TUESDAY 24TH AUGUST 2021

THISDAY Launches WhatsApp Edition With Free Delivery to 73m MTN Subscribers Commends telco on 20th anniversary celebration

Emma Okonji

THISDAY Newspapers has launched a WhatsApp edition to deliver the digital PDF copy of its newspapers to over 73 million MTN subscribers for a free download on the MTN Zigi

Chatbot.

The Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY Newspapers and ARISE NEWS Channel, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, who announced the launch yesterday, said it would take effect from today.

According to Obaigbena, “The WhatsApp edition is one of a series of business collaborations between THISDAY and MTN Nigeria, in fulfillment of a promise made

by THISDAY to MTN Nigeria, to commemorate MTN’s 20th anniversary celebration.”

MTN, which rolled out its telecoms services in Nigeria in August 2001, has maintained its original ownership structure and brand name, since then, a development that helped the MTN brand to focus more on network expansion across the country,

while offering quality service to its over 73 million subscribers, with a market share of 39.3 per cent.

Since inception, MTN has maintained the position of the largest telecoms operator in Nigeria in terms of the volume of subscribers’ number on its

network.

Launched last year, the MTN Zigi Chatbot, is the telco’s new digital personal assistant that can answer questions, and assist subscribers with products, services, Continued on page 41

Osinbajo: I've Not Declared Interest in 2023 Presidential Election...

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Tuesday 24 August, 2021 Vol 26. No 9633. Price: N250

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Lawan Urges Less Borrowing Deji Elumoye in Abuja President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to reduce borrowing from external lending houses to fund the country's annual budgets.

Lawan said the administration should, instead, focus on blocking financial leakages and avoiding wastage in all tiers of government.

WE COMMISERATE WITH YOU…

L-R: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, at Okowa’s father’s burial and celebration of life in Delta State... at the weekend

Continued on page 10

PDP Crisis Worsens as Court Restrains Secondus from Parading as Chairman It's disheartening that the interim order of court used in removing the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen unilaterally in January, 2019 for which PDP vehemently condemned is resurrecting again from Port Harcourt –Secondus Chuks Okocha, Alex Enumah in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Efforts by elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to quell the leadership crisis might have come to naught as a High Court of Rivers State yesterday issued an order of interim injunction, restraining Uche Secondus from carrying on as Chairman of the party, pending the hearing and

determination of a suit challenging his continued stay in office.

Secondus, according to the ruling, has been ordered to stop parading himself as a member of the PDP on grounds of his suspension from the party.

But the embattled chairman of the main opposition party has said if he and the party were taken to court, they would defend themselves.

Continued on page 10

REWARDING EXCELLENCE…

Chief Executive Officer, Teach For Nigeria, Folawe Omikunle, (Left) and Gbenga Oyebode, Chairman, Teach For Nigeria (Right) presenting the Gbenga & Aisha Oyebode prize for outstanding leadership to Akeem Badru, Teach For Nigeria Fellow, in Lagos …recently

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

NEWS

COVID-19: Concerns as Lagos Records 135 Deaths in Third Wave Positivity rate rises to 12.1% Vaccination remains major pillar of mitigation, says govt Distribution of Moderna vaccine begins next Wednesday Segun James As concerns mount over the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, in the third wave of the virus, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday confirmed that the state had recorded 135 fatalities. SanwoOlu highlighted the havoc being wreaked by the deadly strains of the virus spreading in the country.

The governor, who spoke during a media briefing in Ikeja, also revealed that the state had taken delivery of Moderna vaccine

from the federal government. He said the state received a little above 300,000 doses of Moderna vaccine to boost the drive towards achieving herd immunity.

Sanwo-Olu said the test positivity rate had increased to 12.1 per cent in the past weeks, compared to seven per cent recorded at the end of July 2021. He said this resulted from non-adherence to the laid-down health protocols designed to stop the spread of the pandemic.

The governor stated that the situation called for more

responsibility, urging residents to adhere to the preventive protocols put in place by the government.

He said, “We are now clearly in the middle of third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and Lagos has remained the epicentre of the disease in Nigeria. Test positivity rate currently stands at 12.1 per cent, compared to 1.1 per cent at the end of June, and seven per cent at end of July. As at August 21, 4,387 positive cases are currently being managed actively in-community.

“Over the course of managing

the COVID-19 pandemic, about 5,551 patients have been admitted into our various COVID-19 care centres in Lagos, with 506 registered fatalities. Of these deaths, 135 have sadly, happened in this current third wave.

“I commiserate with all residents who have lost loved ones to the pandemic. We share in your pain and grief. As a society and as a government, it is for us to redouble our efforts to defeat this devastating pandemic.”

The increase in positive cases, Sanwo-Olu said, has also

shot up oxygen demand at the government-controlled isolation centres, with the state supplying 400 cylinders daily to patients with severe cases.

At the beginning of the third wave, it was learnt that 75 cylinders were consumed per day at the isolation centres.

Sanwo-Olu said the state would be ramping up its oxygen plants in the coming days, as he projected that the demand for oxygen may shoot up in the next few weeks.

From next Wednesday, the governor said Lagos would start the administration of the first dose of Moderna vaccine across 150 centres set up in the state for the exercise. He said increasing vaccination would stem fatalities, urging residents to get the vaccine.

Sanwo-Olu said, “In terms of treatment of severe cases, we have seen a gradual increase in the uptake of oxygen during the current wave. Utilisation has increased from 75 cylinders per day at the beginning of this third wave, to over 400 cylinders per

day, currently.

“With our modelling, suggesting that we may be requiring even more oxygen supply over the next few weeks, we are exploring several ways of increasing our oxygen capacity.

“One of the major pillars of our mitigation strategy for the third wave is vaccination. We are seeing that countries that have vaccinated a large percentage of their population are recording drastic reductions in the numbers of COVID-19 related deaths.

“This is one of the reasons why we have not spared any cost to ensure that the vaccines that have been provided by the federal government are made available to every resident that meets the requirements for the vaccination programme.”

As part of the strategy to stem the cases, Sanwo-Olu said the state government had identified 5,998 Persons of Interest, most of whom arrived from red-listed countries, and had successfully isolated 4,500 of them.

Obaseki: Vaccination Cards to Guarantee Access to Public Places Edo imposes restriction on mass gatherings Gov flags off second phase of COVID-19 inoculation

GANDUJE PAYS HOMAGE TO OGIAME ATUWATSE III...

The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, during the governor’s visit to congratulate the Olu on his ascension to the throne in Warri, Delta State… yesterday

IMF Urges Wealthy Nations to Direct $650bn SDR Share to COVID-19 Worst Hit Nigeria is to receive $3.35 billion as its share of the initiative

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja As its $650 billion Special Drawing Rights (SDR) disbursement came into effect yesterday, the Managing Director of International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva, has urged wealthy nations to direct some of their allocations to countries lacking the wherewithal to cope with the COVID-19 crisis and future challenges.

The Group of Seven (G-7) advanced economies had in June endorsed a plan to reallocate $100 billion of new SDRs to poorer countries.

Reallocation was considered crucial to help countries in Africa, for which only about $33 billion was earmarked in the $650 billion SDR issuance.

France has already committed to reallocating part of its share for countries on the continent.

In a statement released by the IMF yesterday, Georgieva

announced the injection of the SDR to 190-member nations of the Bretton Woods institution.

Nigeria is to receive $3.35 billion as its share of the initiative that was designed by the IMF to help bolster liquidity in member- countries.

SDR is an international reserve asset created by the United Nations (UN) specialised agency to supplement its member countries’ official reserves.

The value of the SDR was based on a basket of five currencies – the US dollar, the euro, the Chinese renminbi, the Japanese yen, and the British pound sterling.

The creation of the $650 billion SDR which are reserve assets, was the first since 2009, just after the global financial crisis.

The IMF disclosed that it was setting up special vehicles to assist in channeling reserves to developing countries and already has the Poverty Reduction

and Growth Trust that provides concessional loans.

The fund is discussing with members the possibility of a new Resilience and Sustainability Trust, which could use channeled SDRs to help the most vulnerable countries with structural transformation, including confronting climate-related challenges.

Georgieva noted that “another possibility could be to channel SDRs to support lending by multilateral development banks.”

The record allocation aims to address the long-term need for reserves and to build confidence and foster resilience and stability in the global economy.

It comes at a critical time as the highly contagious delta variant of coronavirus wreaks havoc in some countries and threatens to set back the world’s recovery.

The reserves are allocated to all 190 fund members in proportion to their quota. Some 70 per cent will go to the Group of 20 largest

economies, against just three per cent for low-income nations.

Consequently, of the $650 billion, about $21 billion would go to low-income countries and $212 billion to other emerging market and developing countries, without counting China, according to U.S. Treasury Department calculations.

Georgieva said: “Countries can use the space provided by the SDR allocation to support their economies and step up their fight against the crisis."

To support countries and help ensure transparency and accountability, the IMF is providing a framework for assessing the macroeconomic implications of the new allocation and how it might affect debt sustainability, according to the IMF statement.

The international lender will provide regular updates on all SDR holdings, transactions, and trading, including a follow-up report on the use of SDRs in two years.

In Edo State now, only those with the vaccination cards or proofs of having taken, at least, their first jabs of the Covid-19 vaccines, would be granted access to public places, including banks, worship places and other large gatherings, the state governor, Godwin Obaseki has declared.

Obaseki, who has slammed fresh restrictions on mass gatherings in the state, however, handed down the new rules yesterday, while flagging off the second phase of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination exercise.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the Government House, Benin City, Obaseki said,"Beginning from the second week of September 2021, large gatherings, as well as high traffic public and private places will only be accessed by persons, who have proof of taking at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination.

People who have not yet been vaccinated at all will depend on remote access to these gatherings.

"From the second week of September people may not be allowed to worship in churches and mosques without showing proof of their vaccination cards at the gates. Similarly, people will not be allowed to event centers, receptions or parties, without showing proof of their vaccination cards.

"People will not be allowed to access banking services from the middle of September 2021, if they are not vaccinated. We have made adequate arrangements with security agencies to prevent anybody, who doesn't have vaccination cards to access any of these places. We are doing this to protect our citizens and all these measures will remain until the pandemic passes away,” the governor noted.

Obaseki said his administration would continue to strictly enforce all non-pharmaceutical measures to contain the pandemic in the state, adding that activities to mark Edo's 30th year anniversary have been scaled down significantly in compliance with COVID-19 protocols.

He explained that the new regulation was not to create a hardship on the people but to protect their lives and livelihood while the pandemic lasted, assuring the citizens that the “vaccine is available and free for all. We will not abandon you at this time of the pandemic.”

Noting that the pandemic was in its third wave in Nigeria, with its Delta variant having devastating effects around the world, the governor reassured the people of government’s commitment to ensuring the health and safety of Edo people.

His words: "In Edo State, the data is very clear, as we have collected 6,306 samples, with 203 confirmed cases and four deaths in the third wave. 96 per cent of all confirmed cases are those not vaccinated and 100 per cent of deaths are those not vaccinated; it shows the importance of vaccination.

"The pandemic has come to stay as it is clear that, intermittently, other waves will occur. As such, it is wise for us all to embrace vaccination as a way of surviving this pandemic.

"For us in the state, we have decided to push for vaccination, and within the next one year, we are focusing on vaccinating 60 per cent of our citizens to enable us build herd immunity against this pandemic.”

According to him, “Today's launch of this phase of our vaccination campaign will be driven by various stakeholders and strategic groups to increase our access to the vaccines. We have communicated with stakeholder groups, because the pandemic doesn't respect persons or status.

"We have 84 vaccination centers across the state; some are mobile while others are fixed as the list will be made available soon. We call on Edo citizens to support the launch and vaccination exercise kicking off today, as I encourage everyone to get vaccinated, as this is the only way we can save lives and livelihood, as well as return to our normal lives.

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NEWS

OBASEKI HOSTS ATIKU IN BENIN...

L-R: Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu; Senator Abdul Ningi; and Principal Secretary to Atiku, Abdullahi Nyako, during a courtesy visit by Atiku to the Governor, at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State... yesterday

ICAN Weighs in on FG, Rivers VAT Dispute, Sues for Caution Judgement presents opportunity to re-examine nation’s fiscal federalism Dike Onwuamaeze The Institute of the Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has advised the federal government and the Rivers State government to approach their on-going tussle over the collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) carefully. This is to avoid hurting vulnerable households, and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and worsening the country’s Ease of Doing Business (EoDB).

ICAN gave the advice in a statement yesterday by its Registrar/Chief Executive, Professor Ahmed Kumshe.

The professional body made reference to the judgement of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/PH/149/2020 between the Attorney General of Rivers State, on the one hand, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Attorney General

of the Federation.

The Federal High Court had ruled in favour of Rivers State regarding the power to collect VAT. Kumshe said, “We implore the government of Rivers State and the federal government to seek an amicable resolution of this issue sooner rather than later. It should not be allowed to degenerate, given the country’s precarious tax revenue position and the general business environment. It is important to protect the taxpayers and provide certainty to businesses.

“We believe that this development presents an opportunity for us to re-examine our fiscal federalism and leverage on the on-going constitution review to fashion out the most suitable fiscal structure for the country in a manner that strengthens the sub-national level of government while ensuring uniformity of

treatment as much as possible.

“This process should include a review of the VAT law, its administration and revenue sharing formula.”

ICAN restated that the matter should be approached carefully in order to achieve a win-win outcome for all stakeholders as well as address areas of concerns, such as the impact on EoDB, multiplicity of taxes, capacity of tax administration and impact on vulnerable households and small businesses.

Commenting on the effect on the EoDB, the institute warned, “If the position is sustained and replicated by other states, it will increase the cost and time required for compliance by businesses in addition to the complexity of administering VAT at the sub-national level such as treatment of international and inter-state transactions.”

ICAN, however, said the trend

NPDC Expresses Readiness to Implement Demands of Ogonis Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Ahead of the planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has expressed readiness to implement the demands of the Ogoni people. Managing Director of NPDC, Ali Zara, stated this at an event organised by the Ogoni Liberation Initiative (OLI) in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, where the people reiterated their demands for economic and environmental justice.

He said the company was ready to follow all necessary steps to develop the ethnic nationality.

Zara noted the pains Ogoni people passed through due to the pollution of their environment by oil, saying, "What

you are seeing here today is a demonstration of our existing cordial relationship with the Ogoni people.

"We truly share in your pains.

First and foremost, as Nigerians and as a company, we will join you to pursue these demands.

We will stand with you and will work with you to achieve the goal in shortest period of time."

He assured that their demands would be speedily delivered to the federal government.

President of OLI, Douglas Fabeke, in his address earlier, said Ogoni ethnic nationality had given consent to NPDC to resume oil exploration and would support the company to succeed.

Fabeke declared that under no circumstance would Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) return to their land, noting that the spirit of the martyred natives would continue to haunt the oil firm.

He stressed that Ogoni ethnic

nationality had suffered decades of economic and social marginalisation and strangulation, adding that the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) saddled with the clean-up of Ogoni environment has not done any work.

Fabeke declared, "We are happy to handover the OML 15 oilfield to NPDC. We have been socially and economically castrated for several decades".

Fabeke thanked President Muhammadu Buhari “for providing the peaceful environment for the event to hold.” But he insisted that SPDC’s return to Ogoni land would never happen.

The OLI president said, "I want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for providing us with a peaceful country and for us to gather here today. Under no circumstance will Shell return to Ogoni. Ogoni people are happy with the appeal court judgement that handed OML 11 to NNPC.

could lead to multiplicity of taxes as, “many states still have various taxes, which are similar in nature to consumption tax, including the Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption tax, Entertainment Tax, etc.

“Administering VAT at the state level may add to the myriad of taxes across different levels of government many of which are targeted at the same tax base.”

Furthermore, the institute expressed concern over the

capacity of the state governments to administer its own VAT. It explained, “Collection of VAT by states may be more demanding, especially, in the short to medium terms, in the aspect of VAT skills and knowledge, dealing with digital transactions, VAT audit, and dispute resolution.”

ICAN warned that the trend could have a telling impact, “on vulnerable households and small businesses, in the absence of

exemption threshold for small businesses and limited list of exempt goods and services, there may be adverse effect on the masses in Rivers State, especially, poor households and SMEs.” The institute, while tracing the history of the introduction of VAT in Nigeria, said there had been series of legal cases against the VAT law, its administration

by FIRS and powers of states to enact similar laws, such as sales or consumption tax, which was enacted by Lagos State in 2009.

Masari: Why Negotiations With Bandits Broke Down Insists self-help is the way to go Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has said a major reason the negotiations the state once had with bandits broke down was because those who entered into the amnesty programme among the Fulani were murdered in the bush and the development scared away the others.

The governor, who also explained why he asked residents of the state to bear arms and defend themselves against the increasing attacks of the bandits, said it was the only way to go if the state must reduce the level of carnage by the criminals.

Speaking in an interview aired on Nagarta Radio, Kaduna, and monitored by a national daily (not THISDAY), Masari, who lamented that bandits had continued to kill the people despite the state government’s effort towards protecting them, however, established how the negotiations with the bandits failed.

His words: “When we came on board in 2015, we inherited killings and banditry in the state.

In 2014, there was a single attack that claimed over 100 lives around Faskari and Sabuwa LGAs. This is the situation we met on the ground happening daily, because we always received reports of animal rustling and killings attributed to bandits and local vigilantes yan sakai in the state.

“At that time, Fulani women had stopped coming to town and farmers too had stopped going to the bush.

We later discovered that it was not a problem of Katsina State alone,

it’s a problem that affected Niger, Zamfara, Kaduna States and later, Sokoto, Kebbi and Jigawa.

“The military supported our steps, which led to our meetings in Kaduna to find a solution. All security agencies were brought in and they all worked together for a year and recorded some successes.

“Then, we met with the Security Chiefs at defence headquarters but after a year, it stopped. We were later asked to return home and handle the situation.

“On our part, we discovered those bandits are Fulani, so we took advantage of that by ensuring that we got an official from a local government to be elected in their union and through him we reached out to those people in the forest.

“Later, the SSG, police commissioner and DG SSS all went to the bush during that period but we discovered that the bad eggs among the Fulani that ran to the bush were to protect their animals.

“This is how we entered into a dialogue with Fulani leaders and the vigilantes across the eight LGAs. We reached an agreement at Kankara in the presence of all our traditional leaders, including the late notorious Buharin Daji and they returned with over 300 guns.

“Later, things gradually returned and life went back to normal before the whole thing took a different dimension, because those who entered the amnesty among the Fulani were murdered in the bush and that scared away others.

“This was how the dialogue stopped especially, around villages bordering Zamfara before the 2019 election. I remembered we built 10 schools in the villages located inside the forest.Also, we built 10 Primary Health Centres in those villages but they later turned the schools as their base in the bush.

“After the 2019 election, we all knew what happened in Zamfara.

The new governor vowed to continue with the dialogue and the IGP then supported the move, same with the military,which started from Zamfara and continued from where we stopped. We supported the military with logistics to have a battalion built in Katsina.”

On the charge to the people to defend themselves, the governor stated categorically that citizens could no longer fold their arms and allow the bandits kill them unnecessarily since there were no adequate security personnel to guard every community.

According to him, “It’s very important for the people to rise up and support the government effort. Apart from the money we are spending on security, hardly a day passes by without a person being killed or kidnapped. No single day, although the situation is not as bad as it was last year.

“We thank God for that but normalcy has not yet completely returned, because just a few days ago, about 10 people were killed in a village. How can you, as a leader, be okay with this situation?”

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021

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NEWS

COAS VISITS MAKINDE...

L-R: Chief of Operations, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Olufemi Akinjobi; Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde; Chief of Army staff, Lt.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya; G.O.C, 2 Div. Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Gold Chibuisi; Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs Ololade Agboola, and others, during a visit of the COAS to Governor Makinde in Ibadan ...yesterday

Osinbajo: I've Not Declared Interest in 2023 Presidential Election Says PIA will transform energy sector, hails Sahara Group

Deji Elumoye and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said he has not declared interest in the 2023 presidential election.

Rather, he said he was more focused on carrying out functions expected of him as the vice president, especially in tackling the nation's security challenges and improving the economy.

Osinbajo made the clarification in the wake of the release of campaign style promotional videos, banners on social media and even the deployment of political posters in some parts of the country, including the FCT and Kano, insinuating that he had joined the 2023 presidential race.

Osinbajo's spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement explained: "The Office of the Vice President is not in any way connected with the distribution and deployment of any 2023 political posters whether on the streets or in online videos, banners and the like on the social media. “All these are simply needless distractions from the urgent tasks of governance needed in our country at this time.

"Prof. Osinbajo has not declared any interest whatsoever in the 2023 election, but he is rather focused on working in his capacity as vice president in the current administration to address all the compelling issues in the country and concerns of Nigerians, including finding effective and lasting solutions to the security challenges and working to further boost the economy.

"Therefore, we ask that people desist from such publications while we all deal together with the challenges confronting us as Nigerians, and resolve them for the benefit of our people, and the enthronement of peace and prosperity in the land."

Meanwhile, the Vice President yesterday assured that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) that was recently enacted as well ongoing gas initiatives in the country will help transform the country into a gas-based industrialised nation.

In an address delivered at a virtual event to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Sahara Energy Group, Osinbajo noted

that it would also create a better managed petroleum industry with more value addition for both investors and Nigerians alike.

President Muhammadu Buhari signed the bill into law last week, and has further approved a steering committee to oversee the process of implementation of the new legislation.

The government currently has the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative being developed into an alternative automobile fuel as a means of making available to Nigerians cheaper and cleaner fuel to reduce ecological and economic costs of energy.

Added to that is the gas master plan which provides for investment in necessary infrastructure for gas transportation across the nation, all of which would reduce local crude oil dependency, whilst strengthening the drive for cleaner sources of energy.

In November last year, the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) was launched to focus on the distribution of CNG and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) across gas stations operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

“Locally, we launch into the brave new world for the oil and gas industry with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021. And this happily converges with the launch of the Year 2020 to 2030 as the ‘Decade of Gas Development' for Nigeria. This is a follow-up to the highly successful initiative of the year 2020 as the Year of Gas. “The main goal of the passage of the PIB and the gas initiatives aforementioned is to transform Nigeria not only into a gas-based industrialised nation through enhanced accelerated gas revolution, but also to help create a better managed petroleum industry where both the people of Nigeria and investors alike can extract value,” Osinbajo said.

While commending Sahara Group for its giant strides, the vice president noted that the next 25 years would be defining for the energy industry, adding that the group has demonstrated, “bold, innovative, knowledgedriven business models that are designed to seize opportunities

in other countries” Osinbajo reiterated the need for a just transition to zero-emission, as well as more advocacy to stop the defunding of gas and fossil fuel projects in developing countries.

"Already, the wealthier nations and their institutions have banned all public investments in certain fossil projects, including natural gas.

“Examples include the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom, Germany and Denmark, as well as specific institutions such as the Swedfund from Sweden, Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, the largest in the world, the development finance institution from the UK, the

European Investment Bank, and the Investment Fund for Developing Countries from Denmark.

"The World Bank and other multilateral development banks are being urged by their shareholders to do the same.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is increasingly unable to support large natural gas projects in the face of shareholder pressure from their European members.

“Barely two weeks ago, the UN secretary general made a strong call, that countries should end all new fossil fuel exploration and production, and shift fossil fuel subsidies into renewable energy,” he lamented.

The VP disclosed that while the federal government was

building coalition with other affected countries to push for a just transition to zero carbon emission, indigenous energy companies such as Sahara Group could join in the urgent advocacy that is required to prevent the disaster that would result from defunding oil and gas projects.

He noted that the last two decades have brought significant growth for Nigerian oil companies from the days when they used to invest mainly in the downstream sector to a situation now where they operate in the downstream, midstream and the upstream.

“Nigerian companies have shown capacity in operations and financing of oil and gas assets.

Within this group of patriotic local investors, Sahara has consistently

blazed the trail as industry leaders in not just the petroleum sector, but in the power sector as well,” he added.

While congratulating the company on its 25 years of successful operation, the vice president urged the group and other indigenous energy companies to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Agreements (AfCFTA) Other speakers at the event included the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mr. Felix Tshisekedi and President of the AfDB, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, while guests included the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr. Alex Okoh, among others.

House Rejects Customs' N1.3 trillion Projected 2022 Revenue Generation Summons NNPC GMD, DPR Director

Udora Orizu in Abuja

The House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Monday, rejected the 1.3 trillion projected by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) as revenue to be generated in 2022 fiscal year.

The Comptroller General of Customs, Mr Hameed Ali, had in his presentation at the ongoing public hearing on the 2022/2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP), disclosed that the agency was projecting a revenue of 1.33 trillion for 2022.

According to him, they came up with a figure that was realisable with the hope that it would be surpassed.

"We came up with a figure that is realisable, then, whatever comes thereafter, it’s our hope that we will surpass that. We try to be as realistic as we can in our proposal," he said.

But the lawmakers, in their reaction, described the projection as too low for Nigerians.

Chairman, House Committee on Customs, Hon. Leke Abejide, said the projection was ridiculous

given that the naira has been devalued, noting that he expected the agency's proposal to be N2.5 trillion and above.

His words, "This is very ridiculous because now the Naira has devalued already so you will discover that the volume of money you’re getting, if you want to get the real value you will see that it’s not real improvement. So, I expected the proposal to be from 2.5 trillion and above.

“So, if you look at the value of the naira that’s going down, it needs upward review. So, please take note of the parameters and secondly, the finance act has been passed. There are so many ways we can get revenue now better than last year."

Another member, Hon. Muktar Ahmed, said there was no way the committee would accept anything less than three trillion.

In his submission, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Hon. James Faleke, stressed that at the beginning of every year, the Budget Office took a critical look at expected revenue generation of the country.

He said it was done to know

what gap in required funds and make adequate preparation for borrowing, adding that if more revenue was generated, the amount of money to be borrowed would reduce.

While corroborating his colleagues assertion, he added that everyone would be pleased with their report, when it eventually comes out.

Falake said, "CG, the issue is this, what the budget office work with is the figures available to them on paper. And at the beginning of the year, for results to be achieved they will like to see what’s coming in. We are saying no, that your gross revenue generation is low given all the available opportunities that you have. When you also look at your previous performance – 2020 to 2021. For us as a committee on finance, we will not accept the N1.3 trillion. I am sure by the time our report comes out, you will be pleasantly happy."

Meanwhile, the lawmakers have summoned, the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari to appear

before it unfailingly on Wednesday.

Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Sarki Auwalu, has also been summoned by the lawmakers.

Kyari, who was scheduled to address the lawmakers on revenue generation on Monday, sent the company's Group General Manager, cooperate planning and strategy to represent him.

Frowning at the development, a member of the committee, Abejide said he was flabbergasted how the GMD of NNPC treated the National Assembly.

He said Kyari's behaviour was demeaning to the parliament and shouldn't be tolerated.

"We are talking about revenue here, so, where’s the GMD? He always tries to avoid the National Assembly. This is demeaning to the National Assembly and it’s not good for him. We are talking about how Nigeria can progress, solve the issue of taking loans, he’s supposed to give us the figure himself not send a representation. I suggest we excuse this representative and allow the GMD himself to appear before us," Abejide said.

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TUESDAY, ͺͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

TEN L AWA N T O B U H A R I : B O R R O W L E S S T O F U N D B U D G E T S , B LO C K L E A K A G E S I N S T E A D Lawan declared these on Monday in Abuja in a chat with newsmen after a close-door meeting with Buhari at the State House.

The senate president said his discussion with Buhari centred on the need to take steps to increase revenue generation by government agencies and reduce dependence on external loans to fund the budget.

He stated, "I had discussions with the president on some other governance issues that have to do with making the revenues in the country, especially for government at the federal and the state levels, and even local governments, even more.

“There are so many agencies of government that are not remitting their internally generated revenues and this is something that we have to address as quickly as possible, because we need to find a way of reducing the borrowing that we do.

"So, if there are areas that we can now get revenues that will help us reduce the amount of borrowing, then, so be it. And this is something that we all agreed with Mr. President, that we should continue to look at those areas that we need to improve on revenue generation and collection.

“Thank God, we are on the same page with Mr. President on all these issues, and for us, it is a renewal of our commitment to Nigerians and to the administration, that in the National Assembly, our focus is Nigeria, our priority is Nigeria.

We have no personal interest in anything. What will make Nigeria better is what concerns us. At the end of the day, we will have a date with history and want to be on the right side of history."

Reacting to widespread allegations that members of the National Assembly were

bribed with $10 million to peg the percentage approved for host communities in the recently passed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) at three per cent, the senate president denied the accusation.

He said at no point did the lawmakers collect any gratification before passing the PIB. An online news website, SaharaReporters, had alleged that Lawan got $2 million (N823 million) while Gbajabiamila was paid $1.5 million (N617 million) as bribes to facilitate the contemptible percentage for oil producing communities.

The online news medium further alleged that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, facilitated the payment of the bribes. It said each senator was paid $20, 000 (N8.2 million) while members of the House of Representatives were paid $5,000 (N2 million) each.

But Lawan dismissed the bribery allegation as the trivialisation of a serious national issue.

He said, "I really want to take this opportunity to take exception to those kinds of unwarranted, unprovable, false and fake information being fed to the Nigerian public and the danger people will face, which will cause unnecessary damage to the reputation of people.

“I had an occasion to take someone to court because of this kind of thing about three months ago, but Nigerians are better judges than anywhere else.

"The freedom of expression is there, probably more than anywhere in the world, but I want to caution that Nigerians should always think positive about their leaders and their administration and their governments and if they have issues they feel very strongly about, let them speak the truth and we are prepared

to take corrections that we feel should be able to make us do better."

On security, Lawan, who is also chairman of the National Assembly, assured that Buhari would leave the nation a more secure country in 2023.

According to him, “This administration has done so well to deal with the security issues inherited. Recall that in 2015, the security situation was so terrible in the North-east and, of course, the challenges of militancy in the South-south. Today, we are not talking too much about the security situation in the Northeast and the militancy in the South-south.

“So, it has been quite a good, successful effort in those two geopolitical zones that we inherited. But we have new challenges in the North-west, particularly, and some parts of the North-central, where banditry is now a phenomenon that we have to deal with.

“I'm happy to inform Nigerians that Mr. President has shown willingness and the desire to continue to give more resources to the armed forces and other security agencies to continue to fight the banditry, the little bits of the insurgency left and, of course, the other security challenges and we are also fully in support of giving him all the resources that you will require from us in the National Assembly to ensure that lives and property of Nigerians are properly secured.

“Before this administration leaves, by the grace of God, in 2023, the security situation would have been stabilised, far better than what it is today. That is one in the area of security.”

Lawan stressed that although he was in support of reintegration of repentant Boko Haram

members to the society, they should first be profiled to ensure they were truly repentant and ascertain that they no longer posed a threat to society.

He stated, "We need to screen to ensure that those, who are genuine and those, who may just follow in for some reasons (are identified). But I don't subscribe to the idea of saying forget about people who are surrendering, all of them are criminals and the rest of it. In the law of war, when somebody surrenders, you have something to surrender and, of course, maybe you will do some profiling and find out whether this someone is genuine.

“I believe that we should give people the benefit of the doubt, but we should also be very circumspect on those, who may not be genuine in this. We should accept people, when they come and take the appropriate measures, and get the right strategies on how to deal with the reintegration of such people into the community.

“Don't throw them just into the community like that, because you need to do some other things to ensure that everybody is sanitised, so to speak, before they are introduced into the society.”

Responding to a question on whether he was optimistic Boko Haram insurgency would end, Lawan said, “Yes, I'm optimistic that not only Boko Haram, the insurgency, because in addition to Boko Haram you have ISWAP and probably other tangential groups like that.

"I'm sure the new strategy by the current leadership of the armed forces is working. Boko Haram, having lost its leader and probably having lost so many commanders, some of them think they should just throw in the towel. Therefore, it's one

of those success stories of the fight against insurgency in the North-east."

Lawan also said he had fruitful discussions with the president on the Appropriation Budget 2022, saying one of the legacies of the current administration will be to complete the second Niger bridge and some major road projects across the country.”

The senate president added, “We also had discussions on the budget 2022. We believe that the budget 2022 will be the icing on the cake, so to speak, that is to say, we have to make sufficient provision for the security agencies and also sufficient provisions for our legacy projects.

“We hope and our desire now is in tandem with what the Presidency wants, that is, to ensure that the legacy projects are completed by next year, by the grace of God. These are the major projects, like the Second Niger Bridge, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway, and so forth, that these projects are completed within next year and Mr. President is able to commission them for Nigerians to benefit.

“These are projects that we have to make significant or sufficient provisions for in the 2022 budget, so that we are able to complete them. They should be part of the legacies Mr. President owes to this country in the area of infrastructure.”

The senate president also spoke on the disagreements in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and boasted that no fewer than 100 million Nigerians would be registered as members of the party.

"I also had discussions with Mr. President on the need for us to continue to make sure that the party, our party, the All Progressives Congress, continues to give

itself that colour, that disposition of the party that has genuinely come to salvage Nigerians,” he stated.

Lawan claimed Nigerians had shown greater interest in APC. He said, “When we had our registration exercise, we had about 40 million Nigerians, who registered. I believe that we can go far above that figure. I was thinking we could register up to 100 million. So, we should make it possible for Nigerians to come out and register until we reach that kind of creamy state of having half of Nigerians registered as members of the party.

“The party is on very solid grounds. The Caretaker and Convention Planning Committee is working very hard; we are breaking new grounds, we are getting and attracting more and more members; very solid, high-profile people, from other political parties, especially, the Peoples Democratic Party, into the APC. This is to show the confidence that Nigerians place in our party. Therefore, we should all come together to ensure that this party continues to lead this country for as long as God wills.

“Mr. President is in full support of ensuring that this party is built from the bottom up. That is what we are all trying to do. If there are any disagreements, these are normal things that happen in political parties. In fact, even within families, people sometimes may hold different views, but at the end of the day, the focus, the direction and the target is always the same.

“That is to say that we are on our way, on a march to ensuring that we complete other congresses that will hold; the local government congresses that already has been slated for September 4.”

Unfortunately, some stakeholders within the PDP had taken a hardline position already and it was only a matter of time before the boiling cauldron of repressed anger brimmed over with naked emotions.

One of the immediate steps taken by the BoT was to urgently meet with PDP governors, the NWC and other critical stakeholders.

Curiously, those who wanted Secondus to stay in office till the end of his term, argued that it would leave a sour taste if Secondus was unceremoniously booted out of office. But his opponents left him with one foot of opportunity in the doorway. They wanted him to publicly renounce a second term ambition.

To enforce this position was a group led by Wike. This, sadly, underscored how much Secondus’ ouster meant to the Rivers governor, hence he attended the BoT meeting for the first time.

With Jibril’s agenda, which insisted that the meeting was crucial to the party’s survival in 2023, it was clear that the meeting was not going to fulfil the agenda of the anti-Secondus elements.

Given the opportunity, a visibly relieved Secondus thanked the BoT for its intervention and an opportunity to live another day. He commended the party's reconciliation committee led by a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, stating also how he tried to resolve the issue of the resigning deputies in the NWC. He noted that the party’s internal conflict resolution mechanism was quickly deployed so that the issues were not escalated to the point that the party would be greatly damaged.

The meeting ended after over four hours. The thrust of discussion was given fillip and made public by Senator David Mark, who said the meeting had resolved to set up a committee made up of the governors, members of the BoT, members of the National

Assembly, all the members of the NWC, former governors, former ministers, so that they could holistically resolve the problems.

A pointer to the fact that the crisis was about to be resolved was when the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Diran Odeyemi, one of the officers that tendered their resignation, withdrew his resignation from office and vowed to work with the Secondus-led NWC to ensure a successful national convention, which would usher in new national officers.

Odeyemi said in a letter dated August 4, 2021, that his decision to withdraw his resignation was taken in view of the activation of the internal method of resolving issues by leaders of the PDP across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

But Secondus’ media office, while reacting to the development, has said, "If Secondus and the party are taken to court, they will defend themselves.”

The office of the National Chairman of PDP was reacting to calls from media houses on a press statement sent to newsrooms by one Kelvin Ebiri, Special Assistant Media to Wike announcing that, a court had restrained Secondus from parading himself as national chairman and member of PDP. The media office, in a statement by Ike Abonye, said, "PDP and Secondus are not afraid of court. It's disheartening that the interim order of court used in removing the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen unilaterally in January, 2019 for which PDP vehemently condemned is resurrecting again from Port Harcourt.

This party is a child of history, owned by Nigerians, bigger than any individual or group including desperadoes."

However, from all indications, it’s not yet uhuru for the PDP, until after all the meetings and the coast is completely clear. Until then, the jury is still out.

PDP CRISIS WORSENS AS COURT RESTRAINS SECONDUS FROM PARADING AS CHAIRMAN Justice O. Gbasam of the Degema Division of a High Court of Rivers State, sitting in Port Harcourt, issued the orders while delivering ruling in an exparte application by some chieftains of the PDP in Rivers State.

The Plaintiffs, in the suit marked PHC/2183/CS/2021 were Ibeawuchi Alex, Dennis Amadi, Emmanuel Stephen and Umezirike Onucha, while Secondus and PDP were the first and second respondents, respectively.

Mr. H. A. Bello, who argued the exparte application on behalf of the plaintiffs, urged the court to grant the reliefs sought by his clients in the interest of justice, even as he sought an order of court directing that the matter be heard during the court's vacation owing to the urgent nature of the case.

Part of the prayers were that Secondus be stopped from performing the functions of national chairman of the PDP while on suspension as a member of the party.

In a short ruling, Justice Gbasam granted the reliefs requested by the applicants and issued an order, "restraining the 1st defendant from parading himself as a member of the 2nd defendant or National Chairman of the 2nd defendant or performing the functions of National Chairman of the 2nd defendant or calling, attending or presiding over any meeting of the 2nd defendant or any committee of the 2nd defendant at ward, local government or state level.”

He was also asked to stay away from “calling for any ward, local government or state congresses of the second defendant or setting up committee for such congresses, or participating in any activity of the 2nd defendant whatsoever, while on suspension as a member of the 2nd defendant, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”

Justice Gbasam, in addition,

ordered that the restraining order and all other orders as well as originating summons and motion on notice be served on Secondus by substituted means.

According to the ruling, the order and all other court's documents were to be pasted on the gate of the residence of Secondus at number 1, William Jombo street, old GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers State as well as published in a national newspaper.

The court processes once pasted at Secondus' residence and published in a national daily, the court held, was deemed to have been properly served on him.

The latest court action against Secondus might not be unconnected to the failure of his National Working Committee (NWC) to conduct a NEC meeting recently directed by the expanded Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting of the PDP. The BOT, at a recent meeting to resolve the face-off between Secondus and some aggrieved leaders of the PDP, particularly the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, decided that Secondus should continue in office and that a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting be summoned to constitute the members of the National Convention of the party slated for the end of October,2021.

Though the NWC had immediately advanced reasons why the NEC could not hold, the resort to litigations was not foreseen.

Before the extended meeting of the BoT, there were two opposing groups: those plotting the removal of the NWC led by Secondus and those, who wanted him retained till the end of his tenure in December 2021. The agenda of the meeting was to discuss the expected implosion in the party, due to the intractable leadership crisis.

Hitherto, the PDP was in serious crisis following the defection of three governors – David Umahi of Ebonyi State; Ben Ayade of Cross

River State and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State – and members of the National Assembly, who were elected on its platform. They all defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The mood dampening situation in the party was becoming worrisome as the PDP had lost 17 senators. The membership of the party in the House of Representatives had also diminished. Thus, some members believed the best way to resolve the crisis was by sacking the Secondus-led NWC. The crisis, however, took a twist for the worst, when seven national deputies resigned in one day. Those who resigned were the Deputy National Financial Secretary, Deputy National Organising Secretary, Deputy National Legal Adviser, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Deputy Woman Leader and Deputy National Auditor.

The resignation had ruffled feathers of the NWC, and was like a joke taken too far, as it triggered several reactions from stakeholders.

First, was the PDP governors’ forum through its chairman, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the governor of Sokoto State, who summoned a meeting of his colleagues to resolve the crisis.

In line with series of meetings and a determination to resolve the crisis to save PDP, Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jubrin, summoned an expanded board meeting.

The perception in some quarters was that the new wave of crisis that has engulfed the PDP might not be unconnected to speculations that Secondus, might seek a second term at the national convention coming up in December. But some stakeholders, including Wike – Secondus’ governor – were not comfortable with that.

In the long run, BoT chairman, Walid Jibrin, identified numerous problems in the PDP, which needed urgent attention.

They included lack of cohesion within and among major stakeholders that needed the

intervention of the BoT as the highest advisory body of the party.

Jibrin urged his compatriots in the PDP to seize the moment, but this must begin with the PDP putting its house in order, by starting the right preparation for the impending elective convention to elect PDP’s national leaders, that would lead the party in the 2023 general election.

He warned that the anticipated success of the PDP at the polls must not be sacrificed on the altar of personal interest and unnecessary in-house fighting, aimed at killing the objectives set by the party, noting also that PDP ruled for 16 years as against the total failure of the current government, which he claimed was characterised by incompetence and total insecurity.

Jibrin’s line of thought aligned with other stakeholders and members of the BoT. It was a masterstroke that eventually dictated the terms of engagement at the meeting.

Before the meeting, a statement

by Senator David B. Mark, Prof.

Jerry Gana, Dr. Iyochia Ayu, Alhaji Sule Lamido, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Ayim Pius Ayim, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Dr. Ibrahim H. Dankwambo, Senator Helen Esuene, Hajiya Zainab Maina, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Hon. Austin Okpara, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Senator Zainab Kure,Senator Agboola Hosea, Senator Odion Ugbesia, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, and Hajiya Hadiza Adodo, had appealed for calm while the crisis was being addressed.

By these interventions, the plot to move against Secondus and members of the NWC was defeated, even before the meeting commenced.

In taking that crucial step towards a resolution, the BoT members, NEC and other PDP stakeholders, erected a bridge over the troubled waters.

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COMMENT

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

NIRSAL: SILENT DRIVER BEHIND THE WHEEL NIRSAL makes granting loans for agribusiness more attractive and profitable, writes Jackson Obadasha

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y far, President Muhammadu Buhari as of today ranks as the best president in agriculture. Never since the return of democracy in 1999 has Nigeria witnessed such resurgence in agriculture with all its value chain endeavours. NIRSAL is the silent driver behind the wheel.

The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) was launched in 2011 and incorporated in 2013 wholly by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). And it has been discharging its mandate with clear-headed reforms for the rebirth of agriculture as of old.

The statistics are impressive. Over 12 million Nigerians are today actively engaged in the agriculture value chain. The evidences are manifest; at home and in the factories. Rice, cassava, palm produce and many others including poultry that constitute a staple in Nigeria are being produced in commercial quantity with value addition in a manner never before seen. The growth indices are in our faces.

Unfortunately, it appears a few people are not happy with the strides made in agriculture. They are at pains to see well-produced local rice becoming the preferred by Nigerians. They cringe at the sight of local rice occupying huge spaces in Departmental Stores, major markets and in neighbourhood stores across the country. They suffer heart ache when they see locally produced palm and vegetable oil now beautifully packaged and branded. They are not happy that Nigeria has saved millions of dollars in forex from not importing wheat, millet, rice, beans, etc., as she used to.

Afflicted by a strange unpatriotic spirit, this garrulous few have turned the heat on NIRSAL. Their intendment, obviously, is to maliciously malign the agency and impugn the integrity of its Managing Director/CEO, Aliyu Abdulhameed. Subtly deploying some elements in the media space, they have in recent time launched an articulated attack on the agency and its drivers in a manner intended to rubbish the brilliant feat the Buhari government has achieved these past recent years.

However, some of these critics may be excused. They act on a wrong premise of their misunderstanding of the status of NIRSAL. They figure that it’s yet another loan-granting institution for agribusiness. It’s not.

Instead, it holds a $500 million capital obtained through debenture which is fully subscribed to by the CBN. It uses such capital to de-risk loans farmers get from banks. In other words, when a farmer obtains a loan from a bank, NIRSAL stands behind to reduce the risk on such loan for both the loaner and loanee; more like a guarantor than a loaner.

But no matter, it’s hard, almost impossible, to obliterate the landmarks and strides achieved by NIRSAL as it rallies to deepen agribusiness in the country. Even the sworn enemies of the Buhari government cannot deny the impact of NIRSAL in rapidly boosting agribusiness. Except, they are playing politics. But no sane mind would play politics with agriculture. It’s the pathway to food security, source of raw materials for the primary sector and a defining emblem of the sovereignty of the nation.

Abdulhameed as pioneer CEO long ago hit the ground running.

Often, pioneers are encumbered by the newness, even strangeness of their office. Some are fazed by the stage they suddenly found themselves. Not Adbulhameed. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, a Masters’ degree in Public Administration (with bias in Public Policy) from the Ahmadu

WHEN A FARMER OBTAINS A LOAN FROM A BANK, NIRSAL STANDS BEHIND TO REDUCE THE RISK ON SUCH LOAN FOR BOTH THE LOANER AND LOANEE; MORE LIKE A GUARANTOR THAN A LOANER

Bello University, Zaria and an Executive Masters’ Certificate in Project Management from the highly coveted Project Management College of the United Kingdom, the multiple awards (local and international) winner is without doubt the right man for the job. And this perhaps explains why he has refused to succumb to cheap blackmail.

What is imperative is whether he’s discharging his duty in accordance with the mandate of the agency with defined deliverables. On this, the answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’ To fully appreciate the impact of NIRSAL, it’s important to first appreciate its goals one of which is to de-risk agriculture and facilitate agribusiness by sharing credit risks with lenders (banks) and borrowers (farmers) across the agricultural value chain. It’s also to engender an increase in innovative agricultural insurance products available to smallholder farmers and boost the uptake of same.

Other briefs include to provide technical assistance to players across agricultural value chains, supporting them through the transition from agriculture as a way of life to agriculture as a business; incentivize institutions, especially commercial banks, that are responsive to Nigeria’s new agricultural financing paradigm, and to rate these institutions according to their responsiveness.

It is noteworthy that NIRSAL is not an armchair de-risker. Its officials do not generate data from hotel rooms and offices. They are hands-on, moving round the nation to make on-site assessment.

Recently, in response to its Credit Risk Guarantee (CRG) applications from two farmers, a palm kernel processor in Gbelebu, Ovia SouthWest LGA in Edo State and an integrated farm in Amafor Imeriewe in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State, they conducted pre-CRG issuance visits on both agribusinesses. It’s been the same process of on-site verification and assessment for all agribusinesses covered under its protective wing. The concept of NIRSAL by the government is commendable. It serves as a veritable tool for the promotion and sustenance of agribusiness for the purpose of making it attractive and profitable.

So far, it has facilitated the flow of over N148 billion from commercial banks and other sources into the agriculture sector since 2015. The key instrument in achieving this is the NIRSAL Credit Risk Guarantee (CRG) facility which gives money-back assurance to lenders who lend to agriculture in line with laid down guidelines. And with this has come many benefits including creating a total of 373,752 direct jobs and an estimated 1.8 million indirect jobs in the pre-upstream, upstream, midstream, and downstream segments of the agriculture value chain.

More than anything else, it has propelled agriculture from the low productivity level of subsistence farming to the profitable and more productive realm of mechanization, input supply, primary production, and processing. This feeds well into the vision of Abdulhameed who has continued to insist that developing the nation’s agriculture value chain offers the most reliable pathway to achieving genuine socio-economic advancement for Nigeria. He believes that the niggling issues of crime, unemployment and inflation can be addressed by mainstreaming more Nigerians especially the youths into agribusiness.

Nigeria has a huge youth population with many of them jobless, some have taken to the dange rous path of all manner of crime including cybercrime. Agribusiness offers a better alternative to wean them of crime and get them off the streets of perdition.

Obadasha, an agronomist, wrote from Abeokuta

STRIDES IN NIGERIAN CORRECTIONAL SERVICE Henry Udutchay writes that Haliru Nababa is doing remarkably well

W

hen Haliru Nababa assumed duties as the Controller General of Nigerian Correctional Service on 10th May, 2021, he came with a tremendous zeal and commitment to bring holistic reform to the service. There is no doubt that he is adequately prepared for the onerous task he was saddled with, considering his enviable record in the service, as well as his outstanding academic reputation. To set the tone for the new administration, the CGC in an inaugural meeting with the Command Officers on 6th August, 2021, outlined his agenda which is centered on comprehensive reform of the correctional service. These include, safe custody of inmates, training, staff and inmates welfare, capacity building for staff, staff discipline and effective implementation of the noncustodial measures.

The meeting which was attended by zonal coordinators, commandants, state controllers, and principals of the Borstal Training Institutions and principal officers from the national headquarters provided him the opportunity to share his vision and policy direction. As a demonstration of his commitment to promotion of staff welfare, the CGC shortly on assumption of office initiated the promotion of 2,455 junior staff and also facilitated the release of promotion of 3,477 senior officers through the Civil Defence, Correctional service, Fire and Immigration Service Board. This was to motivate the staff to work assiduously towards achieving his set goals.

In addition, he vigorously embarked on providing conducive office accommodation at various state command headquarters to enhance the efficiency and

effectiveness of the staff. Among the states that have benefitted from the new office complex is Osun, which was commissioned on the 23rd July, 2021.

Also, to further acquaint himself with the state of facilities of correctional centres across the country, the CGC embarked on familiarization tour of the country to access the state of infrastructure and facilities. This was in keeping with his commitment to provide a safe and secure custodial centres where the inmates will be treated in line with global standard.

In keeping with the concept of correctional service, which is tailored towards reforming and rehabilitating the inmates so that they will be re-integrated into the larger society, the CGC has initiated various laudable programmes aimed at giving life line to former inmates to enable them engage in meaningful enterprise. This involves giving out starter packs and other incentives to inmates that acquired skill while in custody. Indeed one of the cardinal objectives of Nababa-led administration is to provide opportunity for the inmates to acquire necessary skills that will make them to be relevant in the society. Many of the inmates have taken advantage of this unique opportunity to improve themselves while serving their term in the custody. For instance, there are several of them who have acquired various academic qualifications including Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

This is made possible by the conducive and friendly environment provided by the new administration, as well as the encouragement given to the inmates to embark on any career of their choice.

Equally laudable is the agricultural policy of the administration, which is geared towards ensuring adequate food production not only to satisfy the

food need of the staff and inmates, but also the entire nation. While flagging off the 2021 Cowpea production on 5th August, the CGC reiterated the commitment of his administration in food production.

During the ceremony he distributed 12 tractors to 10 farms across the country. The tractors are meant for the training of inmates on mechanized farming. He followed this up with a visit to Dukpa farm centre in Gwagwalada Area Council in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, where he called on the inmates to take advantage of the opportunity they have, while serving in correctional custody, to improve their skills in modern food production. Farming remains a key component in the correctional service administration.

The Nigerian Correctional Service has 17 mechanized farm centres across the country. apart from being used to train inmates in modern food production, they are also to serve as source of food supply to feed the inmates. However, the farms were not being fully utilized until the present administration decided to give top priority to food production, which has seen the gradual resuscitation of the farms. The vision of the administration is to become self-sufficient in food production thereby reducing the huge cost the federal government is spending on feeding the inmates.

Similarly, in line with the new welfare policy of the administration, much emphasis has been given to providing quality healthcare delivery system in the correctional centres across the country. This has resulted in accelerated provision of healthcare facilities need of the inmates. It is instructive to note that the correctional centres have not experienced any major outbreak of diseases in recent time, unlike

the past. Equally commendable is the fact that there has been no record of COVID-19 incident in any of the correctional centres since the outbreak of the dreaded disease. This can only be attributed to various measures put in place by the administration to safeguard the health of the staff and inmates. In addition, the administration is interfacing with various orgnisations towards improving the general condition of the correctional centres, especially as it relates to the welfare of the vulnerable, juveniles and female inmates. Also arising from incessant jailbreaks as a result of the porous and weak structure in the correctional centres, the CGC has introduced various measures that would curb this ugly trend which has become a major embarrassment to the country. Indeed securing the life of the staff and inmates, as well as the facilities, has been given top priority by the administration.

No doubt the first one 100 days in office of Haliru Nababa as the Controller General of NCS has witnessed breath-taking flurry of activities, which are geared towards the transformation of correctional service in the country. Though it is still too early to draw conclusions on the performance of the CGC, there are clear indications that the present administration is committed to giving a new face to Nigerian Correctional Service. Given the reputation of the CGC as an astute and tested administrator, with an impeachable record in service, he has all it takes to achieve this lofty vision for the service. But he needs the support of the government, especially in the area of funding which is key to achieving his target.

Chief Udutchay wrote from Abuja

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EDITORIAL

SHELL AND THE COURT JUDGEMENT The supreme court verdict holds lessons for the oil companies operating in Nigeria

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he decision by the Anglo-Dutch company, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to pay the compensation of N45.9 billion (£94.9 million) to some Ogoni communities ravaged by oil spillage is a welcome development. It came sequel to an order

by Justice Ahmed Mohammed of a Federal High Court in Abuja which gave the oil exploration giant a 21-day ultimatum to pay the sum awarded against it more than a decade ago for oil spills in the area.

With that, the legal drama of the past three decades is over.

The substantive suit commenced in 1991 before a Rivers State High Court sitting at Nchia Division, when the Ejama-Ebubu community in Tai Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State through their representatives Isaac Agbara and nine others, sued Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Netherlands, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, United Kingdom, and SPDC over alleged oil spills THIS JUDGEMENT which occurred WILL PROVIDE THE when the oil exploration giant operated FOUNDATIONS TO ADDRESS THE LONG AND in the community in 1970s. While the LASTING INJUSTICES SUFFERED BY THE OGONI litigation lasted, the community lost sevPEOPLE eral of its members before judgement was eventually entered in 2010 for the sum of N6 billion in their favour. Dissatisfied with the judgement, Shell went to the court of appeal where it lost again before taking the case to the Supreme Court. On 11th January 2019, the apex court upheld the high court judgement. Shell did its best to prevent the community from reaping the benefits of the judgement by filing multiple appeals.

Meanwhile, Shell again filed an application at the Supreme Court for a review of the verdict, but

Letters to the Editor

on 27th November 2020, the apex court dismissed the application. Still pushing back, Shell again filed another action at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The oil major said it was ready to pay but asked the judge to allow that the money be paid to the Chief Registrar of the Court. The judge declined the request by insisting that the damages be paid to the community as directed by the Supreme Court. This time, Shell has promised to comply.

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

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGED ENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

he Niger Delta of Nigeria is not only Africa’s most important oil-producing region, but also one of the most polluted places on earth. For decades, oil spills have devastated the environment and ruined many lives in this part of Nigeria. Shell, one of the biggest corporations working in the Niger Delta, claimed that most oil spills are caused by sabotage and theft, and that they are doing all they can to prevent spills. But the judgement is a signpost that it is no longer business as usual, especially coming at a period the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has just been signed into law.

Oil spills have deteriorating effects on the general well-being of oil producing communities, including the pollution of their waters and rivers, laying their lands waste, as well as spreading toxic fumes in the air. The SPDC in acknowledging the resolution in the court said in a statement that the order to pay N45.9 billion to the plaintiffs is intended to satisfy the judgement fully and finally and apparently help to bring an end to the legal battle that spanned decades.

It is the expectation therefore that this judgement will provide the foundations to address the long and lasting injustices suffered by the Ogoni people, including the slow clean-up exercise embarked by the federal government. It is a great lesson to other oil companies operating in Nigeria that no matter how long, justice will eventually prevail.

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

BOKO HARAM AND NIGERIA’S LOST CHILDREN

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omewhere in a Boko Haram stronghold, one of Nigeria`s gravest modern tragedies lives on in the experiences of girls of Government Girls Secondary School Chibok, stolen from their school in 2014.

Immediately the girls numbering in their hundreds were abducted from their school, the name ‘’Chibok’’ became an international headline synonymous with insecurity and chaos in Nigeria.

Now, more than seven years later, scores of the girls are yet to return home. Some of the girls recently escaped or were released by their abductors and they duly came home with innocent children born to mindless Boko Haram killers.

Although there is relief that the returning girls are no longer in captivity, their return has opened fresh wounds.

In 2009, Boko Haram escalated its campaign of terror in northern Nigeria. Prior to that time, the killer terrorist sect which hypocritically deplores the supposed depravity of western education but freely and shamelessly enjoys its benefits operated mostly quietly, doing the groundwork to achieve its goals of destruction and death. In 2009, the sect came full circle, spreading its tentacles of terror and leaving death and destruction in its wake.

Since then, Nigerians have known neither peace nor respite from the activities of the terrorists. Terror is usually very prolific and wastes no time in putting its fruits and seeds far and wide. In Nigeria`s case, even the Nigerian diaspora has not been spared. Entire villages have been sacked, razed to the ground by Boko Haram; entire families

have been slaughtered; countless livelihoods spanning multiple generations have been wasted in minutes. It is no exaggeration to say that life has been sucked out of northern Nigeria by the enemies of the country who want their flawed and faltering theocracy to replace the country`s fledgling democracy.

Emboldened by Boko Haram’ s successes, criminals of the same ilk have emerged from their long shadows to join the killing frenzy. Bandits, herdsmen, kidnappers have all come forward to engage Nigeria in mind games, while slaughtering innocent citizens for good measure.

In the face of Boko Haram`s riotous rage at the Nigerian state, keen watchers have been aghast at the government`s occasional signs of being overwhelmed. News channels never run dry of gory stories about terrorist attacks; security forces always have to update their casualty list. Heartbreakingly, those communities devastated by the insatiable bloodlust of Boko Haram and their co-criminals constantly have to count the cost of being Nigerians.

It is a cost the family of Leah Sharibu who has since become the face of the Dapchi abductions has been counting since 2018. She refused to renounce her Christian faith and adopt the creed of her tormentors. She looked terror in the eyes and rebuked it. She has remained in the hands of terrorists.

The abduction of the girls opened a fresh page of pain in the battered book of Nigeria’s chequered history by marking an unprecedented assault on Nigeria, her children,

education and women. Till this day, words from that page, constantly updated by vicious attacks on schools across the country, continue to mock Nigeria’s sovereignty, and indict its response to insecurity. The page remains open and other expertly coordinated raids on schools by criminals since then belie the belief that Nigeria would soon close this dark chapter.

For many Nigerians, life as they knew it has been shred away from them. Families who lost their daughters in 2014 and in the years after have not remained the same; the schools which have lost students have been changed forever; for the farmers who cannot freely go to their farms and relish the work of their hands, hunger is the least of their problems.

The die has been cast and now, Nigeria must throw everything but the kitchen sink into confronting this mortal enemy. The frustrations of those who have lost everything to Boko Haram`s chilling ruthlessness has been ratcheted up by the government’s sometimes half-hearted battle cries.

The nauseating attempts to reintegrate supposedly repentant Boko Haram members into the society have seemed more of an embrace than a rebuke. Nigeria and Nigerians certainly deserve better.

While the country continues to look down the road for the return of its girls like a mother awaiting the return of her lost children, the country must do more to ensure that the misguided vultures are tamed.

Kene Obiezu, Abuja

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021

POLITICS

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

Seven Wonders of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Vanessa Obioha capture some of the most intriguing and gobsmacking incidents, so far, recorded in Nigeria’s enduring Fourth Republic

R

iding on the premise of a new democratic era, Nigeria entered its Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999, after three failed attempts.

It was a breath of fresh air to many Nigerians who longed to see the military ousted after a tortuous rule that saw the country sink into decadence, economic hardship,

political repression and abuse of human rights. Therefore, the Fourth Republic had many Nigerians holding their breath, waiting for the Eureka moment when they can thump their themselves chest and identify truly as the ‘Giant of Africa.’

However, the fruits of the new democratic era so far have not turned out as sweet as envisioned. Rather,

they have left a bitter taste in many mouths and left tongues hanging out in shock and amazement. Even the juicy ones resulted in uncontrollable diarrhoea. The Fourth Republic have witnessed incredible election turnovers, blatant abuse of power and unanticipated deaths have; often leaving a trail of mixed emotions of disappoinmtment, overwhelming

elation and jaw-dropping amazement. Each of these events has inadvertently affected the political landscape in ways that were never anticipated; which in some instance led to amendment of the 1999 Constitution, and at other times creating a doubt on the direction the country’s touted democracy was heading.

The Miracle Governor, Duoye Diri All was set for the swearing-in of David Lyon, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2019 elections as the new governor of Bayelsa State. Lyon defeated his rival Senator Duoye Diri in the elections with 352, 552 votes in the eight local government areas of Bayelsa state. Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fetched only 143, 172 votes for his party.

Before the elections, both candidates were embroiled in legal battles, emanating from the political godfathers behind their emergence. While Timipre Sylva, a former governor of the state, backed Lyon, Seriake Dickson, who, at the time was the governor, endorsed Duoye. Through Lyon, the APC hoped to overturn PDP’s two-decade-old dominance in the oil-rich state. However, the party was caught up in internecine drama before heading to the polls.

Lyon’s emergence was not without hiccups. Senator Heineken Lokpobiri,

a former Minister, opposed the party’s adoption of Lyon as its governorship candidate, insisting that the ticket should be given to him as the party’s authentic candidate.

Like Lyon, Diri wasn’t accepted by everyone in the PDP. It was believed that ex-president Goodluck Jonathan’s preferred candidate was the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe, but Dickson sidelined him and picked Diri. The result of his decision led to the boycott of the PDP mega rally by frontline politicians.

Notwithstanding, Lyon emerged victorious, but 24 hours to his swearing-in, the Supreme Court nullified his election based on the fake certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by his running mate, Degi Eremienyo.

The case about the authenticity of Eremienyo’s candidacy was first

ruled by a Federal High Court in Abuja during the election month, November. Lyon, who had already rehearsed his speech and ceremonial salute for the ceremony, was left dejected as the news of his disqualification spread like wildfire all over the state and country. It must have been a painful sight to watch his rival, Diri take over the executive seat of the state, a position that was fully in his grasp until the apex court snatched it away from him. In Igbo parlance, Lyon would have been described as one who aimed for ‘o nonso eru aka’, loosely translated as something that is closer but impossible to reach.

Before that incident, such occurrence had never been recorded in Nigeria where a governor-elect was disqualified on the eve of his installation. It led to the christening of Diri as the Miracle Governor for his victory could only have been by supernatural intervention.

Diri

From Number 4 to Number 1: Hope Uzodinma

Uzodinma

The last Imo State governorship election was peculiar in more than one way.

First was the push by the immediate past Governor Rochas Okorocha to have his son-in-law Uche Nwosu succeed him. When that didn’t work through his party, APC, due to the party’s former chairman Adams Oshiomhole’s refusal to field Nwosu as the party’s candidate in the elections, Nwosu joined forces with the Action Alliance (AA). The current governor, Hope Uzodinma, ended up carrying the APC’s flag in the elections.

However, Uzodinma failed to win superior votes for his party, making way for the PDP to control the state through the victory of its candidate Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha. Interestingly, Nwosu

was the closest to Ihedioha, with 190,364 votes, behind the former’s 273,404. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, came third with 114,676 votes, ahead of Uzodinma’s 96,458 votes.

The election results were challenged

by Uzodinma, who argued that INEC in its announcement, excluded results from 388 polling units, which if added would make him the winner.

In a strict sense, the constitution requires that the winner in a governorship contest should have the highest number of valid votes and a spread of 25 per cent of the votes in two-thirds of the local governments in a state. In Imo, the candidate should at least secure 25 per cent of the votes in 18 local

government areas. This is contained in Section 179 (2), of the constitution.

Ihedioha apparently won the popular votes but only secured 25 percent of votes in 14 LGAs whereas Uzodinma secured 25 per cent votes in two LGAs. Ordinarily, a re-run would have been apt to determine the true winner of the election but a Supreme Court judgment on January 14, 2020, sacked Ihedioha and declared Uzodinma as the winner of the election. Niferians were stunned!

Never has such a lopsided judgment been passed to favour, not even the closest to the rival, occurred in Nigeria. The apex court ruling fetched Uzodinma the moniker of the Supreme Court Governor as his emergence did not qualify as the handwork of God.

The Lucky Charm of Former President Goodluck Jonathan The Goodluck era will not be forgotten in a hurry in the history of Nigeria’s politics. It was an era marked by inspirational messages based on the perceived good luck charm of one man. Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s ascension to Number One positions in his home state, Bayelsa and at the federal level. These were truly astonishing incidents, that indicate the former President’s given name had a magical wrap round his personality. Not once, but twice; the aura of goodluck orchestrated by Providence, shot him from the shadow of his principal into reckoning; first when he replaced Diepriye Alamieyeseigha, as governor of Bayelsa; then came his ultimate elevation as President of Nigeria, when President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua passed on.. As an education inspector, Jonathan was among the first

set of politicians to occupy a prominent seat at the dawn of the Fourth Republic. He was elected Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State alongside the late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. An impeachment of the governor led to Jonathan occupying the Number One Citizen position of the state. However, the event that shocked many was the death of Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua in 2010. Jonathan was expected to replace him but because his death was shrouded in secrecy, Nigeria was almost without a president for one day due to this unforeseen event, leading to the Doctrine of Necessity.

Jonathan would later be installed as the third president of the Fourth Republic and won the 2011 elections with his good luck charm. He became the first president to concede victory to his opponent in 2015.

Jonathan

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POLITICS

Compulsory Loyalty: Ngige and the Uba Brothers Rituals, kidnappings and other blood money sacrifices in the South-eastern part of the country are often left to the imagination of Nollywood filmmakers, even when such happenings are real, they are discussed out of earshot. But in 2003, Nigeria read the shocking details of how the current Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige went to the infamous Okija Shrine in Anambra State to take an oath of allegiance to his political godfathers at the time who were Chris Uba and Chuka Nzeribe.

The Okija Shrine was said to be patronised by politicians but none resounded like the news of Ngige appearing in the shrine. There were different versions of the story. Some said he appeared naked at the shrine,

others said he was seen sipping champagne in the shrine in the company of his political godfathers.

But in an interview with a leading news website, Ngige clarified that he never went inside the shrine.

“I was only there with Chris Uba and Chuma Nzeribe. Chuma Nzeribe and Chris Uba said they were going in to swear on my behalf. I did not enter the shrine with them, I sat in my car.

Chuma Nzeribe went inside and said he was going in on our behalf, I said good luck! At that point, I knew they didn’t have any guns and couldn’t hurt me. He (Chuma Nzeribe) didn’t come with his car and I know he didn’t have a gun.”

Uba was behind his emergence as the governor of Anambra but things

easily fell apart between Ngige and Uba when the former claimed that Uba wanted to personalise the governance by dictating who should be appointted or not. That same year, Ngige was almost forced to resign through a fabricated letter and his whereabouts was unknown leading to a suspicion that he was probably kidnapped. By 2005, however, an election Tribunal led

by Justice Nabaruma nullified Ngige’s 2003 victory and by 2006, a judgment awarded victory to Peter Obi. The drama between Ngige and his political godfathers exposed the blatant abuse of power and the degree of godfatherism in the country. It was a wonder to many that such dirty and surreal affairs were prevalent on the political landscape.

Ngige

Unprecedented: The Death of Abubakar Audu The Nigerian constitution has many provisions for unforeseen circumstances but none was made for the death of a governor-elect. Thus, when Abubakar Audu, the late Governor of Kogi State died shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced his victory in the governorship elections in November 2015. He was said to have died from a bleeding ulcer.

Audu was the first governor of the state in the Fourth Republic and was seeking re-election when he met his untimely death. He also

Late Audu

ruled the state during the Third Republic.

Since there was no provision in the constitution for such a situation, it was expected that his running mate, Hon. James Faleke would take up the mantle but controversies in the state’s chapter of the APC, due to Audu’s death denied him the ticket.

Rather, the party decided to give Yahaya Bello, the runner up of the primary election the executive seat.

His death created a shift in the political landscape as such had never been witnessed in the country.

Deadline Disaster: The Zamfara Way Again, the Supreme Court wielded its hammer on the 2019 governorship elections in Zamfara State in a ruling that left APC candidates stranded and Nigerians gobsmacked. Ahead of the polls, the internal crisis in the APC led to a delay in the party fielding their candidates. The electoral umpire INEC gave a deadline of August 18-October 7 for all political parties to hold their primaries but the APC didn’t meet the deadline and INEC was forced to omit its name from the ballot box.

However, the party was able to obtain a court judgment ordering INEC to allow the party to field candidates and participate in the March elections. The APC won the governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly elections and was already in a jubilatory mood when the Appeal and Supreme Court subsequently on May 24,

2019, voided the votes of the APC on the grounds that they held invalid primaries.

Therefore, INEC was ordered to declare the runner up, the PDP candidates as winners of the elections.

In the words of the late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Just Like That, Mohammed Matawalle, the PDP candidate became the governor of the state, alongside his deputy, Mahdi Aliyu Gusau, three senatorial candidates and seven House of Representatives candidates of the PDP were declared as duly elected. Of the 24 PDP House of Assembly candidates, only one spot was conceded to the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Kabiru Hashimu, as the winner for the Maru South state constituency.

The manner with which the APC was taken out of the picture beat the imagination of many to this day.

Matawalle

The Dribbler, Bukola Saraki

Saraki

Former military leader Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida may be called Maradona, after Argentina’s skilled footballer, Diego Maradona, but the former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki’s political dribbling skills is one for the books.

The 2015 elections that saw power change hands in the executive also affected the National Assembly. The ruling party APC for the first time found itself in control of the Senate.

However, the APC had some inner demons to battle over who would emerge as the Senate President.

Two divergent groups emerged after the election results were announced.

They were the Senate Unity Forum, led

by Barnabas Gemade; a senator from Benue state, and Likeminded Senators, led by Dino Melaye, a senator from Kogi state. The Melaye group sided with Saraki while Gemade backed the current Senate President Ahmed Lawan.

Although the APC endorsed Lawan as the preferred candidate, Saraki refused

to concede. The smart politician he is, he lured the PDP members of the senate to join him.

More interesting was that President Buhari who was supposed to influence the emergence of the leadership of the legislature washed his hands off the drama, choosing to work with anyone that emerged.

On June 9, 2015, the day of the inauguration, Saraki played a fast one on Lawan and his group. While the latter and his supporters were attending a meeting at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Saraki and his group were already seated at the Red Chamber, ready to commence the inauguration despite the news that the ceremony would not hold.

Eventually, Saraki was appointed in the absence of a challenger. Lawan and his group stormed in at the closing of the event, astonished at the outcome. Nigerians too were also bewildered by the level of political intelligence displayed by the former Senate President

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021

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POLITICS

Ohakim vs Amuchienwa: A New Age Frenemies The controversies surrounding the relationship between a former Imo State governor, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim and his erstwhile political associate, Ms. Chinyere Amuchienwa Igwegbe, which has now gone sour, deserve some close study, writes Amby Uneze

Amuchienwa

A

friendship that started in November 2018, in Arondizuogu, Imo state, later blossomed and developed to a close personal and political relationship between former Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim and Ms. Chinyere Amuchienwa Igwegbe.

But today, that smooth relationship has since collapsed into allegations of blackmail that have become a subject of multiple litigations before several law courts.

Allegedly, it was Ms. Chinyere Amuchienwa who stirred the hornet’s nest when she granted an interview perceived to be libelous to an Online media that was published on August 18, 2020. In the said interview, she made wild and unsubstantiated allegations against her (political) friend, Dr. Ohakim, which bordered on his integrity, character and moral turpitude.

While admitting the fact that she had a relationship with the former Imo state governor, she explained that the quarrel between her and Ohakim was about some money she alleged he (Ohakim) took from her and was yet to pay back. “I am an adult and I am entitled to date anybody I choose to,” she reportedly told the press.

Ms. Amuchienwa who further described Ohakim as a “scammer” alleged that the former governor visited her shop in Lagos and carted away designer’s suitcase, bags, shoes, and other luxury goods, which he has allegedly refused to pay for.

“I kept asking (Ohakim) every day, ‘What do you do for a living?’ “Ikedi (Ohakim) brought land document and showed to me, he said the land belonged to him. The land is on the airport road in Lagos, he even took us there.

He said he was waiting for payment from the buyer of the land and that when they pay him he would be able to pay (me my money).

“It was when this trouble started that we discovered the land didn’t belong to Ikedi Ohakim. It is this land he has been using to scam me. The witnesses who are aware that I gave him money have volunteered their statement to the police,” Ms Amuchienwa said.

Beyond Amuchinwa’s media forays against Ohakim, she also took to writing several petitions against him. She petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP). In these petitions, Amuchinwa had also made allegations that Ohakim photoshopped her nude video.

Prior to that, Ohakim himself had also preferred a petition to the IGP alleging blackmail, harassment, threats and subornation of false claims against Amuchinwa. In that petition, Ohakim had revealed names of prominent Nigerians Amuchinwa had blackmailed in the recent past with similar false allegations. But instead of investigating the petition, police and NAPTIP began to harass Ohakim with incessant invitations, which were sensationally published in the media.

Ohakim

In the meantime, Amuchienwa had roped in another accomplished Nigerian from her community named Chinedu Okpalaeke, who she had also accused of assisting Ohakim to “photoshop” her nude video. In the worst development in the case, Amuchienwa had taken the matter to DCP Abba Kyari’s SARS in Abuja, and got five SARS officers to travel to Lagos and arrested Okpalaeke by 5am and forced him to pay for their flight back to Abuja where he was detained and his phones confiscated.

It took the intervention of Emeka Etiaba (SAN) before Okpalaeke was released and charged to Court. The matter was later discontinued by the police after it discovered that Amuchienwa had supplied false information against Okpalaeke. Later, Ms. Amuchienwa filed a civil action against Okpalaeke on the same matter of nude video but the matter was dismissed earlier this month- August, for lacking merit.

These harassments forced Ohakim to, in September 2020, file two applications for enforcement of his fundamental rights against the police, NAPTIP and Ms. Amuchienwa. Ohakim had, through his lawyer Aloy Ejimakor, also secured an ex parte order against these parties; but in a strange twist, the police disobeyed the order and filed two separate charges against Ohakim before the FCT High Court and Federal High Court, Abuja.

Meanwhile, Amuchienwa had, in addition to the petitions to NAPTIP and police, filed civil action against Ohakim on the same set of facts complained of in her petitions. And to clear his name from the mounting allegations against him, Dr Ohakim also filed a N5 billion libel suit against her before the High Court of Imo state for publishing defamatory falsehoods against him, including an audio that went viral accusing Ohakim of photoshopping nude videos of women.

While Ohakim’s civil action is still pending, that of Ms. Amuchinwa has since been dismissed by the FCT High Court for lacking in merit.

In the supporting affidavit to his civil suit marked HOW /888/2020, Ohakim narrated how he met the defendant in Arondizuogu, Imo State in November

2018, whereupon, they became friends and later developed a close relationship that was based on trust.

He averred that in the lead-up to the 2019 Imo Governorship Election, he constituted a ‘Campaign Council’ for the purpose of leading the electioneering campaign for the said election in the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State; and Plaintiff appointed Defendant as a member of the said council, to particularly coordinate the electioneering campaign in Ideato North LGA of Imo State.

That part of the powers, privileges and responsibilities of members of the said Special Campaign Council was to receive monies from the Plaintiff and to also raise donations from third parties, all to be expended on items and purposes related to the electioneering campaign in their respective local government areas.

All members of the campaign council were supposed to account for all money receipts and expenditures to the Plaintiff at the conclusion of the election.

According to him, at the conclusion of said election, all members of the campaign council, except the Defendant, rendered accounts of all monies received and spent to the Plaintiff and their various accounts were thereby closed.

Apart from disbursing some cash through Access-Diamond Bank, not amounting to more than Four Million Naira and monies for airline tickets and hotel expenses for Plaintiff’s two international travels, Defendant has so far refused to render any account.

In addition to her refusal to render the said account and make refunds thereof, she turned hostile and resorted to various acts of slander, libel, defamation, intimidation, threats and even assault, which became unbearable to the point that Plaintiff petitioned the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP) on January 20, 2020.

The former governor equally urged the court to declare that the defendant’s allegations and the viral audio she circulated were slanderous, libellous and defamatory.

He further sought an order of court directing the defendant to retract the

In the supporting affidavit to his civil suit marked HOW /888/2020, Ohakim narrated how he met the defendant in Arondizuogu, Imo State in November 2018, whereupon, they became friends and later developed a close relationship that was based on

allegations through another interview to same medium; and retract the audio through making another audio she would circulate through social media, including particularly WhatsApp Messenger.

Ohakim also sought an order of court directing the defendant to write and deliver to the plaintiff, an unreserved letter of apology which should be prominently and boldly published full-page in two Nigerian newspapers of national circulation and two newspapers of local circulation in Imo State.

While these suits were pending, NAPTIP issued an Investigative Report exonerating Ohakim and then joined in application brought

by Ohakim’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, to terminate the fundamental rights actions pending before the High Court of Imo state in Owerri.

Meanwhile, Ohakim was still facing the two charges marked FCT/HC/CR/993/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/287/2020, which bordered on alleged false information and alleged publishing nude pictures of the nominal complainant, Ms. Chinyere Amuchienwa and the N500m she claimed she gave to Ohakim.

But in a protest letter dated January 8, 2021 by his Lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, the former Governor asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to withdraw the multiple criminal charges filed against him by the police. He also called for a comprehensive investigation of all the issues that gave rise to the multiple charges against him.

The letter titled ”Re: Unlawful and Malicious Prosecution, Harassment, Intimidation, Defamation and False Information against Dr. Ikedi Ohakim at the behest of Ms. Chinyere Amuchienwa-Igwegbe” specifically drew the attention of the IGP to the two charges filed against him before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.

Ohakim through his counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, referred the IGP to his petition of January 20, 2020, wherein, he complained about the assault on his person by Ms. Chinyere Amuchienwa-Igwegbe (hereafter: “Ms. Igwegbe or Amuchienwa”) at a hotel in Abuja and other unlawful acts by her towards our client.

That Ms. Igwegbe (the nominal Complainant) be required to produce self-authenticating evidence of having paid our client Five Hundred Million Naira for a land that she clearly saw from the documents that do not belong to our client. For the avoidance of doubt, our client had a franchise to sell said land and he gave Ms. Igwegbe the title documents on trust when she claimed she could get a buyer in return for partaking in the agency commission. It is a normal thing done customarily in Nigeria when it comes to selling any landed property.

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

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021

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FEATURES

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

Meeting Nigerian’s Quest for Digital Economy, Privacy Safety Youverify.inc, a technology company, recently launched YouID, a secure digital identity wallet.

Mary Nnah writes YouID will bolster Nigeria's digital economy and security through secure access to relevant identity information

Youverify’s CEO, Dr. Gbenga Odegbami (3rd left) and GM, Business Development & Commercial Services, National Identity Management Commission, Mrs Carolyn Folami (4th left) flanked by other Youverify’s executives during YouID launch

I

t is no longer news that millions of people have compromised their accounts, resulting in losing money or important information stored online. This situation has necessitated multifactor authentication and other failsafe to protect accounts to check the shortcomings associated with identity issues.

Nigeria is a country with a huge population of over 200 million people with different cultures and backgrounds. In a country of such diversity, having a solid framework by which people can accurately be identified is critical.

While the national identity number, voter card, bank verification number, driver’s licence, and passport are available, identification remains a big issue. Cases of difficulties in providing identity information and incidents of mistaken identity and identity theft are rampant.

It is clear that a lot still needs to be attained when it comes to protecting the identity information of individuals and the ease with which Nigerians can provide their identity information and accurately identify themselves.

Moreover, the internet and communication technologies have revolutionised the way individuals communicate and transact with one another. This change is not peculiar to individuals alone as businesses – micro, small, medium, and large have embraced and adopted some level of technology or the other to enable them to operate in simpler, more intuitive, and efficient ways.

Over the course of time, these technological changes have gained acceptance and become prevalent, connecting individuals and institutions across different time zones and continents and creating a new digitally-enabled culture and economy.

These advancements in technology and connectivity require users to have or create digital identities, vis-a-vis filling out online forms to gain access to services, mobile apps, websites, and certain software and tools.

Their identities are captured via email addresses, usernames, passwords, phone numbers, and location. This is a cumbersome, time-consuming process because it requires individuals to memorise usernames and passwords to log in to sites and access information.

Again, there is also the burden and risk of moving around with important documents such as the passport, national ID, driver’s licences,

Youverify.inc team during YouID launch and vehicle documents. Beyond the burden of losing vital documents and getting locked out of accounts due to the loss of usernames and passwords is the risk of compromised passwords and unauthorised access to users’ accounts by cybercriminals and hackers.

To curb these shortcomings and many more identity-related issues, Youverify, a technology company focused on identity and access management with biometric identity verification and other digital identity solutions, recently launched YouID. YouID is a secure digital identity wallet that lets individuals safely store personal details, identity information and personal documents in an encrypted format and use it to access online services securely without filling a Know Your Customer (KYC) form.

Youverify aims to build an Africa where Africans and businesses can build economic relationships and trust without worrying about fraud or compliance difficulties. With YouID, Nigerians can easily give businesses, organisations, and other individuals secured access to their relevant identity information as needed.

People no longer have to fill their personal information on KYC forms and other documents again as their personal identity information is automatically supplied in the relevant field. At the launch, Youverify’s CEO, Dr Gbenga Odegbami, said YouID was born from the understanding he and his team have of how important it is for personal information to be protected.

He further explained that YouID provides an extra layer of security,

Youverify aims to build an Africa where Africans and businesses can build economic relationships and trust without worrying about fraud or compliance difficulties

ease and comfort. As a lifestyle App, YouID is built for daily use by those who wish to live smart, adding that the YouID app is available for free on the Google and Apple Stores for users to download and begin their journey to a smarter and more secure lifestyle.

“Our goal at YouID is basically to eliminate you from filling the form twice or numerous times. Once you upload your information, you just need to click to fill any form hopefully in the world but let’s start with Nigeria”, Odegbami noted.

“You only need to fill a form once, and any other time you want to access any other opportunity, your other information is in your phone. It is neither with anybody else nor with us at YouID. It is only with you. That means that even if you put a gun on our head, we do not even know your information. The information is only with you, and you alone have the power and exclusivity to share that information with any merchant or service provider that you choose to do,” he added.

YouID, he revealed, also has a sophisticated two-factor authentication system that helps safeguard the online accounts for users across multiple online platforms and helps notify them of any breaches.

Thus, apart from providing a secure digital wallet for the storage of personal information, YouID notifies users when any of their passwords have been breached, or a third-party data breach has leaked their credentials. YouID continuously collates and reports data breaches and leakages globally, thereby keeping users informed and their credentials secure at all times.

Designed with individuals and businesses in mind, YouID is equipped to help businesses gather their customers’ KYC information easily and track and verify physical addresses.

With the click of a button, businesses can collect and review the data of their customers and prospects without subjecting them to the dreary task of filling out forms, thereby simplifying onboarding processes and giving them the assurance they need to transact with individuals or other businesses.

Since YouID also gives users access to a marketplace to secure the best deals from verified and trusted merchants. In addition, it provides businesses with the visibility and appeal they require to attract more patronage.

Based on the foregoing, YouID is regarded as the complete identity security and lifestyle app for smart Nigerians.

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FEATURES

Bolstering Nigeria's Economy through Entrepreneurial Grants Chiamaka Ozulumba reports that Nigerian Breweries Plc, through its Life Progress Booster initiative, is bolstering businesses by assisting entrepreneurs with non-refundable grants

N

igeria experienced tremendous prosperity at the onset of the oil boom in the 1970s. With the great influx in revenue, its citizenry was optimistic of the potential economic growth the sector will impact.

To be sure, the revenue realised from the supply of petroleum products could easily transform the nation, just as the case with Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

But there is more to it — Dubai gradually diversified its economy through tourism, healthcare, infrastructure, tourism, etc. These non-oil sectors account for 95 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP), reinforcing it to face and surmount a possible future where oil products will be phased out by green, renewable energy.

Sadly, diversification did not catch on as culture during the oil boom in Nigeria. Try as it may, to diversify the economy, the federal government hugely prioritised the oil sector.

The trend continued into the 1980s and 1990s, as other sectors were relegated to the background favouring the black gold.

This undivided attention the oil and gas sector soon saw itself – and unfortunately, other sectors – crumble due to poor maintenance culture. In 2016, global markets saw reduced demand for oil, resulting in a price slump.

With the Nigerian government banking on oil and gas revenues, it slipped into a recession.

Before the oil boom, agriculture and mining were major revenue contributors to the government. Food exports pulled in about 70 per cent of the gross national product (GNP) at independence. That value ebbed after the commercialisation of crude oil. As of Q1 2021, the agricultural sector contributed 22.35 per cent.

Though oil and gas contributed less than 10 per cent of GDP in 2019, it made up about 65 per cent of government revenue and 88 per cent of Nigeria's foreign exchange earnings, albeit the government's efforts to diversify the economy through the Seven Big Wins Agenda of 2016 following global oil price slump.

With so much focus on the sector, the unemployment rate climbs steadily because there are no other functional sectors to absorb the unemployed. A 2020 report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says that 33.28 per cent of Nigerians are unemployed. Unemployment rates have seen a steady climb since 2017.

To offset the effects of the biting hardship that comes with being unemployed, many individuals turned to the informal sector to earn a living, whether educated or not. At the juncture of scarce resources, survival transcends scholarly degrees.

Although grossly overlooked and termed unmanageable, the informal sector accounted for 65 per cent of Nigeria's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017. With increasing unemployment rates, it is safe to say most individuals ply the entrepreneurial route to secure a livelihood.

Despite a lack of enabling environment to thrive, the sector is rife with competition from overcrowding, poor service quality, and low customer satisfaction.

From time to time, the Nigerian government empowers small and medium scale businesses through schemes under the Bank of Industry (BOI). Still, several issues beyond its control suggest the need for alternative avenues through which these businesses can access the much-needed support.

Thankfully, corporate organisations contribute their fair quota by supporting businesses to grow and maintain this growth. One of such is the Life Progress Booster, an initiative by Nigerian Breweries Plc. The initiative's primary concern is to bolster business by assisting entrepreneurs with non-refundable grants.

The Life Progress Booster was initiated in 2015 under the Life Continental Lager Beer brand that has gained prominence in the southeastern region of Nigeria. Since the beer entered into the beer market in 1981 through the Onitsha factory located in Anambra State, it has become the top beer brand, earning the title of Mmanya Oganiru, conferred on it by traditional rulers in the region.

Some beneficiaries of the entrepreneurial non-refundable grants Cumulatively, the initiative has supported over 1,000 small businesses, boosting services rendered and profits.

During the 2021 edition of its Progress Booster initiative, Life Lager visited 10 locations: Fegge, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Nsukka, Awka, Ikom, Umuahia, Abia, Nnewi, and Asaba.

Based on the impact of the Progress Booster initiative in improving lives and helping businesses to thrive, Kehinde Kadiri, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Brands of the Nigerian Breweries Plc., states, "It has been a delight to watch the Life Progress Booster initiative grow and help many businesses in the Southern part of Nigeria scale and achieve sustainability."

"The project is important considering the economic issues and rising rate of

unemployment in the country. This Life Progress Booster is a reminder that hard work always pays," she adds.

For each location, 10 winners received N200,000 grants each. The entrants were an eclectic range of enterprising individuals from various vocations ranging from hairdressing, fashion designing, and mechanics. Thousands of entries were collated, and entrants were screened to ascertain merits.

One of the entrants, Nwaje Esther, a fashion designer from Asaba, who lamented her inability to secure an industrial weaving machine, was overwhelmed upon hearing her name announced. Like the hundreds of entrants that applied for the grant, Esther went through each stage, pitching to the judges why she needed

Although all the applicants did not receive a grant, the selection system ensured the beneficiaries are the ones who needed it most. By boosting them financially, they impact their communities by employing people within the skill level they operate. In the absence of such grants, this would not have been feasible

the machine to help improve her efficiency, thereby attracting more clients.

"I started my business in April of 2021, here in Asaba, Delta State," she reveals to the judges.

"So far, there have been tremendous difficulties trying to meet the demand of my clients because I don't own an industrial weaving machine."

While Esther's story has changed for the better, a million more persons like her still require grants. That's why the Life Progress Booster initiative promises to remain a staple feature from Nigerian Breweries Plc. Mr Ezra Robinson, who solely runs a garri-making factory, Best Garri Production Factory, revealed he needed a generator. Other recipients included Emerebele Mmadu and Oghenemaroro Omoraka.

Although all the applicants did not receive a grant, the selection system ensured the beneficiaries are the ones who needed it most.

By boosting them financially, they impact their communities by employing people within the skill level they operate. In the absence of such grants, this would not have been feasible.

The Life Progress Booster is concerned with identifying the basic needs of businesses and supplying resources to activate the progress of communities. Six years, millions of naira disbursed, and thousands of entrepreneurs assisted, the Progress Booster initiative continues to empower the informal sector to diversify the economy in the face of falling oil prices.

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The PIA and Its Imperfections: Was Niger Delta Shortchanged?

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s The PIA and It as Niger W : s n io t c e f r e Imp ged? n a h c t r o h S a lt De

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Rainoil’s Petrol Station, Illegally Invaded by ASCON and Quest Oil Page V

‘We have always said that the issue of V.A.T. - it should be collected by the State, because it is the State that ought to tax its citizens in that area…..Some other taxes like stamp duty, the State may collect and share with the Federal Government.’ - Ezenwo Nyesom Wike CON, GSSRS, POS, Lawyer, Life Bencher, Governor of Rivers State, Federal Republic of Nigeria ‘3% is a pittance for those who suffer encumbrances of producing oil and the concomitant effects of ravage of the environment; the unpleasantness of heat coming from the fire, and also cancer and birth defects ravaging the people inhabiting the area, which they need to be compensated for.’ - Professor Akin Oyebode, Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence, Vice Chancellor, Ekiti State University (February, 2000 - January, 2004)

LawPavilion Partners With NBA to Provide Holistic Legal Research Tool Page V

Lawyers, Ethics, Values and Corruption in Nigeria Page VI

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2021

Kano Hisbah: A Clear and Present Danger?

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me."

Martin Niemöller, 1946

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his poem by Martin Niemöller, pretty much embodies the attitude of Nigerians to many things - we feel totally unconcerned about things which do not affect us directly, oblivious of the fact that one day, we too could be faced with a similar situation. “Boko Haram is in the North East, far away from me in Benin or Lagos, so it doesn’t concern me whether the military annihilates the insurgents or not; Maiduguri is also thousands of kilometres away from Owerri”. By the time insecurity gradually spread all over the country in different forms - whether by kidnapping, herdsmen crisis or otherwise, everyone suddenly felt concerned about insecurity. As far as religion is concerned, “they are operating Sharia law in the Northern States, I’m in Abeokuta, it doesn’t concern me”. But, it does! Because, gradually this is how it starts, and then it spreads like wild fire.

When you give the enemy an inch (in the context of this discussion, by enemy, I mean those who disobey the Constitution), he not only takes a yard, he takes uncountable miles. After all, there are plenty of Muslim faithfuls in the South West (both Northerners and Southerners), even in Edo State. Spurred on by the declaration of Sharia law by Zamfara State in 1999, in the early 2000s, there was a push for the establishment of Sharia Courts in Lagos. And, in 2002, a private arbitration panel, the Independent Sharia Panel of Lagos State (ISP) was established for Muslims to take their disputes to, for adjudication (there’s nothing wrong with that, as long as it is lawful).

The moral of Martin Niemöller’s poem, is that we should be our brother’s keeper and love our neighbours as ourselves; therefore, we must speak out, even if the injustice is not done to us directly, so that those who are directly affected are not consumed by the injustice; and in the event that injustice finally reaches us, there will still be others left to speak out and support us. I would go a step further to add that, we must also take into consideration our neighbours when we make certain decisions. It seems that Kano State Government/Kano State Hisbah Board (KSHB) has not taken the non-Muslims in Kano and their fundamental rights into consideration, nor the constitutional provisions, in issuing some of its directives.

1999 Constitution: The Grundnorm The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution) is the supreme law of our country, and is binding on all persons and authorities in Nigeria, including the KSHB (Section 1(1)). Furthermore, any other law that is inconsistent with this grundnorm, is void to the extent of its inconsistency (Section 1(3)). See AGF v Abubakar 2007 8 N.W.L.R. Part 1035 Page 117. I submit that, several of the KSHB and Sharia Court actions are inconsistent with the Constitution, and therefore, null and void ab initio. For example, sentencing Yusuf Sharif Aminu to death for blasphemy, when the Sharia court doesn’t have criminal jurisdiction in the first place (and the Holy Quran does not even prescribe the death penalty for blasphemy).

Section 6(6)(b) of the Constitution confers jurisdiction on the courts to determine all matters (except those excluded by Section 6(6)(c)). It is the duty of the courts to interpret the Constitution when called upon to do so, and to rule against any law that conflicts with the Constitution. Also see AG Ondo State v AGF 2002 9 N.W.L.R. Part 772 Page 222; Balonwu v Governor, Anambra State S.C.233/2008 2009 18 N.W.L.R. Part 1172 Page 13 at 39-40. I think the time has come for Constitutional Law gurus and Human Rights Activists to proceed to court to seek the interpretation of Sections 10, 38(1),(2) & (3), 262(1) & (2)(a)-(e), and 277(1) & (2)(a)-(e) of the Constitution once and for all, and for the courts to fulfil their constitutional mandate of nullifying the laws, directives and actions which conflict with the grundnorm, before the issue of religion becomes an additional catalyst that

community, Islamic law has a more unified system”. Customary law is not uniform, it is flexible and elastic, derived from the usages of a particular people. Islamic law is religious law.

It does not change. It is based on the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Hadith.

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive.com onikepob@yahoo.com Twitter: @TheAdvocate

The

Advocate “But, some of the activities of the KSHB are clearly unconstitutional, and we must speak out against them - first, as Nigerians, whether Muslim or Christian; second, as Lawyers, who in order to qualify to become legal practitioners, were all students of Nigerian Constitutional law…….” divides us as a country completely.

As far as I’m concerned, the constitutional provisions in respect of the jurisdiction of the courts are crystal clear and unambiguous.

But, since controversies have arisen with the observance of the Constitution in its breach, especially on the issue of Sharia law and the extent of its jurisdiction, questions like whether Sections 262, 277, 282 of Constitution endow Sharia and Customary Courts with criminal jurisdiction, must be answered. I have searched the Constitution high and low, and I have failed to find any provision in this document which confers Sharia and Customary Courts with criminal jurisdiction; because they simply are not vested with criminal jurisdiction. My dear colleagues, I stand to be corrected.

‘One Nigeria’ This is my country, Nigeria, and I firmly believe in 'One Nigeria' on the basis of respect for fundamental rights and the rule of law, equity, equality, equal opportunity and justice. I do not want to wake up one day, and become the last victim in Martin Niemöller's poem.

So, forgive me for being tiresome or repetitive or sounding like a broken record, but, I must be brutally honest when I say this issue of religion in Nigeria seems to be escalating, and if Government is not willing to put a stop to the illegality, we, the people should speak out and insist that it is unacceptable for

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje

religion to be anywhere other than where the Constitution, the grundnorm, allows it to be; if not, the consequences of non-adherence may be grave for us all. Religious disagreements and intolerance, can end up destroying any entity.

And in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country like ours, it is dangerous for Government to allow any one religion to take precedence over others when the Constitution donates no such rights, and maintains that neither our nation or any State is permitted to adopt a National or State religion.

A State religion, is simply a religion that is endorsed or favoured by the State. I need not bother to state the obvious - that the Northern States that are implementing Sharia law have endorsed Islam, and favoured this faith over and above all others. Here lies the issue - Islamic law does not separate State from religion, and that is why it can only be workable in a country where everyone is of the Muslim faith and there is a ‘consensus ad idem’ (meeting of the minds).

Customary Law and Islamic Law are different. It was the British by virtue of Section 2 of Native Courts Ordinance of 1914, that grouped Islamic law as Native law and custom. In Alkamawa v Hassan Bello & Anor 1998 6 SCNJ 127 the Supreme Court held that “Islamic law is not the same as Customary law, as it does not belong to any particular tribe. While Customary law differs from tribe to tribe, community to

Kano State Hisbah Board When it comes to some of the activities of the KSHB, you see that because there is no separation between the State and religion in the Muslim faith, the KSHB is trying to apply Sharia law to most facets of their lives seeing as Islam is a way of life. But, some of the activities of the KSHB are clearly unconstitutional, and we must speak out against them - first, as Nigerians, whether Muslim or Christian; second, as Lawyers, who in order to qualify to become legal practitioners, were all students of Nigerian Constitutional law at one time or the other, and are therefore, familiar with Section 10 of our Constitution which prohibits Nigeria or any State herein from adopting a National or State religion. The drafters of the Constitution, were wise enough to realise that adopting any religion, whether State or National, would not only be problematic, but result in the fundamental rights of citizens being breached, especially those who do not belong to whichever faith is adopted.

They went a step further to include Section 42 in the Constitution, which prohibits discrimination against any person on the basis of religion.

Recently, the KSHB banned the use of mannequins "to display clothes by tailors, supermarkets and boutique owners", in shops and even private homes in the State, on the ground that it violates Islamic provisions and could be a fertile ground for breeding immoral thoughts. Aside from the fact that Section 37 of the Constitution guarantees the privacy of citizens, their homes, correspondence, telephone and telegraphic communication, therefore, making it unconstitutional for Hisbah to decide that people cannot have mannequins in their homes, such pronouncement runs foul of Sections 16 and 41 of the Constitution, as such directive will impact negatively on the clothes selling business in Kano; and with the draconian directives that are being given these days, Southerners and non-Muslims who enjoy freedom of movement and have made their homes in Kano and other Sharia States through several generations, may be constrained to leave for more conducive environments, seeing as their fundamental rights are being infringed upon, more and more.

I have relatives who live in Kano; octogenarians, Christians, who have lived in Kano for over 50 years. That is their home. As the Hisbah directives get more and more stringent, there is pressure from family members for them to relocate down South. Are they expected to leave their life long home in Kano, and head to unfamiliar places like Lagos or Ibadan to start a new life at this age? What of the clothes sellers in Kano, whose businesses have been truncated with the clamp down on cosmopolitan wears which they sell, and now the ban on mannequins which is the tool used worldwide to advertise clothes for sale?

What about those that are arrested on the streets

by Hisbah for non-compliant haircuts, hairstyles and dressing?

Conclusion The bottom line is that, just as true Federalism is possibly the most appropriate system for a heterogeneous country like Nigeria as opposed to the Unitary system which we are running, so also political secularism (“separation of State from religious institutions”) is the best system to adopt in a multi-religious society like ours.

That does not preclude anybody, from practicing his or her religion. In fact, that is the spirit and purport of Section 38 of the Constitution - that every person is entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (as long as it is lawful), and to propagate same in worship, teaching, practice and observance.

Tribalism destroyed Rwanda in the 1990s. The incessant conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, apart from being political and territorial, is religious. By the time the other Sharia States decide to follow Kano and implement these directives, more non-Muslims and Southerners may be forced to relocate down South. If this happens, this may in turn, make the cries for secession louder. We should learn from the mistakes of others, instead of taking active steps towards a path, which we have observed from their own experiences, will only lead to destruction.

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2021 • T H I S D AY

Whether a Willing Beneficiary Can Challenge the Legality of the Transaction Facts The Appellant instituted an action against the Respondent, in which it sought against the Respondent, the recovery of the sum of N150 million which it deposited into its current account with the Respondent.

In reaction, the Respondent filed its statement of defence and urged the trial court to dismiss the claim for being ex facie illegal, and punishable by law. The case proceeded to trial, and in the course of the trial, counsel for the Appellant who also doubled as the Appellant’s attorney admitted in open court that the said sum had been effectively transferred and paid by the Respondent into the Appellant’s Union Bank Plc United Kingdom account. At the end of trial, the trial court delivered its judgement, in which it came to the conclusion the Appellant’s claim was devoid of merit and accordingly dismissed same.

Aggrieved, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, and affirmed the judgement of the trial court. The Appellant filed a further appeal at the Supreme Court.

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 19th day of February, 2021

Issues for Determination In its resolution of the appeal, the Supreme Court considered the following issues submitted for determination by the Appellant: 1. Whether the Court of Appeal was right in affirming the judgement of the trial court on pleaded facts of acts which are ex facie illegal and punishable by law.

2. Whether having regard to Sections 24, 34(1) and (2), 37(a) and (b), and 126 of the Evidence Act 2011 and the settled principle of Stare Decisis, the Court of Appeal was right in law to affirm the decision of the trial court which was anchored on evidence rendered inadmissible by law.

Arguments On the 1st issue, counsel for the Appellant argued that the culmination of all the facts pleaded by the Respondent in its statement of defence in the record of appeal, are on acts that are ex-facie illegal and punishable by law. He submitted that the transfer of the N150 million into the Appellant’s UK Union Bank account was done through ex facie illegal methods, and the Court of Appeal ought not to have close its eyes to the illegal transaction, but nullify it and affirm the Appellant’s claims.

In reaction, counsel for the Respondent argued that the allegations of ex facie illegality raised by the Appellant, were issues that were not raised at the trial court or at the court below by the Appellant. He argued that there was no specific pleading by the Appellant on the alleged illegality and no evidence was led in that regard, and the supposed illegality was only belatedly alluded to in the Appellant’s final written address and thereafter, sequel to the leave granted to it by the Apex Court to amend its notice of appeal. Counsel for the Respondent equally posited that from the documentary evidence

Before Their Lordships

Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta John Inyang Okoro Uwani Musa Abba Aji Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa Adamu Jauro Justices, Supreme Court SC.475/2014 Between PASSCO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED (SUING THROUGH ITS ATTORNEY – CHUKA IFEZUE)

APPELLANT

And UNITY BANK PLC

RESPONDENT

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa, JSC)

before the trial court, it was apparent that the Appellant had consented to, and authorised the transaction, and even furnished the names of the recipients of the funds in question. He submitted that having taken benefit of the funds, the only proper order the court could make would be an order compelling the Appellant to return the monies to the Respondent.

On the 2nd issue, counsel for the Appellant argued that the Appellant’s attorney’s oral admission relied upon by the trial court and upheld by the Court of Appeal, is ineffectual in law, in view of the fact that the beneficiaries of the manager’s cheques which the Respondent purported in its statement of defence to have been disbursed by the Appellant, were not called as witnesses

“…… it is against public interest to allow a person who has benefitted from an agreement, to turn around and claim that the agreement is illegal, null and void… the Appellant, having willingly had the N150 million transferred to its UK account, could not turn around under the alleged illegalities, to impugn the transaction’…”

during the trial.

On the other hand, counsel for the Respondent argued that by the provisions of Sections 20 and 21 of the Evidence Act, 2011, the admission made by the Appellant’s attorney in court was binding on the Appellant. He submitted that the oral admission of the Appellant’s attorney was admissible and rightly acted upon by the trial court, going by the provisions of Section 21 of the Evidence Act, 2011 that a statement made by a party to the proceedings or by an agent to any such party, whom the court regards in the circumstances of the case as expressly or impliedly authorised by him to make amounts to an admission.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale In its determination of the 1st issue, the Court held that an issue of fact cannot be rightly raised in counsel’s final address or brief as the case may be. The reason being that in a trial court, where pleadings are filed and exchanged, issues or questions of fact can only be raised in the pleadings of the respective parties.

The Court held that the defence of illegality being an issue of fact is not merely a matter of course, it must be expressly set forth (pleaded) in the response to the opponent’s pleadings. The Court further held

that a party who willingly and actively participated in some ex facie illegal or fraudulent transaction, cannot in law be granted a relief to the prejudice of the partner or co-conspirator thereof.

The Court placed reliance on OYEGOKE v IRIGUNA (2001) ALL FWLR (Pr. 75) 448 at 460 PARAGRAPH F and DIAMOND BANK LTD v UGOCHUKWU (2007) ALL FWLR (Pt. 384) 290 at 315-316, PARAGRAPHS A-B. The court as a court of equity and good conscience, has an onerous duty not to allow a party get away with what will amount to constructive fraud. Relying on NOCTION v LORD ASHBURTON (1914) AC 932 and AG FEDERATION v SODE (1990) NWLR (Pt. 128) 500, the court held that it is against public interest to allow a person who has benefitted from an agreement, to turn around and claim that the agreement is illegal, null and void.

The Court held that the issue of illegality was belatedly raised by the Appellant, the same not having being pleaded in the Appellant’s pleadings before the trial court. Furthermore, the Appellant, having willingly had the N150 million transferred to its UK account, could not turn around under the alleged illegalities, to impugn the transaction.

On the second issue, the Apex Court held that it is trite that in civil cases, admissions by a party are formidable evidence of facts asserted against, albeit not in favour of such party. Unless very cogent and credible explanations are given, thereby satisfying the court, such admissions should not be so regarded, due weight ought to be accorded thereto as such by the court. It is also an established doctrine, that a fact which is not denied by a party is deemed to have been admitted by such a party.

The Court held that the Appellant’s attorney’s admission in open court that the said sum was indeed remitted by the Respondent into the Appellant’s UK Union Bank Plc account was made freely and voluntarily, hence, it was relevant and rightly acted upon by the court. The Court referred to UBA PLC v JARGARBA (2007) 11 NWLR (Pt. 1045) 247. Having admitted receiving the said sum in its UK account, the Appellant could not come to the court to ask it to direct the Respondent to ensure that the Appellant’s account with the Respondent, from which the said sum was transferred, reflects the original balance of N150 million.

The Court held further that it is ludicrous that the Appellant was contending that the transactions leading to the said sum being transferred to its UK account were ex facie illegal, especially when such was not pleaded in their pleadings at the trial court. Equity will not allow the Appellant to challenge the legality of the transactions from which it has immensely benefitted.

The Court referred to its decision in the cases of BULET INT’L (NIG) LTD & ANOR. v OLANIYI & ANOR. (2017) LPELR - 42575 (SC); B. B. APUGO & SONS v OHMB (2016) LPELR - 40598 (SC).

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation Somtochukwu Ifezue, Esq. for the Appellant.

Victor U. Opara Esq. for the Respondent.

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

V NEWS

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2021

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Tanko Muhammad

MD LawPavilion, Ope Olugasa

MD, Rainoil, Gabriel Ogbechie

Rainoil’s Petrol Station, Illegally Invaded by ASCON and Quest Oil Rainoil Limited, the lawful owner of the property including the Petrol Station located at Block 36 Admiralty Way, Lekki, Lagos, acquired the property which was formerly owned by ASCON Oil Company Limited from Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, in exercise of the Bank’s right of sale under a duly registered Deed of Legal Mortgage. STANBIC’s Right of Sale pursuant to the Deed of Legal Mortgage was legally and duly triggered, after ASCON failed to pay their debts to the bank, and upon crystallisation, STANBIC duly appointed a Receiver Mr Olawale Akoni, SAN over the said assets of ASCON by STANBIC. The Receiver sought and obtained a subsisting Mandatory Order of the Federal High Court dated 15/5/20 in Suit No. FHC/L/ CS/567/2020 Olawale Akoni SAN v ASCON Oil Company Limited, via which order, the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Zone 2 Police Command, was mandated by the Court to grant Police Protection to the Receiver in the execution of his powers as duly appointed by STANBIC with respect to the said Property.

Consequently, and upon payment of the consideration sum for the purchase of the Property, STANBIC assigned and outrightly transferred all its interests, and rights over the said property to Rainoil Limited, by virtue of which Rainoil became the lawful and rightful owners of the Property, including Petrol Station. As new owners of the Property, Rainoil were put in vacant and peaceable possession by the Receiver on 20/5/20.

ASCON, being dissatisfied with the actions of the Receiver with the take over and sale of the said property, filed a motion at the Federal High Court to challenge the

acts of the Receiver and bank’s right to sell the said property to Rainoil, and to set aside the Mandatory Order of the Federal High Court.

On the 24/7/20, Justice Liman of the Federal High Court gave his ruling and validated the actions of the Receiver. He further posited that the prayer of ASCON to set aside, reverse, nullify and or suspend the steps taken pursuant to the actions and powers of the Receiver in the sale of the said property to Rainoil, can only be reversed or considered upon the institution of substantive suit. Suffice it to say that ASCON who are affiliated with Quest Oil, having failed in challenging the Ruling of the Federal High Court, have resorted to fraudulent and illegal means to deprive Rainoil of their legitimate proprietary rights, by making attempts to forcefully take over the property through fictitious and malicious means, notably on 4/8/20, 16/12/20 and more recently, on 13/8/21, when some unidentified Officers of ASCON and QUEST accompanied by 20 armed Mobile Policemen from the office of AIG, Zone 2, Onikan, in the company of hoodlums invaded the above mentioned property once again, under the guise of executing the same Ruling of the Federal High Court dated 24/7/20 per Liman J in the said case, which they have already appealed against. They unleashed acts of brigandage and malicious disruption of Rainoil’s business operations, including forcefully removing Staff dispensing petrol from the Forecourt, damaging property, the canopy, pylon signages, and illegally and forcefully seizing two Trucks loaded with 90,000 litres of petrol, belonging to Rainoil and parked within the premises.

Preceding the above, the office of the Commissioner of

Police Lagos State and AIG of Police Zone 2 Onikan, had written to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos on three occasions, requesting the court to confirm the order granted by Justice Liman in the said Suit No. FHC/L/ CS/567/2020 - Olawale Akoni (SAN) v Ascon Oil Company Limited and permission to execute. The Deputy Chief

Registrar in reply to their letters dated 4/8/21 and 9/8/21 respectively, replied to the request of the AIG, Zone 2, Onikan, and confirmed that the said Ruling of Justice Liman in the suit is valid and subsisting until it is set aside by the court; and that there are pending motions and a Notice of Appeal filed in respect of the aforementioned suit by ASCON; and

the fact that the Court Order has been executed, further establishes the Sheriff’s office cannot enforce/ execute the said order twice.

Consequently, it came as a shock to learn that the Police disregarded all responses of the Deputy Chief Registrar / Admiralty Marshal Sub, and opted to act in contempt of the court. More appalling is that there is no substantive court

order or legal justification for the actions of ASCON and Policemen from the office of the AIG, Zone 2, Onikan, including the forceful entry and unlawful repossession of Rainoil’s property.

The Federal High Court has since disassociated itself from this illegal act of brigandage and lawlessness, exhibited by the Police and Officers of ASCON and QUEST.

LawPavilion Partners With NBA to Provide Holistic Legal Research Tool The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olumide Akpata, over the weekend, unveiled the Association’s partnership with the foremost LegalTech company, LawPavilion to provide ‘an efficient legal research tool (“Primsol”)’ to members of the Association. This Partnership, according to the President, is the Association’s way of enhancing legal research, and the overall practice of its members.

Speaking further on the partnership, Ope Olugasa, the MD of LawPavilion Business Solutions, described the partnership as the LegalTech giant’s “Biggest Promo Ever”. He explained that through this partnership, beneficiaries would enjoy up to 97% discount off the annual subscription price

for its flagship product, LawPavilion Primsol, and to even top that, beneficiaries would also have easy access to mobile legal research via LawPavilion on WhatsApp. He observed that although the partnership amounted to up to 97% discount off one of its flagship products – LawPavilion Primsol; it is the company’s way of showing empathy with Africa’s largest Bar and the legal industry as a whole, on the recent chequered three-fold disruption: Covid, #EndSars and JUSUN Strike that has assailed the legal industry and Lawyers’ means of livelihood.

Shedding light on the nature of the partnership, Ope explained that the beneficiaries of this year’s partnership, just like last year, include legal practitioners between 1 - 7

years post-call, who have paid their practicing fees and branch dues on or before 31st of March, 2021. This category will be entitled to the NBALawPavilion professional leverage package for FREE. He expatiated that this year's partnership also includes other legal practitioners that are 8 years and above post-call, who have paid their annual Bar practicing fees and branch dues as and when due. This other category, Mr Olugasa explained, have the coupon to subscribe to the NBA-LawPavilion professional leverage package at up to 97% discount.

Mr Olugasa disclosed that the product offering for this year’s partnership is also more extensive, to accommodate all areas of legal research needs of both litigation and com-

mercial legal practitioners. He described what LawPavilion is offering beneficiaries of this partnership, as ‘holistic legal research tool’. He explicated that beyond the law report as we know it, the beneficiaries will have access to analytics, Precedents Forms and Agreements Templates with insight notes, Rules of Court, Regulations of the different MDAs in Nigeria, Commercial High Court Cases and Arbitration Rules, among others, as well as the Easy access to mobile legal research via WhatsApp. Mr Olugasa reiterated that the robust access that this partnership offers, is the company’s way of demonstrating its readiness to work with the legal industry for a tech-driven rebound.

CJN Urges Judicial Officers to Keep to the Law Steve Aya The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, has charged judicial officers and Kadis to be impartial in all their undertakings, and to conduct their affairs within the ambit of the law.

The CJN stated this while

swearing-in the acting Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf and five Kadis of the FCT Sharia Court of Appeal in Abuja.

While congratulating the newly appointed officers, Justice Muhammad admonished them to generously apply both human and

material resources at their disposal, devoid of sentiments The CJN also urged them not to allow the weight of their responsibilities, to weigh them down in the course of their stewardship.

The five new Kadis who were sworn-in were: Salisu Garba, Bashir Dan’Maisule, Muhammad Sadisu, Lawal

Sule and Abdullah Adam Al-llory.

Justice Baba-Yusuf was born on June 1st, 1962, in the Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.

He joined the services of the Judiciary in 1985 as a Magistrate Grade 2, and was appointed as a High Court Judge in 1998.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2021 • T H I S D AY

Dele Adesina, SAN

Lawyers, Ethics, Values and Corruption in Nigeria The Nigerian Bar and Bench, in the last few years, have been the object scathing criticisms, bordering on poor ethics and corruption. In this article, Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN, explicates the role of a legal practitioner and what is expected of us, while pointing out that the bad eggs within the profession, are in the minority Introduction

Dele Adesina, SAN Who is a Lawyer/Legal Practitioner?

T

he word Lawyer/Legal Practitioner can be used interchangeably. Lawyers are trained professionals in the knowledge and application of law. The Blacks Law Dictionary 10th Edition page 1021 defines the word “Lawyer” to mean “Someone who having been licensed to practice law, is qualified to advice people about legal matters, prepare contracts and other legal instruments and represent people in Court.” In Nigeria, we are not licensed, but we are “called to the Bar” by the Body of Benchers – the highest regulatory body in the profession.

The Body of Benchers is established by Section 3 of the Legal Practitioners Act CAP L11, Laws of the Federation 2010 (LPA).

Section 4(1) of the LPA provides as follows: “Subject to the provisions of this Section, a

person shall be entitled to be called to the Bar if a. He is a citizen of Nigeria b. He produces a qualified certificate to the Benchers c. He satisfies the Benchers that he is of good character A person who is not a citizen of Nigeria can also be called to the Bar once he produces a qualifying certificate to the Benchers, and he satisfies the Benchers that he is of good character by virtue of Section 4 (2).

Section 4(4) states that the Benchers shall issue to every person called to the Bar pursuant to sub sections 1 & 2 of this section, a certificate of Call to the Bar which shall be in such form as the Benchers may determine. You are either a Barrister/Advocate or a Solicitor.

On the definition of Legal Practitioner, the Supreme Court, per J.A. Fabiyi JSC (as he then was) in FBN Plc v Maiwada (2013) 5 N.W.L.R. 444 SC relying on Section 24 of the LPA stated as follows: “… Legal Practitioner means a person

“The Lawyer must go out beyond the narrow limits of the law….. Lawyers must never forget the fact that, by virtue of their calling, they are Social Engineers”

entitled in accordance with the provisions of the Act to practice as a Barrister or as a Barrister and Solicitor, either generally or for the purposes of any particular office or proceedings…”

In support of the foregoing, Section 2 (1) of the Legal Practitioners’ Act, Cap. L11, LFN, 2010 goes further to provide thus: “Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person shall be entitled to practice as a Barrister and a Solicitor, if and only if his name is on the roll”.

Ethics According to the Blacks Law Dictionary 10th Edition, at Page 670: “Ethics is a system of moral tenets or principles: the collective doctrines relating to the ideals of human conducts and characters.

Also, it is the study of behaviour as judged by moral rights or wrongs including the sources, principles and enforcement of behavioural standards”.

Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary simply defined the word Ethics at page 393 to mean “a system of moral principles or rules of behaviour”. The Legal Profession is a highly regulated Profession with profound rules of standard behaviour, the contravention of which is punishable either by warning, suspension from practice or outright striking-off from the role of legal practitioners, depending on the gravity of the offence.

Value The same Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary defined the word Value with reference to profession as distinct from monetary value at page 1319 to mean “moral or professional standards of behaviour.” At dictionary.cambridge.com, the word Value is defined as “the principles that help you to decide what is right and wrong, and

how to act in various situations”.

Corruption Corruption is the last key word of the topic under discuss. The word corruption hardly needs any introduction to the average Nigerian audience. According to dictionary.cambridge.com, Corruption means: “illegal, bad or dishonest behaviour, especially by people in positions of power”. Corruption is typified by dishonesty, exploitation or the misuse and abuse of public office, either directly or indirectly, for personal gains or unjust enrichment in negation of due process or established protocol.

The sitting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria once said that “if Nigeria fails to kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.” Corruption is a mountain that we must be brave enough to surmount, if Nigeria is to be a great nation.

Only the brave ever becomes great.

Let us hear the opinion of some leaders of thought on the subject-matter of corruption in Nigeria.

Our Courts have not failed to make epochal pronouncements, in total condemnation of this cankerworm called corruption.

For instance, Hon. Justice Uwaifo, JSC (as he then was) in the case of Attorney-General of Ondo State v Attorney-General of the Federation said pointedly that: “In foreign countries, Nigerians are recognised and regarded as corrupt people; unlike other nationals, no bank will allow Nigerians to open a bank account as of right. The Nigerian green passport, is synonymous with corruption…

National Newspapers are filled with stories of loots with money stashed in foreign banks.

The stolen resources lost by Nigeria through endemic corruption and abuse of office, have had inimical effect on the economy of the country...

The crisis which endemic corruption has triggered off in Nigeria certainly poses exceptional peril cont'd on page VII

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Lawyers, Ethics, Values and Corruption in Nigeria cont'd from page VI

to the economic, social and political stability, the national interest and integrity of Nigerian Nation…”.

These were the immortal words of the learned Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria when they were dealing with the interpretation and the nationwide application of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences ACT No. 4, 2000 which has now been replaced with the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2003. It was in this same case that the Supreme Court of Nigeria also held that “In our own situation, taking the issue of corruption and abuse of power nationally, will best serve the interests of all and the general welfare of Nigeria both nationally and internationally, because corrupt practices have become an overwhelming menace for Nigeria. It can therefore, not be left totally to individual States in Nigeria”.

The Legal Profession and the Society By our training and practice as Lawyers, we are given to appreciate the value of Democracy, as well as the virtues of Rule of Law and good governance. A Lawyer must therefore, not be restricted only to managing his affairs and/or solving the problems of his Clients. Otherwise, such a Lawyer will be justifying the age long criticism that Lawyers are guilty of extreme conservatism, with an unabashed preference for capitalism. He may even be accused of being guilty of primitive accumulation of wealth.

According to Kenneth Kaunda, former President of Zambia: “The Lawyer in a developing society must be something more than a practicing professional man; he must be more even than the champion of the fundamental rights and freedom of the individual. He must be, in the fullest sense, a part of the society in which he lives and he must understand that society, if he is to be able to participate in its development and the advancement of the economy and social well being of its members”.

And then the bombshell: “The Lawyer must go out beyond the narrow limits of the law, because while the law is the instrument through which the society is preserved in its shape and character, it is the reflection of the society”.

Lawyers must never forget the fact that, by virtue of their calling, they are social Engineers.

Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, a leading member of the profession and a foremost Senior Advocate of Nigeria, in a paper he delivered at the 2003 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, at Enugu said: “Lawyers, by virtue of their calling, are looked upon by the larger society sometimes for rescue operations, (figuratively speaking) especially when the society is in dire straits.

A good example is when a Nation is undergoing dictatorship, or civilian despotism”.

According to that very erudite and distinguished Judge, Hon. Justice I. C. Pats-Acholonu, JSC, CON of blessed memory: “The Lawyer of the 21st century, should be astute enough to defend the rights of man. The rights are fundamental because they were not given by men, but by God. It is the duty of the Lawyers to watch the observance of these rights with eagle eyes. It is therefore evident that, a modern Lawyer should be everything to everybody. His learning, his experience in human psychology, his understanding and appreciation of the frailties of mankind, will bring to bear on the problems that are bound to arise in future, as the society becomes more

NBA President, Olumide Akpata

and more complex”.

The Legal Profession, Ethics and Values A discussion on the importance of ethics of the legal profession cannot be considered, without making reference to the rules provided for in the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC).

Rule 1 of the RPC provides as follows: “A Lawyer shall uphold and observe the rule of law, promote and foster the cause of justice, maintain a high standard of professional conduct, and shall not engage in any conduct which is unbecoming of a legal practitioner”.

The purpose and relevance of RPC was stated in the case of Ikeme v Anakwe (2003) 10 N.W.L.R. 548 C.A where the Court of Appeal held that: “The rules of conduct in the legal profession, are designed to protect and preserve the high standard of professional ethics at the Bar”.

Rule 30 of the RPC also provides that: “A Lawyer is an officer of the court and, accordingly, he shall not obstruct, delay or adversely affect the administration of justice”.

Sequel to the provisions of the RPC and other relevant regulatory authorities guiding the ethical conduct of Lawyers, the duties of a legal practitioner in Nigeria can be distilled into three distinct parts: • The duties owed to his client; • The duties owed to the court; and • The duties owed to other Counsel.

Let me touch on these duties.

Duties of Counsel to his Client

“While it may not be contested that a few of the Judges are corrupt and I dare say that, they are very, very few in comparative terms, I wish to submit that very many Judges and Justices of our courts are not only honest and principled, but also are incorruptible”

This is the ultimate duty of any Counsel, as an Advocate. Before an Advocate can be held to be lawfully and properly performing his duties to his clients, the mandate of his client to him must always remain intact and in exercise of his apparent authority. He must demonstrate that the best interest of his client, is always uppermost in his mind. See the case of NNPC v Trinity Mills Insurance Brokers (2003) 9 N.W.L.R. 384 CA. A Counsel is a Minister in the temple of justice, and an officer of the court. Let me state that, this duty imposes the obligation on Counsel appearing in court as a Minister of Justice, to honestly disclose all facts favourable and unfavourable, as doing so will assist and guide the court in the judicious discharge of its judicial functions.

The point must be emphasised however, that as much as the Judex cannot speculate, so also must the Bar not put the Bench in a state of factual uncertainties of material facts in the case. See generally the case of Umar v Federal Republic of Nigeria & Ors (2020) LPELR – 5252449 SC. Conclusion Let us emphasise that a fair characterisation of a Legal Practitioner’s responsibility, is the fact that “he stands as a shield in defence of a right, and to ward off wrong”, in the words of the Supreme Court. In a profession charged with such responsibilities, there must be exerted those qualities of truth speaking, of a high sense of honour and of the strictest observance of fiduciary responsibility.

The Supreme Court in applying the above principle to the conduct of a Counsel undergoing a disciplinary proceeding in the case of NBA v Monyel (2013)N.W.L.R. Pt 1386 Page 454 at 466 asked the following questions: “Which of the above qualities can the Respondent, given the litany of his tendentious, shameless, unabashed contrivance, said to possess? He is neither a shield in the defence of right, nor with this kind of character ward off any wrong. With a man of this kind of sly character like the Respondent, where lies the quality of truth in him? Is the word “honour” not a strange bed fellow with the Respondent? Given his elaborate attempt to cover up the recovery of part of the debt he was contracted to recover, can anyone credit him with an iota of fiduciary responsibility or fidelity?”

Allegation of Corruption Historically, Judges were seen as Caesar’s wife living above board. According to Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, past President of

Nigerian Bar Association: “It was very unusual in the past, in fact, a taboo, to accuse a Judge of corruption. In a research done some years ago in respect of British Judges, it was found out that, whereas, the Judiciary of Britain is several centuries old, only one allegation of corruption was made against a Judge, and same was proven to be frivolous when investigated. Today, we live in the unimaginable situation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) applying the big stick of dismissing some of our Judges, suspending some, and admonishing others for proven cases of corruption”.

The general perception today, most unfortunately, is that the judiciary of Nigeria is corrupt. It is on record that some Judges in this country, once stood trial for one form of allegation or the other.

Very recently, in a publication titled: “Senate Leader Accuses Wealthy Nigerians of Buying Court Judgements”, the Senate leader of the 8th National Assembly had this to say at a plenary session: “Ours is a society where people who have so much money buy judgements”.

I ask, is the judiciary of Nigeria corrupt? Or some of the Judges in the Nigeria Judiciary?

Are these statements one and the same thing?

I do not think so. While it may not be contested that a few of the Judges are corrupt - and I dare say that, they are very, very few in comparative terms, I wish to submit that very many Judges and Justices of our courts are not only honest and principled, but also are incorruptible.

We must all rise up to refute this perception and stigmatisation of the Nation’s Judiciary, as a corrupt Judiciary. Perception can become real - more than reality, and even more dangerous is when perception attempts to change the reality, as we are being made to believe in Nigeria.

The truth about the Judiciary of this country, is that it continues to live up to its historic and constitutional responsibilities.

We must not be helpless, otherwise we become captives of a situation we did not create. The corrupt ones must be located and be shown the way out; and the men and women of discipline, principle and integrity must be openly commended. I believe in purification rather than condemnation, in order to help ourselves and the nation.

The Profession of Law, is a Profession of leadership. It is first among equals. It is a noble profession, and the members of it must be noble men and women of high ethical standards, and high moral and superior value. That is the Profession you are aspiring to. I cannot wait to welcome you.

Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN, former NBA General Secretary

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2021 • T H I S D AY

President Muhammadu Buhari

The PIA and Its Imperfections: Was Niger Delta Shortchanged?

After so many years of waiting for the Petroleum Industry Bill to be passed, most Nigerians, especially in the Niger Delta, expected a near perfect law from the National Assembly (NASS) that would assuage their worries and address age long concerns about lack of infrastructural development in the area, and environmental pollution/ degradation, resulting in a loss of livelihood for many, and chronic ailments like cancer and birth defects emanating from oil exploration and production activities. Last month, the PIB was finally passed into law by the NASS, and speedily assented to by the President. Alas! the newly enacted Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has not met the expectations of many, nor does it seem to have addressed the concerns of Niger Deltans that have caused them to weep over the last few decades. For many, it’s not a case of how long, but, how well; and, disappointed, they are already talking about amendments to the PIA, even before the ink with which President Buhari signed the PIB into law, is dry. In this discourse, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Senator Ndoma Egba, SAN, Norrison Ibinabo Quakers, SAN, Chief Layi Babatunde, SAN, Professor Andrew I. Chukwuemerie, SAN, Abubakar Sani, Chief Dan Orbih and Tolu Aderemi weigh in on the contentious piece of legislation, pointing out its many imperfections and how to possibly address them, while Taiwo Oyedele points out 20 highlights of the new law

The New Petroleum Industry Act: Robbing Peter to Pay Paul Chief Mike Ozekhome OFR, SAN, Ph.D

T

he PIB just assented to as an Act of Parliament by President Muhammadu Buhari, is a mere ruse, a monstrosity, an artifice and device, carefully crafted, incubated and delivered, to actually do irretrievable violence to Nigeria's progress and juris corpus. The Act constitutes a direct assault on the age-long cherished principles of Federalism and the Doctrine of Separation of Powers, most ably propounded in 1748 by Baron

de Montesquieu, a great French philosopher.

Unconstitutionality The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) seeks to frontally attack the provisions of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution, which state that all revenues accruing to the Federation shall be paid into a Federation account from which sharing shall be made amongst the three tiers of Government – the Federal Government, the 36 State Governments and the 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria. No expenditure can be made by the Federal Government, outside the provisions of Section 162. Nor can any monies be expended without going through an Appropriation Bill, through submission of budgetary proposals. See Sections 80- 84 of the Constitution. To the extent that the Act seeks to redesign the provisions of the Constitution (the fons et origo, grundnorm, Oba, Eze and Emir

“How can the Federal Government alone have shares in the only viable milk industry of Nigeria, to the total exclusion of the other three tiers of Government, major stakeholders, oil-bearing communities and the longsuffering people of the Niger Delta?”

of all our laws), to that extent is the Act unconstitutional. It must therefore, be struck down with the constitutional sledge hammer of Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

NNPC In a sane clime, Nigeria's only surviving cash cow, the NNPC, ought to be totally unbundled to make it more viable, productive, transparent and accountable to the Nigerian people. But, alas, most curiously, the Act has further strengthened NNPC's hand of non-accountability and non-responsibility.

How can the Federal Government alone have shares in the only viable milk industry of Nigeria, to the total exclusion of the other three tiers of Government, major stakeholders, oil-bearing communities and the long-suffering people of the Niger Delta?

How can an Act of Parliament, rather than assuage and ameliorate the sufferings of a beleaguered people, further compound them by reaffirming the people's perilous status as slavish hewers of wood, drawers of water, masseurs of ego and sideline onlookers in the exploitation and use of their God-given wealth through their natural resources? The Act is nothing but, a mere totalitarian and draconian piece of legislation designed to rob Peter to pay Paul.

The Act is a deliberate design by state captors, to further their egoist and bacchanalian self-interests. It was never designed

to reform an institution such as the NNPC, nor passed to advance the principles of Federalism or Doctrine of Separation of Powers. It is most egregious, expropriatory and unfair to States, Local Government Areas, and the suffering masses of the oil- bearing communities of the Niger Delta area of Nigeria. The panacea? Simple. The 36 States Attorneys-General should Immediately approach the Supreme Court, and challenge this latest Federal Government's impunity and the outrageous acts of executive lawlessness and legislative rascality we are beholding, by invoking the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction under Section 233(1) of the 1999 Constitution. That is the way to go. Allowing the Act to stay will further cement the present misguided Unitary system of government that Nigeria is currently operating, under our thinly garnished disguise of a pseudo-Federalism.

Chief Mike Ozekhome OFR, SAN, Ph.D

‘The PIA Must be Amended’ Senator Ndoma-Egba, SAN The Senate had in her version of the Bill, provided 3% for Host Communities, while the House of Representatives in her version provided for 5%. For a region devastated, despoiled, and totally polluted, one would have expected that

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2021

The PIA and Its Imperfections: Was Niger Delta Shortchanged? the higher figure of 5% will be adopted, in the harmonised version of the Bill. Surprisingly, the lower figure was taken. This is evidence of failure of “politics”. There was a failure in engagement of stakeholders of the Region, the Governors, NASS members, Ministers, Traditional Rulers, the APC caucus and others.

The legislative processes are inherently political and require lobbying, horse-trading and strategic engagement. The Region should have learnt from how the NDDC and the Allocation of Revenue (Abolition of Dichotomy in the Application of the Principle of Derivation) Act were passed, and used the experience as a template for engagement.

These Bills were critical to the Region, and the necessary reach out was done with the Governors of the zone at the time in the forefront. NASS members from the Region on their own, are constrained in how far they can go with such an important Bill. Having said so, since there is no perfect law, the Region can still do the needful to get a better deal, through an amendment to the just passed Petroleum Industry Act. The percentage provided for the host communities is important; but, more important is the use to which it is put and the mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability in the application of the funds. We have seen a number of historic interventions in the Region from OMPADEC, NDDC, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the Amnesty Programme and Ogoni Cleanup. They have all failed. For as long as you do not have a solid stakeholder generated Masterplan for the Region to which all commit, more money will be like pouring more water into a basket.

The most important reason why the impacts of the interventions have been very limited, is the absence of a Regional Master Plan. Without one, there can be no meaningful development of the Region, the percentage for Host communities notwithstanding.

Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba OFR, CON, SAN Leader of the 7th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and former Chairman, NDDC

PIA: Unresolved Issues of Resource Control and True Federalism Norrison Quakers, SAN Since the signing into law of the Petroleum Industry Act (hereinafter referred to as - PIA) on 16th August, 2021 to provide for a legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, the criticism expressed in some quarters about the role of the legislative bomb in addressing the myriad of problems confronting our fatherland, is best summarised by - agitations for Resource Control and true Federalism. This equally explains concerns over the 3% Settlor's annual operating expenditure to be dedicated to the Host Community Trust Funds, as captured in Section 240(2) of the PIA vis-a-vis the 30% fund for the frontier basin exploration development.

It is on this footing that - the removal of the requirement to transfer payments into the Federation Account which is a Constitutional issue, and the setting aside of 30% profit as the Frontier Exploration Fund under Sections 9(4), (5) and 64(c) of the PIA require judicial pronouncements to resolve, since all legislations inclusive of this novel subject Act derive their validity from the fons et origo of other laws, being the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), and as such, must not be inconsistent with same.

In the same vein, since the oil and gas industry is the mainstay of the country today, succinctly it

Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN

is not out of place from an equitable point of view, for host communities bearing the brunt of oil exploration activities to clamour for an increased percentage contribution from actual operating expenditure of companies granted an oil prospecting licence, or mining lease, or an operating company, in addition to the existing contribution of 3% to the NDDC under the NDDC Act, so long as same is not mismanaged by the concerned States.

Further, the public sector which the NNPC exemplifies, represents the realm where the Government operates for the benefit of the citizenry, hence, a restriction of NNPC’s ownership under Section 50 of PIA which stipulates that ownership of all her shares shall be vested in Government and held by the Ministry of Finance on behalf of Government upon her being transformed into a Limited Liability Company, without States constituting the Federation being allotted a stake in her ownership structure leaves much to be desired, particularly when extrapolated against the background of various regional agitations with far reaching security consequences.

Considering the transmutations the Act underwent as a foetus, one would have expected a rather soothing sigh of relief from States constituting the Federal Republic of Nigeria upon her nativity, with a promise of annual commemoration; regrettably, these shortfalls are not to be termed - ‘much ado about nothing’.

Despite these grey areas, the NASS and the Presidency deserve commendation for the eventual passage of the landmark legislation, to timeously safeguard the long-term macroeconomic stability of the country, reform the extractive industry’s institutional framework, and to provide better clarity for Nigeria's economic development, considering the importance of a framework for creating commercially oriented and profit driven petroleum entities in accordance with international standards.

Norrison Ibinabo Quakers, SAN, Con-

“….. the Act failed to deal with the ambiguity, arising from integrating the host communities and the pipeline bearing communities. That ambiguity may ultimately result in conflict, as to who the beneficiaries of the 3% Host Community Trust Fund should be”

Senator Ndoma-Egba, SAN

stitutional Lawyer, Lagos

Etc

'PIA: Accord Host Communities their Lawful Due'

Professor Andrew I. Chukwuemerie, SAN

Chief Layi Babatunde, SAN In spite of the very strong reservations expressed for good reasons by the leaders of the affected host communities, on the provisions of Section 240(2) of the PIA as it relates to the Operating companies in the affected host communities, making an annual contribution of an amount equal to 3% of its actual annual operating expenditure of the preceding financial year in the upstream petroleum operations affecting the host communities, the provision, to the extent that it constitutes an admission of a problem that needs to be comprehensively addressed in spite of previous efforts, provides a work in process. Foundation, upon which to build.

However, the law as it stands will take a good measure of good faith and transparent commitment on the part of the operating companies, particularly the IOCs, and eternal vigilance on the part of the host communities, even for its minimal objectives to be attained.

For one, to the extent that the Operators/ Settlors, who are to contribute the funds are also given the powers to more or less constitute the Board of Trustees that will administer the funds and also appoint the Secretary to the Board, it may constitute a present danger to the interest of the host communities.

In the same vein, it will not be an easy task, determining the ‘actual annual operating expenditure’ of the Operators as provided for the Act; especially against the background of the exclusion clause provided for under Section 257 (3) of the Act; dealing with costs of repairs of damaged or vandalised facilities or sabotage given that alleged sabotage of oil facilities, has remained a cat and mouse affair between the Operators and the host communities over the years. One can only hope, that all the affected parties, will see the wisdom of acting in the greater good of all concerned.

Chief Layi Babatunde, SAN, Multiple Legal Author, Publisher of Lawbreed Weekly Law Reports

'Sort Insight on 3% Funding for Petroleum Host Communities Development Trust'

History of the PIB Efforts for the reform of the ailing Petroleum Industry in Nigeria began in the year 2000 when the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo, constituted the Oil and Gas Implementation Committee (OGIC). Its recommendation birthed the National Oil Policy of 2004, which in turn metamorphosed into the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). The PIB was introduced in 2008 as an Executive Bill by the President Umaru Musa Yar’adua’s administration. The Bill proposed a 10% Dedicated Fund, for the development of host communities. In September, 2020 President Buhari resubmitted the Bill as an Executive Bill to the National Assembly, with some adjustments.

The Challenges of the 3% Payment into the Trust Fund The PIB as passed by the House of Representatives retained 5% of the annual operating expenditure of the settlor, to be paid into the Trust Fund.

However, the Senate in its section-by-section consideration of the Bill, opted to reduce it to 3%. This was after the Senate had briefed the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, who canvassed that 3% amounts to about half a billion dollars. There is a need to create an enabling environment, so as to attract investors into the industry.

It is therefore simple logic that, if there are no investments there will be nothing to share.

In effect, if the fortunes of the oil companies improve, there will certainly be opportunities for improvement in their obligations to the communities. Otherwise, if there is an imposition of what may be difficult or impossible for them to pay, there will be friction, which, in the end will undermine the target goals and objectives.

It is therefore appropriate, to seek to exploit the inherent benefits of the legislation, particularly in the areas of foreign direct investments and wealth creation through a viable rural economy.

And apart from the dividends accruable to the communities, the overall Government revenue is to be shared among the tiers of Government, for developmental activities.

The core area of misgiving is the wellbeing of the host communities, who suffer the direct impact of oil and gas production activities; as such, the allocation of 3% of the Oil and Gas companies profit, or annual operating expenditure as contained in Section 240(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 (PIA). It is unjust to say the least, considering the fact that the same PIA in Section 9(4) approved 30% of the NNPC Limited’s profit for ‘Frontier Exploration Fund’. The fund is to be used for exploration purposes, in areas where there are suspected oil in existence or cont'd on page X

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availability.

This position simply means that the Legislature is more concerned in exploration of areas where it is believed that there could be oil deposits, such as the Lake Chad Basin. This seems not to take equal care of the host communities of the Niger Delta region, who suffer the impact of actual oil exploration, from which the Fund is to be distributed amongst host communities and the Frontier Exploration Fund. It looks more like taking from Peter to pay Paul.

Another challenge with the allocation of the 3%, is the fact that the PIA equally placed the responsibility of protecting the pipeline and other oil infrastructure on the host communities. It also makes it a condition for the host communities, to forfeit their entitlements under Section 240(2) of the Act as such. This seems to place the protection of oil installations, in the hands of unarmed host communities. It is hardly realistic as oil theft is mostly carried out by armed cartel hence.

Other Provisions of the PIA Section 257(2) of the PIA is most unfortunate, as it clearly amounts to giving in one hand and taking back through another. This is made more difficult, as the Act failed to deal with the ambiguity, arising from integrating the host communities and the pipeline bearing communities. That ambiguity may ultimately result in conflict, as to who the beneficiaries of the 3% Host Community Trust Fund should be. There is an urgent need, to amend the just assented PIA. It may be good to state that under the PIA, any company granted an Oil Prospecting Licence or Mining Lease or an operating company on behalf of joint venture partners (settlor) is required to contribute 3% - 5% (upstream Companies) and 2% (other companies) of its actual operating expenditure, in the immediately preceding calendar year to the Host Communities Development Trust Fund. This contribution is in addition to the existing contribution of 3% to the NDDC. The Fund is tax exempt, and any contributions by a settlor is tax deductible.

The PIA also creates a Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission. It is responsible for the technical and commercial regulation of the upstream petroleum operations. The Act also creates the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, which is responsible for the technical and commercial regulation of the midstream and downstream operations in Nigeria. The Commission and Authority are also exempted from tax.

Professor Andrew I. Chukwuemerie, SAN, FCIArb (UK), FICIArb

Petroleum Industry Act, 2021: An Opportunity Missed?

Abubakar Sani Legitimate Concerns The signing into law by President Muhammadu Buhari of the much-touted Petroleum Industry Bill has attracted mixed reactions, with the greatest reservations being expressed (predictably) by host communities of oil installations who regard the 3% derivation provision as not going far enough – with others questioning the classification of areas where oil pipelines merely traverse, as ‘oil-producing’. Yet, others point out the seeming silence of the Act on so-called ‘cleaner’ fuels, given the global shift to such alternatives. State Governors have also weighed in with calls for correction of allegedly anti-fiscal Federalism provisions of the Act. All these concerns are, to varying degrees, legitimate.

Subsidy

Norrison Quakers, SAN

However, a greater worry, in my opinion, is the subsequent confirmation by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Silva, that the new law will make no difference to the age-long practice of subsidising petroleum products - specifically, PMS, Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called Petrol. This is unfortunate, in my view, as everyone agrees that the single greatest hindrance to reversing the imbalance between recurrent and capital expenditure in both Federal and State budgets, is the fuel subsidy regime.

That practice continues to date, and it has been sustained in an opaque and uneconomic framework which defies both legal and constitutional prescriptions. Just what statute underpins/undergirds or justifies petroleum subsidisation? Is it the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency Act, the Price Control Act, the Constitution, mere executive fiat or any combination of some of them?

Beyond the first, it is shockingly unclear.

However, even that suffers from the absence of the constitutional condition precedent of the designation of petroleum products as “essential commodities” - vide Item 62(e) of the Exclusive Legislative List.

Far from the PPPRA Act, to my mind, the relevant applicable law is the Price Control Act of 1977, which - notwithstanding the non-designation of petrol as essential as aforesaid - would, if applied, have fortuitously eliminated fuel subsidies. Simply at the stroke of a pen. This is because the provisions of Section 5 of the Act envisage the application of economic principles in fixing petrol prices (which, by virtue of Section 6(1) of the erstwhile Petroleum Act, 1969, the Minister of Petroleum is authorised to do. Curiously, the new Act appears to have done away with this provision). Be that as it may, Section 5 of the Price Control Act provides thus: (1) The Board may by notice published in the Gazette – (a) Fix a basic price for any controlled commodity in accordance with subsection (2) below; and

“The percentage provided for the host communities is important; but, more important is the use to which it is put and the mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability in the application of the funds”

Professor Andrew I. Chukwuemerie, SAN

(b) Fix the permitted variation for that commodity in respect of any State in accordance with subsection (3) below.

(2) The basic price is the price which is the opinion of the Board properly represents – (a) in the case of goods produced in Nigeria, the cost of production of the commodity, plus the manufacturer’s profit; and (b) in the case of imported goods, the duty-paid landed cost in Nigeria, plus the importer’s profit.

(3) The permitted variation, in relation to any particular commodity, is the amount representing transport and other costs, plus the distributor’s profit which in the opinion of the Board ought properly to be added to the basic price in order to represent a fair controlled price (wholesale or retail, as the case may be) in any State.

It can be seen that Section 5 of the Act obliges the Government to pass the cost of producing/refining/importation and customs duty on fuel (and even of bridging, i.e., supplies to the hinterland) to the consumer at the pump – along with the importer/producer or marketer’s profit.

It is evident that this prescription not only makes economic sense, it is sustainable in the long term.

It is important to stress that, what Item 62(e) of the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution provides for is “price control” - not subsidisation; they don't mean the same thing. This is because whereas subsidies are monies paid by the Government to reduce the cost of producing goods in order to keep their prices low, the Constitution gives no such power to the National Assembly - and, thus, the Executive is under no such obligation. In the circumstances, it is, frankly, a mystery that the latter persists in whining about declining revenues and the unsustainability of fuel subsidies, whilst the solution is right there staring it in the face.

Abubakar D. Sani, Legal Practitioner, Kano

allocation of 3% to the oil-bearing communities in the new law.

The Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) has shown, by its hurried assent to the disputed Bill, that it did not mean well for the South-South.

Stakeholders in the South-South region have taken a critical look at the Petroleum Industry Bill recently enacted into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, and note very painfully that it is insensitive to the plight and demands of the people of the Niger Delta who have, over the years, witnessed the destruction of their lands through oil exploration and production.

One considers the concession of 3% to oil producing communities as mere tokenism, and a brazen act of injustice which must reviewed without delay.

The President’s hasty endorsement of the Bill, while ignoring its implications for restiveness in the zone, showed his usual disdain for rigorous debate and tacky attitude towards issues of sustainable development. The rush to sign into law an unwholesome Bill still in disputation is not a surprise, because the President has always shown his disdain for rigorous debate in matters of sustainable development.

The South-South Region could become a ground for renewed agitations and heightened tension, as restive youths mobilise for total resource control in the face of perceived injustice and inequity. For as long as injustice persists, let the Government take heed that the clamour for total resource control will continue, as we cannot give up on what is rightfully ours.

Niger Delta youths must remain calm and make their agitations peaceful. The South-South should continue to demand justice, equity and fairness, and should legally resist any attempt to subjugate the region economically, politically and socially. Nigeria should hold fast to a better and progressive Niger Delta built on honour, justice and equity.

Chief Dan Orbih, National Vice Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party

Host Communities’ Buhari’s Assent to the Unrest: Is the PIA PIB: A Brazen Injustice a Breather? to South-South Chief Dan Orbih The Petroleum Industry Act recently signed

by President Muhammadu Buhari is not only insensitive, but a brazen act of injustice.

The President has stayed true to character, by choosing to ignore the huge outcries of the people of the South-South over the meagre

Tolu Aderemi

The signing of the Petroleum Industry Bill into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, has been heralded as a quantum leap for Nigeria on the regulation of the oil and gas industry. It is thought that the PIA will revolutionise business activities cont'd on page XI

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The PIA and Its Imperfections: Was Niger Delta Shortchanged?

Chief Layi Babatunde, SAN cont'd from page X

in the upstream, midstream and downstream sub-sectors of the oil and gas industry, by providing a framework that incentivises investments and establishes regulatory best practices.

The historic signing of the PIA, notwithstanding the issue of compensation of the host communities for the years of degradation, continues to be an albatross for the new PIA. Civil societies and pressure groups in the Niger Delta, have continued to label the provision on the derivatives for the host communities as a cheat on them.

This article examines whether indeed, the 3% host community fund is a game changer in the endless agitation of oil producing communities for a fairer share in what they believe is their commonwealth.

History of Failed Host Community Compensation Schemes The regional concerns of the host community(ies) is rooted in the history of institutional failure, environmental degradation, socio-economic deprivations and violent agitations for resource control. Perhaps, a look into its chequered history will reveal some of the remote and immediate cause(s) of agitations for host community recognition and compensation, in the scheme of things.

In 1961, the Nigerian Government birthed the Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB), with the mandate to develop the region with a 15% revenue contribution from its budget. Although it successfully executed about 358 contracts, its success was short-lived as its operations became characterised with inefficiency, mismanagement, political interference and militancy.

In 1972, the Niger-Delta River Basin Development Authority (RBDA) was established to replace the NDDB, but also suffered a similar plague like its predecessor, and was soon to be replaced with the Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), which was established by the General Ibrahim Babangida’s military government under Decree No. 23 of 1992, and provided for the 13% derivation pursuant to the Allocation of Revenue (Federation Account) (Amendment Act No. 106 of 1992), for the rehabilitation and development of the host communities based on the ratio of oil production, and not on the basis of dichotomy of on-shore or off-shore oil production.

Like its predecessors, OMPADEC also failed.

In 2000, former President Olusegun Obasanjo birthed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) who levies 3% from the IOCs. The International Oil Companies (IOCs) also entered into bilateral Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMOU), and despite all of this, the region remains plagued with acute under-development.

The philosophy underpinning the percentage share to the host communities, can be traced to the proposal made in the first draft of the PIB under

Abubakar Sani

Chief Dan Orbih

late Petroleum Minister, Dr Rilwanu Lukman.

The then Special Adviser to President Yar’adua, Eng. Emmanuel Egboga, had championed the need to give the host communities ownership and control of the resource. This was at a time when 10% equity was voted in favour of the host communities. The reasoning at this time, though misconceived, was to give the host communities ownership and control of the resource in situ. Unfortunately, this was not in tandem with the laws governing the sector, as ownership of the resource was exclusively in the hands of Government.

One main criticism of this proposal was that the allocation to the host community, a faceless entity, would only amount to a misappropriation of these funds, as was with other initiatives. Secondly, where a cash-call was made on the parties to fund exploration and production of crude oil, to the extent that there is no entity known as the host community, it would be impossible to hold anyone responsible for any such payment.

Put simply, it was utterly impossible to give equity to a host community.

Today, the PIA has put in place a structured machinery that prescribes the domiciliation of the funds, the administration of the funds and a mechanism to measure performance.

The host communities, under the PIA, will also have an input in determining persons who will administer these funds.

The National Assembly must however, embark on a post-legislative advocacy of the benefits of the Act in the host communities, while the Federal Government should set up a monitoring task force to ensure strict compliance.

Tolu Aderemi, Partner, Perchstone & Graeys LP, Lagos, Nigeria

The PIA: Top 20 Changes You Should Know!

Taiwo Oyedele The PIB seeks to provide a legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry and development of Host Communities. It contains Five Chapters, 319 Sections, and Eight Schedules.

Below are the key changes: Chapter 1 – Governance and Institutions 1.The key objective is ensuring good governance and accountability, creation of

“The key objective is ensuring good governance and accountability, creation of a commercially oriented national petroleum company, and fostering a conducive business environment for petroleum operations”

Tolu Aderemi

a commercially oriented national petroleum company, and fostering a conducive business environment for petroleum operations.

2. Creation of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, responsible for the technical and commercial regulation of the upstream petroleum operations; and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, responsible for the technical and commercial regulation of the midstream and downstream operations in Nigeria. The Commission and Authority are exempted from the provisions of any enactment relating to the taxation of companies, or Trust Funds.

3. Imposition of up to 1% levy on the wholesale price of petroleum products sold in the country (0.5% each for the Authority Fund and Midstream Gas Infrastructure Fund).

4. Incorporation of a commercial and profit focused NNPC Limited under CAMA within six months from commencement of the new law, with ownership vested in the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (and Ministry of Petroleum Incorporated) on behalf of the Federation to take over assets, interests and liabilities of NNPC. This structure is expected to pave the way for the eventual sale of shares to Nigerians.

5. Any assets, interest and liabilities not transferred to NNPC Limited will remain with NNPC until extinguished or transferred to the Government, after which NNPC shall cease to exist. Transfer and sale of the shares are subject to approval by the Government, and endorsement by the National Economic Council.

6. NNPC Limited will earn 10% of proceeds of the sale of profit oil and profit gas as management fee, while 30% will be remitted to Frontier Exploration Fund for the development of frontier acreages in addition to 10% of rents on petroleum prospecting licences and mining leases.

Chapter 2 – Administration 7. The main objective is to promote the exploration and exploitation of petroleum resources in Nigeria for the benefit of the Nigerian people, and promote sustainable development of the industry, ensure safe, efficient transportation and distribution infrastructure, and transparency and accountability in the administration of petroleum resources in Nigeria.

8. Avoid economic distortions and ensure a competitive market for the sale and distribution of petroleum products and natural gas in Nigeria; and avoid cross-subsidies among different categories of consumers.

9. The Commission is required to develop a model licence and model lease, to include a carried interest provision giving NNPC Limited the right to participate up to 60% in a contract.

Chapter 3 – Host Communities Development 10. The main objective is to foster sustainable prosperity within host communities, provide direct social and economic benefits and enhance harmonious co-existence.

11. Any company granted an oil prospecting licence or mining lease or an operating company on behalf of joint venture partners (settlor), is required to contribute 3% – 5%

(upstream Companies) and 2% (other companies) of its actual operating expenditure in the immediately preceding calendar year to the host communities development trust fund. This is in addition to the existing contribution of 3%, to the NDDC. The Fund is tax exempt, and any contributions by a settlor is tax deductible.

12. Board of trustees and executive members of the management committee may include persons of high integrity and professional standing, who may not necessarily come from any of the host communities.

13. Available funds are to be allocated 75% for capital projects, 20% as reserve and 5% for administrative expenses. However, a community will forfeit the cost of repairs in the event of vandalism, sabotage and other civil unrest causing damage to petroleum facilities or disruption of production activities.

Chapter 4 – Fiscal Framework 14. The key objective is to establish a progressive fiscal framework that encourages investment in the Nigerian petroleum industry, provides clarity, enhances revenues for the Government while ensuring a fair return for investors.

15. FIRS to collect Hydrocarbon Tax of 15% – 30% on profits from crude oil production, CIT at 30% and Education Tax at 2% which will no longer be tax deductible. The Commission will collect rents, royalties, and production shares as applicable, while the Authority will collect gas flare penalty from midstream operations. Late filing of tax returns will attract N10m on the first day and N2m for each subsequent day the failure continues. A N20m fine is applicable to an offence, where no penalty is prescribed.

16. Generally, expenses must be wholly, reasonably, exclusively and necessarily incurred to be tax deductible. However, a cost price ratio limit of 65% of gross revenue is imposed for hydrocarbon tax deduction purposes; any excess cost incurred may be carried forward.

17. No tax deduction for head office costs, while tax deduction of interest on monies borrowed is subject to the satisfaction of the Commission that the fund was employed for upstream operations and the interest rates reflect market conditions.

18. Royalties are payable at the rates of 15% for onshore areas, 12.5% for shallow water, and 7.5% for deep offshore and frontier basins, 2.5% – 5% for natural gas. In addition, a price-based royalty ranging from 0% – 10% is payable to be credited to the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority.

19. Gas utilisation incentive will apply to midstream petroleum operations and large-scale gas utilisation industries. An additional 5-years tax holiday, will be granted to investors in gas pipelines.

Chaptewr 5 – Miscellaneous Provisions 20. The PIA repeals about 10 laws including the Associated Gas Reinjection Act; Hydrocarbon Oil Refineries Act; Motor Spirit Act; NNPC (Projects) Act; NNPC Act (when NNPC ceases to exist); PPPRA Act; Petroleum Equalisation Fund Act; PPTA; and Deep Offshore and Inland Basin PSC Act. It amends the Pre-Shipment Inspection of Oil Exports Act, while the provisions of certain laws are saved until termination or expiration of the relevant oil prospecting licences and mining leases, including the Petroleum Act, PPTA, Oil Pipelines Act, Deep Offshore and Inland Basin PSC Act. Taiwo Oyedele, Africa Tax and Legal Services Leader, PwC Nigeria

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TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN

0809 889 8888 SMS ONLY

The Existence of Grazing Routes in Nigeria: Fact or Fiction (Part 1) Introduction

O

n 11th May, 2021, all the 17 Governors in the Southern States, proscribed open grazing owing to the public outcry on the atrocities being perpetrated by the Herders. In sharp response to this initiative, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN (AGF), condemned it on a wrong foot and equated open grazing to spare parts trading.

Consequently, on 14th June, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari, expressed opposition to the decision of the Southern Governors and emphasised that he had instructed the AGF, to “go and dig the gazette of the First Republic” and pursue vigorously, the recovery of grazing routes in many States across the country.

A Short History of Grazing Reserves in Nigeria The grazing reserves in Nigeria date back to the 1950s, when a Hamisu Kano created a grazing reserve in the Northern States of Nigeria, with the aid of the then administration. He had used the abandoned government resettlement schemes (the Fulani Resettlement).

The reason for the then establishment of the grazing reserve was to prevent food shortage in the North, and establish a large grazing reserve to accommodate Herders in the North.

The historical reference to the formative stage of Grazing Reserves in Nigeria, is to give more credence to the argument that the Grazing Reserve Law was only aimed for enforcement in Northern Nigeria, and not the whole of Nigeria. This is because the grazing routes which constituted passage for Herders to get from one grazing reserve to another, only allowed for such areas where the grazing reserves were available; that is the North.

Controversy Surrounding Grazing Routes in Nigeria There has been much controversy, concerning the existence of these grazing routes in Nigeria. The First Republic in Nigeria spanned 1963–1966.

There existed a Grazing Law of Northern Region of Nigeria (NN Law of 1965). This law which applied only to the defunct Northern Region, is today an existing law by virtue of Section 315(1) of the 1999 Constitution. The operations of this law, has equally been saved by Section 4 of the Land Use Act, 1978.

However, apart from the provision of Section 6 of the Land Use Act which provides for the power of the Local Government to grant customary right of occupancy for grazing purposes, there is no known Federal legislation on grazing.

What is Grazing Routes?

“Grazing” is defined in agriculture, as a method of animal husbandry whereby domestic livestock are allowed outdoors to consume wild vegetation, and other forms of nutriments that can be found in the wild. Under this method of animal husbandry, a grazing reserve is defined as an area set aside and used by Herdsmen and Pastoral Farmers, and is intended to be a foci of livestock growth development.

A “route” is a way that you follow, to get from one place to another. It is a path or passage. A grazing route is therefore, defined

Cows Grazing as a way or course taken in getting from a starting point to a certain destination. On that route, the farm animals graze on the route to different destinations, and the routes act as pathways that link one grazing reserve to another. Herders are habitually moving from one place to another, in search of greener pasture across Nigeria. Most times, these Herders gained entrance into these paths, based on the goodwill of the land owners or kings. Clashes usually arise when these Herders are denied entrance into these paths, to prevent owners’ farmlands from being wantonly destroyed or freely grazed upon to the detriment of such owners.

Different Perspectives on the Existence of Grazing Routes in Nigeria President Buhari’s directive to the AGF, has brought the controversy to the fore. Finding a permanent solution to grazing issues has been a major problem to successive Governments over the years, due largely to the inability of the Government to tackle this issue head on. Speaking on this issue, and the present administration’s effort to tackle same, the Guardian had reported thus: “There is palpable apprehension nationwide, as the search for solution to the clashes between Herdsmen and Farmers, which have intensified across the country in recent time, seems not yielding the desired results.

“Already, the problem is threatening the corporate existence of the country, with the increased killing and maiming of innocent and helpless citizens; destruction of farmlands and farmsteads; low agricultural output resulting in high cost of produce, increased hunger, poverty and criminality, and descent to ethnic jingoism.

“Conscious of the telling effects of the clashes on the country, the Federal Government has been making multi-faceted efforts to address the security challenge.

“Among such efforts was the plan by the Federal Government, in 2018, to establish cattle colonies for Herdsmen. But, many States kicked against the initiative, describing it as a ploy to forcefully snatch lands for the use of Fulani Herdsmen perceived as armed militia, whom they feared would later unleash terror on their host communities.

“Faced by widespread opposition to

“Finding a permanent solution to grazing issues has been a major problem to successive Governments over the years, due largely to the inability of the Government to tackle this issue head on”

the plan, especially in the Southern and Middle Belt parts of the country, the Federal Government later came up with the Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) initiative”.

The then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who unveiled the initiative, had stated that “just [some while] ago, President Muhammadu Buhari approved a programme called the Ruga settlement. We are going to build settlements where Herders will live, grow their cattle and produce milk.

The milk will be bought by a milking parlour, thus, preventing their wives from moving around with milk. This is especially to avert any conflict between the Herders and the Farmers”.

Corroborating Ogbeh, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Umar, had, while speaking on the sidelines of the West Africa Antimicrobial Resistance Workshop in Abuja, also noted: “We felt that to do away with Herders-Farmers’ conflict, we need to settle our nomads and those who breed animals. We want to put them in a place that has been developed as a settlement, where we provide water for their animals, pasture, schools for their children, security, agro-rangers, and so on.

“We also felt that we need to develop cattle markets, whereby you don’t need to be transporting animals through very long distances. We will also bring in investors that will set up modern centres, where cattle breeders can slaughter their animals. When we do that, a lot of other things will come up.

“We are going to change their (Herdsmen) lifestyle, take them away from our streets, and from wandering in the bush, and develop districts, hamlets and towns; and definitely in the next five to 10 years, you will never see a nomad moving about, wandering or kidnapping. And, this will end all these security challenges”.

This initiative was met with stiff opposition, as many States insisted that they had “no land for grazing reserves, grazing routes, cattle colonies or Ruga settlements”.

They genuinely believed the policy was designed to snatch their lands from them, under artifice and design.

The Federal Government later came up with the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), under which the Federal and Adamawa, Benue, Ebonyi, Edo, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara States agreed to set up cattle ranches. The programme was planned to cost N179 billion over a period of 10 years. The two tiers of Government were to jointly spend

N70 billion, in the first three years of the pilot phase of the programme.

However, some stakeholders in the country kicked against the NLTP, describing it as a clone of the Rural Grazing Area (RUGA). The NITP was set for launching in February, 2020. But, it would appear that the unexpected Covid-19 pandemic and dwindling revenue of the Federal and State Governments made the plan a nonpriority, in the face of other pressing national projects.

The Southern Governors’ Accord and Reaction of the Federal Government In a bid to address this ugly trend that has since claimed several thousands of lives, 17 Southern Governors met at Asaba, the Delta State capital.

They thereafter, issued a communique placing a ban on open grazing.

In a rather swift reaction to the Southern Governors’ communique, the AGF proclaimed the ban on open grazing by the Southern Governors, as unconstitutional. According to Malami, the decision of the Governors “does not align with the provisions of the Constitution, hence it holds no water”.

Speaking further, the AGF stated thus: “For example, it is as good as the Northern Governors coming together to say, they prohibit spare parts trading in the North.

Does it hold water, for a Northern Governor to come and state expressly that he now prohibits spare parts trading in the North.”

Suffice it to say however, that Abubakar Malami received several knocks for this unfortunate comment, and his stance against the ban on open grazing. I wrote severally on this, at the time.

The issue was taken to a whole new level and dimension, with the recent comment of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCON, during a media interview with the Arise TV team on Thursday, 10th June, 2021, obviously supporting the position of his AGF on open grazing. (To be continued).

Serious and Trivial There are two sides to every coin. Life itself contains not only the good, but also the bad and the ugly. Let us now explore this.

“When I die I will hold the Nigerian flag so that Jesus will know I have passed through hell already; I don’t need to go to hell again.” - Anonymous “Some of my friends ask me why I post so much political stuff. Here is my answer: Always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor never the tormented.” – Elie Wiesel THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the Government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force”. (Ayn Rand)

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

OBB OVERNIGHT

16.75% 17.25 %

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun

Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

A U G U S T

S & P INDEX

2 3 , 2 0 2 1

S & P INDEX

CALL 1-MONTH

4% 6%

INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY

547.96% 0.51%

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

2.00%

EXCHANGE RATE

1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

2.8% -18.25%

N410.80/ 1 US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

FG Pays $266.141m Cash Call Arrears to JV Partners in One Year, $1.464bn Outstanding

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government through the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was only able to pay $266.141 million out of an outstanding balance of $1.730 billion of Joint Venture (JV) cash calls in the last one year, THISDAY investigation has revealed.

A review of documents presented by the national oil company’s to the Federation

Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between May 2020 and May 2021, revealed that there is now a balance of about $1.464 billion after the last payment, which was made three months ago.

Essentially, cash calls are requests sent by JV operators to non-operating partners for payment in the light of anticipated future capital, operating expenditures or need of additional capital

contributions.

The NNPC, in 2016, signed a cash call repayment agreement with its JV partners to defray cash-call arrears within a period of five years after many years of its indebtedness to its partners as it consistently failed to meet up with its indebtedness.

However, the documents showed that while total negotiated debt in May 2020 stood at $4.689 billion with total payment of $2.958 billion, in

May 2021, total payment rose to $3.224 billion, still leaving an outstanding sum of $1.464 billion in debt.

As of the last report by the NNPC, total payment to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) since the federal government began offsetting the arrears stood at $455.3 million, with an outstanding of $917.20 million, while the entire debt of $833.75 million owed Mobil Nigeria had been cleared.

Chevron Nigeria Limited, which was initially owed $1.097 billion, now has a balance of just $34.77 million, Total is being owed $215.581 million, while Agip has an outstanding sum of $297.230 million yet to be paid. Till date, $1.464 billion of the initial $4.689 billon has been paid.

Data released by the NNPC in March this year indicated that a total of $3.118 billion cash call debts had been paid the

five major international oil companies (IOCs), leaving an outstanding debt of $1.570 billion.

In December 2016, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources negotiated a discount with the IOCs, comprising SPDC, Total, Mobil, Chevron and Agip from about $5.1billion down to $4.6 billion and had since then continued to reduce the Continued on page 26

Pantami: FG Earned N1tn from Digital Economy in Two Years, 5G 95% Ready for Deployment James Emejo in Abuja The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, yesterday said the communication and digital sector generated over N1 trillion to the federal government between 2019 and 2021.

This is as he urged security agencies to leverage the country’s technology to advance the current fight against insurgency

and banditry as well as other security challenges bedeviling the nation.

The minister also hinted that the 5G technology was 95 per cent ready, adding that a national policy on its deployment would soon be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval.

Speaking at a book presentation titled, “Digital Innovation for Economic Prosperity in

Nigeria,” by Image merchants Promotion Limited, publishers of Economic Confidentiality and PR Nigeria, Pantami also maintained that the digital economy remains the best opportunity for the country to create many jobs particularly, “where we have a challenge of unemployment on the one hand and employability on the other hand.”

He said the digital sector

remains the most important driver of the global economy, adding that the sector contributed 5.6 per cent growth to the US economy between 2006 and 2016.

However, responding to why the ministry had not provided technology assistance to security forces to solve the country’s challenges, the minister said it was left for the security operatives to work with the ministry as well as leverage on available solutions

to achieve their objectives.

He said, “We are not security agencies. The security agencies are the ones that are supposed to leverage on the technology to do their own work. And we have been mandated to give them all the necessary support.

“All the support they need is available to them 100 per cent.

Since my first day in office to date, we have always given them their support.”

He said, “Any support they require in technology to do their work, I have provided 100 per cent so far. So it is their duty to leverage on the technology to do it because it’s not our own work to go into it but rather they are to leverage on what we are doing or to extend their hands of fellowship to us that this is what we want to achieve.

Continued on page 26

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT M O N D AY, A U G U S T 2 3 , 2 0 2 1 FGN BONDS DESCRIPTION 11.150 FGNSB 11-SEP-2021 12.364 FGNSB 12-SEP-2021 12.175 FGNSB 10-OCT-2021 11.244 FGNSB 16-OCT-2021 10.296 FGNSB 13-NOV-2021

Price

Yield

BILLS Change (%)

MATURITY

OTC FX F U T U R E S

Discount Yield Change (%)

100.42

2.86

0.00

NTB 9-Sep-21

2.80

2.80 0.00

100.51

2.89

0.00

NTB 16-Sep-21

2.96

2.96 0.00

101.11

3.55

0.00

NTB 30-Sep-21

3.27

3.28 0.00

101.10

3.69

0.00

NTB 14-Oct-21

3.59

101.31

4.33

0.00

NTB 28-Oct-21

3.90

CONTRACT TENOR (MONTH) 1

Contract

Current Rate ($/₦)

NGUS AUG 25 2021 420.93

2

NGUS SEP 29 2021 422.38

3

NGUS OCT 27 2021 423.83

3.60 0.00

4

NGUS NOV 24 2021 425.28

3.93 0.00

5

NGUS DEC 29 2021 426.73

C Ps MATURITY

Discount Yield

Change (%)

UNCP CP III 27AUG-21 VAAG CP I 27AUG-21 TTNG CP II 31AUG-21 SIBP CP I 2-SEP21 NBRP CP XIII 2-SEP-21

3.65

3.65

0.00

9.62

9.63

0.00

4.08

4.09

0.00

3.65

3.65

0.00

4.33

4.33

0.00

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TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

MOST INNOVATIVE FIBRE OPTICS PROVIDER…

L-R: Senior Network Engineer, Emmanuel Okwudi; Customer Care Supervisor, Bidemi Niniola; CEO, ipNX Retail Division, Kenechi Eneh; CEO, ipNX Business Division, Segun Okuneye;Territory Manager Mainland/Telecoms, Tope Adeoye; Regional Manager, Yinka Falola; and Head, Product Management and Governance, West, Peter Uwadone, when PHOTO: ABAYOMI AKINYELE ipNX received Most Innovative Fibre Optics Provider of the year award at the Titans of Tech Award Ceremony in Lagos … recently

Nigeria, UK Partner to Combat Aflatoxin with Commercialisation of Aflasafe

Gilbert Ekugbe

Worried about the high level of toxic secondary metabolites in agro commodities, Nigeria and the United Kingdom have partnered to combat the preponderance of aflatoxin with the commercialisation of Aflasafe.

The move is apt to checkmate the current situation of aflatoxin, which according to the Technical Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture on Knowledge Management and Communication, Richard Mark-Mbaram is “code red” for Nigeria’s agro

commodities.

The British acting High Commissioner, Gill Atkinson, who was represented by the Trade Advisor, Agriculture & Mining sectors at the Department for International Trade (DIT), Oluwaseyi Adepoju, at the Pre-Summit Webinar of the forthcoming Feed Nigeria Summit (FNS) themed, “POSTCOVID 19: A Repaired Food System, Pathway to a Revived Economy,” billed for 23rd and 24th August, 2021, said the UK has aided in the commercialisation of Aflasafe, a natural fungus

that reduces aflatoxins in food while supporting the use of solar irrigation and solar dryers to reduce food wastage.

She also highlighted the bond between the UK government and Nigeria’s in developing the use of high yielding, drought and flood resilient seeds for rice and maize.

In his address, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, said the summit was cardinal to charting the course of sustainable and tailored solutions to the challenges bedeviling Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Nanono, who was represented by the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Ms. Karima Babaginda, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to accelerating the country’s progress towards adequate agricultural production, improvement in quality of commodities to meet international standards and lifting of millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

He added that the summit activity would address concerns surrounding Nigeria’s food systems and proffer clear-cut solutions to strengthen the overall

economic recovery efforts of the government at all levels.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Olusola Idowu emphasised that the only way to achieve sustainable food security was to ensure effective implementation of agric policies.

On his part, Senior Special Adviser on Industrialisation to the President, African Development Bank (AFDB), Prof. Oyebanji Oyelaran, harped on the need to ramp up the idea of clustering and agglomeration in space as relates to Agro Zones.

“Nigeria shouldn’t be going hungry, it should not be in a food crisis, Nigeria should be a leader in agribusiness and Special Agro Zones are the model to go in dealing with repairing Nigeria’s food system,” Oyelaran stated.

On his part, Chief Adviser on the FNS Deal Room, Dr. Debisi Araba, expressed that despite the challenges faced by the agricultural sector, the global agricultural food sector was valued at 8 trillion dollars which drives the need for improvement in Nigeria’s agriculture due to its great potential.

Report: Implementation of PIA Will Free More Gas for Power Generation Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The recently signed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) will make more gas available for power generation in Nigeria, a new report by African Energy, an independent research organisation on the continent’s energy industries, has indicated.

With an installed capacity likely to reach 18.3GW by 2025, the report said available generation will be constrained to just 7.6GW, while supply will continue to lag far behind demand, without the current gas supply challenges.

In the “Nigeria Power Report 2021/22,” the body stated that the problems facing the power sector are likely to continue in

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Aviation Editor Chinedu Eze Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

the medium-term, with the lack of gas supply, insufficient Transmission and Distribution infrastructure, and sector illiquidity will contribute to an environment where new projects are unlikely to emerge in the coming years.

However, it noted that after many false dawns, the prospect of long-promised recovery may be in sight as government policies,

supported by the World Bank, look to resolve some of the key issues holding the sector back.

“The passing of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will provide much needed clarity for the sector and could unlock new gas supply to the domestic market, as will the construction of major gas pipeline projects. Combined, these may break down some of the major barriers for new

Independent Power Plants (IPPs), “the 23 year research organisation noted.

In the near term, the report stressed that opportunities for private participation are emerging beyond new build generation, while plans are afoot to privatise the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), as state-owned National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPS) are

being retendered after an unsuccessful privatisation attempt several years ago.

It added that currently, installed capacity is woefully insufficient to meet demand and hampered by numerous constraint, underscoring the proposed franchising of distribution, including the role of mini-grids.

“Gas supply will be crucial.

Gas will continue to fuel Nigeria’s power sector for many years to come while oil continues to play a key role in the country’s economy,” the report said.

On off-grid growth opportunities, it stated that the use of backup diesel generators has become widespread, but opportunities for renewables solutions are growing.

FG PAYS $266.141M CASH CALL ARREARS TO JV PARTNERS IN ONE YEAR, $1.464BN OUTSTANDING debt payments.

SPDC, which was owed a negotiated debt of about $1.37 billion, had been paid $455.3 million as at the end of January this year, while TEPNG, which was owed $610.972 million, had got $364.6 million. NAOC to which the NNPC owed $774.66 million received $422.66 million and CNL got $1.042 billion out of its outstanding negotiated debt of $1.097 billion.

As of January 31, 2021, the NNPC stated that its debt obligations to SPDC, CNL, TEPNG and NAOC respectively stood at $917.2 million, $55.4 million, $246.3 million and $351.9 million.

The NNPC further explained that in the case of SPDC, repayment was from the price balance distribution on Project Santolina; while in the case of CNL, repayment was from price balance distribution on Projects Cheetah and Falcon.

“NNPC has fully repaid its cash call arrears to MPN and all incremental barrels have reverted to base,” the NNPC stated.

The cash call arrangements, under which NNPC had to pay for its 55 per cent 60 per cent share of investment in the upstream joint ventures, have been in place for over 40 years before it was restructured.

PANTAMI: FG EARNED N1TN FROM DIGITAL ECONOMY IN TWO YEARS, 5G 95% READY FOR DEPLOYMENT “Whenever they extend, we provide what they require 100 per cent not even 99 per cent and we will continue to do that.”

On the planned 5G deployment, he said, “It’s difficult to say the time for rollout but I think it’s 95 per cent ready so far.

“We started the process in 2020 and another conspiracy came up that 5G is related to COVID-19 and many educated people agreed with them.

“But now the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the In-

ternational Telecommunications Union - two most important institutions when it comes to health and telecommunications - both have confirmed that there is no relationship between them.”

He added, “So because of this, that conspiracy theory had been destroyed intellectually and scientifically.

“In spite of that we set up a committee or working group which studied it effectively, accommodating people from

the technology, health, environment, security - they have been working for over a year on the national policy for 5G deployment in Nigeria so that we can be in the same page.

“And we can ensure that there’s no vacuum which others will exploit to the detriment of the interest of our country. I hope it will be soon presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

“When it is approved, the National Frequency Management

Council which I happen to be the chairman will assign spectrum to NCC and NCC will release it to operators for the deployment.”

However, while commending the author of the book, Inyene Ibanga, for doing an excellent work, the minister added that could be successful leader who doesn’t read or write, and encouraged everyone to get a copy of the publication.

He said, “This book, “Digital Innovation for Economic Prosperity in Nigeria” is a very important

book. I have glanced it and I had the privilege of even writing the foreword of this book.

“It is a compilation of some of our major initiatives of the federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari particularly in the area of digital economy which has been cascaded into innovation, cyber security and many more.

“The most important driver of world economy today is the digital economy.”

27

TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

OIL AND GAS

Assessing FG’s Gas Network Code One Year After One year after its inauguration, Emmanuel Addeh examines the impact of the Nigerian Gas Transportation Network Code, a set of rules to deepen access to transportation of natural gas in the country

I

n August last year, the federal government through the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) officially launched the Nigerian Gas Transportation Network Code (NGTNC), meant to open up gas delivery to the Nigerian market.

While Nigeria sits on roughly 206 trillion cubic feet of gas, the supply of the commodity has been hampered any a number of factors, including a lack of a policy tool that ensures penetration of gas to the local market.

Although that huge reserve places Nigeria as the number one gas producer in Africa and the ninth globally, it has largely not been able to tap into this to supply its market.

But the new policy announcement, the government said at the time, would help grow gas infrastructure, expand gas utilisation, curb gas flaring, and provide codes to standardise the gas value chain in line with global best practices.

In addition, it stated that it would deepen the supply of domestic gas-to-power, gas-to-industry, and gas-to-manufacturing, as well as reduce the challenge associated with the age-long flaring of gas molecules in the country.

At the launch last year, Minister of State, Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, assured stakeholders that the new arrangement will attract more investment opportunities in the nation’s gas value chain and help achieve the presidential mandate on gas penetration, given the current movement away from dirtier fuels.

In essence, the effective implementation of the network code gas transportation system was expected to boost the performance of the entire domestic gas value chain through the efficient linkage of the supply points to sources of gas and to all the demand as well as off-take points.

Since then, the DPR has coordinated the implementation process of the code through the alignment of all players in the industry, development of operationalisation procedures for the code and adaptation of critical technology enablement for the administration of the code.

Some of the key actors within the programme include gas suppliers, who are licenced upstream oil and gas producers and the network operator, who is a licenced midstream gas transportation entity that delivers gas from the upstream gas producer to a gas off-taker.

Forming a major arm of the system are the shippers who have entered into arrangements with suppliers and the transporters to purchase and transport gas for use in the downstream segment of the gas value chain.

There are also agents under the network code that fast-track the business of gas transportation between the transporter and shippers and ensure that all the terms of conditions of the network are strictly complied with.

The code further introduced a gas transportation regime where all shippers of gas are offered a fair, transparent and a non-discriminatory access to the licenced pipeline capacity of the transporter.

Drawing $500m Investment One year after inauguration, the DPR said in this short time, the launch of the programme, which provided

more clarity for the gas sector in Nigeria, had already attracted investment proposals of over $500 million.

Some of these investment proposals are for power generation, ammonia for fertiliser, domestic liquefied natural gas, methanol, virtual gas pipeline systems, new gas hubs and the establishment of Nigeria gas trading exchange.

One leg of the programme is also to reduce gas flare through the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP), from about eight per cent to five per cent in the country.

“We are looking at an additional $500 million in just one year since we introduced the code.

The request is over 500 mmscf per day and this is just for one year; you can imagine how much investment we would attract if we continue with this,” Sarki Auwalu, Director of DPR, said.

He noted that with the gas code which ensures non-discriminatory access to pipeline systems, guarantees secure, available, reliable and safe gas transmission systems and ensures cost reflective tariffs for pipeline services, investors are now more interested in the activities in the gas subsector.

A key enabler of the Nigeria Gas Master Plan (NGMP), the DPR said the plan is already stimulating the multiplier effect of gas in the domestic economy, positioning Nigeria competitively in high value export markets while also guaranteeing the long-term energy security of Nigeria.

While there’s now an effort to conduct the transmission and distribution of natural gas through global industry best practice, it has further eliminated discriminatory access to gas transportation in the domestic gas market.

Although the NGTNC was announced in February last year, it took the existing users of the gas network agreement about six months to migrate, thereby pushing the formal launch to August.

To put it succinctly, the initiative is a contractual framework between the gas transportation network operator and gas shippers that specifies the terms and guidelines for operation and use of the gas network.

EVOLVING GAS MARKET

The Nigerian hydrocarbon industry came into the 21st century with a national strategic intent of deepening the value optimisation of its extensive gas resource and developed a blueprint in the first decade of the millennium known as the Nigerian gas master plan for accelerating the growth of the gas sector.

The gas master plan strategically considered, reviewed and presented a comprehensive domestic gas market development roadmap that will allow Nigeria to derive maximum value from the use of its abundant gas resources for supply of energy to where it is needed.

The plan supports an accelerated development of the Nigerian domestic gas sector; ensuring gas availability/affordability through the use of the Domestic Gas Supply Obligation (DSO), providing required gas infrastructural capacity across the entire gas demand points in the sector.

In addition, it emplaces a mature gas market where gas activities are carried out in a fully commercialised manner that supports optimal returns on all investments made in either gas supply, transportation or utilisation, recently culminating in the declaration of the decade of gas from 2021-2030.

The various means of safe and efficient transportation and distribution gas includes pipeline and non-pipeline better known as virtual pipeline systems.

It therefore means that pipeline systems will now easily flow natural gas from any point where it is produced to the point where gas is utilised in its various forms to create value.

As a background to this, the DPR had licensed over 10,000 km of pipelines for the efficient delivery of gas from the licensed oil and gas assets in Nigeria although additional investments are required in the provision and operation of more pipelines for the delivery of natural gas in the domestic gas market.

On the other hand, virtual pipeline systems are typically deployed to supply gas to demand points where pipeline systems are not available.

Virtual pipeline systems for supply of natural gas include LNG and compressed Natural Gas (CNG) by trucks as is being done in Nigeria to mitigate the infrastructural deficit being experienced in gas transportation.

With the gas master plan, relevant gas policies, regulations, programmes and initiatives governing the development of the domestic gas segment seek to ensure that natural gas is just not available but affordable to ensure that maximum economic rate is derived from the utilisation of the abundant gas resource in Nigeria.

In all, the gas sector in Nigeria has evolved over the years from the pre-plan era where it did not have much depth around a structured gas market to becoming a sector that has all the performance enhancement required for a vibrant domestic gas market segment.

Implementing the Code The gas infrastructural master plan is being implemented to ensure appropriate coverage of the Nigerian gas market is guaranteed for supply of gas from the rich gas resourced Niger Delta basin to all economic zones across all the geo-political regions of Nigeria.

Stakeholders believe that continuous investment is required in the provision of gas pipeline capacity that will support the maturation and growth of the domestic market.

While outstanding domestic gas market players are yet to be fully brought in, there are plans to on-board the entire domestic gas off-takers (shippers) as the operationalising of the code enters its second year.

In the first year, transporter capacity available in the system hit 4.6bscf/day attributable to the single transporter that is currently providing open access gas transportation in Nigeria.

It is expected that going into the second year, 200, domestic consumers of gas will be able to get 200mmscf/day of gas, the power sector would have 150mmscf/day, while Gas-based Industries (GBI) will hit 400mmscfd/day as the new gas demand volumes get driven by the launching of a functional code.

IMPACT

Implementation of the code in the first year has helped in upgrading gas transmission into the non-discriminatory open access regime in the domestic gas market.

It has further ensured that natural gas transmission and distribution in Nigeria is conducted only through the global industry best practice regime of the network code, similar to what obtains in Europe, North / South America, UK, Egypt, and South Africa, where it is used in administering open access transportation regime of gas to all the critical segments of their economy.

In addition, it has eliminated discriminatory access to gas transportation in the domestic gas market, using standard, fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory regime for all gas shippers, which is a significant improvement from the prenetwork regime where bilateral gas transportation agreements (GTAs) were established between the transporter and shippers.

Moreover, the code has improved investor’s confidence in the evolving domestic gas market, which has shown a positive trend, including receiving specific requests for support and enablement for gas supply for new projects in power, Industrial and commercial sector to the tune of over 500mmscf/d.

There’s now also an improvement in domestic gas market linkage between the downstream demand points and upstream gas supply opportunities, including an alignment between critical demand points for gas and available supply areas.

Through the instrumentality of the code, there now exists technology enablement of the domestic gas market segment, while capacity for effective gas market has been enhanced in the last one year of the implementation of the code.

This has been achieved through extensive stakeholder engagement and feedback from the critical segments of the domestic gas market, capacity building programmes and development of critical market data.

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

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021

28

BUSINESSWORLD

OIL AND GAS

Revisiting $30bn LNG Projects The federal government hopes to transform Nigeria using gas as an enabler. In pursuit of this goal, the government has launched the Decade of Gas initiative. With hindsight, the reactivation of the Brass and Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas projects, which have suffered delays in execution for 17 years, are pivotal for a successful gas drive. Peter Uzoho writes

T

he federal government, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the agencies and parastatals under the ministry, particularly the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), have been talking loud about the aspiration of government to transform Nigeria through the oil and gas industry.

The county’s standing as a resource-endowed nation and yet ranks amongst the poorest countries in the world are a narrative that demeans its leaders, for which the incumbent government hopes to reverse by using the abundant gas resources as an enabler.

Instructively, Nigeria is very rich in oil and gas deposits, boasting of 36 billion barrels of oil reserves and 206.53 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas reserves, as at January this year.

But these vast resources have not been fully exploited and utilised to the benefit of the country and its citizens.

With the demand for fossil fuels projected to lose its relevance in the next 30 years, coupled with the ongoing global push for a shift towards renewable energy, many countries are turning to gas as an alternative.

Nigeria has joined the move and is now looking the way of gas to guarantee sustainable energy security for the people, increase revenue, industrialise the nation and improve the living standard of the citizens.

This, it intends to achieve through creating an enabling fiscal and social environment for investors to be able to ramp up their investments in the gas sector.

The government has pushed and succeeded in seeing to the passage and signing of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law, which now exists as the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) after over 13 years of delay. The government believes that the PIA will lead to more investments in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, particularly the gas sector.

However, with the potential in the nation’s gas resources still not yet fully optimized, and a huge volume of gas still being flared, government should pay greater attention to ensuring that critical Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects in the country are brought back to the table for recommencement and completion.

Two of such critical LNG projects –the $20 billion Brass LNG project and the $9.8 billion Olokola LNG project have remained continually stalled with attendant losses to the nation after 17 years of their initiation.

The projects rarely come to the mind of the government, particularly this current federal government.

The continued neglect by successive governments despite the benefits inherent in such high value projects has raised questions as to whether Nigeria was really ready to power its economy using gas, as its counterparts across the world are doing.

Experts, who believe that Nigeria has a lot to gain from the projects when completed, have urged the federal government to return to the

projects and ensure that issues behind their delay were addressed so that they can go on without further delay.

BRASS, OLOKOLA LNG PROJECTS

Estimated to cost $20 billion and $9.8 billion respectively, the Brass LNG and Olokola LNG were initiated in 2003 and 2005 respectively under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The Brass LNG project, sited in Bayelsa State, and the Olokola LNG project, sited on the border town between Ogun and Ondo States, were planned to augment the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) to enhance the monetisationof the nation’s gas resources.

So far, the partners involved in the two projects have failed to endorse the Final Investments Decisions (FIDs) on them due to several unresolved issues and some have pulled out of the consortium, a situation that has affected the continuation of the projects significantly.

The two LNG projects, which were initiated as joint venture (JV) projects to be carried out between the NNPC and some international oil companies (IOCs), were designed to produce 10 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) each.

While Brass LNG was to be built by the NNPC, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Eni Group, OK LNG was to be built through a JV by the NNPC with Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron and BG Group.

Unfortunately, ConocoPhillips and Chevron have withdrawn their participation in the Brass LNG project, while all the IOCs have also backed out of the Olokola LNG project, leaving the projects to continue wallowing in oblivion.

LACK OF COMMITMENT

The late former Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, had at his time at the saddle of the corporation, stated that the NNPC was committed to monetizing the nation’s gas resources through such projects, citing the gains being recorded by the Nigeria LNG in gas monetization.

He had attributed the delay of the two projects to “a little challenge with market windows for these projects, which we are reviewing on a monthly basis. Once the appropriate market window opens up, we will quickly get more shareholders to join us for the projects.”

Since Baru’s demise, not much has been heard about the future of the projects as the current GMD of the corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari, has not shown commitment to proceed with the Brass and Olokola LNG projects.

The lack of commitment by the federal government to see to the resuscitation of these LNG projects puts a question mark on the government’s avowed drive to approach

the energy transition with aggressive focus on developing the nation’s gas resources.

The government had declared this decade–January 2021 to December 2030 - as the Decade of Gas, with the target to pursue the development and transformation of the nation within this period using gas as an enabler.

It had said it would create an enabling environment so that more gas development projects will kick off in the country to be powered by current and prospective investors.

The federal government has also described the PIA as a gas law, saying the Act contains provisions that give investors attractive fiscal terms and increase their appetite to carry out more gas development projects in the country.

While such efforts are commendable, the government should not lose sight of the somewhat low-hanging fruits like the already laid out Brass and OK LNG projects.

Although, they are projects of high capital consideration, especially when their estimated costs at the time are juxtaposed with what they will cost now, government should pay attention to them and see how to bring them to reality as the gains far outweigh the cost.

THE VALUE LNG BRINGS

With 206.53 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas reserve, Nigeria sits first as the largest gas producing nation in Africa and ninth globally, and produces 8 billion cubic feet of gas (bcf) daily, according to the DPR, the chief regulator of the industry.

Of this 203.53 tcf of gas, the Nigeria LNG Limited monetizes well over 4billion cubic feet daily, hence the company’s significant contribution to the nation’s economy through dividend payments from foreign exchange earnings, foreign direct investments (FDIs) and immense local content and community impacts.

Since it began operation in 1999, the company has paid to the federal government over $114 billion in revenues, $9 billion in taxes, $18 billion in dividends to the federal government and $15 billion in feed gas purchase.

The NLNG Train 7 is currently under construction and is targeted to increase the company’s gas supply capacity from the current 22mtpa to 30mtpa.

ELIMINATING FLARING

But of the 206.53tcf of gas reserve, about 1.8billion scf is still being flared daily by both the foreign and local oil companies involved in oil and gas production in the country, with huge economic, health and environmental consequences.

Although, government has put in place measures to discourage companies from flaring gas, those measures were at best, too light to

be adhered to.

In the revised payment regime for gas flaring, the government stipulated that oil companies producing 10,000 barrels of oil or more per day, will pay $2 per 1,000 standard cubic feet of gas (scf) compared to the previous N10 per 1,000 scf.

The revised penalty regime also stated that oil firms producing less than 10,000 barrels of oil per day will pay a gas flare penalty of $5 per 1,000 scf.

But in spite of the penalties, oil companies especially the international oil companies (IOCs) that have fat pocket have continued to flare, as they don’t see the fines big enough to make them comply.

They rather pay the fines effortlessly and continue with their production and flaring than spend more on facilities to monetise the gas.

Experts believe gas flaring could be eliminated if the Brass and Olokola LNG projects were completed to join the NLNG in gas monetization and utilisation instead of wasting huge volumes of gas resources on flaring.

A former Acting Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Limited, Dr Godswill Ihetu, told THISDAY that with Nigeria’s huge gas volumes, there was need to ensure that projects like the Brass and OK LNG were completed and the plants come on stream, saying that LNG is the largest user of the gas resource.

Ihetu advised that government should try and fix whatever was the reason for the delays so that Nigeria would start getting the benefits from the two plants like it is getting from the NLNG. He said, “The good thing about LNG is that it is the largest user of your gas. With this NLNG plant now, our gas flare has come down considerably, I can’t give you percentages. In the past, government wanted to do the OK LNG, Brass LNG. If we have had those things going on now, we won’t be talking about gas flaring…

“All the talks about gas monetization mean turning gas from flare into productive use. We are now using gas in some places for power generation, but that is a drop in the ocean compared with what LNG would have done for you.

“So, my take could have been: whatever was the problem with OK LNG, let’s fix it. I’m sure it’s a big problem. I’m not taking it lightly. Whatever was the problem with the Brass LNG, let’s fix it.

That’s how we can use our gas, and these are exports of gas.

“I don’t know what the problem is. I don’t claim to know. All I hear is rumours. That’s where the volumes of gas is and they are exports, they are dollar-earning.”

According to him, Nigeria would be “smiling” if it has two more LNG facilities like the NLNG, adding that government should prove its seriousness in its Decade of Gas declaration by ensuring that the Brass and Olokola LNG’s were executed.

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

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TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

BANKING

The Aggressive Expansionist Hamid Ayodeji writes on Access Bank’s aggressive expansion strategy

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he Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Mr. Hebert Wigwe is not about to slowdown anytime soon.

From Nigeria to Rwanda, South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Zambia, among several others, the expansionist adrenaline rush in the Chairman of the Body of Bank Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) has remained on the rise.

In a string of expansion across the African continent, the bank has said it intends to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement (AfCFTA) to expand its footprint to 20 countries across the continent.

Wigwe is one of the most respected bankers on the continent, without a shadow of a doubt.

Indeed, he clearly understands that without embracing change and having foresights, banks would not be able to compete and would be left behind by their peers. This, would definitely impact customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and revenue growth negatively.

This is why he has continuously ensured that Access Bank under his watch is presently one of Africa’s leading financial services groups. He has shown a relentless pursuit for growth, but in a measured and calculated manner.

As leader of the Body of Bank CEOs, he has collaborated with the central bank in introducing initiatives to support Nigerians, especially micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) operators as well in ensuring stability in the banking system.

From a tiny bank in 2002, Wigwe who took over from his close friend and business partner, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, in 2014, has completely transformed the bank which then was ranked 65th among 89 banks operating in the country.

Over the years, Access Bank has evolved from an obscure bank into a world-class African financial institution.

Today, it is one of the five largest banks in Nigeria in terms of assets, loans, deposits and branch network; a feat which has been achieved through a robust long-term approach to client solutions – providing committed and innovative advice.

Access Bank has built its strength and success in corporate banking and is now applying that expertise to the personal and business banking platforms it acquired from Nigeria’s International Commercial bank in 2012.

Wigwe has helped to develop some of Africa’s biggest companies in the construction, telecommunications, energy, oil and gas sectors through Access Bank.

According to Wigwe, across Africa, there is an opportunity for the bank to expand to high-potential markets, leveraging the benefits of AfCFTA. He said AfCFTA, among other benefits, would expand intra-Africa trade and provide real opportunities for Africa.

He stated that the plan is for the bank to establish its presence in 22 African countries as well as some strategic locations outside the continent so as to diversify its earnings and take advantage of growth opportunities in Africa.

According to him, Africa has enormous potential and there are opportunities for an African bank that is well run, that understands compliance and has the capacity to support trade and the right technology infrastructure to support payments and remittances, without taking incremental risks.

“We believe that we are best positioned to basically do all of that. Our focus is to become an aggregator in Africa and we are building a global payment gateway and providing trade finance support and correspondent banking across the continent. We are focusing on the key markets.

“The approach would always be that in the country we wish to go to, that we have the right skills. We would not just be a drop in the country in which we are present, we would make sure that we have an impactful presence in each of the major countries in which we are present.

“In doing this, we are also mindful of the country we are going to so as to make sure that it is of benefit to the bank. As we do this, we are working with our friends and partners.

“We are diversifying our earnings away from volatile markets as well and we are orchestrating our operations from the global payments gateway and ensuring that using Access Bank UK, providing corresponding services from digital platforms, the overall profitability of our franchise,” he explained.

Commenting further, on AfCFTA, he said the bank would use its digital framework to benefit from the deal.

HERBERT WIGWE: “We think we need to continue to entrench ourselves in the local market because there is still so much work to be done.

“So, we are doing everything possible to satisfy our customers and also to ensure that our channels are adequately secured.

We are also ensuring that our staff are very efficient,” the CEO said.

Also, the revelation in May this year that Access Bank was among the list of financial institutions from Africa and the Middle East that expressed interest in the acquisition of Union Bank Plc and other African assets of Atlas Mara Group, a Pan-African banking group, also reflected the aggressive expansion drive by the financial institution.

To Wigwe, Access Bank South Africa Limited which recently commenced operations is positioned to deliver a robust banking operation that connects key African markets.

He said the acquisition in South Africa sealed Access Bank’s commitment to delivering its strategic aspirations of becoming Africa’s Gateway to the World, in line with its vision to be the ‘World’s Most Respected African Bank.’

“We look forward to the many opportunities our collective experience and deep understanding of the African market brings to our valued clients, and the journey ahead being one of great promise for our institution and the continent,” he added.

Access Bank’s market entry in the country as well as the sub-region, is expected to further solidify its strategy as, “a strong banking partner in key verticals across retail and corporate banking, including especially supporting trade in payments across southern Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa more broadly.”

Wigwe further explained: “We remain committed to a disciplined and thoughtful expansion strategy in Africa, which we believe will create strong, sustainable returns for our shareholders and stakeholders at large, over the medium and long-term.”

Having identified the immense opportunity in playing at the global stage, the bank felt the next thing to do is to transit to a more formidable structure.

“We will therefore re-organise to capture these opportunities by transitioning to a HoldCo structure. Through this reorganisation, we will create new product revenues without taking additional risk for the enterprise, ensure diversification of earnings, and support outside of Africa expansion,” Wigwe had disclosed.

The HoldCo will include, Access Bank Group, Payments Business, Consumer Lending and Agency Banking and an

Insurance Brokerage. Wigwe explained that the scope of Access Bank Group will consist of Nigeria, Africa and International subsidiaries.

The bank’s board, having seen a growing potential in the Nigerian insurance industry did not hesitate in approving the plan to venture in that industry.

As opportunity for increased capacity and assurance of high profit margin beckons in the insurance industry, Access Bank is poised to register its presence in a big way.

Wigwe had told investors that the insurance subsidiary will adopt a dynamic and creative approach to deliver value-added services focused to meet customer insurance needs.

Already, Bancassurance Access Bank is in partnership with Coronation Insurance to offer insurance products to the Access Bank’s customers. He disclosed that Access Bank-Coronation Insurance bancassurance is already available in Nigeria and Ghana.

“Access Insurance Brokerage would adopt a dynamic and creative approach to provide a value-added insurance broking services focused to meeting customers’ insurance protection needs,” Wigwe said.

He said the bank is poised to take advantage of its presence in other African countries by capturing from the insurance industry of the host countries.

The Nigeria International Access Bank Group will include Access Bank Sierra Leone, Access Bank Gambia, Access Bank Kenya, Access Bank Zambia and Access Bank Rwanda.

Others include, Access Bank South Africa, Access Bank Mozambique, Access Bank D.R. Congo, Access Bank UK, Access Bank Lebanon, Access Bank China, Access Bank India, Access Bank Ghana, Access Bank U.A.E, and Access PFC Diamond Finance B.V. Access Bank.

The bank plans to focus on key markets to support regional trade by targeting new opportunity markets and positioning the Access Bank as a trade and payments gateway to the world.

The bank also plans to transform payments and remittances using cheap FX from international remittances to feed trade, leveraging Access Africa connections to wallets and payment platforms.

Wigwe had told shareholders, investors and stockbrokers that Access Bank will approach target scale in countries of presence, targeting an impactful presence, reaping economies of scale, and leveraging digital and access to cheap funding sources. The bank also plans to diversify risk and earnings, taking advantage of the expansion strategy to diversify its earnings and risk—that said, Nigeria will remain its largest market.

To this end, the banks will build on partnerships, modelling expansion strategy on partnerships with financial investors, DFIs, etc. and providing strategic support to protect and grow partners’ value. The bank’s chief said the Africa Franchise will be complemented with strategic global locations anchored out of the Access Bank UK subsidiary.

Clearly, as we move forward, innovation and size will play major roles in helping financial institutions take advantage of emerging opportunities and Wigwe has strategically positioned Access Bank for that auspicious moment.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021

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BUSINESSWORLD

INDUSTRY

AfCFTA: Nigerian Industries Need Investment-friendly Environment to Thrive Operators and other stakeholders in the Nigerian manufacturing sector argued that the country required investment friendly policies and addressing structural challenges that held the sector down for it to thrive under the competitive AfCFTA, writes Dike Onwuamaeze

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he President of the African Export and Import Bank (Afreximbank), Professor Benedict Okey Aramah, is an incurable optimist that the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) has the possibility to spur industrialisation in Africa and Nigeria in particular.

As the salesman in chief of the AfCFTA, Oramah, ever optimistic, did not miss the chance in one of his recent meetings with the members of the Nigerian Manufacturers Association (MAN) to impress it on his audience that the AfCFTA, which took off in January, would brighten the prospects of the country’s beleaguered manufacturing sector.

He said: “Despite the challenges of the past, the future of manufacturing in Nigeria looks bright.

The coming into force of the AfCFTA opens the wider African market for Nigerian manufacturer. The preferences that AfCFTA offers can make Nigerian manufactured goods more competitive in many African markets and can also make it possible for integration into regional and global supply chains.

“The rising middle class in Nigeria and Africa and the rapid urbanisation will expand demand for manufactured goods. It is the manufacturing industry that will supply these items.

“Related to the foregoing is the gradual exit of China from labour intensive light manufacturing. As China shifts to more capital-intensive manufacturing due to rising labour costs, those goods have to be supplied by somebody. Nigeria, and indeed the entire African continent will have themselves to blame if this projected supply gap is filled from outside the continent.”

The President of MAN, Mr. Mansur Ahmed, in a recent interview with the ARISE NEWS TV, a sister organization of THISDAY, agreed with Oramah that AfCFTA offered Nigeria’s manufacturing sector a chance to thrive.

Ahmed hinged this hope on backward integration and value chain addition that would link the SMEs to the big manufacturing concerns in the continent and enable Nigerian manufacturers to use local inputs to improve our cost structure and competitiveness. This will benefit both the SMEs and the larger manufacturers.

He said: “The AfCFTA will build our capacity to manufacture and change the narrative of African economy and give Africa a stronger voice and positioning in the global economy as we go on.

“I am confident that there will be a tremendous opportunities for growth and development for each and every one if the countries that signed this agreement are willing to come together to make it a success.

But this cannot come without challenges.”

INDUSTRIAL SECTOR SUCCESS

He, however, noted that success of the industrial sector would depend much on the federal government coming up with right policies that would attract

investments into the country’s manufacturing sector as well as the willingness of the African governments to enforce the free trade area’s agreement favourablly to checkmate dumping.

“Are we ready to do the things we have to do to address the possibilities of dumping? “The dumping issue frankly is a matter of political will. Do our governments and political leaders have the political will to agree on those things that we have to do to ensure that we do not allow dumping to take place?” he asked.

Ahmed also said during his recent tour of media houses in Lagos this month that the manufacturing sector is currently employing seven million Nigerians with prospects to grow the number if government could support the right kind of industries with right policies that could attract investments and enhance strong linkages between the various sectors.

Ahmed said: “We need to encourage investments consistently across the value chain. We need to work with the government to make sure that its policies are right.”

Similarly, a recent report of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), titled the “Economic Implications of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) on the Nigerian Industrial Sectors,” said that the ability of the Nigerian industrial sector to benefit from the AfCFTA would depend on a number of ifs.

It said: “If the government can tackle the myriad of structural challenges and make the economy conducive for private investment to thrive, the industrial sectors will benefit a great deal from the AfCFTA.” This is also followed by another if: “If Nigeria can effectively position the priority of its industrial sector for integration into African markets, this could potentially provide a larger market to support the expansion of production and investment across the industrial sectors. That said, it means that government has to be prepared to address the myriad of long-standing structural problems inhibiting real sectors of the economy.”

The report stated clearly that Nigerian industries would lose out in the trade integration agreement if the government failed to “implement pro-business and growth-enhancing policies that could attract foreign investments and technical labour supply.

“By implication, for the Nigerian industrial sectors to benefit from AfCFTA, it would require more than tariff reduction and/or elimination. It requires providing effective supportive economic structure to fairly partake in the gains.”

The NESG observed that currently, Nigerian industrial sector has not been operating at the capacity where it could leverage on the potential benefit of the AfCFTA to create more wealth for the economy.

Meeting these challenges would require that the

implementation of the AfCFTA would be supported “by a cohesive industrial development framework including, rules of origin compatible with Nigerian productive capacity and the improvement of trade facilitation measures.”

The NESG’s report used a Nigeria-based Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model (NESG GEMOD), to provide an analysis of the potential impact of AfCFTA on the Nigerian industrial sectors.

The report also contained some macro-economic impact of AfCFTA on the manufacturing industry like effects on investments, output, import and export.

INVESTMENT EFFECT

The NESG argued that if efforts were not made to mobilise private capital inflows that would boost domestic private sector investments in the Nigerian economy, seventy per cent of the industrial subsectors would experience a decline in investment.

“An implied explanation for the expected decline in investment is that the choice of investment destinations will become more competitive with the AfCFTA implementation.

This is because Nigerian companies will be able to produce in any African economy they perceive as having the best investment climate and trade their products freely in other African economies with the desired market,” the report said.

OUTPUT EFFECTS

The report stated that, “with complete elimination of tariffs, only electricity, textile and extractive industries would be positively impacted. But the implementation of AfCFTA will result to a decline in sectoral output of chemical products, electrical, motor vehicles, oil refining, water and waste management, wood products, cement and construction and food, beverage and tobacco sectors. The import effect is substantially different compared to other indicators.

“With the elimination of tariff, AfCFTA has a negligible impact on industrial import, with 0.1% on the average over the 10 years while increase in industrial export will be insufficient to compensate for the loss in import.”

The NESG’s report concluded by stating that removal of tariffs would have insignificant effect on Nigeria’s industrial sector because Africa accounted for a relatively small fraction of Nigeria’s overall external trade.

It however, noted: “the industrial sectors in Nigeria will lose out in all segments when the government eliminate tariff completely and at the same time attempt to cushion the economy by increasing expenditure by 10 per cent.”

It also posited that employment rate in

the industrial sector would suffer the most with a decline of 2.6 per cent in the period of five to 10 years and an average decline of 1.7 per cent over the 10-year period.

“The result is not surprising within the context, as government investment spending has been proven to be underperforming historically and not having a significant impact on economic growth.

“Eliminating tariff alone, have some negligible positive effects on the Nigerian industrial sector.

However, combining such a measure with an increase in government investment will not result in any effect for the industrial sectors. This is because the revenue losses resulting from the reduction in tariff are not being compensated for by the expected level of expansion in local industrial activities.”

The NESG’s report also flawed the general assumption that the AfCFTA would automatically spur expansion in economic activities in Nigeria by pointing out that the country has “long-standing non-tariff barriers” that represented a critical obstacle to the competitiveness of the Nigerian industries.

These non-tariff barriers included large infrastructure gaps, significant trade-related transaction costs and difficult business environment are some of the biggest problems to tackle head-on if Nigeria’s industrial sectors were to benefit from AfCFTA implementation.

This is particularly reflected by its assumption that where the tariff is phased out over a 10-year period, and “assuming that AfCFTA would bring about 10 per cent increase foreign investment and 10 per cent increase in technical labour supply in the economy.

Under this scenario, all indicators (except employment) show an appreciable positive effect of AfCFTA. “It is important to note that the increase in importation from African countries as a result of the implementation AfCFTA would not offset Nigeria’s industrial goods export to African countries.

“Even the projected 10 per cent increase in foreign investment could only impact the export of industrial goods by an average of 0.7 per cent over the period of 10 years.

“This result pointed to the fact that the AfCFTA would be trade-diverting as Nigeria’s imports from non-African countries would be substituted by imports from African countries. Hence, Nigeria will have to take anti-dumping measures more seriously during AfCTA ratifications and negotiations.”

PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR

The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the MAN and Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr. Fidelis Ayebae, stated flatly that the Nigerian pharmaceutical industrial sector is not yet ready for the competition that would arise from the AfCFTA. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

AGRICULTURE

Insecurity: Will Farmers Return to Farms?

Following the unending herdsmen/farmers clashes, Gilbert Ekugbe takes a cursory look at what the federal government and stakeholders in the agricultural value chain must do to encourage farmers to get back to the farms

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t is no longer news that herder-farmer conflicts have continued to disrupt farming activities across different parts of the country, especially in the North East. These disruptions have also affected farmers’ productivity levels as well as make substantial incomes to improve their standard of living.

With the agricultural sector growing by 14.03 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in nominal terms in Q4 2020, showing a rise of 0.23 per cent points from the same quarter of 2019 representing an increase of 0.51 per cent based on the preceding quarter’s growth rate of 13.52 per cent, there is still so much work to be done for the sector to contribute significantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Nigeria remained the largest producer of staple crops in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region. There is an urgent need by economic managers by way of policy formulation that take into cognisance of agricultural stakeholders’ input to maintains its leadership position in that regard.

The future of the agricultural sector of the nation’s economy is faced with several uncertainties such as resource scarcity, heightened risks from climate change, higher energy prices, demand for bio-fuels and most importantly inadequate funding. Funding agriculture in Nigeria entails provision of funds for short term and long-term agricultural production.

It begins with provision of funds for research on agricultural production to the funding of the packaging, communication and adoption of the findings of such research until consumption. Provision of the required funding is a major factor for achieving any measure of success in agricultural production in Nigeria.

AGRICULTURAL FUNDING

Essentially, agriculture in Nigeria has been funded with private savings, governmental allocations, agricultural credit schemes and foreign investment.

Few farmers can save enough from their meager earnings to take full advantage of the ever-increasing range of improved agricultural technologies or to fund development of new ones. As a result, many farmers are caught in the vicious cycle of poverty.

Many farmers in Nigeria are poor because they produce very little output and hence sell very small amounts, which in turn cannot help them to expand their farms and increase production; this is as a result of their in accessibility of adequate funds.

Key is lack of access to finance and the resultant inability to invest in basic farming inputs such as seedlings, fertilizers, implements and irrigation. As a result, their yields have remained largely stagnant, leading to pervasive hunger and poverty. Similarly, little or no commercial funding is available to those

aspiring to build businesses that could enhance food production and enable farmers to earn sustainable profits. Therefore, they need credit, aids, grants or subsidies to supplement personal sources.

Essentially, agricultural funding aims at facilitating the flow of funds to farmers to enable them to adopt new technologies and farm practices designed to raise productivity and incomes. In other words, it aims at ensuring that adequate funds are provided to the agricultural sector, on reasonable terms from the mainstream of the financial system. This is important since left on its own, the financial system continued to discriminate against agriculture as a risky and unprofitable enterprise. Efforts of the government to ensure that substantial financial resources get to the farms include the Nigerian Agricultural and Co-operative bank at the national level, the Agricultural credit cooperation at the state levels and the concessional interest rates on agricultural loans.

Furthermore the government established the Agricultural Credit Guaranty Scheme Fund in 1978 to substantially reduce the risks involved in lending to agriculture.

Agricultural funding creates access to capital for the purpose of farming which payment is to be made at an agreed future time. Essentially, agricultural funding aims at facilitating the flow of credit to farmers to enable them to adopt new technologies and farm practices designed to raise their productivity and incomes. Its target is to ensure that adequate funds are provided to the agricultural sector on reasonable terms from the mainstream of the financial system.

Left on their own, the financial institutions prefer lending to large-scale investment outside the agricultural sector because of their huge profits, prompt returns, shorter gestation periods of enterprise, and quick turnover.

Private foreign investment in agriculture has been relatively insignificant in Nigeria. Foreign companies and nationals have made little direct investments in agricultural production and research. However, since the late 1970s, there has been an appreciable inflow of loans, grants and technical assistance from foreign governments and international financial institutions such as the World Bank Group.

Nigeria’s numerous smallholders on the aggregate make substantial investments in addition to relying on informal funding, this has proved inadequate. The basic agricultural funding problems remain poverty amongst peasant smallholders, because of their inability to access credit.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ROLE

Farmers have continued to groan under the incessant attacks by herdsmen as they are calling for an extension for repayment under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), which was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 17, 2015, to create a linkage between anchor companies involved in the processing and smallholder farmers.

However, this scheme is already being threatened since they have all abandoned their farms as a result of disruptions from herdsmen attacks. Therefore, the urgent need to restrategise Nigeria’s security architecture could not be overemphasised.

Farmers must be assured of their safety when they carry out their activities on their farms even at a time when food prices have continued to surge with Nigeria facing an acute food insecurity challenge in the next three months as predicted by the World Food Programme (WFP).

The federal government and state governments must urgently devise means to improve the security situation across boards to encourage farmers and boost their productivity for Nigeria to achieve food security by 2030.

There is also the need to develop the nation’s research institute to prepare farmers for the looming days of climate change that has caught with many countries experiencing wildfires and devastating floods with Nigeria are not left out. Research institutes must develop improved seedlings, soil textures and new seed variants to help farmers do much more with little effort as this would also attract new investments from both local and foreign investors into the sector.

The aging farming population is another source issue to be worried about as these set of farmers are grossly inadequate to supply the nation’s food needs with cutlasses and hoes.

The federal government must also prioritise strategies by strengthening partnerships with international food agencies such as Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and the likes to develop the sustainable, climate-resilient economic and financial inclusion of young people in profitable agribusiness and strengthen institutions at state and community levels to work with private companies in keyvalue chains, build rural institutions, establish community-driven development initiatives, develop profitable smallholder agribusiness and pursue financial inclusion for rural poor households.

STAKEHOLDERS’ INPUT

Stakeholders in the agricultural value chain must as a matter of urgency start to educate farmers across the country with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in order to address issues of rejection and food safety.

Farmers have to be aware of the need to be more careful handling food products. Developed countries across the globe place premium importance on food safety.

An agribusiness expert and Director General, Premier Agribusiness Academy, Mr. Toromade Francis, called on the need for stakeholders in the agricultural sector to train farmers on GAP, saying that until Nigeria develops human capital on the most impactful agricultural practice, the federal government’s target to achieve food security would remain a wild goose chase.

On his part, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) he signed with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has continued to record remarkable successes, noting that the MoU would see farmers trained on production of yams, maize, cassava, rice, soyabeans and cowpeas.

In July this year, the Director-General, FAO, QU Dongyu, at the pre-Summit of the UN food systems summit, reiterated his call for more investment in rural areas and actions to end hunger and poverty.

“We must refocus our energies and investment on rural areas. Investing in the agriculture sector is the solution to eradicate hunger. Unless we assume responsibility and take urgent actions, we might gather in 2030 to announce that not only did we not eradicate hunger and poverty but that 660 million people are still hungry,” he added.

The Chief Executive Officer, Farmcrowdy, Mr. Onyeka Akumah, stated the need to reshape the way people participate in farming and food production by using their online and mobile platforms as it launched six business divisions covering technology; insurance; aggregation; marketing; foods and structured finance.

He stated that the move was to grow the number of farmers as it plans to work with over 500,000 farmers in 2021

RECOMMENDATION

Regrettably, the agricultural sector of the country accounts for only 1.7 per cent of the total lending by banks even though the sector account for over 42 percent of the country’s GDP. It is now dear that the commercial banking system does not have the capacity, skills and resources to single-handly attain exponential growth of the agriculture sector.

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

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Earth Networks, NiMet Partner to Provide Nigeria Early Warning of Severe Weather Bennett Oghifo

E

arth Networks, a global provider of weather intelligence has said it formed a partnership with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) that includes a five-year collaboration to build the Nigeria Total Lightning and Mesoscale AWS Network (NTLMAN) for early warning of severe weather.

According to a statement issued last week by the Public Affairs Section (PAS), U.S. Consulate General, Victoria Island, Lagos, the partnership was commemorated during a live virtual Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony last week from Abuja and Germantown, Maryland.

“Under the agreement, Earth Networks and NiMet will deploy and operate a comprehensive early warning lightning detection network in

Nigeria and jointly co-market new sources of weather and lightning data to public and private industries in Nigeria. Precision weather stations and lightning sensors will be hosted at NiMet locations and maintained by NiMet staff. In addition to the network equipment, Earth Networks will also provide training and development for NiMet staff regarding use of comprehensive weather data, including real-time and historical lightning data, weather observations, sensor forecasts and live storm-tracking and alerting.

“This new agreement with NiMet supports Earth Networks’ commitment to build sustainable public-private weather information services partnerships with countries around the globe.

Government agencies and private enterprises in Nigeria alike will now have access to a complete suite of visualization, forecasting, storm identification, alerting, and tracking services, developed

and offered jointly by NiMet and Earth Networks.

“This cooperation means any industry affected by weather in Nigeria, including aviation, oil and gas, mining, and manufacturing, can now take advantage of the most technologically advanced severe weather alerts and data to promote safety and ease operational challenges caused by weather.

“We’ve been working in more than 25 countries in Africa since 2013 to save lives and protect property with high-resolution weather and lightning data,” said Jim Anderson, Vice President of Global Sales at Advanced Environmental Monitoring, Earth Networks’ parent company. “We are excited to partner with NiMet to help accelerate the expansion of their high impact weather forecasting capacity and bring new weather warning services to enterprise customers in Nigeria.”

In his remarks at the virtual MOU signing ceremony, U.S. Embassy Environment, Science,

Technology, and Health Officer Adam Jagelski said the partnership between Earth Networks and NiMet will help expand Nigeria’s capacity to accurately provide critical weather forecasting information and climate services, supporting Nigeria’s economic development by protecting the lives and property that are critical to several key sectors.

“The signing of this MOU is exemplary of the mutually beneficial partnership model U.S. businesses can employ to engage the Nigerian market,” Jagelski said. “I am thrilled to see Earth Networks using the partnership model to bring the expertise of one of America’s truly innovative companies to the strategic infrastructure sector in Nigeria. We hope to see more of America’s premier companies developing partnerships as a means to bring their best-in-class products and services to Nigeria and the whole of Africa.”

Senate Housing Committee Inspects Cocoon Homes’ Ongoing Projects Nigeria’s innovative real estate company, Cocoon Homes, received delegates from the Senate Committee on Housing who were on tour to inspect some of the on-going projects funded by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

The inspection was led by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, Senator Sam Egwu, who commended the ongoing construction at Cocoon Atlantic Project.

Cocoon Homes, in partnership with COMACO Cooperative, is assisting off takers in

accessing the National Housing Fund (NHF) from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

The Cocoon Atlantic Estate is a world-class residential development by Cocoon Homes located in Sangotedo along the Lekki axis of Lagos. Cocoon is developing 383 contemporary homes consisting of 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and terrace homes complete with all required infrastructure, green areas and services required for a secure, family-friendly, and self-sufficient community.

Speaking at the event, the

Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing expressed his satisfaction on the design and quality of materials. According to him “we are happy with what we have seen so far, especially with the design and quality of the materials. The Federal government is proud of this partnership and hopefully, we can do more.”

Speaking about the visit, the Managing Director of Cocoon Homes, Farouk Imam said he was delighted that Cocoon Atlantic was selected as a model development for the Senate

committee’s inspection visit and was pleased with the positive feedback and encouragement received. Farouk Imam said: “We are extremely proud of our partnership with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. FMBN has been a solid and reliable partner that has pushed and inspired us to achieve the highest possible standards. We are confident that our mutual goal of making good quality housing more accessible to Nigerians will be achieved on this project and we are excited about the prospect of extending

our partnership with them. We are working with some of the best professionals in the industry to deliver this project and we welcome other stakeholders to join in this effort to close the housing gap in Nigeria.”

On its part, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria also expressed its satisfaction with the quality of work done at the Cocoon Atlantic Project.

The acting zonal coordinator of the Federal Mortgage Bank in Lagos, Mr. Simeon Agada, confirmed that “The FMBN is pleased with

the level and quality of work done so far by Cocoon Homes.

The Cocoon Atlantic Project is a notable contribution to our core objectives of ensuring that Nigerians have access to quality homes at affordable prices. Cocoon Homes has demonstrated that they are reliable, efficient, committed and possess the expertise required to make an impact within the Housing sector of the Nigerian economy. The FMBN is looking forward to continuing our partnership with them.”

Cross section of Senate Committee on housing and the Cocoon Homes team at a recent visit to the building project sponsored by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and executed by Cocoon homes in Lekki, Lagos… recently

Alvin Grey & Associates to Sharpen Realtors’ Skills at Mid-year Conference Alvin Grey & Associates, the official real estate brokerage firm of LandWey, one of Nigeria’s leading real estate companies held its 2021 three-day Mid-Year Realtors Conference.

The three-day event, themed “Go Mega”, was packed full with highly impactful activities targeted at better equipping registered realtors to take their skills to the next level.

For the first two days, attendees sat under the tutelage

of coaches and experts across different fields in masterclass sessions, garnering enough valuable insights to transform their service delivery.

Speakers at the event were: Mfon Ekpoh, a learning and development coach, Steve Harris, business coach, Juliet Okene, author and coach, Abiola Champ, performance coach and author, Kunle Soriyan, a global thought leader and futurist and Damilola Oluwatoyinbo, author and

public speaker.

Adesola Bello, the acting managing director of LandWay kicked off the conference with an opening speech in which she expressed pride at the turnout, and the achievements made thus far. She went ahead to shed light on the theme, explaining how the entire event was put together to challenge realtors to push beyond the ordinary.

“To be mega is to be beyond average size, it’s breaking

out of the box that should ordinarily constrain you, reaching for everything you want to achieve, daring to be larger than life,” Bello said.

She went on to note that the mid-year conference was set up to give the realtors everything they need to go into the second half of the year and win.

Top-selling realtors and associates were also recognized for their impressive performance, with the unveiling of the Wall

of Fame, and the announcement of several incentives for the highest performing realtors.

Incentives included a Toyota Camry, Mercedes C-Class, a Nord Tank, and a number of others.

The three-day knowledgesharing conference came to a climax on a lighter note with a much-deserved boat cruise as associates were treated to a fun evening of wining and dining. On welcoming the associates on the cruise,

Bello urged associates to enjoy the cruise as they get charged for the next half of the year.

“This is a much-deserved breather from a busy first half of the year and a good way to set the pace for an even busier second half of the year. Alvin Grey & Associates, seeks not just to reward its well-performing associates, but to educate, train, coach and ensure the all-round growth of realtors and the real estate industry at large,” She further said.

35

T H I S D AY ˾TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT

Nigeria Wasting Potentials in Forestry Subsector, Says Ajayi Professor Babatunde Ajayi, is a former bureaucrat and now a Professor of Wood Products and Bioresources Technology in the Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Akure, Ondo-State. He tells journalists that Forestry potentials were not maximally utilised in Nigeria while also mulling modern policies through which waste in the sector could be converted to wealth to buffer the diversification efforts of governments

A

s an expert, how do you assess the government’s policies in Forestry subsector?

If you check the books properly, the government has good policy for the management and conservation of Forest Products and Biodiversity vis-a-vis the animals, insects and edaphic organisms in the Forests.

But sad enough, there is lack of appropriate implementation for the preservation and conservation of Forest resources. The lack of implementation of some of these policies has been allowing illegal activities thereby affecting the functionalities of these policies. If we have good policies, our Forest and woods will be used optimally while fruits and other products can be appropriately channeled for sustainable growth and economic expansion, ending poverty and hunger, Enhancing human well-being, and building resilience. The best way out of this remains that, our governments should take proactive approaches and must look back to regulate every activities in the Forests by enforcing appropriate tools and Forestry laws. Good policies and implementation will ensure that we have a Forests that can add values to our social, environment and economic growth, food security, prosperity, mitigate climate change, now that the present government is pursuing diversification in Forest sector for great Change, in order to break away from sole reliance on crude oil.

I am of that view that our Forests must be well focused so that we can maximize our gains from the vast and enormous Forest potentials we have across our nation.

What are this potentials the Forests can offer?

There are many benefits that are derived by human from the Forests. Forests provides shelter and home for wild animals, birds, insects and soil fauna. It aids the ecological process of regulating predation by providing hiding place so prey can hide from predators or predators can hide and ambush their prey.

Forests also provide nests for birds to lay eggs. Forest provide a wide range of economic and social benefits including contributions to national economy through employment, processing and trade of Forest products including non-timber Forest products; provision of energy and investments in the Forest sector.

Forest host and protect cultural, spiritual site and provide opportunities for recreation and cultural enrichment. Forests purify the atmosphere, regulate shelter, and filter water supply, mitigate floods and erosion, serve as wind break, sustain biodiversity and genetic resources. Aside from provision of medicinal leaves, roots and herbs for improved human health, staying in the Forest environment boosts the immune system, lowers blood pressure, reduces mental stress, improves mood, and accelerates recuperation from surgery or illness.

As an academia, what role do you think the Universities can play to ensure that our environment are protected and Forest potentials are well utilized?

As academia, we have sold our lives into lecturing, research and community services.

We conduct research for our institutions, Governments and private organizations for the growth of the economy. There are so many research in some of our universities that are lying there untapped and these could have been of tremendous benefits to our economy if they have been applied on the management of our Forest. In FUTA here where I work, there are so many research we have carried out in the Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, but we have no robust relationship with our host State -Ondo, and the nation at large, despite that the state has huge economic potentials in the subsector. I believe that some of our research ought to be put into use.

We are supposed to be partners in progress for sustainable development of our nation.

We have on our archives research on how best to use the Wood Products and Forest Biodiversity to turn around our economy and better ways of managing our Forests in line with best global practices. Another major role of the Universities is the training of man power in organization and management of Forest resources. Sensitization of the general public through seminar and workshop are also being done. Universities also put in resources to discharge community services

Prof. Ajayi

such as technical training for indigenous people, consultancy and establishment of pilot project for studies.

Can you tell us about your research and how it can benefit Nigeria if adopted?

My research focuses on the use of conventional biomaterials (Wood) and non-conventional bio-materials from agricultural wastes, common weeds, waste paper and other wastes prevalent in the world environment to produce value-added panel products using Portland cement, recycled plastic, car battery case and/or pozzolan as binder, through the application of developed simple, innovative and adaptable technologies in the manufacturing processes. Output from these research is capable of: converting waste materials (biological and non-biological) to value added panel products; curbing environmental pollution and siltation of water ways; promoting sustainable use of natural resources; increasing prosperity through sales of wastes material; restoring economic mother trees for seed production; protecting edaphic resources against caking of the soil; and conserving bio-diversity.

The menace of poverty, hunger and environmental degradation can be mitigated with the production and utilization of these nature friendly value added construction panels. These panel products can conveniently stand as alternatives for wood products to meet the demand for sustainable construction materials for core and low cost housing in rural and urban areas; and increase farmers’ income, prosperity, as well as alleviate poverty.

These products are versatile because they can be suitably made from a wide range of non-conventional raw materials

sourced locally (e.g. maize stalk and cob, groundnut shell, palm kernel chaff, rice husk, water hyacinth, Luffa cylindrical etc.) using recycled plastic, car battery case, cement and/or pozzolan as binder.

Their utilization in building construction (partitioning, ceiling, furniture, flooring etc) will reduce the pressure on existing Forest resources and increase the income of the community inhabitants.

The adoption and commercialization of these research outputs will empower rural populations (farmers and indigenous people) to improve their incomes in an environmentally sustainable manner through the sales of wastes derived from post-harvest processing for utilization in the manufacturing of affordable panel products. This will create a new orientation in design, technology and industrial development in sourcing, processing, manufacturing and utilization of raw materials and new products. It will conserve Forest biodiversity sustainably and mitigate climate change through the provision of value added panel products.

You are deeply involved with United Nations and other agencies on issue of global warming. How prepared is Nigeria to stem the negative effects of the occurrence?

It is not gainsaying the fact that the effects of deforestation, desertification and bush burning are causing serious climate change globally. Global warming is now a threat in all countries of the World. But while other nations are ready to mitigate the effects on the environment, Nigeria seems not to be ready.

I grew up in the Forest and I went to the Forestry School in Ibadan and I studied Forestry up to the university

The government has good policy for the management and conservation of Forest Products and Biodiversity vis-a-vis the animals, insects and edaphic organisms in the Forests. But sad enough, there is lack of appropriate implementation for the preservation and conservation of Forest resources

level. I saw Forest when Forest was Forest.

In the olden days, if you stay in the Forest and rain was falling, it won’t touch the soil neither will it make your cloth drench. But because of massive destruction to our Forest and ecosystem, we are now witnessing all manners of environmental hazards (erosion, siltation of water ways, flooding, pollution, heat waves, forest fire, excess greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere etc). So, for our government to be ready to deal decisively with global warming, there should be aggressive afforestation policy at the Federal, State and even our Local Governments. Also, individuals and corporate organizations should also join in initiating some of these projects, because government can’t do it alone. When we talk of afforestation policy, we are not talking about the planting of Gmelina and teak everywhere, but you have to plant based on the type of animals and the species that are rampant in that particular zone. Some can engage in Social Forestry, that is planting trees and fruits within the city or planting some guinea Savana grasses, so that we can use the fodder to feed animals, but the end result must be to maintain and sustain our Forests. It is only in Nigeria where natural forest of about 500 species are clear felled to plant a single species for pulp or poles.

I kicked against this unwholesome practice when I was in the civil service. How can someone cut down about 500 species of trees to plant Teak? This is a very bad practice. Teak is a very dangerous plant. It doesn’t allow its own seed to germinate or grow under it talk less of seeds of other species. But when seedlings of other trees are germinating in natural enviroment, they are destroyed to plant teak, this is a bad policy. Though, there are still natural Forests in Nigeria like the Akure Forest reserve fondly referred to it as Queen’s Forest. Universities and research institutions conduct research in this forest because trees there are protected naturally. It is a strict nature reserve where trees are allowed to grow and die on their own. But today, all those large expanse of Forests were being encroached and destroyed indiscriminately by activities of illegal loggers and farmers. This has become a serious worries to Nigerian Forestry Association and other Academic institutions, because we learnt over 100 trees were being cut at a time in that protected Forest Reserve.

What are your involvement with United Nations (SDGs) and other agencies?

I have had many engagement with the United Nations through invitations to attend and/or present at many of their events including: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Durbar, South Africa, 2011 and Doha, Qatar, 2012. I also have the privilege to attend the 2017 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development of the UN at the invitation of the Division for Sustainable Development, United Nation Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) on 2017 Partnership Exchange with a theme “Eradicating Poverty and Promoting Prosperity in a Changing World”. My research products have been displayed at the Exhibit on Innovative Wood Products during the 68th session of the UN Economic Commission Europe/ FAO at the UN Office Geneva, Switzerland, held in conjunction with Society of Wood Science and Technology, in October, 2010 and to mark the 2011 International Year of the Forest. In 2010, I was invited by Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) to attend a small gathering of eminent scientists during the XXIII IUFRO World Congress. I have attended other notable world gatherings of eminent scientists and environmental conservationists such as the World Forestry Congress in Quebec, Canada in 2003; and Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2009.

Recently my written input was presented and accepted at the Session 2: Effective paths towards the SDGs: STI for Ending Poverty and Hunger, Enhancing Human Well-being and Building Resilience of 6th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals held on 4-5 May, 2021. The document titled: Nature Based Construction Panels from Agricultural Residues: A Panacea to Poverty, Hunger, and Environmental Degradation was published on UN website (www.sdg.un.org).

36

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

BEDC Takes Delivery of 54,198 Meters, Offers Debt Relief to Customers Adibe Emenyonu ÓØ ÏØÓØ ÓÞã The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has announced that it has taken delivery of about 54,198 meters out of 75,870 meters being expected in the federal government National Mass Meter Programme (NMMG).

The compant also disclosed its readiness to offer its customers across the franchise states of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti, debt relief as an incentive to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.

Announcing the scheme during a media interactive session at the company’s headquarters in Benin City, the Managing Director/CEO, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, that recall that in late 2020, President Mohammandu Buhari initiated the National Mass Metering Program, with the mandate of ensuring that 1million meters are deployed to electricity consumers nationwide with each distribution company allocated a certain number of meters to be shared among their customers.

To this effect, she noted that

“BEDC has taken delivery of 54,198 out of 75,870 meters allocated to us for distribution to customers under the NMMP phase zero level, whilst it has completed the installation of over 40,000 meters across the four states that we cover as of July ending.”

On the debt relief, Mrs Osibodu said it is a rescheduling scheme aimed at given customers a soft landing approach to settle their outstanding debt on electricity consumption.

“The debt relief offers discounts, ranging from fuve to the down payment of 25 percent, with the balance payable roll over four years or provision of an additional five percent discount where a customer is ready to pay off the whole debt owed”, the BEDC boss declared, adding that the scheme ensures that the customers involved are not disconnected as long as he continues to pay his bills regularly.

According to her “The debt rescheduling scheme is a soft landing approach for customers to settle their outstanding debts on electricity consumption, as it

offers discounts, ranging from 5- 25%, down to the payment of 25%, with the balance payable over four years or provision of an additional 5% discount where a customer is ready to pay off the whole debt owed instantly.

“The scheme ensures that customers who subscribe are not disconnected and are given accelerated metering process, for those without meters.”

Nevertheless, the electricity distribution firm, decried the high level of vandalism, which she said, has hampered the smooth operation of the company.

“We have continued to record an increase in the cases of vandalism across our franchise zone.

We believe that aside from being an economic crime, it is also an act of sabotage, which is unfair to affected customers and the.

More worrisome, she added, is that the miscreants have continued to innovate new ideas beyond human comprehension to perpetuate their criminal acts, while announcing the introduction of an electronic billing system that will eradicate the problem being faced by customers on payment of bills.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

Sterling Bank Partners Aviation Cargo Conference to Grow Export

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

Chinedu Eze Sterling Bank has announced partnership with the first aviation and cargo conference to help grow export and cargo business through the airports.

The bank said it is reinforcing its emerging position as the biggest supporter of transport and travel business in Nigeria.

This is just as clearing agents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, have confirmed that Nigeria imports tonnes of cargo by air everyday but exports very little adding that many freighters that arrive Nigerian airports fully laden with goods depart from the country empty.

To address this problem the Chinet Aviacargo Conference is bringing together top players in aviation, logistics, export and support businesses to a two-day Conference and Exhibition in Lagos.

Sterling Bank said it has been consistent in engaging entrepreneurs and startups in the trade and travel sectors of

the economy.

The Aviacargo Conference provides another opportunity to further engage with stakeholders on how to develop perishables and other products for export in order to create another opportunity to earn foreign exchange.

Managing Director of Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman said: “Aviation is a key part of the transportation sector in Nigeria. And as the T in our heart strategy, our commitment to growing the transportation sector, as with health, education, agriculture and renewable energy in Nigeria remains total as we believe in the importance of these towards Nigeria’s economic rebirth and prosperity.”

The Regulatory Agencies including The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), The Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency (NCAA), The Nigerian Export Promotions Council (NEPC), will be joined by the Standard Organisations

of Nigeria (SON), the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) and the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) in the two-day stakeholders engagement.

Coming up on the 25th and 26th of August 2021 the Chinet Expo is expected to raise a checklist of actionable plans that will enable government, exporters and cargo handlers improve on the existing situation.

Meanwhile, Ogun state government has announced that the Ogun Cargo Airport would showcase its capabilities at Chinet Expo slated for August 5 and 26, 2021.

The Commissioner of Finance and the Chief Economic Adviser Ogun State, Dapo Okubadejo would engage aviation and cargo experts on the advanced plan and implementation of the Ogun Cargo Airport Project.

Also, a leading exporter Capt.

John Okakpu who is the Head of the Agro Set up Committee would be sharing his experience at the conference.

United Capital Increases Issuance of CPs to N50bn Darasimi Adebisi United Capital Plc has notified the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) that it has secured the approval of FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited to increase in the size of its existing N20 billion Commercial Paper (CP) programme to N50 billion.

The Group Company Secretary, United Capital, Leo Okafor in a statement said the validity period of the CP Programme has also been extended to October 18,

2022.

According to him, “Following the approval of the CP Programme increase, the Company has successfully raised N19.7 Billion in its recently issued Series 5, 6 and 7 CP Issues. The 180-day and 270- day issuances were completed at between 11.9% and 13%, with firm commitments from a pool of institutional investors, including asset managers and pension funds. FSDH Capital Limited, United Capital Plc, and UCML Capital Limited acted as

Arrangers to the transaction.

Olaniwun Ajayi LP acted as Transaction Counsel.”

The company is a leading financial services group in Africa focused on leveraging technology to empower businesses, individuals, and governments with excellent financial services in Investment Banking, Asset Management, Trusteeship, Securities Trading, Wealth Management and Consumer Finance while contributing to economic growth and prosperity across Africa.

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT THURSDAY, 15 JULY 2021

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $73.15 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $75.29 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

37

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021

MARKET NEWS

Investors Lose N25bn as Stock Market Opens on Negative Note Darasimi Adebisi Trading at the Nigerian equities market extended last week’s negative performance to the beginning of business for the week yesterday, as investor’ profit-taking in Lafarge Africa Plc, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc and, nine others triggered the market’s loss.

The negative performance was buoyed by investors’ profit-taking sentiment in all the major market

sectors excluding the Insurance sector.

In summary, the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) AllShare Index (ASI) dipped by 48.39 basis points, representing a decline of 0.12 per cent, to close at 39,434.69 basis points from 39,483.08 basis points.

Similarly, the overall market capitalisation value lost N25 billion to close at N20.546 trillion from N20.571 trillion it closed last week.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

Save for the Insurance (+0.4 per cent) index that closed in the green, the Industrial Goods (-0.3 per cent), Oil and Gas (-0.1 per cent), Consumer Goods (-0.1 per cent), and Banking (-0.1 per cent) indices recorded declines.

The market negative performance was driven by price depreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks amongst which are; Lafarge Africa, PZ Cussons Nigeria, Union Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank Holding

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Company (GTCO) and Eterna.

The market breadth closed positively, recording 21 gainers as against 11 losers. FTN Cocoa Processors recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent to close at 44 kobo, per share. Pharma Deko followed with a gain 9.88 per cent to close at N1.89, while Transcorp Hotels went up by 9.69 per cent to close at N4.30, per share.

Courteville Business Solutions rose by 9.68 per cent to close

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

at 34 kobo, while Learn Africa gained 9.30 per cent to close at N1.41, per share. On the other hand, Lafarge Africa led the losers’ chart by 5.29 per cent to close at N21.50, per share.

PZ Cussons Nigeria followed with a decline of 4.17 per cent to close at N5.75, while Union Bank declined by 3.81 per cent to close at N5.05, per share.

Eterna lost 2.36 per cent to close at N6.20, while FCMB Group shed 2.27 per cent to

O F

close at N3.02, per share.

The total volume of trades declined by 32.2 per cent to 211.327 billion units, valued at N2.029 billion, and exchanged in 3,939 deals. Transactions in the shares of Chams Plc topped the activity chart with 47.953 million shares valued at N10.572 million.

GTCO followed with 20.936 million shares worth N586.123 million, while Honeywell Flour Mills traded 14.554 million shares valued at N45.128 million.

2 3 / 0 8 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

38

TUESDAY, ͺͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021 • T H I S DAY

39

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

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

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 20Aug-2021, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 155.89 155.89 -3.70% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 4.87% Nigeria International Debt Fund 319.63 319.63 -17.07% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 109.08 109.08 -2.66% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.49% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.29 3.45 -3.23% info@anchoriaam.com info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 7.75% Anchoria Equity Fund 140.45 142.13 5.59% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.13 1.13 -15.06% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 19.62 20.21 8.17% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 431.54 444.55 7.79% ARM Ethical Fund 38.27 39.42 13.52% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.09 1.09 -1.18% ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.97 0.98 -7.47% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.17% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 105.79 105.79 4.01% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,019.10 1,019.10 1.91% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.02 2.02 -9.56% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.14 2.18 -7.46% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.01 1.01 2.48% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 0.06 8.03% Paramount Equity Fund 16.55 16.85 3.47% Women's Investment Fund 136.65 138.23 2.68% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.64% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 119.50 120.27 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 107.97 107.97 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.78% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.20 1.22 0.30% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.39 1.39 -12.12% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 8.41% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 7.68% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,146.13 1,162.09 -0.49% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bonds Fund 1,405.37 1,405.37 11.23% FBN Balanced Fund 191.16 192.51 1.86% FBN Halal Fund 111.99 111.99 8.35% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.45% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

126.85 156.24

126.85 3.56% 159.55 3.35% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price 1.00 3.96 1.59 1.18

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 5.67% 3.96 2.40% 1.63 4.62% 1.18 4.25% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price 3,729.65 3,358.16 100.00

Offer Price 3,784.70 3,358.16 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn -0.40% 2.50% 4.53%

GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.82% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.68 2.75 -6.00% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 152.42 152.69 -1.98% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.27 1.32 1.09% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.09 1.09 0.43% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.42 1.44 4.17% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,145.25 1,145.25 5.48% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.41 11.44 8.90% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.64% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.66 1.69 7.16% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.53 11.52 -5.25% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 5.92% PACAM Equity Fund 1.66 1.67 4.84% PACAM EuroBond Fund 112.81 114.65 2.69% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 131.71 134.29 8.88% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.05 1.05 10.10% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,284.57 3,319.46 2.27% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 232.41 232.41 3.36% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.21 1.23 3.39% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 306.21 306.21 3.92% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 224.03 227.37 2.65% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.16% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,395.02 10,540.67 -0.96% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.27 1.27 3.50% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 115.35 115.35 3.84% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 103.17 103.17 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.30 1.32 1.76% United Capital Bond Fund 1.91 1.91 4.23% United Capital Equity Fund 0.87 0.89 9.59% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.16% United Capital Eurobond Fund 119.84 119.84 4.71% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.06 1.07 3.78% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.06 1.06 5.99% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.88 12.99 8.52% Zenith Ethical Fund 14.22 14.34 16.38% Zenith Income Fund 24.30 24.30 1.31% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.22%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

125.34 51.90

10.92% 2.86%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.28 121.71 96.99 17.47 18.27

13.38 124.74 99.12 17.57 18.27

0.46% 1.22% -2.24%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.90 5.55 17.53 1.00 19.70 155.28

3.94 5.63 17.63 1.00 19.90 157.28

3.27% -2.45% 8.01% 6.31% -3.96% -29.29%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.40

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

40

TUESDAY, ͺͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

Lose Your Religion And Gain Your Faith

T

he following is the first chapter of my new book, True Christianity, scheduled for release in January 2022.

Just as you have organised crime, you also have organised religion. And both of them are cartels that promote an agenda that only those at the very top of their pyramid are fully aware of, while those at the bottom are, to varying degrees, clueless indoctrinated soldiers of religion.

Christ did not come to Earth to establish a religion. Instead, He died to set us free and reestablish our direct connection to God. This phenomenon is called faith. Not religion.

That is why Hebrews 11:6 says “without faith it is impossible to please God.” You can have religion and displease God, however, you cannot have faith in Christ and displease God. One of the most significant cons on Earth is the idea sold by Christendom (the official name of the organised religion that came out of Rome) that your religious activity determines whether or not you make it into heaven.

That is a lie on several levels. First of all, we are not all going to make it to heaven even if we have the right faith. However, we will all make it to God’s Kingdom if we have faith.

There is nothing in Scripture that suggests that we will all make it to heaven. Some people will. But others, like the meek, will inherit the new Earth - Matthew 5:5.

There is going to be a new heaven and a new Earth, which believers in God will populate through Christ - Revelations 21:1.

And then Scripture tells us that “by grace you have been saved through faith”-Ephesians 2:8. Religion does not feature in the equation.

This is why the thief at Christ’s side made it to Paradise just by having faith a few minutes before he died - Luke 23:43. No religious activity was featured in that sequence.

This is the reason why believers in Christ should focus on Scripture to work out their salvation rather than on religion. Christ has made it easy for you. That is why He said “it is finished”-John 19:30.

Organised religion is so dangerous that they are prepared to vary the word of God to keep you under their control, that is why you cannot afford to entrust your salvation to a pastor, church, denomination, or orthodoxy.

Your salvation is as easy as making a decision to believe that Christ came to die for the sin of the world, which occurred in the Garden of Eden. Simple.

Notice I said sin, not sins. Organised religion uses guilt to control people by telling them that Christ came to die for your sins. Scripture does not teach that.

In John 1:29, Christ is described as “The Lamb of God who takes away the SIN of the world!”

Sin, not sins. Christ did not come to die for your sins. Stop allowing organised religion to control you by making you feel guilty.

You are not a sinner because you sinned. You sin because you are a sinner. Big difference.

Even before you were born, right at the time of your conception, you were a sinner.

Scripture established this in Psalm 51:5 “In sin did my mother conceive me.”

If your mother conceived you in sin and you were a born sinner, how could you be responsible for Christ’s death?

No! There is only one sin that made all of us sinners and that is that original sin of Adam (not Eve), which is why Christ was called the Second Adam-1 Corinthians 15:45.

You can have faith right now and be bound for the Kingdom of God without any religious activity including baptism, holy communion, speaking in tongues, being doused in holy water, reciting the creed of your denomination, wearing a sacred bracelet with the image of Christ, Mary, or any number of angels or saints.

But then you may ask me what about Mark 16:16 which says “Whoever believes and is BAPTIZED will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Remember when I told you above that organised religion is so dangerous that they are prepared to vary the word of God to keep you under their control?

Mark 16:16 does not exist in the original Scripture. The Book of Mark, which by the way

is the oldest Gospel, ends at Mark 16:8. The remaining verses from verse 9-20 do not exist in the original Scriptures. They were added.

You do not have to take my word on this.

Please research it yourself. Thoroughly. Do not say you are too busy. Nothing can be as crucial as interrogating your faith. Not your job, or your family. So, stop whatever you are doing and investigate what I wrote in the last paragraph.

Mark 16:9-20 were added by organised religion to control you. To make you believe that you have to jump through their hoops to enter the Kingdom of God. I know this revelation may be shocking to you, but this is not the only instance in effigy organised religion tampered with Scripture to control you.

One of the most famous verses of Scripture, 1 John 5:7, was tampered with. Please do not just accept what I say hook, line and sinker, or dismiss it because it agitates your religious programming. Go and investigate this.

The original Scriptures render that verse as follows (I am given you an English rendering): “For there are three that testify.”

Read this verse in the King James Version and in other versions (I do not want to mention a particular church denomination’s version because then its adherents will think this is an anti ******** article).

Now, read it in other translations. Then investigate the origins of that verse and why those who adjusted it felt they had to adjust it.

The sad fact is that more people put more intellectual effort into deciding what they will wear tomorrow than interrogating what they have accepted as a religion.

Their parents were into that religion, and their parents’ parents were also into it. And if you ask behavioural scientists, they will tell you that all it takes to indoctrinate a people is just three generations.

Pavlov proved this in Russia with his experiments involving the conditioning of animals.

You also see this in various primitive peoples.

For example, salt was at one time as valuable as gold in medieval Europe, so much so that it was used as money. The word salary originated from the word salt. Salary was the amount of salt that a Roman soldier was paid. The original word was salarium. Sal or salis being the Latin word for salt.

Now, because salt was so valuable, Romans created a myth that wasting salt would bring you bad luck. It is not true. However, till today, all

over Europe, people still believe that salt wastage is an evil omen, and even more ridiculously, that Judas spilled salt during the Last Supper, hence his ignoble fate.

Or take the Christian Wake, of which there is nothing Christian or Scriptural about it. In the New Testament, people were buried on the same day they died-John 19:38-42, Acts 5:6, Acts 8:1-2, However, Europeans of the Dark Age believed that evil spirits could possess the dear bodies of their loved ones before they were buried.

Hence they would watch over their bodies until they were buried. This practice predated Christianity in Europe.

There are also records that many people drank from pottery and utensils made from lead in medieval Europe, most especially in Ireland.

They were not aware of lead poisoning. And so, people would get lead poisoning and go into a coma, of which they were mistaken for dead and buried.

Later, noises would be heard from the graveyard, which were mistaken for ghosts, but were in fact people that had come back to consciousness from their coma. And when other dead people were buried, (it was common in those times to bury people with other people), finger scratches were noticed in coffins.

Some anthropologists believe that this phenomenon may have caused some communities to stop burying people immediately they died (which was the usual practice as they had no mortuaries and embalming was too expensive), and to instead put the corpse on display to see if the dead person would wake up.

I must state that anthropologists offer only deductive reasoning as the basis for the lead poisoning theory as an alternate origin of wakes.

These two beliefs, one of purely pagan origin, the other a possible response to lead poisoning-induced comas and other comas, fused and became the custom of keeping watch over dead relatives for some time until they were buried. The practice evolved to be called a wake, because someone was meant to always keep watch over a relative until they were buried.

Today, Christians have turned this European tradition into a ‘Christian wake’!

And finally on this issue, we have the Christian Wedding. Africans keep calling a White Wedding a Christian wedding. But how many people in the Scripture do we see getting married in a church with a white dress and wedding rings?

None. These are European cultures. They are not better or worse than your own African culture.

As a matter of fact, the power a priest or pastor has to say ‘I now pronounce you man and wife’, comes from man, not God. There is no Scriptural authority for that.

God Himself pronounces you married once your parents consent to your union. It is a family affair! This is how God defines marriage -“a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one”-Genesis 2:24.

I have read Scripture from cover to cover in multiple languages. Scripture has no instance of a wedding being done in a church, temple, or synagogue.

Isaac married at home (Genesis 24:67). Christ attended a wedding at a home (John 2:2-10).

And he attended as a guest. He did not attend to officiate the wedding, or even to bless it.

Isaiah was a prophet. When he wanted to marry a fellow prophetess, all he did was invite two witnesses. And immediately, the woman moved into his home (Isaiah 8:2-3). No ceremony at all. Are you holier than Isaiah?

Hosea’s marriage was captured in only one verse-Hosea 1:3.

God made marriage easy. It is human beings who made it complicated. The Church has no business with weddings.

The ONLY people involved are: A man A woman Their parents.

No pastor or church is involved! It is entirely a family affair.

Reno’s Nuggets Dear men, You don’t chase girls who love money.

It is an exercise in futility. Rather, you chase money and when you get it, they will chase you as long as you have it. It is women that don’t love money that you should chase. All other women are not worth the effort. It is just like chickens and eagles. If you want chickens to come to you, simply look for corn. They cannot resist it. But even if you have all the corn in the world, an eagle won’t come to you.

You have to hunt it or you will never get it #RenosNuggets #FreeLeahSharibu

41

TUESDAY, ͺͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Two Ex-First Ladies, Ironsi, Okpara, Die 24 Hours Interval Buhari, Jonathan, Atiku, Ikpeazu, Abaribe mourn Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Emmanuel UgwuNwogo in Umuahia Lady Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi, widow of Nigeria's first military head of state, Gen. Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi and Lady Adanma Okpara, the widow of the late premier of the defunct Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, have passed on at the age of 97 respectively.

The two women, however, died barely 24 hours after apart.

The transition of Lady Ironsi was confirmed by her son, Ambassador Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi, who said the family would give full details of her death in due course.

Lady Ironsi had been a widow since July 29,1966, when her husband Gen. Johnson Thomas Aguiyi Ironsi, was assassinated in a counter-coup during an official visit to Ibadan.

But reactions have since trailed the passing of both women from leaders of the country in different walks of life.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in his message, extended deepest condolences to the Aguiyi-Ironsi family, and government and people of Abia State on the passing of Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi and Lady Adanma Okpara.

President Buhari in two press releases issued on Monday by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, affirmed that Lady Victoria’s incredible strength and exceptional

courage during one of the darkest moments in the nation’s history portrayed her as a mother of the nation, God-fearing and a foremost woman of valour.

He noted that the former First Lady would be remembered for laying a solid foundation for women’s leadership role in the seat of power and as a founding member of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association; she passionately championed the welfare and wellbeing of families of military officers.

The President recognised that 55 years after the death of General Aguiyi-Ironsi, Lady Victoria never stopped working for the greater good of Nigeria, and for peace, stability, healing and reconciliation in the land.

Buhari sincerely hoped that Lady Victoria’s labours for the country would not be in vain, and joined all Nigerians in praying for the repose of the soul of the departed and comfort for those who mourn.

While commiserating with family of the late Dr. Michael Okpara, over the demise of Lady Adanma Okpara, the president also joined the government and people of Abia State and all Nigerians in mourning the passing of an enterprising and disciplined mother, who was a worthy example of humility and hardwork to her children and the many women she mentored in her community.

President Buhari affirmed that the late wife of the very

formidable figure in the First Republic and the Eastern Nigeria, led by example even after leaving public office.

The President said his prayers and thoughts were with the family members, friends and members of the Knight of John Wesley (KJW) in the Methodist Church Nigeria, who wouldgreatly miss her warmth, grace and depth of wisdom.

President Buhari prayed God Almighty to grant the soul of the departed eternal rest.

Mourning the deceased, former President Goodluck Jonathan expressed sadness over the death of Chief Mrs. Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi.

In a condolence message on behalf of his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, and other members of his family to the Aguiyi-Ironsi family and the Government and people of Abia State, Jonathan noted that her passing on was a great loss to the nation, because of her place in Nigeria’s chequered journey of nationhood.

In the statement by Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan’s former media Adviser, the former president described her as “a notable matriarch, who established herself as a totem of support and stability even in very challenging times in the nation’s history.”

“For a long time, after her husband’s unfortunate death in office, she conducted herself as a doyen of womanly dignity and honour in a manner that epitomised patriotism, courage, and compassion.

“She was indeed a devout woman, whose enormous sacrifices for the unity and progress of our nation will not be forgotten.”

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has also commiserated with the family of the late Okpara on the demise of its matriarch, Lady Adanma.

Atiku said in a statement in Abuja on Monday, that even though Lady Okpara passed away at a ripe old age, death

naturally diminishes collective humanity and comes with grief.

"I received the news of the death of your matriarch with mixed feelings. It is usually a saddening moment for me at the news of the demise of anyone at all; even though this one is at a very ripe old age. Death naturally diminishes humanity and the loss of one's mother is very painful at any time", Atiku was quoted as saying.

Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, said that he received the news Okpara’s death "with a heavy heart but with a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty God for a very fulfilled life".

In a statement signed by his secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka, the Abia governor recalled that the late First Lady of Eastern Region was the backbone of her husband, who was premier between 1959 and 1966.

"Together, they gave the people of the old Eastern Region, a first class government, whose achievements continue to reverberate even

till this day," Ikpeazu said.

He added that "the spousal support she provided to her late husband was instrumental to the monumental success he recorded as premier" On his part, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, in his condolence message, said with the death of both Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi and Adanma Okpara, Nigeria and Abia State had lost two great women.

Abaribe, in a statement Monday by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, said the death within a space of two days of the two great women marked a sad end of glorious era.

"I'm happy they lived a robust and very active life of service that is worthy of emulation and of course both of them raised good families and highly successful children, who are contributing very well in the development of our dear country and state of Abia. We are very proud of them and will sorely miss them," Abaribe said.

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Customers would be able to interact with the chatbot on multiple channels including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, the official MTN website and myMTN App. Commenting about ‘Zigi,’ the Chief Customer Relations Officer, MTN Nigeria, Ugonwa Nwoye, said, “Zigi offers personalised, intuitive and prompt service to our customers. Her introduction will not take away the customer’s access to live agents but will serve as the first point of contact for customers who choose to interact with Zigi.’

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With the offering from THISDAY, the over 73 million subscribers on the MTN network would have access to free download of THISDAY’s digital PDF copies on a daily basis. They would be able to read authoritative news across business, politics, health, environment, sports and detailed interviews and analysis.

Giving details of the MTN journey since 2001, the Chairman MTN Board, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe said: “When we look at where we are today, and how far we have come, what stands out is not just the number of people connected, or the amount of revenue generated.

“We see the multiplier effect connectivity services can have on the social and economic ecosystem.

And now more than ever, I am optimistic about what the future holds for Nigeria’s digital economy and I look forward to building it together, with all of you.”

In his comment, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Karl Toriola, said: “This 20year journey is the result of the boundless possibilities in our nation, the incredible potential that the Nigerian telecoms and technology sector represent, and the guidance and support that we have received from millions of Nigerians, in every corner of the country. We are here today because of the role that each of you – media, customers, trade partners, retailers – has played in this journey. For this, we are humbled and grateful. To all of you, we extend our deepest appreciation and gratitude, and we deliver an important message – the best is yet to come.”

The ICT and telecoms company began GSM operations in Nigeria in August 2001. Twenty years later, it has become an integral part of the country’s telecommunications success story.

MTN @ 20, GIVES CARS TO CUSTOMERS… Managing Director, THISDAY Newspapers Ltd, Mr. Eniola Bello (left) and MTN customer and beneficiary of a brand new car, Joy Ayodeji Idehen, at the MTN Exclusive Executive' Meet and Greet' Forum and presentation of car keys to customers to mark the PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT company's 20th anniversary celebration in Lagos...on Sunday night

Court Orders FG, Striking Doctors to Sheathe Swords Fixes September 15 for hearing of FG's suit Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice John Tergema of the Abuja Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, has ordered the federal government and Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to sheath their swords in the current battle over the legality or otherwise of the over three weeks industrial action that has crippled medical services across the country.

Justice Tergema made the order on Monday while delivering ruling in an application by the federal government seeking an order of court compelling the striking workers to return to work.

The NARD had on August 2, 2021 called out its members on an indefinite strike action across to protest what they said was a breach of agreement the association reached with the federal government to end its

strike action of 2020.

However, after several efforts by the government to prevail on the doctors to return to work, the government approached the industrial court for an order to enforce its "no work, no pay" rule.

The suit with number NICN/ ABJ/197/2021 has the NARD as defendant.

Responding, the court summoned the striking doctors to appear before it and show cause why their salaries should not be stopped as requested by the federal government.

Thus, when the matter came up last week, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment,which had filed the suit on behalf of the federal government was not in court, although the Federal Ministry of Health and the respondents were in court.

In a short ruling, trial judge fixed September 15, 2021, for hearing of the originating summon.

The judge also, directed that

the defendant should appear on the next adjourned date to show cause why the "no work, no pay" rule should not be enforced against it.

The federal government seemed not satisfied had also last week also approached the court for an order compelling the striking doctors to "suspend the said industrial action commenced on August 2 and resume work immediately, pending the determination of the substantive suit".

The exparte application dated August 18, 2021, was argued on behalf of the federal government

by Mr O. E. Kaswe, wherein he urged the court to restrain the doctors in all the states of the federation from further continuing with the strike action on grounds that it rancontrary to section 41 of the Trade Dispute Act. The motion exparte was supported by an affidavit deposed to by one Ahmed Nasiru of the

Federal Ministry of Health.

Delivering ruling in the exparte application, Justice Tergema ordered that, "the claimant/applicant and the defendant/respondent should suspend all forms of hostilities forthwith, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice".

The judge in addition ordered that the defendant/respondent be served with the hearing notice and the originating processes, adding that proof of service be filed in the case file before the next adjourned date of September 15, 2021.

Ngige, who first mediated in the issue has reassured the affected doctors that the ruling would not prevent the implementation of the agreements contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached at the last meeting with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and affiliate associations with timelines affixed to them.

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TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

FG Activates Sanitation Desks as Cholera Cases Rise Michael Olugbode in Abuja

As cases of Cholera continue to rise in Zamfara, Bauchi, Kano, Gombe, Plateau, Niger, Zamfara states and Abuja, the federal government yesterday announced moves to stem the spread of the water-borne disease, including activating a sanitation desk in each of the 36 states and the Federa Capital Territory (FCT).

Addressing a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, who decried that at the last count, the disease has affected 33,661 persons with mortality rate at 938 in suspected cases, including 938 in 22 states and the FCT, the federal government said it had decided to introduce measures to combat the disease.

Abubakar while lamenting that this year’s outbreak of cholera is very serious as it has continued to ravage many states with more fatalities being reported on a daily basis, noted that: “In responding to the recent cholera outbreak, the Federal Ministry of Environment has activated Sanitation Desks in the 36 state Ministries of Environment and FCT,” urging them to carry out environmental sanitation activities in their various states aimed at containing the outbreak.

He said: “The ministry has

also requested the Environmental Health Officers in the states and local government areas across the country to intensify their efforts in carrying out sanitary inspection of premises and abatement of nuisances that could result in disease outbreak

such as cholera, Lassa fever and others.”

The minister also revealed that very soon the Federal Ministry of Environment would flag off the National Environmental Sanitation Response Intervention to Cholera Outbreak in Kubwa,

Abuja, which is currently the epicentre in the FCT, adding that afterwards, the ministry, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) in the states and local government areas will embark

on nationwide intervention response activities.

He said the activities to be carried out included sanitary inspection of premises/environmental health surveillance of hotspot communities; disinfection of

contaminated water sources/ sites; strengthening capacity of EHOs in the state Ministries of Environment and the affected local government areas, and sanitary inspection of food business premises of affected communities.

COVID-19 DELTA VARIANT IS REAL…

L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, during a media briefing on COVID-19 Delta Variant in Lagos... yesterday

Ban on Open Grazing Again, Four Kidnappers Abduct Man in Kwara will be Fully Enforced, Akeredolu Tells AIG Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), yesterday reiterated that the ban on open grazing in the state would be fully enforced whenever the law is finally in place.

Akeredolu stated this when the newly posted Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 17, Mr. Ene Okon, paid him a courtesy call in his office.

The AIG, who assumed duty in the Zonal Commend Headquarters in Akure, commended Akeredolu for his doggedness in the creation

of the State Security Network codenamed ‘Amotekun.’

Okon said that Akeredolu has laid a solid foundation for community policing with the creation of Amotekun.

He also commended the governor for the relative peace in the Sunshine State, adding that it was no mean feat to maintain peace and order.

He said: “I know Ondo was one of the endangered states in term of farmers/herders clashes. But the story has changed. Ondo is now one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.

Four kidnappers have kidnapped a middle-aged man in his farm, which is located at Tafa village near Ballah town in Asa Local Government Council Area of Kwara State.

Two weeks ago, 29 travelers were kidnapped along OmuAran axis in Irepodun Local Government Council Area of the

state before they were released after paying ransom to their abductors.

The middle age man, who is popularly called “Alhaji Elefo” was kidnapped yesterday at his farm where he went there to do some farm works.

The incident, it was gathered, happened around 3.00 p.m. and the police and local vigilantes are said to be on the trail of the

kidnappers.

Sources closed to the village told journalists in Ilorin yesterday that the kidnappers, who were said to be four in numbers, invaded the victim farm and took him away.Other sources added that the kidnappers were armed with dangerous weapons.

But the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Kwara State Police Command, Mr. Okasanmi Ajayi,

said: “I am yet to get the report of the incident from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Asa Local Government where the incident happened.”

However, the incident was confirmed by a senior police officer from the state police command who sought anonymity.

“We are working round the clock to ensure the victim get freedom from the kidnappers,” he said.

2023 Presidency: Northern Youths Urge Ugwuanyi to Declare Interest A group under the auspices of Northern Youth Support for Gburugburu (NYSG) has urged Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to declare interest in the 2023 presidential race as preponderance of opinions favours South-east region to produce the president of the country, Speaking in Abuja, the National Coordinator of NYSG, Hon.

Suleiman Ibrahim, who pointed out that it is the turn of the Southeast region to produce the next president, reiterated commitment to the politics of equity and fairness. He stressed that Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Gburugburu) has all it requires to become the president of the country in 2023.

He further eulogised

Gburugburu for his leadership qualities which include peaceful disposition, humility, accountability, spirit of accommodation and called Nigerians to join hands with the NYSG to actualize the project in 2023 in the overall interest of all Nigerians.

He disclosed that their decision to support Ugwuanyi is anchored on his pan Nigerian records over the

years, saying that his election will advance the unity of the country and boost the economy.

He said: “It is on record that when Ugwuanyi assumed office in 2015, he was faced with daunting financial cum economic challenges occasioned by sudden crash in the price of the crude oil globally and the economic recession that accompanied it.

Godwin Obaseki, has called for increased collaboration between governments at all levels and the traditional institution to tackle the problem of insecurity and other challenges confronting the country.

Obaseki made the call when he received the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who

Government House, Benin City, on Monday, August 23, 2021.

The governor also received in audience, a former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Obaseki, who identified insecurity and food challenges as some of the biggest problems facing the nation, noted that working with the traditional

levels “will be able to tackle these issues which will lead to the economic development of the nation.”

According to him, “One of the biggest challenges that we have today is insecurity, as hoodlums terrorise our lives in various communities across the country.

“If we must tackle the

country, Government must work very closely with the traditional authorities. who are well-grounded in the grassroots and know the people well to bring to an end the security challenges facing this country.

We are already doing that in Edo State and the results are there to show.”

Retraction of Report Concerning Chief Kesington Obaseki Receives Atiku, Ooni, Seeks Improved Collaboration Adebutu and Premier Lotto The Edo State Governor, Mr. was on a courtesy visit at the institution, governments at all security challenges facing this

Our attention has been drawn to factual inconsistency in the story entitled, “Hard Times For ‘Baba Ijebu’ Kesington Adebutu As CBN Freezes Company Account,” published by ThisDay’s Fact-file column.

The story alleges that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) instructed banks to place a postno-debit on the bank accounts of 18 companies, Chief Kesington Adebutu’s Premier Lotto inclusive.

We have since been informed that Chief Adebutu’s company wasn’t affected by the latest CBN directive, nor is his company, Premier Lotto, teetering on the brink of bankruptcy as wrongfully implied in the above referenced report.

We actually got it mixed-up with a list published last year when CBN instructed banks to freeze accounts of 38 companies,

including Premier Lotto, owned

by Chief Adebutu Kessington.

That issue we are reliably informed has since been resolved and the directive as it affected Premier Lotto lifted. For the avoidance of doubt, Premier Lotto is NOT affected by the new CBN directive.

We therefore, apologise to Chief Adebutu and the management of Premier Lotto for the embarrassment the above referenced article may have caused them and hereby retract the story in its entirety. The public is advised to disregard it.

There was no intention whatsoever to deliberately malign or disparage Chief Adebutu or his Premier Lotto. As a matter of fact, we hold him and his company in high esteem.

The mix-up is highly regretted.

Editor

Provide Evidence that APC, PDP Have Failed Nigerians, Jega Told Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Director, Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman has challenged the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, to provide evidence that the Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) have failed Nigerians.

Jega in a recent interview claimed that both the PDP and APC have failed Nigerians who not to ‘give their trust to the parties again.’

But, Lukman in a statement that was issued yesterday

and titled, “Nigerian Politics and Fallacy of PDP–APC Semblance (Part one),” said that the view credited to Jega should not be taken lightly, considering the fact that he is not only a respected political scientist, but also a theoretician and practitioner whose commitment to Nigeria’s development cannot

be faulted.

He stressed that the responses from the the PDP through its Spokesperson, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan and the National Secretary of APC, Sen. James Akpanudoedehe, failed to disprove Jega’s declaration that the PDP and the APC have failed Nigerians.

TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS XTRA

MRA Sues FG for Failure to Investigate, Punish Killers of 11 Journalists Demands N110m as reparation for families Wale Igbintade Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has filed a suit at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice in Abuja over the failure of the Federal Government of Nigeria to effectively investigate, prosecute and punish the murderers of 11 journalists between 1998 and 2019.

MRA is also asking the court to direct the government to pay the families of each of the journalists N10 million as reparation.

In the suit filed on its behalf

by Abuja-based lawyer, Mr. Darlington Onyekwere, MRA claimed that despite the Nigerian government obligations under various domestic, regional and international instruments, it has failed, refused, neglected and/or omitted to effectively investigate, prosecute and punish the killers of the journalists, who were murdered while exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression and of the press or under circumstances connected to the exercise of these rights.

It also expressed concern that unless the court intervenes, the government would neither adopt measures to protect journalists nor cause any real, transparent and impartial investigations

into the killings of journalists in Nigeria, while the perpetrators of such dastardly acts will not be prosecuted and punished.

The journalists named in the suit are the Bureau Chief of The Guardian Newspaper, Ogun State

office, Mr. Tunde Oladepo, killed in Abeokuta on February 26, 1998, by gunmen who entered his home early in the morning on that day and shot him dead in the presence of his wife and two young children; Publisher

of Newsservice magazine, Mr. Okezie Amauben, reportedly shot and killed by a police officer in Enugu on September 2, 1998; Mr. Fidelis Ikwuebe, a freelance journalist for The Guardian Newspaper, who was

abducted and murdered on April 18, 1999, while covering violent clashes between the Aguleri and Umuleri communities in Anambra State; Mr. Sam NimfaJan, a journalist with Details Magazine in Jos, Plateau State,

who was killed in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, on May 27, 1999, while covering riots between Hausa-Fulani and Zangon-Kataf groups, and his body was found with arrows protruding from his back.

FOR A SAFE PLATEAU…

L-R: Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Abok Ayuba; former Governor of Plateau State, Sen. Jonah Jang; Deputy Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr Saleh Yipmong; and Commissioner for Finance in Plateau, Dr. Regina Soamlat, during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting on security crisis, in Jos...recently

UN, China, Nigeria Express Jos Crisis: Fayemi Evacuates 28 Students from Plateau Worries over Child Labour Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Michael Olugbode in Abuja The United Nations, China and Nigeria have expressed worries over the massive number of children that are subjected to child labour and called on the media to sustain the sensitisation campaigns against the menace of the practice.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) lamented that over 150 million children are still subjected to child labour accounting for one in 10 children around the world.

Speaking during an event that commemorated the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition in Abuja yesterday, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Dr Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, tasked youth leaders and students to take the message of the

campaign against modern-day slavery to schools, homes, and neighbourhoods.

Also, China pledged its readiness to work with Nigeria to halt modern-day slavery.

Speaking on the theme ‘Modern Day Slavery, A National Question: Protecting the Future Generation’, the Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Li Xuda, said though the abolition of slavery happened a long time ago it still has its practical significance in our modern-day society.

Xuda, however, said his country is ready to work with Nigeria to protect the future generation.

He said: “China is ready to work with Nigeria to fight against Modern Day Slavery and create a better future for our next generation.”

He, therefore, urged that all hands should be on deck to stop the menace of modernday slavery.

Fire Razes Shops, Destroys Goods in Rivers Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Traders in Rumuagholu Town, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State were thrown into sorrow yesterday as fire outbreak razed their shops to ashes.

A source told THISDAY that the fire, which started around 2 a.m., destroyed 10 lockup shops with property worth millions of naira in them.

It was gathered that the fire incident was as a result

of electrical fault in one of the shops.

The source narrated further that the fire started when the electricity company restored power day of the incident.

A victim of the fire, who gave his name as Sunday, said: “The fire started immediately power was restored. So it is believed that it was as a result of electrical fault in one of the shops.

“The fire stated midnight so there was no way to get through to the shop by the owners to remove their items.

Ekiti State Government has evacuated 28 students who are Ekiti indigenes from crisis spots in Plateau State following the recent security challenges in the state.

The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who disclosed this through the state Commissioner for Information,

Hon Akin Omole, in a statement in Ado Ekiti yesterday, revealed that the operation was carried out with the support of security agencies.

Fayemi added that all the young Ekiti students are in good health, and are delighted to be reunited with their family members. The governor clarified that the mission was led by the

Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth and Students’ Matters, Mr. Moses Ademiloye, who safely returned to Ado-Ekiti, last Sunday night with the young indigenes.

According to the statement, “On hearing of the plight of the stranded young Ekiti indigenes, the governor spared no cost in facilitating the logistics and security required for their safe

evacuation in line with the government’s commitment to the welfare, safety, and security of all Ekiti indigenes at home and abroad.”

Fayemi stated that his government remains committed to safety, peace, and security in the state, as well as helping Ekiti indigenes outside the state to the best of the state abilities.

2023: NEG Commends APC for Mulling Southern Christian Presidential Candidate Sunday Okobi

An independent political movement in Nigeria, Nigeria Equity Group (NEG), has commended the All Progressives Congress (APC) after reports emerged that the ruling party is considering fielding a southern Christian as its presidential candidate in the 2023 general

election.

The NEG, which advocates for inclusion, fairness and balance in the Nigerian political space, hailed APC for being on the right track by working to ensure that a southern Christian succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

The group made the commendation yesterday in a

statement signed by Dr. Emeka Nwosu and Alhaji Mubarak Muhammed Alabi, National Convener and Secretary of NEG respectively, which was made available to journalists.

NEG declared: “We are happy with the reports coming from the APC. We are aware that the party is now actively working towards having

a southern Christian as its presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election. We commend the party for toeing this line of national interest and inclusion, and for disappointing critics who, during its early days as a political party, sneered at it for being a ‘Janjaweed party,’ a snide reference to the faith of some of its leaders.

Troops Rescue 15 Abducted Commuters in Kaduna John Shiklam in Kaduna Troops of Operation Safe Haven yesterday rescued 15 commuters abducted by bandits in Jagindi, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home

Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed this in a statement yesterday in Kaduna.

Aruwan said the 15 persons were kidnapped from two vehicles in the area while on transit, adding that search and rescue operations were being sustained by troops in the area.

He said the incident was reported to the state government by troops of the Operation Safe Heaven.

The statement said: “Troops of Operation Safe Haven have reported to the Kaduna State Government the rescue of 15 commuters in Jagindi, Jema’a LGA.

“According to the report, the 15 persons were kidnapped from two vehicles in the area while on transit. “The troops responded to a distress call and mobilised swiftly to the location. They repelled the bandits, which enabled the rescue of the abducted persons.”

50 Leaders for AIG Public Leaders Programme Loveth Chinagorom The Aig-Imoukhuede Institute, a subsidiary of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, yesterday announced the selection of 50 high-potential men and women working in the Nigerian public service to participate in the inaugural AIG

Public Leaders Programme, offered by the Aig-Imoukhuede Institute in partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.

The AIG Public Leaders Programme is a unique executive training programme designed to equip future public sector

leaders with the skills and knowledge they need to run their organisations effectively.

Amongst other skills, they will learn how to lead effectively in a complex operating environment, foster collaboration within and across agencies and spearhead innovation throughout government.

Chairman and Founder of the Aig-Imoukhuede Institute, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said: “We are very pleased to partner with the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford to offer world-class public leader’s executive education here in Nigeria. At the Aig-

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TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS XTRA

FG Drafts 510,000 Volunteers for N-Power Batch C Programme Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The federal government has flagged off the N-Power Batch C Stream 1 Programme for the 36 states of the federation including the FCT with 510,000 volunteers.

Under the scheme, a total of 450,000 people are selected under the graduate component, while 60,000 beneficiaries will be a non-graduate N-Power volunteer corps The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya UmarFarouq, who flagged off the scheme yesterday in Abuja, said the graduates would be placed on a monthly stipends of N30,000 for a period of one year while the non-graduate beneficiaries will earn N10,000 monthly stipends for a period of nine months.

She said all the beneficiaries were granted an appropriate starter pack for their trade to enable them to start their businesses in their chosen trades.

The graduate programme is further sub-divided into N-Teach under which volunteers are trained and attached as assistant teachers in primary schools, the N-Agro volunteers are

attached as extension agents to support farmers to obtain better performance, while the N-Health volunteers are trained and attached to work as public health assistants mainly in public primary healthcare

facilities.

The N-Health volunteers are also trained to provide basic diagnostic services in the Primary Health Care Development Centres and will teach preventive healthcare to

community members, including pregnant women, children, families and individuals especially in rural areas.

“The Non-Graduate programme targets youth in the age bracket of 18-35 with a

minimum of secondary school education. The programme seeks to deliver skills to job/ enterprise through accelerated training and certification.

They are trained, tooled and transitioned to take up

jobs as electrical installation technicians, plumbing and pipe-fitting installers, masons, carpentry and joinery experts, automobile technicians, agric technicians and hospitality experts,” Farouq said.

CHOLERA OUTBREAK…

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa; representative of Cholera Incidence Manager, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Mr. Jessica Akinrogbe; Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar; and Director of Pollution Control in the ministry, Mr. Charles Ikeah, during the press conference on cholera outbreak, held in Abuja... yesterday ENOCK REUBEN

10 Escape Death as SUV Plunges into Canal in Lagos

INEC Threatens to Prosecute Voters Involved in Double Registration

Segun James

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday threatened legal prosecution against anyone caught registering more than once in the ongoing registration of voters.

INEC clearly stated that double registration is an electoral offence,

Ten people escape death yesterday when a Nissan Pathfinder Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) crashed into a canal at Magodo Estate in Lagos.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, (LASEMA) in a statement said the SUV crashed through the street fence into the canal but “a distress call was received at 10:28 a.m. through the agency’s 767/112 Toll Free lines.

This led to the activation of the state Emergency Response Plan and a 10-minute response time at about 10:38 a.m. when the Tiger Team arrived at the incident scene to commence recovery operation.

“It was reported that occupants of the Nissan Pathfinder SUV involved in the lone accident,

aside family members of the owner, a deacon (name withheld), the vehicle conveyed others includingchildren and other church members when it suffered the break failure.”

According to the agency’s Head, Public Affairs, Nosa Okunbor, “Situation report from the office of the Director General/CEO of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Damilola OkeOsanyintolu, on the car that fell into the canal at Tokunboh Macaulay Street, off Emmanuel Keshi in Magodo GRA Phase II in Shangisha, has it that ‘Upon arrival of the agency’s officials at the incident scene, it was observed that the SUV with registration number: BDG 234 DW fell into a canal.

Inter-communal War: Edo Community Sends SOS to Buhari Adibe Emenyonu inBenin-city The people of Oke-Oroma community of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State have sent a Save-Our-Soul (SOS) message to President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue them from their neighbours, Amagba and Obazagbon communities of Oredo LGA of the state.

Elders of Oke-Oroma community raised the alarm, saying failure by the president to save them would amount to their total annihilation by the neighbouring communities.

They appealled to the president to order security agencies in Edo State to bring to an end the injustice and inhumanity being meted out on them by youths suspected to be from neighbouring Amagba and Obazagbon communities.

According to them, “Several houses, including the town hall and mansion belonging to the Odionwere (village head), were razed in the attack.

“In February 2020, three persons were killed in Oke-Oroma community, including an 86-yearold man, Monday Okulegbe, and their corpses were never recovered.

“The hoodlums invaded the community and razed several houses. They cut down all age-long traditional and economic trees and put a sign board in the village with the inscription “Welcome to Amagba Erese.”

In the open letter signed by the Head of Oke-Oroma, Chief Gaius I. Emokpae, and other elders, said the latest attack occurred after soldiers in the area were withdrawn without warning or notice.

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

noting clearly that those with online registration slip should not consider such as voter cards as it is expected to elapse after 14 days of issuance.

The commission further said ignorance of the law would not be accepted as a defence for double registration The threat of legal prosecution was handed down yesterday

in Kano by the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Voter Education, Festus Okoye, during a sensitisation workshop for Heads of Department of Voters Education and Public Affairs According to Okoye, “Those that will plead ethnic, religious or political persecution when the commission begins the

prosecution of double registrants should plead with those that have attempted or attempting double registration to desist from it as it amounts to electoral offence.

“The commission will not listen to pleas of ignorance of the law or ethnic or religious bias when proceeding against those that violate the spirit of the current effort.”

Funeral Rites for Late Pa Abiodun to Hold Sept 6 Sunday Okobi The family of Dr. Emmanuel Abiodun of Iperu-Remo, Ogun State, has announced the funeral rites of their patriarch, Pa Adesanya Abiodun, who passed away on August 2, 2021, at the age of 89.

In a statement issued and made available to THISDAY yesterday by the son of the deceased, the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo

Abiodun, the bereaved family said the obsequies for their father would hold from September 6 to 9, 2021, adding that all activities will be held in Iperu-Remo.

It added that the family would, however, continue to personally receive condolence visits at their late father’s house in Iperu on weekends. “Tributes and condolence messages could also be sent to email: ForPAEmmanuelAbiodun@

yahoo.com or the online memorial in his honour at: https://www. forevermissed.com/emmanueladesanya-abiodun/about,” it stated.

According to the governor in the statement, “I write on behalf of the Emmanuel Abiodun family of Iperu-Remo, Ogun State to notify you of the transition to glory of our father and patriarch of our family, Dr. Emmanuel Adesanya Abiodun, on August 2, 2021, at

the age of 89.

“We are immensely grateful to God that our patriarch was survived by our matriarch, his wife of over 65 years, Mrs. Victoria Abiodun; children, many grandchildren, and siblings. Our beloved father was a renowned educationist who trained and mentored generations of students who are now accomplished individuals in different spheres of life.

Streets, Markets, Others Deserted as Anambra Sustains Sit-at-home Order David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Anambra State seems to have sustained the initial order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for people in the South-east region to sit at home every Monday in solidarity with its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Though the group had earlier suspended the order after the first Monday registered total compliance in the South-east zone, two Mondays after the suspension of the exercise, THISDAY reports that the exercise again grounded commercial activities in Anambra State

yesterday.

THISDAY, which moved round the state capital city, Awka, observed that markets, motor parks and streets were all deserted as the people remained at home.

The spokesperson of IPOB, Mr. Emma Powerful, had while announcing the

suspension of the exercise a week ago, said the exercise would only be activated on days when its incarcerated leader would go to court.

THISDAY, while moving round Awka, noted that only very few vehicles were on the road, while public places were deserted.

Chevron Operations Threatened over Failure of Reclassification of Itsekiri Graduates Sylvester Idowu in Warri The National Association of Itsekiri Graduates (NAIG) Worldwide has given Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) a 28day ultimatum to commence the reclassification of Itsekiri graduates under its Vocational Training Programmes (VTP 5

and 6) and Operational Training Programme (OTP 2).

NAIG’s President and General Secretary, Mr. Ben Eburajolo and Mr Esiategiwa Mino respectively, at a press conference in Warri, Delta State, threatened that the association would shut down operations of the multinational oil company in their communities

should it failed to respond accordingly.

They said the reclassification of the affected graduates should be backdated, noting that they have completed the on-the-job learning, and that the graduates are competent in their various locations, and did not violate the company’s laid down rules.

“Their reclassification should be backdated to January 2016 and January 2017 for VTPS/OTP2 and VTP6 respectively. CNL should resume Operation and Maintenance (O&M) training with employment in view immediately as enshrined in our Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with you.

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TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Team Nigeria Captain and three-time Paralympic champion, Lucy Ejike (on the wheelchair), is gearing up for her sixth Games at Tokyo 2020 Games starting today in Japan

PHOTO: Hiroki Nishioka

Buhari Hails Nigeria's U-20 Athletes' Feat in Kenya Okowa: “Nairobi 2021 is best ever U20 Championships for Nigeria” Deji Elumoyein Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Nigeria’s athletes to the just concluded World Athletics U20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya for their outstanding performances.

Nigeria won four gold and three bronze medals to finish third on the medal table. Over 110 countries participated in the

biennial junior track & field competition.

The President, in a release issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, commended the team and their handlers for showcasing to the world that Nigeria is blessed with some of the best talents in sport who by dint of hardwork and perseverance can dazzle anytime and anywhere.

President Buhari believed

that with four gold and three bronze medals to finish third on the final medals table, Nigeria's sports ambassadors in Nairobi and the entire contingent have every reason to celebrate their well-deserved laurels, while putting the track and field world on notice of their intentions to surpass their achievements in the nearest future.

He thanked the victorious athletes for flying the country’s flag high at the competition, breaking new records from

personal bests and national records all the way to championship record.

The President joined all Nigerians in celebrating the patriots for reinforcing the can-do and resilient spirit of the Nigerian at the Championships.

Similarly, President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa, while hailing the medalists, insisted that the future is very bright for track and field in Nigeria following the unprecedented

feats achieved by the country's young athletes in Nairobi, Kenya.

“The athletes and their coaches have done us very proud. They have achieved our best-ever performance in the history of the Championships,” observed Okowa.

The AFN President believes the unprecedented feats signify that track and field in Nigeria is on the rise again after some 13 years of more misses than hits. ''This is a new beginning for athletics in Nigeria. We are

Morocco Targets Winning Inaugural Aisha Buhari Cup Dallaji Promises $1000 for Every Head Coach of Morocco’s Women National Team, Reynald Pedros is targeting his first successful campaign on the continent ahead of the Aisha Buhari Cup in Nigeria in September.

The Atlas Lionesses will compete in the maiden edition of the six-nation championship organised in honour of Nigeria's First Lady, Dr Aisha Buhari, and the 49-year-old French tactician, who was engaged in November 2020, shared his great delight in his side's invitation.

"It is a tournament that will be great, seeing that we have all the best African teams, the quality is there. Competing will enable us to create a group and test ourselves against the best African nations. So, it is a beautiful opportunity for us in Morocco to participate in the

tournament," he continued.

On the importance of the competition, he further said: "It's important to examine ourselves as we are still a work in progress. We still have 11 months until the Women AFCON, meaning we still have enough time. This will be the first tournament that we are going to have aside friendly matches. It is now left to us to do the maximum to be able to advance by applying necessary teachings to be able to progress and to be able to get ready for the Women AFCON by July next year.”

Morocco will launch their campaign against Nigeria in the opening match at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos on 13th Septemberbefore squaring up against Mali four days later at the same venue.

Gold Won by Nigeria in Tokyo

Duro Ikhazuagbe As the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games begins in Tokyo, Japan today, Team Nigeria’s athletes have been charged to go all out to haul medals with the assurance of huge rewards and appreciation by Nigerians.

President of the African Children Talent Discovery Foundation (ACTDF), Engr Noah Dallaji, gave the charge at the weekend and offered to reward the Nigerian Paralympians with $1000 for every gold medal won in Tokyo, Japan starting from today.

"I will give $1000 for every gold and graduate down to silver and bronze medalists.

Let them know that Nigerians appreciate them, that we are

TO KYO PA R A LY M P I C GA M E S behind them and praying for their success.

"I believe their success will inspire more and more persons with disability to find personal fulfilment through sports. When they perform and we appreciate and reward them to encourage them, it will go a long way to foster social integration in our society,” observed Dallaji whose foundation selected 14 young basketball players for sponsorship in US universities penultimate weekend.

He admitted that the physically challenged sports people were dear to his heart.

"The physically challenged sports people are very dear to

my heart. They have always won medals and brought glory to our nation at every Olympiad," Dallaji who has for years been championing the cause of less privileged talents in all fields pointed out.

"They have been consistent in their performance They are also very resilient, ever ready to serve and bring glory to Nigeria and I think it is very important that we appreciate and encourage them.

The Team Nigeria Paralympic stormed Kisarazu, Japan a week ago with 21 athletes consisting of 10 Para-powerlifters , 5 Paraathletes and 6 para-table tennis players.

confident these new set of athletes will be there in Paris, France in three years time to help us also achieve our best performance at the Olympics,” he said.

Okowa insists Nigeria’s inability to win a single medal in track & and field at both the London (2012) and Rio de Janeiro (2016) Olympics was because we neglected our youths.

“Our chances of winning medals at the Olympics reduced because we failed to develop the youths who would have grown to make podium appearances like their predecessors did especially in the 1990s and early 2000s,” he added and revealed all the individual medals Nigeria won at the Olympics came from athletes who started at the U20 level.

“From Falilat Ogunkoya, Mary Onyali to Chioma Ajunwa, Blessing Okagbare, Glory Alozie and Ese Brume, they all rose to become Olympic medallists after making their marks at the World U20 Championships. The challenge before us at the AFN is to turn some of the athletes here to potential Olympic medallists by the time we get to Paris, France in 2024,” he further observed.

Okowa believes with the encouraging support the AFN has been getting from the Youth and Sports Development Minister, Sunday Dare, the federation was confident of not only norturing the athletes that have shown the potential to be world-class stars at the Nairobi 2021 event but also discover more.

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S’Eagles Stars Escape UK Travel Checks as Liverpool Block Salah, Others Femi Solaja with agency report Super Eagles players in the English topflight can heave sigh of relief as there will be no need for them to quarantine after returning to base from playing for Nigeria in the World Cup 2022 qualifiers starting next month in Africa.

Nigeria is one of the few countries the United Kingdom excluded from the list of those with high risk on coronavirus pandemic.

Nigerian players like Kelechi

‘Seniorman’ Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi both of Leicester City; the trio of Oghenekaro Etebo, William Troost-Ekong and Dennis Williams of FC Watford; Alex Iwobi of Everton FC; and Frank Onyekachi are among the legion from the UK that Head Coach, Gernot Rohr will need to prosecute the route to qualifying for Qatar 2022.

The United Kingdom placed Brazil and Egypt among its amber list which means returning players from those countries will have to go into a 10-day quarantine.

The implication of this is that these players are going to miss

WORLD CUP 2022 QUALIFIERS some matches in 2021/22 English Premier League ongoing season.

With Nigeria in safe zone, the same is not sure for Super Eagles’ first opponent in the AFCON 2022 tournament, Egypt.

It is this development that has forced Liverpool FC to block Pharaohs’ talisman, Mohamed Salah, from traveling to Cairo for the World Cup qualifier at home against Angola.

The Pharaohs will also play away at Gabon which Liverpool

approved but the main concern is the home leg games in Cairo that will require Salah to quarantine for 10 days on returning to England.

Salah was called up to the Egypt squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Gabon Aside Salah, Brazilian players like Roberto Firmino, Fabinho and Alisson are also affected by the Covid-19 restrictions.

All four players would likely miss Liverpool's match against Leeds if they joined up with their international team-mates.

Both Egypt and Brazil are on the UK's red travel list, meaning the players would have faced a 10-day quarantine in a hotel upon their return to England.

Liverpool have since said they are prepared to release Salah for the Gabon game but not the home game against Angola in Cairo.

In a statement, Egypt said they have asked FIFA for a travel exemption, meaning Salah would be able to play for his country and not face quarantine when he returned to the UK.

The full statement read: “The Egyptian Football Association continues its continuous contacts with the International Football Association regarding facilitating the task of international players joining their national teams to participate in the World Cup qualifiers, which requires exempting them from travel restrictions imposed on them in the countries in which they play due to the Coronavirus pandemic, so that they can join their national teams.

“The Egyptian Football Association had received a letter from Liverpool FC apologizing for the inability of its player, Mohamed Salah, to join the national team in its next camp, which includes facing Angola in Cairo and Gabon in Franceville during the first and second rounds of the African continent's qualifiers for the World Cup. “The English club’s letter referred to the precautionary measures applied in England to confront the outbreak of the Coronavirus in the world, which puts returnees from some countries in compulsory health isolation for a period of ten days

upon their return to England.

“In this letter, the English club also expressed its hope that the Egyptian Federation would understand that it was forced to do so, in the face of the player being subjected to a quarantine for this period and being affected by this physically, as well as the uncertainty of the conditions of the place of the stone determined by the English authorities.

“It is reported that Liverpool FC took the same position with a number of its foreign players.”

UK’s Sportsmail reported yesterday that Premier League chiefs were lobbying the Government for quarantine exemptions to avoid their star players being forced to isolate in hotels and face missing key Premier League and Champions League matches.

Players travelling to red-list countries like Egypt, Brazil and Argentina could miss up to four matches for their clubs if they travel for international duty.

The World Cup qualifiers in October could affect players' availability for the opening groupstage clashes in the Champions League.

Nigeria’s mostly USA and Europe-based D’Tigers who played at the Tokyo Olympics have been excluded from the 2021 FIBA Afrobasket due to clash with their club engagements

D’Tigers Ready for Afrobasket Challenge in Rwanda, Says Brown Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah...barred from Egypt’s Qatar 2022 qualifiers games at home in Cairo

Liverpool’s Shaqiri Joins Lyon in Permanent Deal Switzerland star Xherdan Shaqiri has departed English Premier League outfit Liverpool for French Ligue 1 Lyon on a permanent transfer.

Liverpool on Monday announced the transfer in a statement released on their official website.

“Xherdan Shaqiri has today (Monday) completed a permanent transfer to Lyon after three years with Liverpool.

“The Switzerland international finalised a switch that will see him embark on a new chapter in his career with the Ligue 1 club.

“He departs the Reds with winner’s medals in the Premier League, Champions League, FIFA

TRANSFER NEWS Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup, having scored eight goals in his 63 appearances under Jürgen Klopp.

“Shaqiri joined Liverpool from Stoke City in the summer of 2018 and quickly endeared himself to Reds fans with a match-winning Kop-end brace as a substitute against Manchester United at Anfield.

“Playing in a variety of attacking positions, he featured on 30 occasions during a debut campaign in which Klopp’s side tussled with Manchester City for the Premier League title,

losing just one game.

“The No.23 was in the starting line-up for the historic 4-0 defeat of Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final second leg, providing an outstanding assist for the third goal of the night, and was then on the bench as the trophy was won in Madrid.

“Injury restricted Shaqiri’s availability in the subsequent 2019-20 season, though he was involved in both matches at the Club World Cup, which the Reds lifted for the first time in their history.

“And he was part of the squad that emphatically ended Liverpool’s 30-year wait for the title in the same term, finishing

on 99 points, 18 clear at the summit.

“Shaqiri clocked up 22 appearances in what would prove his final season at Anfield – his last Reds goal coming via a trademark piece of technique from a free-kick at Lincoln City – before helping Switzerland reach the quarter-finals at Euro 2020.

“Now he is set for a fresh challenge in France after a permanent deal was agreed with Lyon.

“Everybody at Liverpool FC thanks Xherdan for his contributions over the past three seasons and wishes him the very best for the rest of his career,” concludes the Reds statement.

Head Coach of D’Tigers, Nigeria’s senior men’s national basketball team, Mike Brown, has assured stakeholders in the game in the country that his players will be ready on time for the competition.

With Nigeria’s first game of the 2021 Afrobasket in Kigali, Rwanda set to tip off against Mali tomorrow, August 25, 2021, Brown admitted that the timing of the competition just immediately after the summer Olympics has proved to be challenging for players and the coaching staff.

“It is just a bad timing for FIBA Africa to have the tournament, but FIBA decides to have the Asian and African games at the same time as the Olympics and NBA players cannot participate in both because that is the rule.”

When asked why a lot of regular faces were missing on the roster, Brown said, “It’s been a long summer for the players. They came to camp on June 20th, went through the Olympics process and then ask them to come here will not be fair to them. It is a long summer for everybody including the coaches and on top of that, the camp right now is

at the same time when a lot of training camps are happening,” observed Coach Brown.

He revealed that many of the players who participated during the Afrobasket qualifiers as well as the Olympics camp wanted to play, but holding training camps with their various clubs made it extremely difficult.

Brown reckoned that if FIBA America and FIBA Europe thought it best to hold their competition next year, Africa should have adopted the same strategy so as to have the full complement of its stars around the world.

“So, it makes it difficult for us to have a competition like this.

I think all competitions should happen next summer” Assessing the four new players that arrived from Nigeria on Saturday, Brown is hopeful that they can get in shape before their first game on Wednesday.

“The new players here are really far behind in what we are trying to do and it is slowing us down a little bit but we will see when we play in a couple of days”, Brown concluded.

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SPORTS

Ndidi, Iheanacho Suffer Heavy Defeat with Leicester at West Ham Ni i ’ d Nigeria’s duo off Wilf Wilfred d Ndidi and d Kelechi Iheanacho last night suffered their 4-1 first defeat of the season along with Leicester City at West Ham on Monday night.

Hard tackling Ndidi was on from start to finish while Iheanacho started from the bench in the 81st minute for Jamie Vardy.

Last night hiding of the Foxes was Leicester’s first defeat of the season after opening the 2021/22 campaign with a

P R E M I E R L E AG U E 1-0 victory at Wolves.

Two fine late goals from Michail Antonio capped a second successive win but while David Moyes’s side were dominant, they were helped on their way by the Ayoze Perez’s sending off.

West Ham had already taken the lead through Pablo Fornals when Perez was dismissed shortly before the interval for

an ugly l stamp t on th the H Hammers fforward d following the intervention of VAR. A poor backpass from Leicester centreback Caglar Soyuncu then allowed Said Benrahma to double the lead in the 56th minute.

While Youri Tielemans brought the visitors back into the game, Antonio settled the outcome with his 48th and 49th Premier League goals, making him West Ham’s leading scorer in the competition.

West Ham players celebrating Michail Antonio’s late brace in the 4-1 drubbing of Leicester City...last night

Angry Arsenal Fans Want Arteta Out of Emirates Angry Arsenal fans stopped Mikel Arteta from leaving the Emirates Stadium in his car on Sunday following their 2-0 loss to Chelsea.

Ugly footage, shared online, captured a group of frustrated supporters surrounding the manager's vehicle and shouting at him to leave the club after the Gunners registered their second loss of the 2021-2022 campaign.

The fans were heard asking the under-fire boss to 'leave' Arsenal after their worst start to a season in their 118-year history.

Arsenal suffered another Premier League defeat on Sunday after goals from Romelu Lukaku and Reece James saw the visitors walk away with three points.

The result also marked Arsenal's second loss of the campaign, after a disappointing performance against Brentford the week before saw them lose 2-0.

Therefore, Arteta's side have failed to pick up any points or score any goals in their opening two games - making it their worst start to a season in 118 years.

Fans have made their stance on the situation clear, having booed their own players off the pitch at both the half-time and full-time whistle across the two weekends.

They have also approached

the manager directly to discuss the situation and ask him to 'do yourself a favour' by resigning.

Following Arsenal's home game against Chelsea, Arteta was harassed by a group of fans who swarmed his car outside the stadium.

The fans prevented the manager from leaving the club as they stood around his car and asked if he thought Arsenal's performance was 'good enough'.

The group of men were also

heard saying: 'Arteta, do yourself a favour and leave the club' before security guards escorted them away from the vehicle.

The manager, who sat inside the silver car, did not respond to the fans' line of questioning and instead used his horn to try and persuade them to move.

The video - which was shared on social media with the caption 'These performances are not good enough' - has received over 9,000 likes and 700 comments.

Arsenal Manager, Mikel Arteta under fire for Gunners worst start to any season in 118 years

Some Arsenal fans supported the decision to question the manager by commenting on the video saying: 'Good on them, get Arteta out now'.

While others felt the fans were wrong to not only confront Arteta but to ask him to leave the club.

One fan wrote: “I agree Arteta out but this is unacceptable how they have confronted him in his car.”

Another added: “What do they want him to do. He's not good enough, so what? He's not just going to quit. It's the board, they're the ones you should be harassing.”

While one supporter said: “Same embarrassing fans that wanted Wenger out after all he did for the club over the years.”

Arteta shared his thoughts on Arsenal's performance after the game in his post-match interview.

He said: “Chelsea deserved to win, I think they were the better side overall. We had moments at the start of the first half and at the beginning of the second half.

“After conceding the goal they started to manage the game exactly how they wanted. When we had them in good areas and without the ball with our press they still managed to come out with the incredible quality that they have.

LASPARK, Red Bull Partner on Basketball Court Upgrade in Lagos Segun James As part of the bid to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Lagos, the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK), has partnered Red Bull on the renovation and upgrade of the Basketball Court inside the Ndubuisi Kanu Park, Alausa, Ikeja.

Unveiling the newly renovated Basketball Court, the General Manager of LASPARK, Mrs. Adetoun Popoola, expressed gratitude to Red Bull for the rehabilitation work, stressing that the State Government will continue to seek out opportunities for collaboration to promote recreation and beautification in Lagos State.

“The partnership on this project is in line with LASPARK’s mandate to promote beautification, recreation and leisure in Lagos State", she said.

Popoola highlighted the importance of parks and gardens as safe spaces for members of communities to converge, interact and improve their health and wellness by being active, noting that parks can contribute to lower crime rates in communities.

She added that the partner-

ship also affirms Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to a Healthy and Sustainable Environment in Lagos, stating that LASPARK is open to exploring partnerships and collaborations that will benefit residents of the State.

The General Manager averred that Red Bull's aim, through the partnership, was to leave a strong and positive legacy behind by working with local communities to upgrade existing playgrounds, courts and community centres.

“The artwork in the basketball court was done by popular urban graffiti artist Osa ‘Seven’ Okunpolor, arguably, one of the most talented and sought-after graffiti artists in Africa; who teamed up with Red Bull on the basketball court upgrade project”, she revealed.

The newly rehabilitated basketball court hosted 16 basketball teams from all over Nigeria, who had made it through the qualifiers for the National Finals of the Red Bull Half Court Competition.

The 3 x 3 basketball tournament holds in more than 20 countries across the world, with the World Final slated for September 2021 in Russia.

Tuesday August 24, 2021

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE Governor Ortom to FG “The truth is that if the entire country has accepted ranching, then why is the President insisting on open grazing when there is no land for such. In the 50s when this policy was initiated what was the population of Nigeria, it was less than 40 million but today we are more than 200 million. The 923,000 square kilometers is not even enough to cater for the population. The reason Mr. President is insisting, to some of us is strange” ––Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, condemning FG’s insistence on grazing routes, and threatens legal action against the government.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

2023: Tinubu vs Bello and Others F

rom what we have seen and heard so far, it seems most likely that the race for the 2023 Presidential position would end up as the fiercest, most contested, and perhaps the most controversial since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999. We all must keep an eye on 2023. In 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo emerged not because he was a known, seasoned, politician but because the country needed a pair of steady hands and a strong character, with the right connections and experience to save the faltering ship of state, and move the country beyond the evil annulment of the 1993 Presidential election. Obasanjo delivered. But he ran into troubled waters with his succession plans: the politics of Third Term, the bitter quarrel with his Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his open endorsement of Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, whose health status and eventual death in office defined the highest office of the land. President Goodluck Jonathan who succeeded his boss, Yar’Adua was a collective product of the law, and the majority insistence on what was right.

His presidency was a turning point and a major historic landmark for Nigeria, an affirmation that Nigeria could also be a land of dreams where a man of humble beginnings could rise to the top.

By 2015, the forces of elite conspiracy and ethnoreligious myopism, organised an acidic campaign against the Jonathan Presidency and got him out of office. He was succeeded by President Muhammadu Buhari, a former military Head of State, who had sought the Presidency of Nigeria as a civilian three different times – 1999, 2007 and 2011. In 2015, he was propelled into office by an electorate that had embraced his managers’ promise of change and hope. He was yet another rallying point for great expectations. In 2023, the circumstances would be different. There is no coalescing, propelling force, at this time behind any aspirant, on such a national scale, and of such a momentum as we saw with Obasanjo, Jonathan, and Buhari’s cult-like popularity. And this is why the 2023 Presidency is fast becoming a desperate gamble, a ‘try-your-luck’ kind of proposition, without any core basic agreements.

A kind of anybody’s game, generating tension, so early, so far from the commencement of the 2023 electoral process.

There is no consensus on any issue. The people of the South East argue, rightly that, it is their turn to produce the President of Nigeria. No Igbo man has been President since 1999, although Igbos have helped to put others into office. They want the marginalisation of Igbos to end. They want it on record that the Igbo race is not inferior to any other group in Nigeria. Igbos are the third largest ethnic group in the country. They have been told by Northern spokesmen that nobody will offer them the Presidency on a platter of gold, and that in any case, they should go and organise themselves and reach out to other Nigerians especially now that there is an internal debate in the South East about identity politics – who is Igbo and who is not and who is more Igbo than the other? Many persons consider this suggestion, an insult! The people of the North East and Central zones also insist that it is their turn to have their kinsmen inside the Presidential Villa and that after the Presidency has gone round the six geo-political zones, we can then begin to talk more seriously about those principles of merit, competence, knowledge – the same issues the other privileged geo-political zones never stretched when the Presidency fell into their laps.

Constitutional provisions on eligibility for the Nigerian Presidency are stated in the 1999 Constitution.

There is no mention of ethnicity or geographical zone, although Section 14(3) and (4) mention Federal Character, diversity, unity and justice. The two major political parties have since agreed on an unwritten code of Rotational Presidency, but this is beginning to look more like a tool of political expediency. Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Nigeria’s two major political parties – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are both engulfed in crises that could be counter-productive.

Tinubu

Bello

There is no clarity on both sides about how the 2023 process could be used to address the people’s concerns. Not even the National Assembly is serious about the provision of an electoral framework that can inspire trust and confidence. In 2021, Nigeria’s 9th National Assembly, dominated by the ruling party, voted to prevent the adoption of electronic transmission of election results. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is possible and doable, the politicians disagree. In smaller, neighbouring African countries, electronic transmission of results is not a problem. In Nigeria, it is a source of crisis.

But what I find even more disturbing is the bad rhetoric that is beginning to build up, the high velocity intolerance and the threat of violence that hang dangerously in the air, and the refusal of some emergent “stomach democracy activists” to engage in decent conversation. This has been a bane of Nigerian politics. But it is getting worse. It could even become more frightening. The professional political class must seek counselling for its growing mass psychosis. The right of Nigerians to choose, to express their differences and choices must be respected. Nobody has a monopoly of the right to Nigerian citizenship, or the corridors of power.

The way some interested parties are carrying on is deplorable. I recall writing once in this column about likely candidates for the 2023 Presidency titled “The South West Presidential Hopefuls” (April 20, 2021). I made some categorical statements about the chances of those who were in the news at the time: Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Dr Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State. It was my own review of the political situation and the possibilities. But what did I get in return? Those who felt I was critical of their masters went after me with a sledge hammer. I read one reasonable piece in which the author tried to respond to the issues raised but the others were so poorly written, I couldn’t waste my time reading till the end. Bad writing gives me migraine and there seems to be a large supply of hacks around many of our political figures. In the 80s and 90s, we used to have quality debates in Nigerian newspapers.

Today, the space is dominated by hacks without brains. Well maybe I was lucky. They didn’t abuse my parents.

Since that piece, the conversation about 2023 has gained greater momentum, beyond zoning and possible Southern candidates to a full-blown obsession. This reached a peak recently with the prescriptions by former Head of State and President, General Ibrahim Babangida during an interview with Arise TV, ahead of his 80th birthday on August 17, 2021. I wrote a review of some of his submissions in the context of what marked his 80th birthday: an attempt at revisionism on certain key historical points, but again I got thoroughly abused by one of the key organizers of the IBB white-wash. I have made my point. (See Reuben Abati, “IBB’s

Birthday Interview”, ThisDay, August 10, 2021). The IBB interview, considering his own stature added oxygen to the 2023 Presidential debate. ThisDay newspaper followed up with a front-page list of 31 likely candidates, and a review of those who can lead Nigeria in 2023. I take all of that as a healthy promotion of public conversation. But it merely ended up showing a certain trait that I think can pose a threat to the journey towards 2023: the thinking by some people that the Presidency of Nigeria is already an acquired right. How? When? Where?

One of the immediate reactions to the ThisDay list came from Dr. Doyin Okupe, veteran politician, spokesperson to a political party, the defunct NRC, and media adviser to two former Presidents. Dr. Okupe, appearing on Arise TV Morning Show, said there are only three possible candidates: Senator Bola Tinubu, his good self and incumbent Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in that order. We later hosted Mr. Sonny Iroche, Chairman of the Anambra League of Professionals, who thought that Dr Doyin Okupe must have been joking, and that he, Iroche, would make a better candidate. Before Iroche, Malam Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, President of the Kings College Old Boys Association, and Chairman of the Board of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) also appeared on the Arise TV flagship show to discuss the state of the nation. He had kind things to say about Tinubu, leader of the APC but he made it clear that he, Kashim-Imam, would be the best man for the job.

Somehow, within the South West and the APC, every man who considers himself a potential President manages to defer to just one man: Senator Bola Tinubu. Those who say anything that is off-key in that regard or fail to pay homage get knocked no matter how sensible they may sound. This then, reminds me of the case of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State who has been a target of heavy pummelling for having the effrontery to have told Senator Tinubu in an interview with the Daily Trust newspaper that the senior politician should allow his “children” to take over the Presidency of Nigeria in 2023. Yahaya Bello obviously considers himself a Tinubu “son”. Whereas the leader of the APC has not yet announced formally that he wants to be President, there is already an army of Tinubu Support Groups out there pushing the 2023 Tinubu for President agenda. As far back as May 2021, Governor Bello had announced in a television interview that “Nigerian youths, women and all Nigerians, including very objective elites” were asking him to run for President in 2023. Bello was immediately dismissed by Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, who reminded him that the Presidency in the APC had been zoned to the South, and that being a youth cannot be an automatic qualification.

Indeed, much earlier, Eniola Bello in his ThisDay column – “Yahaya Bello: The Ugly Face of APC” (March 8, 2021) had made even more damning remarks about the Governor. But Yahaya Bello has

been resilient in saying he wants to be President.

His latest effort must have been prompted by the renewed debate about age and 2023 Presidential politics. His reported interview in the Daily Trust newspaper of August 22, 2021 is titled “2023: Buhari, Tinubu Pact not Binding on APC Members – Kogi Governor.” Having confirmed that he would run for President in 2023, Governor Bello said of Tinubu: “Senator Tinubu is one of our leaders and I respect him so much. He has played a very significant role in Nigeria’s democracy and has built a lot of people. He has paid his dues, and with all respect, as a son to him, my simple advice is that it is time for him to allow his children take over the mantle of leadership and do it to the glory of God and his admiration. He should see that those children he raised are now doing well. Let him see how we manage this country in his lifetime. However, he has a right to run, nobody is questioning that. I always urge everybody to respect him for the role he has played in this country’s democracy. He is a man of integrity, to be candid.” He was then asked: “Do you think the APC would survive if Tinubu is denied the party’s ticket and he pulls out with the South West?” Bello, who says he believes it is the turn of the North Central to produce the next President responds: “You don’t build a house and destroy it. I don’t think he will do that. He has grown past that. As an elder statesman, he will not say that the country should be destroyed in his lifetime, not even after his demise, so I don’t see him doing that.”

These are the words Yahaya Bello said, except he was otherwise misquoted by the Daily Trust newspaper. But for these respectful, almost subservient expression of admiration for the party leader, and the affirmation of his own future ambitions within the APC, Yahaya Bello has been severely rebuked by the Tinubu Support Group. In a statement signed by the Director-General of the TSG, Umar Ibrahim, Yahaya Bello has been called a “disgrace, a failure and a betrayer.” He is advised to channel his efforts into “begging and praying for forgiveness for all the sufferings you have inflicted on the good people of Kogi State, rather than eyeing the Presidency.”

Ibrahim insists that Tinubu is the most qualified person for the Nigerian Presidency in 2023.

I have never met Governor Yahaya Bello personally.

I don’t need to. I have in fact been very critical of him: his re-election in 2019, and his many gaffes about COVID-19. But I think he, like every Nigerian, of eligible age, can aspire to the Presidency of Nigeria, and that the rest of us have the right to express an opinion and an interest without being mauled by any group that claims a monopoly of insight about the future of Nigeria. There is nothing that Yahaya Bello has said that was not implied in the Babangida criteria for the 2023 Presidency. Where was the Tinubu Support Group? Why didn’t Umar Ibrahim go after the elder statesman? Given the level of interest that the 2023 Presidency has generated, there would be more persons expressing views.

How many views and expression of interest will the TSG shut down? It may be possible to intimidate persons in the South West and the APC, but there are enough Nigerians who will also lay claim to the Presidency of Nigeria. The Tinubu Support Group does him great disservice. This is a leader who made great sacrifice to promote democracy in Nigeria. He invested a lot in building a generation of leaders. He earned a reputation as a master political strategist.

Today, he appears to be surrounded by a group of political vultures and hacks on the question of 2023.

Whoever and whatever they may be, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu owes us a duty to call the TSG, as presently constituted, to order. They are damaging his brand.

Their campaign should be more focussed on selling his ideas, not motor-park politics.

Going forward, two key questions are pertinent: Is there a dark horse and a third force in the political space who may emerge as President in 2023? And is there enough time for such an alternative to make any meaningful impact, timing being a major factor in politics?

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