WEDNESDAY 25TH AUGUST 2021

Sanusi: Ending Subsidies Puts Nigeria on Fiscal Sustainability Path Says excessive borrowing places country on a time bomb Emefiele, banks pledge to support girl child education initiative Nume Ekeghe A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and a former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has called on the federal government to stop subsidising power and fuel consumption in

order to put the economy on a sustainable fiscal path.

He also warned the government against excessive borrowing, describing it as a time-bomb.

Sanusi said this yesterday at his Diamond Jubilee celebration where he launched his book and

also commenced the HHMS11 SDG challenge, a United Nations initiative of which he chairs the advisory council.

Also speaking at the event, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) Mr. Godwin Emefiele, pledged that

the central bank and the Bankers’ Committee would raise $2 million in five years to support his drive towards supporting the girl child.

Sanusi while speaking on the state on the Nigerian economy said: “Nigerians have to understand that the way we run the state is

unsustainable we cannot continue subsidising fuel, we cannot continue subsidising power. It is desirable, but not sustainable but we have to be ready to make certain sacrifices.

“But if we don’t make those sacrifices now and set a fiscal position for government so that

we are not relying on excessive borrowing, we are placing the future of this country in jeopardy.”

He argued that the federal government has become so dependent on borrowing to the detriment of Continued on page 12

New Revenue Sharing Formula Ready This Year, Says RMAFC...

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Shock, Anger, Trail Daredevil Attack on Nigeria's Elite Military University Kill two officers, abduct one Officers in charge of CCTV allegedly slept off ACF: It's a desecration, Northern elders want senior officials sacked, allege intelligence failure El-Rufai sad over attack, commiserates with victims’ families Military launches manhunt for assailants John Shiklam in Kaduna and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Shock, condemnation, and anger trailed attack launched on Nigeria's elite military academy yesterday by some daredevil bandits terrorising Kaduna State and environs.

The military university, Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, came under attack in the early

hours of yesterday. Two officers were reported killed and another in the rank of a Major, abducted.

Those killed are Lieutenant Commander Wulah and Flight Lieutenant Okoronkwo while Major Datong is still missing.

Ironically, the military university is just a few metres from the Federal College of Forestry Continued on page 12

Ortom: Buhari Making Grazing Routes, Reserves Condition for Peace

Alleges underground plot to make way for herdsmen Says president’s bad governance anchored in nepotism Insists Benue will reject grazing routes George Okoh In Makurdi The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has said the dispositions of President Muhammadu Buhari, were beginning to confirm insinuations that he might have resolved to make the establishment of grazing reserves

and routes the preconditions for peace in parts of the north, where herders/farmers crises were prevalent.

Ortom, who spoke on national security issues on Tuesday in Makurdi, the state capital, Continued on page 12

GLO TV, AN INNOVATIVE TELEVISION STREAMING SERVICE… L-R: Globacom’s Head of Tertiary Institutions Data Sales, Osagie Esangbedo; Senior Manager, Events/ Special Project, Jumobi Mofe- Damijo; Head of Web Sales, Ugochukwu Ibe, and Senior Manager, Events, Sola Mogaji, at the launch of Glo TV, an innovative television streaming service by Globacom in Lagos... yesterday

EFCC to Hold Banks Liable in Fraudulent Deposits from Sept 1... Page 10

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

NEWS

LET THERE BE LIGHT...

L-R: Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and Managing Director, NDPHC, Joseph Chiedu Ugbo, during the inauguration of NDPHC substation at Alex Ekwueme Square by the Vice President in Awka, Anambra State... yesterday

Zulum: We've Started Profiling 2,600 Repentant Insurgents Says whereabouts of 10% of Borno people unknown Puts casualty figure from terrorism attacks at 100,000 Explains that he's been attacked 50 times by Boko Haram Deji Elumoye in Abuja Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State yesterday reviewed the activities of Boko Haram insurgency in the state, saying the state government is profiling a total of 2,600 terrorists, who recently surrendered.

Zulum also disclosed that the whereabouts of 10 per cent of the state’s population could not be accounted for due to the activities of the insurgents. He put the casualty figure from terrorist attacks in the last 12 years at 100,000.

The governor, who spoke with reporters after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, said he came to brief the president on the latest security situation, especially the surrender by thousands of insurgents in his state.

According to him, a total of 2,600 insurgents, including women and children, have surrendered and are being profiled in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and Department of State Services (DSS) to determine their culpability in insurgent attacks in the state.

The governor explained that not all those who had laid down their arms were criminals. He said some of them were forced to become insurgents against their wish.

Zulum stated regarding the surrendered Boko Haram terrorists, "Right now, we have about 2,600 in our custody. But mind you, this number is inclusive of their children and their wives, including their families. Among these people that have surrendered, some are innocent. We started profiling them with the Nigerian Army and the DSS so that those that have not committed a heinous crime, especially the teenagers, the women that haven't done anything, we can find an immediate way of resetting them.

“Those that were deeply involved also, we shall look into the possibility of training them so that at a later stage, the federal

government and the state government will decide to keep them to address the issue holistically.

"Mind you, among those that have surrendered, some are innocent, that were forcefully conscripted into this programme.

Some are teenagers, below the ages of 11, 12, who can handle AK-47 and there’s one very important thing that Nigerians need to understand; if this issue of Boko Haram insurgency is not resolved, I believe it will never end because it is a generation.

“Those that came out from the bush, you can see one person has two wives, three wives in the bush, he’s having 10 children.

These children are well trained to behave in such manner. What is this manner? Carrying AK-47, and it’s a generation."

While expressing support for those bandits surrendering, he, however, assured that relevant laws would be used to address the matter The governor said, "I'm in total support of this on-going surrender by the insurgents, we support them and those that have surrendered shall be dealt with according to the extant rules and regulations.

“We have international conventions that stipulate how we can handle them. There is no law that clearly stipulates that they should be killed, but we have to be very careful in managing this crisis."

The governor stressed that Buhari had given assurance that the federal government would be involved in profiling

the repentant bandits while also seeking the support of international organisations.

He said, "I think it is the best possible option for us to see that we resolve this issue by involving the federal government because the federal government is a major stakeholder. The president has agreed to provide the leadership.

"We can also involve the international community and other stakeholders; the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is very key.

The Defense Ministry, the army, the police, DSS and others are also very important to develop a framework that will ensure sustainability of this programme.

“Right now, I can't say anything, but we are on it and after we have concluded the programme, the framework

shall be known to each and every person."

The governor also said, "In the last 12 years, thousands of lives were lost, people have completely lost their means of livelihood.

We have over 50,000 orphans and widows. These are official figures; the unofficial figures are more than this.

“We were able to cultivate not more than three per cent of our total arable land because of the insurgency and right now, the whereabouts of not less than 10 per cent of the people of Borno State is not known to all of us.

"I’ve been in this cycle for a long time. I'm the pioneer Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement.

For the last 11 or 12 years., I was attacked more than 40 to 50 times,

I know the magnitude of this problem.”

Zulum added, "We are now in a humanitarian crisis. This will also be another humanitarian crisis and that is why I came to seek the support of Mr. President. Example of a few countries that have gone through protracted internal crisis and have resolved it based on peace-building, include Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Colombia, and Rwanda, among others.

"This is also another humanitarian crisis that I think the state government and the federal government have the capacity to contain. Presently, addressing the emerging humanitarian crisis, as it relates to the on-going surrender by the insurgents. We are on top of it."

All Perpetrators of Plateau Crisis Will Be Brought to Book, Says Lalong Deji Elumoye in Abuja Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has declared that all those fomenting trouble and causing crisis in the state would be brought to book.

Lalong who spoke yesterday with newsmen after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja said the recent crisis that claimed lives of some travellers in the state is currently being investigated.

He said the security situation in the state has greatly improved, adding that the curfew imposed on troubled areas would soon be further relaxed.

The governor said: “What we are doing is to ensure that there is proper investigation and prosecution. You know, both the soldiers and police are controlled by the Presidency and right now they are diligently working in my state on a daily basis.

“That is why on the first day, I announced a 24-hour curfew but I kept on relaxing it. By the

grace of God, even this week, the curfew would further be relaxed, so that people can carry out their normal activities. We are the only state that has a peace-building agency set up by the state government and it is the only state that for now has established an interreligious council. These are all the efforts that we have done and within a short time, peace has returned to Plateau State.”

According to him, President Buhari has promised that support would be given to victims of the recent clashes in the State who are currently displaced.

He said: “I also made a request to the President about relieve materials and also still reechoed the issue of resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) We have a lot of IDPs in my State, we have a lot on our hands already and when such happens, you expect the State to seek for support for relieve materials. We are doing our best but the President said

he will talk to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, so that attention would be given to those who are displaced as a result of this crisis.

“For over six years now, we have been enjoying peace in Plateau State so, anybody that wants to take Plateau back to those old days of crisis, it is not only me as Governor but all Plateau people will resist that. They have said ‘we don’t want to go back to crisis again, we are enjoying peace and we want to continue to enjoy our peace."

The governor also appealled for calm and restraint, adding that those calling for reprisals do not mean well for the State.

"I want to appeal to people because most of those who are outside the state calling for reprisal are not people from Plateau State. I am yet to see one cleric coming out to say I want reprisal. I have set up an interreligious committee, which comprises all top religious leaders in Plateau State, both

Muslims and Christians and when things like this happen, they address it.

“So for people to call from outside the State for reprisal, I say no because they are crying more than the bereaved; leave us. We are handling our issue, we are doing reconciliation and consultations don’t call for reprisal attacks. If you want to do a reprisal, you are on your own. We have agreed with the religious leaders and all of them are doing their best, they are cooperating with the State and we are also doing our best,” he said.

Lalong explained that the state government had since given support to survivors of the skirmish that happened in the State on Saturday, August 14, when over 20 travellers from Ondo State were killed.

According to him: “When this happened, we had to go to Ondo but in so many places that is unusual, but we took all of them that we rescued and treated and went there with

a powerful team led by the Deputy Governor of Plateau State with all religious leaders to Ondo to sympathise with the State. Their Governor also said they will also send a team to come and appreciate what we have done.

“The remaining things we need to do are to continue with reconciliation and dialogue. We are the only state that has a peace building agency set up by the State government and it is the only State that for now has established an interreligious committee. These are the things we did for peace to return within a short period of time but that does not mean that we are sleeping on fishing out the perpetrators of these criminal acts".

Lalong said Plateau State was already preparing to host its first economic summit, when the recent crisis broke out, adding that the State is determined to host the summit, so as to confirm that peace has returned to the State.

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New Revenue Sharing Formula Ready This Year, Says RMAFC James Emejo in Abuja The Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr. Elias Mbam, yesterday said the commission has commenced the process of reviewing the existing Revenue Allocation Formula (RAF) among the federal, state and local governments.

He said the new formula would be ready before the end of 2021 and would be submitted to President Muhammadu for onward transmission to the National Assembly.

In the current sharing arrangement, the federal government (Including special funds) is entitled to 52.68 per cent while state governments are to receive 26.72 per cents

and local governments are to receive 20.60 per cent.

Of the federal government’s share of 52.68 per cent share of revenue, 48.68 per cent was further allocated to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) with another one per cent given to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Also, 1.68 per cent is allocated to the Development of Natural Resources while one per cent is allotted to the Ecological Fund as well as 0.50 per cent to the Stabilisation Fund.

Mbam said the review would focus on the vertical allocation of the revenue allocation formula - to the federal, state and local governments.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the RMAFC boss pointed out that

the consideration for the review was informed by the fact that the last general review of the formula was carried out 28 years ago in 1992.

He also said the political structure of the country had since changed with the creation of six additional states in 1996, bringing the number of states to 36 while the number of local governments also increased from 589 to 774.

He added that there has been considerable changes arising from policy reforms that altered the relative share of responsibilities of the various spheres of government including controversies over the funding of primary education, primary health centers among others.

Mbam said the review was also

necessitated by the inadequate and decaying infrastructure which had heightened widespread internal security challenges across the country.

He said ecological challenges like global warming, desertification, flooding and population explosion as well as the inability of the current vertical formula to adequately address the apparent mismatch between statutorily assigned functions and tax powers of each of the three levels of government informed the decision to embark on a fresh exercise.

Furthermore, he pointed out that the agitation for a review by various interest groups including states and local governments were also considered.

He said, "In view of the above,

the commission has commenced the review of the current vertical revenue sharing arrangement with a view to producing a fair, just, and equitable revenue sharing formula that will be acceptable to majority of Nigerians."

He said one of the major responsibilities of the commission was to review from time to time, the revenue allocation as specified in Part 1, paragraph 22 (b) of the Pay Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Mbam said the Constitution empowers the commission to review from time to time, the revenue allocation formula and principles in operation to ensure conformity with changing realities.

He added, "Provided that any formula which has been

assented by the Act of the National Assembly shall remain in force for a period of not less than five years from the date of commencement of the Act. "Pursuant to the above and the need to review the allocation formula, the commission has commenced the process of the review."

However, previous attempts by the commission in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2014 aimed at producing a new sharing template for the tiers of government were either withdraw mid-way or adjudged as inconclusive.

The RMAFC chairman however, expressed optimism that the latest exercise would be less controversial and will produce a new sharing formula that will be passed into law.

NAFDAC Raises the Alarm over Use of Poisonous Chemicals for Food Preservation Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Nigerians against buying meat The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye has alerted members of the public that some vendors in the country were applying poisonous chemicals to preserve their food to the detriment of the health of Nigerians.

The NAFDAC boss also advised Nigerians to stop patronising drugs from hawkers and unauthorised outlets, saying they should prioritise their healthcare by buying drugs from pharmaceutical outlets that are registered.

The NAFDAC boss who made this known during a Public Enlightenment Campaign organised by her agency in Bauchi yesterday, also revealed that among the deadly chemicals being used by meat and fish sellers was formalin, a chemical substance used to preserve dead bodies.

Adeyeye further revealed that the agency has discovered that formalin is used by some meat and fish sellers to preserve their products even though the substance is used to preserve corpse.

The NAFDAC DG therefore warned that the misuse of chemical on food products was capable of leading to many serious diseases and death, warning that anyone arrested would face the full wrath of the law.

Adeyeye, who was represented

by NAFDAC’s Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Fori Tatami, also revealed that sniper, a poisonous chemical, was also being used to preserve kilishi, by sellers in some parts of the country.

“Sniper is being misused by most Nigerians. If it dries with the kilishi, it can kill the consumer,” she warned Adeyeye expressed regret that most food vendors in the country were applying chemicals to food consumed by unsuspecting Nigerians.

She said the agency had also uncovered kerosene or fuel tankers conveying groundnut oil to markets.

“Such vegetable oil becomes contaminated and the moment people buy and use it, they will start experience serious illness and diseases,” she said.

She further said apart from discouraging Nigerians against patronising drug hawkers, the agency was also cautioning

laced with chemicals used in chasing flies.

“Such meats are possibly laced with dangerous chemicals that chases flies away so Nigerians must be wary,” she stated, saying that Nigerians should also be wary of red palm oil as traders add a dangerous chemical call azo dye to make it reddish and appealing.

According to her, the public enlightenment campaign, which would take place in nine states in the country between August and September 2021, was to make Nigerians aware of the development and give information to NAFDAC in order to arrest and prosecute suspects.

“We should not allow people to put chemicals into the products that we consume. We need to be careful and enlighten our people,” she added.

While saying that hawking of drugs was prohibited, urging the general public to use the Mobile Authentication System inscribed on drugs to identify fake or genuine drugs, she explained that the key objective of the sensitisation programme was to intensify and expand the scope of informal and formal behaviour change communication strategies in order to reach the vulnerable communities especially at the grassroots.

"The advent of Covid-19 has aggravated the problem with the challenge posed by substandard and falsified Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). The sensitisation campaigns will therefore contribute significantly to federal government's concerted efforts to inform, sensitise, educate and alert the public about inherent dangers of intake and use of those spurious regulated products.

"These campaign themes are intended to address the following public health challenges such as dangers of buying medicines from hawkers, abuse of codeine and self-medication especially among youths,” she said.

In his response, the Emir of Bauchi, Dr. Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, called on Nigerian to be responsible, saying no religion encourages traders to carry out activities that could lead to diseases and death.

Adamu, who was represented

by Alhaji Abdullahi Baba, the Sarakin Bauchi, promised to work in partnership with NAFDAC to ensure that abusers of drugs and chemicals were stopped and brought to book.

OPERATIONS PLANNING CADRE 2021…

L-R: Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Jason Gbassa; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; General Officer Commanding, GOC, 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Lawrence Fejokwu, during the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Army 81 Division Operations Planning Cadre 2021, at the 81 Division Officers’ Mess, Outer Marina, Lagos... yesterday

FG Deploys Moderna Vaccines to 29 States Second dose of AstraZeneca vaccination begins Wednesday Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government yesterday said it had deployed Moderna vaccines to 29 states of the federation with storage facilities to preserve the vaccine.

The government said administration of the second dose AstraZeneca vaccine would commence today and close on September 5.

Executive Director of the National Primary HealthCare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, disclosed this at a media briefing on the progress of phase 2 COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria held in Abuja. Shuaib said the focus of the agency had been on the distributing the different brands of COVID-19 vaccines – Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca - to the states, as well as concluding the training of state and local government personnel to ensure optimum vaccine utilisation.

He said, "So far, we have

deployed Moderna vaccines to 29 States. It is pertinent to state that we could not deploy the vaccines immediately after the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) certification because, unlike the AstraZeneca, the Moderna vaccine did not come with complete barcoding.

And this is absolutely needed for us to be able to track and trace the vaccines."

Speaking on the deployment of vaccines for the second phase of the campaign, Shuaib said the federal government wanted to ensure that any state receiving the vaccine were fully equipped to receive them.

Shuaib said the criteria were that the states’ ultra-cold chain equipment would be fully functional and able to store the vaccines at the required temperature.

He stated, "Also, the states must have back-up storage facilities such as Walk-in cold room, Walk-in freezer or chest

freezers with reliable 24-hrs power supply.

“Additionally, we require that the states have completed the training of health care workers who will monitor the equipment and the vaccines," he said.

In addition, the executive director said that federal government was counting on governors to "continue to provide the needed oversight and resources to ensure that these vaccines are secured and maintained in the required temperatures and that all eligible persons are mobilised to access the vaccines to protect themselves, their families and their communities against COVID-19."

For the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, which is a single dose, Shuaib said the agency was using Geographical Information System (GIS) to map out the hard-toreach areas across all states.

He explained that areas such as security-compromised, riverine, nomadic and border settlements are where the

vaccines would be deployed for targeted vaccination.

He said the reason for targeting these areas with the Johnson and Johnson was because of geographical constraints that make it difficult to reach the dwellers with the second dose after the first contact.

"Secondly, it removes the additional logistic cost of going to these communities twice. We have developed the necessary protocols to guide the States and ensure compliance with the distribution guideline for the vaccine," he said.

Shuaib further explained that under the second phase of the vaccination, agency persons of 40 years and above would have the opportunity to check their blood pressure and be assessed for the risk of diabetes.

Similarly Shuaib said children aged zero to 12 months would be screened for malnutrition and vaccinated against childhood diseases such as measles, yellow fever, hepatitis and polio.

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EFCC to Hold Banks Liable in Fraudulent Deposits from Sept 1 Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja From September 1, 2021, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will hold banks liable where there are established cases of institutional complicity in fraud in the sector.

Speaking when members of the Association of Chief Audit Executives of Banks in Nigeria, (ACAEBIN), led by the Chairman, Yinka Tiamiyu, paid him a courtesy visit in his office, the Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, said bank auditors must take issues of transparency in their operations serious, adding that starting from the aforementioned day, it would no longer be business as usual as the commission would hold banks responsible for such transactions.

“I will like to urge you to know your customers, know the kind of businesses they do before opening an account for them because some customers will open an account within a space of two months a huge sum of money is found in the account, so there is need for you to try and query these information including their linked accounts,” he said.

He affirmed commission’s willingness to partner with the association in tackling financial crimes and related challenges in the banking sector.

“EFCC welcomes your suggestion of robust partnership.

We cannot do this job alone.

We need information, and for

all Nigerians to be on board, to rid our country of corruption", he said.

Tiamiyu in his remarks, said they were at the commission to seek improved partnership between banks and the EFCC in tacking economic and financial crimes.

He reiterated the commitment of banks as lead actors in the nation’s financial system to sanitising the system, noting that it was not in the interest of the organisations to incubate or suppress financial malfeasance.

In his contribution, the Vice Chairman of the Association,

Uduak Udoh, said, “some customers are conniving with bank staff to loot funds. We want you to look into that area, not only the banks as we are ready to give you all the cooperation you need. We want you to trust bank auditors with information sharing because we cannot

support fraudulent staff as they are a threat to the organisation.”

The delegation used the opportunity of the visit to highlight issues of concern to them and their organisations, including fast-tracking the consideration of petitions from banks by the EFCC.

NNPC: 30% Frontier Basins Exploration Fund to Gulp $400m Annually Sale of shares to public not immediate, says corporation Entire industry to run on new PIA in one year Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos TAbout $400 million would be spent annually to fund exploration of oil and gas in the frontier basins under the new Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said yesterday.

When the sum, which is from 30 per cent of the proposed NNPC Limited’s profit from oil and gas, is added to the estimated $500 million to be spent on host communities, being the three per cent of operating expenditure approved by the Act, both cost centres would

gulp a cumulative $900 million or roughly N450 billion every year.

Group Managing Director (GMD) of the national oil company, Mallam Mele Kyari, disclosed the cost estimates yesterday on a national television programme monitored by THISDAY. Kyari admitted that some of the misconceptions concerning the new law might be due to wrong communication strategy.

He said the proposed sale of NNPC Limited’s shares to the public might not be immediate, but assured that in the next one year, the entire oil and gas industry

would run on the basis of the new Act. Kyari stated that the 30 per cent exploration fund was not for the north alone. He said there were potential oil wells in the southern states, including Anambra basin, Calabar embankment, as well as the ultra-deepwater areas of the Niger Delta.

The GMD said, “I think we haven’t communicated enough.

For instance, if we had done so, some of these misgivings wouldn't have come up in the first instance or maybe the engagements are not effective.

“For instance, when you say

30 per cent of NNPC oil and gas, it’s a very small number. The percentages may appear very outrageous, but 30 per cent of what? Nobody has sat down to look at this. When you say profit percentage, it will probably come down to less than $400 million per annum. And, then, the other side of it is that 30 per cent is a big number, but when you come to the host community fund, you have three per cent of operating expense.

“We spent about $16 billion in fiscal year 2020 across the industry and that number comes to above $500 million, far above the budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).”

Kyari stated that the huge percentage for frontier exploration did not amount to short-changing of any part of the country. He said there was a lot of uncertainty around profit from oil, so the allocation for frontier exploration could be zero in some years.

He stressed that there was nothing wrong in looking for more oil because of the direction the industry was moving.

Kyari said oil companies must have operating expenses, which the host communities’ fund was built into.

According to him, “You must spend money, so we are very sure that the provisions that are meant for the host communities will be implemented and will be

delivered. But then when we even come to the frontier exploration, what is the issue?

“There is this common understanding that when you say frontier, you mean northern Nigeria, it’s absolutely wrong.

“Frontier is a very technical word and it means where you haven’t found oil, but there’s potential for finding oil and this spreads across the country, from the Chad Basin, to Sokoto Basin, the Bida Basin to the Anambra platform, the Calabar embankment, including the ultra-deepwater in the Niger Delta, which has not been explored.

“What's wrong in finding oil anywhere that you find it because once you find oil and gas, it becomes the resource of the federation, and therefore nobody loses from this participation.”

The NNPC GMD declared that when fully incorporated, NNPC Limited would operate under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), saying the implication is that it would have shareholders among Nigeria’s 200 million population. But the shareholders would be represented by the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Petroleum, he stated.

Kyari stated that shareholders could decide to reduce their equity holding by inviting private investors, adding that NNPC Limited would be floated on the stock exchange.

N'Delta Group Barricades NDDC Headquarters, Urges FG to Constitute Board Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

ACCEPT MY CONDOLENCES… Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu (left) and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, during Onyeagwu's condolence visit to the governor and the family on the demise of their father, Pa Emmanuel Abiodun, in Iperu-Remo, Ogun State... at the weekend.

TETFund to Disburse N292.6bn to Select Public Institutions

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) is set to disburse a total of N292.66 billion to select public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.

According to the 2021 disbursement plan, TETFund is to give N906 million to each university in the six geo-political zones while N628 million would go to one polytechnic and one College of Education from each of the six geo-political zones.

Executive Secretary, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, who revealed this at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, said the responsibility of completing the National Library Project in Abuja, has also been bestowed on TETFund.

According to him, the library project represents an important national asset that shouldn't be ignored on account of funding challenges.

Bogoro also stressed the importance of research to national development, saying the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been consistent in approving funds to see that academics churn out quality research that would address

emerging challenges bedeviling the country.

He said this accounted for the setting up of the National Research Foundation which has consistently increased from N3 billion to N8.5 billion in recent times.

Bogoro challenged academics in the country to turn around the fortunes of the country through cutting- edge research.

"Let us apply our innovative research outcome to solve the security problem, let us bring back value addition to the solid minerals that we are blessed with, it is one gold we have not explored to any significant level," he said.

On the 2021 research grants to lecturers, Bogoro called on the nation’s academics to live up to expectations by churning out good proposals, saying that the Fund is always ready to finance such academic exercise.

"I have signed letters of allocation for the research grants that we are issuing out, 217 in all. This is the highest research grant ever.

It has never gone beyond 200.

We have 217 research grants that have recently been approved," Bogoro said.

Speaking on the recent special

allocations by the TETFund's Board of Trustees (BoT), Bogoro revealed that N5 billion each was approved for the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, for massive infrastructural development.

The TETFund boss said N1 billion was also approved for the fencing of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and another N1 billion for Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, adding that more tertiary institutions would benefit from the special allocations in not too distant time.

Bogoro said TETFund was also providing support to boost research activities in Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), among others, to address the nation's security challenges.

On TETFund's intervention in the health sector, Bogoro stated that the Fund has provided N1 billion to one university in the six geo-political zones for medical research as well as provided facilities for treatment of major ailments such as prostate cancer, kidney sickness, among others.

"With the Urology and kidney facilities made available, we are

expecting a number of our teaching hospitals to come up with the capacity granted the equipment we provided, they should be able to do kidney transplant, etc, in our universities.

"We intend to continue strengthening some in terms of cancer facilities, urology research clinical facilities and heart facilities," he said.

The forum also provided Bogoro an opportunity to explain that the Board of TETFund has approved the review of course sponsorship abroad.

According to him, more emphasis would now be placed on Master or PhD programmes that are science-based.

Among the overseas Master and PhD courses’ specialisations with effect from August 2021 include: Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Biosciences, Biomedical Engineering, Material Science and Engineering, Industrial Systems and Engineering, Geosciences, Behavioural Sciences, Nuclear Engineering, Oceanography, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, among others.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of allocation letters to the beneficiary institutions.

Youths from the nine states under the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) yesterday barricaded the headquarters of the commission in Port Harcourt, calling on the federal government to constitute a substantive board for the commission.

The youths, under the aegis of the South-South Youths Initiative (SSYI) alleged that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, was working against the development of the region.

National Coordinator of SSYI, Imeabe Oscar, who spoke during the protest stated that the delay in the constitution of a board for the commission was not in the interest of the region, lamenting that the minister is slowing down development and activities in the region.

Oscar said, "All we are asking is that the NDDC under Godswill Akpabio should immediately constitute a substantive board for the NDDC. "He told us that the board would be constituted on July 30, we have been waiting up to this moment. Instead of constituting the board what we are still having is a Sole Administrator.

"It is unfortunate that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Akpabio has chosen to play games with the people of Niger Delta. We thought that as a son of Niger Delta that he would work to ensure a board for the commission to ensure

development and employment."

He regretted that the federal government gave attention to the demands of the region only when it sparked protest, saying the protest would remain until their request is met.

He said, "It is clear we don't have a responsible government, if we do we will not be protesting under the sun for the right thing to be done. What are we asking for, constitute a board. Because of his selfish interest he has decided to keep the region the way we are now.

"He (Akpabio) has slowed down the development and activities of the Niger Delta people. He wants us to shut down the office totally before he will come and do the right thing. This is just the day one of this protest, we will continue it, because he has failed to listen to the Niger Delta People.

"NDDC has employed 1000 persons illegally and all the persons he has employed are from Akwa Ibom. He also appointed Effiong Akwa from his state too. We have nine states under the commission, but Akpabio has converted the commission to this personal property.

"If he has ambition for 2023, let him do it justly and we will support him. If he wants to bring down this region we will not support that. We want him with immediate effect constitute the board. We are coming out in full force to ensure that his demand is done."

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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TWELVE S H O C K , A N G E R , T R A I L D A R E D E V I L AT TA C K O N N I G E R I A ' S E L I T E M I L I TA RY U N I V E R S I T Y Mechanization, Afaka where 39 students were abducted by terrorists on March 11, 2021.

Sketchy details of how the bandits gained entry into the premises of the premier military institution have begun to emerge even as unconfirmed reports circulating on different online platforms alleged that the kidnappers had made a ransom demand of N200 million to release the abducted officer.

Another officer was said to have sustained injuries from gunshots and was receiving medical attention at the institution’s health centre, which occupies a vast land in Afaka, along the road to the Kaduna International Airport.

THISDAY has, however, learnt that personnel in charge of the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) mounted at the NDA actually slept off while on duty, which allowed the terrorists to gain access to the living quarters of the officers. .

Reacting to the development, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), which condemned the attack, however, said it was embarrassing that “the factory, where all Nigerian military officers are produced has been invaded and desecrated.”

On their part, the Northern elders have alleged a failure of Nigeria’s intelligence network following Tuesday’s attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, Kaduna, by bandits and therefore called for the immediate sack of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno.

Similarly, the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed sadness over the attack on the NDA and sympathised with members of families of the victims of the invasion.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces had immediately launched a manhunt for the killers of two military officers and kidnappers of one other officer in a daring attack on the NDA by bandits.

Sources said the bandits, who were in very large number stormed the military institution at about 1am on Tuesday, wearing military camouflage, manoeuvred their way into the Academy and proceeded to the officers quarters.

In a statement yesterday confirming the incident, spokesman of the Academy, Major Bashir Jajira, said the security architecture of the institution was compromised, saying two officers were killed while one was abducted by the bandits.

Jajira said the Academy, in collaboration with the 1Division Nigerian Army and Air Training Command both in Kaduna, as well as other security agencies in the state, had commenced a manhunt for the gunmen with a view to tracking them and rescuing the abducted officer.

The statement titled, “Security breach of Nigerian Defence Academy architecture”, read: The security architecture of the Nigerian Defence Academy was compromised early this morning by unknown gunmen, who gained access into the residential area

within the Academy in Afaka.

During the unfortunate incident, we lost two personnel and one was abducted.

“The Academy in collaboration with the 1Division Nigerian Army and Air Training Command as well as other security agencies in Kaduna state has since commenced pursuit of the unknown gunmen within the general area with a view to tracking them and rescue the abducted personnel.

“The NDA community and Cadets are safe in the Academy.

We assure the general public that this unknown gunmen would soon be apprehended and the abducted personnel rescued.”

But sources have hinted that the reason the NDA was caught unawares was because the personnel in charge of the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) mounted at the NDA slept off while on duty and were unable to alert others to the presence of the gunmen.

"It was in the middle of the night, and the personnel that were meant to be monitoring the CCTV had slept off. They could have put everyone on alert, and avert the attack," a source said.

But the ACF, in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Emmanuel Yawe, said it was sad that ordinary street bandits would invade a military institution of such high national and international repute, outwit the security system in the academy, kill officers and take one away to an unknown destination.

“The ACF, first and foremost commemorates with the families of those, who lost their lives during todays (Tuesday) attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy.

These gallant men have payed the supreme price for Nigeria, their motherland. We hope their sacrifices are not in vain.

“The Forum is praying that the abducted officer will be rescued and the criminals, who abducted him brought to book,” Yawe said, adding that the latest security breach was another embarrassment to the forum.

According to him, “The NDA is a proud monument of the efforts of the first generation of northerners, who fought hard to bring development to the north; the likes of Muhammadu Ribadu, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Sir Ahmadu Bello, who brought the Institution to Kaduna.

“They did not bring it here for our generation to hand it over to bandits or whatever we call them.

This is an institution that is not only a pride of the north but a pride of Nigeria. Many African countries train their military officers here.

“It is really sad that ordinary street bandits will invade a military institution of such high national and international repute, outwit the security system and men there, kill officers and take one away to an unknown destination.

“The NDA is a proud reminder of the achievements of our fathers,” he said, wondering if the present generation of northerners would seat and watch as the legacies were destroyed.

“We of the ACF have said

it again and again that there is everything seriously wrong with the management of our security.

The other day a Nigerian Airforce fighter aircraft was shot down by the so-called bandits.

“Today, the factory where all Nigerian military officers are produced has been invaded and desecrated. What else do we need to show that our national security system is running on reverse gear?” the forum asked.

The Northern Elders, while demanding the sack of Monguno, lamented that the development was an indication that no Nigerian was safe again in the country.

The group, under the aegis of Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development (CNEPD), also sought an in-depth review of the entire security architecture of the country, stressing that the entire security chiefs must be blamed.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Zana Goni, the group said it was time for the president to do away with Monguno following the worsening insecurity in the country.

“The the deteriorating security situation is a sign that Monguno, who manages the nation’s security, is not on top of his game”, the statement stated, criticising stakeholders in the region for their alleged “long silence in the face of unbearable criminal acts by armed herdsmen and insecurity across the country ‘thereby giving a bad image of the region.

“We find it once more expedient to comment on the worsening security situation in the country, especially, the latest attack on a military formation, the Nigerian Defence Academy, which is the institution, where future military leaders are trained.

“The fact that a fortified military institution could be so easily invaded by armed militias without resistance has left us with the conclusion that no part of this country and no citizen, no matter his or her status, is safe again.

“Without mincing words, we wish to attribute this ugly development to intelligence

failure and gaps in the capacity of our armed forces. We wish to strongly say here that the attack is a slap on the Nigeria intelligence community and the armed forces.

“The retention of the National Security Adviser, General Babagana Monguno, at the time the president listened to the voice of reason and replaced service chiefs, may contribute to the continuously deteriorating security situation in the country.

“As Northern elders, we have found it very important to call on President Buhari to remove the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd), whose office and responsibilities are critical to the achievement of comprehensive security all over the country but hasn’t used the high esteem of his office in any productive ways since his appointment as NSA. “The reason for this call is not farfetched. We believe that Major-Gen Monguno was part of the gross failure associated with the tenure of the former security chiefs and his continued presence in office will make the success Buhari intended to achieve with the changes very difficult, if not completely impossible.”

El-Rufai, in a statement by his Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, was briefed on the incident and prayed for the reposed of the souls of those killed.

Aruwan said, the state government “received with sadness the report of the unfortunate security breach at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna in the early hours of Tuesday 24th August 2021. The security breach at the Academy led to the death of two personnel and abduction of one officer.

“Being the host of the Academy and a partner in several spheres of national security and development, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has been briefed of the development, and on behalf of the Government and People of Kaduna State, has prayed for the repose of the souls of the

proceeds from his book launch and all funds raised would all go to the initiative.

“Those who know me know that in many ways I am passionate about issues around women and girls. Out of all the United Nations sustainable goal, if you’ve asked me which goal has the greatest impact for dealing with development issues, it would be educating the girl child,” he added.

He also spoke about his new book, saying, “Not many people know that between June 1995 and June 1996, I was in Sokoto prison as a threat to national security under General Abacha. Many of the articles in this book started after that experiment because when you are a direct victim of the injustice of the system, you

criminals was in top gear.

"The gallant troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), in joint operations are in hot pursuit of armed bandits that attacked the officers quarters of the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), in Kaduna early hours of 24 August 2021.

"All efforts have been intensified by troops, who are currently combing the entire locations in search and rescue mission for the adducted officers. The commandant NDA as well as the HQ 1Div with the support of NAF are presently in a coordinated joint operations to search and rescue the abducted officer and arrest the perpetrators.

"The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) wishes to use this medium to condole with the families of the deceased officers. He thanked troops for their quick response.

The CDS also wishes to assure the NDA communities of their safety as security has been beefed up while operations are on going in the general area. Further details will be released later."

In a related development, Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani, has expressed shock over the attack on the NDA by bandits on Tuesday and described the invasion, killing and abduction as an assault on Nigeria’s territorial integrity, which must be treated with all seriousness.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani, the Speaker decried the onslaught on NDA and called for an investigation by the military hierarchy.

“It is disheartening and unfortunate for such an attack to have taken place, catching those in charge of its internal security off guard,” he said, urging the NDA not to let the attack demoralise them.

“I sincerely commiserate with families of those, who lost their lives. I am pleased that the NDA authorities have given assurances that the assailants are being trailed and would be apprehended,” he added.

ORTOM: BUHARI MAKING GRAZING ROUTES, RESERVES CONDITION FOR PEACE also alleged that there were underground plots to make way for herdsmen, a development he further said had begun to embolden criminal herders.

The governor, who claimed Buhari’s governance was bad because it was anchored on nepotism, however, said Benue would not allow grazing routes and reserves unless the entire people of the state, including himself were first killed by the federal government.

“From my previous discussions with the president, it is obvious he believes for peace to reign, grazing routes and reserves must be opened for herdsmen.

Mr. President has a set mind towards achieving this, because previously, after holding meetings with relevant stakeholders across the country, the NEC had advised that the best way to stamp out the farmers/herders crisis was to

support and implement ranching.

It is really sad that the President would throw to the dustbin the report and recommendations of the NEC. “Here in Benue, there has never been a gazetted route or reserve. The federal government is only on a mission to impose this unlawful structures on us.

“Even most of the northern states have agreed that open grazing is un-Islamic and as Christians, open grazing has been frowned at in the Bible in the book of Exodus.

“Lands have not increased, but population has, therefore, a decrease in land availability has rendered the grazing route policy an inhumane policy. Rather, there has even been a decrease due to the ceding of land to neighboring nations,” he said.

Ortom, who said it was disappointing for President Buhari

SANUSI: ENDING SUBSIDIES PUTS NIGERIA ON FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY PATH the future generation.

“This generation will continue borrowing to consume while passing the debt to the next generation to pay. It is difficult decision to pass but we have to pass it. Because if we don’t make it and you keep giving Nigerians everything they want today, at the end of the day you will leave the country on time bomb.

“These decisions have to be taken to put this country on the path of fiscal sustainability and we all have to make these sacrifices and we have to stop relying on the government for everything,” he added.

Sanusi who is also the chair of the advisory council of 1 million teachers, a United Nations sustainable development goal said

personnel who lost their lives.”

He said the governor conveyed his heartfelt empathy to the Academy, and the immediate families of the personnel, and also extended deep concern to the family of the abducted officer.

“The Government of Kaduna State extends its unreserved solidarity to the Armed Forces of Nigeria and all security agencies, who are making immense sacrifices on different fronts,” the statement stated.

The statement also appealed to the citizens of the state to volunteer useful information to the military and security agencies in the campaign against banditry and kidnapping in the state and beyond.

“On its part, the Kaduna State government will continue to take actions considered imperative in the campaign against bandits throughout the state,” Aruwan said.

However, the Defence Headquarters, said yesterday that troops were in hot pursuit of the fleeing terrorists.

As the military pursued the bandits, Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, said the armed forces were committed to containing mounting security challenges confronting the nation even as he disagreed with the position of the Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Aminu Masari, to the effect that citizens should resort to self defence.

He said government was committed to the protection of lives and property and called for support of the citizenry in tackling the security crisis.

According to him, while the bandits presented the challenge of guerilla warfare by their hit and run tactics, government was committed to its containment policy with regards to security challenges facing the nation.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), which alleged that the attackers sneaked into the officers quarters of NDA and started shooting sporadically, however, reiterated that manhunt for the

experience it in the manner that people who would read about it do not. “ Emefiele, whilst noting that the government does not have the capacity to do everything, assured that the banks under the umbrella of the Bankers’ Committee as well as members of the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) would be making contributions to support the initiative.

He said: “We should indeed not wait for government to do everything. Indeed government does not have the money to do everything, and what is being done today is to play a role in improving the education of the girl child.

“Given the responsibility to raise at least $2 million in five

years and i dare say that five years is too long. We would do our best to ensure we raise more than $2 million. At the Bankers’ Committee, we did deliberate on this subject and the bankers would contribute substantially to this project.”

Also, in his opening remarks, the Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, who is also the Chairman of Body of Bank CEOs, said: “ Sanusi for his 60th decided to gift to Nigeria with something that he was going to work tirelessly on - one of the SDGs - and that is the one that has to do with making quality education accessible for all, promotion of lifelong learning and more importantly around gender equality.”

to declare a review of Grazing Routes and Reserves, was also concerned that the president might have been misquoted.

His words: “With the array of responsible and learned people around Mr. President, it is quite disappointing to hear the president come out to declare a review of grazing routes and reserves. I want to believe he was wrongly quoted, because as a man, who has an Attorney General and very many lawyers around, he’d have been advised better.”

According to Ortom, Buhari’s actions to approve N6bn for ranching in Katsina State but still went ahead to open Grazing Routes and Reserves in other states beat the tenets of fair play and justice.

He said, “Mr. President himself a farmer, believes in ranching, which is why he recently approved over N6bn to Katsina State to pilot the ranching policy, a cause which Benue as a state has championed for long.

“It is, therefore, questionable why he would choose to open ranches in Katsina and open grazing routes and reserves in other states. His actions beat the tenets of fair play and justice.He is the president of Nigeria, so, it is wrong for him to restrict himself to Katsina State.”

The governor pressed further that he was not at war with the Fulani, because there were good Fulani people, some of whom were his good friends.

“I am not at war with the Fulani. Of course, there are good Fulani people, some of whom are my very good friends. It will amount to logical fallacy if I say all Fulani are bad. It is

just a case of bad governance anchored on nepotism on the part of Mr. President.

“I have told the president that if anyone tells him that he is ruling the country according to the provisions of the constitution, they are lying to him; they are only being sycophants and mediocres. For saying the truth to power, I’ve been insulted by these crop, and even blocked from seeing the president, because for every second I spend with the president, I only get to tell him the truth.

“The body language of the president has emboldened Miyetti Allah in executing very heinous crimes in this country. It is so bad that after orchestrating and executing terror, the Miyetti Allah now move in Abuja with long convoys and heavy security paid with tax payers money.

“As long as I still hold the mandate of my people, the people that voted me to be their governor, the president or anybody at all would have to kill me first before grabbing any land to use for grazing routes or reserves.

“Since my assumption in 2015, I confiscated weapons collected from thugs and criminals, so it is quite unfortunate and unpresidential for the presidency to come out and churn out lies that I am arming militia or private guards.

I am not a fan of thugs or the militia, as it is now evident in Benue. I believe in the rule of law,” he said.

On the privatisation of government enterprises, Ortom said, “I will be hosting a stakeholders’ meeting soon, where we’ll discuss the issue of privatisation, which seems to be the new blackmail on me by the opposition.”

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2021

COMMENT

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

BUHARI’S PLACE IN HISTORY

Many Nigerians have lost faith in the administration, argues Sonnie Ekwowusi

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ddressing the Service Chiefs last week at the Presidential Villa, Abuja President Buhari pledged that he would not leave office a failure. There are two deductions, in my humble view, from the aforesaid pledge. One: despite his seemingly unperturbed stance on how the public assesses his performance in power, President Buhari is very much conscious of his place in history. He is afraid that history will judge him harshly. If there is one judgment capable of making one restless or causing one to lose sleep, it is the inescapable judgment of history.

As President Buhari’s tenure is gradually coming to an end, he is battling to pacify the pangs of conscience. This was why Mr. President appeared to be telling us last week: “I am not a failure. I am a good man.

I will not leave office a failure”. I agree with Reinhold Niebuhr that the seemingly irreconcilable conflict between the needs of the society and the imperatives of a sensitive conscience or the conflict between ethics and politics cannot be harmonized in favour of the individual if the moral imagination of the individual does not seek to comprehend the needs of the society. Or, put differently, the most perfect justice cannot be established if the moral imagination of the individual does not seek to comprehend the needs and interests of his fellow men.

The second deduction from President Buhari’s pledge is that he is not in touch with reality. President Buhari has refused to read the mene, mene, tekel, upharsin emblazoned on the walls of Aso Villa Presidential Building, Abuja. He is yet to understand that his eight-year tenure is coming to a pathetic end. For example, this is August, signaling the end of 2021. Next year is for political alignment and realignment, and, so literally does not exist. 2023 is an election year. The years have been eaten by locust. Even if President Buhari decides to be constantly repeating the morale-boosting silenzio Bruno (of Luca and Alberto) from now till he quits power Nigeria’s collapse under him cannot be reversed. More importantly, not less than 95% of Nigerians had judged President Buhari a failure. After political stewardship comes one’s judgment. No second judgment. Last Friday the Nigeria Info Radio Station did a phone-in program on Buhari’s pledge that he will not leave power a failure.

Virtually all the callers unanimously concurred that President Buhari had already failed.

At present, Nigeria exhibits the major symptoms of a failed state: incapacity of the President Buhari administration to defend and maintain Nigeria’s territorial sovereignty as well as secure the borders of Nigeria from internal and external violation in consonant with sections 1 (2) and 2(1) of the 1999 Constitution; inability of the president, pursuant to section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution, to protect lives and property of the citizenry and to suppress internal insurrection, banditry, secession threats, murder, anarchy, fear, and chaos everywhere in Nigeria. The impression one gets wittingly or unwittingly on listening to Mr. President is that

NOW, HARDLY ANY DAY PASSES WITHOUT SOME NIGERIANS BEING KILLED OR MOWED DOWN OR ABDUCTED. THE MOST TRAGIC IS THE ABDUCTION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN

he has lost control of the state of affairs. It is sad that Nigeria under Buhari has become a full-fledged failed state in the fashion of Somalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen, Central African Republic and Myanmar. Security wise, Nigeria is unsafe. Nigeria has a weak rule of law. Foreign investors are scared stiff coming to Nigeria. Many young Nigerians are freeing to Canada and other countries.

In his inauguration speech in 2015, President Buhari said: “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody. That is a lie because President Buhari belongs only to the Fulanis. If Nigeria is a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic and multi-national society, why should Mr. President hold brief for Fulani herdsmen; an attitude which does not reflect the shared visions and aspirations of the variegated interest groups and nationalities that constitute Nigeria? Whereas President Buhari has deployed Nigeria’s military intelligence to hunt down Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho he has refused to use the same intelligence to arrest and prosecute the murderous Fulani herdsmen who, in the last six years, have been freely going about killing, maiming, and raping their victims and dispossessing them of their farm lands. Despite the mounting complaints that 90% of his political appointees are from the North, President Buhari has refused to alter this imbalance in conformity with the pluralistic and multi-ethnic nature of the Nigerian society and the Federal Character principle as enshrined in section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution. This is another glaring evidence of the failure of President Buhari. Now hardly any day passes without some Nigerians being killed or mowed down or abducted. The most tragic is the abduction of school children. In fact we have lost count of the serial abductions of school children under Buhari.

This is another evidence of the failure of government.

In case you are still probing why history will be harsh on Buhari, the conscience of the nation Leah Sharibu was abducted on February 19, 2018 by Boko Haram religious terrorists. Since then she has been held by her captors for refusing to convert to Islam. We don’t even know whether she is still alive or dead. Meanwhile the Buhari government is socializing with Boko Haram terrorists and even offering the so-called “repentant” terrorists “amnesty.” In February 2020, the Borno State Commissioner for Information, Babakura Jato, flared up upon discovering that the so-called “repentant Boko Haram” terrorists were not repentant at all because they had gone back to join their killer-colleagues. He also said that a lot of soldiers are not happy about this ugly development.

According to one Nigerian soldier, “We were at the Maimalari barracks when some of these Boko Haram people were released. The authorities are releasing them, but Boko Haram are killing soldiers that they capture. This does not make sense to us at all. We continue to sweep across the bushes to flush these people out, and then the government will release them. Does that not amount to wasted efforts?”

Can you now understand the likely verdict of history?

HALTING ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS ATTACKS IN THE NORTH Afakriya A. Gadzama urges good leadership and inclusive government

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he insurgency in the North East and acts of banditry in the North Central and North West are security challenges that have aggravated insecurity in the country. The failure of the elite especially the political class and those in government has also betrayed the trust and expectations of Northerners and there is pent-up anger all over the Northern States. The insurgency, recurring interethnic and religious clashes and attacks by armed bandits and lawless herdsmen have expectedly undermined public safety in all states in the North.

All well-meaning Northerners should therefore appreciate that these challenges constitute huge distractions to President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s national development agenda. At the end of the day, the North is the greatest loser because, despite its huge natural and human resources, it is the most backward and disunited region in the country. The North under Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, enjoyed unprecedented progress and unity among its diverse people and emerged as a model for other parts of the country. The prevailing disaffection and hostility among groups in the North is principally due to disruptive politics, abuse of governance opportunity and lack of fear of God. Wanton corruption, discrimination and alienation of groups have only worsened the situation.

Northerners did not suffer discrimination, denial of job opportunities and access to development until recently. All children from the region were, for example, encouraged to go to school by government in the 50s and 60s. A retired Airforce General recalled at a seminar in Kaduna in 1993 how they were drafted into the Nigerian Army by the Sardauna of Sokoto, who led recruitment and employment drives for brilliant northerners. Others were sponsored to institutions of higher learning abroad to study medicine, engineering and related professional fields.

People from the North enjoyed such opportunities on the basis of equality, merit and suitability. Nobody was denied sponsorship because of where they come from or their ethnic and religious affiliation.

Religious tolerance was encouraged in all schools

and communities as a matter of policy, following the example of the Sardauna of Sokoto and his circle of regional representatives. The North was a model of religious tolerance and all-inclusive governance with fair representation of all ethnic groups and parts of the region. Pupils from all ethnic and religious groups were similarly encouraged to imbibe the virtues of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence. Northerners learnt from childhood to be their brothers’ keeper.

Ethnic and religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence and unity were imbibed in elite secondary schools like Barewa College, Zaria. Many of us who had the privilege of attending the College in the 1960s enjoyed unbelievable mutual respect and brotherhood. Nobody who attended Barewa College in the 60s experienced any form of discrimination or hostility despite our diverse backgrounds. A typical example of this disposition was how the Emir of Zaria slaughtered cows for Christian and foreign students when their Muslim colleagues went for Sallah break. Students of all religious faith were encouraged to practice their faith without any hindrance. Teachers never tolerated anything done to offend the sensibility of others. Schools in Borno State enjoyed religious freedom and encouraged religious tolerance. Many Muslims had their secondary and teacher education in the Waka Missionary Schools.

An emir confided that he was encouraged to send his daughters to Saint Louis Christian School in Jos because of the high standard of teaching and discipline.

After graduating from university in the 70s many of us moved to our states of origin. President Buhari was the first military governor of the then North East. His cabinet had all an inclusive character and one cannot recall a situation when any of his appointments, employments and citing of projects were dictated by religious or narrow considerations.

There was fairness and it was not surprising that there was relative peace and remarkable development in all parts of the North East then. North East State, despite its vastness and multi-religious and ethnic composition, was known to be peaceful until

the eruption of the Matatsine riots. All the achievements made then however seem to have been lost because of corruption and insensitivity to the plight of others. The conduct of most of our leaders now does not show they have sense of history.The dastardly incident that took place in Plateau State last week exposed the time bomb on which many Northern States are sitting. To make matters worse in many of the states in the North, there is unbelievably high level of underdevelopment and unemployment of youths, especially graduates, because there are no alternative sources of employment as even the civil service jobs go to children of the privileged few. Unlike in many states in other parts of the country, there are no industries to absorb the teeming number of unemployed youths in the North. Brazen nepotism and favouritism have worsened insecurity and the plight of educated youths, especially in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

To compound the situation, local government councils in most states in the North have collapsed.

They no longer address lack of employment and development. It is not surprising that President Buhari persistently calls for repositioning of local governments as one of the phenomenal policy thrusts he will bequeath to the country.

Informed interrogation of the fragile security situation in the North reveals many other factors.

The inability of the security agencies to frankly tell political leadership the truth and to counter emerging threats to security is an indication of flawed leadership. Those in leadership positions in governments at all levels have failed to positively impact the lives of the ordinary people. Docility of the people especially the elite who merely indulge in blaming President Buhari are among other factors provoking diverse narrow sentiments.

The incident at Bassa was avoidable if the security forces were alert and other stakeholders were responsive to the plight of all people in the area. It is unthinkable that people with no grouses will resort to such beastly act. Were other stakeholders not aware of the latent and brewing ethnic and religious animosity in the area before the carnage

erupted? The eruption of such deadly disturbance is the consequence of neglecting pervasive anger and hostility in many parts of Plateau State, a place previously known as the home of peace and religious harmony. Southern Kaduna for the same reason has become an epicenter of acts of hostility between ethnic communal groups. The tendency for governments and the security forces to react to incidents rather than pre-empt them is inimical to national security.

There can only be security where there is inclusiveness, good governance, fairness and access to democratic dividends to all and sundry. The protection of lives and property is a critical responsibility of all governments and any failure questions the capacity of the leadership. In the interim, everything must be done to arrest the brewing urge for vengeance.

The following measures should be taken immediately: One, thorough investigation of the incident and prosecution of culprits. Two, reinforcement of security in the area to forestall retaliations and recurrence. Three, all areas vulnerable to similar clashes be identified and preventive measures emplaced.

Four, all stakeholders who can defuse tension in the areas and in parts of Kaduna State should be mobilized to forestall further mayhem. Five, the strength of security operatives in all crisis prone areas be increased. Six, the Sultan of Sokoto and the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to pacify all parties to the prevailing tension in the North. Seven, governors in the North to address problems of alienation, non-inclusion and failure to positively impact the lives of the citizenry in their states. Eight, deliberate steps be taken to solve the problems of school dropouts and unemployment of school leavers. Besides, governments in the North should redouble efforts to extend the benefits of democracy to all citizens and areas while current security strategies and deployments be reviewed and strengthened.

Gadzama mni, is Chairman, National Institute for Security Studies, Bwari, Abuja

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EDITORIAL

DIPLOMATIC ‘SACRILEGE’ IN INDONESIA Assault on the Nigerian diplomat is unacceptable

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n an obvious admission of guilt, the Indonesia government has apologised for the recent barbaric treatment of a Nigerian diplomat, Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, in Jakarta. In the leaked video of the incident, three Indonesian immigration officials were seen assaulting the diplomat on the back seat of a vehicle. One held the diplomat’s arm, and another punched his head as he screamed in pains. The evidence in the video that has since gone viral depicts a serious crime against the diplomat and the Nigerian state.

The unprovoked attack on a diplomat by the Indonesian officials breached articles 29 and 30 of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. Article 29 provides that the person of a diplomat is inviolable and shall be treated with due respect, while article 30 provides that the private residence of a diplomatic agent shall enjoy the same inviolability. However, we should not take this as an isolated incident as it raises fresh concerns about the fast-deteriorating state of Nigeria’s diplomatic image and indeed the despicable treatment and increasing violence targeted against our THE INDONESIAN nationals abroad.

OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN In recent years, Nigerians across THE REPREHENSIBLE the world are being CONDUCT MUST BE PUNISHED. ON THAT, THE subjected to all forms of indignities. AccordFEDERAL GOVERNMENT ing to the Indonesian MUST INSIST authorities, the Nigerian diplomat was picked up by immigration officers after they received a tip about a group of foreign nationals whose residence permits had expired. There is no doubt that some Nigerians may be living illegally in Indonesia.

But that still does not justify the brutal way the diplomat was treated. Even if he was suspected of an offence, he ought to have been arrested in a civilised manner.

However, we must also admit that the treatment many of our citizens get outside our shores reflects how Nigerians are treated at home. But many others exact

Letters to the Editor

brutal justice on Nigerians on the flimsiest of evidence.

Last week, Etihad Airways released a list of countries whose travellers are landing at Abu Dhabi airport are eligible for visa-on-arrival in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Not only is Nigeria excluded, but visitors also who had been in our country in the preceding 14 days before travel will not be allowed to enter the UAE. Even within the continent, the so-called giant is treated with disdain. Only few days ago, some Nigerian diplomats in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, were reportedly harassed. The recent experience of many Nigerians in South Africa is still fresh in the memory.

F 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

oreign policy is an extension of domestic policy.

In the 60s and 70s, Nigeria’s voice was respected across the world. The economy was booming, and life was good. Many foreign countries’ nationals trooped into our country to do business. But Nigeria had since fallen into bad times and increasingly becoming irrelevant, condemned to the backwaters in global affairs. Nigerians abroad have continued to be subjected to dehumanising conditions because of the way the country is now perceived. The desperate economic situation at home has driven hundreds of thousands of Nigerians across the borders to seek the good life. Unfortunately, many of these people do not possess the requisite skills to fit into many of these societies and eventually end up as nuisance. The country’s image will only be enhanced if opportunities are created at home for many of our citizens.

We agree with Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffery Onyeama, that “there was absolutely no justification whatsoever for this kind of behaviour against a Nigerian diplomat, even any Nigerian at all,” and we urge him to move beyond rhetoric on this vexatious issue. Since the principle of reciprocity drives diplomacy, other countries must treat our citizens, especially those on diplomatic assignment, the same way we treat theirs. The Indonesian officials involved in the reprehensible conduct must be punished. On that, the federal government must insist!

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.

LAGOS POLL AND CHALLENGE OF VOTER APATHY

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he recently concluded local government election in Lagos State has once again brought to fore the issue of voter apathy in the country. According to reports, voters turn out during the last Lagos council poll wasn’t in any way encouraging.

For instance, reports had it that not up to 18% of the total voters registered actually voted during the election.

Recall that the 2017 LG polls was also ravaged with voter apathy where only 17 per cent of the total registered voters voted.

Democracy is about the choice that the people make. Of all the various definitions of democracy, the most universally famous is the one that refers to it as the government of the people by the people. The implication of the definition is that it is the people that give impetus to democracy. In essence, you cannot have democracy without the people. It is the people that set democracy in motion. But then, in Nigeria, the people don’t seem to understand the democratic power they wield.

The word ‘apathy’, which has its source in Greek, plainly means ‘without feelings’. According to Victor Marie Hugo, French poet, novelist, and dramatist of the Romantic Movement, ‘the apathetic are alive but without feelings, so they are not living. They are the living dead’. Therefore, in line with Hugo’s line of thought, voters’ apathy simply refers to the insensitivity of the people towards the electoral process, particularly voting.

According to statistics from the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), only about 35% of the over 70million who registered to vote in the 2011 general elections

really participated in the voting process. This implies that over 65% of registered voters did not vote. Similarly, ahead of the local government election in Lagos, it was revealed by LAISEC that about 1.4 million Lagosians are yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

This simply connotes that over 1.4 million registered voters in the state did not vote in the 2015 general elections. This is a dangerous trend that must essentially be a source of serious concern to all genuine stakeholders in the polity.

This growing trend has grievous implications on the prospect of democracy in the country. For one, it ensures that leaders who attain political power via the votes of the minority rule over the majority. Second, because they don’t get to power through the votes of the majority, they tend to espouse selfseeking agenda. Third, it casts serious aspersion on the kind of democracy we practice.

Furthermore, it makes elected political leaders unaccountable to the people since they did not, in the real sense, derive their coming to power from the majority of registered voters. Also, it makes it a bit hypocritical for those who did not turn out to vote to criticise those who were elected through the same process that they shunned. As it is often said, ‘you cannot eat your cake and have it’.

Lots of factors are responsible for voters’ apathy in the country. For one, some of those who shun the polls could be of the notion that their votes do not really count since they believe either rightly or wrongly that the outcome of most elections in the country are pre-determined.

Also, some believe that the electoral process is replete with violence, while some consider the political class undeserving of their votes because of their perceived insincerity to electoral promises. Equally, especially, in the case of local council elections, many are of the view that that tier of government doesn’t really do much to deserve anyone’s vote.

However, irrespective of the validity of the reasons, as highlighted above, it is counterproductive for the people to shun polls in a democracy. It should be recalled that some people gave their lives for us to enjoy the democracy that we have today. It is, therefore, a great injustice to their memories, if this culture of voters’ apathy continues.

We need to respect the supreme sacrifices paid by the patriots who laid down their lives for us to enjoy this participatory democracy. This can only be demonstrated through our unconditional dedication to the political process. In any case, when the majority refuses to participate in voting, that does not in any way invalidate the outcome of elections. Sadly, we all suffer the consequences of staying aloof when the wrong people get into elected political offices.

If democracy is to truly be the government of the people and for the people, the people must own the process from the beginning to the end. Active involvement in the political process signifies that everyone is a critical stakeholder, having the best interest of the country at heart. It is a practical demonstration of being a responsible citizen.

Tayo Ogunbiyi is Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos

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MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

Insecurity: It Can’t Get Any Closer The attack on the Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna, has again hightened the fear as to whether or not Nigeria was truly winning the war against insecurity as terrorists continue to take their attacks to military formations across the country despite the humongous amounts so far invested in securing in the last few years under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. Emameh Gabriel writes

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left the country military in an what many have described as embarrassing situation because military barracks are not that impregnable.

There are reports that personnel monitoring the CCTV centre at the academy slept off leaving the perimeter vulnerable. Others have said there was the possibility of internal conspiracy and collaboration.

Aretired major and private security expert who doesn’t want to be mentioned told THISDAY two things are likely involved. He said: “One or two things must have happened, insider job or someone was the target of the attack, warning that the “incident is a wake up call for AFN to recruit more men to hold the ground.

He said the Nigerian Defense Academy is a training institution and the military is already “overstretched in operations across most northern States. This means you have few men on ground to perform effective guard duties. NDA security presently is a combination of military and civil guards.

While he noted that the military is winning the war against terrorism in the North-east, such can not be said of the North-west, saying funding is grossly inadequate, military hardwares are expensive and they are not bought off the shelf.

He further warned politicians to stop politicising banditry, calling on the state government to take decisive steps and bring to book anyone found culpable. “There must be political will on the part of government,” he stated.

he fear that Nigeria could be heading the path of Afghanistan was hightened when gunmen successfully invaded the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna. Last week after the take over of Afghanistan by the Taliban, many Nigerians opinion moulders had raised fears about the possibility of a replication of the incident in Afghanistan in the country given the might bandits have displayed in the last few months while the security achetecture in the country continue to appear overwhelmed.

President Muhammadu Buhari had after Taliban’s swift takeover in Afghanistan, warned that the “war on terror” was not over but shifting to Africa. Buhari said Africa needs more than U.S. military assistance to defeat terrorism.

He further warned that the U.S. withdrawal from the war in Afghanistan did not mean the so-called war on terror was winding down, rather it was a new threat shifting to Africa, where it could snowball. Buhari had cited the rising threat of terrorist groups in Africa, from Boko Haram in Nigeria and the Sahel region to al-Shabab in Somalia and a rising insurgency in Mozambique.

Security experts had also warned that It was very likely that the development in Afghanistan could definitely spur terrorist groups within Africa. They reasoned that it wiould embolden them and make them look at the bigger picture, which is the fact that resilience and a continuation of their efforts could lead to victory.

The President had last week during the National Security Meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja promised to do everything possible to address the security challenges facing the country, expressing his wish not to leave government “as a failure.”

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (Retd), told State House reporters after the meeting, that the President expressed happiness over the success recorded so far by the security agencies in the fight against insurgents, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals in various part of the country.

Monguno said the President also expressed his readiness to make more changes in the security architecture of the country if necessary.

He said, “The President is quite happy that there’s been tremendous success, especially with the advent of the new service chiefs and Inspector General of Police.

“And he’s also made it very clear that he is not ready to exit government as a failure. He is not going to tolerate that he has made changes and is ready to make further changes if he is not satisfied. He is completely determined to ensure that there is a turnaround in the fortunes in the theatre of operations.”

While Nigerians are still debating the President’s assurance, an unusual demon struck the country’s elite military academy’s security achetectur in Kaduna. The incident has raised salient questions of suspicious and complicity among military personnel. The bandits who successfully carried out the operation reportedly killed two military personnel and abducted another.

Spokesperson of the academy, Mr. Bashir Muhd Jajira who confirmed the incident ex-

The Nigerian Defense Academy is a training institution and the military is already “overstretched in operations across most northern States. This means you have few men on ground to perform effective guard duties. NDA security presently is a combination of military and civil guards

Will the President Act and Cause Heads to Roll This Time?

Nigerians have lost faith in the President over what they described as his inability to take decisive actions against erring military personnel. There have been instances of Nigeria Air Force bombing Nigeria soldiers on battle field and nobody was held to account for such embarrassing situation. Nobody was sack or held responsible. “When will Buhari start to hold his miliary officers accountable. Watch how this will go like others. No one will be questioned. Everything will go on as normal.

And you don’t want us to blame the President? asked Famous Ihudu, a public commentator.

Incidents in the past have shown that the President hardly punishes people that fail in their duties. In 2020 when he ordered ex IGP Adamu to remain in Benue to handle the escalating security situation in the state but the IGP defied the order and went to Nassarawa to pas the night. He was not reprimanded at all.

The same man was handled with kid gloves till he was forced to retire.

It is expected that after investing so much in our military institutions, such complicity should not be swept under the carpet without heads rolling to serve as deterrent to others. It does appear to many Nigerians that the President has lost total county of the security apparatus in the country. As a former Major General and a two-time Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian armed forces, analysts have said “no one can deny the fact that it is impossible for bandits to successfully attack NDA without compromise from those at the helm of affairs at both the NDA, DHQ and powerful civilians in his government.”

Irabor

Yahaya

Amao

Buhari

plained in a statement how security was compromised in the academy.

He said, “The security architecture of the Nigerian Defence Academy was compromised early this morning by unknown gunmen who gained access into the residential area within the Academy in Afaka. During the unfortunate incident, we lost two personnel and one was abducted.

“The Academy in collaboration with the 1Division Nigerian Army and Air Training Command as well as other security agencies in Kaduna state have since commenced pursuit of the unknown gunmen within the general area with a view to tracking them and rescue the abducted personnel.

“The NDA community and cadets are safe in the Academy. We assure the general public that this unknown gunmen would soon be apprehended and the abducted personnel rescued The Nigerian Defense Academy is one of the most fortified military formations in Nigeria and to believe that it could be attacked was one thing no one had envisage, particularly at a time like this.

Public commentators have avered that if an army formation in places like Jaji and NDA can be attacked successful without any casualty from the bandits but the army, it shows that the battle is already lost by

the army. They army was caught pants down in their own habitat and that should send a great warning to Nigerians to be one eye open when they sleep henceforth.

Some have said nothing could have led to such successful operation if there was no internal conspiracy Some have said the possibility of the attack was predicted after the kidnap of the students of School of Agriculture Mechanisation in the same neighborhood. For this to happen, something is fundamentally wrong that needs to be addressed.

THISDAY recalls how an attempt was also made at the Airforce Base in Kaduna

by Boko Haram in late June. Reports had confirmed that there was a gunfight between the terrorists and military personnel that lasted for close to two hours after the terrorists had attacked the base from the backside.

This happened two days after suspected bandits invaded the military barracks of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State, and carted away a herd of cattle Who Takes Responsibility?

Afaka Barracks was attacked by gunmen and casualties were recorded. Two soldiers were killed and another kidnapped, which

Zubaru

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POLITICS RIGHT OF REPLY

GOVERNANCE IN PHOTOS

THISDAY 2023 Shortlist and the Unwarranted Attack from PYO Supporters Former presidential candidate and businessman, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim decries the harsh criticism against his person from supporters of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo L-R: Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Desmond Elliot; Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Gbolahon Yishawu; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mrs Toki Mabogunje; and Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Temitope Adewale, during a Courtesy Visit by a Delegation of LCCI to the Lagos State House of Assembly in Lagos ....recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Olawepo-Hashim

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e recently introduced a link to the THISDAY review on Seven persons considered to fit the description of Ibrahim Babangida (GCFR), of a President Nigeria should consider for 2023 Presidential election.

In that review, Raji Fashola, Bukola Saraki, Ibikunle Amosun, Kayode Fayemi, Yemi Osinbajo and my humble self were considered.

Unfortunately, a group of contributors on my wall who called themselves PYO supporters went on a tirade against my person. Just to be clear, Vice President (VP) Yemi Osinbajo is a man I have great respect for, and I am wondering if he will approve of the gross abuse of privilege which the so called PYO supporters displayed on my wall.

Some of these folks who thought they were marketing VP Yemi Osinbajo said I am not qualified to be President because I am not an Ex-Governor, Ex-Councilor or Ex-Minister. That is not in the Nigerian constitution. As a Professor of Law, VP Yemi Osinbajo knows this. In 2014 when he was nominated as running mate to President Mohammadu Buhari, he had not been elected to any public office before, not even a party office at any level.

I would have ignored those vile attacks but that would not be helpful to other friends on this platform who are mostly young people who need genuine information.

Apart from corruption, one of the greatest problems of our country is lack of proper education and I owe it a duty to use this page to pass on correct information.

Anytime big change happens, in history, it is usually led by those who have not been too connected with the status quo; so they will not be Ex-this, Ex-that.

President Abraham Lincoln never won election previously as House of Assembly member or member of House of Representatives before he was elected President of the United States. He went ahead to be the best President of America on record.

Nelson Mandela could not have been Ex-anything under the apartheid government, unlike his rival, Buthelezi, who

was serving the apartheid system as Prime Minister of KwaZulu-Natal, not being Ex-this, Ex-that could not have disqualified Mandela as President of South Africa and the best one on record.

I have been in politics as a leader for about three decades, with due respect, earlier than any of the six others considered on that list. I had been presented by a ruling party before as a ministerial nominee, 22 years ago. The man at the helm of affairs was honest enough to say “Gbenga is good, but no one can control him”. I even attended ministerial retreat.

I am clear that many past leaders will only be OK to make me adviser than give me executive position. I am fine with that using my God-given talent to do other things for the benefits of humanity until God says my time has come.

There are one or two people who were councilors when I was a national officer of the ruling party then, who are now two-term Governors. I do not begrudge them. And for the record, I produced majority of Councilors, Chairman of council and State Assembly member in my constituency then in Kwara State, even when the “Big Politician” of the State was in the opposite party.

I have younger ones who had worked with me as staff before who have become ministers in Nigeria more than 10 years ago and I do not envy them.

Hakainde Hichilema has just been elected Zambian President, he was not former Governor or former minister. He is a Cattle Rancher.

Now, on the vexed issue of zoning, my position is so clear that the next President of Nigeria should be a true Nigeria President. Not a Yoruba, Hausa, Ibo, Tiv or Kanuri President. He or She should be someone who can unite Nigeria, secure the country, and bring economic prosperity.

At the right time when our party, the APC says it’s time to choose a Presidential flagbearer, we shall consider that question.

I am not afraid that the right thing will be done because the leader of the APC, President Muhammadu Buhari, unlike many other past leaders, is not afraid of a man who has a clean record.

L-R: Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State (standing) at the recent 80th birthday celebration of Babangida at his Minna, Niger State home

L-R: Ace Comedian, Mr. Ayo Makun, Founder, African Children Talent Discovery Foundation, Mr. Noah Dallaji, an engineer and CEO, Metro TV, Ghana, Mr. Kayode Akintemi at “The Africa We Want,” global summit of the Africa Advancement Forum, held recently at the International Conference Centre, Accra, Ghana

L-R: Director General, Lagos State Pension Commission, Mr.Obilana Babalola; Permament Secretay, Office of Establishments and Training, Dr. Abiodun Onayele; Permanent Secretary, Local Government Establishment,Training and Pensions, Mr. Biodun Bamgboye; and Permanent Secretary,Civil Service Commission, Mrs. Dapo Thomas,at the sensitization workshop for CEOs/ DFAs of Parastatals on Lagos State Pension Law Administration 2007: Process and Sanctions for Defaulting Agencies in Lagos PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021

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FEATURES

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

IPOB: New Government of S’East or Tough Bully?

David-Chyddy Eleke reports that the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has constituted itself into the new government of the South-east region, bullying the people to submission against all odds

Enugu-Onitsha expressway in Awka on a Monday morning, in observance of the IPOB declared Sit-at-home

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he Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has gradually grown into a group not only to be reckoned with in the South-east, but one whose mention of its name sends fear into the minds of the people. The group has many times over also demonstrated that it is in firm control of the region, just as it directs its affairs, and also commands the attention of the people, more than the government of the states in the region.

Ghost Mondays The group has in the last two weeks again asserted the fact that it is more than the government of the region, when it declared what it called Ghost Mondays. The spokesperson of the group, Mr Emma Powerful had early in the month of August, announced that every Monday would now be a holiday, as every town in the South-east is expected to be grounded. He disclosed that this was in solidarity with its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is undergoing trial and currently being detained by the federal government.

The group said the exercise would continue until the federal government releases Kanu from detention. In a press release to convey the message, Powerful said, “We the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to remind all Biafrans and friends of Biafra that the Mondays sit-at-home order is sacrosanct. The entire Biafra land will be locked down every Monday from 6:00am to 6:00pm beginning from tomorrow, August 9, 2021 until our leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who was abducted in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria and locked up in DSS dungeon in clear violation of international laws, is freed.

“Consequently, there will be no movement throughout Biafra land on Mondays until our leader who is suffering for our freedom is released. This protest is peaceful but firm.

Everybody is advised to stay indoors in total compliance. All markets, schools, motor parks, airports, and public places in Biafra land should shut down from morning to evening every Monday. We understand the economic implications of this measure but we are constrained to take it so that the world will know that our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not alone in the struggle for Biafra autonomy.”

Watery Attempt to Whittle Ban While the rumours of the order was still making the rounds, two state governors of the South-east, Governors Willie Obiano of Anambra and David Umahi of Ebonyi made efforts to whittle the effectiveness of the order by issuing a counter directives. Obiano, writing through his Head of Service, Barrister Harry Uduh threatened not to pay August salary to any worker who abstains from work on Monday, August 9, in obedience to IPOB sit-at-home directive.

In a public announcement on the Sunday preceding August 9, Uduh wrote, directing commissioners and permanent secretaries to monitor the situation and report accordingly to ensure that all workers turned up for work.

The announcement read: “The Government of Anambra State has directed that all workers in the State must attend to their duties on Monday 9th August 2021 as failure to do so will result in severe sanctions including loss of Salary for the month of August. All Hon.

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB

Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries are to monitor and report compliance please. Kindly give this information the widest publicity in your establishment.”

Also, In Ebonyi State, Governor Umahi directed that all markets, shops and government offices be opened, threatening to seize shops belonging to traders who fail to turn up for business.

He also urged workers to ensure they turn up for work as failure may lead to the termination of appointment, including those of contractors too.

Sit Home Order Observed Contrary to the counter orders by both governors, Monday, August 9 passed with the entire South-east observing the order to sit at home. Not even the scheduling of the NECO examination on that day could stop the exercise as THISDAY reporter who went round Anambra observed that banks, markets, schools, motor parks and other public places were totally shut. At the Anambra State secretariat, it was observed that in a bid not to default the order of the state government, most civil servants only came to work, logged in their names into the attendance sheet and proceeded back home.

Reason Prevails Reason however prevailed during the second week, when the group called off the exercise. In a press release made available to THISDAY in Awka and signed by Emma Powerful, he said, “The leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) understands the concern being expressed by the global IPOB family on the suspension of the weekly Sit-At-Home earlier announced by the IPOB Head of Directorate of State of the Indigenous people of Biafra. We know that our people embraced this civil action wholeheartedly and without any compulsion. The leadership sincerely appreciate the innate desire of Biafrans to sacrifice their time, resources and energy in ensuring that our leader Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is released unconditionally from the illegal custody of the Nigerian State who criminally renditioned him from Kenya to Nigeria.

“The suspension of the Sit-At-Home by the IPOB Head of Directorate was as a result of a direct order from the leader of this great movement Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. There is no gainsaying the fact that one of the major fundamental

guiding principle of IPOB is Command and Control. This simply means that all command from the Supreme leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) will be obeyed and implemented to the latter by the Directorate of State of the Indigenous people of Biafra.

"Bearing in mind therefore that this principle has enabled this movement to surpass even the expectations of both Biafrans and Non Biafrans alike, the leadership wish to encourage Biafran to focus on the most pressing issue confronting this great family presently which is ensuring the safety of our leader while still in the illegal custody of the DSS and to secure his unconditional release from detention.

“In accordance with the directive from our leader, our Sit-At-Home will in the meantime be observed on the date of our leader's court appearances. The lPOB leadership urge Biafrans worldwide to take note of the next court appearance of our leader which is the 21st of October 2021. If however we have any reason or directive from the IPOB highest command that require us to reactivate the suspended weekly Sit-At-Home, the leadership will not hesitate to lift the suspension and continue with the our civil action.”

Despite Suspension, Compliance Continues It was however a shock to many that despite the suspension of the exercise, Monday, August 16 was greeted with quiet in almost all the major cities of the South-east. A trader in Onitsha main market, Mr Theophilus Omaka, told THISDAY that as at 8am on Monday, there were only few traders who had come to the market. "The market opens at 7am every morning, and usually, on a Monday, after a long weekend, traders itch to come to their shops, and that means that as early as 6am, most traders are already waiting for market officials to open their shops, so they can go to work.

"But today, it is already 8am, and the markets are already open, but only a few traders have arrived. As I was coming to market from Fegge where I live, I found the whole street scanty, unlike what used to happen on Monday mornings when there is usually a rush."

THISDAY correspondent moved around Awka to behold a ghost town, as banks, schools, motor parks and other public places were all deserted. When

With this development, and the compliance the exercise has registered to far, it would not be far from the truth to say that IPOB is now emboldened by the compliance of the people to now make orders in the zone, constituting itself into the new government of the region

our correspondent made inquiries from IPOB leadership, over why the people stayed at home, despite an earlier order to suspend the exercise, Powerful stated that the exercise was not entirely banned, but was only suspended, and that since the people are fine with it, as could be seen in the voluntary sit at home, the group may reintroduce it. He however said that would be after due consultation.

"Yes, we observed that people decided to sit at home today. We did not tell them to do so, and we did not force anybody. They are doing it to show how they feel about the detention of Kanu. We suspended the exercise for this Monday, but after consultation, we can decide to order that people should sit at home again by next Monday. As for this Monday, the people are just expressing their feelings.

We are still consulting, and we will let people know," he said.

Underlying Facts With this development, and the compliance the exercise has registered to far, it would not be far from the truth to say that IPOB is now emboldened by the compliance of the people to now make orders in the region, constituting itself into the new government of the region.

However, THISDAY investigations showed that the compliance with the exercise may not entirely be voluntary.

IPOB in getting the people to comply have used subtle threats. For example, when the maiden announcement of the ‘every Monday’ sit at home was made, IPOB threatened to use its military arm, Eastern Security Network (ESN) to enforce compliance. Any resident of the South-east who has heard of the activities of unknown gunmen, which have also been severally attributed to the ESN despite denials, would understand why the people will decide to comply with IPOB’s order.

On another hand, the IPOB had also warned of uncovering plots by Nigeria security agencies to shoot anyone who ventures out on a Monday, thereby instilling fear in the people.

Most South-east resident may have also decided to play safe by remaining at home to avoid clash with anyone, especially as some hoodlums have been known to highjack such processes to kill and loot.

A respondent in Awka, Mr. Chukwuma Eze, who spoke to THISDAY at Eke Awka market over the observance of the exercise last Monday, despite its cancelation said the people were avoiding coming out, not out of respect for IPOB or Nnamdi Kanu, but because they fear being attacked.

"In Eke Awka, only very few traders came out, and even though the market gate is wide open and some customers were ready to buy, traders were afraid that they may be attacked if they open their shops. I am here in the market, and I am also ready to open my shop, but my safety is not guaranteed. If I open now, some boys will take the advantage to accuse me of flaunting IPOB orders.

"I know they are not IPOB, they are Amikwo boys (youths from a village close to the market), they always take advantage of the exercise to harass traders and even disposes them of their monies. That is why you are seeing everyone not wanting to open. The government that is assuring us that we should open, can they protect us when these boys come after us?"

23

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021

REVIEW

A Collage of Sensibilities Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reviews Through the Eyes of the Child, an Anthology of the Nigerian Civil War edited by three lawyers- John Mozie, Charles Spiropoulos and Edozie Ezeife, which would be launched in Abuja this Friday, August 27

T

hrough the Eyes of the Child – the latest addition to the Nigerian civil war narratives – pieces together shards of haunting childhood memories retrieved from a painful past. A joint editorial collaboration of three lawyers (John Mozie, Charles Spiropoulos and Edozie Ezeife), published by Scribblecity Publications, it also includes additional contributions from 19 other eyewitnesses of the 30 month-long war who were born between 1952 and 1964.

Subtitled “Anthology of the Nigerian Civil War”, the 453-page collage of sensibilities – expressed mainly in prose form with token interpolations in verses – does a great job leveraging juvenile perspectives of the conflict as its unique selling point.

As the editors put it: “It is simply their stories, in their own words: what they saw, what they felt, what they experienced, what they heard, and the very spirit of a child’s life in the drama of war.”

Indeed, these are purely humaninterest accounts, which concern themselves less with the pre-war political upheavals that eventually culminated into the protracted conflict. Events, which are mindboggling in their dreadfulness, leaves the uncomprehending reader aghast and even questioning the mechanisms of Divine Justice.

For how could Divine Justice have allowed presumably innocent children to experience all this? And to think that the chroniclers are among the lucky survivors since many children perished under different circumstances during the war!

Through the accounts of these “innocent” eyewitnesses, details of man’s depravity and appalling ignobility emerge from both sides as misery descended more oppressively upon the part of the country that once declared itself the Republic of Biafra. Besides the devastation and horror unleashed upon a hapless civilian population by the Nigerian federal troops, the war also exposed the wickedness of many of the so-called victims.

Take a scenario in Fidelis Atuegbu’s “Biafran Childhood 1966-1970”. How does one begin to wrap his head around the puzzling hostile reception the author ’s travel-weary family members met upon their late-night arrival in their hometown, Adazi-Nnukwu?

“A relative, wielding a machete, accosted us and vociferously insisted that we were to return whence we came,” Atuegbu narrates.

“That was an unexpected reception, and it quickly degenerated into a spectacle as the rukus [sic] awoke neighbors and they all congregated in front of my grandfather ’s compound. People were pleading with this relative to let us come into the compound, but all to no avail.”

Indeed, not even the imminent end of the subsequent infernal years awakened stirrings of true humanity in many. As Okey Ndibe in his “My Biafran Eyes” narrates: “My father had arrived in Amawbia to a shocking sight. Our house had been razed; the fire still smoldered, a testament to its recentness. As my father stood and gazed in stupefaction, the truth dawned on him. Some envious returnee, no doubt intent on equalizing misery, had torched it. War had brought out the worst in someone.”

Contrast this with the author’s account of how Ndibe’s father, who had elected to remain in Yola after sending his family home to Amawbia as the conflict brewed, was saved by the timely intervention of the Lamido of Adamawa, who would brook no shedding of innocent blood under his jurisdiction.

Obviously, thought-forms of good or evil thrust themselves upon willing human tools wherever they found homogeneous species regardless of geographical locations. Even as atrocities outdid themselves in their depravity, isolated deeds of kindness and heroism still managed to gleam here and there.

Arthur Harris-Eze’s “Surviving the Civil War” shares a heart-warming tale of children, immediately after the war, playing with friendly Nigerian soldiers, who “were mostly

Northerners and Muslims” at the then Government Trade Centre (now Federal Science and Technical College) in Awka.

Still about the latter, he adds: “They were friendly… and courteous to the community, elders and children. This must have rubbed off from their Boss, Major Muhammadu Buhari, who displayed exceptional humanity and respect for both Municipal and International Law with regards to his prosecution of the war as it related to his Command.”

Still on Buhari, who has since become a second-term Nigerian civilian president, he writes about his humane treatment of Awka indigenes who remained in their homes after the city fell to the federal forces. “When the Nigerian Army captured Awka, under the command of Major Muhammadu Buhari, they set up camps on the grounds

It is simply their stories, in their own words: what they saw, what they felt, what they experienced, what they heard, and the very spirit of a child’s life in the drama of war

of St. Paul’s School and across the road at GTC,” he recalls.

“Major Buhari brought all persons found to remained behind and camped all of them at St. Paul’s. he fed, clothed, and took care of them. As time went on, he started paying them stipends. He finally encouraged those with skills or occupations to carry on with their trade…”

Meanwhile, even as the dense dark clouds shrouded those years, eloquent accounts of human resilience and courage emerged. Indeed, living through the mind-numbing atrocities and dehumanising scenarios of the civil war attested to the indomitability of the human spirit even in the most deprived conditions. The invisible weavings of fate corralled the authors through the purifying mills of the Divine Creative Will irrespective of their external circumstances. Hence, hope subsisted in the apocalyptic scenario that reigned during that period.

Of course, the anthology is not only a harvest of gloomy tales.

Deftly woven into these narratives were idyllic recollections of childhood, which elicit indulgent smiles from the reader. Raymond Mbamalu in “The Bombardment of Enugu” was kept distracted from the war-time tension by his pet dog, Kelly, which was eventually put to sleep after it contracted rabies from a stray dog. Roz Amechi, in “The Green Men”, was obsessed by these bogeymen, witnessed a possible elopement of her childhood nanny Chinyere with one of them and continued to dream about them even after she relocated with the rest of her family to London without her dad.

Then, Godwin Meniru writes in “My Biafran War Time Experience”: “I was the first grandchild of my mother ’s family, so I was doted on by all members of the family.

I was frequently invited to meals as I perambulated the various compounds of the extended family.

Such was the high degree of trust we had in each other in those days.

Aunts and uncles watched in benign amusement as the erstwhile prep school child went native.”

Accounts like the above help the reader look beyond the tales of ruthless indiscriminate bombings and air raids by the Nigerian Air Force, forced conscription of Biafran teens into the army, malnourished children with bloated stomachs and skeleton-like bodies, families depending on hitherto unthinkable plants and animals for nourishment and bloated corpses, among others.

Engaging, though the narratives are, the book, whose foreword was written by the former Ohaneze Ndigbo President, Chief Nnia Nwodo, could have used more painstaking editing. Besides its apparent vacillation between the use of British and American spellings, such howlers like “towed the line” (rather than “toed the line”), “badge in” (rather than “barge in”), “enroute” (rather than “en route”), “spotted bushy beards” (rather than “sported bushy beards”) and “Coupe d’état” (rather than “Coup d’état”) are hard to ignore. Ditto a tautological expression like “grateful ‘thank you’”, the confounding allusion to an “oldest late brother…, who was barely twelve or thirteen years [when he] was conscripted” and the incorrect pluralisation of “Faunas and floras”.

24

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021 • T H I S D AY

25

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun

Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

A U G U S T

S & P INDEX

2 4 , 2 0 2 1

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OBB

15.50%

CALL

4%

INDEX LEVEL

558.25%

1/4 TO DATE

4.74%

N411.00/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

15.75 %

1-MONTH

6%

1-DAY

0.43%

YEAR TO DATE

-16.71%

*AS AT LAST TUESDAY

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

3.91%

Banks Reduce Provision for Bad Loans as NPLs Shrink in H1 Amid Ease in COVID-19 Lockdown

Darasimi Adebisi With stability in the Nigerian economy following ease in Covid-19 lockdown, some banks Non-Performing Loans Ratio (NPL) dropped in half year ended June 30, 2021, leading to the reduction of provision for bad loans (Impairment losses on financial instruments losses) by the banks.

The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele had at the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) in July disclosed that the sector’s

NPLs was at 5.70 per cent in June 2021 compared with 6.4 per cent in June 2020.

He urged the banks to sustain its tight prudential regime to bring NPLs below the five per cent provident benchmark.

Analysis of the results bank’s released to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) showed that while some banks have reduced their NPLs others only recorded marginal increase.

For instance, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc recorded mar-

ginal increase in NPLs ratio in the period under review, while Wema bank Plc record significant drop in its NPL ratio in the period.

However, ETI Nigeria and FBN Holdings are the only two banks with NPL ratio above the regulatory threshold in H1 2021.

As reported in the H1 2021 unaudited results, ETI Nigeria’s NPLs dropped to 17.per cent from 19.90 per cent recorded in H1 2020, while FBN Holdings reported 7.20 per cent NPL/Gross Loans

from 8.80 per cent recorded in H1 2020.

The Group Managing Director, FBN Holdings, U.K. Eke had while commenting on the bank’s H1 results said the macro and socio-economic conditions remain challenging given the COVID-19 pandemic and the low-interest rates environment.

He said the financial institution remains committed to its strategic objective of driving further stability in performance, as well as delivering sustainable growth

over the years to come.

Further findings revealed that Wema Bank Plc’s NPLs closed H1 2021 at 3.50 per cent from 5.60 per cent in H1 2020 just as Sterling Bank’s NPLs declined from 1.90 per cent in H1 2020 to 1.79 per cent in H1 2021.

In addition, FCMB Group NPLs declined from 3.50 per cent in H1 2020 to 3.30 per cent in H1 2021, while Union Bank of Nigeria’s NPL ratio increased to 4.30 per cent in H1 2021 from 4.00 per cent recorded in H1 2020.

Further analysis of the results showed a 13.4 per cent increase in FCMB Group NPLs to N3.78 billion in H1 2021 from N2.55 billion, dragging the financial institution NPLs by value to N32.21 billion in H1 2021 from N29.77 billion recorded in H1 2020.

Analysts attributed banks decline in some bank’s NPLs to ease of COVID-19 lockdown, effective management of credit risk and reduction of risk to some sectors.

Continued on page 26

Federal Government Raises N1.923 Trillion Through Savings, FGN Bonds in Eight Months Nume Ekeghe In a development that shows sustained investors’ confidence in the Nigerian debt market, the federal government through the Debt Management Office (DMO) in raised a whooping N1.923 trillion from bond auctions from January till date.

The government raised the funds through the FGN bonds, mostly for high net worth institutional investors and saving bonds, primarily for retail investors, through

the Debt Management Office.

Data collated from the Debt Management Office website showed that investors staked their highest bet in June with a total subscription of N417.48 billion on the 10, 20 and 30 year FGN bonds.

However, the Debt Management Office allotted N325.8 billion through the 16.2884 per cent 10-year bond, 12.50 per cent 20 year paper and 12.98 per cent 30 year paper. It had also raised N4.5 billion through non-competitive allotment.

Conversely, subscription dropped in July to N286.11 billion as investors bid at higher rates, while N138.07 billion had been allocated. Another N103.9 billion was also raised through the non-competitive allotment in July. In outgoing month of August, subscriptions rose to N414.07 billion out of which only N260.09 billion was allocated for the 13.98 per cent 10-year paper, 12.4 per cent 20-year paper and 12.98 per cent 30-year paper.

At the beginning of the

year in January, the Debt Management Office had raised N170.34 billion from FGN bond auctions the lowest it raised at the monthly bond auctions while it raised another N202.55 billion in February. In March, 2021, the Debt Management Office raised another N262.1 billion and N274.45 billion in April while N175.24 billion was raised through the FGN bond auctions in May. On the retail end, the highest savings bond was raised in February when investors

staked N1.76 billion on the 2- and 3-year retail bond. It was followed by N961.99 million that was raised in July. The debt office was also able to raise N888.21 million through the savings bond in August.

Last week, trading in the Treasury bonds secondary market also closed on a bullish note, as investors sought to fill lost bids from previous bond auction. Specifically, the average yield declined by 17 basis points to 11.4 per cent.

Across the benchmark curve,

the average yield declined at the short (-5bps), mid (-41bps) and long (-7bps) ends following demand for the MAR-2024 (-39bps), MAR-2027 (-77bps) and MAR-2036 (-21bps) bonds, respectively.

At the bond auction, the DMO offered instruments worth N150.00 billion to investors through re-openings of the 13.9800 per cent FGN FEB 2028 (Bid-to-offer: 1.55x; Stop rate: 11.60%, previously: Continued on page 26

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T U E S D AY, A U G U S T 2 4 , 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 (%)

100.40

2.85

-0.01

NTB 9-Sep-21

2.80

2.80 0.00

100.49

2.88

-0.01

NTB 16-Sep-21

2.96

2.96 0.00

101.09

3.54

-0.01

NTB 30-Sep-21

3.27

3.28 0.00

101.08

3.68

-0.01

NTB 14-Oct-21

3.59

101.30

4.32

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

3.64

3.64

-0.01

9.61

9.62

-0.01

4.07

4.08

-0.01

3.64

3.64

-0.01

4.32

4.32

-0.01

26

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RAISES N1.923 TRILLION THROUGH SAVINGS, FGN BONDS IN EIGHT MONTHS

12.35%), 12.4000% MAR 2036 (Bid-to-offer: 2.10x; Stop rate: 12.75%, previously: 13.15%) and 12.9800% FGN MAR 2050 (Bid-to-offer: 3.55x; Stop rate: 12.80%, previously: 13.25%) bonds.

As expected, demand was higher as subscription stood at N360.02 billion; bid-to-offer: 2.4x) than July’s auction where subscription was N286.11 billion; Bid-to-offer: 1.9x) of which the DMO eventually

over-allotted instruments worth N260.09billion, resulting in a bid-to-cover ratio of 1.4x.

Commenting, analysts say they expects lower yields in the days ahead given expectations of limited supply and deliberate

efforts by the DMO to reduce domestic borrowing costs for the government.

Speaking on the Treasury Bills Market, the analysts said they expect quiet trading as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

is set to roll over N157.20 billion worth of maturities to market participants at its bi-weekly Primary Market Auction.

“Afterwards, we envisage the trend of lower yields on T-bills to continue as market

participants take positions due to expectations of further decline in auction stop rates amidst the CBN’s continued absence from the OMO primary market, ”Analysts at Cordros Research stated in an emailed note.

OML 11: Ogoni People Pledge Cooperation with NNPC on Oil Exploration, Production Peter Uzoho The leaders of Ogoniland in Rivers State under the auspices of the Ogoni Liberation Initiative have pledged to cooperate with the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), the upstream subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), in the exploration and production of oil and gas resources in the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11.

The Ogoni leaders made the pledge Tuesday at the Ogoni Liberation Day which held in Bori with the Managing Director of NPDC, Mr. Mohammed Ali-Zarah, as an invited guest.

The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC, Mr. Garba Deen Muhammad, disclosed this development yesterday in a

statement issued in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, according to the statement, the Convener and leader of the Ogoni Liberation Initiative, Rev. Douglas Fabeke, commended the Court of Appeal for the judgement confirming NPDC as the valid operator of OML 11, stressing that the Ogoni people welcomed with great joy the intervention of the federal government and the takeover of the oil assets by NPDC following the judgement of the Appeal Court in Abuja.

The Ogoni leader described the judgment that handed OML 11 to NPDC as a liberation for the Ogoni people, stressing that the people of Ogoni have “looked forward to this freedom over the years”.

He further praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his

administration’s commitment to the development of Ogoniland, adding that his people would support all efforts aimed at restoring the environment and exploring its huge natural resources for the benefit of all.

He declared that Ogoni leaders have resolved to eschew bitterness and work with the federal government to ensure that the people benefitted from the resources in their land.

“The Ogoni people are ready for oil and gas business in the land to entrench development in partnership with the NNPC and the Federal Government of Nigeria through a transformed template and practical community development delivered by the host communities.

The Ogoni people are ready to do all forms of businesses with the State, Federal and

Global Corporate Communities for the development of their land, provided the business is anchored upon Ogoni development,” he said.

He submitted a communique on behalf of the people of Ogoni to the federal government as the request of Ogoni people and as condition for the mutual relationship between the people and NPDC. The communique, among other things, requested that “the issue of clean-up in Ogoniland should be re-visited and the Government should mandate the handling agency to expedite actions and clean the land in tune with the UNEP Report’s recommendation or allow the Ogoni people to bring experts that would perfectly implement the recommendations of the UNEP Report to the letter”

It also called on the federal government to expedite action on the provision of infrastructure to the people.

“The Ogoni people will not work under any political manipulation that will affect the development and smooth operation in the land without capturing the interest of the people.

“We stand by every word drafted here and will implement it to the letter, and also ready to give the Federal Government of Nigeria maximum cooperation to achieve its aim for the success and benefit of the nation and the Ogoni people.” the communique stated.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of NPDC, Mr. Mohammed Ali-Zarah, said the company understood the concerns and yearnings of the

Ogoni people and shared in their pain.

He said NPDC and the federal government would work with the Ogoni people to bring development, employment and growth to the land, remediate the environment and ensure that future exploration and production activities do not impact negatively on the environment.

Ali-Zarah noted that the large turn-out of people, including traditional rulers, at the event was a huge moral boost to NPDC’s confidence in its re-entry plan.

“Indeed, this is a clear testimonial and demonstration of the strong cordial relationship that has existed between us over the years. This, for us, is our social license to operate in this peace-loving community”, the managing director said.

Copyright Dispute: Finally, MCSN, Multi-Choice Nigeria Reach Agreement Nseobong Okon-Ekong The Musical Copyright Society Nigeria Ltd/Gte (MCSN) has reached an amicable settlement

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)

with Multichoice Nigeria Limited on the judgment which MCSN secured against Multichoice both at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, for the broadcast and distribution of musical works in the repertoire of MCSN on all Multichoice channels within the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The settlement also covers other exploitations of MCSN’s repertoire on other sister platforms of Multichoice up to 31st December 2020.

Having attained this milestone,

MCSN and Multichoice Nigeria Limited now see each other as sister organisations which must work for the success of the other, particularly in the area of exploitation of and remuneration for intellectual works, notably musical works, sound recordings and ancillary works.

Since the information filtered out that Multichoice has settled with MCSN and that payment has been made, MCSN has been receiving series of inquiries and in some cases, outright demand

for a share of the money paid to it by Multichoice.

A statement from MCSN assures all concerned artistes that due process is being followed in dealing with the subject matter.

Some of the steps being taken include; a formal report of the outcome of the settlement to relevant MCSN authorities, particularly the Board of Directors and members’ General Meeting in formal communications and meetings.

The MCSN management would then make proposals to the bodies on how the money should be allocated in line with best practices, all which is still an ongoing process.

Noting that the settlement and payment were recorded in the course of the year 2021, MCSN would draw a line between which years should what particular payment fall in and deal accordingly. For instance, MCSN has to determine what allocation would

be made to each year from 2006 and who benefits from whatever distribution allocated to each year, from which all MCSN’s members and international affiliate societies would certainly benefit.

One thing which MCSN has made clear and which its Board agrees with is that all liabilities from the past would not be loaded on and borne by this single payment, as this settlement is purely an opening for more past, present and future incomes.

BANKS REDUCE PROVISION FOR BAD LOANS AS NPLS SHRINK IN H1 AMID EASE IN COVID-19 LOCKDOWN Further checks by THISDAY revealed that FBN Holdings in H1 2021 reported 20 per cent drop in Impairment charge for losses to N24.5 billion in H1 2021 from N30.7 billion reported in H1 2020, while FCMB group Impairment losses on financial instruments dropped by 48 per cent to N4 billion in H1 2021 from N7.74 billion reported in H1 2020.

On its part, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc also reported N153 million net impairment charge for credit losses in H1 2021 from N4.24 billion reported in H1 2020.

Commenting on the decline in some banks’ NPLs, the Vice President, High cap Securities, Mr. David Adonri, said the decline is a welcome development, stressing that ease of lockdown that led to economy stability aided the decline.

According to him, “The global economy was battered

by COVID-19, leading to some borrowers unable to pay back their loans. More businesses are gathering momentum and these businesses are earning more income and paying back their loans.

“If NPL is reducing, it means

that impairment of their assets will decline because their assets will not suffer losses as what they have recovered will add to the strength of their asset whereby reducing impairment. It is good news for the banking sector.”

Analyst at PAC Holdings, Mr. Wole Adeyeye however saw the development from a different perspective, he noted that banks are monitoring loans granted to their customers.

He maintained that banks have strengthened their KnowYour-Customers (KYC) policy of the CBN adding that this

has aided bad loan recovery.

In his words: “The sector NPLs is expected to reduce as a lot of banks are not meeting the 65 per cent Loan-to-Deposit Ratio policy of the CBN in a move to reduce NPLs. Banks are watching their loans closely and it has contributed to decline in NPL and impairment losses significantly. They are also following the kind of customers they grant loans to.

“Some banks are targeting salary earnings since they know they will be getting their money bank. All these are factors we need to consider

when lending to individuals.

Mind you, some banks are not exposing themselves to some sectors with high risk.”

He maintained that banks were effective in managing the 65 per cent Loan-to-Deposit Ratio (LDR) policy of the CBN revealing that most banks failed to meet the threshold.

“With the 65 per cent LDR policy of the CBN, banks were clever granting loans to some sectors and new customers.

Banks are not exposed to the Oil & gas sector unlike what we had in 2016 & 2017, ”he said.

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MONEY

Of Regulatory Supervision, Cybersecurity Breaches James Emejo writes on the need to invest in cybersecurity networks and enhance regulatory supervision of operators in the financial services space to make their platforms safe for vulnerable consumers, boost confidence and limit collateral damage to the industry and economy in general

Source: NDIC

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orried by the growing havoc, which the misuse of the internet now poses to contemporary banking and the need to limit infiltrations and compromise of cybersecurity networks of financial institutions, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last week introduced an “Exposure Draft of the Risk-Based Cybersecurity Framework and Guidelines for Other Financial Institutions”.

In launching the framework, the apex bank pointed out that the move had become necessary to strengthen the cyber resilience of financial institutions to ensure that they remain safe and sound amidst the increasing numbers and sophistication of cybersecurity threats and attacks against them.

The draft exposure which was dated August 13, 2021 and signed by the Director, OFIs Department, Nkiru Asiegbu, stipulated the minimum requirements for enhancing cybersecurity and put enormous responsibility on companies’ board of directors, senior management and chief information security officers (CISO), among others.

According to the CBN, the purpose of the guidelines, which provides a risk-based approach to managing cybersecurity, was to, among other things, create a safer and more secure cyber environment that supports information system security and promote stability of the OFI sub-sector.

It explained that that the safety and soundness of the sub-sector particularly required that they operate in a safe and secure environment, adding that the platform on which information processed and transmitted should be managed in a way that ensures the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information as well as the avoidance of financial loss and reputational risk, among others.

Essentially, the document provided for the cybersecurity governance and oversight; cybersecurity risk management system; cyber resilience assessment; cyber operational resilience; cyber threat intelligence and metrics monitoring and reporting.

The guidelines also spelt out the responsibilities of the board of directors, senior management and CISO, stating that the board of directors shall ensure that cybersecurity is completely integrated with business functions and managed across the OFI as well as have oversight and overall

responsibility for cybersecurity programmes.

In addition, senior management of OFIs would be responsible for the implementation of the board-approved cybersecurity strategy, policies, standards and the destination of cybersecurity responsibilities, among others.

The document also mandated every OFI to appoint or designate a CISO whose responsibilities shall include the day-to-day cyber activities and the mitigation of cybersecurity risks in the institution.

However, the concerns over the safety of internet transactions is not peculiar to the OFIs as over the past years and till 2019 and beyond, cybersecurity infiltration continues to pose major risks to the financial services sector, including the deposit money banks (DMBs).

LOSING HUGE AMOUNTS

In fact, banks have continually lost huge amounts of money to fraud with electronic and internet-based transactions accounting for the bulk of the attacks.

Internet fraud has increased with the efforts of financial regulatory authorities to boost financial including by expanding access channels as well as introducing a variety of digital products and assets.

In 2017, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) in it annual report, stated that the actual amount lost to fraudulent activities by banks that year stood at N12.01 billion, though lower by 1 per cent, 25.20 per cent and 61.70 per cent in relation to figures recorded in 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Interestingly, the corporation pointed out that technology-based platforms were the most vulnerable points for the banking system and had the highest frequencies similar to what happened in previous years.

The NDIC also observed that the “rising spate of fraudulent practices and actual losses from these activities could be attributed to prevailing misalignments in the nation’s economic environment, amid high youth unemployment, amongst others”.

Yet, in 2018, the corporation reported a significant increase in the number/frequency of reported fraud and forgery cases in the banking sector, recording a total of 37,817

fraud cases against 26,182 in 2017, representing an increase of 11,635 or 44.42 per cent.

Similarly, the amount involved significantly increased by over 224 per cent to N38.93 billion in 2018 from N12.01 billion in 2017.

As pointed out by the corporation, “the rising fraud incidences could be attributed to the increase in sophistication of fraud-related techniques, such as hacking, cybercrime as well as increase in information technologyrelated products and usage, fraudulent withdrawals and unauthorized credit.”

SOURCES OF FRAUD

In the same vein, Internet and technologybased sources of fraud had the highest frequency, accounting for 59.2 per cent of fraud cases and 42.83 per cent of the actual total loss suffered.

However, in 2019, the NDIC noted that number of fraud cases rose in the first three quarters but declined in the last quarter, adding that “overall, there was an uptick in the total number of fraud cases in 2019 compared to previous years.”

It stated that ATM card-related fraud had the highest frequency, accounting for 49.78 per cent of fraud cases followed by web-based internet banking frauds with 21.02 per cent.

The above narrative presents a worrisome development for the banking and financial services sector, which is regarded as critical for the growth of the economy.

The vulnerability of the systems could also affect confidence in the sector at a time when the government is trying to bring more people into the financial landscape.

Although some bigger banks have been able to gradually beef up their cybersecurity architecture by building firewalls, and introducing additional layers of security, including multiple factor authentication as well as increasing the awareness of customers around the strategies deployed by scammers to fleece vulnerable targets, the OFIs, who ought to cater for the financial needs of the unbanked population at the bottom of the pyramid, have been found lagging behind.

Commenting on the development, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Credent Investment Managers Limited, Mr. Ibrahim

Shelleng, told THISDAY in an interview that the authorities need to do more to secure platforms and boost confidence.

He said given that a major part of the financial inclusion drive is based on using fintech to penetrate the underbanked, “any potential threat to security of funds will certainly have a negative impact on that drive.”

Shelleng added that, “Already a large number of the population are skeptical on the security of these fintech platforms, especially since scammers use the same technology to siphon funds from unsuspecting investors.”

CYBERSECURITY BREACHES

Similarly, Managing Director/Chief Executive, SD&D Capital Management Limited, Mr. Idakolo Gbolade, said increasing cybersecurity breaches remain a major source of concern as the financial sector moves more into digitisation of transactions.

He said, “The USA recently witnessed major cybersecurity breaches on its financial sector and major national assets despite their advancement in technology. This should give us serious concerns because we are not even as advanced as the major economies.

“The financial sector should constantly enhance its firewalls to prevent frequent breaches as this has been identified as a major threat that can lead to constant financial losses if not checked.”

According to Gbolade, “these criminally-minded individuals are also advancing in their techniques but with constant awareness and security alerts, the financial sector can reduce losses arising from cyber thefts.”

Analysts have also criticised the banking and financial services sector for not deploying adequate and aggressive awareness campaigns to sensitise consumers about the increasing threats to the cyber and electronic space.

According to the NDIC, the increasing use of financial technology channels, particularly mobile and ATM transfers, among others, was attributed to a rise in frauds and forgeries via these channels.

The corporation pointed out that it was imperative that the financial system continued to upgrade cyber security platforms backed up by continuous consumer education and sensitisation to prevent loss of funds and build depositor confidence.

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INSURANCE

Curbing Fake Third Party Insurance in Nigeria Against the backdrop of huge premium annually lost by insurers to racketeers of Motor Third Party Insurance certificates and increasing accident cases on major roads, insurers currently face the challenge of bringing every vehicle owner under genuine and compulsory insurance cover, writes Ebere Nwoji

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he Motor Third Party Insurance is one of the compulsory classes of insurance in Nigeria and possibly the most popular among the existing six compulsory insurance policies stipulated by the insurance Act 2003, which is still the template guiding insurance operation in Nigeria.

Insurance experts and law enforcement agents have described the Motor Third Party Insurance as the minimum level of motor insurance cover you can take before putting your vehicle on the road.

According to them, it is a legal requirement and is meant to protect the other party on the road whose vehicle you may damage.

The term, ‘third party, according to the experts, refers to a person involved with a car insurance claim who is not the holder of the policy or the driver. So, this is usually the other party involved in an accident.

Insurers said that a third party car insurance policy ensures that if you are responsible for an accident, any damage to the other person’s vehicle or property will be paid for by your insurer.

MISUNDERSTANDING AND ABUSE

Unfortunately, as important and as compulsory as the policy is, it stands today as the most abused and misunderstood policy by the masses. The policy also stands as the widest loophole through which insurers lose huge revenue.

In terms of misunderstanding, some vehicle owners take this policy to be comprehensive motor insurance and as such, when their vehicles are involved in an accident, they will present their Motor Third Party Insurance certificate to the insurance company and demand for repair of their own vehicles, in addition to the vehicle of the Third Party affected. Some will even demand for claim with the certificate when their vehicles got burnt or are stolen.

Where insurance firms fail to pay in any of the above cases, the certificate holder will take it that the insurance managers have denied him his claims.

Insurance operators say this is wrong because if such a vehicle owner had read the statement in the certificate he is holding, he would have seen that the insurance covers any other road user his vehicle may cause damage to or an injured person, not his own vehicle.

In the area of abuse, it comes in the form of faking and selling of the motor third party certificates by touts at motor parks and licensing offices.

Also, insurance firms take advantage of total ignorance of the insuring public on the rights of holders of genuine Motor Third Party Insurance certificates to deny holders their claims.

Indeed, this particular policy has suffered so much abuse that few years back, former Chairman of the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA), Mr. Godwin

Wiggle, said insurers annually lose as high as N60 billion to fakers of the policy. Latest media reports indicate that currently, insurers lose as much as N530 billion annually to fake insurance certificate sellers.

The police, on their part, said this particular policy remains the worst hit in insurance certificate faking.

According to SP Mary Ubangha, former DPO, Sabo Police Division, Yaba, Lagos, who spoke at one of the members’ evenings of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), before the current fight against faking of insurance certificates by the NIA through its Nigeria Insurance Industry Data Base (NIID), 90 percent of third party motor insurance certificates presented to police on demand by motorists at checkpoints were fake certificates.

According to her, the insurance industry loses huge sums of money on daily basis on insurance fraud perpetrated by touts in various motor licensing and registration offices across the country through the Motor Third Party Insurance certificate faking.

She said the fraud is increasing on a daily basis and that the police are often stunned when they see names of non-existing insurance firms on the fake certificates presented by motorists at checkpoints.

She said true the position of these fake certificates usually comes out when there is accident and the parties involved are asked to show their insurance certificates.

According to her, it is at this point that the authenticity or not of the certificates are determined.

She said in some cases, vehicle users don’t have insurance at all, whereas the law provides that nobody should drive any vehicle on Nigerian roads without insurance cover.

She attributed the problem to impatience among Nigerians, adding that Nigerians are always in a hurry as such would prefer to pay more than the official rate of N5,000 for genuine insurance certificate to a tout at a licensing office to obtain fake insurance certificate rather than going to an authorized insurance firm.

She said government can help by making law against fake insurance certificate buying and selling to discourage people from perpetrating the act.

Apart from the abuse perpetrated by the fake certificate sellers and buyers, the insurers themselves also abuse the policy.

According to observers, whereas the official rate for third party insurance policy is N5,000, insurance marketers and their managers accept

much lower rates.

Some marketers, they observed, can charge as low as N2,000 from vehicle owners and issue genuine certificate, but when an accident occurs, they will take advantage of ignorance of the insured to deny the claim by giving one excuse or the other .

THISDAY gathered that some insurance operators give the vehicle owners, especially those who have repaired the vehicle they damaged and filed claims to their insurers, as low as N5,000.

This is often the practice whereas the law guiding the policy says that the insurer is required by law not to pay damage to the vehicle of the holder of the certificate but to pay damage to the third party’s vehicle and even the passengers in his car if the certificate holder is at fault.

Findings by THISDAY shows that insurance firms can pay up to N1,000,000 for accidental damage to the property or vehicle of a third party or for death of any passenger in the vehicle.

But an average Nigerian road user, who holds even the genuine Motor Third Party Insurance certificate, is ignorant of any benefit or claims attached to this certificate he purchased with N5,000.

Analyst said the result is that when accident occurs and damage is done to a third party’s vehicle, he will hold the other party and demand for immediate repair of his vehicle.

According to them, even if the other party brings out his insurance certificate, the victim often insists on instant settlement or repair of his vehicle with the argument that he will not wait for insurance company in question to conduct all its investigations before embarking on repairs.

According to them, on the other side, when the certificate holder repairs the vehicle and files in his claims, some insurance firms will not pay and where some pay, they shortchange the certificate holder.

The analysts said these make members of the public to conclude that the Motor Third Party Insurance has no benefits, and therefore does not deserve wasting time to look for genuine insurers for the purpose of obtaining the authentic certificate.

Against this backdrop, vehicle owners prefer to obtain their insurance certificate along with vehicle license, not bothering to know whether the certificates are genuine or fake.

The fakers themselves are always handy at the licensing offices and motor parks to sell such fake certificates.

INSURERS’ EFFORTS

Irked by the quantum of premium that drift to these certificate fakers, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) some years back embarked on awareness campaigns against fake motor insurance certificate hawking.

The commission, in collaboration with the insurers, took the campaign message to licensing offices and motor parks to sensitise the public on the existence and activities of the touts.

In addition to this, the NIA designed a special logo for its members to differentiate genuine insurers from fake ones.

After this, NAICOM launched a nationwide sensitisation and implementation of the five compulsory insurance policies in the country in the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

Insurance Industry Data Base This was followed by the NIA action on the NIID initiative. According to the NIA spokesman, Davis Iyasere, the NIID, is the central data base of all compulsory insurances in Nigeria.

He said it is used by the NIA as a tool to checkmate fake compulsory insurance certificates and is also used by both the certificate buyers and law enforcement agents to validate the insurance certificates they are holding.

These efforts and initiatives were geared towards curbing the activities of fake certificate sellers and encourage motor vehicle owners to spare a little time and buy their Motor Third Party Insurance policies from genuine insurers.

The insurers were also encouraged to make their services in this regard handy by opening offices at vehicle licensing offices or to station their agents at motor parks.

IMPROVEMENT ON POLICY

With these efforts and advent of digital marketing, which has inspired some insurance firms to come up with various platforms through which vehicle owners can click one or two buttons on their phones to buy the policy, analysts said the insurers were very close to winning the long drawn battle against fake motor insurance certificates.

THISDAY observed that some have in their bid to improve on the policy attached a top up policy that will give additional benefits to motorists and lure them into buying their Motor Third party insurance from genuine insurers.

For instance, Linkage Assurance Plc few years back introduced innovation into its own Motor Third Party Insurance through the launch of a product it tagged, ‘Linkage Third Party Plus’.

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

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Expert Harps on Good Agricultural Practices for Improved Productivity of Farmers Gilbert Ekugbe A farm management consultant, Mr. Akin Alabi, has emphasised the need for farmers to be educated on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to boost their productivity.

Besides, many farmers in the country especially in the rural areas are yet to adopt GAP, as many of these farmers still depend on harmful chemicals to increase yields.

Alabi, who is also a CoFounder, Corporate Farmers International (CFI) and author of the Rise of Digital Agriculture, during a chat with THISDAY, also identified poor communication among agricultural researchers,

extension agents, farmers and other stakeholders as major bottlenecks to GAP. He noted that a huge chunk of farmers, especially youths, suffer a lot due to a lack of information and not seeking the right knowledge which usually resulted in low yield of farm produce, low income and poor farm management practices.

“Poor access to agricultural information is a major barrier to rural farmers and communities adopting the best agricultural practices.

“A lot of farmers and youths suffer a lot due to lack of information and not seeking the right knowledge which usually results

in low yield of farm produce, loss of money, wastage, improper farm management practice, and inability to access loans to scale up their agribusiness, among others,” he said.

“On the other hand, graduate students of higher institutions do not seem to find their direction in the agriculture space. This majorly

is a problem that affects different cadres in agriculture space.

Access to information should be made a priority in the agriculture industry,” he advised He also recommended that proper communication between researchers, extension workers, farmers, students, and different players in the value chain, will

also go a long way to help strengthen and develop the sector.

Alabi said the agriculture ecosystem was evolving and technological advancements were making communication easier.

“In recent times, the agriculture space is evolving and technology is helping to make communications easier with the

use of ICT, which is a veritable tool for communication, either through internet, mobile phones, e-learning platforms. Through this medium, students, agropreneurs and farmers can be trained and communicated to by industry experts, extension agents and researchers to have access to recent knowledge.

NEITI Seeks Closer Ties With Foreign Affairs Ministry on Transparency Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr Ogbonnaya Orji, has met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Godfrey Onyeama on the need to incorporate the implementation of natural resource governance into Nigeria’s foreign policy.

Speaking during the meeting in Abuja, Orji said that it was important that both NEITI and the ministry work together to ensure that Nigeria’s envoys around the world are fully informed and briefed about NEITI’s leading role at the global body.

“At the moment, NEITI is concerned that huge information gaps exist between its leading role in natural resource governance under the EITI framework and Nigerian foreign missions.

“Nigeria is chair of the global network on contract transparency comprising of 20 countries among them Mexico, Philippines and Ghana. We were selected as one of the pilot countries on beneficial

ownership, contract transparency, open data as well as on energy transition and open extractives”, he explained.

Orji pointed out that sensitising diplomatic missions will help Nigeria to uphold and maintain its leading roles on global issues, explaining that President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent commitment at the London anti-corruption summit has diplomatic dimensions to the implementation of the Extractives Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI).

“We therefore request for a special desk at the ministry of foreign affairs for closer briefings and engagements on these issues.

We expect our foreign missions to be abreast of EITI so they can provide the needed support at the international level and brief the ministry appropriately on developments, ”Orji stated.

Responding, Onyeama welcomed the new partnership, emphasising that NEITI remains avery important partner in show-casing Nigeria’s global leadership on natural resource governance.

New Petroleum Law Will Cut Wastages in Oil Sector, Says Ex-FG’s Adviser Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A former Senior Technical Adviser, Upstream and Gas, at the Ministry of Petroleum, Gbite Adeniji, has said that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari last week, would cut wastages in the oil and gas industry.

Speaking on Arise Television, THISDAY’s broadcast arm, Adeniji, who was an adviser when Dr. Ibe Kachikwu was petroleum minister, said that the new law is not only a petroleum sector reform document, but an economic bill that could remarkably impact the country.

He explained that the Act will open the petroleum sector up to a new wave of opportunities, stressing that the country now has a basis for deregulating the downstream. “ We can cut away all the subsidies that we have completely mismanaged in the last 20 or more years, and redirect some of that towards more useful social and economic needs in the country.

“It also creates the opportunity

for leveraging on Nigeria’s main abundant natural resource, which is natural gas, because if you look at the law, it’s got provisions galore on natural gas.

“And this is the first time ever, we actually have provisions dealing with that endowment.

So when you think of the energy transition, if you have clarity around the legislative framework for gas, I think that basically positions Nigeria for that future,” he said.

Adeniji emphasised that there was the need to move quickly into a gas-based industrialisation era, stressing that the new law also addresses issues around environmental regulation in the industry, both in the upstream, midstream and downstream.

He explained that as Nigeria liberalises its oil and gas industry, it also needs laws that curtail the potential for abuses and monopoly, which the new legislation substantially address, saying that aside the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the industry has a number of monopoly operators currently.

REWARD FOR LOYALTY…

L-R: Former President, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Ismail Muhammad Zakari; ViceChancellor, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Abdullahi Liman Tukur; His Highness, Khalifa, Muhammadu Sanusi II and the Chairman, Noor Takaful Insurance Limited, Muhtar Bakare during the presentation of cheques to customers at SUNDAY ADIGUN the 2019 Surplus Distribution event held in Lagos….yesterday

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BANKING SECTOR STAKEHOLDERS…

L-R; Co-Chair, Conference Consultative Committee/Managing Director/CEO, Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Tomi Somefun; First Vice President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Ken Opara; Chairman, Conference Consultative Committee/Group Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank Plc , Dr. Herbert Wigwe; and Registrar/Chief Executive, CIBN, PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT Dr. Seye Awojobi, at the 14th Annual Banking and finance press conference in Lagos… recently

‘IBEDC Losing N1.6bn Monthly to Estimated Billing’ Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Chief Operating Officer (COO), Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Mr. John Ayodele, yesterday raised the alarm over challenges facing the distribution companies in the country, saying IBEDC was losing N1.6 billion monthly

to estimated billing and other issues bordering on metering.

Ayodele, who made the disclosure while addressing journalists in Ibadan yesterday, lamented that the company was running at a loss.

According to him, the distribution companies in the country are facing difficult

Noor Takaful Pays N36m Surplus to Policyholders Ebere Nwoji Noor Takaful Insurance has distributed surplus and cash back payment worth N36 million to policyholders who did not make claims in the 2019 business year.

The company said this would be the third time that it has distributed surplus to its policyholders in this category, a gesture that is in line with its commitment to promoting ethical insurance in Nigeria.

Speaking at the surplus distribution arena, the Noor Takaful Insurance Chairman, Muhtar Bakare, said a total of 621 participants, including individuals, private and public organisations, banks and higher institutions of learning, received the surplus payment.

He identified some of the recipients as BUA Group, Engee Pet Manufacturing Limited, Kano Agric Supply, JAMB, Modibbo Adama University - Yola, Sterling Bank and Jaiz Bank, among others.

Bakare said Engee Pet Manufacturing received one of the highest amounts worth N1.13 million.

He said the surplus payment, which came as a result of the Win-Win model of insurance operated by Noor Takaful, thrives on the pool of funds provided by the participants.

According to him, Takaful is the non-Interest finance insurance that seeks to serve a large market of uninsured Nigerians spread across different parts of the country.

Bakare described the surplus distribution extended to participants as a significant milestone for the company noting that this gesture has contributed immensely to unlocking the value in ethically compliance insurance both for individuals and corporate organisations in

Nigeria.

While applauding the regulator, partners as well as participants for their support and understanding, Bakare assured them that the company would continue to take all the necessary steps to meet all of its obligations and commitments to clients and other stakeholders.

“We assure you that we shall carry that burden of trust with probity, diligence and good faith. Noor Takaful will continue to provide innovation and leadership in the takaful industry in Nigeria whilst maintaining high, ethical and professional standards,” he added.

Delivering his keynote address at the event, His Highness, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, described the distribution of surplus as a landmark achievement not only for the company but Nigeria’s financial sector given that it represents the growth trajectory of Islamic finance in Nigeria.

While congratulating the company and its participants, Sanusi explained that Takaful insurance as a financial model remains an alternative and complementary system of financial intermediation for the benefit of Nigerians.

“The concept and practice of the distribution of surplus

by Noor Takaful is an added value proposition which is non-existent in conventional insurance, thus making Takaful very advantageous to its patronisers.

“You don’t have to be a Muslim to operate Takaful. It is an alternative to conventional insurance, which complements all classes of clients without discrimination. The realisation of the surplus distribution is a testament to the success in its underwriting activities, ”he added.

challenges to survive.

Ayodele said some of the reasons the company was losing money was as a result of the attitude of the consumers which include bypassing of meters and high level of poverty which make it difficult for them to pay their bills.

He said the electricity company would have folded

up if not that it has remained committed to the service it is rendering to members of the public.

He stressed that the company was operating in a very difficult terrain.

Ayodele said, “90 per cent of those complaining of estimated billing in the real sense of it do not want

meters. They are comfortable with N3, 000 billing we are giving them monthly because many are spending more than that amount.

“We are losing money. We are losing about N1.6 billion to estimated billing alone.

There is a lot of problem with metering. We are running at a loss, if it is not a business

that it is tied to service, the company would have been bankrupt by now.

“If you have anybody who is ready to partner with us, we will welcome such people.

People who can give us plant in anywhere in our area.

People who can assure us 90 per cent availability of power all the time.”

FBN Insurance Brokers Develops Digital Solutions Ebere Nwoji FBN Insurance Brokers Limited, a subsidiary FBN Holdings Plc, has developed a digital roadmap that will provide digital solutions for the Nigerian insurance market.

The company said part of the plan is an interactive website that would be re-launched soon with more Nigerians getting connected digitally.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Olumide Ibidapo, said FBN Insurance Brokers would continue to engage with the public and create as much awareness as possible, paying particular attention to the financially excluded segments, knowing that insurance is a solution everybody needs.

Ibidapo, who spoke during an interview with select journalists in Lagos, said the 21 years old brokerage firm is partnering with other stakeholders towards creating more channels and avenues to reach more people.

“We at FBN Insurance Brokers believe that the future is digital. So, we have developed a digital roadmap that entails providing digital solutions for the Nigerian insurance market.

“Part of that plan is our highly interactive website that would be re-launched soon.

With more Nigerians getting connected digitally, this is one area that must be paid attention to, ”he said.

According to him, there is no gainsaying that the business environment the company operates in is a very tough one, and to have navigated the tough terrain for more than 20 years is a testament to the management’s resilience and continuous reinvention.

“We are happy to be making our input in nation development and this will continue and even get better years to come. At 21, we are proudly in a special league of elite companies from this part of the world. Today, there are over 500 insurance

brokers listed and registered with NAICOM. That number might keep growing as long as the industry as a whole keeps performing, ”he said.

He said surviving new entrants and squaring up to old giants requires a strategy that makes competition irrelevant.

He added that the company is not focusing on what others do or don’t do. “Our focus is on how to out-perform ourselves year on year.

These days, we are focused on disrupting our business and reinventing ourselves.

This has really helped us over the years.”

He, however, commended the regulators of the industry for the work they have been doing thus far, saying the growth experienced would not have been possible without their guidance.

Ibidapo noted that the insurance market potential in Nigeria was huge, adding that comparing insurance

penetration and uptake rate in Nigeria with that of other African countries like South Africa, Kenya and Ghana, one would see that the company could be doing more.

Speaking on the recapitalisation of the insurance industry, he said the Covid-19 pandemic played a major part in slowing down the regulator’s plan for the exercise.

He however said it was something that would eventually come to play; and would be for the benefit of the entire industry and all the major stakeholders.

“Ultimately, recapitalisation will enable underwriters to play big and have higher capacity to underwrite more local insurance businesses and also meet up with their claims obligations. This will help in improving the trust that Nigerians have in the insurance industry and consequently increase insurance uptake, ”he added.

Leadway Assurance Unveils Motor Insurance Policy Leadway Assurance Company Limited, has unveiled a process that enables customers obtain the company’s comprehensive Motor Insurance Policy within a short time.

The company said with the new solution, a customer could finish the process of buying the company’s comprehensive Motor Insurance Policy within two minutes.

Speaking on the new solution, Head of Retail General Insurance, Leadway, Umashime OguzorDoghro, said “this solution affords vehicle owners a fast end-to-end process of buying comprehensive motor insurance all within 120 seconds.

“The new platform provides the guarantees of restitution in

the face of risks whilst meeting the country’s legal requirement for vehicles and vehicle owners’ insurance”.

Oguzor-Doghro noted that the unveiling of the disruptive process not only aligns with the brand’s continuous drive to deepen insurance penetration in Nigeria, but also provides customers with convenient access to a critical risk mitigation tool.

“This strategic solution provides a win-win solution for the critical stakeholders in the insurance space - the public, insurance industry and the country at large”, she said.

According to her, the service is convenient for vehicle owners, leads to increase in insurance products uptake as well as

encourages adherence to the legal auto-insurance requirement as obligated in the country.

Also speaking, Head, Digital Transformation at Leadway Assurance, Adeyinka Aderombi, stated that in understanding the criticality, limited availability of time and its impact on the quality of our wellbeing, especially in today’s modern and fast-paced world, it has become imperative for service providers to incorporate time-saving tools which aid convenience, speed, and ease as a unique selling proposition in product and service offerings.

He added that at Leadway Assurance the management believes in not just providing customers with innovative solutions to risks, but also

disentangling every possible hindrance capable of disrupting customers’ ease of access.

He said the Leadway Comprehensive Motor Insurance provides the policyholder with an affordable premium, the most comprehensive cover against fire, theft, third-party damages to properties and vehicles caused to the insured vehicle, as well as coverage against bodily injury, and even death.

According to him, the additional benefits include up to N1,000,000 cover for accidental damage to the insured vehicle or property, a limit of N1,000,000 for total or permanent disability to the insured and a limit of N100,000 in the event of hospitalisation or severe injury.

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Ibru: Driving Nigeria’s Economy with Oil Palm Should Begin Now The Chairman, Plantation Owners Forum of Nigeria (POFON) and Chief Executive Officer, Aden River Estates Limited, an agro-industrial subsidiary of Ibru Organisation, Mr. Emmanuel Ibru, speaks with journalists on the state of oil palm/cash crop production in the country, challenges, potentialities. He emphasised the need for Nigeria to have Oil Palm Council and special funding for tree crops in other to drive the nation’s economy through oil plan. Oluchi Chibuzor, presents the excerpts.

Nigeria is the fifth-largest oil palm producer but contributes less than two per cent of about 75 million metric tonnes produced worldwide. Can the market share be scaled up? igeria has moved from number one in the 50s and 60s to a distant fifth. You now have countries like Colombia and Thailand coming ahead of us, not to mention the mega ones like Indonesia and Malaysia. We can scale up, but it requires more effort, hard work and adequate capital. To develop one hectare of oil palm, you need between $4,000 and $5000. Also, such investment requires patient capital because the gestation period is four years. Full commercial production commences in year five to six.

This is when a proper revenue stream comes on. One thing is access to finance, and the second is ensuring the availability of land. We have the land, but the challenge is how to take peaceful possession of the land. Even potential investors with requisite financial capital find it difficult to acquire land, though some states like Edo, through the Governor Obaseki-led oil palm initiative, are trying to ease the process. Also, commercial banks are extremely reluctant to accept land assets in rural areas as collateral. They usually insist on assets in state capitals.

Has large-scale smuggling of crude palm oil through the Benin Republic border reduced?

I do not have figures to verify, but this year, two things have happened. One is that the price of palm oil worldwide has gone up. So, palm oil, as of the last time I checked, was about $970 per tonne and the Naira is devalued. Our current price is competitive with that of imported palm oil provided importers pay the legal tariffs. So, because of that, it has discouraged smuggling to some extent. This is what is believed.

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Do we have the manpower to scale up to number one again?

We have the labour. The problem, however, is encouraging the younger generation in the rural areas, especially the low-skilled population, to work on the farm, especially with the advent of social media and the glorification of the ostentatious lifestyle of internet fraudsters. However, we could also benefit from the transfer of information and technology from the likes of Malaysia and Indonesia.

Oil palm is a more labor-intensive sector. Nigeria has been involved in palm production for hundreds of years, and in the modern production of oil palm, for over 50 to 60 years. We have the Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), Benin City, which is capable of training people. We have a pool of experienced plantation managers and mill engineers who have the capability of passing the knowledge unto the younger generations. So, from that point of view, we do not have too much of a problem.

What are Malaysia and Indonesia doing right?

Malaysia has an oil palm council. Every other leading producer of oil palm in the world has an oil palm council and the council basically formulates policies for the industry and ensures implementation.

Nigeria is the only major producer that does not have a council. If we have a council with members drawn from all stakeholder groups and government representatives from the custom service, research institutes and members down the value chain, including the vegetable oil producers, we will clearly have a vision and monitor what is happening in the industry with a view to ensuring productivity and best practices.

What is the attitude of the government to the idea of a palm oil council?

We have not made a formal application, but POFON is planning a national discourse in the next two to three months and we will assemble financial institutions, research and development institutions, the customs service, other government agencies, smallholders and vegetable oil producers, as well as everybody that has an interest in the oil palm. We will come up with a road map for the industry. For instance, there have been issues about smallholder financing, and what we have to understand is that financing small-scale owners in tree crops is totally different from financing smallholders for cereal crops like rice or maize. The gestation period for oil palm is four years, and you cannot apply the same kind of funding mechanism to oil palm. We have a lot of smallholders right now, but even big players that have financial muscles find it difficult to come into oil palm because of the capital involved. Even if they have the capital and access to land, they have to go by the roundtable for sustainable palm oil initiative and that means that you must comply with standards of environmental and social impacts.

That means reaching an agreement with every single community that will be on that land and you know that if you are farming 10,000 to 50,000 hectares of land, you are going to have many communities on it.

Again, once you have been given an allocation, there must be a way for the government to guarantee you free access without communal challenge. Everybody

What can the government really do to help investors in the industry?

We have to rejig the strategy to allocate or facilitate funding to small and medium-scale farmers considering the gestation period of oil palm trees. Really, policies have come up without the inputs of POFON and other oil palm associations that control the small-scale farmers. The CBN has its real sector support fund and that fund, if you read it on paper, is exactly what we require. It provides funding for up to 10 years with a three-year moratorium on principal repayment, nine per cent interest yearly, but the problem is that the real sector support fund does not belong to CBN. The CBN real sector support funds are from the commercial bank’s cash deposit ratio with CBN. In the past, CBN did not allow banks to lend that money out. It’s the cash reserved. Now CBN has said, “rather than your money lying fallow here with us, we want to boost investments in the real sectors. You can lend that money to companies that want to invest in the real sector, be it agriculture, infrastructure, and development.” But the banks, on the pages of newspapers and electronic media, key into it and say the money is available. However, when you actually go to them, they will tell you straight away that they are not ready to invest in any project for more than five years. So, nothing has changed and even if you can convince them, you have to be an AAA-rated credit person because they do not want to take the risk of losing their reserve with CBN and CBN will also look into the profile of the borrower and approve. And even with that, a lot of banks do not want to invest in green projects, but already existing ones. But the question is, who funds me to get to that stage?

Ibru today realises the worth of land. Another thing is the question of, on whom the ownership of the land is vested? By the Nigeria Land Use Act, if I recall correctly, the governors are the ones that sign the certificates of occupancy (C of Os) and they have the right to revoke them at any time.

What else do Malaysia and Indonesia do that make them world largest producers?

They invest in research and development guided by the council and allows allocation of funds to intend farmers. For instance, export taxes go to the government and a part is allocated to the oil palm industry through the councils. For instance, today we talk about finance and the problems associated with development, but there is a 35-per cent duty and levy on the importation of crude palm oil into Nigeria.

At no point in time has POFON said that there should be a ban on the importation of crude palm oil, but a portion of the revenue derived from those levies should be directed to the oil palm industry, and from there, you can fund research and development, and you can give out loans to intending investors with suitable terms. Maybe the ideal loan for an oil palm investor is a 10-year loan with a three-year moratorium on principal repayment and two to three per cent interest rate. In Malaysia, that is what has been going on.

Will that be part of the proposed national discourse?

By the grace of God, it will come under a topic on financing. As I said, what we need to do to increase production is to get more people involved in oil palm. The big players have the capacity, but even every organisation gets to a stage where even if you allocate all the land to it, there is a limit to how far it can go. What we need to do is to encourage more small and medium-scale plantations to scale up. In scaling up, it is necessary for both small and medium-scale farm holders to be encouraged. For instance, if you have an existing 500-hectare plantation, we want to help you get it to 2,000 or 3,000 hectares.

There are many people who have 300, 500, or 1,000 hectares.

The CBN once said Nigeria should be making about $20b yearly from oil palm.

Can we still do it?

Unless all these problems that we have mentioned are addressed, we cannot. But if they are addressed, yes, we can. Getting to the level of Indonesia and Malaysia is a big task. But there will always continue to be an increase in demand for palm oil worldwide and in Nigeria, in particular, because of the population growth rate. Our investment in oil palm is not matching the rate of our population growth. Before we can talk of export, we must bridge the gap between demand and supply at home.

What is the place of technology and improved varieties of oil palm planting materials?

What we have in Nigeria today is a lack of trust in planting materials by NIFOR, not because NIFOR materials are not good.

Why lack of trust?

You need to be absolutely sure that what you put into the ground is the right material when you are making an investment that will last for 30 years. About 15-20 years ago, NIFOR had problems with the production of its materials, and that created a credibility problem. Now, from what we understand, it has got over that problem. But it is very difficult for an investor to take a risk without being absolutely sure that the risk is calculated. And unfortunately, because of the gestation period, you have to wait for about seven to 10 years after planting to see the veracity of the claim. Also, it may interest you that I just commissioned a large-scale oil mill built locally.

It is up and running, made by Nigerian fabricators. Of course, certain components came from abroad like the press and motors, but everything that could be fabricated locally was done here, including the sterilisers, digesters, and clarification units. So, when it comes to technology, we have people that can do it, and we have to help them to improve on what they can produce. We are not there, but tremendous progress has been made over the last 20 years.

How will you describe the oil palm business environment?

Some of the challenges are the same with every other business, such as infrastructural and transportation challenges, and scarcity of low-skilled labour in the rural areas. People migrate from rural areas into the cities and secondly, the advent of social media, from my point of view, is a challenge. A lot of the youth today see what is happening in cities and they want to have all the good things of life. However, they are not ready to work for it. For instance, in my community, I have a problem with labour on a regular basis, because most of the youth there do not want to do the work because they complain that it is too difficult. And secondly, they see their friends who move to the city to do frauds and come back regularly with cars, gold chains and they entice them away. So, it’s a big problem.

You decided to invest in oil palm while most of your contemporaries prefer oil and gas or others.

What influenced your decision?

Aden River Estates was actually incorporated when I was quite young. We were the first private indigenous investor in large-scale oil palm in the Ibru Group.

It was formed in 1969 with just about 500 hectares, which were developed by internally generated funds and in the late 70s/80s, we acquired more land, which was 2000 hectares. To come back to your question, I as an individual see the potential for agriculture in the country. We have a population of 200 million people and we must eat. I see no reason to spend one penny of our hard-earned and scarce foreign exchange on anything that we can produce locally and we can produce food locally. If we are going to spend scarce foreign exchange on agriculture, it should be on anything that will increase the value of what we produce such as storage facilities, packaging and refining equipment. To some extent, CBN has tried from that point of view by listing items that you cannot access foreign exchange to buy, but we should be even more stringent.

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

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WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021 • T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021

EDUCATION Empowering Youths for National Development With the empowerment of 703 youths that participated in the free vocational and entrepreneurship skills development programmes at various vocational training centres by the Lagos Agency for Mass Education, Funmi Ogundare writes that the move will keep them from social vices and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of Nigeria

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or nine months, the Lagos Agency for Mass Education held free vocational training for more than 700 youths across the seven vocational training centres in the six educational districts in the state.

The vocational training and entrepreneurship development programme aims to enable the youths to become self-reliant and employers of labour.

They were trained in skills like hairdressing, sewing, catering, event decoration, music, make-up, phone repairs, computer repairs, among others. Speaking at the graduation ceremony for 119 trainees at Igbo Oluwo Vocational Training Centre, Ikorodu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu urged the youths to make the best use of the opportunity to develop themselves and become relevant in the nation’s economic redevelopment plans.

The governor, represented by the Special Adviser on Education, Tokunbo Wahab, noted that his administration’s various empowerment programmes would help youths develop their potential. “This, we believe as a government, will address the issue of youth restiveness, reduce crimes and other vices capable of undermining development efforts across the country,” he stated.

Sanwo-Olu said youth development is crucial to achieving the security and governance pillar of his administration’s development agenda.

Beneficiaries of entrepreneurship skills and vocational programmes who meet government requirements will be assisted through the Lagos State Employment Trust Funds (LSETF) to secure start-up capital for their businesses.

Director of the Agency for Mass Education, Oluwakemi Kalesanwo, noted that the training remained an avenue for addressing poverty.

Other graduation ceremonies were held at Rotary Vocational Training Centre, Igbogbo and Ideal Girls High School, Randle Avenue for Sabo and Surulere vocational centres. The special adviser congratulated the 248 graduating trainees of Igbogbo and 113 graduands of Surulere and Sabo vocational centres. The special adviser said other participants also graduated from the state’s vocational centres, which had 703 students completing their competency development vocational training programmes across the seven locations in Lagos.

Wahab said, “As a proactive government, we have lined up a lot of youth empowerment programmes, a

L-R: Director of Vocational Training Centre, Mr. Dele Obaba; Director, Lagos State Agency for Mass Education (AME), Mrs. Oluwakemi Kalesanwo; Principal, Rotary Vocational Training Centre, Igbogbo, Mrs. Adebola Onabanjo; Liaison Officer, Lagos State Employment Trust Funds (LSETF), Mr. Matti Jubril; and his assistant, Mr. Akinlabi Yusuff, during the LSETF/AME sensitisation workshop for trainees/ graduates of Lagos State Vocational Centres held recently

lot of skills development initiatives that will bring out the best in our youths and give them the opportunity to use their talents and creativities to develop themselves and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of their states and country at large.”

He recalled that the government could train and empower 748 vocational youths in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kalesanwo disclosed that the venue of the graduation ceremony at Igbogbo was provided by the Rotary Club, District 9011, as part of its youth development and partnership programme.

In a goodwill message, the Oba of Igbogbo Kingdom, Oba Semiu Orimadegun Kasali, commended the state government for programmes, noting that they will curb crimes and promote development. Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Bimbo Odubona, a cosmetics and make-up entrepreneur, described the programme as the best she had attended. Another participant,

Sandra Nwagbara from Delta, stated, “The government just made it possible for everybody, irrespective of state, religion, political affinity or tribal grouping. I am so grateful to the Lagos government.”

The programme’s highlight was the presentation of prizes to trainees who distinguished themselves in various vocations. Immediately after the ceremonies held in the six educational districts in Lagos, the agency held a sensitisation programme for the over 700 newly certified entrepreneurs by the state government. Kalesanwo explained that the programme was organised to expose the trainees to various opportunities available to assist and put small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on the track towards becoming multimillionnaira firms.

She added that the Lagos government increased the number of existing vocational centres controlled by the agency from seven to nine to reduce the distance youths

covered before having access to the facilities across the state. Kalesanwo maintained that the two additional facilities in Badagry and Epe have been constructed and would become operational in August to give youths in communities across the axis the opportunity to become entrepreneurs.

An assistant director in the agency, Kikelomo Olawunmi, told the trainees that investigations conducted over the years showed that many entrepreneurs were not financially literate, affecting their business expansion.

Olawunmi urged the participants to focus on book-keeping and accountability to keep their businesses afloat.

On the mode of loan disbursement, the Liason Officer for Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Ikorodu branch, Jubril Matti, explained that the government created the fund for entrepreneurs to start and expand businesses with ease across the state. Matti disclosed that each of the trainees has the opportunity to get at least between N50,000 and N250,000 loans and that they have a 15-month window to pay back.

Governing Council Seeks Independent Funding for UNN Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo

The newly inaugurated governing council of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has commenced plans to make the institution selfsustaining in funding its research, academic programmes, and infrastructures.

The chairman of the council, Ikechi Emenike, outlined the goal in his address at the council’s inaugural meeting, said it was time for UNN to have an independent financial base, pointing out that 91

out of 170 universities in the country get funding from either federal or state government.

“We must all start thinking of novel ways of getting the resources our tertiary institutions need to fulfil their mandate of producing people capable of managing and driving the political economy,” he said.

He, therefore, pledged the council’s readiness “to think outside the box to provide this citadel of learning with an independent financial

base” that would free it from over-dependence on government.

The new chairman called on managers of Nigeria’s ivory towers to learn from the American system and build robust endowment funds to guarantee financial buoyancy.

“Today, Harvard University has $44 billion endowment funds, University of Texas treasures $33 billion, Yale University maintains $33 billion, Stanford University keeps $30 billion while Princeton University preserves $28

billion,” he added.

He noted that building such an enormous financial base might be considered a tall order in Nigeria but stressed it could be achieved.

However, he warned against turning the university into a profit-making venture.

While stating that he did not regard his appointment “as an award or in glory,” Emenike said it was “something I must use for the betterment of this university in particular and humanity in general.”

Emenike further stated, “I

view it as a call to serve.

It is an assignment I intend to take as seriously as all calls and demands for service to humanity ever made on me in my modest career in development economics and conscientious socio-political activism.”

Describing UNN as a national heritage, Emenike said the council would do its best and provide “a great pillar of support” for the management to make the institution live up to the dream of its founding father.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021

EDUCATION

Akwa Ibom Urged to Introduce Drug Test in Secondary Schools Okon Bassey ÓØ ãÙ

The Akwa Ibom government has been urged to introduce drug testing in secondary schools to curb violence and drug abuse.

The Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the state, Obot Bassey, stated this at a panel discussion on ‘Finding Solution to Teenage Cultism: A Case Study of Uyo High School’.

The forum was facilitated by the Rotary Club of Uyo

metropolis, collaborating with Lions Club Uyo, Jaycees Club International, Global Shapers, and Toastmasters.

Speaking on the ‘Role of Hard Drugs in Teenage Cultism’, Bassey said the rate of involvement in the illicit drugs business, heinous crimes such as rape, banditry, armed robbery, kidnapping, and cultism, among others secondary school children in the state, was alarming.

She disclosed that the state NDLEA had in the past four months seized 165 kilograms

of hard drugs from 105 youths in the state.

“It could be shocking and very alarming to see that on August 6, 2021, a 26-yearold male was arrested with 1.2031kg of cocaine worth N25 million, the highest seizure in Akwa Ibom state in 18 years. What will a 26-year-old be doing with N25 million? Bassey added.

“On finding solution to teenage cultism, my take on this is that we should look at the protective factors and how to bring children out of

cultism in Akwa Ibom state.

Parents need to know how to develop their wards.”

Giving an overview of the situation at Uyo High School, the Commissioner for Education, Idongesit Etiebet, noted that illicit drug use disrupts education and fuels violence in society.

Etiebet, represented by the director of quality assurance in the ministry, Roseline Mfon, further stated, “The case of Uyo High school has been at the front burner in the state, and it is quite serious.

It is a source of concern to everybody, both the government and the people of Akwa Ibom state and beyond.”

She added, “It has got to a point where even some teachers are living in fear. In that kind of atmosphere, the teaching process is disrupted, the performances of the children are negatively affected.

So this is a very big challenge.

It is a big issue. And I want to thank the organisers of this programme especially for this noble initiative.”

The Commissioner for

Information and Strategy, Ini Ememobong, said, “It is our hope that after today’s discussion, we will take it further by bringing the students. And we believe that before this year runs out, we would have been able to find the solution to the teenage cultism problem.

“Also, this is the beginning of the process that will bring all the service organisations together to achieve strategic planning for humanitarian service in Akwa Ibom state.”

Mass Literacy Commission Reiterates Commitment to Education amid COVID-19 Adedayo Akinwale ÓØ ÌßÔË

Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sanusi Ibrahim (third left), and Commodore Isa Ahmed, Directorate of Naval Education, Nigerian Navy Secondary School (third right) with some of the NNSS students during the exhibition of their project at the Chief of Naval Staff annual inter-schools debate quiz and STEM competition finals, held at the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Port Harcourt... recently

FG Restates Commitment to Students’ Safety, Lauds QC’s Development Strides Uchechukwu Nnaike

The federal government says it is making concerted efforts to secure students’ lives and teaching and non-teaching staff in schools across the country.

The Federal Ministry of Education’s permanent secretary Sonny Echono said this during the inauguration of an all JS1 students’ hostel at Queen’s College, Lagos.

He expressed worry over the incessant attacks on schools and the subsequent kidnapping of students and staff by suspected bandits, saying that the situation affected the government’s quest for mass

education.

“We will also put structures in place, especially for effective communication for early warning on a rapid response team, in every location, and comprising all the relevant security operatives,” Echono said.

He added that the federal government would partner local communities. Echono added that the government had sensitised schools to relate with vigilantes, police, Civil Defence, and the military.

The permanent secretary added that an assessment of schools, including the 110 unity colleges across the country,

had been conducted. They were classified into various categories, ranging from the very high risk to the medium and relatively safe.

According to Echono, specific recommendations were made for the high-risk areas, including the military establishment and combined patrol team, as well as other task forces. He said specific recommendations were also made for medium risk areas.

While inaugurating the project, Echono stated that Queen’s College has remained focused and has shown resilience over the years. He noted that the school had pushed

the boundaries of academic excellence, especially in girlchild education in the country.

“I feel happy that what is going on here is not just to acquire knowledge and skills, but also moulding character, that as Africans, as Nigerians, our children are very respectful, appreciative and resilient,” he stated. “So, on behalf of the minister, I want to commend the principal of this college, Dr Tokunbo Yakubu-Oyinloye, for her leadership qualities and a job well done, the staff, the PTA for giving us their children and support, and most especially, our dear students, for keeping the flag flying very high.”

AdCademy: Masterclass to Cover All Marketing Areas -Director Top business management trainer, Professor Adeyinka Adewale of University of Reading’s Henley Business (HBS), has stated that the second edition of the AdCademy Masterclass being organized by the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) in partnership with HBS, will expose marketing communications professionals to every element of marketing education and business management.

Adewale, who is doubles as the AdCademy’s Director of Academics, stated this in an interview.

The masterclass, which holds

virtually from 26 to 29 August, explained Adewale, is for mid-level management staff of advertising agencies and other communication professionals, and will feature top academic and industry experts.

“The faculty members have specialties in every branch of management and marketing education, leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, branding, ethics, accounting, law and so on. The solid balance of both worlds in each of these different fields of knowledge enriches the depth and quality of insight participants of all AdCademy programs will get,” he said.

He added that the masterclass will be very hands-on because it is conceived to ensure that theoretical knowledge finds application in the practice through experts in academia and industry.

“The sessions offer unique features such as a real management challenge set up in partnership with major brands to enable participants apply all they have learnt in a practical way to real-life issues, which is then assessed by the leadership of the brand in question.

Besides, AdCademy has access to every major name and brand across industries, thereby providing an invaluable

network of faculty, facilitators and coaches that is difficult to match,” he explained.

The three-day training programme, according to the AAAN, will focus on markets and marketing intelligence, leadership competencies, efficient work management presentation skills, digital marketing and data analytics and consumer intelligence among others.

Adewale noted that the motivation of Henley Business School AAAN is to make world-class education available and accessible to young professionals in Nigeria is what inspired this partnership.

The National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education says COVID-19 will not hamper its commitment to mass education and tackling barriers to quality adult and non-formal education.

Its executive secretary, Maryam Khalid, disclosed this in Abuja at a literacy roundtable discussion with the theme, ‘Literacy Teaching and Learning in the COVID-19 Crises and Beyond’.

Khalid noted that the recent COVID-19 crisis had magnified the existing literacy challenges, deeply affecting schooling and lifelong learning opportunities, including youths and adults with no or low literacy skills.

She pointed out that with the COVID-19 pandemic and current high adult literacy rate in the country, the achievement of the

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) demand critical reflection and re-strategising at this time.

“Indeed, Non-Formal Education (NFE) activities declined in 2020 compared to 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, creating barriers for children and out-of-school youths,” she explained.

Khalid revealed that the flagship programme of the commission, ‘Literacy by Radio’, was resuscitated during the COVID-19 crisis, providing states and NGOs with primers, facilitators guide, payment of airtime, facilitators’ stipends for three months.

The programme is ongoing in Abia, Jigawa, Kogi, Ogun, Ondo, Rivers, and Yobe.

Khalid promised that the commission would intensify its commitment to exploring other alternatives to ensure that everyone gets involved in literacy initiatives.

Youths Education Key to National Security: Chief of Naval Staff Blessing Ibunge ÓØ ÙÜÞ ËÜÍÙßÜÞ The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, says educating youths will contribute to national security.

Gambo stated this at the Chief of Naval Staff annual inter-schools debate, quiz, and STEM competition finals held at the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Port Harcourt.

“The 2021 competition is designed to provide a platform on which Nigerian Navy welfare secondary schools test their academic might, debate topical issues and showcase their ingenuity in science and technology,” he explained. This is in consonance with the importance the Nigerian Navy places on youth mentoring and empowerment as preconditions for national security and nation-building.”

He was represented by the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sanusi Ibrahim.

“In this hall today, I see disciplined future leaders of our great country Nigeria, who would move this country to rank with other western countries by means of critical thinking, convincing deliberations, and technology,” Gambo added.

Speaking with THISDAY, Commodore Isa Ahmed, Directorate of Naval Education, Nigerian Navy Secondary School, said the competition was part of programmes lined up for the 65th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy.

“The school that provided houses that has security gadgets, they provided ships that can bring down anything that poses a threat to our dear nation. We saw them providing robots. They provided AUV vehicle wherein security men can go and face these arm bandits without being present,” Ahmed explained.

While highlighting the benefits of the activity, Ahmed lauded the competitive spirit among the Nigerian Navy welfare schools.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021

EDUCATION

Ischolar Seeks Sponsorship for Foreign Graduate School Programme Funmi Ogundare

Ischolar Initiative has called on education stakeholders and corporate organisations for a partnership to sponsor qualified youths for foreign graduate school programmes.

Its board of trustees chairwoman, Tolu Ewherido, who made the appeal during a virtual meeting with journalists recently, said Nigerian scholars with potential lacked access to opportunities.

She stated, “We realised that there are significant talents in

our universities. But part of the challenges they are facing is affordability. We try to pay for their standardised test and graduate school application fees in top colleges globally, as well as end-to-end mentoring.”

Ewherido added that beneficiaries of the scholarship had, in the last two years, received about N1 billion, with each scholar getting N60 million.

“In 2020, 14 million investment by iSI yielded about N2 billion in total scholarships for the scholars, which covers their tuition,

accommodation and living expenses for the duration of their respective graduate programmes. With this, scholars are better positioned to be competitive for university scholarships.”

She described the impact on returns on investment as infinite, adding that the scholars are collaborating to launch research papers, write books on how to access funds.

The chairwoman further explained, “We track the number of scholars that are coming on an annual basis.

Even when they get into the

college, we still track them until when they become alumni.”

The vice president of operations, Kunle Ojeleye, noted that the organisation collaborated with some partners to offer assistance to the scholars, adding that quality analysts also assess their application.

Its president, Victor Ogunmola, expressed hope about the quality of scholars coming from Nigeria, saying that, in the long run, they can add to the net economic value of the country.

L-R: Director, Lagos State Continuing Education Centre, Mrs. Aganga Williams; Deputy Director of Education, Apapa Local Government Area, Mr. Eniayewun Oyewole; Permanent Secretary, Office of the Special Adviser on Education, Mr. Adeniran Kasali; Director, Lagos State Agency for Mass Education, Mrs. Oluwakemi Kalesanwo; and Deputy Director of Education, Ikeja Local Government Area, at a stakeholders’ forum on promoting mass literacy across the 57 LGAs of Lagos State, held in Alausa, Lagos... recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Greensprings Pupil Makes Johns Hopkins Centre’s World Brightest Students Uchechukwu Nnaike The Johns Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth has honoured a secondary school student at Greensprings School, Lagos, Fareedah Oyolola, as one of the brightest students in the world.

The recognition resulted from her exceptional performance in the advanced School and College Ability Test (SCAT), which every student must undergo for the institution to determine their current academic abilities before admitting them into its talent search programme.

“The test was a multiplechoice aptitude test in verbal and quantitative reasoning, and I had to answer 100 questions within 44 minutes! At the end of the test, my score was in the 92nd percentile for verbal reasoning and 87th percentile for quantitative reasoning,” said Fareedah. “There’s no way I would have gotten these high scores with such a limited time window if not for the great work put in by my teachers towards developing my comprehension abilities and mathematical reasoning skills.

I am very grateful to them.”

In a statement issued by the Johns Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth, the Executive Director, Virginia Roach, congratulated Fareedah and other outstanding students across the world, saying, “We are thrilled to celebrate these students. In a year that was anything but ordinary, their love of learning shined through, and we are excited to help cultivate their growth as scholars and citizens throughout high school, college, and beyond.”

The Greensprings Principal (Anthony Campus), Magdalene Okrikri, said Fareedah’s

achievement “is a testament that our Thinking School programme is rewarding to our students,” helping them develop mentally and strengthen their cognitive abilities.

The Johns Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth is an initiative of Johns Hopkins University committed to nurturing extraordinary young minds. Its 2020 -2021 programme draws nearly 19,000 students from 84 countries. Fareedah and other honourees from other countries are expected to attend a summer programme in the United States or Hong Kong.

HP Certifies Grace School Teachers as IDEA Fellows Peace Obi Grace School has been certified as an HP Innovation and Digital Education Academy (IDEA) school.

This came as over 130 Grace School educators are now HP IDEA associates.

The school management, in a statement, disclosed that eight of its educators also attained HP IDEA fellows.

The school’s certification

came from the involvement of eight staff that went through a year-long Fellow IDEA Programme, organised

by Hewlett-Packard (HP), in collaboration with ITEL. The eight HP IDEA fellows are Ayodele Adetayo, Taiwo Olubanke, Tunde Ayeni, Kayode Omoleye, Esther Arigidi, Jude Ashiedu, Israel Olukale, and Abayomi Adebanjo.

The IDEA platform marks

a school’s commitment to transforming its digital pedagogies to flourish in the 21st century. The school’s involvement in the programme helped promote the development of effective teacher-leaders, embedding and scaling effective teaching skills, supporting teachers’ and students’ innovation and entrepreneurship, etc.

Grace School’s HP IDEA fellows were able to leverage

the existing digital tools in the school to develop practices focused on teaching and learning in hybrid learning models while adapting the collaborative domain of High Leverage Teaching Practices (HLTP) as a major area of research.

A school staff, Ayodele Adetayo, was the facilitator and spokesman for Nigerian private schools during the graduation ceremony held recently.

A

Teacher’s DIARY KEHINDE OMORU

www.kayomoru.com

GIRL POWER

G

irls in power positions are those who hold a career that gives them influence, great authority, and/or responsibility. Historically, power has been distributed among the sexes disparately.

However, power and powerful positions have literarily associated with men as opposed to girls and/or ladies.

I sat across the table from four ladies lunching the other day and soon found my interest engaged by their dissection of a post they were obviously dealing with there and then. Talk about girl-power - to say that they were gobsmacked at a young man’s remark is an understatement. All of their body language seemed thoroughly insulted by it; and they were delivering their judgement - pronto! This young man had posted on social media something to the effect that he could not date a lady who wears wigs. Personal as his preference was, unfit for public knowledge - the general consensus was. Below is their conversation: Lady A: So who does he think he is?

Lady B: Hm, the son of a business mogul I think Lady C: ...and so?

Lady D: Great, (pulls back drops her glasses and critically assesses the photo) so what’s the name of his ‘game’?

Lady C: (says flatly) Girls without wigs.

Lady A: In this day, in this age?

Lady B: Hush...look (peers into her phone) loads of comments saying that lots of ladies are dejected already..

Lady: So this guy - he starts off or will start off or is currently with an estrogen-laden young chick who’s at her peak of hair volume, cellulite-free tummy, laps & arms, supple smooth skin....

Lady D: (cuts in) and he obviously is putting unspoken pressures in her to keep up the lasers and implants...

Lady B: That’s if his main chick is as depressible as the ones feeling ineligible already Lady A: ...she’s probably the type that’s given him over to his fantasies...

Lady D: (Suddenly flinches with distaste and say) Come to think of it, he wears glasses! Looks like thick lenses too!

Lady A: So what?

Lady D: ...So he’s got a defect needing some ‘packaging’ too; a glaring defect at that! Nothing natural about glasses! I wish I didn’t have to wear one Lady B: My dear you wait until he begins to bald Lady A: That’s if chemo or radiation has not knocked on the door of his hair follicles before then Lady C: Hang on ladies - in all of this, what gets me is the reaction of the crest-fallen ladies!

Lady D: Abi? Where’s pride & body-image gone amongst the vast majority of our young ladies today?

Lady A: Body-image & pride in the face of unemployment, hunger, poor accommodation plus the impatience and covetousness of the ‘oloshos’ Lady B: ...exactly and these are the reasons why a bespectacled young man could so openly indirectly berate ladies spotting wigs.

Lady C: (putting her hand up to speak she says) Girls, let’s make a dismissive statement on this post and simply pronounce on behalf of today’s girl with self-pride, “wig is to head as glasses to face”.

Ladies A,B,C&D: We - women-choose not be so arrogantly dismissed. Can somebody tell this young man that wigs are saving the day for women in today’s world bedecked with: cancer management, boardroom meetings, women in employment juggling their jobs with home management, middle-age realities with its hormonal changes, hormone Induced hair loss after childbirths, and the list goes on. r 0NPSV JT B GSFFMBODF XSJUFS FEVDBUJPO IFBMUI BOE TPDJBM DBSF BEWPDBUF

“Historically, power has been distributed among the sexes disparately.

However, power and powerful positions have literarily associated with men as opposed to girls and/or ladies”

39

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021

EDUCATION

Ex-VC Advocates Pedagogic Okebukola Applauds Buhari for to Learning in Reappointing Oloyede as JAMB Registrar Approach Higher Institutions Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

A former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the reappointment of Prof.

Abubakar Rasheed and Prof.

Is-haq Oloyede as Executive Secretary of NUC and Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) respectively.

Okebukola, the current chairman of the Governing Board of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), in a statement, said the action would lead to the rapid development

of the education sector in the country as it would allow for continuity and sustainability of their innovative programmes.

“The reappointment of Rasheed and Oloyede is indicative of two things: one, that Buhari has a love of education at heart because non-renewal of the appointments would have set the higher education sub-sector back several years with new actors,” said Okebukola. “Second, it shows that Buhari has a listening ear as he hearkened the call of stakeholders in the sector to reappoint the two highly-resourceful chief executive officers.”

He also commended the Minister of Education, Adamu

Adamu, for recommending the duo for reappointment.

Okebukola added that while a global assessment agency recently ranked Rasheed as the best executive secretary in NUC history, Oloyede is also globally acclaimed as the most dynamic, innovative, and most prudent registrar JAMB has ever had.

Okebukola affirmed that the activities Rasheed and Oloyede had, in the last five years, elevated the quality of university education in Nigeria.

“The minister of education needs Rasheed and Oloyede for the promise of the president to hold true for the Nigerian university system. While Oloyede

ensures improved quality of candidates into the system, Rasheed ensures that when admitted, these candidates benefit from high-quality processing leading to much-improved quality of graduates compared with what we used to have before he came into office,” he further stated.

Okabukola said, “Other programmes and projects which are dependent on the international clout and expertise of Prof. Rasheed, include the Nigerian University System Knowledge Bank, the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education and the Digest of Statistics.”

Bassey Inyang ÓØ ËÖËÌËÜ A university don and former vice-chancellor of the Cross River State University of Technology, now University of Cross River State, Prof.

Anthony Owan Enoh, has advocated a pedagogic approach to learning in Nigeria’s higher institutions.

Enoh, a professor of Philosophy of Education, said this while delivering the seventh Postgraduate School lecture of the University of Calabar.

“There must be found the productive and creative union of town and gown in teaching by focusing on the active and current,” he stated.

“The adoption of a pedagogic approach which involves active learner participation and the emergence of research activities from the womb of ongoing teaching.”

He faulted the rigid and externally imposed curriculum made worse by an ivory tower mentality, opposing the

formal method of instruction aggravated by the banking learning ideology, which is reinforced by “preparationist” and dependency frame of mind.

The university don also denounced the demand for correspondence in research and research for its own sake, unconnected to what is taught or current in society.

Enoh stressed that it was only through good teaching that university curricula could be brought down from the ivory tower status and reconnected to society.

He suggested that the university system provide effective means of continuous training in pedagogical skills for all university teachers in the same manner as conference attendance.

He, therefore, suggested that funding for research activities on pedagogical skills should be provided, especially with the establishment of a National Academic Staff College of Nigeria (NASCON).

Igbobi College Unveils Plans for 90th Founders’ Day L:R: The Registrar, Babcock University, Prof. Jonathan Nwosu; Senior Vice-President, Management Services, Prof. Yacob Haliso; the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ademola Tayo; Senior Vice-President, Academics, Prof. Philemon Amanze; and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Zonal Coordinator for South West, Mr. Aliyu Kolawole Jubril, at the 22nd matriculation ceremony of the umiversity for the 2020/2021 academic session, held in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State... recently

Group: Ambrose Alli University doesn’t Promote Edo Languages Adibe Enenyonu ÓØ ÏØÓØ ÓÞã A socio-cultural group, Esan Okpa Initiative (EOI), has decried the near-extinction of local languages in Nigeria, blaming universities for the lapses.

The group is particularly worried that the Esan language is almost defunct.

According to the group, Ambrose Alli University’s Department of Languages does not teach Esan or any Edo languages but teaches French, Russian, and Spanish.

“An Esan adage says ‘you are lost if you cannot speak

the language of your place or people’. Needless to state that language is an integral part of the culture of a people,” said EOI president Matthew Egbadon. “EOI is concerned that the Esan Language is fast going into extinction, as many of our people, particularly the young ones, including those who live in Esanland, cannot speak the language, let alone write in it.”

He said the body had outlined programmes and events to sensitise and rekindle the people’s interest in speaking and writing in Esan.

“We have plans to promote

Esan Language and culture among the Esan people, including those living outside the state, by setting up mini Esan language clinics in places like Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, and in the diaspora,” Egbadon added. “We wish to call on the Edo State government to reintroduce the study of Esan language in its school curriculum, at the primary and secondary levels in Esanland.”

In the past, the group’s leader noted, Esan was taught in schools and was part of the West African School Certificate Examination syllabus. “We have adequate texts and books in

Esan language to support its teaching and teachers in schools in Esan land,” Egbadon noted.

The group stated that it would make a “similar request to Ambrose Alli University to, as a matter of urgency,” introduce the study of Esan and other Edo languages and culture as part of the programme at its Department of Language Studies.

“As a body, EOI shall be ready to make its contributions in whatever way it can, to support the state government and the university in the study of Esan language and culture,” Egbadon stated.

Foundation to Build Skills Acquisition Centre for Destitutes Funmi Ogundare As part of efforts to further impact the lives of the youths, orphans and poor people in society, Ragamos Foundation has planned to build a skills acquisition and leadership centre specifically for the less privileged.

Speaking during the virtual inauguration of the foundation recently, the founder, Regina Inem, disclosed that sustainable economic growth is key to

transforming the lives of the less privileged through empowerment.

“Our goal is to improve the economic power of widows, youth and the less privileged through education and empowerment programmes,” Inem stated, including training and mentorship support through entrepreneurial initiatives, increase awareness on adolescent sexual/ health education and career development, among others.

She added that the foundation visited schools in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt to sensitise children on sexual abuse and help victims of abuse in collaboration with the government and Child Protection Network (CPN).

“We have worked with the state government to ensure that perpetrators of sex abuse are brought to book”, she noted.

Inem further noted that during the COVID-19 lockdown, the foundation

collaborated with global partners to donate to orphanages and trained teachers on ICT, empowered the youths, and catered for widows.

In his remarks, the Prime Minister State of African Diaspora (SOAD), Dr LouisGeorges Tin, stated, “In our society, if the people seen to be poor are left behind, it is not good for society. We need to be strong collectively to make giant strides.”

The Igbobi College has unveiled plans to mark its 90th-anniversary celebration, which will begin in 2022.

Unlike previous anniversaries, the school will mark the landmark celebration of the year-long series of events with its stakeholders, including the Igbobi College Old Boys’ Association (ICOBA) worldwide.

Announcing the activities to mark the anniversary, the chairman of the Board of Governors of the college, Foluso Phillips, noted that aside from the usual yearly programmes, the 90th Founders’ Day would offer a unique opportunity for the stakeholders to deepen its culture of doing social good to the college.

The president of ICOBA, Olumuyiwa Kinoshi, described the anniversary as an important period to take stock of the past and plan for the future. He said the association would continue working with stakeholders to ensure the improvement of the college’s fortunes.

The 90th Anniversary Planning Committee chairman, Femi Olubanwo, stated that the college usually celebrated the occasion with week-long activities starting.

“The occasion of the 90thanniversary celebrations will create unrivalled conversations and opportunities for stakeholders,” he disclosed.

“They can take part in activities supporting the educational upliftment of the pupils of the college and improve its infrastructures, making it the most inclusive anniversary ever.”

Olubanwo further stated that the anniversary’s theme, ‘Producing Leaders, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’,

drew on the rich heritage of the college known for producing exceptional leaders. Olubanwo used the occasion to unveil the special anniversary motif.

Some of the activities planned for the 2022 occasion include the fundraising gala in Lagos to raise funds for projects such as the staff quarters, ultra-modern sports complex, and the technology hub on January 29, 2022. Others are holy communion service on February 2 and the conferment of the deferred 2021 ICOBA merit awards, etc.

Following that will be a thanksgiving service and luncheon, including the ICOBA merit awards on February 6, 2022. He revealed that the fundraising had already commenced with the commemorative wall project anniversary commemorative memorabilia created to capture the historic occasion and raise funds.

Other programmes marking the anniversary will be the Founder’s Day service in Europe on February 12.

Another service will hold in Ibadan on February 13, ICOBANA annual AGM, and fundraising events in the U.S. from June 30 to July 2 etc.

Olubanwo added, “As it has become customary with landmark celebrations for ICOBA to produce a commemorative brochure, as was done in 1992 to mark the 60th anniversary and in 2007 to mark the 75th; which are both veritable collectors’ items, the 90th brings a different experience.

This time, the anniversary is producing both an audiovisual documentary and a coffee table book.”

40

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021

CITYSTRINGS

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

Journalists as Advocate against Human Rights Abuse Emerging challenges on how to distil issues of Human Rights in Nigeria was the major topic at a two-day training for journalists in Benin City, Edo State. Adibe Emenyonu who was part of training, writes on the significance

Facilitator, and Case Manager, Advocats Sans Frontier (ASF) France, Mrs. Edugie Amihere (fourth left) and Edo NUJ Chairman, Sir Roland Osakue, flanked by participating journalists at the training/workshop in Benin City

E

ven with a knowledge of the constitution and other relevant laws including United Nations Conversation against Torture and other Cruel Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and the Anti Torture Act 2017, it is still a difficult job for the average journalist covering crimes and other related issues.

Interestingly, four years after the enactment of the Anti- Torture Act, most media practitioners are neither aware of the provisions in the piece of legislation nor understand the liabilities for violators of the law, and its core mandate.

In order to fill this gap, widen the knowledge base, build public confidence and give media practitioners a headstart, Advocats San Frontiers (ASF), in advancing the course of the United Nations Convention Against Torture with the support of the German Embassy, organised a two-day training/ workshop on Human Rights for selected journalists in Edo State.

ASF, also known as Lawyers without Borders is an international human rights, non-governmental organisation working for the promotion and protection of human rights and the establishment of the rule of law.

It provides free legal services to victims of torture throughout their ProCAT project with the aim to eradicate torture through implementation of the United Nations (UN) Convention against torture, which Nigeria ratified in 2001.

The focal point of the training was to equip participants with the requisite knowledge and skills on how to hold agents of state actors, comprising the law enforcement agents Police, Directorate of State Security Service (DSS), Nigerian Military, Correctional Centre and others charged with such responsibility to adhere to or account for their atrocities in the Provisions of the Anti- Torture Act both in practice and principle by using available legal instruments towards the prevention of Human Rights abuses or protecting the rights of crime suspects, detainees across the various Custodial Centres in the country.

The lectures and interactive session helped to unravel what was initially thought by journalists as an ‘Omnibus or old piece of legislation.

The conversation was centered on higher advocacy demand for the media to highlight security agencies detainees’ torture with high sense of urgency.

In a paper presentation by ProCAT Case Manager, Advocats Sans Frontier (ASF) France, Mrs. Edugie Amihere titled: “Promoting Human Dignity — Salient Provisions of United Nations Convention Against Torture (unCAT), underscored the importance of the law with other related issues and canvassed reasons why media practitioners should use legal instruments to promote justice.

The resource person while giving a graphic presentation, highlighted the thematic areas of operations of ASF and offered explanation

One of the participants Mr. Adibe Emenyonu of THISDAY Newspaper being presented with a Certificate of Participation by Mrs. Amihere on non-admissibility of evidence as a result of torture in Section 4 of the Anti torture Act 2017, which stipulates that “Any confession, admission or statement obtained as a result of torture shall not be invoked as evidence in a proceeding, except against a person accused of torture as evidence that the confession, admission or statement was made.

In another presentation titled: “Introduction to Fundamental Human Rights”, Mrs. Amihere harped on a collaborative efforts aimed to redirect the mental thinking of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), security agents, journalists, legal practitioners and other actors in Administration of Criminal Justice Administration (ACJA), needs assessment and data analysis that is result-driven, and to enhance feedback conversation as agents of change and development.

According to her, “journalists need to learn and know how to report cases of fundamental Human Rights infringement. It helps them to add to what is already known and defend

human rights of people, especially the voiceless and downtrodden in society."

She emphasised that the major threats against Human Rights in Nigeria is not absence of enabling laws, but implementation, assuring however that continuous advocacy and the support of the ProCAT project probono legal services across Edo, Lagos, Kaduna, Imo, Enugu States offer a silver lining.

Another resource person, Mrs. Patricia Iyomon, lectured on the topic: “Accountability of Perpetrators of Human Rights abuses under the Anti- Torture Act 2017”.

She provided data on management and other basic principles of law that border on impact evaluation, and human rights violation cases in Nigeria and Edo State.

Iyomon, a former Chairperson of the Nigeria Bar Association, Benin Branch, stated that relevant documents of laws have helped to sustain the development of the rule of law, access to justice, the fight against injustice, citizens and detainees rights to a fair trial and prevent the nuance arising

Journalists need to learn and know how to report cases of fundamental Human Rights infringement.

It helps them to add to what is already known and defend human rights of people, especially the voiceless and downtrodden in society

from the lack of will power by relevant authorities to enforce human rights laws and when necessary take up a writ against offenders.

Participants at the workshop, gave a good account of themselves and compared notes for a higher advocacy on Citizens’ Rights and confront contradictions by deploying the “sword of justice against tyranny and torture” orchestrated by alien adventurers.

Earlier in an opening remarks, the facilitator said the training was designed for media workers, first to understand their rights, so they can also advocate for the right of others.

She also noted that, all stakeholders in the Criminal Justice sector must play their part, and emphasised that it is not about creating awareness on fundamental Human Rights infringement but all about collaborative effort.

"All stakeholders in the Criminal Justice sector must play their part. It’s not only about creating awareness on fundamental human rights or fundamental human rights infringement. The Human Rights Advocacy is all about collaborative effort. In Lagos State for example, a bill was recently passed by the State House of Assembly, banning the pre-trial parade of suspects before the media. Nothing is stopping the NUJ in Edo State presenting a Private Member Bill before the Edo State House of Assembly in this regard", She said.

Also, highlighted was the “United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman, Degrading Treatment or Punishment.”(Adopted by the UN General Assembly resolution 39/46 of 10 December 1984) which states that the recognition of the equal and inalienable rights of members of the human family is the foundation for freedom, justice, and peace in the world; and that those rights are derive from the inherent dignity of the human person.

In a goodwill message, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, Sir. Roland Osakue, thanked Avocats for deeming it fit to organise such training for journalists in Edo State.

He also tasked his colleagues to put into practice what they learnt from the training for the benefit of society, adding that " as journalists, we must learn how to properly report human rights issues".

According to him, "Every issue has its own language and terminology. So, you have to take the training serious and report the benefits."

The training featured various topics such as, “Fundamental Human Rights”; “Promoting Human Dignity-Salient Provisions of the United Nations Convention against Torture”; “Accountability of Perpetrators of Human Rights Abuses under the Anti-Torture Acts 2017”, "Human Rights Advocay", " Prevention of HumanRights Abuse-Brainstorm on the Role of the Media", among others.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY Ͱͳ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

41

CRIME&SECURITY

NALT Club to Hold Conference to Address the Social, Security Issue of Nigeria

Members at the last NALT conference Chiamaka Ozulumba

Nigeria has long teetered on the precipice of failure and the federal government has been struggling to provide a safe environment for citizens and businesses to strive.

Nigeria is seen as a failed state despite the notion that the peace and prosperity of Africa and preventing the spread of disorder and militancy around the globe depend on a stronger Nigeria as the giant of Africa.

In the last few decades, Nigeria has been in a situation where the government has seemingly lost total control on the guarantee of security for lives and properties which is no doubt, one of the major attributes of a failed state.

Common characteristics of failed states include ongoing civil violence, corruption, crime, poverty, illiteracy, and crumbling infrastructure.

Therefore, as part of efforts to ensure that peace is restored, the National Association of Liberated Tigers (NALT) will on August 26 and 27 hold another

virtual International Conference with the theme: “Nigeria’s Insecurity Challenges and the Reframing of Social Justice: From Cynicism to Optimism.”

This is in line with series of conventions and conferences held in the past to discuss major challenges such insecurity, Police reform, Reframing of Social Justice.

The keynote address will be delivered by High Chief Emeka JP Obegolu, President, Pan Africa Lawyers Union (PALU) & Immediate Past President of Institute for Chartered Mediators and Conciliators in Nigeria.

The focus of the virtual International conference will be to address the current exigencies of peace and security in Nigeria and the influence of the countries in the Sahel region on the stability of the country require a systematic approach.

The International Secretary of NALT Club International, Erhabor

Elaiho, disclosed that the security challenges in the country in the wake of emergent phenomenon of ethnic cum political and religious violence, extremism, cultism, armed robbery, disrespect and general erosion of cultural values are all pointers to the need for comprehensive long-term strategies.

According to him, "It is within this context that NALT is organising this timely conference as part of its contribution to nation building.

"Over the years, NALT has evolved to meet changing and challenging dynamics of social justice and positioned itself as a force for positive change.

"In addition to its growing influence and footprint in building an egalitarian society, it has expanded its focus to include contributing to national cohesion, peace and security, leveraging on the varied expertise of its members and innovative strategies it adopts."

He also called on the federal government to immediately take steps to ensure that the civil law enforcement agencies perform their statutory duties of protecting lives and properties of Nigerians within the national and international laws of engagement.

“It should also have due respect for human rights and the sanctity of human lives while pursuing dialogue with aggrieved parties.

“NALT, in line with its fundamental principles of social justice and upholding of human dignity through nonviolence decrees, strongly condemns all the killings of human beings and destruction of properties going on in the country.

NALT Club is an international non profit men's organisation formed to strengthen and improve communities through pursuing social justice and fair play, by advocating for all people, regardless of background and promoting equity and anti-oppression and promoting accountability and stability in leadership, governance and public service.

Private Security Professionals Seek Synergy, Policy Advocacy for Improved Practice Nume Ekeghe

Professional security practitioners under the auspices of ASIS International advocated for convergence of interventions and vital policy advocacy as keys to revolutionising security practice and improving the standards within the industry in Nigeria.

Speaking recently at the Lagos ASIS Chapter 206 retreat and leadership conference at Epe, Lagos State, the Chapter Chairman, Mr. Peter Okoloh, affirmed the need for industry-wide collaboration that will result in coherent articulation of a security blueprint that can be presented to the government for improved security in the country.

“Driving quality and excellence within the security industry requires knowledge and leadership. That is why it is very important at this point for us

to strategically situate cyber and physical security convergence in moving forward as an industry.

"Secondly, we should also look at the possibility of developing a private security industry profile that will help us to lobby at the National Assembly for standardisation.”

According to the Group Managing Director of Halogen Group, Mr. Wale Olaoye, there is no better time for the private security industry in Nigeria to seek standardisation of their practice than now.

He noted that collaboration and knowledge sharing are key to achieving the much-desired excellence in the industry.

“Collaborative engagement should be looked into by private

security service providers to enable the industry to achieve practice standardisation.

"Also, competencies, new capabilities and proper regulations in Nigeria are strategic to accelerating the private security practice to global standards”, Olaoye said.

In her contribution, Mrs Tanwa Ashiru, founder, Bulwark Intelligence, described the retreat as a very productive knowledgesharing platform capable of catapulting the industry to its desired height. She also opined that technology has become an indispensable tool for solving security issues.

The retreat which took place at the Jubilee Chalet, Epe, attracted notable leaders within

the Nigerian Security industry like Major Gen. A.O. Shodunke (Rtd); Lagos State former Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni; Mr. Olisa Ogwuadi, CEO Mc Don Group; Mr David Akhimen, Executive Chairman, King David Group among many others.

Dr. Wale Adeagbo, Chairman of the organising committee of the leadership conference noted that discussions topics such as New Leadership Paradigms for security in an open world, Enterprise Security Risk Management, digitisation and cyber solutioning, bridging service delivery gaps, and exceeding the client's expectation in today's challenging and fast-evolving threat landscape, discussed at the retreat, are fundamental to achieving the wholesale transformation of the private security practice space in Nigeria.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

FMDQ Exchange Admits N19.6bn FSDH Merchant Bank’s CPs Darasimi Adebisi FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited (‘FMDQ Exchange) yesterday said it has admitted N19.6billion FSDH Merchant Bank Limited’s Commercial Papers (CP) Issuance Programme on its platform.

The Exchange, in a statement said it has approved for quotation of the FSDH Merchant Bank’s N2.28 billion Series 3, N1.79 billion Series 4, and N15.53 billion Series 5 CPs under its N40.00 billion CP Issuance Programme on its platform.

The securities exchange stated that it will continue to work

collaboratively with market stakeholders to align the nation’s debt capital market (DCM) to international standards/ It added that it has taken commendable steps to ensure that growth and development opportunities abound for the markets under its purview.

FSDH, it added, is a leading licensed merchant bank in Nigeria with subsidiaries in asset management, pension funds management and securities trading.

According to FMDQ, “The net proceeds from the quotation of the FSDH Series 3 – 5 CPs, which is sponsored on FMDQ Exchange by Stanbic IBTC Capital

Limited – a Registration Member (Quotations) of FMDQ Exchange, will be utilised to support FSDH’s short term financing requirements.

“The successful admission of these CPs, following due approval, attests to the highly efficient time to market and ‘second-to-none’ listing and quotation services offered by FMDQ Exchange. With its streamlined and efficient registration process, FMDQ Exchange continues to show its steadfastness through the provision of a world-class quotation service, availing issuers and investors, global visibility, confidence and protection in the markets.”

Nigerian Exchange Group Marks 60 Years of Supporting Economy

MARKET INDICATORS

Darasimi Adebisi

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

The Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group) Plc has announced that it will today celebrate 60 years of enabling Africa’s largest economy as a leading integrated market infrastructure group in Africa.

The Group officially commenced operations on 25 August 1961, as the Lagos Stock Exchange, after it was founded on 15 September 1960.

In commemorating the Diamond jubilee milestone, the Group Chairman, NGX Group Plc, Abimbola Ogunbanjo in a statement, paid glowing tribute to the original subscribers of the articles of association.

“They included; R.S.V. Scott, representing C.T. Bowring and Co. Nigeria Limited; Chief Theophilus Adebayo Doherty; Sir. Odumegwu Ojukwu; Mr. Akintola Williams and Alhaji Shehu Bukar, as well as John Holt Limited and Investment Company of Nigeria Limited.

Ogunbanjo in the statement added, “ “We celebrate the vision of these seven individuals and organisations, who in the

Nigerian spirit, broke new ground in starting the Exchange, and we are proud of our sterling history over these six decades. From our humble beginnings when only 19 securities were listed for trading, we are now demutualised and we trade over 300 securities worth about N35 trillion.”

Appreciating the contributions of the capital market ecosystem, the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, NGX Group, Mr. Oscar Onyema, stated: “We must thank our invaluable stakeholders who have contributed to six decades of growth and partnership.

“To the trading license holders, issuers, regulators, government and its agencies, media, and other stakeholders, we recognize your support and reiterate our commitment to building a market infrastructure group that supports your business objectives across the entire value chain for many years to come.”

He further commented on the Group’s efforts to build on the existing legacy.

According to him: “In consonance with the innovative spirit of our founding fathers which has

continued to drive our operations, demutualisation has allowed us to transition into a profit-driven, shareholder-held, and globally competitive organisation.

“Building on six decades of growth and partnership, NGX Group of companies is now positioned to be a key player in strengthening our competitiveness on a larger scale. Our recently launched campaign “The Stock Africa Is Made Of” further encapsulates our commitment to fulfil the dreams of our founding fathers not only in Nigeria, but also in Africa.”

The NGX Group recently refreshed its brand identity in an official launch event headlined by the President Muhammad Buhari. NGX Group’s new structure boasts three whollyowned subsidiaries: Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, the operating exchange with Mr. Temi Popoola, CFA as CEO; NGX Regulation (NGX RegCo) Limited, the independent regulation company with Ms. Tinuade Awe as CEO; and NGX Real Estate (NGX RelCo) Limited, the real estate company with Mr. Gabriel Igbeka as acting CEO.

First Bank Sponsors Theatre Production First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced its sponsorship of ‘A Deep Dive Into History,’ a theatre production from the Duke of Shomolu (DOS) Production House, spearheaded by Joseph Edgar.

“A deep dive into history comprises two exciting stage plays – Aremu and Awo, showing from the 22nd of August and will run every Sunday till the 12th of September 2021 at the legendary Glover Memorial Hall, Marina, Lagos.

“Aremu is a powerful depiction of the life and times of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR. The play takes us through his birth, the errant stages of his adulthood, exploring his peasant background, his travails as a freedom and human rights crusader and other milestones. Aremu is a rich cultural play that preaches hope to the audience, that they can be whoever they want to be. The play was written by Prof. Ahmed Yerima, the former DG of the National theatre and National Troupe, “the bank said in a

statement.

It added, “Awo on the other hand is a play that seeks to reintroduce the dying values of loyalty, integrity, vision building amongst others to the modernday audience who seem to have lost their way in the fast and seedy lifestyle of modern-day Nigeria. This play is set to be directed by Mr. Makinde Adeniran FTA - Lagos State Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners and is bringing 26 years of local and international experience to the play.

“With the sponsorship of similar socio-cultural plays in the creative arts industry such as Ayinla, Moremi, Makaliki, Duke of Shomolu Production’s Play (Emotan and Oba Esugbayi), October 1st (a movie) and the Calabar Festival, First Bank’s sponsorship of ‘Duke of Shomolu Productions’ affirms the bank’s continued support for the development of arts in Nigeria under its First@arts initiative.”

“First@arts is FirstBank’s

platform for consolidating all its efforts in the arts, supporting the entire value chain of the creative arts, providing much-needed financing and advisory support, showcasing and facilitating the successes of the industry, and enabling customers to explore and access the wealth of opportunities the creative industry has to offer.

Achieving these and a host of many others have been implemented through strategic partnerships with organisations like the British Council, Live Theatre Lagos, Freedom Park, Terra Kulture, and the Cross Rivers State Government (Calabar Festival), among others, “it added.

Expressing her delight on the plays, Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Folake Ani-Mumuney, said: “For over 127 years, FirstBank has been at the forefront of nation-building; enabling Nigeria and Nigerians through resourceful partnerships to build the Nigerian creative industry value chain, especially the arts and entertainment sub-sectors.

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT TUESDAY, 24 AUGUST 2021

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $67.33 a barrel on Monday, compared with $66.13 the previous Friday, 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).

43

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021

MARKET NEWS

Stock Market Reverses Weak Investors’ Sentiment, Appreciates by N14bn Darasimi Adebisi Trading activities at the Nigerian equities market yesterday ended on a positive note, to halt the two consecutive trading losses, as market capitalisation gained N14 billion on investors interest in Lafarge Africa, Zenith Bank and 15 others.

The positive performance was driven by investors’ buy-interests in Industrial Goods, Banking and Consumer Goods stocks.

In summary, the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) AllShare Index (ASI) grew by 25.99 basis points, representing an increase of 0.07 per cent, to close at 39,460.68 basis points from 39,434.69 basis points.

Consequently, the overall market capitalisation value gained N14 billion to close at N20.560 trillion from N20.546trillion the market opened for trading.

Thus, Month-to-Date gain increased to +2.4 per cent, while

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

Year-to-Date loss moderated to –two per cent. On sectors, the Insurance (-0.4 per cent) and Oil & Gas (-0.2 per cent,) indices declined while the Industrial Goods (+0.1 per cent,), Banking (+0.1 per cent,) and Consumer Goods (+0.1%) indices recorded gains.

The market positive performance was driven by price appreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks which are; Lafarge Africa, Zenith Bank,

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Dangote Sugar Refinery, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) and Morison Industries Plc. However, the market breadth closed negative, recording 17 gainers as against 18 losers. Morison Industries recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent to close at N1.54, per share.

Regency Alliance Insurance followed with a gain 9.52 per cent to close at 46 kobo, while Tripple Gee & Company went up by 9.09 per cent to close at

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

96 kobo, per share.

Consolidated Hallmark Insurance rose by 8.51 per cent to close at 51 kobo, while Jaiz Bank gained 6.90 per cent to close at 62 kobo, per share. On the other hand, FTN Cocoa Processors led the losers’ chart by 9.09 per cent to close at 40 kobo, per share. Courteville Business Solutions followed with a decline of 8.82 per cent to close at 31 kobo, while Sovreign Trust Insurance lost eight per cent to close at 23 kobo, per share.

O F

UAC of Nigeria (UACN) lost 6.55 per cent to close at N10.70, while Multiverse Mining and Exploration shed 4.76 per cent to close at 20 kobo, per share.

The total volume of trades declined by 6.9 per cent to 196.808 million units, valued at N1.454 billion, and exchanged in 3,881 deals. Transactions in the shares of Courteville Business Solutions topped the activity chart with 22.446 million shares valued at N7.335 million.

2 4 / 0 8 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

44

WEDNESDAY, ͺͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

45

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021 • T H I S DAY

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

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

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 23Aug-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 155.54 156.89 -3.91% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 4.90% Nigeria International Debt Fund 320.63 320.63 -16.71% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 107.59 107.59 -3.96% 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 7.48% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.29 3.45 -3.24% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 7.73% Anchoria Equity Fund 139.91 141.57 5.18% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.13 1.13 -14.79% 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 19.64 20.23 8.29% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 431.92 444.95 7.88% ARM Ethical Fund 38.24 39.39 13.42% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.09 1.09 -1.17% ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.97 0.98 -7.43% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.16% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 105.83 105.83 4.05% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,019.93 1,019.93 1.99% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.67% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.02 2.02 -9.35% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.13 2.17 -7.71% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.01 1.01 2.55% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.03% Paramount Equity Fund 16.49 16.77 3.04% Women's Investment Fund 136.29 137.87 2.41% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.21% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 117.69 118.46 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 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 7.79% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.20 1.22 0.30% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.39 1.39 -12.07% 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 8.39% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 7.68% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,152.63 1,168.75 0.06% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,405.55 1,405.55 11.22% FBN Balanced Fund 191.28 192.62 1.92% FBN Halal Fund 112.02 112.02 8.35% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.42% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

126.83 156.10

126.83 3.53% 159.41 3.25% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price 1.00 3.96 1.59 1.18

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 5.72% 3.96 2.43% 1.62 4.33% 1.18 4.30% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price N/A N/A N/A

Offer Price N/A N/A N/A

Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A N/A

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 7.80% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.68 2.74 -6.01% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 152.50 152.78 -1.93% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.27 1.31 1.01% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.09 1.09 0.50% 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 1.43 1.45 4.86% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,145.86 1,145.86 5.53% 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 11.39 11.42 8.69% 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 1.67 1.69 7.15% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.53 11.53 -5.17% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 6.02% PACAM Equity Fund 1.65 1.65 3.81% PACAM EuroBond Fund 112.87 114.72 2.75% 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 3,284.86 3,319.73 2.28% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 232.44 232.44 3.38% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.21 1.23 3.39% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 306.27 306.27 3.94% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 224.02 227.35 2.64% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.74% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,377.22 10,523.61 -1.12% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.27 1.27 3.52% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 115.36 115.36 3.85% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 103.19 103.19 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 4.28% United Capital Equity Fund 0.87 0.89 9.14% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.25% United Capital Eurobond Fund 119.90 119.90 4.75% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.06 1.07 3.89% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.06 1.06 6.00% 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 12.87 12.98 8.47% Zenith Ethical Fund 14.23 14.36 16.51% Zenith Income Fund 24.30 24.30 1.32% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.18%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

125.34 51.90

10.92% 2.86%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.35

13.45

0.99%

121.57 96.77 17.44 18.25

124.61 98.89 17.54 18.35

1.11% -2.46%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund

SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.90 5.54 17.50 1.00 19.64 156.07

3.94 5.62 17.60 1.00 19.84 158.07

3.20% -2.56% 7.81% 6.31% -4.26% -28.96%

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.

46

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021 • T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021 • T H I S D AY

47

48

˜ ͺͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

PDP Crisis Enters Another Phase as Secondus, Obeying Court Order, Hands Over to Deputy New helmsman suspends NWC indefinitely Embattled chair moves to vacate ruling Chuks Okocha, Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Ugo Aliogo in Lagos The leadership crisis besetting the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, took a different turn, when the embattled National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, in obedience to a Rivers High Court order, abdicated his office and handed over to his deputy, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi And in what many considered a masterstroke, Akinwonmi, upon assuming office immediately suspended the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and indefinitely.

But Secondus, who has been restrained from parading himself as the national chairman of PDP, has also commenced moves to vacate the controversial order against him by Justice O. Gbasah of the Rivers State High Court.

Believed to have been instigated by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, the court order had thrown the reconciliation moves commenced by the expanded PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) and the governors elected on the platform of the party into jeopardy.

The court, sitting in Port Harcourt, had granted an order of interim injunction stopping Secondus from parading himself as the PDP national chairman.

The order was made following a suit filed against the party chairman and the PDP by some members of the party identified as Ibeawuchi Ernest Alex, Dennis Nna Amadi, Emmanuel Stephen and Umezirike Onucha.

Justice O. Gbasah ordered Secondus to stop parading himself as a member of the PDP (the second defendant).

Justice Gbasah further restrained Secondus from attending or presiding over any meeting of the PDP or any committee of the party at ward, local government or state government levels.

The court also barred Secondus from calling for any ward, local government or sate congress or setting up committees for such congresses or participating in any activity of the PDP whatsoever while on suspension as a member of PDP. Before the court order, the NWC had scheduled a meeting to discuss the new date for the National Executive Committee (NEC).

But the meeting was not to be as Secondus immediately handed over the leadership of the party to Akinwonmi, who in turn adjourned the meeting of the NWC till further notice.

The PDP constitution states that Secondus should hand over to his deputy and he has done that in line with the party constitution He said in a statement that, according to "Section 45 (2) of the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party, it empowers me to summon and preside over party meetings in the absence of the national chairman.

"Our attention was drawn yesterday evening to a court order which purports to restrain our National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus from summoning and presiding over the meetings of the organs of the party.

"In the foregoing circumstances, as Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party, after consultations and in exercise of the aforesaid powers, I hereby deem it fit and prosper to postpone the National Working Committee meeting earlier scheduled for today until further notice to allow for broader con-

sultations in the overall interest of our party."

Akinwomi has been recuperating from a protracted illness and had to sign his public announcement with a thumb print publicly videoed.

The deputy national chairman of the party, north, Suleiman Nazif, had before now held series of meeting in an Abuja to oust Secondus from office He was seen as the anchor person for anti-Secondus elements within the NWC. The National Legal Adviser, Emmanuel Enoidem, later disclaimed the meeting stating that it was only a national convention could remove the National Working Committee (NWC) or any national officer.

Enoidem issued a rejoinder to the communique by some NWC members after the meeting in Abuja.

dress the crisis rocking the party.

Chairman of the PDP governors forum and Governor of Sokoto State, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, summoned the meeting, which would take place at the Akwa Ibom State Government Lodge.

A fortnight ago, the governors summoned an emergency meeting

after the seven national deputies resigned their membership of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

Thursday's meeting might not be unconnected to the court order in Rivers State restraining Secondus from parading himself as the national chairman of the party.

Though in obedience to the order, Secondus handed over the affairs of the party to Akinwonmi, but Nazif refused to accept that the deputy national chairman from the south should preside over the affairs of the party.

The PDP constitution in Section 47 (6) stated that in the absence of the national chairman,the deputy

national chairman from the zone of the national chairman should preside.

But Nazif has also summoned an emergency NEC meeting to take place on Friday, whileAkinwonmi in another statement late Tuesday night had described the meeting as illegal and urged members of NEC to ignore it.

Six out of the nine voted for the sack of Secondus.

At the meeting were Deputy National Chairman (North), Suleiman Nazif; National Secretary, Umar Tsauri; National Auditor, Adamu Mustapha; and National Financial Secretary, Abdulahi Maibasira.

Others were Youth Leader, S. K. Udeh-Okoye; Vice Chairman (SW), Taofiq Arapaja; Vice Chairman (SE), Ali Odefa; Vice Chairman (SS), Dan Orbih, and Vice chairman (NC), Chief Theophilus Dakas.

“The matter of his resignation was put to vote, six members voted that he should resign and three members abstained from voting,” the communique read.

Six NWC members who voted against Secondus were Nazif, Mustapher, Udeh- Okoye, Arapaja, Orbih and Odefa.

The PDP body comprises 18 members, including six national vice chairmen from the geopolitical zones.

But Enoidem said by Section 29 (3) and Subsection (4) of the PDP constitution, only the national chairman or a summon by two-thirds of NWC members could convene a meeting.

He noted that the action of the officials was “in utter disdain and violation of clear extant provisions of our constitution”.

Enoidem maintained that the issue of resignation of any officer at any level was a personal decision as stipulated in Sections 45(1) & 47(5).

“There is no provision in our constitution, which donates powers to any individuals to ask an officer of the party to resign for any reason whatsoever, as was purported in the so called press release.

“The powers to remove any member of the NWC and indeed any national officer is reserved in the national convention, which is due for December 2021," he stressed.

Meanwhile, Secondus has commenced moves to vacate the court order against the leadership of the party.

Some stakeholders wanted him to approach another high court in Abuja or elsewhere, but, he insisted that he would follow due processes of law to vacate the court order.

THISDAY gathered that he chose to legally follow the due process and at press time, his counsel, Emeka Etiaba has moved to Port Harcourt for the processes.

In another development, governors elected on the platform of the PDP have summoned an emergency for Thursday, to ad-

WELCOME TO THE VILLA...

President Muhammadu Buhari (left), welcoming Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, to his office at the PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI Presidential Villa in Abuja... yesterday

Delta Devt: I Won't Slow Down Until 2023, Says Okowa …tasks stakeholders on unity

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday expressed his desire to maintain the tempo of development of the state until the end of his second tenure in office in 2023, which he noted was in line with his administration's ‘Stronger Delta’ agenda.

Okowa gave the assurance yesterday at a Stakeholders’ Interactive Forum held in Asaba, the state capital, as part of the activities to mark the 30th anniversary of the creation of the state.

The governor expressed the desire to resist all forms of distraction from the ongoing flurry of political activities in the country towards the 2023 general election, advising members of his team and all well-meaning Deltans to support him in that regard.

According to him, "I don't intend to slow down the current tempo of development in the state, because we are committed to the ‘Stroger Delta’ agenda. Also, I won't allow election matters to slow me down until the very end of this administration."

The governor also noted that the interactive session by stakeholders in the state was designed as an avenue for the people of the state to reflect on the last 30 years, share experiences and chart a course for the future, just as he expressed delight over the optimism that trailed the creation of Delta State in 1991 owing to certain political differences at that time, which he said had since given way to a more united people despite the ethnic and cultural diversity among the people.

Nevertheless, Okowa expressed contentment that the initial depressing wave of skepticism had since faded away and given rise to deep faith in the oneness of the state.

Okowa said: "Thirty years ago, Delta State was born and, given the prevailing political atmosphere at that time, its birth

was understandably greeted with cautious optimism.

"Indeed, not a few were skeptical about the future of the new state given its ethnic plurality and the initial feelings of disappointment among those who felt shortchanged in the process.

"But after 30 years of existence, it is gratifying to note that the skepticism has given way to belief; despair has been replaced by confidence, and suspicion has succumbed to understanding and acceptance.

"I can boldly say that Deltans have come to live as one big, happy family, and the state has continued to forge ahead in all indices of human, physical and economic development.

"My appreciation also goes to elected politicians and political appointees who have served the state at various times. Your ideas, policies, programmes and contributions have helped to raise the profile of the state to what it is now-a pacesetter in the Nigerian federation."

The governor also paid glowing tributes to his predecessors, late Chief Felix Ibru, Chief James Ibori, and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, for their immense contributions to the growth and development of the state.

He further took the opportunity of the interactive session to reel out a litany of achievements by his administration, which he stressed has adopted a multi-sectoral approach in the development of the state, which has also significantly improved on the growth trajectory recorded by his predecessors.

Okowa lauded the successive administrations of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state for the continuity of programmes and policies since 1999.

In the area of education, he disclosed that the three new universities created by his administration would commence academic session in September this year, and

would provide opportunities to many bright students, who, due to limited space, were unable to gain admission into the existing public universities.

The governor said: "In the tertiary education sector, three existing institutions have been upgraded to universities to broaden access to university education for our bright students, especially in the fields of medicine, engineering, law, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and architecture."

On the health sector, Okowa noted that Delta State became the first in the country to commence universal health coverage with no fewer than 950,000 enrollees under the scheme-the highest so far in the country-with 487 hospitals officially accredited to provide the service.

The governor, who also scored his administration high on job creation, youth empowerment, and agro-industrialisation, disclosed that his administration has extended the frontiers of rural-urban integration vis-a-vis urban renewal through massive infrastructural development, especially road projects.

"The 20.28-kilometre Obotobo I-Obotobo II-Sokebolou–Yokri Road in Burutu Local Government Area in the state underscores our commitment to providing infrastructure of the most vital interest and consequence to the people of the state.

"Indeed, the riverine communities of Burutu, Oporoza, Okerenkoko, and Benekrukru, among others, have been given a facelift with well-paved roads.

"Building on the foundation laid by my predecessors, we have transformed Asaba, the capital city, into one of the fastest growing cities in Nigeria.

"The sprawling ultra-modern Central Secretariat Complex, which is close to completion, has enhanced the architectural beauty of Asaba landscape," he stated.

Meanwhile, the governor also commended the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari recently, however, with reservations.

Okowa said: "We welcome the passage of the PIA, but I must say that the three per cent allocated to host communities from the operating cost of the oil companies is unsatisfactory.

"We are convinced that the five per cent demanded by our state and other oil-producing states is fair, just and equitable in view of the ecological and environmental degradation that the host communities are exposed to from oil exploration.

"We shall continue to push for higher compensation, but I appeal to all Deltans, particularly the youths, to be calm and lawabiding. I am confident that we will have the opportunity to make improvements to the law by way of amendment.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Patrick Ukah, posited that at 30, Delta State is smart, strong and safe, and had brought to the fore the results of three decades of hard work and dedication by the founding fathers of the state.

Ukah stressed that the state was celebrating 30 years of massive infrastructure, education, sports, entertainment, human capital development and small-scale enterprises among other successes.

The session was attended by many dignitaries, including the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro; former military administrator of the state, Navy Commander Walter Feghabo (rtd); Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori; Chief Judge of the state, Justice Theresa Diai; Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Chief Ndudi Elumelu; traditional rulers, among others.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Five of 136 Abducted Tegina School Children Dead, Says Head Teacher Bandits collect N50m, fail to release kidnapped kids Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Five of the 136 school children kidnapped almost three months ago from Salihu Tanko Islamiya School, Tegina , Niger State, have died, Head Teacher of the school, Abubakar Hassan, has revealed.

The gunmen kidnapped the students from the Islamic school on May 30, in one of the several cases of such attacks on schools in the north, with the state governors of some of the states recently shutting down learning centres in their domains.

Speaking on ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, yesterday, Hassan stated that many of the children are young and weak, ranging from four to 17 years, noting that the bandits called him to confirm the deaths and insisting that the money they demanded must be paid in full.

He said he had spoken with the bandits two times in the last three days, stressing that the kidnappers revealed that majority of the kids were seriously ill, including those will swollen legs and other ailments. “ I was told they are all weak, apart from the young adults who may be a bit strong. Their clothes are dirty and torn. The

bandits asked us to find a way to sew some clothes and pass them over. They (the kids) are almost naked, “ he said.

He described the situation as painful, explaining that over 130 kids were still being held after spending

close to three months in their abductors’ den.

The obviously distressed head teacher mentioned that

the condition of the children remained very bad from the information he had, noting that the parents and several

public-spirited people had donated some money which the bandits collected but still refused to free the kids.

EXPORT DRIVE…

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum (left), and the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, during Zulum’s visit to NEPC’s office in Abuja…recently

House Threatens to Withhold Gunmen Kill Six in Rivers Community CAC’s 2022 Budget over Missing Financial Reports Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives Committee on Finance has threatened to withhold the 2022 budgetary allocation to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) over non-rendition of its financial statements in the past four years.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. James Faleke, disclosed this yesterday during an interactive session on 2022-2024 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), with the CAC Registrar General, Abubakar Garba.

According to him, the documents submitted by the

commission indicated that its revenue had always been lower than its expenditure from 2016 to 2020.

He said the CAC’s budgetary performance in 2021 had already put it in deficit due to its spending which he said was unhealthy for the organisation and overall financial status of the country.

The lawmaker therefore said the CAC would have its budgetary allocation withheld until it submits its financial report from 2016 to 2020.

He said, ‘’I have worked in private organisation before coming to the House of Representatives and they will always regulate their expenses and not spend beyond what they generate.

LG Chairman Appoints 96 New Aides in Kano Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

The Chairman of Karaye Local Government Council (KLGC) in Kano State, Mr. Balarabe Isyaku Yusuf, has appointed 96 new aides based on merit.

Isyaku charged them to uphold the appointments in utmost honesty and commitment for the development of the area.

In a press statement sent to THISDAY yesterday by the spokesperson of the KLGC, Mr. Haruna Muhammad Gunduwawa, said the new appointees included senior special assistants and special assistants who would assist the chairman

in running the affairs of the local government.

In a goodwill message by the Kano State Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Ibrahim Ahmad Karaye, charged the appointees to reciprocate the gesture by living up to expectations.

Karaye called on the people of the area, especially those who have attained the age of 18, to obtain voters’ cards in the ongoing exercise.

He also tasked supporters of the All Progessive Congress (APC) and the general public to rally round the Governor Ganduje’s administration in uplifting the status of Kano State.

Unknown gunmen believed to be cultists have killed six persons in Gwara and KonoBoue communities, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

THISDAY gathered that the rampaging gunmen invaded Gwara on the yesterday morning and reportedly shot three persons dead.

Our source disclosed that the

gunmen numbering seven, same yesterday afternoon stormed neighbouring Kono-Boue community where they shot dead a motorcycle rider and his two passengers, while many natives fled the community for safety.

Another source, who pleaded anonymity, said the sporadic shooting by the hoodlums left three persons dead.

The Public Relations Officer

of Kono-Boue Community Development Committee, Golden Nwibakpo, who confirmed the incident narrated that the killing caused panic in the area, as residents fled into the bushes for safety.

Golden said: “This afternoon unknown gunmen invaded Gwara community, killing about three persons. They went into Kono-Boue, killing three too. A motorcycle rider and the persons

that were with him were killed.

“They were coming from Thanksgiving service when they ran into the gunmen and were shot dead.”

Golden said he called the Divisional Police Officer in-charge of Bori division, but regretted that before the police team could arrive the community the hoodlums had already left the scene of the crime.

Prepare for Three Days of Flash Flood, NiMet Warns 34 States Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet), yesterday warned of flash floods across 34 states in the federation in the next three days.

The NiMET said that there would be from moderate to heavy rainfall that could lead

to flash floods.

A statement by its General Manager,Public Relations, Mr. Muntari Yusuf Ibrahim, in Abuja noted that the occurrences could affect states such as: Sokoto; Zamfara; Katsina; Kaduna; Kano; Jigawa; Bauchi; Gombe; Yobe; Kebbi; Niger; FCT; Plateau; Adamawa;

and Taraba.

Others are: Kwara; Oyo; Lagos; Ondo; Ogun; Edo; Delta; Bayelsa, Cross River; Akwa Ibom; Benue; Enugu; Ebonyi; Imo; Anambra; Abia and River States.

“Consequently, the NiMet has advised that the slim chances of flash flood events

on roads, settlements, farmlands and bridges could be more pronounced and as a result there are increased likelihood of cars skidding off the road and chances of car crashes,” said NiMet. NiMet also advised Nigerians not to treat the current update with kid gloves.

Glo Launches Mobile TV with Premium Content

Telecommunications giant, Globacom, has launched Glo TV, an innovative TV streaming service on Android, IOS apps and web for watching live linear television video on demand and catch-up contents.

Unveiling the new service at the company’s headquarters in Lagos yesterday, Globacom said that Glo TV would positively

alter the television landscape in Nigeria as it will beam highly sought-after television content to millions of subscribers via their desktop and mobile handheld devices. Glo TV is powered by the reliable Glo 4G technology which ensures a pleasant streaming experience.

According to the company, “Glo TV brings engaging,

interactive and premium entertainment content through a rich bouquet of offerings including hundreds of live entertainment programmes, music, documentary, news, original shows, fashion, lifestyle, kiddies’ interest channels and over 1,000 videos as the company continues to partner with content providers to address the needs

of more customers across social strata.”

The company expressed excitement over the roll-out of the service, stating, “This first-ofits-kind mobile TV initiative will offer the best premium all-round entertainment, news and sports content and is set to become Nigeria’s one-stop entertainment destination.

Obaseki Eulogises Late Okunbo The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has described late Capt. Idahosa Okunbo as an icon of selfless service, noting that his death was a great loss to the state and country.

The governor said this when he paid a condolence visit to the Okunbo family in Benin City, Edo State.

Obaseki was accompanied by

Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Osaigbovo Iyoha, among other top government functionaries.

According to him, “Today, I came to pay a condolence visit in the company of the Secretary to Edo State Government and my Chief of Staff, to tell you that we, your brothers in Government and

the people of Edo State share in your loss.

“This is because the passing of my brother, Capt. Idahosa Okunbo is not just a loss to the Okunbo family, it is a bigger loss to the Benin and Edo family, as well as Nigeria.

“So much has been said about him in the cause of his life, but he lived several lifetimes in those 60

years. We are here to let you know that his death is a great loss to us all. We must learn from his life, particularly his life of generosity.”

The governor added: “Captain was generous to a fault. Yes, some people may have taken advantage of it, but it was a good virtue and I am sure that if he came back again, he would be as generous as he was in his lifetime.

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WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Nigeria, Cameroon Secessionist Groups Forming Alliance, Says Monguno Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) yesterday raised the alarm that secessionist groups in Nigeria and Cameroun were forming alliances to destablise both countries.

He disclosed this while speaking at the eight Session of the Cameroon/ Nigeria Transborder Security Committee held in Abuja.

Monguno also stated that the terrorist groups, Boko Haram and the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) remained the most dominant transnational security threats faced by both nations.

He said Nigeria would not be used as a staging ground for secessionist activities.

He said the collaboration between Nigeria and Cameroun in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) was yielding positive results.

“Another emerging concern is the attempt by secessionist groups in Nigeria to form alliances with secessionist groups in Cameroon in order to destablise both countries.

“Let me re-emphasise what I mentioned in my opening remarks during the sixth session in 2019. His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari

reassures you that Nigeria’s territory will never be used as a haven or staging area by any group of secessionists to destabilise another friendly sovereign country.

“In addition, we will work

closely together to ensure that any real or perceived attempts to form any alliances between secessionist groups in Nigeria and Cameroon are decisively dealt with,” he said.

Monguno stated that the

most dominant transnational security issue remained Boko Haram and ISWAP. “The most dominant transnational security issue remains the threat of terrorism perpetrated by ISWAP and

Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs).

These terrorist groups continue to exploit the porous border areas to disrupt the livelihoods of innocent citizens in their communities.

“At this point, I am glad

to acknowledge that the close counter-terrorism collaboration between our two countries has significantly curtailed the activities of these terrorists as well as other forms of criminality.

COLLABORATION…

L-R: Member, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Hon. Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma; Board Chairman, CCB, Prof. Mohammed Isah; Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Lamido Yuguda; Executive Commissioner, Operations, SEC, Mr. Dayo Obisan, and Executive Commissioner, Legal and Enforcement, SEC, Mr. Reginald Karawusa, during a meeting between the SEC and CCB officials in Abuja…yesterday

Police Confirm Killing of Nonagenarian Arrested for Drug Trafficking Two Officers in Kogi Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja The Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police Zone 8, Ayuba Ede, has confirmed the death of two police officers who were killed by armed robbers at a check point on Iyara –Kabba Road in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State last Monday.

Ede, who confirmed the incident while speaking shortly after the police officers were shot by the fleeing robbers at Iyara, said the gunmen attacked the officers while on duty.

The AIG explained that the police have since after the incident mobilised and on the trail of the hoodlums who rode on motorcycle to attack the officers.

He added that he is hopeful that the police would get them (criminals) as quickly as possible.

However, it was a tragic end for the two officers last Monday evening when men suspected to be armed robbers shot at them at a check point between Iyara and Kabba in Kogi State.

THISDAY gathered that the robbers were said to be passing by in a Sport Utility Vehicle when the police, who were at the check point, flagged them down for a routine check, and they (robbers) suddenly opened fire on two of them (policemen) and sped off.

It was learned that three other policemen, who managed to escape the attack, sustained various injuries as the fleeing robbers shot sporadically to pave their way for escape.

Sources further hinted that the affected policemen were from the newly created Kabba Police B Divisional Headquarters.

A 96-year-old retired military officer, Pa Joseph Owherhi, who is married to eight women with 50 children and many grandchildren, has been arrested in Suleja area of Niger State by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly dealing in illicit drugs.

According to a statement issued

yesterday by the spokesman of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, the nonagenarian was arrested in his house at Rafin Sanyi area of Suleja on August 21, 2021, with three kilogrammes of skunk based on credible intelligence.

He said Owherhi, in his statement, confessed that he had been living on the illicit trade since he retired from the military in 1982. Babafemi said the ex-soldier

also claimed he has eight wives and 50 children.

In another development, four trans-border drug traffickers have been arrested in Adamawa State while attempting to cross the Nigerian land border with Cameroon on motorcycle in Kolere village, Mubi North Local Government Area on August 22 with packs of Tramadol concealed in noodles cartons.

The suspects, according to the spokesman, are Ibrahim Aliyu, Umar Mohammed, Aliyu Adamu, and Usman Adamu.

Also, he said narcotic officers had during a raid the previous day arrested a drug dealer, Chimezie Okorie, at Layin ‘Yan Gwanjo, Mubi market, where assorted drugs such as tramadol and diazepam injection were recovered from him.

Kidnappers Abduct 300-level Student in Kwara, Demand N50m Ransom A 300-level female student of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, in Moro Local Government Area of the state, has been kidnapped.

Meanwhile, the management of the institution has confirmed that the victim is Miss Isiaq Kadeejah of the Mass Communication department.

A statement issued in

Ilorin yesterday which was signed by the institution’s Director of Relations, Mr. AbdulRazaq Sanni, stated that the management of the institution has been working with relevant security agencies in the state to ensure the freedom of the student.

The incident, according to THISDAY checks, happened last Sunday night at Malete

when the students were returning to their hostels.

Sources closed to the institution told THISDAY yesterday in Ilorin that the female student was kidnapped while returning from one of the hostels of the institution where she has gone to drop a book to her friend.

Sources added that upon her return, some suspected

kidnappers were said to have accosted her at gun point and whisked her away into the bush.

It was further learnt that two other students were also said to have been abducted in the university by the suspected kidnappers while they boarded commercial motorcycle to their respective hostels.

Condemns Unlawful Detention of Citizen by Police Oyetola Urges APC Chairman NHRC to serve as a deterrent. The policing, and that perpetrators for her release without further Michael Olugbode in Abuja Executive Secretary of the of such heinous crime must be delay. to Discontinue Court Case “The commission is The National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, immediately brought to justice.

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, yesterday urged the state All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Chairman, Gboyega Famodun, to discontinue the court case against some chieftains of the party who invaded the party’s secretariat with armed thugs a fortnight ago.

This directive was contained in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan..

The governor, who was away when the incident occurred, had in the wake of the crisis, directed security operatives to take charge of the party secretariat to prevent any further breakdown of law and order, just as he

had also condemned what he termed the “unruly behaviour” exhibited by some aggrieved members of the party at the APC secretariat in Osogbo.

He said no sane society would condone any act of lawlessness.

However, upon his return to the state last Monday, Oyetola summoned an emergency meeting of the party stakeholders, and insisted that as members of the same family, whatever differences that existed could be resolved without necessarily resorting to litigation.

Therefore, he has directed the party chairman in the state to withdraw the court cases and take necessary measures to discontinue the matter.

Commission (NHRC) has decried the illegal detention of citizens by some law enforcement agencies beyond the constitutionally stipulated ‘reasonable’ time, insisting that such an unwholesome act is a gross violation of human rights, and must be accounted for,

stated this in Abuja while reacting to the alleged illegal detention of one Gloria Okolie by the Nigerian Police.

Ojukwu, while reacting to the alleged detention of Okolie for over 67 days, observed that such unprofessional conduct cannot be tolerated in the 21st century

He said he became more disturbed upon learning that the victim, “while being detained, was used as a slave girl by the officers and was terribly abused, washing clothes, sent on errands to buy stuffs for officers, tortured by some of the officers in charge of her detention hence the need

therefore using this medium to demand the immediate and unconstitutional release of the detainee or in alternative charge her to a court of competent jurisdiction so that she will enjoy the right to fair hearing and the opportunity to defend the allegations against her, if any.”

IG Tasks Govs, Police Personnel on Community Policing

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city

The Inspector General of Police (IG), Usman Baba Alkali, yesterday called on the state governments and police personnel to ensure that those drafted into the community policing system are people with proven character.

The police boss, who said the

federal government has adopted community policing to check crime and criminality, a practice he said was obtainable in most parts of today’s world, spoke when he addressed officers and men of the command while on a working and familiarization tour of the state.

Alkali announced that statistics have shown the reduction in the

level of crime in some parts of the country since the community policing model was adopted, compared to what it was when he first resumed office as the Inspector General of Police.

According to him, “I think I can say statistically that what we have in South-South, SouthEast and even South-West has changed greatly from what we

met and in the other parts of the country. We are also doing much to improve the situation there.

“If every state is fighting crime like Edo State, most of us will be resting, however, there is room for improvement because if you relax while fighting crime, crime will come back at you in a different form so I urge you to continue.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Marwa: NDLEA Seized N100bn Hard Drugs in Eight Months Daji Sani in Yola

The Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), General Buba Marwa (rtd), has disclosed that two million kilogrammes of different hard drugs have been seized in Nigeria by the agency from January 2021 till date.

Marwa, who was in Yola, Adamawa State capital, on a condolence visit to the family of Late Ahmed Joda, noted that the value of the hard drugs sized from January till now worth over N100billion.

According to Marwa, “The best way to checkmate this menace was to inculcate our family values in our children.

The security challenges facing the country today was as a result of the influence of drugs on the most productive component of the society.”

He said the usage of hard drugs in the society by the same group has become most worrisome and calls for concerns among critical stakeholders.

The agency boss said: “Poverty has remained the major cause why our youths get involved in drug peddling and trafficking, and presently, a kilo of these hard drugs worth about $400 in

the street.”

Marwa, therefore, appealled to Nigerians, especially the youths, to shun the use of hard drugs, and also urged parents to be on the lookout for what their children and

ward do as well as the group they keep.

He said the best way to check the increasing rate of violence induced by hard drugs intake is by the family, adding that good family

values must be inculcated at the family level.

While thanking the federal government for the support for his agency, he said such support has been able to boast the morale of his officers and

men, attributing the success of NDLEA in the seizure of over two million kg of various hard drugs worth over N1billion in the last eight months to the support.

Marwa, after condoling

with the family of late Ahmed Joda, said the deceased was a bridge builder who mentored all Nigerians irrespective of their tribe or religion when he was in service.

ANNUAL REUNION…

L-R: Former Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu; President, Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA), Mallam Abdulfatah Olalenge; Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede; Chairman, Board of Trustees of UNIFEMGA, Alhaji Rafiu Adisa Ebiti; and a legal practitioner, Mallam Yusuf Alli (SAN), during the Annual UNIFEMGA Reunion held at OAU Campus, Ile-Ife, Osun State… recently

EFCC Opposes Koudeih’s FG, Hungarian Firm Partner on Aircraft Assembly Plant in Nigeria of the President Muhammadu Director, Public Affairs of the materials; high strength and Kasim Sumaina in Abuja Application for Foreign Buhari administration. ministry, Mr. James Odaudu, very lightweight.”

The Minister of Aviation, explained that: “If we venture According to him, The federal government Medical Checkup through the Ministry of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika, disclosed we them, we may start with “Aerobatics is the practice of The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged a vacation Judge of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, Justice Ringim Tijjani, to dismiss the application of one Hamza Koudeih seeking leave of the court to travel to Lebanon for psychiatric treatment.

According to a statement issued by the commission Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, Koudeih is being prosecuted by the EFCC alongside one Kayode Phillips, both of whom are alleged accomplices of Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, before Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, for alleged money laundering.

The defendants, who are allegedly high-valued targets

in organised cyber syndicate network, were arraigned on November 28, 2019, on 25-count charges bordering on conspiracy and money laundering.

One of the charges read: “That you, Kayode Phillips (aka Voice of the King) and Hamza Koudeih (aka HK), sometime in May 2019 within the jurisdiction of this court, conspired among yourselves to commit an offence to wit: conversion of the aggregate sum of $7,069, 000 £1,000,000, and €80,000, which sums you reasonably ought to have known form part of the proceeds of fraud, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18 (a), 15 (2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

Monarch Promises to Rebuild Ancient City The ancient town of Imasayi in Yewa North Local Government of Ogun State has been agog with celebrations following the approval of the state government of Prince Kuoye Lukman Olalekan as the Olu-Imasai of Imasayi.

The new Oba, who boasts of a wealth of experience in public service spanning over two decades, has promised to rebuild the ancient city.

And the people of the kingdom are unanimous in their belief that his reign will usher peace and development to the town.

Prince Kuoye, from Oyesokun Ruling House, emerged victorious during the selection process conducted by the traditional chiefs under the strict supervision

of officials of Yewa North Local Government officials in Ayetoro in March 2021.

Until his selection to the stool of his forefathers, Kuoye worked with National Identity Management Commission, NIMC. He had also served as Special Assistant to Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State and was also a former Secretary and Vice-Chairman, Transition Committee of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government.

A renowned social worker, Chief Kuoye holds a Masters’ Degree in Social Work from Lagos State University and was a past President of Rotary Club of Atan-Ota and Charter President, Rotary Club of Ado-Odo.

has expressed its readiness to partner the Magnus aircraft manufacturing industry in Hungary to establish an assembly plant and commence complete manufacturing of aircraft in Nigeria before the end

this interest when he paid an inspection visit to the Magnus Aircraft Industry in Pogany, Hungary.

Sirika in a statement made available to journalists yesterday in Abuja by the

assembling plant and later manufacturing.”

He added that the Magnus aircraft is an aeroplane good for military training, stating that: “It has an aerobatic maneuver and is made of fully composite

flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight.

Aerobatics are also performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment, and sport.”

Stakeholders Admonish Govt on Cost-saving Measures Adibe Emenyonu inBenin-city

As a panacea to the dwindling resources nationwide, stakeholders have admonished government at all levels to adopt cost saving measure in project implementation.

The advice was given at the 19th International Cost Management Conference of the Chartered Institute of Cost Management of Nigeria (CICMN) yesterday

in Benin-city, the capital of Edo State.

Those who spoke at the conference on the theme: ‘Cost Management Strategies: Formulation and Implementation for Optimum Impact’, described it as apt because the current economic reality in the country called for continuous review of cost management processes by the government. They also lauded the

contribution of the CICMN to the growth of the Nigeria economy, and called for the body to organise more capacity building for cost managers, especially those in government.

In his keynote address, the Secretary to Edo Government (SSG) called on CICMN to use its platform to come up with initiative that would assist the public sector in its cost management strategies

in the face of the present economic realities, with a view to promoting greater productivity at minimum cost.

Represented by Mrs. Deborah Enakhimion, the Permanent Secretary, Edo Government House, Ogie, who declared the conference opened, acknowledged the contribution of CICMN towards the development of the state, and called for continued support.

Enugu Approves Salary Increase for Health Workers Health professionals and workers in Enugu State under the auspices of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), went wild with jubilation yesterday as Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi announced an upward increase of their Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) from 41 per cent to 60 per cent, effective from

September 2021, in spite of the nation’s economic, security and public health challenges.

Gov. Ugwuanyi made the announcement when he addressed a delegation from JOHESU comprising members of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Nigeria Union of Allied Health

Professionals (NUAHP) and Medical and Health Workers Sector Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), at the Government House, Enugu.

Members of JOHESU were at the Government House, Enugu, on a thank-you visit to Ugwuanyi for his benevolence and unflinching commitment to the welfare of health workers in the state.

Presenting their address, the State Chairman of JOHESU, Comrade Ezekiel Omeh, told Gov. Ugwuanyi that: “We are very grateful to the Almighty God who has chosen you, Your Excellency, to actualize the implementation of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for the health professionals and workers in Enugu State”.

Umahi, Otti Condole with Ikpeazu, Ironsi, Okpara’s Families over Death of Matriachs Governor Dave Umahi has condoled with the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu and the families of the late former military head of state, General Aguiyi Ironsi and late Premier of the former Eastern region, Michael Okpara over the passing of their Matriachs Dame Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi and Lady Adanne Okpara recently.

In separate condolence messages to Ikpeazu and the two families, Umahi said “I received with the deepest sympathies, the sad news of the death of our matriarchs and legendary mothers, Dame Victoria AguiyiIronsi, wife of the first Military Head of State of Nigeria, Gen. Johnson Umunnakwe AguiyiIronsi, and Lady Adanna Okpara,

wife of the Premier of the defunct Eastern Nigeria, Dr. M. I. Okpara who were respectively called to glory on August, 2021 at a bracket age of 97 years.”

He described the Late Dame Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi “as a first lady of quintessential charisma who showed deep commitment to national unity and integration both in the husband’s Unitary

government and in her private life.”

Umahi pointed out that “Late Lady Adanna Okpara was a pillar of support to her husband’s governance principles.

She was a strong believer in the husband’s philosophy of ‘pragmatic socialism’ and ‘green revolution’ as a panacea for national development.”

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WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

AFTERMATH OF RED CARD

Osimhen Slammed with Two-match Ban, Fined N2m To miss Napoli’s clash with Cristiano Ronaldo’ s Juve Femi Solaja The Disciplinary Committee of Italian Serie Ayesterday slammed Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen with a twomatch ban which was aftermath of the red card decision against him last Sunday in Napoli’s 2-0 win against Venezia.

The punishment means, the Nigerian striker will not be opportuned to face his childhood hero, Cristiano Ronaldo, for the second time in his career.

The two-match ban covers the upcoming matches against Genoa and home leg with former champions Juventus.

Osimhen was sent off just 23 minutes into the clash with Venezia for striking out at Daan Heymans as they waited for a corner kick.

The referee described the incident in his official report as “voluntarily striking an opposition player with a slap to the face while the ball was at a distance.”

Victor Osimhen ...to seat out two games for the red card

Aside from the match-ban the Nigeria international was also handed a €5,000 (about N2million) fine.

Last season, Osimhen was in action as Napoli secured a lone goal win against the then Serie A champions and after the match, the Nigeria forward was privileged to have a photo opportunity with his hero in the away dressing room. The picture, which he posted on Instagram went viral.

Last weekend’s ‘misadventure was Osimhen’s first red card in the league but was handed a total of four yellow cards last season.

While Osimhen was handed a longer match ban, other red card offenders were visited with ust one match ban.

The players include; Fiorentina goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski, Verona midfielder Miguel Veloso, Bologna pair Jerdy Schouten and Roberto Soriano, Roma star Nicolò Zaniolo and Salernitana’s Stefan Strandberg.

Dare, Three Other Ministers Host Nigeria’s Triumphant U-20 Contingent Youth and Sports Development Minister, Sunday Dare along with three of his colleagues in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday hosted the triumphant Team Nigeria contingent to the just concluded World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.

Dare, alongside Hajia Sadiya Farouk, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dame Pauline Tallen, the Minister

of Women Affairs and Emeka Nwajiuba, the Minister of State for Education held a reception for the history-making contingent at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja shortly after they returned to the country yesterday morning.

At the brief ceremony, Dare praised the team for the unprecedented feat of finishing third (out of 116 countries)on the medals table as well as recording Nigeria's best ever medal haul of four gold and three bronze

medals.

He said the giant strides witnessed at the Kenya meet would not have happened without hardwork and determination, stressing that the athletes are the future of the sport in Nigeria, a position that was corroborated by the

other Ministers who also poured encomiums on them for doing the nation proud.

According to Dare, “these young athletes have done the country proud. They have not only made a statement of intent to rule the world, but have made it emphatically clear that we are

rebuilding a new generation of athletes.

“These young ones are brilliant stars and the country will embrace them, support and nurture them and unleash them on the world at Paris 2024 Olympics and several other up-coming championships.”

The four ministers were unanimous in affirming President Muhammadu Buhari's statement on the team as a confirmation of the faith he has and the support given to young Nigerians who excel in their different areas of endeavour be it sports, education, politics or entertainment.

Team Nigeria File out in Style at Opening Ceremony 2 0 2 0 PA R A LY M P I C GA M E S Team Nigeria athletes were the cynosure of all eyes at Tuesday's opening ceremony of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

The team filed out in style in their green and white uniforms, providing a beautiful setting for the ceremony that had only a handful of people in attendance owing to Coronavirus restrictions.

Chef De Mission of Team Nigeria, who is the Acting Director of Planning, Monitoring, and Information in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Peter Nelson, said the country’s paralympic athletes know what is at stake in Tokyo and the aspirations of Nigerians.

"We are so glad that Team Nigeria athletes to this Paralympics Games know what is at stake. They understand the aspirations of all Nigerians here in Tokyo, Japan. We are looking forward to a memorable outing.

He confirmed that the athletes led by Captain Lucy Ejike were in high spirit, waiting for competition to begin to reap medals for Nigeria.

"The athletes are in very high spirit ahead of their respective events. The support and prayers of Nigerians is key and the element of luck cannot be ruled out at this level.

"By God grace, medals will start to roll in for Team Nigeria as soon as the different events begin," Nelson concluded.

Nigeria’s contingent to the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya arrived home to a reception at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja...yesterday

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SPORTS

At last, Real Madrid Table €160m Bid for Mbappe Real Madrid have informed Paris Saint-Germain that they are prepared to pay up to €160million to sign Kylian Mbappe this summer and have now entered talks over a deal for the forward.

Mbappe has entered the final season of his PSG contract and is currently on course to become a free agent next summer. But Real are determined to try to sign the 22-year-old now rather than risk the uncertainty of waiting another nine months.

There has long been a mutual admiration between Real and Mbappe and 90min understands that PSG informed Los Blancos earlier this week of their willingness to talk.

That marked a significant step forward as PSG had previously rebuffed contact from Real.

Things changed after the Spanish side made it clear that they are willing to pay up to €160m.

TRANSFER NEWS PSG, who have been unable to convince Mbappe to sign a new contract and therefore otherwise face losing him as a free agent next year, are happy to start negotiating a transfer.

One issue, however, centres on paying up the final season of his PSG contract, as the French giants are keen not to hand over any money for him to leave the club.

Should Mbappe move on, 90min understands PSG will not look to Cristiano Ronaldo as his replacement and will instead target a deal for Everton attacker Richarlison.

The Parisians made contact with the Brazilian's representatives earlier this week, and the Toffees are willing to sell should an appropriate bid arrive.

It was reported yesterday evening that Ronaldo is pushing

for a transfer to Manchester City, but like PSG they are not currently interested in bringing in the 36-year-old superstar.

PSG made Mbappe the second most expensive player in history in 2018 when he completed a €180m transfer from Monaco, having already spent a season on loan in Paris.

The player was still only 19 at the time, 18 when the initial loan was agreed, but had already established himself as one of the most exciting talents in the world.

Mbappe scored 26 goals in 44 appearances in his only full season in Monaco’s first team, helping the club win Ligue 1 ahead of PSG and reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 19 years.

He has since scored 133 goals in 174 games for PSG, winning three domestic doubles, two domestic trebles and playing in the 2020 Champions League final.

Robertson Seals New Liverpool Deal Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson has signed a new deal with the club which runs until the summer of 2026.

The 27-year-old Scotland captain joined the Reds from Hull in July 2017 for an initial fee of £8m and has made 177 appearances for the Anfield club.

Robertson follows Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Alisson and Virgil van Dijk in extending his contract with Liverpool this summer.

"I want to stay at this club for as long as possible," said Robertson.

"It's always a happy time for me, for my family. We're settled here, we love everything about this football club and I'm glad

that the journey is continuing."

Robertson has won the Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup during his time at Liverpool.

His start to this season has been hampered by ankle ligament damage he suffered in a pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao.

It has resulted in him missing Liverpool's first two games of the Premier League season - victories over Norwich City and Burnley.

Robertson said the injury was “nothing too major” and he has been named in Scotland’s squad for World Cup qualifiers next month, which follow the Reds' match against on Saturday at 17:30 BST.

Robertson...seals new Reds deal

Kylian Mbappe...Real Madrid want him at all cost

HiFL 2021: UNILAG Marines, UNN Lions Fight for Super Four Ticket The first leg of quarter-final matches in the ongoing Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL) will today go ahead across four centres.

In Lagos, the UNILAG Marines will attempt to put themselves in a vantage position as they tackle the AAUA Luminaries going into the second leg.

The Marine Boys led by Coach Ogunsemore qualified to this stage by defeating the FUTA Tigers on a 3-0 goals aggregate.

The Luminaries defeated 2019 semi-finalist OAU Giants on away goals rule drawing 1-1 in Ile-Ife. UNN Lions have an uphill task against the UNIBEN Royals when both teams square up in Enugu.

The Royals has shown their determination from the beginning of the season as they ended up as one of the highest goal-scoring teams in the tournament. The Royals also ousted defending champion UNICAL Malabites on 4-3 on aggregate.

Speaking ahead of the match, Coach of the UNN Lions Ike Chijoke said the Lions will not be deterred by the pedigree of the Benin boys as the team is

focused on qualifying for the next stage.

“We have prepared very well.

We know that the UNIBEN team is good but in soccer, it is a game of 11 men playing on both sides.

We are working on our areas of deficiencies and we assure our fans that we will do our best to qualify for the next stage”.

In other matches, the winners of the inaugural edition of the HiFL, UAM Tillers will play UNIMAID Desert Warriors in Makurdi while UNILORIN Warriors tackle FUTMinna Transformers in Ilorin.

The Tillers defeated ABU Nobles 4-2 over two legs in the round of 16 while the

Desert Warriors also won 5-3 on aggregate against the BUK Stallions.

HiFL is organized by Pace Sports and the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA).

The Collegiate football tournament has as sponsors brands like StanbicIBTC, Nivea Men, Bold, Minimie and several others.

SuperSport Unveils Exciting Paralympics Broadcast Plans As the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games officially kicked off with the opening ceremony yesterday, SuperSport has unveiled exciting plans for the multi-sport parasports event.

With 22 sports to be accommodated, SuperSport promised to host over 380 hours of the Games on two dedicated channels (SuperSport Variety 2 and 3). These will feature live daily coverage from mornings through late evening events, beginning from yesterday, August 24.

“There will be a daily highlights package, to be broadcast every evening, with news and updates also featuring

on SuperSport Blitz.

“In addition, the SuperSport Grandstand channel will curate the best content at any single time, while directing viewers to events that may be broadcasting elsewhere simultaneously.”

The pay TV channel said that the Paralympics coverage will also be extensively available on the DStv app across the continent and where Showmax Pro is available.

“Archive content, magazine shows, highlights and supplementary programming will also be available on Showmax, ensuring wall-to-wall coverage of the Games. Unlike the Olympics, in which every event is produced

for international television networks, not every event at the Paralympics is produced and available for broadcast,” the statement clarified.

However, it assured its subscribers that SuperSport and Showmax will employ the best endeavour approach to bring as much of the action as possible to viewers back home with a slant towards events with an African flavour.

Traditionally, major Paralympic sports like athletics, swimming, basketball, tennis and weightlifting receive the bulk of coverage, but SuperSport and Showmax will attempt to be even more inclusive.

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WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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Wednesday, August 25, 2021

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Gadzma to the Political Class

“The failure of the elite especially the political class and those in government has also betrayed the trust and expectations of northerners and there is pent-up anger all over the northern States.”

---Former Director-Generla of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr. Afakriya A. Gadzama, on the state of insecurity in the north of Nigeria.

KAYODEKOMOLAFE THE HORIZON

kayode.komolafe@thisdaylive.com

0805 500 1974

Masari’s Call to Arms

I

n fewer than 24 hours that Governor Aminu Bello Masari justified his call on the people of Katsina state to take up arms in self-defence, some “unknown gunmen” attacked the Nigerian Defence Academy in the neighbouring Kaduna state yesterday, killing two officers and abducting another in the tragic event.

It was as if the attackers were responding to the Masari proposition which had generated mixed reactions. In fact, a controversy of sorts was already brewing over Masari’s statement before the attack.

But while the reactions to Masari had been in words, the seeming response embodied in the attack on the Defence aca (NDA) was in action. In some respects, the attack is akin to what theorists of terrorism call “propaganda by deed.” The elements in the process of terror, of course, include horror, shock and awe. Security experts say propaganda oils the machine of terror. It has been so since the Italian Federation of Anarchists International first described this terror method in 1876. The attack on NDA was such a loud statement that no amount of non-violent publicity could have ever achieved.

It was also a deep message to the public that no one is immune to terror, armed or unarmed. The “unknown gunmen” who struck at NDA might not be conscious of any coherent ideological mission as some security experts have argued; but the practical consequences of the attack are similar to the objectives of terror.

What the NDA statement described merely as “compromised” security arrangement of the institution was actually a categorical challenge to the Nigerian state. Those who attacked the NDA should not just be dismissed as “unknown gunmen.”

They are terrorists. After all, no terrorist ever calls himself a terrorist. It is those suffer the pains of the action of terrorists that call them so based, of course, on expert analysis. So, there is no point being euphemistic about the terrible situation in Nigeria.

When schools, highways and farmlands are terrorised, experts posit that the vulnerability of those places are due to the fact that they are “soft targets.” Implicit in that categorisation is that the students, travellers and farmers in those respective “soft targets” are not armed. However, the NDA cannot be described by any stretch of imagination as a “soft target.” The military elements in the NDA are not expected to be as hapless as the unarmed and untrained students, travellers and farmers.

Come to think of it, the other day kidnappers struck at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Afaka area of Kaduna. Some analysts said that it was a daring act because the NDA was located in Afaka. In other words, the proximity of the school of forestry to NDA, a military zone, ought to make it relative safer. As a matter of fact, in the face of a threat of insecurity residents of areas close to NDA would instinctively seek refuge in the military institution if possible. What would security pundits say now that NDA itself is attacked in such a tragic circumstance?

It is in this sense that the attack on NDA would appear to be an indirect response to Masari’s call to arms. Will the democratisation of the use of weapons of all sorts by everybody be the antidote to insecurity? As we commiserate with the families of those killed, it is important to ponder the link between Masari’s call and the attack on the eminent military academy. The reflection is not the job of only the defence authorities, who deserve public sympathy and support as they face this embarrassment.

Well, Masari’s call should be put in the context of the very difficult situation in which he operates.

To be fair to the Katsina governor, he spoke as a thoroughly helpless man in the saddle. Before now, this governor has expressed this utter helplessness

Masari in tears before television camera. His photograph with a so-called repentant bandit (displaying his weapons) has been widely published. This posture of the governor generated a lot of criticisms as some members of the public felt the bandits should treated as criminals. The governor defended his approach of making peace with the killers and kidnappers as a way of winning them over to the society.

It turned out that this non-kinetic approach (as some security experts describe it) has turned to be an embrace of hyena. Killings and kidnappings continue to take place in Katsina state. It has even been alleged that criminality in Katsina is grossly under-reported especially in the remote areas. Some Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state are virtually under the reign of terror. Farmers have reportedly paid “taxes” to the criminals for permission to plant in their farms as well as to harvest crops in places where the possibilities exist. There have been horrific reports of killings and rapes from the ungoverned spaces in the state. Some villages have been virtually abandoned following the siege by the terrorists.

The logic of Masari’s argument seems to be that instead of the people paying ransom to kidnappers, the money should be spent in arming themselves to confront the criminals. After all, a former Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Danjuma, made a similar call some years ago in response to the insecurity in his home state of Taraba.

Hence the governor’s call to arms could be said to be largely borne out of frustration with the system of security in the country. Here is how Masari put it on Monday : “It (the agreement with the bandits) failed because we discovered that the bandit groups lack a central leader. There is no single leader to caution them, because they are not fighting for a particular ideological cause other than to steal...

“We also know that there are not enough security personnel. How many soldiers are there in Katsina?

This is because the insecurity issue as affected virtually all states of the federation.

“This compounded the problem and the people

can’t fold their hands and watch as they are being killed. If they abandon their villages where will they go and when will the killings end?”

Meanwhile, it is quite remarkable that the picture of a hopeless security situation painted above is that of the home state of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari. That is Katsina state, where helpless residents are called upon to be armed and defend themselves against terrorists. It is worthwhile making this point because more often than not the criticism of the management of security system under Buhari has been largely about the lopsided appointments of heads of security agencies and armed forces. Buhari only trusts “his own people” with security jobs, so goes the argument. The criticism is, of course, legitimate because as in other departments of national life, Buhari’s pattern of appointments can hardly pass the test of the constitutional provisions on the reflection of the federal character of the nation.

Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution states as follows : “The composition of the goverment of the federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to promote national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that government or any of its agencies...”

Beyond legality, the reality of socio-political life is that diversity in appointments could avail the leader the benefits of multiple perspectives in making decisions especially in a very sensitive sector such as the security system. On the contrary, lack of diversity could increase the risk of insularity which is dangerous in managing the affairs of a complex country such as Nigeria.

The problem, however, appears to be more practical in effect than the contemptuous treatment of the federal character principle in the light of Masari’s call. After all, what ultimately matters to the people is their security and not the language or faith of the security chief in charge. Regardless of the ethnic or regional origin of those appointed, the real point at issue is their output in the system. The output in this case is measured by the degree of security in parts of Nigeria. Therefore, it is the output of the security and defence chiefs that should be the primary focus of public criticisms.

Most of Buhari’s defence and security chiefs are from the northwest and northeast of Nigeria. Yet, the two far- north zones cannot be said to be more secure than any other part of Nigeria from where there are serious complaints of “marginalisation in the security architecture” of the country. Buhari’s northwest state of Katsina is certainly not more secure than any southern state from the account of Masari, who is the chief security of the state.

So of what benefits are the high profile defence and security appointments to terrorised farmers in Katsina, kidnapped students in Niger or the travellers killed in Zamfara? Of what use are the

“The Masari solution of giving non-state actors wider access to weapons (even for self-defence) may turn out to be another problem”

high profile defence and security jobs of those from the northeast to the poor and desperate people in that zone languishing in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Borno state? According to Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state, about 100, 000 persons have been killed since the Boko Haram began in that zone of Nigeria 12 years ago.

All told, the efficacy of Masari’s prescription for the malaise of worsening insecurity is in serious doubt.

Proliferation of weapons may worsen the situation of insecurity. If military officers in a defence academy could be so cheaply attacked by terrorists, will the poorly armed and untrained villagers be capable of confronting terrorists armed with sophisticated weapons? So the complete liberalisation of the means of violence may not be the solution.

By the way, the sort of weapons needed to confront the criminals do not come cheap. There is also the legality of access to firearms. The governor’s call to arms is no substitute to the federal laws on the acquisition of firearms. There is still a logic in the principle of the state having the “monopoly of the means of violence.” The proposition to democratise the access to weapons as a response to insecurity is fraught with its own dangers. In other societies in which the use of guns has been liberalised for self-defence, the epidemics of gun violence has turned out to be the disastrous side effects of the security recipes. Already, illegal arms flow is a significant aspect of the insecurity problem. The Masari solution of giving non-state actors wider access to weapons (even for self-defence) may turn out to be another problem. A faster descent into anarchy may be the unintended consequence of the liberalisation of the use of weapons in Nigeria today. It is even more dangerous in a country where security is highly politicised and inter- ethnic antagonisms are rife.

You may be preparing the stage inadvertently for the emergence of warlords by increasing the proliferation of guns in any part of the country.

Instead of the one-man-one - gun policy of Masari, Katsina state could establish a neighbourhood watch to complement the work of the police and other security agencies. The personnel of such an outfit could should be trained and they should be suitably equipped. The Nigeria Police Force could even assist in the training and orientation. Those to be given the task of confronting the criminals should be well prepared for the dangerous job.

Such an outfit should be backed up by Katsina state laws. There is enough elbow room in the existing federal laws on policing that the Katsina state government could explore for a modern approach to community security in the villages.

Pending a constitutional resolution of the issue of state police, a state government that finds itself in a desperate situation could consider this option.

Security outfits established by state governments should be modernised and well structured. Everybody does not have to carry a gun to keep Katsina or any other state for that matter secure.

Above all, the resort to desperate solutions is a reflection of the grave situation of insecurity in the land. The constitution defines the governance responsibility of those in power as the “security and welfare” of the people. It is sheer abdication of this responsibility for a government at any level to ask the people to defend themselves. This is another sordid symptom of the crisis of governance prevalent all levels in Nigeria.

The attack on the defence academy indirectly demonstrates the limitation of the Masari solution of calling on the people to be armed in order to defend themselves. The tragic event has questioned the competence of the Nigerian state. This is the message of the new dimension to the crisis of insecurity.

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