outperformed its peers and its benchmark. For transparency, the interest rates are updated daily and visible on your dashboard each time you open the App. We are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). All investments are also held by an independent and highly regulated custodian, an independent trustee reviews all investment decisions.”
Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited has changed the face of investing in Fixed Income Products by enhancing the offering to allow clients invest in the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Eurobonds with as little as USD 20,000 and in multiples of USD 20,000 thereafter. Previously, the standard offering for investing in FGN Eurobonds was capped at US$200,000, however the Bank is providing a solution that enables clients to invest and achieve their financial goals. With the Fractionalized Eurobonds, more clients can enjoy regular coupon payments, stable cash flow, and easy access to the principal value of their investment at maturity.Speaking on the offering, Head of Wealth Management Nigeria & West Africa, Lanre Olajide, said, “At Standard Chartered Bank, our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity. The Fractionalized Bonds offering is yet another way of demonstrating our dedication to this promise. A significant A number of clients want to enjoy the benefits of investing in the Federal Government of Nigeria Eurobonds and with our new proposition we are truly delighted that we can now help our clients actualize their goals and investment objectives.’’
shareholders’ return.” However, the bank’s audited financial results for the period ended showed a 43 per cent growth in Profit Before Tax (PBT) from N3.07 billion in 2020 to N4.37 billion in 2021. This came on the backdrop of an increase of 31.76 per cent in Gross Income from N19.61 billion realised in 2020 to N25.84 billion.The bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr. Hassan Usman said despite the tough operating climate characterised by weak economic growth and the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it achieved a lot in terms of financial stability.Usman said the bank’s “external credit rating for instance has materially improved over the past 12 months. Three rating agencies (Fitch Rating, GCR Rating, and Agusto Rating) all gave the Bank investment grade rating of BBB/ BBB-”.
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James Emejo in Abuja Shareholders of Jaiz Bank Plc yesterday approved the board’s request to mobilise the sum of N150 billion through the issuance of Sukuk instruments either in full or in series. The capital injection will among other things, boost the bank’s current expansion drive, especially in the digital frontline. The shareholders, also okayed the payment of N1.38 billion as dividend for the 2021 financial year, representing 4 kobo per ordinary share of 50 kobo each. The resolutions were unanimously agreed upon by the shareholders who expressed satisfaction over the bank’s performance for the period under review. This is the third year the Islamic bank has paid dividends to its shareholders since it began dividend payments in 2019.
Speaking at the institution’s 10th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja, its Chairman, Alhaji Umaru Abdulmutallab, explained that the increase in the dividend payment followed its positive growth trajectory in recent years. He said the perception of the Jaiz brand had continued to improve with the bank being “awarded the most-improved Islamic bank in the world by the United Kingdom-based-GIFA for the second year in a row.” According to him, “The future looks bright and fulfilling. The macroeconomic indices are projected to have an uptick as most of the economies have rebounded except for a few. “As for us (Jaiz Bank), we will remain resolute in providing our customers better services in an efficient and delightful manner. Our digital roadmap will be judiciously executed in order to simplify our processes and engender employee’s productivity while optimising AS OF 17 /8/2022
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Shareholders Back Jaiz Bank’s Bid to Raise N150bn Via Sukuk
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DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS Coral Balanced Fund 4,056.47 4,110.79 6.54% Coral Income Fund 3,602.58 3,602.58 6.19% Coral Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.11% FSDH Dollar Fund 1.11 1.11 4.01% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund N/AN/AN/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/AN/AN/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/AN/AN/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/AN/AN/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/AN/AN/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/AN/AN/A LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.60 1.63 12.71% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,163.25 1,163.25 5.97% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/AN/AN/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/AN/AN/A NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 101.84 101.84 9.60% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 8.09% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.65 1.68 4.54% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.77 11.81 5.26% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.47% PACAM Equity Fund 1.44 1.46 1.44% PACAM EuroBond Fund 117.11 120.04 2.81% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 130.04 132.63 4.74% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.05 1.05 9.25% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,590.89 3,631.89 6.11% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 240.86 240.86 2.25% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.42 1.44 13.49% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 324.44 324.45 3.61% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 262.30 266.29 12.48% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.07% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,830.76 11,999.10 8.47% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.33 1.33 3.17% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 119.39 119.39 2.12% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 111.40 111.40 4.72% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 0.97 1.00 9.64% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.35 1.37 4.00% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.15 1.16 10.81% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.07 1.07 4.50% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.91 1.91 4.00% United Capital Eurobond Fund 122.58 122.58 3.45% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.03% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.67 13.80 3.66% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 15.62 15.79 6.91% Zenith Income Fund 23.00 23.00 4.77% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.73% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 3.81 3.91 -4.83% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund5.99 6.09 2.49% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund18.02 18.22 1.88% Vetiva Money Market Fund1.00 1.00 7.79% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund18.54 18.74 -7.21% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund148.06 150.06 -6.12% REITS Fund Name NAV Per Share Yield / T-Rtn SFS REIT 117.96 4.16% Union Homes REIT51.82 1.90% EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Bid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund 14.40 14.50 2.94% SIAML Pension ETF 40 133.67 136.94 5.12% Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund102.48 104.66 2.70% MERGROWTH ETF16.40 16.50 -3.50% MERVALUE ETF17.10 17.20 19.08% INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name NAV Per Share Yield / T-Rtn Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund 107.59 0.00% info@anchoriaam.com MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 188.49 189.64 12.92% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 7.26% Nigeria International Debt Fund 308.96 308.96 6.92% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 104.30 105.45 5.74% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund N/AN/AN/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/AN/AN/A ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund NameBid PriceOffer PriceYield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 4.86% Anchoria Equity Fund 139.64 141.22 0.28% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.18 1.18 3.50% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 21.32 21.96 5.08% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 508.85 524.20 12.79% ARM Ethical Fund 42.64 43.93 9.46% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.08 1.08 -0.36% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.05 1.06 3.78% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.11% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 93.6693.66-3.27% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,089.10 1,089.10 8.91% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/AN/AN/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/AN/AN/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/AN/AN/A Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) N/AN/AN/A CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,013.63 1,013.63 4.80% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund NameBid PriceOffer PriceYield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.011.015.27% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.41% Paramount Equity Fund 19.419.7611.96% Women's Investment Fund 147.65 149.16 4.03% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.94% Cordros Milestone Fund 132.42 133.37 6.38% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 110.75 110.75 5.05% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/AN/AN/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/AN/AN/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/AN/AN/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/AN/AN/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/AN/AN/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/AN/AN/A EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED
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.
MARKET NEWS 34 THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022 • THISDAY
Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.99% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.03 1.03 8.75% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.03 1.03 3.96% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 103.03 103.03 1.92% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com
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 16Aug-2022, unless otherwise stated. Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors. Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return. NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date. assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com
Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1489.471489.4711.35% FBN Balanced Fund 193.27 194.52 10.28% FBN Halal Fund 122.44 122.44 10.69% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.34% FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) 125.25 125.25 5.90% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 157.17 159.27 4.12% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.04% Legacy Debt Fund 3.74 3.74 -6.59% Legacy Equity Fund 1.89 1.92 8.41% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.24 1.24 2.58% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund
NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn
THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2022 • THISDAY 35
Wike: I’ll Deliver MyCandidate in 2023 Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday, expressed readi ness to ensure that the governorship candidate of the PDP in the state, Sim Fubara, succeeded him in the 2023 elections. Wike, who maintained that the Rivers people would not support any person without development agenda to preside over the state spoke at the inauguration of the remodelled Waterlines House in Port Harcourt, performed by former Kogi State governor, Alhaji IdrisWikeIbrahim.maintained that the people of Rivers State were pleased with the infrastructure and human development strides of his administration and would vote massively for the PDP candidates in the state in next year’s general election.Healleged that some of the candidates in other political parties aspiring to succeed him had no agenda for the state and vowed not to allow the state to go astray and be taken over by those whom he said were only interested in advancing their selfish ambitions. “I thank all Rivers people for the support you have given us, for the prayers you are offering on our behalf. I will continue to let you know that we will not let you down. We will continue to do the best for Rivers and that is why we also tell you to listen to us. We will tell you those to vote for, because I will tell you who is “Therewho.are those who just want to be governor, but they have no agenda. And in any case, why will you change a winning team that has given you all these. I will not allow this state to go astray, to fall into the hands of armed robbers. “I will give accounts and that account I am going to give is that Rivers State, you gave me opportunity, see what I have done. I have defended Rivers State. I have challenged the country in so many things that were against the interest of this state. I will never sell this state for one Kobo," he said. Ologbondiyan: Wike Too Politically Savvy to Work against PDPHowever, allaying fears that Wike could quit the PDP, Ologbondiyan stated insisted that the Rivers governor was too mature to form an alliance that would be detrimental to PDP’s chances during the 2023 presidential election. The former PDP spokesperson explained that, Wike was politically matured and more politically savvy to hobnob with opposition parties and form an alliance that could affect PDP’s electoral fortune during next year’s elections.
INAUGURATING UBA EXPERIENCE CENTRE...
Alex Enumah in Abuja
36 THURSDAY, THISDAY NEWS
Speaking on The Morning Show the Arise TV, he added that the party was working frantically to put its house in order and resolve its internal crisis. Asked about Wike’s meeting with opposition political figures, Ologbondiyan said the governor was at liberty to associate with politicians from other camps as such was within his rights. According to him, “I know it and I believe that Governor Nyesom Wike is savvier politi cally to go and put the life of his own political machinery into an arrangement that will stop its candidates from winning elections. I know he will not do a thing like that and I am very confident about that. “I know it as a fact that Gover nor Samuel Ortom is contesting for Senate in Benue and the senate and presidential elections come up on the same day and same time. “I know Governor Ikpeazu has senatorial interest too. So, you think that they would sit down as politicians and cede out that to a party that they don’t have conviction about its performance? That is not the way politicians do their thing and I am sure of that.” Continuing, Ologbondiyan said, “He (Wike) is at liberty to associate with them (opposition politicians). It is until Governor Wike picks APC or other political parties’ membership cards then we can conclude he has left the party. Until then, he remains a member of PDP. “For us, in the party, what is important is how we will win the 2023 election. What is important to us as a party is how we will relieve Nigerians from the burden of APC and President Muham madu“Well,Buhari.thereis so much hysteria in the public space over what Governor Wike is doing; how PDP will survive and all that. But there are ways that politics work and there are things that you see in politics that hardly border“Becauseyou. there are interests that are stronger than what you are seeing in the public. First, what is strange about Governor Wike inviting people from the opposition parties to come and commission projects? He has been doing that and I can recall that he once invited Senator Ali Ndume, Senator Rochas Okorocha and in all these instances, there were no issues about if Governor Wike was going to APC. “The discussion then was that he was trying to attract these people to come and join the PDP. So, he has not done something far from what he has been doing before. But, having said that, you talked about Peter Obi going to Rivers State and hobnobbing with PDP governors and Wike, we must recall that prior to that meeting, Peter Odili celebrated his 74th birthday and people were there. So, it is not strange. “And it won’t be a surprise if Peter Obi on his own consider it necessary to meet up with Wike, because he (Peter Obi) is looking for votes and he can go to anybody. That is what politicians do when they are looking for votes,” he added.
Justifies meeting with Obi I’ll deliver my governorship candidate, Wike vows Ologbondiyan: Rivers gov too politically savvy to work against PDP and Allied Matters Act, 2020, the 3rd – 11th Defendants have the vires to suspend the Plaintiff from the office of the General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, (the 1st Defendant herein). "Whether or not having regards to the provisions of Sections 36 of the Constitution of the Fed eral Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Sections 11(9), 20 and 21 of the Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association 2015 (as amended in 2021 and Sections 239, 242 and 288 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 the purported resolution of the emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association held on the 15th day of August, 2022, is null, void, illegal and unconstitutional."Whetherornot having regards to the provisions of Sections 36 of the Constitution of the Fed eral Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Sections 11(9), 20 and 21 of the Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association 2015 (as amended in 2021 and Sections 239, 242 and 288 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 the notice of the meeting of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association held on the 15th day of August, 2022 which did not contain the suspension of the Plaintiff as one of its agenda is null and void ab initio and a breach of the Plaintiff’s right to fair"Whetherhearing. having regards to Sections 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Sections 11(9), 20 and 21 of the Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association 2015 (as amended in 2021), as well as Sections 239, 242 and 288 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 the procedure adopted by the National Executive Committee in the purported suspension of the Plaintiff is not unlawful and a breach of the Plaintiff’s right to fair"Whetherhearing; having regards to Sections 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Sections 11(9), 20 and 21 of the Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association 2015 (as amended in 2021), as well as Sections 239, 242 and 288 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020), the decision by the NBANEC to suspend the Plaintiff was not unjust and done in utmost bad faith.
UBA Group Chairman, Tony O. Elumelu cutting the ribbon to formally inaugurate UBA Experience Centre, flanked by the Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Oliver Alawuba and other top management executives, at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja…recently
The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday, said the current state of Nigeria required that all hands must be on deck to salvage it from the precipice. Ortom said this while justifying his recent meeting with the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi and some other allies of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.But Wike has boasted that he would deliver his governorship candidate in the state, Sim Fubara, in the 2023 elections. This is as a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has dismissed insinuations that Wike might work against the party in next year’s elections, saying he was too political savvy to make such falseOrtom,moves.who said he was open-minded about receiving any presidential candidate regardless of party affiliation, hinted as much on their Monday meeting while ad dressing journalists after returning from Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Ortom said he couldn’t turn down a request to attend such meetings and that he did nothing wrong by meeting with Obi. “At the end, the solution to the challenges of Nigeria is what matters. Where we are today calls for all hands to be on deck. I am free to receive any candidate who comes visiting or seeking audience with me. I cannot say no when such request comes.” Obi on Monday, met with Wike, Ortom, Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu; former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko; former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke; and former Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwanbo, among others.
Chuks Okocha in Abuja, Emma Okonji, Nosa Alekhuogie in Lagos and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
Ortom: Where Nigeria is Today Requires All Hands on Deck
NBA's General Secretary, Oduah Sues Akpataled Exco over Alleged Unlawful Suspension
The suspended General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joyce Oduah has instituted legal action against the leadership of the NBA under Mr. Olumide Akpata, over her alleged unlawful suspension.Oduahwas on August 15 suspended by the national executive of NBA over claims of alleged incompetence, disobedience to lawful directives, amongst others. Dissatisfied with the unanimous decision of the executive, the suspended general secretary on Tuesday approached the Federal High Court, Abuja for an order nullifying the said suspension for being an illegality. She claimed that the association's decision to place her on suspen sion without fair hearing violated the constitution as well as her fundamental human rights. The suit filed on her behalf by her lawyer, Murtala Abdul-Rasheed, has the NBA, the entire National Executives of the NBA and the Inspector General of Police as defendants.Oduahin the suit marked FHC\ ABJ\CS\1426/2022, argued that her purported suspension as the General Secretary of the NBA pursuant to the Resolution of the emergency meeting of the NBA's EXCO held on August 15, 2022, was unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever for being a gross violation of Section 36 of the Constitution and Sections 239, 242 and 288 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 and the Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association, 2015 (as amended) in 2021. Among issues she brought before the court for determination were that:"Whether or not having regards to the provisions of Sections 36 of the Constitution of the Fed eral Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Sections 11(9), 20 and 21 of the Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association, 2015 (as amended in 2021) and Sections 239, 242 and 288 of the Companies
Olusegun Samuel inYenagoa
Troops Dislodge Bandits’ Camps, Rescue Six Hostages in Kaduna
Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja
Pastor Remanded for Raping Minor in Ekiti
More than 50 tricycles popular called Keke Napep where damaged as clash between officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and men of the Nigerian Police almost turned bloody in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital yesterday. The clash, which lasted for about four hours, left many people injured and over 50 Keke damaged by the rampaging policemen who were angered by the effrontery of the Keke drivers who blocked the ever busy Mbaima-Yenagoa expressway for over three hours. The Keke drivers were protesting the over zealousness and exhortation by men of the FRSC who had made them their primary target for traffic violation and other form of offence in order to exhort money from them.
Laleye DipoinMinna
Funmi Ogundare
Suspended Anambra LG Chairman Arrested for Allegedly Killing Wife Amby UnezeinOwerri Guinness Nigeria Plc in its continued effort to promote corporate social responsibility recorded another milestone yesterday as it empowered over 50 women from Umuebie in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State with mobile bar andThedrinks.intervention was to assist the beneficiaries in improving the living standard of their families valuable and useful. Declaring open the ceremony which took place at the Umuebie playground, the Marketing and Innovation Director of Guinness, Mark Mugisha disclosed that that the motive behind the company’s gesture during the annual August women gathering of the community was a way of making their brand popular among women as well as promoting the culture of the people by giving them sense of belonging and appreciating their women hood. According to him, the role of Guinness in facilitating the August meeting creates an exciting moment and experience which the company strongly pays passionate appeal about.Hesaid, “the period allows us to be part of the long lasting celebration of women among the Igboland as they are committed to standing out and making a remarkable impact towards the development of their communities,” adding “as a brand, we are committed to supporting, empowering and celebrating women in ways most natural to them.”
THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2022 THISDAY 37 NEWS
An Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti, has remanded a 45 -year-old prophet, Adeleye Akingbaso, in the Nigeria Correctional Centre, for allegedly raping a teenager in Ekiti State. According to the charge, Prophet Adeleye Akingbaso was suspected to have committed offence of rape on a 13-year old girl, at Ajowa Area of Ado Ekiti on 25th July, 2022. In his ruling yesterday, Magistrate Olu Bamidele said: “The defendant is ordered to be remanded at the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Ado Ekiti pending issuance of legal advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions”. In her statement to the Police, the victim said: “The Prophet is my mother’s friend, he used to sleep in our house. On that day, my mummy left for night duty, but the Prophet slept in our house. In the midnight, he woke me and said I had bed wet, I said no. “He gave me shea butter and salt to rub my private part, I did as he directed. When I woke the second day, I saw him beside me and discovered that I have been raped. He warned me not to tell anybody, because I will run“Hemad.came back the third day, he said, he wanted to renew what he gave me earlier by having sex with me. I ran out of the house and informed our neighbours.
Guinness Empowers Imo Women with Mobile Bar, Gifts
INEC Declares Second Niger NNPP Guber Primary Election Nullity
AGRICULTURE YOUTH CHALLENGE… L-R: Country Director, Enactus Nigeria, Mr. Michael Ajayi; Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya; Partnership Project Manager, Pula, Miss Oluwafunmibi Asunmonu, and Country Director, Heifer International, Mr. Rufus Idris, during the launch of Agriculture Youth Technology Nigeria Challenge in Lagos... yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has assented to the three Social Protection Bills passed by the State House of Assembly. This is contained in a statement issued by Press Secretary to the Governor, and made available to newsmen in Gusau yesterday. The bills: “A law to Provide for the Protection of Children in Zamfara State and for Other Matters Related Thereto, Persons with Disabilities Bill and State Social Protection Bill.”
Matawalle Assents to Child Protection Bill, Two Others Michael Olugbode in Abuja Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested the Managing Director/CEO of Marvelrock Pharmaceuticals and Stores Limited, Mr. Orakwe Celestine, for alleged engagement in sales of illicit and controlled drugs on popular e-commerce platform,AccordingJiji.ng.to a signed statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, Orakwe, a graduate of Business Administration from the University of Abuja, registered the pharmaceutical company on 16th December 2014 with the certificate and support of a licensed pharmacist, who opted out of the deal in 2017, but the suspect continued running the business and enrolled it on Jiji. ng platform in 2019.
Speaking while assenting to the bills, Matawalle said the document would serve as guiding principles in coordinating government social interventions. He said the documents would ensure proper targeting and exit criteria for eligible beneficiaries, “expected to be mined from the State Social AccordingRegister.”tothegovernor, the laws provide that the state social protection and disability funds be provided to complement the government’s efforts in providing more access to children, women, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. The governor lauded the leadership and members of the State House of Assembly for their concern to the needs and aspirations of citizens of Zamfara by approving the three bills. of bandits and terrorists’ camps around the state. “After clearing the camp, the troops rescued six kidnapped citizens who were held at the location.“The rescued persons have been safely reunited with their families,” Aruwan said. The commissioner said the state government was grateful to the military and other security agencies in their efforts to make the state safe. “The government warmly commended the troops, police personnel, intelligence operatives, vigilante members and other security forces, for another successful round of operation.
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in Niger state has declared as null and void the second gubernatorial primary election conducted by the New Nigeria Political Party NNPP. The electoral body in the state insisted that Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Sokodeke, who emerged victorious in the first primaries “ remains” the candidate of the party for next year’s governorship election . The NNPP had last week conducted a fresh primary election at its secretariat in Minna where alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, who had earlier contested for the All Progressives Congress(APC) ticket was returned with 124 votes. The primary election was supervised by officials of INEC, and the National Legal Adviser of the party Mr. Horn Roberts while Dr Mohammed Bala of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai was the returning officer. However, one week after the conduct of the primary election the officials of INEC have not written their report making the substitution of the name of the first winner Alhaji Ibrahim Sokodeke with that of Idris Mohammed MalagiAccordingimpossible.tofindings, the INEC team hinged their decision not to write a report on the fact that the first winner Sokodeke did not formally write to the Commission to say he was withdrawing his nomination.Head,Voter Education and Publicity of INEC, Mr. Arthur Adzape, confirmed to THISDAY that substitution sought by NNPP cannot be possible because relevant sections of the law especially the Electoral act 2022 have not been met.
The Kaduna State Government, said troops of Operation Forest Sanity have dislodged bandits’ camps and rescued six hostages in Chikun Local Government Area of the state. The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, said in a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna.Hesaid that the operation was conducted in Kuriga and Manini communities on Tuesday. This is just as the Chairman of Idah Local GovernmentArea of Kogi State, Abu Odoma, has confirmed the death two dare-devil kidnappers who lost their lives during a gun duel with security operatives in Idah while two others escaped with bullet wounds. Aruwan said it was in furtherance of the weekend breakthrough recorded by the security forces in its clearance Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti
Finland Envoy, Okonedo, Pearson to Grace Lagos Education Summit
David-Chyddy Eleke inAwka Transition Committee Chairman of Nnewi North Local Government Area, Hon. Mbazulike Iloka, who was earlier suspended by Governor Chukwuma Soludo over complicity in the death of his wife, Chidiebere Iloka has been arrested. Iloka, who was sworn in as chairman of the local government area, less than a week before the death of his wife was removed, following allegations of wife battery, which led to her death. Though Iloka had long denied being responsible for the death of his wife, claiming that he had never touched her, and that she slipped and fell, while serving him food, hitting her head on a concrete wall. A source confirmed that the suspended chairman, who is popularly known as Mba Mba, is currently being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Awka, Anambra State, under charges of culpable homicide. His arrest, it was gathered, was as a result of a petition by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) on Monday addressed to the Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters.
Trouble started around 8:30am yesterday when officials of the agency lay siege on the Imgbi junction of the Mbiama-Yenagoa road, with some security agents from sister agencies, where they mounted a check point, impounding tricycles who violate one offence or the other. Many of the Keke drivers did not take kindly with the way and manner their colleagues were been manhandled by FRSC officials and resisted them, blocking the major highway with their tricycles. The blockage of the busy road led to a heavy traffic gridlock for hours just as the security men attached to the FRSC officials and the Keke drivers engaged in a Afterfight.hours of the blockage of the road, men of the Police were invited to quench the raging storm and all hell was let loose and they descended on the Keke drivers with wipe, guns and teargas, injuring many of them in the process.
Tricycle Drivers, FRSC, Police Clash in Bayelsa
The Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria, H.E. Leena Pylvanainen; the Vice Chancellor, Pan Atlantic University, Prof.essor Enase Okonedo; the British Council Country Director, Ms. Lucy Pearson; Mr. Josiah Ajiboye of Teachers Registration Council (TRCN) and Mr. Tunde Adekola of the World Bank Office, amongst others, are among the dignitaries expected at the 2022 Lagos State Education Summit with the theme “Creating a Sustainable Fit-ForPurpose Education Model” and sub-themed “Prioritising Education in the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda and the 30 Year Lagos Development Plan,” which is scheduled to hold at the Eko Hotels and Suites, on August 30 and 31. The programme is aimed at harnessing resources and best brains from across the world to deliver the desired quality education to learners. Other stakeholders expected at the summit include public and private educators, school owners and administrators, parents, students, education researchers, NGOs, education consultants and private sector development partners.
Twokidnapperskilled,twoescapeinKogi
NDLEA Arrests Abuja Businessman for Online Sales of Illicit Drugs
Babafemi disclosed that Orakwe came under NDLEA’s radar in October 2021 when he advertised many pharmaceutical products such as Tramadol, Ketamine Hydrochloride injection, Hypnox flunitrazepam tablets among others on the Jiji.ng online marketplace.Hesaidbetween 26th October 2021 and 8th August 2022, the team of anti-narcotic officers assigned to investigate Orakwe’s drug business activities was able to establish the suspect was selling Tramadol 225mg and other illicit/ controlled drugs through the e-commerce platform, and as a result, he was arrested with some quantities of Tramadol and Swiphnol brand of Rohypnol on Monday 8th August at a drink joint in Jabi area of Abuja where he had gone to make some supplies of orders made through his online channel on Jiji.ng.
Court Remands Suspect for Allegedly Duping Car Buyers N13.3m in Osun
The CP, who gave a keynote address on “Police Community Partnership: Panacea for Effective Police Performance,” at the event said that there was a partial lockdown of the state by security agencies due to the threat of attacks by unknown gunmen. Alabi said that the partial lockdown was for a purpose, stressing that the police and other security agencies in Lagos were ready for any intruders. He said that there were stopand-search points at different places that had become part of the security architectures in the state to combat any likely intruder. The Lagos police boss, who said that though the number of police personnel in the state were inadequate, added that with community/police partnership, the current number could tackle all crimes and criminality.
Niger PDP Set for 2023 Campaign,Acquires 100 Vehicles
Okon Bassey in Uyo
Insecurity: Lagos CP Wants More Collaborationamong Monarchs, Community, Religious Leaders
The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday said monkeypox infections continue to rise globally, with more than 35,000 cases across 92 countries and territories, and 12 deaths. WHO Director General, Dr Adhanom Ghebreyesus, disclosed this while speaking at a news conference from WHO headquarters in Geneva yesterday. “Almost 7,500 cases were reported last week, a 20 per cent increase over the previous week, which was also 20 per cent more than the week before,” he said. According to him, the majority of cases are being reported from Europe and the Americas, and mostly among men who have sex with Ghebreyesusmen. said that the primary focus for all countries must be to ensure they are ready for monkeypox, and to stop transmission.Hesaid countries should focus on stopping monkeypox transmission by using effective public health tools, including enhanced disease surveillance, careful contact tracing, tailored risk communication and community engagement, and risk reduction measures.Currently, global supplies of monkeypox vaccines are limited, as is data about their effectiveness, noting that WHO is in contact with manufacturers, and with countries and organisations willing to share vaccine doses. “We remain concerned that the inequitable access to vaccines we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic will be repeated, and that the poorest will continue to be left behind,” he said.
The African Indigenous Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development (AIFES) has tasked the government at all levels on the need to protect and preserve indigenous languages. The Executive Director of AIFES, Mr. Legborsi Pyagbara, while speaking at the 2022 International Indigenous Peoples Day, said language remains the greatest identity that anybody has and also the vehicle of transmitting civilisation.Speaking on the theme: ‘The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge’, Pyagbara said the event was imperative to draw people’s attention to the issues indigenous people are going through and what the government and state actors should do. The former MOSOP leader, who described women as the purveyors of the traditional knowledge systems, demanded the establishment of centres for the learning and promotion of traditional knowledge transmission.Helamented that indigenous people were the poorest people in the world, even when they have the highest concentration of natural resources, as their resources are explored in such a way that it doesn’t benefit the indigenous people. According to him, “Language is the greatest identity that anybody has. Without a language, there is no identity. Once a language is lost, an entire civilisation is lost because language is the vehicle of transmitting civilisation.“Ifwewant to promote our identity then we must preserve our indigenous language. There many things that are better expressed in the mothers tongue than with foreign language.
Group Tasks Government on Indigenous Language
Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Abiodun Alabi, yesterday called on traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, and transporters to always engage the police in their areas for better policing. The CP urged communities not to be afraid of giving information about crimes and criminality in their areas to the police and other security agencies. He also implored them to always be interested in the activities of the police and see the police as their family members and not mere friends. Alabi stated this during the Lagos State Stakeholders’ Forum on Police Accountability (SFPA)’s quarterly meeting and awards.
Sylvester Idowu in Warri
Alleged Defilement: Court Orders Foundation to Produce UNILAG Professor’s Children
Monkeypox Cases Hit 35,000 in 92 Countries, Says WHO Laleye Dipo in Minna
The first anniversary of the Olu of Warri in Delta State, Ogiame Atuwatse III, kicked off yesterday with praise, worship and novelty football matches in Warri, Delta State. The Ogiame Atuwatse III was coronated on August 21, 2021, as the 21th Olu of Warri, eight months after the late king, Ogiame Ikenwoli, joined his ancestors.Thousands of Itsekiri people and well-wishers turned up at the Nana College, Warri, to witnessed the novelty matches as part of the programme of events lined up for the celebration.Also,they turned up in large numbers in the evening at Aghofen, Olu of Warri palace, to join the king in a programme tagged: ‘Ogiame Atuwatse III PraiseAmongDay’.those who performed at the praise and worship service were Iwere Praise Choir, Jedidiah, Sonia Grey, Smart Edah, Blossom Mene, Heritage Choir, Oritsegbubemi Babine, Emily, Ogono for Jesus, Deaconess Lizzy Tuoyo, and ReverendReverendIgho.Chris Akperi gave the ministration while Reverend Godwin Kuroko performed the offering for the service. Royal games and Iwere music concert would hold today while a medical outreach is slated for tomorrow at Koko community in Warri North Local Government area of the state.
The Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) Governorship Candidate in the June 18 Ekiti poll, Mr. Segun Oni, has threatened to institute a contempt suit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for allegedly defying tribunal’s order.The former governor, said that he is in the process of filing the contempt charge against the electoral body, for allegedly abridging the order of the Election Petition Tribunal (EPT) that compelled it to allow Oni’s access to election materials used for the conduct of the poll. Oni, who came second in the election, is challenging the victory of the Governor-elect, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, at the EPT sitting in Ado Ekiti. But handing down the threat while addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, Oni, through a counsel and former Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Mr. Owoseeni Ajayi, said that top members of INEC staff in Ekiti risked jail over their alleged partisanship in the electoral duel. “We are in the process of filing a contempt charge against INEC. It will be filed today or tomorrow. It is now left for them to determine whether they want to go to jail or not,” he warned.
SUPPORTING EDUCATION … L-R: Former Chairman, Mainland Local Government Area, Mr.Tayo Oyemade; Director General for Sen. OluremiTinubu/ Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hon. Alawiye King; Deputy Chairman, Lagos State, All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Mayegun Moshood, and Executive Chairman,Yaba Local Council Development Area, Dr. Kayode Omiyale, at the distribution of 256 GCE Forms to the students of Lagos Central Senatorial District by SenatorTinubu in Yaba, Lagos… yesterday ETOP UKUTT Wale Igbintade Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court that sat in Lagos yesterday ordered Cece Yara Foundation to produce in court the two daughters of an Associate Professor of the University of Lagos, Mr. Adebisi Arewa.Thejudge ordered that the children be produced in court on August 25 to enable her have an interface with them to find out about their wellbeing. Justice Taiwo said that the order became necessary to enable her speak with the children in her chambers, and allow them to speak freely for themselves. The judge stated that she ought to have made the order earlier, but that it escaped her notice. Arewa, who appeared for himself during the ruling, had told the court that his children are not properly catered for and that they are being provided with second-hand clothes in the custody of Cece Yara Foundation, when they are the children of a “professor of Law.” He said that the last time he saw his children was in May 2022 and alleged that the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu, is using his influence with the school where his children are attending in persecuting his person.Hefurther told the court that the mother of the children, a banker is not capable of caring for the children due to her work and that he remained the best person to cater for the children, who are seven and 10 years respectively.
Petition: Oni Threatens Contempt Suit against INEC Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
Olu of Warri’s First Anniversary Kicks Off with Praise, Worship
THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2022 THISDAY38 NEWSXTRA
The Country Managing Director, Distell Wines and Spirits Nigeria Limited, Mr. Steve Ighorimoto, has tasked staff of the company to brace up for greater performance and customer satisfaction in the comingIghorimotoyear. told the sales managers, sales representatives, and brand ambassadors of the firm to redouble their efforts in order to achieve greater productivity.Thecompany produces brands such as Chamdor non-alcoholic sparkling wine, Bains whisky, Savanna, Amarula, 4th street among many others. Ighorimoto gave the charge during their national sales conference 2022 with the theme: ‘Game Changer-the power of winning together’, held at Ibom Icon Hotels and Golf Course in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The managing director told the participants in the conference that they have earned the confidence of the African Leadership Team, and further tasked them to justify the commendations and rewards from the top hierarchy of the company by breaking new grounds and smashing their current records. He said efforts are in top gear to continuously seeking ways and better alternatives to achieve cost savings without compromising quality and standards of the company’s products. The company, he said will invest more on training staff, recruit the right people for the right roles and inspire them through purpose and strategy for progress.
Distell Wines and Spirits MD Tasks Staff to Brace up for Better Performance
The Niger State Chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), has declared that it is set for the campaigns that would lead to next year’s general election. It added that not less than 100 vehicles have been purchased for the exercise. The party also vowed to embark on issue based campaign that is devoid of mudslinging, character assassination and blackmail.TheState Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Tanko Beji, made these known in Minna while addressing a group of newsmen at the end of an enlarged State Working Committee (SWC) of theBejiparty.said that the party in the state has also fine-tuned its strategy to “sell the Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; the Governorship Candidate, Mr. Isah Liman Kantigi, and other candidates to the electorats.” He said: “Our campaign will be issue based, holistic from bottom-up and we will engage the people to ensure we record victory in all the elections next year.“We will campaign with the ills of the ruling APC and let the people know that the PDP is the only alternative for Nigerians to have effective and efficient service delivery.”
The Osogbo Chief Magistrate Court, Osun State, has remanded a 45-year-old Car Dealer, Mr. Akanbi Babatunde, for allegedly duping his buyers of N13.3 million.Thedefendant was tried yesterday on six count-charges bordering on fraud and theft. The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Elisha Olusegun, accused the defendant of obtaining the sum of N4 million from one Ogungbemi Oluwafemi under the pretence of assisting him to purchase a Toyota Camry car, 2011 model. Elisha said the accused also falsely obtained the sum of N5.5 million and a Venza car worth N4 million from one Ademola Musliyu under the pretense of helping him to sell the car. He further alleged that the defendant stole the sum of N300,000 from one Folarin Adekunle, which made the total of the alleged amount N13.3Elishamillion.alleged that the defendant committed the offence between the month of March and August 2022 at Osogbo, Osun State.
Blessing Ibunge inPortHarcourt
After excelling at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham where Team Nigeria topped the African medals table, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) has changed gear towards ensuring another podium finish by securing more scholarships for the country’s athletes to Paris 2024 Olympics Games. The NOC yesterday named four latest recipients of ANOCA Athlete Support Progrmme for PARIS 2024. President of Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, Habu Gumel, who is also ANOCA TreasurerGeneral, announced Enekwechi Chukwuebuka (Athletics), Kolawole Esther Omolayo (Wrestling), Ogbonne Eze Joy (Weightlifting) and Olarinoye Adijat Adenike
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi...is one of the four top Nigerian athletes to benefit from the ANOCA Athlete Support Programme for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (Weightlifting) as the latest recipients. Gumel said that the funds would support their goal of competing in the Olympic Games. The four Nigerian athletes are among the 50 athletes chosen by ANOCA as the Commission predicated the allocation process on performance criteria and sports and Olympic ethics. The ANOCA Athletes’ Support Programme aims to provide support for the preparation and qualification of elite athletes with the potential to qualify and perform well at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The Commission recommends that NOCs use part of the grant for their athlete support and preparation activities.Throwing more light on the ANOCA Athlete Support Programme for Paris 2024, NOC Scribe, Banji Oladapo said; “Chasing an Olympic dream takes incredible determination and talent - these four athletes have all demonstrated they have what it takes. But they also need support to train, compete and maximize their performance opportunities around the world to provide the best opportunity to represent Nigeria at the Paris Games''.
Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Oluwakayode Ariwoola has described sports competitions as veritable tools for peace and national unity among judiciary workers in the country. Justice Ariwoola disclosed this at the commencement of the Judiciary Games holding at the Confluence Stadium in Lokoja, on Wednesday. The CJN who was represented by the Kogi State Acting Chief Judge, Justice Joshua Majebi, said the essence of the games was to foster unity amongst staff of judiciary sector, noting that “work without play makes Jack a dull boy.”The Chief Justice of Nigeria lauded the efforts of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello for graciously approving of the 20th edition of National Sports Association for Judiciary (NASAJ) Games for the second time in the state.He noted that Governor Yahaya Bello has been an advocate of nationalSpeaking,unity. the State’s Commissioner for Sports and Youths Development , Mr Idris Musa, commended the NASAJ president for bringing the Games to Kogi State once again. The Commissioner lauded the CJN and the Acting Chief Judge of Kogi State for their immense contributions to bringing NASAJ Games to Kogi, adding that Kogi State Judiciary will actively participate in the Games.
Fans at GOtv Boxing Night 26, scheduled to hold on Saturday at the Molade-Okoya Indoor Sports Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, stand the chance of goinghome with GOtv decoders. The decoders which will come with a one-month subscription, provided by sponsors of the event, GOtv Nigeria, will be won via lucky dips to be held between bouts. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the show organisers, FlykiteAccordingProductions.totheorganisers, the decoders are the sponsors’ gesture of appreciation for the support the boxing fans have given the eventsince it debuted in November 2014. “GOtv Boxing Night is the biggest ever intervention in the sport domestically and it has yielded results, providing boxers with a regular outlet for their skills, exposure to foreign boxing audiences, including promoters, and avenue for development. “These results would have been impossible without the support of the fans, who troop out to cheer boxers and provide atmosphere at the various venues,” the statement said. It also quoted the sponsors as expressing delight at the intervention, development of boxers and support of the fans. Head, Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. Tope Oshunkeye, said GOtv Nigeria is committed to the continued growth of the sport in the country. A major element in the envisaged growth are the fans and they deserve to be appreciated. “Fans are the lifeblood of boxing and, indeed, every sport. As such, we are delighted to be involved in domestic boxing and are grateful for the support the fans have shown to our modest efforts at returning boxing to its pride of place. It is the reason we are making the decoders available to 10 fans, and we believe this will provide access to our world class channels and programming to the lucky winners of the decoders,” Oshunkeye said. GOtv Boxing Night, airing live on Supersport in 50 African countries, will feature eight fights across different weight categories, the biggest of which is the international challenge bout between punch machine, Taiwo “Esepor” Agbaje, and Ghana’s Emmanuel “Agogo” Mensah against each other.
Not Yet the Day of Long Knives as NFF’s AGA Holds in Lagos Today
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Eleven months after losing his world heavyweight crown to Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua will be determine to reclaim his title this time around on Saturday in Saudi Arabia. Both boxers met on September 15, 2021 with the Ukrainian putting on a masterclass act in front of 65,000 fans inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, outclassing Joshua over 12 rounds, and hurting the defending champion on numerous occasions. The scorecards – 117-112, 116112, 115-113 – were all for Usyk and there was a mere shrug of the shoulders from Joshua as the second defeat of his professional career was confirmed. Joshua perhaps will be aiming not just for a revenge but also to redeem his image in what is expected to be an explosive encounter. After losing out last time, Joshua, 32, wants to celebrate the 10th anniversary of winning London Olympic gold by reclaiming his place back at the top table of the heavyweight class. However, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn told UK’s The Sun that his client is ‘baffled’ by the tactics used last year, and hinted at a change of gameplan for the rematch.Hesaid: “I was talking to him the other night and I think finally it’s baffled him why he fought like“Forthat.a long time, he still felt even when he lost that he could still beat Usyk like that. But why when you don’t need to fight like that? “He could fight in your old style and have a much better chance of beating him. Klitschko-style but Usyk is a tremendous fighter, a greatHearncounterpuncher.”addedthatAJ “needs to be a lot more aggressive” this time. In the same vein, Anthony Joshua has promised to bring back the aggression into his boxing when he faces off against Oleksandr Usyk in their title rematch on Saturday. “I wanted to outbox my opponent, whether it was Usyk or anyone else; that was the mindset (in the first fight). I wanted to outbox my opponent and on Saturday I want to smash my opponent,” Joshua told Sky Sports“That’sNews.just the mindset now.” Interestingly, Joshua will be making a return to Saudi Arabia, the scene of his redemption fight against Andy Ruiz at the back end of While2019. that fight took place in Diriyah, Saturday’s showdown is 588 miles to the West at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, the fight itself taking place at the Jeddah Super Dome. On the other hand, a potential con for Usyk is his weight for the rematch. From images which have recently been circulating, he looks bulkier than in the first fight, an advantage when it comes to power but leaving him potentially heading into the unknown at a career-high weight. That said, Usyk is smart enough to know what works for him, and the benefits outweigh the drawbacks even if he is heavier than 11 months ago.
CJN Describes Sports as Veritable Tools for Peace, Unity GOtv Boxing Night 26: Fans to Win GOtv Decoders
THURSDAYSPORTS Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com08111813083SMSONLY
The 77th Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) expected to consider a roadmap towards an Elective Congress to usher in a new administration for the federation is to hold in Lagos today. It was earlier scheduled to holdDecember17 last year but for the unfortunate ex parteinjunction issued by a Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State following the filing of a suit by some football stakeholders.Toponthe agenda of the AGA is the matter of an elective congress that will lead to electing of new officers for the Executive Committee of the NFF at the expiration of the second term of the Amaju Pinnick second term on September 20. However, before the matter of the election will come up, stakeholders in the country’s football are also seeking to expand the Congress beyond the 44-member that have monopolized the audacity of electing a new board of the NFF. They are made up of Chairmen and Secretaries of the 44 Members of the NFF (Football Associations of all the 36 States and the FCT; the Leagues; Coaches Association; Referees Association and the Players’DespiteUnion).theclamor, it remains doubtful if such a request will manifest today and become operational in line with the Statute of the NFF and the Electoral guideline.Amongst the contenders for the top job of President of the NFF are, incumbent first Vice President, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi; former General Secretary, Barr.Musa Ahmadu; Chairman of Chairman & NFF Board member, Alh. Ibrahim Gusau;Retired Sports Administrator and former Chairman of Kano Pillars FC who currently doubles as the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Youths & Sports, Alh Abba Abdullahi Yola; Top CAF Executive and member of the FIFA Safety and Security Committee, Dr Christian Emeruwa; Former Super Eagles Players , Peterside Idah and Ben Akwuegbu; Former NFF board member and Chairman of Imo FA, Chief Amanze Uchegbulam; amongst several others. Barely 24 hours to the AGA yesterday, two of the players’ association engaged in absurd drama of expulsion and counterexpulsion.TheProfessional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) with Emmanuel Babayaro as Secretary General, Fires the first salvo, expelling the likes of Chikelue Iloenyosi, Patrick Pascal, Abdul Sule, and Dr Sanusi Mohammed who is general secretary of the NFF. Babayaro’s statement announced that they were expelled based on recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee of the association dully endorsed by its InNEC.swift move, the other splinter players’ union, All Nigeria Football Players Union (ANFPU) slammed a 10-year ban on Tijani Babangida, Austin Popo and others who run PFANANFPU in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Olisa Onuchukwu and President Abdul Sule said the ban was a fallout of the group’s illegal activities that are inimical to Nigerian football. ANFPU noted that PFAN is not a registered body recognized by the nation’s soccer governing body, NFF and even the sports ministry.“This has informed the immediate ban of the likes of Austin Popo, Harrison Jalla, Emmanuel Babayaro, Edema Fuludu and Tijani Babangida from all football activities for 10 years.ANFPU“ stated that it would soon set up a committee that would probe the activities of the body and how they have been short-changing Nigerian ex internationals over the years.
AHEAD PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS THURSDAY, THISDAY 39
The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad - known as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games - will be the first time in a century and the third time ever that France has hosted theTheOlympics.Games were first held in the French capital in 1900 and then again in 1924, with Paris set to become the second city - after London in 1908, 1948 and 2012 - to host the event for a third time. The Olympic programme will contain 32 sports, with break danc ing making its debut. Others include; Sport climbing, skateboarding and surfing return again after their successful showings in Tokyo. The Games will officially open on July 26, 2024.
Olarinoye, Enekwechi, Two Other Birmingham 2022 Medalists Get NOC Scholarship
Joshua Seeks Revenge Against Usyk In Saudi Arabia
Apapa,
Teens Conference 2022 O nline registration for the 2022 Teens Career Conference has closed. Invitation letters have also been sent out. Those who registered and have not received their letters should email info@rccgteapteens.ng or call 092923262. The conference will be streamed on our website, http//rccgteapteens.ng/watch-live and on our YouTube and Facebook social media handles. Do join us on Saturday from 9am for the live broadcast. The theme for this year is ‘Why Tomorrow’s Leaders Must Begin Today’, and the speakers are Samson Itodo, Executive Director, YIAGA-Africa and member of the Kofi Annan Foundation Board, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, an award-winning actress and model, and Seun Onigbinde, a social entrepreneur, open data analyst and co-founder/CEO of budgIT.
MISSILE TRUTH representatives from the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), State Security Service (SSS) as well as the army, navy and police went mute. Although the panel was said to have presented a report to Olonisakin for onward transmission to the president, the APC broom has swept the matter under the proverbial carpet. Beyond what we are reading about “separated cases”, I am not aware that anybody in the military has been held accountable for executing three senior police officers and a civilian while on duty: No punishment for bad behavior, no justice for slain police officers, no lessons learnt. Case closed! I concede that I do not know the charges filed against Wadume and accomplices at the federal high court by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation. So it is possible that Justice Nyako merely applied the law. But when you run a system where the punishment does not fit the crime and there is no accountability even for lives lost, it is the larger society that is in danger. We can see the evidence of that in all facets of our country today - which is why we should be concerned.
Jabi
& REASON
Jabi
OLUSEGUN
Adamu and the Water Resources Bill
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---OgunWestSenatoronhisgovernor’smanagementofaffairsinthestate
read the full presentation of the Water Resources Committee chairman, Senator Ubali Shitu which highlighted and explained most of the clauses in the bill. So, I did not write out of ignorance. I never do that. But I also came to my own conclusion which has been reaffirmed after reading the full bill. I find nothing new that I did not already know. It is still the same 2018 bill, and the issues remain the same. For instance, I referenced attempts at power grab by the federal government at a time we should be devolving powers. That much is still evident in the bill. I am almost certain that the issues raised by Akpabio will still come up in the debate of this bill when the National Assembly resumes. And given the toxic ethno-religious environment in the country, partly helped by some of the choices made by this government, the bill will still generate a lot of heat at the National Assembly.”
O n 3rd September 2020, I wrote a column regarding the controversial Water Resources Bill that had been effectively killed two years earlier by former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio before it resurfaced in the Senate. When the column was posted on an online chat group, I was surprised when the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu joined the conversation. I had no idea that he was on the platform. He wrote: “I would have loved to comment on this write up, if I had the assurances that Segun has actually read the contents of the draft bill and isn’t simply arriving at his judgment based on the ‘drama’ that transpired in the Senate two years ago. I would be happy to engage him and clear the air, sort of.” I responded to Adamu’s jibe: “Thank you very much Honourable Minister. Although I did not read the bill before I wrote my column, I
ofincumbenttoFromslingingtheproverbialmudtobothrealandperceivedenemies,toattemptinglaunderevidentlyirreparableimagesaswellasstandingtruthonitshead,thebotandtrollarmyiscurrentlyontheloose…whatreconciliatorymoveorefforthastheundertakensinceassumingofficealmostfouryearsagotoimprovethelottheAPCinOgunState?Rather,he’salwaysincompetitionwithhimselfandillusoryrivals
Tolu Odebiyi to Dapo Abiodun as claimed, and properly rescued by soldiers, why was he not taken to the Army Base for documentation purposes and debriefing in line with the Standard Operating Procedure in the Nigerian Army?” Insisting that their officers were murdered by the soldiers who they accused of colluding with the kidnap suspect, the police asked, “Why were the Police Operatives shot at close range even after they had identified themselves as Police Officers on legitimate duty as evident in the video now in circulation?” Indeed, the clear give-away in the video released by police after the killings was the question, ‘Where is their service pistol?’ Asked by one of the shooters, it is an indication they knew their victims were officers of the law. That a most wanted criminal suspect was set free in the process further confirmed the motive of the callous act that points to a clear link between officialdom and organised crime in our country. And to the extent that the insecurity that plagues our country today is the product of a justice administration that places criminals above the rest of society, it is no surprise that we have treated this unfortunate tragedy in a cavalier Apparentlymanner.embarrassed, President Muhammadu Buhari tasked the then Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin to investigate the incident and report back to him. The police of course went in search of Wadume who was later captured in Kano on 20th August 2019. They subsequently released the video of his confessional statement that corroborated their allegation that the soldiers who killed their men were working in concert with kidnappers. “I am Hamisu Bala also known as Wadume. The police came to Ibi and arrested me. After arresting me, they were taking me to Abuja when soldiers went after them, opened fire and some policemen were killed. From there, the soldiers took me to their headquarters and cut off the handcuffs on my hands and I ran away. Since I ran away, I have been hiding until now that the police arrested me again,” Wadume said in the video. Meanwhile, the joint presidential investigative panel headed by Rear Admiral T.I Olaiya with Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Business District, Solomon Lar Way, North East, Abuja 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com ADENIYI VERDICT olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com
After thanking me for the explanation, Adamu also responded to an aspect of my column: “There is a schedule in the draft bill where the major rivers involved are listed. I bet more than 90% of the people shouting ‘foul’ have not read the Bill. That’s why I would rather discuss it with any individual after he/she would have read the draft. “This bill was drafted between 2006 and 2008. So, it’s not a ‘Buhari Water Bill’. The Bill went through six town hall meetings, in each geopolitical zone, as of 2008. When I came into office and was requested by Water Stakeholders to ensure its passage at a retreat in December 2015, I first circulated it to all 36 states and received their feedback. Observations were incorporated into the final draft which I then presented to the National Council on Water Resources meeting of May 2016, at which all 36 commissioners responsible for water resources endorsed it. Wadume
then Army spokesperson, Sagir Musa said that soldiers from 93 Battalion received a distress call that kidnappers had come to operate in their community, leading to the hot pursuit that culminated in the unfortunate killings. Musa, who accused police operatives of refusing to stop at the military checkpoint, described them as “suspected kidnappers who turned out to be an Intelligence Response Team…on a covert assignment from Abuja.” But he gave a convoluted account of how Wadume escaped unhurt from the hands of the military men. Evidently miffed by the attempt to cover up the crime, the police immediately countered by raising pertinent posers: “Where is the notorious kidnapper, Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume ‘rescued’ by the soldiers? How could a kidnap suspect properly restrained with handcuffs by the Police escape from the hands of his military rescuers? If Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume is a ‘victim of kidnap’
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Wadume and the Nigerian Tragedy T he slap on the wrist given a notorious kidnap kingpin has exposed the underbelly of the criminal justice administration in Nigeria. It also underscores the seeming hopelessness of the national security situation. Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, according to reports, last month sentenced Hamisu Bala, popularly known as Wadume, to seven years imprisonment for unlawfully dealing in prohibited firearms and escaping from prison custody. Among the six others convicted with Wadume is Inspector Aliyu Dadje, station officer at the Ibi Divisional Police Headquarters in Taraba State at the time the crime was committed. Dadje bagged three years in jail for tampering with police records to conceal a crime. All the elements that have made our country unsafe today are present in this tragedy that has been treated so casually by the federal government. From kidnapping to criminal complicity by military/security agencies to inter-agency rivalry and the way life has become so cheap in Nigeria, this is one case that should have been used for the purpose of deterrence in our quest for peace and security. Sadly, not only has the case been cynically bungled, but we have also shown that lives of innocent people do not matter. Since Wadume has already spent some years in detention, he can be freed as early as 2025. And perhaps then granted presidential pardon (the way we roll in Nigeria) to contest for senate in 2027 on the platform of whichever party is in power at the time! I cannot but feel for the families of the slain policemen for whom the state cannot secure real justice. What is more confounding is the secrecy that has shrouded this trial whose outcome we only got to know more than three weeks later. The judgement was said to have been handed down on 22nd July with a statement released only last Sunday. The report also stated that ten military officers earlier charged with the convicts have had their trial “separated for departmental reasons,” whatever that means. These soldiers are Captain Tijjani Balarabe; Staff Sgt David Isaiah; Sgt Ibrahim Mohammed; Corporal Bartholomew Obanye; Private Mohammed Nura; Lance Corporal Okorozie Gideon; Corporal Marcus Michael; Lance Corporal Nvenaweimoeimi Akpagra; Staff Sgt Abdulahi Adamu and Private Ebele Emmanuel. While we can assume that these were the soldiers who killed the police team, we do not know what the exact charges are againstMeanwhile,them. this tragic story began on 6th August 2019 when a special operational team sent from Abuja arrested Wadume in Taraba State, handcuffed him and were driving toward Jalingo when they came under heavy bombardment from soldiers. In the process, four persons were killed on the spot while several others were injured. Those killed were Inspector Mark Ediale and two sergeants –Usman Danzumi and Dahiru Musa and a civilian by name of Jibrin. The soldiers then freed the handcuffed suspect, according to a statement by then police spokesperson, Frank Mba, who provided public updates on the matter.From all that transpired at the time, there was no dispute about the fact that Wadume was freed by the soldiers who killed the policemen. In his version of the event, the
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